Chapter 18: Set Course north-westward

"Ah, what a dreadful world we live in."

A-Qing heartlessly stomped on the rat-faced man's back. 

"S-spare me! Please!"

Just as she was about to plunge the Moonlight Sword (6th model) into him, Dao Master Seungsu frantically intervened.

"Hold on! Fellow fairy. Can't we show a little mercy?"

"Why? Turning this scum into fertilizer is the only way they'll ever benefit the world."

"It's for your own good. It's not wise for a cultivator to accumulate so much killing karma."

A-Qing waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, I'm fine."

She casually finished off the rat-faced man.

The old Daoist from the Wudang Faction could only force a wry smile at her proficiency.

A-Qing flicked her sword, scattering the blood.

She sheathed it with a flourish.

The truth was, she'd practiced a lot when she had nothing else to do.

"By the way, old man, why did I get beaten up? I coughed up a whole bowl of blood, and that guy didn't even apologize."

"Sigh, discipline."

"Teacher! No, I really saw it with my own eyes! Clearly! I swear! An evil aura was oozing out of her! I swear on Teacher's honor that I'm telling the truth!"

Hwan-yook jumped to his feet.

This was the strongest oath a martial artist could make.

'I swear on my sect's honor, it's true'

'I swear on my teacher's honor, it's true'

In the modern world, it was a far more serious declaration than swearing on one's mother.

This was because if one lied while swearing on their sect or master, they would be excommunicated for the sin of deceiving one's sect.

One blast of the excommunication beam and a martial artist's life was over.

It was different from the modern world, where one could just say 'Sorry, Mom!' and move on.

"Sigh, discipline. What am I going to do with you..."

"I'm telling the truth! Don't be fooled! She's definitely some kind of monster!"

"Discipline, there are no monsters in this world. A cultivator shouldn't speak like a fake monk."

Wait, fake?

A-Qing tilted her head.

Wasn't that an English word?

Actually, it was a word from Confucius, meaning similar but not the same.

It roughly meant a similar fake.

While A-Qing was puzzled, Hwan-yook, filled with frustration, shouted, "But teacher, there are the Three Emperors in the Three Pure Worlds, the Six Heavenly Emperors, and the Eight Immortals, so why can't there be monsters?!"

"Oh, you blind fool..."

Dao Master Seungsu's beard bristled.

He was a bit more agitated than usual, and Hwan-yook, not noticing, continued, "Didn't you say that monsters like the Ginger Ghoul were just stories from the Classic of Mountains and Seas?! But I was right, wasn't I?! The thing under Lake Dongting was a Jiangshi..."

"You rascal! Do I really need to discipline you to bring you to your senses?!"

"Gasp!"

The secrets of the Murim were spilling from Hwan-yook's loose lips.

But A-Qing didn't really understand anyway.

Living Jiangshi?

If it was a Jiangshi, wasn't it a corpse that hopped around with its arms outstretched?

But if it was alive, wasn't it not a Jiangshi?

Well, whatever. It was probably something like that.

A-Qing got to the point.

"Old man, he doesn't seem to want to apologize anyway."

"I'm so sorry."

Dao Master Seungsu said, looking ashamed.

A-Qing smiled and replied, "Instead, why don't you do a good deed with me?"

A-Qing briefly explained the situation.

A child was being targeted, and they just needed to get to Mount Wu. She was taking her there, but it seemed like these guys would continue to attack them.

Dao Master Seungsu had also heard the rat-faced man mention kidnapping before he died, so he readily agreed.

If their destination was the Divine Maiden Sect on Mount Mu, it wasn't that far out of their way. It would only take about three or four days.

And their destination was the Divine Maiden Sect.

Even though the Divine Maiden Sect was considered a secluded and mysterious sect, it was still a proper Daoist sect.

Daoist sects had a distant, familial relationship.

There was a sense of camaraderie even if they didn't know each other.

And Hwan-yook was really disciplined.

It was discipline focused on shame rather than pain.

Perhaps because of this, the master's discipline had absolutely no effect!

"You monster, now I know your true identity."

"My true identity? That's interesting."

"Monster, you must be the nine-tailed fox who seduced King Zhou in the past and stained a thousand years with blood. You must be the nine-tailed fox. You may have tricked teacher, but you won't fool me."

"What are you talking about, you crazy bastard?"

"How terrifying. A monster wearing human skin and imitating them. I clearly saw the endless murderous intent flowing from those wicked eyes."

It seemed he was quite upset about being disciplined in public in broad daylight.

A-Qing snorted and raised her voice.

"Old man! He's going crazy again!"

"This fool can't seem to come to his senses..."

"Teacher! I'm innocent! That fox..."

"Alright, even if I have to break all the branches in the mountains, I'll fix your delusions."

"Ahhh, you monster! I won't forget this grudge!"

Hwan-yook shouted as he was dragged away.

Actually, it was understandable.

Hwan-yook saw correctly.

But since humans couldn't see their own true forms, A-Qing didn't know what she looked like either.

Moreover, mirrors weren't common in Murim like they were in the modern world.

Bronze mirrors were cheap but difficult to maintain and didn't reflect clearly, while silver mirrors coated with silver or mercury were treasures worth a fortune, even if they were only the size of a palm.

A-Qing was a wanderer, far removed from treasures.

She rarely saw her own reflection properly.

So she just thought he was a bit of an idiot for a Daoist.

Meanwhile, the sight of a gray-haired old Daoist spanking his grown-up disciple's calves was a rare amusement for the Wudang Faction Daoists.

After they all rushed out, not wanting to miss the spectacle, A-Qing asked Yang Sowol, "That mother, do you happen to know the Hao Sect?"

"The Hao Sect... you say?"

"One of the rat-faced guys said he was from the Hao Sect. I don't really know them. Are they famous?"

"Well..."

Yang Sowol hesitated before answering.

"...I don't know them very well either. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."

"No, it's fine. There are tons of sects and factions in the world, you can't know them all."

Still, it bothered her a bit.

It was the first time she'd encountered someone using bombs.

Wait, why were there bombs in Murim? Was this right?

At this rate, cannons and guns would appear next.

She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but thinking back now, it was a chilling situation.

Moreover, from her experience dealing with various villains, there was a slight difference in the way they revealed their background.

Was it confidence, or pride?

A-Qing scratched her head.

It seemed idle thoughts were creeping in now that she was more relaxed.

The journey with the Wudang Faction Daoists was comfortable.

There were a couple of attacks, but the Daoists would rush out and take care of everything before A-Qing could even lift a finger.

Besides, she didn't feel much bloodlust lately.

So she just relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

She felt awkward with the middle school girl.

There was an odd sense of distance.

She wondered if she had done something wrong, but she wasn't sure.

They were getting closer to Mount Wu without any problems.

About four days away from Mount Wu, there was a group blocking their path.

At first, A-Qing didn't pay much attention.

It was unlikely that attackers targeting Jin Jang-myeong would be waiting out in the open, and their good karma suggested they weren't bad guys.

A young man stepped forward as their representative.

His good karma was 62.

Dao Master Seungsu's karma was exceptionally high, but this was still among the top three she had seen so far.

Dao Master Seungsu, Little Supreme Justice, and this young man.

As long as one's evil karma didn't exceed three digits, it meant they weren't going around doing bad things.

So A-Qing relaxed.

"You must be heroes from Wudang. Are you by any chance Dao Master Seungsu?"

"Oh, do you know me?"

"I am Yang Chaemu of the Yang Clan."

"Oh, you're Great Hero Yang Wiji's son! The last time I saw you, you were about four feet tall. You still have the same face. You remember this old man!"

A-Qing listened and realized that he was greeting a friend of her father.

Perhaps because of this, Dao Master Seungsu also smiled brightly.

"So, how is the Great Expert? No, I heard he entered seclusion. Is he still training?"

Yang Chaemu's expression darkened.

"Actually, my father did not enter seclusion."

"Then what happened?"

"He was gravely injured fighting the Man-Eating Demon."

"What! So, tell me more."

"He was in a state where life and death were uncertain, but fortunately, he has made great progress and recently regained consciousness."

"Oh, that's a relief. We almost lost a giant of the Orthodox Faction."

Dao Master Seungsu clutched his chest.

And then, with a feeling of regret, he continued, "Why didn't you tell us? Would the Sect Leader have spared the Purple Night Pills if Hero Yang Wiji was in critical condition?"

"It's because of the terrible demonic arts he was struck with. The Divine Doctor said that elixirs would become poison."

"The Divine Doctor examined him? That's good fortune! Good fortune."

"However, the Divine Doctor said that his core was damaged by the Flame Demonic Arts."

"Flame Demonic Arts! How could that cursed technique be!"

Flame Demonic Arts!

The Wudang Daoists were surprised and buzzed at the name.

A-Qing didn't know what it was, so she just listened.

It wasn't like she could interrupt and ask them to explain things she didn't know.

So, what were the Flame Demonic Arts?

Did they shoot fire from their hands?

That would be... kind of cool.

Come to think of it, there was also the Volcanic Faction, right?

Even A-Qing, who didn't know much about Murim, had heard of them.

Flame Demonic Arts.

Since lava beat fire, was the Volcanic Faction stronger?

While A-Qing was lost in thought, the conversation continued.

"His core is damaged? Elixirs won't work? What in the world can be done? Is there a way?"

At the news that his close friend was in critical condition, Dao Master Seungsu's expression became grave as he pressed for answers.

"...There is a way."

"Oh! It's a relief that there's a way! What is it! Can I help in any way!"

"But that treatment is the only one in the world..."

Yang Chaemu trailed off and looked this way.

More precisely, towards Jin Jang-myeong standing next to A-Qing.

Wait, something seemed very wrong.

A-Qing felt a deep sense of foreboding.