Chapter 159: For Whom Does the Hammer Toll?

The bandaged man quickly checked on the Disciplinary Officer.

Qing was on the taller side, and martial artists who had undergone Overhaul Rebirth tended to have long limbs.

Qing lifted the hand clutching the man's wrist high, causing the old man's corpse to dangle about half a foot in the air, swaying limply.

It was a scene that sent chills down the spine for two reasons.

First, the chilling presence of an adversary who had just subdued a late-stage Transcendent Realm master. Second, the death of the Unorthodox Path's Disciplinary Officer meant future repercussions, sending a frosty shiver down their already cold backs.

It was, quite literally, adding frost to snow—making a bad situation far worse.

“I am Dan Unsak, leader of the Namen Sect,” he announced, trying to keep his voice steady, though a slight tremor, like a singer’s vibrato, crept in. “Who in the world are you to commit such lawless acts?”

“Why should I tell trash my name just for taking it out?” Qing retorted coolly. “Whoever finds it annoying takes care of it. That’s the rule.”

“Urgh…” A heavy groan escaped Dan Unsak.

Translated into the language of the martial world, their conversation went something like this:

Dan Unsak: ‘Let’s talk this out.’
Qing: ‘Shut up and fight.’

Now a five-year veteran of the martial world, Qing had not only mastered interpreting Murim-speak but could also use it proficiently herself.

Not only that, she even knew how to apply it creatively.

“However,” Qing added, a predatory glint in her eyes, “the possibility of survival isn’t entirely zero. Hand over Old Man Ban’s grandson.”

Beside her, Zhuge Ihyeon marveled inwardly.

As expected, Sister! Even if you get him, you’re not saying you’ll back down! By mentioning only a ‘possibility,’ aren’t you reserving the right to say ‘never mind’ later? Isn’t this just pure manipulative bullshit, a con artist’s scheme?

By now, Zhuge Ihyeon had come to understand about eighty percent of Qing’s character. Once she decided to crush someone, she was a persistent and despicable type of virtuous expert who wouldn’t shy away from using any means necessary—words, blades, poison, or fire—until she was at a disadvantage. She seemed completely ignorant of the concept of face, yet somehow also seemed righteous, making the description strangely fitting.

“Hmph,” Dan Unsak scoffed. “Trash, you say? But aren’t you ultimately after the world’s greatest sword craftsman, Old Man Ban, just like us?”

“Rescuing a grandson looks much better to others and is better for boasting than kidnapping one,” Qing shot back. “How dare you compare the two? Are you comparing a feast freshly laid out with food that’s been rotting for half a month? Do you think anything edible counts as food?”

“No matter how you frame it, it’s still the same vile greed trying to possess the world’s greatest sword craftsman—”

“Enough,” Qing cut him off sharply. “Hand over Old Man Ban’s grandson. Weaklings like you… when told to hand something over, you can’t just say, ‘Yes, sir, here you go,’ and present it. Why the long speech?”

“That is…” Dan Unsak hesitated.

Just then, Zhuge Ihyeon leaned in close to where Qing’s ear presumably was beneath her veil and whispered.

“Sister, I don’t think they can hand over Old Man Ban’s grandson. That Disciplinary Officer mentioned a ‘wicked medicinal soup,’ so perhaps…”

The rumor that lepers ate children was merely slander born of disgust. But rumors were the most vicious and wicked things in the world. They swayed the hearts of the desperate, making them believe falsehoods as truth. And leprosy, a disease where flesh rotted and fell off while the person was still alive, was so horrific it was called Heavenly Punishment.

The light in Qing’s eyes faded, replaced by a cold, inorganic texture. Faint violet luminescence leaked from the eyeholes of her veil. It was the starlight of a baleful star, something people instinctively avoided, recognizing it instantly as deeply harmful and dreadful.

“I should have just burned everything down earlier,” Qing muttered, her voice dangerously low.

“My thoughts exactly,” Zhuge Ihyeon agreed softly.

Qing casually dropped the old Demonic Adept’s corpse and switched her Moonlight Sword to her right hand. It wasn’t unusable in her left, but the familiar feel of the sword in her dominant right hand felt just right, settling perfectly into her grip.

“Seeing you hiding your face, you must be the Namen Sect leader, right?” Qing tilted her head, her voice dripping with contempt. “People in the martial arts world say there isn’t a single decent-looking person among those who cover their faces.”

Everyone present looked at Qing with peculiar expressions. But Qing, being a confident beauty, had nothing to fear.

“Let me hang you up high and show the world just how ugly you are,” she continued, her voice rising. “Eating people because you have nothing else to eat? You dog-like—”

“Wait!” Dan Unsak shouted urgently. “It’s a misunderstanding! There’s a misunderstanding!”

Qing paused, tilting her head again. “Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”

“That horrible rumor about medicinal soup or whatever isn’t true!” Dan Unsak insisted desperately. “Who would believe such nonsense!”

“Not a rumor?” Qing raised an eyebrow. “But that dead… uh, sheriff—”

“Sister, it’s Disciplinary Officer,” Zhuge Ihyeon interjected quickly. “But ‘sheriff’… I wonder why that sounds so cool. It somehow makes my chest feel warm—”

“Whatever,” Qing waved him off impatiently. “That Disciplinary Officer said you guys brewed him up for a health tonic.”

At this, Dan Unsak’s voice turned genuinely aggrieved. “We sold Old Man Ban’s grandson off to the black market! We stopped using that kind of ineffective, superstitious remedy ages ago!”

“So you have tried it before?” Qing’s eyes narrowed. “Enough talk!”

She stomped the ground and shot forward like an arrow. Sword Threads, now forming the shape of a single colossal blade, completely enveloped the Moonlight Sword, trailing a thick, sunset-colored trajectory.

“Ha, damn it!” Dan Unsak roared, drawing his sword. “What are you doing! Attack!”

A faint starlight flickered on his blade; by the late Transcendent Realm, even less compressed Sword Force was manageable. Sword Threads and Sword Force were incomparable in nature. However, penetrating Qing’s ridiculously powerful output wouldn’t be easy, even for the less compressed Sword Force of a Transcendent Realm master.

Qing pressed her advantage, continuing her assault relentlessly. Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain—when attacking, strike like a storm.

The latter technique of the One Hundred And Eight Asura Sword, Eleven Thousand Strikes—a swift sword relying on instinct, accompanied by countless afterimages—raged mercilessly, striking high, low, left, and right without distinction.

As Dan Unsak continuously retreated, parrying the blows, a thought occurred to him. Somehow, this isn't impossible.

The ominous violet light trailing behind her like a tail was certainly unsettling, and the bundled Sword Threads extending from her sword were bizarre and unheard of—yet, she wasn’t using Sword Force. This must be what happens when a Peak Realm master simply brute-forced their internal energy.

“Damn it! I was tricked!” Dan Unsak realized with a snarl. “This wench, she wasn’t a master!”

“What are you talking about?” Qing replied mid-strike, her voice laced with amusement. “I. Am. A master.”

“What are you all doing!” Dan Unsak yelled at his men. “Attack her immediately!”

But his disciples hesitated, even backing away. The lower-ranked members with untrained eyes perceived Qing’s vicious Sword Threads as a hundred times more dangerous than their leader’s faint Sword Force. The discerning First-Rate Realm and few Peak Realm martial artists glanced warily at the group maintaining distance behind Qing. After all, the Blood-Forged Sword Demon had died, confirming that there must be a master among them or someone possessing comparable techniques.

So, it seemed better to watch the main fight. If their leader gained the upper hand, they’d rush in to quickly turn the tide. If he fell, they’d surrender. Sects belonging to the Unorthodox Faction consistently emphasized the loyalty of virtuous experts precisely because they lacked it, stressing it until their ears bled.

“You goddamn bastards!” Dan Unsak ground his teeth.

Ultimately, he had to do this himself. No matter how immense her internal energy, could he fail to defeat a mere girl only at the Peak Realm?

Dan Unsak deliberately put on a troubled expression, taking steps back, feigning being pushed onto the defensive. Then, in the gap between their swords clashing, his eyes flashed. He drew a sharp sword path, thrusting into the opening as Qing’s arm recoiled. It was one of the finest moves of Dan Unsak’s life, an attack embodying the essence of striking second but landing first—a perfect counterattack.

In his momentarily accelerated perception, the world slowed. The girl raised her arm, blocking the sword’s trajectory. In the slowly flowing world, Dan Unsak’s lips slowly stretched into a wide grin. Foolish girl, do you think mere flesh and blood can block Sword Force?

Finally, Dan Unsak’s Sword Force touched Qing’s diagonally raised forearm. In time that seemed almost frozen, he saw the Sword Force seep into her white skin. Just as Dan Unsak believed without a doubt that her delicate forearm would be sliced clean off—

Clang!

A powerful impact struck his hand! It felt like hitting scrap iron. His palm screamed, the shock traveling through every joint, bringing a throbbing pain.

“How…” he stammered.

Right on cue, Qing’s errant right arm returned. Realizing he couldn’t evade the slash aimed at his waist, Dan Unsak completely relaxed his legs and threw himself backward. Qing’s blade traced a crescent moon, narrowly missing the tip of Dan Unsak’s nose.

Relieved, Dan Unsak accepted the impact on his back and immediately rolled his body forcefully. Lazy Donkey Roll. A type of lightness skill whose name meant ‘lazy donkey turning over,’ it was nothing more than rolling frantically on the ground. Martial artists, who valued face as much as life, unanimously claimed they’d rather die than roll disgracefully on the floor. Yet, when faced with true crisis, none chose death over saving face by rolling. And then they’d make excuses, mentioning Han Xin and crawling between someone’s legs. It was Han Xin’s great fault for providing an excuse they could milk for over a thousand years.

Qing stomped her foot hard. Boom!

The fierce pressure of the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step slammed down on the surroundings. The advantage of the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step was that the energy gathered in the soles, meaning she didn’t have to see those disgusting eye-filled True Heavenly Demon Qi. It meant she could use it carelessly without worrying.

Dan Unsak, who hadn't managed more than a few rolls, suddenly groaned under the doubled pressure.

Following that, Deeeeng, the bell-toll sound of the Buddha's Palm echoed, and blood spurted from the prone man's thigh. Schlick!

“Kuaaaargh!” Dan Unsak clutched his thigh and screamed bloody murder.

The inner thigh is surprisingly one of the fatal weak points. One of the thickest blood vessels runs there, unprotected by muscle. With his femoral artery severed, uncontrollable bleeding erupted from below Dan Unsak’s hip. Still a master in his own right, he fumbled at the wound and clamped down hard on the blood vessel with his fingers. Perhaps using a technique related to the True Fire of Samadhi, a couple of wisps of white smoke rose with a faint sizzling sound.

He stopped the bleeding, but he’d lost a leg. A one-legged Transcendent Realm master could be handled even by a Peak Realm martial artist other than Ximen Qing.

Qing grinned down at Dan Unsak. “The crime of not recognizing an expert? Death penalty.”

Frankly, it was absurd. Their understanding of the sword differed significantly; even amidst the frantic exchange, hadn’t Dan Unsak found an opening and launched a fatal counterattack? If not for the White Hand Demonic Arts' Vajra Invulnerability—no, since it was only at the Peak Realm level, it was a bit weak—more like Gold-Plated Invulnerability or perhaps Silver Invulnerability—her torso would have been neatly sliced along with her forearm. If not for the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step, he would have jumped up and attacked again. If not for the Buddha's Palm, how could she have struck through the air to burst his thigh?

However, it was common tactics for a martial artist to hide a secret technique or two. Qing just happened to hide quite a bit more than others.

In professional terms: Learn the hard way. It was a precious truth passed down since the dawn of mankind.

And what a loser must do when victory and defeat were decided had also been determined since ancient times.

“P-Please spare me,” Dan Unsak pleaded, his face pale. “Whatever you want, I’ll give you everything, so please…”

“I already told you what I want,” Qing interrupted coolly. “Old Man Ban’s grandson. Can you bring him here right now?”

“Time, please give me time,” he begged. “I sold him to the black market, if I make inquiries, I can surely find…”

“Hmm.” Qing scratched her chin thoughtfully, lowering her hand casually… then suddenly shot it out again. “An opening! This is for my arm!”

Deeeeng!

Splat! Blood spurted as Dan Unsak’s forearm below the elbow dropped off, rolling on the ground along with his sword.

“Kuaaack! Why! Why!” he shrieked in agony and disbelief.

“Your darting eyes look suspicious,” Qing stated matter-of-factly. “Besides, your attitude is all wrong. If you want to live, you should know to rub your hands together like a fly. Why were you gripping your sword so hard your knuckles turned white?”

There actually exists a technique called Sword Breaking. It involves violently infusing True Qi into the sword body to shatter it. Done poorly, it just destroyed a weapon. But properly mastered Sword Breaking was like General Cannons, launching thousands of sharp fragments imbued with copious amounts of True Qi.

Qing had merely been suspicious, but it was indeed the final technique Dan Unsak had been secretly preparing. Qing’s fighting style relied heavily on intuition and cunning, making her exceptionally sensitive to such things.