Chapter 10: Friends

A-Qing's eyes narrowed.

"Trying to trick me? Seriously?"

"How dare you! How dare you!" the woman retorted, her voice trembling with fury.

A-Qing tilted her head, confusion evident on her face. What the—? Why is she so angry? Was the bathroom really that disgusting?

"You gobble up the money and then wag your tail again? With such shameless behavior, how dare you!" the woman continued, her anger escalating.

"Wag my tail? Me?" A-Qing questioned, her confusion growing.

"You lowlife, to Young Master Jade Qilin! How dare you!" the woman spat out, her words laced with venom.

"Ah. I get it now," A-Qing finally realized, understanding the misunderstanding. It wasn't a thank you for the quick bathroom pass, but a 'break-up fee' from a chaebol's mother-in-law. And a measly one at that! No wonder A-Qing felt wronged.

How could a self-respecting South Korean citizen imagine a money envelope for breaking up with his lover? It required an ability to think outside the realm of imagination. If A-Qing had that kind of talent, she'd be a genius scientist baking superconductors, not a production worker.

"First, let's clear something up. Do you personally know Jade Qilin?" A-Qing asked, seeking clarification.

"Oh, showing your true colors now?" the woman sneered, her eyes narrowing.

"Ah, unrequited love then? You don't actually know him?" A-Qing deduced, realizing the woman's infatuation. In that case, there was no need to hold back.

A-Qing's demeanor changed, her anger rising.

"So what if I mocked her? What are you gonna do about it? Shiver and shout like a banshee?" she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The woman's face contorted with even more malice, her eyes burning with rage.

"Nogal, Makgwi, bring that bitch to her knees!" she commanded, her voice sharp and commanding.

The thugs on either side of her stepped forward, their eyes filled with menace.

A-Qing quickly interjected, raising her hand to stop them.

"Hold up!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the tension.

"Begging for forgiveness now? Should've listened when you had the chance," the woman sneered, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

"Let's say that's true. What's your grand plan then? After those scary goons force me to kneel?" A-Qing challenged, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"I'll cripple your arms and legs, then toss you into a brothel. You'll sell your body for pennies. A hundred men a day, how long do you think you'll last?" the woman revealed, her voice laced with sadistic pleasure.

Suddenly, a series of notifications appeared before A-Qing's eyes:

A-Qing's lips curved into a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. The lonely star of Heavenly Slaughtering Star shone with the most profane color imaginable. Yeah, things had been a bit too quiet lately.

"As far as I know, San might be a bit blunt, but he's not a bad guy. Wouldn't he be better off without a nasty piece of work like you?" A-Qing remarked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"……What?" the woman stammered, her face paling.

"I mean, he comes from a good family. Not as good as mine, but he's got some martial arts skills. And his face, well, need I say more? His personality might be a bit gloomy, but still. Would a guy like that hang out with a bitch who surrounds herself with thugs?" A-Qing continued, her words cutting like a knife.

"You, what did you just say……" the woman sputtered, her voice trembling with anger.

"Not a chance in hell. You stalk him and order him around like a mother-in-law. That's stalking, you know. A disgusting crime. Oh, you don't know English? Do you know English?" A-Qing taunted, her words dripping with contempt.

The woman's face turned crimson, her anger reaching its boiling point.

"If I were San, even if everyone else in the world died and only the two of us were left, I wouldn't touch you. I'd rather do a tree hole," A-Qing declared, her voice filled with disgust.

"What, what! You son of a bitch, fuck, you fucking bitch. What are you waiting for!" the woman shrieked, her voice filled with rage.

At the woman's sharp cry, Nogal and Makgwi, the thugs, sprang into action, their eyes filled with malice.

A-Qing's lips stretched into a vicious smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Bring it on! My Moonlight Sword is thirsting for blood. Oh, shi—," she shouted, her voice filled with anticipation.

A-Qing's hand swept across the empty space at her waist, realizing her mistake. The Moonlight Sword (Number 6) was leaning against the table. She had missed her chance to counterattack.

Instead, A-Qing jumped back lightly to gain some distance, her movements fluid and graceful. Yue Maiden Mountain Stroll.

The record in the historical book of the late Spring and Autumn period described it like this: The Yue Maiden moves with childlike innocence, playing like someone in water. But she is not slow, and like a dandelion seed in a gale, she is too fast for the eye to catch. Yet she never loses her excitement, so her appearance is as lovely as a young girl.

One step back, one leap forward, followed by two steps, two leaps over, and with three light steps, three leaps far away. And the fourth step was suddenly forward, closing the distance to almost touching.

She had missed the first move, but through a single movement technique, she regained the initiative. This was why footwork ∊ movement was emphasized in Murim. The symbol ∊ is an element, a mathematical symbol, meaning that footwork is an element of movement and belongs to a part of it.

"What is this……!" Nogal exclaimed, his eyes filled with disbelief. Nogal was the escort of the Black Shadow Association's leader's daughter. He knew how much the leader cherished his youngest daughter, who was born after four sons in a row, because her escort was a top-notch late-stage master. And a late-stage master would have the eye to recognize how absurd A-Qing's movement was.

Fast movement was difficult to change direction, and movement that was erratic in its direction had problems with speed. Even the ability to reverse the direction of movement in a single step was praised as excellent movement. On the other hand, just being able to move backwards and maintain the previous speed was enough to make it famous as a peerless movement technique in the world.

Moreover, he had never even heard of a movement technique that became even faster when jumping forward after retreating. The result was the current situation where he attacked first but arrived later.

"Miss, run away," Nogal shouted urgently, realizing the danger.

"Go where?! No. Shut up," the woman retorted, her anger overriding her fear.

A-Qing's fist extended in a gentle curve, aiming towards Nogal's mouth. A basic first move of Primal Ape Fist, an unremarkable technique so common that even street vendors used it for self-defense.

Nogal raised his upper arm to deflect the fist, his movements swift and precise. Then, the left hand that immediately strikes up! A shape that is neither awkwardly extended nor clenched. It was the unique grip of Praying Mantis Fist, Praying Mantis Hook. He could tell what would follow without looking. Praying Mantis Fist, second move, Orchid Strike.

Following that, Mandarin Ducks Kicking Technique, Five Iron Feet Move, Short Boxing Technique, Three Point Opening, Liu Family's Fist Technique, Reverse-Earth Chop, Wolf Fang Fist, Wolf Strike…… Each one was a common boxing technique found in books.

To raise the White Border martial arts to the first realm, you need a really insignificant amount of free training points. It was almost free to learn. So A-Qing had learned all the White martial arts she had touched in every bookstore she visited.

She had the Purple martial arts, the Sword Art of the Yue Maiden, which was said to be a scam, but she didn't use it because she didn't need to. The first realm achievement meant that she had memorized the basic moves. It meant that she could properly imitate the outward form, even if she didn't know the true meaning, spirit, or application of the move.

But even a superficial imitation, if driven by speed and power through enormous internal strength, could only become a powerful martial art. And what if you mix dozens of martial arts together? It becomes the skill that A-Qing is currently performing.

Nogal was cornered, his movements becoming desperate.

"You bitch!" Nogal roared, striking at A-Qing's side.

A-Qing's left hand moved with a waving motion, as if chasing away a pesky fly. Suddenly, a deep bell rings! Dooong-! An invisible force, Air Palm, struck Makgwi's chest, passing through a distance of 2 cheok (about 60cm). Makgwi flew like a cannonball, crashing into the back wall of the teahouse.

A-Qing frowned, halting her attack. Nogal, seizing the opportunity, rushed to his fallen comrade. "Makgwi! Come to your senses!"

"Cough," Makgwi sputtered, his chest completely caved in. Bone fragments had torn apart his internal organs. The blood-boiling cough became his last words.

"Makgwi!" Nogal cried out in grief. Not everyone in the Unorthodox Faction was deceitful and scheming to stab each other in the back. Rather, the more cruel they were to others, the stronger their bonds could be with each other.

A-Qing observed the scene and muttered, "Oh shit. The feel is really off...." I should have learned something else. It was a harsh self-evaluation of Buddha's Palm.

A-Qing uses a sword. The feeling of cutting through muscle and bone, the sensation on the palm of her hand holding the sword, was almost enchanting. Even the hardships she faced in a foreign land with different culture and common sense. Even the numbers that always flickered above people's heads. Even the status window that shook her mind every time she saw it. Compared to the refreshing feeling of pouring hot blood on her body heated up by battle, they were all trivial matters.

Fist and palm techniques somehow lacked that taste. Hitting and breaking wasn't without its own feel, but of course, it wasn't as good as a sword. Above all, she was dissatisfied with the fact that she couldn't see blood. In that sense, Buddha's Palm was useless. Even the power of the first realm taster was strong. It was definitely a powerful martial art, but… if it didn’t feel good to use, what was the point?

Suddenly, a thirst overwhelmed her. Blood. I need to see blood. I need to see blood. "Hey. I'm not interested in melodrama, so skip it. Let's continue," A-Qing said, her voice impatient.

Nogal's spirit snapped back. If it were up to him, he would tear her apart and kill her, but it wouldn't be enough to relieve his hatred. But his opponent was a peerless master who easily used Air Palm. Of course, A-Qing was not that kind of master. It was just a misunderstanding due to not knowing that she was receiving the buff of the game system. Besides, Nogal's mission was to protect the young miss.

"…Forgive my insolence. I have made a grave mistake. Please, show mercy." Nogal pleaded, falling to his knees.

A-Qing scoffed. "Why, didn't you know this day would come? A life of sucking other people's blood. You thought you'd live a long life and die with a smile in the arms of your big family?"

"That's…" Nogal stammered.

"Mencius said, ah, is there a Mencius? There must be, right? It's ancient China. Anyway, he said that human nature is good. So people misunderstand. They say that anyone has inner goodness, so even the most evil person can be corrected." It was an absurd misunderstanding. Mencius's theory of good nature was not like that. This was also a proposition that was established by the opposite. Human nature is good. In other words, what has an evil nature is not human. If your superior, your official, even the ruler of your country, does not treat you with kindness, they are not human but a beast. You cannot be ruled by a beast, so raise your spear. This was what Mencius said. He was a great thinker who advocated the first full-fledged democracy of mankind. (Confucius's democracy was too lukewarm because it emphasized trust in ruling and serving.)

Thanks to him, A-Qing could enjoy her hobby without a single qualm. A-Qing enjoys killing trash. The trash disappears, and the world becomes a better place, everyone benefits. It was the completion of a world where no one gets hurt.