Chapter 74

The elders of Hwanhui Palace barged in for nothing but to witness a spectacle they shouldn’t have.

In fact, two of them ended up as cripples.

Elder Jipbeop became an old man with his Dantian injured, and as is often the case with inner strength built in the way of the sect, his True Energy rapidly leaked away.

Meanwhile, Elder Suryun turned into a mess with his hands.

They managed to bring back his severed hands, but since it was a snapped mess where they got severed, there was no chance of reattaching them.

One of the top disciples of Hwanhui Palace came to check on his master’s sleeping quarters and was shocked at the sight.

Overcome with surprise, he subdued his master and absorbed all of his True Energy.

The disciple then thought that having taken down Elder Suryun, revealing the deed might make him the next Elder Suryun.

But being still young and inexperienced, climbing to the elder position would only make him a stepping stone for someone else.

Now was the time to gather the new powers he had acquired.

For the same reason, the enforcer above rank in Jipbeop Hall, by sheer luck, came across the crippled master and forcibly inherited his true energy.

The position of Elder Jipbeop was meant for a top master, making it too much for a mere enforcer above rank.

So the enforcer decided to just gather strength for now.

As a result, two corpses were found last night, and there were no culprits behind them.

—-

The life of the youngest disciple, Gyeon Pohee, is tough.

Beaten here and there, bullied for no reason, and the few men she managed to lure have long been snatched away, she can’t even remember the last time she tasted a man.

Thanks to this, she entered the palace and only improved her housework skills, hardly learning any martial arts.

But a piece of good news reached Gyeon Pohee.

The youngest disciple has finally arrived!

This meant she could finally escape from chores!

However, her joy was short-lived.

The newcomer was said to have crippled legs!

Gyeon Pohee steeled herself for it.

This long-awaited youngest is disabled!? Hah, you think I would go easy on you because of that?

Now it’s time for me to show some authority as a residence master!

Gyeon Pohee kicked the door to Qing’s room wide open and stormed in.

Having been bullied by her seniors, even though it was her first time, she carried herself quite naturally.

“Hey! You! What the hell are you doing sleeping in the middle of the day!?”

Qing squinted as she searched for the window.

“Huh…? The sun hasn’t risen yet…”

“What?! You’re not getting up!? What kind of nonsense is this!?”

Gyeon Pohee screamed.

Qing sluggishly rose from her bed.

The high-pitched tone made it hard to pretend she didn’t hear it.

“Who are you?”

“What the hell are you wearing!? Why are you completely naked!?”

Qing quickly covered herself with the blanket.

“It’s comfortable…”

“Get dressed and get up! You planning to delay from the very first day!?”

“Oh, then can I have a minute? It’s a bit uncomfortable with someone here…”

“Can’t you hear me!? I said you’re late! Don’t you want to starve all morning!?”

“Oh. Is breakfast ready already? Is this place always that fast with meals? Can you pass me those clothes over there?”

“Don’t you have hands or feet!?”

“If we’re being technical, it’s my feet?”

Gyeon Pohee paused.

“Hmph. Just this once. Since they won’t cut me any slack for having crippled, ahem, legs.”

Qing grumbled while gazing at the girl picking up clothes scattered around.

-151.

Is there not a single decent person in this town?

Even the servants are villains.

But breakfast was crucial.

It’s a bit disappointing that the refreshing morning starts with blood.

Qing fumbled around under the covers and dressed herself.

Then, boldly, she raised both arms.

“Alright. Let’s go. Time to eat.”

“What’s with the sudden cheer?”

“Well, someone needs to escort you, right?”

It was a plea to be carried.

Gyeon Pohee, now getting deep into her act as a cripple, was fully immersed in the role.

It’s like she got swallowed up by method acting.

Such skill here comes from deceiving many supreme martial artists and countless peak warriors.

Qing categorized people into three genders.

Men. Women. And villains.

There are no genders when it comes to evildoers.

Qing originally avoided direct contact that wasn’t hostile.

Touching a man with bare skin is disgraceful for a man.

Touching a woman is a bit joyful, but it felt like a nasty trick using this appearance.

So, since Gyeon Pohee wasn’t a woman after confirming her villainous intent, she felt no hesitation in hugging her.

“Hah, I must be losing it, or maybe my mind is going. Sorry, but such harsh words are just slipping out. Are you having a headache or something? What kind of situation are you in?”

“Why?”

Qing tilted her head.

That expression screamed, “Qing knows nothing at all.”

“Hah. Enough! There’s no time! We need to hurry!”

Gyeon Pohee scooped Qing up.

With her height and weight differing greatly, she was heavier than the other disciples.

Despite that, Qing nestled comfortably into her arms, making the movement much easier than balancing the other disciples.

As they were heading toward the dining hall, Gyeon Pohee encountered Yu Nanglang.

She was the fourth-ranking among the three top disciples and the leader of one of the four factions of the second-ranking disciples.

Gyeon Pohee immediately shouted.

“Master! Have you slept well through the night!?”

“Yeah. Did you sleep well too?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Qing frowned.

Why is she yelling so much from morning?

She appears to be the lowest among the servants; should I switch her out?

Qing spotted another servant.

That one had over two hundred points of villainy.

Still better than the two hundred-point one.

Qing let out a deep sigh.

“Oh? I just heard the sound of air escaping?”

“Ah, ahhh…!”

“What? Why are you hugging her? Oh, is she the cripple you mentioned? Wow, this world has really changed. How can you comfortably embrace such a newbie? And you too, how easily did you let this happen?”

“Well, she said her legs were disabled…”

“Hah! Both of you are helpless then. In my opinion, this incompetent newcomer can’t train anyone properly. Let me show you what training is all about, so remember it well.”

Yu Nanglang laughed viciously, waving her hand.

A slap filled with the basics of the twelve postures of Hwanmyeong flew toward Gyeon Pohee’s face.

Gyeon Pohee buried her face among her shoulders.

Fortunately, the slap got intercepted midway and didn’t land.

A dark hand had grabbed her wrist.

They were on their urgent way to breakfast.

Qing’s mood couldn’t help but sour from the interruption.

Smiling benignly, Qing spoke.

The first character in the word “Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat” is ‘white,’ you know?

Originally, white signifies wickedness.

“Hey there. Do you know what you call a person without hands in one character?”

“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting…?”

“Wrong! The answer is ‘you’.”

The same scene unfolded as yesterday.

A hand lost its support and fell off, followed by loud screams.

And the glorious sensation of flesh and bone being crushed, which was delightful yesterday, felt even better today!

“Ugh.”

Qing gasped.

Gyeon Pohee, still holding Qing, snapped back to her senses.

Her mind had briefly slipped away just now due to what had happened.

Someone’s body quivering in her arms pulled her back from her mental drift.

What’s happening!? Am I having a seizure!? Here!? What should I do!? But I need to bring the spoon! The spoon!

Gyeon Pohee panicked and just hugged Qing tightly.

She vaguely remembered seeing someone get embraced like this when they had a seizure back in the day.

Did that work? The youngest’s fit calmed down.

“Hey!? Are you alright!? Are you coming back to your senses!?”

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

Qing breathed heavily.

The aftershocks still left in her body felt dizzying.

Her heart was pounding loudly.

Ever since becoming a master, never has her heart pounded so intensely.

Was this the feeling of the ancient soldier who, after completing his sprint to announce victory, laughed while passing away at the very limits?

The pounding of her heart felt like it could break her whole body.

But an extraordinary sense of satisfaction made her mind clear and pristine.

Something… was incredible.

And very, how shall I put this, refreshing?

Qing’s gaze became deeply serene and calm.

Looks like it’s time to finish this off.

Yet, it somehow felt trivial…

Qing’s state of body and mind was no different from a champion rolling around after a full-speed run.

Then, it happened.

“Um, hey, you know…”

“Huh? What?”

“Um, about the finish. Since you’re already strong, if it’s okay, can I… not do it?”

Qing looked up at Gyeon Pohee.

She was stealing glances at the servant rolling on the floor with over two hundred villain points.

Qing realized what she meant.

Ah, you enjoy killing too?

“Wanna have some fun?”

“If you’re okay with it…”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Feeling pretty satisfied right now, she didn’t want to see more blood.

“Huh? Really!? Then how much do I leave?”

How much do you leave, huh? What kind of creative and systematic slaughter process are you planning to undergo? You leaving the last hit behind?

Curiosity took over, and Qing answered.

“Just finish it all off. Just let me watch, though?”

“Huh? Ah! That’s a bit embarrassing… but can’t be helped.”

Gyeon Pohee wrapped the hem of the residence’s skirt around the wounds tightly.

Oh. Starting with stopping the bleeding, huh?

Are you a torture expert or something? You’re something special from the get-go. Maybe I can learn a thing or two today.

Then, she pushed the door where the residence stood, pulled Qing in, and locked the door behind them.

Qing’s eyes sparkled.

Oh, are we going all the way to the room? Dissection? Are we witnessing anatomy insights?

Qing was filled with anticipation.

And then –

Ah. It wasn’t about slaughtering.

Qing realized she had made a ridiculous misunderstanding.

After all, the scene before her was too vividly about intimate moments.

But Qing felt wronged too.

No, how was I supposed to know, oh? Oh my…

No, if you do it like that… oh my. This is too embarrassing.

Wow, this is completely different from watching videos!

Qing pretended to observe Gyeon Pohee’s ‘finish’ with awkward side glances.

It was a powerful and intense morning.

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