Chapter 143: Ximen Qing

Anyway, after shooing the shorty away, telling her to just focus on her training, Qing led Tang Nanah towards the Sect Leader’s Hall.

The current Sect Leader, the Heavenly Muted Sword Wang Zhuxi, was a woman with a remarkably faint presence.

This was partly due to being overshadowed by the brilliantly radiant Grand Matriarch Ximen Surin.

However, according to her Senior Sisters (Qing was the youngest Junior sister in the Sect Leader’s generation by seniority), their Eldest Senior Sister had always been characterized by a presence that was barely there, like a ghost.

It was telling that her moniker was the Heavenly Muted Sword; it supposedly came from a single strike during the subjugation of the past Public Enemy of Murim, the Ravenous Sex Fiend, where she had gotten behind him and pierced his heart without even her allies noticing.

“Yes. It is truly commendable and wonderful that you learned medicine at such a young age. Since you’ve taken the trouble to visit our Daoist home, please absorb plenty of its pure energy. There are no particular rules set for you, so feel free to rest comfortably.”

“Yes, Elder Sect Leader.”

“Mm. But isn’t there a wonderful ring to the phrase ‘female physician’? Of course, I don’t mean anything particular by it… You came to check on the prognosis of our youngest Junior sister’s injury? How lovely your consideration is.”

“Ah, no. Please, don’t say that.”

“Yes. Rest well. Well. Very, very well.”

As the Sect Leader particularly emphasized resting well, Tang Nanah, who was sweating profusely, hesitantly spoke up.

“If you would permit it, while I am staying here, perhaps I could check your pulse with my still lacking skills…”

“Oh my. How admirable. That exceptional beauty must stem from such a kind heart.”

And just like that, the Sect Leader achieved her desire.

After that, Qing arranged a room for her in the guest quarters and was about to bring bedding when Tang Nanah couldn't hide her surprise.

“What is this place? It’s empty?”

“It’s your room.”

“…?”

“…?”

Tang Nanah clapped her hands as if she understood.

“Hey, don’t tease me just because I don’t have experience in the martial arts world. You told me I had to take my shoes off when boarding the boat too. Did you think I’d fall for it again? There isn’t even a bed. How can this be a guest room?”

“Then what do you think I’m holding?”

“A blanket and a thick blanket?”

“This is called a ‘yo’. It’s used for sleeping on the floor.”

“Gasp! Is that the legendary…!”

The daughter of Sichuan’s wealthiest family seemed unable to accept reality, utterly shocked.

Well, considering the room was only slightly smaller than, or perhaps similar in size to, Tang Nanah’s ultra-luxurious bed, what could one expect?

“Isn’t this incredibly hard?”

“Hard? Lie down and see for yourself, then.”

With monstrous strength, Qing unfurled the thick yo with a single fwip and laid it flat.

Tang Nanah lay down on it, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Then, her expression quickly stiffened.

“It is hard!”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t. Of course, it’s hard.”

“No, how can anyone sleep on something like this?”

Tang Nanah looked about to cry.

Qing snorted.

Last winter, Qing had spent nights shivering without even a single blanket, unable to lie down due to the cold, forced to sleep huddled in a corner.

Even then, she couldn’t lean against the wall because it was too cold.

“I’ll bring you two extra ones as a special favor. Won’t three layers be somewhat bearable?”

“Hmph. It’s uncomfortable.”

“When you sleep outdoors, you just pick out the big rocks and lie down, you know? Stop complaining when you have it easy.”

Tang Nanah looked at Qing with an aggrieved expression.

Coming from a wench who spent more than half the day sprawled comfortably on a bed, the words carried absolutely no persuasive power.

“Then what about you? You’re a Grand Martial Junior. Don’t you get to use a nice room just for yourself?”

“Why, want to see my place?”

And so, Qing revealed her sweet home, the home she had dreamt of.

Seeing her home after so long, Qing’s feelings were truly… hmm, it looks really shabby.

…Was it always this small?

Did someone secretly chip away at it and shrink it?

Ximen Surin had many worries.

It was because of the disciple she had taken in her later years.

Just how was she supposed to correct that insolent girl’s behavior?

She had even gone so far as to practically strip her naked last winter, like whipping a crying child even harder.

She had hoped that making her feel ashamed in such a nearly naked state would lead her to reflect on her conduct, but instead, the girl simply lost the emotion of shame altogether.

The effect of the rod lasted only for that moment; once the pain subsided, she forgot everything as if it never happened. Even though she was a grown woman, and a Grand Martial Junior of a Daoist sect at that, she shamelessly resorted to acting cute (aegyo) without any sense of decorum.

Of course, how could Surin not understand the heart behind it, trying to comfort her seemingly lonely master?

She could only be grateful for that kind disposition.

If not for that, she would have seriously considered whether she needed to deal with the disaster of Heavenly Slaughter herself.

Still, thanks to that steadfast foolishness, Surin could hold onto the conviction that Qing might actually overcome the terrible fate of Heavenly Slaughter.

Truthfully, though Ximen Surin was her master, she hadn’t actually imparted much martial arts to her.

When she taught her the Nourishing True Soul Sutra, Qing stunned her by immediately reaching grand completion.

But for other martial arts like swordsmanship, Surin judged that Qing needed to gain enlightenment from what she already possessed.

Therefore, the training method Ximen Surin prepared for this winter was an extension of that idea.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Tall stacks of bound books landed heavily in front of Qing one after another.

“Uh, Master?”

“I pondered why enlightenment wasn’t coming to my disciple, and I concluded it must be because your learning isn’t just lacking, it’s entirely nonexistent.”

It was a blatant way of saying, You ignorant wench.

“A girl who trains in Daoist and Buddhist martial arts but doesn’t know a single Daoist immortal or Buddhist Buddha – how could she possibly grasp enlightenment even if it came?”

“Uh. Studying at my age is a bit…”

“Learning is a lifelong pursuit, disciple. Until you transcribe all these books twice each, you will not be permitted to journey into the martial arts world.”

“Ah!”

Qing looked crestfallen.

Of course, books in the Central Plains weren’t like the ones from Qing’s homeland, densely packed with text on thin paper.

The paper was thick, and the characters were enormous. If she copied diligently, she might see results sometime in the spring, or maybe not.

It really depended on Qing’s sleeping schedule.

Qing looked down at the books.

Just from the titles, she could tell they were Daoist and Buddhist scriptures.

Which meant they were the most boring kind of books: religious texts.

Worse, scriptures from this era were closer to philosophical treatises, annotation-style works where interpretations varied depending on the author, even for the same sentence.

In short, they were boring.

Even if she had college entrance exams the day after tomorrow, there was no way these books could ever be interesting.

Qing responded with a grimly determined expression.

“Master. I would rather strip, ack!”

Thwack!!

Qing rolled on the floor.

“Tsk, tsk. Even so, there are things a young lady of marriageable age should and shouldn’t say.”

“Master, I think you’re getting stronger… At this rate, disciple’s head is really going to crack open, you know?”

“Stop exaggerating.”

“No, it really hurts…”

Qing said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Well, she hit her to make it hurt, so of course, it hurt.

“Since my disciple knows no shame, stop spouting nonsense and do as you’re told. You may be ignorant, but you have a brain. If you use it, you’ll naturally memorize things.”

“Yes…”

Qing replied forlornly, her shoulders slumped.

However, wise people throughout history and across regions have consistently said one thing:

The mouth is the root of all evil, so always watch what you say.

Truthfully, the ignorant Protective Body Aura training from last winter was a brutal atrocity that all masters in the martial arts world would point fingers at and curse.

Forcing a grown female disciple to stand before the sect members in a state of undress – how could one possibly bear such shame?

Ximen Surin herself had felt heartbroken and constantly sorry about it, yet this was the end result.

Ximen Surin was human too.

It was inevitable that resentment brewed alongside her heartache.

“However, since my disciple possesses such great spirit as to dare speak of disrobing, how could I, her master, possibly stop her? It seems you haven't forgotten that training, even after enduring such hardship through the winter. Very well, I shall permit that as well.”

Qing realized she had spoken rashly and not only failed to get her way but had lost everything down to her last reserve.

Giving up completely, Qing voiced her single, desperate hope in an earnest tone.

“Then, this time, could you perhaps allow me just one blanket? I want to sleep lying down…”

“Hey, Qing-ah, yah. You need to apply the medicine.”

Whenever Tang Nanah occasionally called her something other than "you," she seemed so awkward and embarrassed that she tended to glance around nervously right after speaking.

This time too, Tang Nanah was about to glance around when she immediately froze in horror.

“Kyaak! You, you, what are you wearing!”

Tang Nanah shrieked, covering her eyes.

Though her eyes were clearly visible between her fingers, it was the customary pose for a woman expressing embarrassment, so it wasn't really something to nitpick.

Qing replied with a look of enlightenment, or perhaps resignation.

“…It ended up like this.”

“Why is your house like this? Did a thief break in?”

“Something like that. Close enough.”

“Aren’t you cold? The wind is blowing right in…”

“It’s cold…”

Being okay and being cold were two different things.

Just like getting a painful flick on the forehead didn’t cause injury or break the skin, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

Still, it felt better than last year, subjectively.

Ah. Maybe it’s because I’m wearing bandages…

With the power of the Blissful Maiden Arts helping her endure heat and cold, plus having learned two Ice Arts, it was only natural.

Unless it was the kind of winter found in the far North Sea, the cold of the Central Plains was no longer something that could invade her body.

“Why, why are you dressed so indecently?”

“Training…”

“What kind of training is this? Hey, are you maybe… hated? How could you stand before others like that…”

“They’re all family anyway…”

“Isn’t this beyond a family matter…”

Tang Nanah swallowed hard.

But, it’s provocative. The girl looked so… provocative.

Dressed in attire fit for a world-class seductress, yet her expression and eyes were filled with a gloomy resignation, her shoulders slumped in sadness.

That contrast was truly, how should one put it… provocative…

Tang Nanah just kept swallowing, gulp after gulp.