Chapter 11: Friends

If A-Qing had majored in science, engineering, or the arts, she would have been tormented by the conflict between her murderous impulses and her sins, eventually going insane.

However, A-Qing was a humanities and social sciences student, so she was alive and well right now!

However, if she had majored in medicine or law, she wouldn't even have the time to play games as a hobby.

From the beginning, there would be no reason to even go through this hardship.

That's why people should learn.

The French philosopher, François Bacon's saying, "Knowledge is power," was the very principle behind this.

"A bad guy is not a human, so there's no need to treat them like one. Mencius said so. So go for it, punk. Only when the beast is cornered does the hunter have fun."

Nogal swallowed a sigh inwardly.

I'm caught by a real crazy bitch!

It was exactly the kind of thought a murderous fiend would have.

Nogal pondered his own way out.

Escape is hopeless.

The opponent possessed peerless movement techniques and could also strike distant opponents with a shockwave.

Even if he managed to escape, it would be a problem.

If a guard ran away from the person they were supposed to protect, they would be chased until they died.

Because the Black Shadow Association Leader would never forgive a guard who ran away from his own daughter.

His wife and now ten-year-old son would also suffer a terrible fate.

Then, he had no choice but to either somehow defeat her or rely on her mercy.

In the face of death, the brain shows unprecedented concentration.

This was the reason why martial artists broke through walls and reached higher realms during life-or-death battles.

Finally, among countless futures, Nogal's brain found the most reasonable path.

Masters often showed strange generosity.

"Oh my, your loyalty is truly admirable!" – Something like that.

Of course, the probability of that was one in ten thousand.

But, if he was going to die anyway, he had to save his wife and son.

The Black Shadow Association Leader was a member of the Unorthodox Faction, but he was still someone who would take good care of the family of a guard who sacrificed his life for his daughter.

Nogal hardened his resolve.

"I will apologize to the noble lady with my life. Please, can you not end this ill fate with just me?"

Unfortunately, A-Qing had already crossed the threshold of her thirst.

It had been too peaceful, and because she had been fighting without a sword in a half-hearted manner, her bloodthirsty nature had exploded.

"I don't want to."

Her hand moved on its own.

Her long, outstretched fingers raked across Nogal's windpipe from top to bottom.

Fingers are the most sensitive part of the human body.

Enough to experience that instant, a hundredth of a second slower, in the blink of an eye.

This squishy feeling of tearing through the soft skin of the neck and burying itself with resistance in the muscles.

Hooking the elastic, rubber band-like blood vessels around her knuckles adds to the taut resistance.

And then, the hard touch of the Adam's apple.

She digs in further, as if scooping out sand, gripping the Adam's apple.

The carotid artery, hooked on her fingers, stretches out, and only after passing the collarbone and reaching the shoulder does it snap, unable to withstand the tension.

Only then did the slowed-down time return to normal.

With a squelch, the torn aorta spurted blood violently.

Finally, the fragrant hot blood that gushed onto her face.

And at the same time, the world burned white.

A sticky lightning bolt that spread from her spine to the tips of her hands, feet, and head.

A quiet universe where a sea of lights majestically whispers.

206 bones, tendons, muscles, and 250,000 miles of blood vessels swirling and merging into one.

A hazy flower field blooming in the blazing flames.

Her heart rising to her head, pulsating through her brain and eardrums.

A chorus of ten thousand voices harmonizing in falsetto.

Salty and spicy. A spicy sigh. A drop of sweet tears..........

And then, it was like waking from sleep.

It was a natural germination of consciousness, realizing awareness at some point.

It was the first time she felt refreshed in this world.

Waking up after a good night's sleep, the refreshing feeling of not needing more sleep.

The satisfaction of watching a movie with a happy ending filled her heart.

But unlike her mind, which was healthier than ever, her body wasn't in good shape.

For some reason, her limbs were trembling, and it felt like she would definitely have sore muscles after waking up from a long sleep.

And what's this?

She lifted her heavy hand and saw a head hanging from her fist, with hair wrapped around it.

"Oh my, missy, when did you become just a head? How pitiful."

It seemed she had lost her mind for a moment.

She didn't know how much of a fuss she had made.

There wasn't a single spot on her body that didn't ache.

A-Qing hurriedly checked the state of her karma points.

Fortunately, it seemed she had only killed this young lady before coming to her senses, as she saw a slight increase in her good karma score.

A-Qing tossed the head away and said, scratching her head.

"Whew, was it because it's been too long...?"

Anyway, good is good.

She had accumulated good karma and was in a pretty good mood, so wasn't that enough?

Returning to the teahouse, there was a commotion everywhere.

The three young masters were also making a fuss, so A-Qing briefly explained.

"I couldn't help it. They said they'd catch me, cut off my limbs, and throw me into a brothel, so I couldn't just let them do that."

Her tone was as if she was saying what she had for breakfast.

The content was quite gruesome, making the listeners' faces stiffen.

Moreover, she was covered in blood, with drops of blood dripping from her chin.

"It's okay, it's not my blood."

"Sis, you need to wash up first. Innkeeper, sorry, but could you prepare some water for washing?"

The owner wanted nothing more than for them to leave.

But he didn't have the courage to confront a blood-soaked woman and a giant with bulging muscles.

"Wipe yourself."

Peng Daesan handed her a handkerchief.

She had deliberately covered herself in blood, so one handkerchief wouldn't be enough.

She would have to throw away the handkerchief completely, but seeing him readily offer it made her feel grateful and proud.

"Ah, keep it. I can just wipe it roughly. There are plenty out there."

A-Qing went outside the teahouse, picked up the fallen handkerchief, and wiped her face.

She wiped her face, squeezed her hair, and as she continued to throw away, pick up, use, and throw away, the dampness subsided a bit.

When she returned to her seat, water had been prepared, and she splashed it on her face refreshingly.

"...So, let's talk now."

"What talk?"

"You said you were going to the bathroom, and then you show up like that, and you ask what talk?"

"What, why? Why are you suddenly angry?"

"Ha, who? Me?"

Peng Daesan's reaction was quite sharp.

A-Qing didn't hold back after entering the world of martial arts.

But she was in a very good mood now and didn't want to upset herself by arguing.

"Wait! Stop the anger!"

"Trying to get out of it like that..."

"You, mister over there, stop too! If you go there now and get caught up in this later, it's not my responsibility, okay? What is curiosity? Curiosity killed the..."

A-Qing shouted towards the back door.

The man who was stealthily heading towards the back door turned back with an enlightened expression.

A-Qing focused on the table again.

"No, I really don't know, okay? Calm down. It was just a normal fight, and I won, that's all. They must have underestimated me because I left my sword behind."

"Is that something you can say so casually?"

"Then what's so special about it? It's always like this."

It's always like this.

Peng Daesan felt like he had been slapped.

A-Qing was a young master.

Young masters didn't just fall from the sky.

Basically, a young master could only be born if someone with innate talent was also placed in an environment that allowed for it.

For example, the support a family could provide.

Or a series of life-or-death battles.

While Peng Daesan was lost in thought, A-Qing snapped her fingers and changed the subject.

"Ah, right. Zhuge, Zhuge, you know martial arts well, right?"

Actually, they weren't close yet, and because they were a man and a woman, they couldn't easily intervene and were just watching each other, a pair of cousins.

Zhuge Ihyeon responded to her call.

"Are you talking about martial arts, sis?"

"Yeah. What's the strongest bare-handed technique?"

A-Qing recalled the moment she ripped Nogal's throat out.

That perfect grip. It was the best.

She had a sudden epiphany.

Ah, I should learn a bare-handed technique.

It was an abrupt question, but Zhuge Ihyeon, who basically couldn't hold back explanations, answered.

"Sis, originally, even if you asked what the strongest martial art is, I wouldn't be able to answer right away."

"Why?"

"Because people in Murim have been arguing about that for thousands of years. Honestly, if more than two guys get together, the talk about what the strongest martial art is is inevitable."

"Then what does Zhuge think?"

"I don't think bare-handed techniques are that great."

"Why?"

"Well, that's because bare-handed techniques are inherently very cruel. If people dislike the feeling of hurting others even with a sword, how much worse would it be to scratch, cut, and tear flesh with bare hands?"

Isn't that why it's good?

A-Qing tilted her head.

It seemed the times didn't match.

"Are you going to keep changing the subject? I'm asking what's the strongest."

"Well, that is... Fortunately, when it comes to bare-handed techniques, everyone in Murim will agree on the strongest one. It is..."

Zhuge Ihyeon, with the attitude of a skilled conversationalist, paused and tried to take a sip of tea.

Then, he was startled by Peng Daesan's piercing gaze from beside him.

It was a look that said, "I have something to say, so finish quickly."

Zhuge Ihyeon quickly concluded.

"The strongest bare-handed technique is the White Hand Demonic Arts."

"White Hand Demonic Arts?"

"Oh! I'm suddenly so thirsty!"

Zhuge Ihyeon looked away.

A-Qing, knowing the reason, changed her target.

"Hey, why are you discouraging our Zhuge?"

"Is this the time to be leisurely talking about martial arts? In that state?"

"Well, because it seems like I won't have a chance otherwise?"

"...What does that mean?"

A-Qing didn't hold back, but she didn't intend to act like a mantis in front of a cart.

She knew that she couldn't face an entire sect alone, no matter what realm they were in.

She had been kicked out a few times before.

"Black Shadow Association, they're quite a big sect, right?"

"...Were those guys from the Black Shadow Association?"

"If they weren't impersonating."

Peng Daesan rubbed his face.

There were three major powers in Luoyang.

The Chae Clan, the Scarlet Devil Union, and the Black Shadow Association.

The Chae Clan was a prestigious family that had held the position of Grand General for generations, and the Scarlet Devil Union and the Black Shadow Association were sects with unorthodox tendencies.

No matter how weak the government's power had become, they were a family that held the General's Sword and wielded military authority.

They were the de facto magistrates who held most of the power in Luoyang.

The Scarlet Devil Union and the Black Shadow Association divided the underground interests that the Chae Clan didn't touch because of the General's dignity.

"They were brazenly attempting human trafficking in broad daylight, so I thought they must be something else."

"You knew that and still messed with them? No, was there even a need for you to fight with your level of skill?"

The Black Shadow Association wouldn't try to kidnap a Peak Master unless they were crazy.

It meant that A-Qing had deliberately shed blood to resolve a situation that could have been resolved by simply displaying her power.

And A-Qing confidently asserted.

"I don't avoid fights. And I'm even more like that when a bad guy picks a fight with me. A real warrior never runs."

Is she really crazy?

Suddenly, something crossed Peng Daesan's mind.

Damn it, she was the woman who actually hit when told to.

"Can't you think a little, just a tiny bit, and live? How are you going to deal with the aftermath..."

"Run away, what else."

She meant running away.

…She had just been talking about how warriors never run.

Peng Daesan felt his strength drain away.

"You're going to run away?"

“A warrior must know when it’s time to go! The sight of one who leaves at the right moment—so beautiful, like falling blossoms~!”

"That nonsense! Can't you be serious for once!"

Peng Daesan raised his voice.

A-Qing smiled softly instead.

You punk, you're raising your voice because you've grown a little fond of me.

"Sorry, was it the Chosun Pavilion? I'll treat you next time we meet."

"If you had just held back a little..."

"Well, we're not going to live together forever. About half a month? It's just parting ways a little early, that's all. We'll see each other again if fate allows."

At A-Qing's words, Peng Daesan was speechless.

Come to think of it, that was true.

They had joined the journey to Yongseong separately, and if they left the day after tomorrow, they would part ways around that time anyway.

Thinking about it, there was no reason to hold onto her, was there?

Peng Daesan leaned back in his chair.

A-Qing got up from her seat and said.

"Oh, all my stuff is at the trading company. Right, please tell the head of the trading company that I'm sorry for running away. Young Master So, and Zhuge, see you later."

"Take care of yourself, miss."

"Yes, sis. See you later."

A-Qing stepped out of the teahouse.

She didn't have a specific destination in mind.

But she hadn't come to Murim because she had somewhere to go. Just a life that takes her wherever it may.

She would catch some bandits, some robbers, and she had a new goal called the White Hand Demonic Arts.

A-Qing kicked off the ground and ran.