Chapter 80

Lady Kang seemed not to be pleased with Qing’s fussiness.

Of course, Qing was oblivious to her feelings.

“By the way, why are you suddenly learning to play something?”

“Play? I referred to it as ‘Yeak.'”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Do you call swordsmanship ‘sword swinging’? I will let you watch the Yeak performance known as Cheonsimhwaum, so you better learn it quickly.”

Lady Kang said sternly.

But Qing was unfazed.

“Me? Why?”

“Because you stole the Magic Flute!”

“Stole? That’s a bit harsh. I didn’t do anything so petty. I just killed for it and took it.”

“How can you brazenly brag about that robbery?”

“Don’t you know about the law of the jungle? Victory claims all. The Magic Flute is mine.”

The law of the jungle worked wonders.

Lady Kang bit her tongue in frustration.

“…Ugh!”

Qing smirked and asked.

“So, why exactly are we learning Yeak right now?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Then I don’t want to learn.”

“Are you intending to disregard the command from the Supreme Being?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t hear any such command. Tell them to come here and explain. Then I’ll consider it, or not.”

With that, Qing flopped down flat on the ground.

“This damned girl!”

“Ah, mind your words. I’m holding a weapon right now.”

While lying down, Qing swung the Magic Flute in the air.

The Magic Flute was a solid piece made of iron.

Forged from a thousand-year-old iron, it was as tough as a sacred roof tile.

And in the martial world, an object of such length and durability was called a ‘Danbong.’

A Danbong was a rather miraculous weapon; whatever martial arts technique one employed while holding it would somewhat fit.

Of course, its power wouldn’t even be half that of a proper weapon, but it could still serve in swordsmanship as a sword, in Dao techniques as a Dao weapon, or in spear techniques as a spear—somewhat useful in a pinch.

“Ugh…!”

Lady Kang fidgeted in a bind, knowing she had to teach but wondering if she’d have to reveal the secrets of their teachings.

And if she did reveal them, would this unruly girl from an orthodox sect be willing to cooperate?

“I’m going to sleep, so can you please close the door and leave? It would be better to listen while I’m speaking. My leg’s not totally broken—I can walk.”

“Ugh.”

“Not leaving? I’m sleeping? I’m sleeping? Good night!”

Qing closed her eyes.

Once sleep slipped away, it wouldn’t come back easily, but the important thing was conveying meaning.

Qing’s innate ability to balance made a loud statement.

Right now, it was Qing who held the upper hand.

And the teacher had no choice but to teach.

Qing was already at the realm of the heavens.

Wasn’t her current situation, where she was getting along well without clashing with the Demonic Sect, proof enough?

She had only made a mistake once with some representative with anger management issues.

However, even after that, she hadn’t been crawling on her belly.

Qing’s sharp instinct wasn’t wrong.

Lady Kang was in serious conflict.

Should she inform the Supreme Being?

But Lady Kang had known the Supreme Being for a long time.

If she went to report that “that girl refuses to learn,” she’d probably get her head knocked off with, “Then teach her properly instead of boasting of nonexistent abilities.”

Whenever an order was given, it had to be fulfilled by whatever means.

That was the supreme command of the Supreme Being.

“…Fine. If I tell you the reason, you must promise to learn Cheonsimhwaum, binding your very sect and master to it. Then I will let you know.”

“Hmm…”

Still, linking the name of the Divine Maiden Sect and her Master felt quite unsettling.

That’s probably why she keeps asking for those names.

But, she didn’t actually say to learn with effort, did she?

Such a mean thought would even come from the likes of a leader or someone.

“Alright. It’s a promise.”

Qing nodded.

Lady Kang took Qing’s word as gospel, believing she was a disciplined member of the orthodox sect.

This was why past generations stressed knowing your enemy and yourself, even at the expense of blood.

All the scams eventually occurred for such reasons.

Knowing your enemy because you didn’t realize they were a scammer.

Knowing yourself because you didn’t know you were being conned.

“Sigh. It’s from the time of the Great Master Mucheondae…”

Again, Mucheondae!

This grandpa is everywhere.

The Great Master Mucheondae hadn’t only made a fool of the emperor.

In fact, the emperor had been let off lightly, considering he merely shook him at the palace rooftop.

The Blood Sect had folded the waist of Blood Mi-ryeok.

They had ambushed the headquarters of the Sado Sect, slaughtering all the leaders and forcibly dismantling the group, seeking to completely eradicate any threats from the martial world.

The Heavenly Demon Sect was also one of those threats.

Mucheondae had killed both the Heavenly Demon and the Lesser Heavenly Demon within the Heavenly Demon Sect and taken the Heavenly Demon Soul from their archives.

“Heavenly Demon Soul?”

“It is the treasure containing the enlightenment of the first Heavenly Demon Master.”

“It must be quite important, huh?”

“Well…”

Lady Kang hesitated.

Was it right to spill all of this?

Qing threatened.

“Don’t beat around the bush; spill the beans! If you’re hiding anything, this Yeak and everything else won’t matter.”

But rather than revealing the secrets, she was more scared of Qing refusing to learn Yeak in the future.

If that happened, even more futures would vanish.

Living in a rigid male culture without any allowance for failure was particularly harmful.

Because a person’s inherent nature is such that a slight personal loss hurts far more than substantial losses to the whole group.

Yet, at the very least, Qing shouldn’t dare ridicule the Heavenly Demon Sect’s current plight.

In the Great Republic of Korea where Qing hailed from, the overwhelming majority of enterprises functioned on similar principles.

“About twenty years ago, the spy team from the Divine Sect discovered the hidden records of the Great Master Mucheondae.”

Mucheondae couldn’t bring himself to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Soul.

Like the teachings of Buddha or Dao, it was the essence of a celestial martial art based on the roots of a lone lineage traced back to Zoroastrianism.

Although it was tied to the Demonic Sect, the Great Master Mucheondae, as a martial artist, couldn’t bring himself to destroy its essence.

Instead, he hid it in a place where no one could find it.

Ultimately, the entire force of the Divine Sect began a search and discovered the location of the hidden Heavenly Demon Soul, naming it the Heavenly Demon Tomb…

“Heavenly Demon Tomb?”

“What else would you name such a secret place that seals away the soul of the Heavenly Demon Master?”

Qing pondered.

Somehow that name felt like a hidden horse that could fly well.

The entrance to the Heavenly Demon Tomb was sealed behind complex Mechanical Systems, which, after investigation, were found to be the work of a legendary blacksmith named Ban-chi.

To open the entrance to the Heavenly Demon Tomb, one would have to perform the music piece favored by Ban-chi’s wife on the Magic Flute.

And that piece was none other than Cheonsimhwaum.

If one tried to force it open, the entire tomb would collapse, burying the Heavenly Demon Soul forever.

The Divine Sect went to great lengths to locate the Magic Flute.

Then, Qing ate it up without a second thought.

Qing looked at the Magic Flute with cold eyes.

So this was all about this mess.

This is such a nasty flute!

If the Magic Flute could talk, it would be furious and flipping out.

Qing had immediately grabbed it without a care, after all.

Qing then continued to blame others.

And what about that Great Master Mucheondae?

If he wanted to hide it, he should have hidden it well instead of screwing it up like this.

Anyway, it was a promise made in her Master’s name.

As much as she would like to say she wouldn’t make promises with someone she thinks is a bad person, since they were linked through her Master, she felt extremely uneasy.

So, regardless, Qing kept the promise.

Though, her attitude was very rebellious, obviously only willing to hear things out for her amusement.

“Alright, Lady, the opening notes should be mournful and smooth; look at the sheet music. In the melodic passage leading from the first section, draw upon whispered breaths that sound like delicate gasps…”

Squeak.

Qing forcefully blew through the flute.

“No, what did I say? Don’t blow like a wild horse! You should strive for a sound so thin it seems it could break any moment…”

“Lady, do you want to take a turn blowing the Magic Flute? I’m pouring my inner strength, yet all I’m getting is a weak sound.”

“It’s not the technique—it’s the attitude! The essence of Yeak resides in occupying space with the mental image presented by the performer!”

“My imagination doesn’t fit that. Why not whip up a lively arrangement? From what I’ve seen, the Great Master Mucheondae isn’t fond of that wheezing sound either.”

Qing had seen the Great Master Mucheondae imbibing drinks with gusto rather than cherishing plaintive flute notes.

Additionally, she found the musical pieces from this era particularly tedious.

Firstly, they were slow, and, how to put it, a bit too sticky?

“The road ahead is long. At this rate, how will I channel my inner strength to produce a proper sound? I didn’t want to resort to this method…”

Though complaining to herself, Lady Kang wasn’t someone regarded highly even as a shaman because she’d survived under a tyrant for so long.

She had something prepared for such scenarios, at least.

“Soyoung.”

At this, the maid behind her flinched.

She was the one who had handed Qing her martial arts bundle.

“You seem completely uninterested in the lesson; each time you mess up, that girl will take your punishment instead.”

“What?”

“Remember, if this child receives a punishment, it’s all because of you.”

Lady Kang loosened her belt.

It felt a bit unusual at first, but once in her hands, it turned into a whip.

The maid trembled as she took off her clothes, then—

Smack!

A long scar welted on the back of the girl who looked like she might be around twenty.

Lady Kang’s hand was vicious, tearing the skin in one strike, blood oozing everywhere.

Qing frowned.

“Ouch… that must hurt…”

At the same time, she thought.

A child getting beaten?

But wouldn’t it have to be someone they knew for it to have any impact?

She was at the same level of maliciousness as Gyeon Pohee, so maybe within the Demonic Sect, she could still be labeled a budding villain.

Even so, she was beyond a three-figure number of villains.

The sight of a villain beating a villain didn’t strike any chords with Qing—

Ah, that whip looks like it has a nice feel to it.

Should I learn a few tricks?

There was indeed some intrigue in that regard.

So, Qing’s attitude towards the lesson didn’t improve.

Swipe! Swipe! Swipe!

Thanks to all this, the maid became completely shredded and couldn’t endure it any longer, fainting with her eyes rolled back.

Lady Kang shot Qing a venomous glare.

“You really are ruthless. You can stand there without any guilt while an innocent girl collapses before your eyes?”

“Hey, don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one doing the beating, so why are you blaming me? How absurd.”

Only then did Lady Kang catch a glimpse of Qing’s true nature.

She was a remarkably cold-hearted girl.

But then again, Lady Kang herself wasn’t one to step back in cruelty.

“Oh? So you don’t know? Fine, let’s change the person who receives the punishment. I hear there’s a girl in Hwanhui Palace who serves you well?”

“…? I didn’t know there was such a girl?”

Qing tilted her head in confusion.

“You may pretend not to know, but it won’t help. I hear you’ve been treating her so well that her rank has risen swiftly. If she takes your punishment instead, maybe you’ll start taking your lessons seriously.”

What? Is she my second stand-in?

Qing let out a deep sigh.

Since she’s old, she’s letting it slide, but now she’s getting carried away.

“Hey, Lady. Teacher? Alright, Professor!”

“Hmph. Too late for that.”

“Look, if a student can’t learn, it’s not their fault! It’s the teacher’s fault for not teaching!”

Qing got off the bed and stood.

Dragging one leg, it produced an oddly chilling sight.

“Professors are that bad at paying attention. What do they know? How can a freshman possibly comprehend when the first lesson is shot out like a burst? That’s totally a failure on the teacher’s part.”

“What, what are you doing… coming closer…”

“Be quiet!”

Bang!

Qing’s Magic Flute cut through the air.

As much as she couldn’t use her sweet moves right now, she couldn’t quite give that up.

However, even if her technique was subpar, her range far surpassed that of a sweet strike.

“Crack! Haaak, Haaak…”

With one hit, Lady Kang fell flat, clutching her head as if it were on fire.

It felt like her skull had split open but didn’t bleed.

Was this Qing’s learned mastery of precisely dividing her strength?

“What is this! How dare you hit your Master, such cruelty…!”

“Teacher, don’t move. If you mess around, you’ll die. If I keep swinging this flute like this, I can crack your skull in half. Teacher? Want to plant some seeds? You can plant seeds if you want, can’t you? If you don’t like me, then you better graduate me quickly because you don’t want to see my face again. If we have to see each other for another semester, it’ll be awkward. This is a chain of hatred!”

Qing’s eyes gleamed ominously.

Lady Kang trembled in fright, unable to comprehend the chaotic words spoken.

Though she had supposedly been one of the leading ladies of the orthodox sect, the one before her was undoubtedly a maniac.

Qing bent deeply at the waist, pressing her face close to Lady Kang’s.

“Teacher.”

Lady Kang’s breath hitched.

What sort of little girl radiates such intensity…?

“Why, why…?”

“From now on, if I get anything wrong or misunderstand during the class—or if I get distracted—it’ll all be on you, isn’t it, our Teacher?”

“That doesn’t make any sense…”

“If you did something wrong, what happens? You get hit! You’re getting hit for your failure to teach. And I’ll be confiscating this.”

Qing casually snatched the whip from Lady Kang’s hand.

Then she smiled brightly as she continued.

“Now then, shall we continue our lesson, Teacher?”

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