Chapter 66

“So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to refuse the Elder’s liquor and gulp down the punishment drink instead?”

“…?”

What is he even saying? What’s this ‘liquor’ and ‘punishment drink’ thing?

Alcohol? Is it alcohol? Punishment liquor?

Such expressions aren’t commonly used in the Martial World these days.

If I used them now, I’d surely get mocked for smelling like an old man.

Did you live through the era of the Great Master Mucheondae or something?

Qing blinked her eyes.

That was a face anyone could recognize.

The man let out a snicker.

“Are you going to quietly follow me?”

“Can’t I just stay quietly here?”

“Then you’ll just have to get hit first.”

Geez, this guy’s just as annoying as our Master.

But Qing was no Seomun Sulin.

She was merely a late-stage master in the Martial World.

There were a few like her in every city, examples of skilled martial artists getting along in one place.

Life was unbearably frustrating in the peak realm, truly.

But I couldn’t even touch the supreme realm.

Was it because I met the final boss first?

If not, I should climb to the peak by their methods, though how the hell would I know that.

“So, is it possible to follow you and come back again?”

“I swear on my name.”

Qing narrowed her eyes.

She had to be able to trust the words of someone who was going to score ten points soon.

Qing double-checked.

“But this isn’t some trick where I’ll come back as a corpse or end up crippled, right?”

“Hah. Do you think I, the esteemed one, would use such petty tricks? How dare you question my sacred name?”

“No, I’m not so much doubting as…”

The man was suddenly right in front of her.

Qing panicked.

The man’s fist nearly dug into her abdomen up to his wrist.

Qing was launched into the air, bent over at the waist.

A dizzying flight that ended with a crash into a tree.

Qing clutched her abdomen and rolled on the ground.

“Gah, cough. Ugh…!”

I can’t breathe…

Qing gasped desperately.

But tightening her chest made her squished lungs refuse to expand.

A pain filled her head.

I can’t catch my breath.

It hurts. It hurts so much. My belly…!

It felt like a blade was flowing and burning through her veins.

Sharp objects were forcibly tearing apart her narrow blood vessels, gnawing at her.

All she could do was suffer. Ugh.

A horrific pain that stopped her very thought processes.

Her mind was whirling.

Two pillars clung to the ground, lying side by side.

It was her two legs.

One of them drifted away into the distance.

Oh, no way.

Qing tried to clutch her head.

But it was already too late.

The man kicked her head with a swift motion.

Thud. The world went dark as if the power had been cut off.

Qing’s body flew into the air again.

The shock from her fall snapped her back to reality.

Her vision was filled with a red haze.

A blood vessel in one eye burst, causing it to fill with blood.

Qing had no chance to react.

Strong hands gripped her hair and pulled hard.

Her face felt like it was shattering to pieces.

The enemy’s invasion still tore through her insides.

The world was red.

Her scalp burned with the sensation of being ripped off.

The man’s voice bored into Qing’s trembling ears.

It was delightfully taunting.

“A defensive technique? For a peak-level person, you handle it pretty well. I thought about popping an eye or two.”

“Why, why?”

“Don’t you just need your mouth and hands to play the flute?”

Qing gritted her teeth.

The lonely star of Heaven’s Kill watched on.

Pain quickly morphed into malice, seeping into her bones.

This bastard wouldn’t get away with this.

Damn you. I won’t let you die easily.

It didn’t matter if Qing deserved her anger or not.

After all, she did pick on bad guys all the time.

Having now racked up over fourteen hundred points, Qing was prideful about being the kindest person in the world.

Moreover, it had been a long time since she felt this helpless after becoming a master.

Helplessness fed her rage.

That power of anger pressed a switch deep down in her heart.

What’s this? Is this guy suffering from some sort of anger management issue?

Starting a fight while we’re just chatting nicely?

And he’s even stronger than me.

You conniving bastard, just wait. I’ll show you what real trickery looks like.

Despite her true feelings, Qing forced a smile.

Her left cheek was already swollen, making her look pathetic.

“Hehe, you could have just said it…”

That was the fear of one born under Heaven’s Kill.

She wasn’t just some mindless, bloodthirsty creature; she was a monster who could calmly wait for her time.

For the man who wished for a peaceful old age, killing Qing right here was his only option.

But who would ever think that an orthodox martial artist woman was born under Heaven’s Kill?

The man smiled with satisfaction.

“See, women only listen when they’re beaten.”

What is this, some ancient era where you’d get your tongue cut out?

Thinking about it, it was ancient, uncivilized China, so of course, this bastard is uncivilized as well.

Qing continued to laugh like a fool.

“Hehe, if you listen well, you wouldn’t have to get hit, right?”

But the man wore a disappointed expression.

“I heard the orthodox women were supposed to be tough. I thought it might be fun, but you’re just a girl after all. Tch. Take her away.”

The young man tossed Qing aside and turned away.

Then, the Black Robed Men appeared from all directions, bowing respectfully to his back.

—-

Qing’s state was a total mess.

Half her face was swollen, her distorted eyes filled with blood.

Her new outfit lay in the dirt, and Ji Seung-ju couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“Tsk.”

Despite her pathetic demeanor, Ji Seung-ju sensed that the girl before him was of the same ilk as him.

A completely different human inside and out.

It was a sharp intuition from someone who had encountered another of his kind.

He had to quietly seek cooperation.

As long as she didn’t hinder, it would be a good day.

If it weren’t for that old hag Hameol not messing things up.

Ji Seung-ju held back his disappointment.

However, he couldn’t dare blame the Supreme Being.

Now that it had come to this, he had to throw a carrot in her direction, he thought.

“Please don’t hold too much resentment. The women of the faction have done something too, right?”

Then Qing smiled and replied.

“Hello? Little one. When you meet someone for the first time, you should introduce yourself first, right? I’m Seomun Qing! And who are you, our little friend? Oh, wait, are you a master too? You don’t have some disease that makes you throw punches out of nowhere during a proper conversation, do you?”

Her smiling face was fierce, and her words seemed to hide something.

However, Ji Seung-ju remained expressionless.

“I am Ji Seung-ju. Though lacking, I serve as the Daogong for the Divine Sect.”

“Daogong? Is that a high position?”

Qing looked down at the little boy with a grin.

To be kidnapped in broad daylight and brought first to this little brat. Is he an important figure?

If I kill him, will it cause a stir?

Best to remember him for now since he was around.

Qing looked at Ji Seung-ju’s poker face and thought.

She no longer felt the need to check on the numbers above her head.

That deep annoyance that pulsed with her heart needed sorting out to save herself.

“I regret being in this situation with you, but we have our reasons too.”

“Well, who doesn’t have their own reasons? Why don’t you tell me your story?”

“Now isn’t a good time for that.”

Ji Seung-ju pushed a bowl that was on the table toward her.