Chapter 65: Who’s Holding a Blade…

And the solemn law that Qing had established was that, as the victor, one must properly show respect to the defeated.

It was a noble act—honoring the will of the fallen and inheriting the relics they left behind.

So, Qing did exactly that.

But then—

The storage pouch, gone?

…No, how could this be?!

Qing was enraged.

This was a serious betrayal.

Even if she had practically begged to be stabbed was a villain, she could have at least put effort into something worthwhile, how could there be no reward?

Such an unfair reality could not be tolerated.

Just in case, Qing thoroughly searched the body once more.

And then, something touched Qing’s hand.

Something had been sewn inside the inner garment.

It was tightly rolled and stiff—definitely not a storage pouch.

But if it had been hidden this well, it had to be valuable.

Yes, this is it! I believed!

With a bright expression, Qing tore the inner garment apart.

And the moment something landed in Qing’s hand—

Suddenly, the Martial Arts Window started clamoring to be opened.

From Qing’s experience, this only happened when a intact secret martial arts manual was obtained or or when an oral technique was transmitted to her.

Qing opened the Martial Arts Window.

A newly added, gleaming martial art entered Qing’s sight.

The Joyful Maiden Technique. It's border was gold.

Gold, huh. Gold comes after purple.

And it was an internal energy cultivation method?

The more internal energy, the better.

Might as well make a short trip back and ask Master if this was a decent martial art before learning it.

That's right.

Qing was experiencing growth!

But before that—

Qing recalled Ximen Surin’s advice.

"Since you frequently come across martial arts manuals, I must warn you: if you obtain one and wish to learn it, memorize it completely, then burn it. If it is an evil technique, just burn it outright. Martial arts manuals are seeds of conflict just by existing."

Conflict—Qing was sick and tired of it.

Qing pulled out the tinderbox.

A tinderbox refers to a container made to contain embers.

It was actually a fairly expensive item, but Ximen Surin had provided it for her fragile disciple who couldn’t yet produce the Threefold True Flame.

For reference, Threefold True Flame was a technique used by Transcendent Realms, raising the temperature at a single point using the principle of intense compression.

It was a crude method of channeling energy just to produce a spark, but it had long been recognized for its convenience.

Of course, since Qing was still at the Peak Realm, she had to rely on carrying a fire-starter to light a fire.

She gathered a few handfuls of dry spring leaves, pressed them to the fire-starter, and soon a flame ignited.

The secret manual of The Joyful Maiden Technique was an oil-soaked, stiff bamboo slip, but in the end, it was just wood.

How long could it possibly resist the flames?

The manual burned.

The secret art of the Joyful Palace, which had been passed down solely to its palace leader for generations, was consumed by fire.

Beside it, the palace leader’s corpse lay lifeless.

At that moment, a sect’s long-preserved legacy was severed.

Qing took one last look around before continuing on the path.

Qing had no idea what that villain had been planning.

But she had over 400 points of evil karma.

It was probably just another trap, wasn’t it?

She couldn’t afford to get tangled up and end up like Lake Dongting.[^Demonic Cannibal incident]

"…So."

Ji Seungju organized the report with an expressionless face.

"Ximen Qing ambushed and killed the Joyful Palace Master, then burned the martial arts manual before heading toward the Divine Maiden Sect?"

"Yes. I witnessed it with my own eyes."

The assassin, a member of the Demonic Sect’s Outer Hall Shadow Division, replied.

He had been one of those sent to assist Hamwol in luring the target.

From the assassin’s perspective, Qing was no different from a top-tier killer.

Not a trace of killing intent leaked out, and her single, decisive strike was executed without a moment’s hesitation.

Even a master at the late Transcendent Realm couldn’t react and died instantly—she would’ve made a name for herself in the Murim long ago if she were an assassin.

This was not something an ordinary mind could achieve.

"She didn’t even look at the martial arts manual?"

"It seems she has no interest in demonic techniques."

"She’s even more ruthless than I thought. As expected of Ximen Surin’s disciple."

Ji Seungju clicked his tongue.

Ximen Surin’s hatred for lustful fiends was infamous.

To her, gender didn’t matter.

Male lust demons were scum who shouldn’t exist.

Female lust demons were shameful disgraces to all women.

And scum should be burned. It was said that she had even set fire to the corpses of those she killed.

Of course, at only fifteen, Ji Seungju had never encountered the infamous killer firsthand.

But the records alone made it clear—Ximen Surin had been an utterly insane butcher.

At some point, she had stopped appearing in the Murim and secluded herself in the Divine Maiden Sect, leading people to think she had mellowed out.

Turns out, she had simply passed down all her hatred to her disciple.

Otherwise, how could that disciple have identified and dealt with a decrepit old monster exiled to the farthest corners of the Murim?

"A righteous sect swordswoman with the mind of an assassin… This is going to be a headache. And to make things worse, the Bokshinjeok ended up in her path?"

It was estimated that it would take at least forty years for the Bokshinjeok, imbued with its owner’s internal energy, to completely shed its traces.

Even that was a conservative estimate.

Right when they were on the verge of completing their grand mission, the key had fallen into the hands of a righteous martial artist.

"What should we do?"

"I will take direct command. Mobilize all cult members to secure Ximen Qing. Before Ximen Surin catches wind of it."

The assassin swallowed hard.

To witness that legendary command in action!

Ji Seungju’s martial arts were barely second-rate.

But the true terror of Demonic Mind did not lie in martial strength.

A battlefield orchestrated by Demonic Mind’s direct command…

“Pavilion Chief! I have a report!”

At that moment, another assassin rushed in, shouting.

Ji Seungju, expressionless yet subtly exasperated, looked at the second assassin and asked:

"If you’re here too, then who’s tracking the target?"

The second assassin answered.

"The Supreme One has personally captured her."

"Hey. You there."

It was a lazy, almost indifferent voice.

Startled, Qing snapped her head around.

A man stood before her, his long hair cascading down to his waist.

His face, with its firm, chiseled jaw, exuded stubbornness, yet he was smiling faintly as he looked at her.

Qing’s expression hardened.

She was an expert.

It wasn’t easy to fool an expert’s perception.

For someone to be this close without her even noticing—this wasn’t normal.

Qing hurriedly checked his karma debt.

-998.

She immediately regretted it.

Shit. Shouldn't have checked.

If she wasn’t careful, she’d be the one to push him over to -1000.

Qing had a general rule: strong against the wicked, weak against the good.

But she was also weak against the strong and strong against the weak.

A weak villain? Great plaything.

A strong villain? Curl up and hide.

After everything—after surviving off scraps, eating rotten food, making bugs a side dish—she’d managed to claw her way through life.

Just when she was finally starting to settle into this world…

She decided to talk first.

"Who are you?"

"This Venerable one?"

Ah, fuck.

Qing’s face twisted.

A guy who referred to himself as 本座 (Běnzuò)—“This Seat.”[^formal, authoritative first-person pronoun, similar to "this venerable one," used by those in positions of power or seniority]

Only the truly deluded ones talked like that.

"If you must know, think of me as your creditor. Since you have something of mine."

"I do?"

"Yes. A flute, about this long. Have you seen it?"

The man spread his arms wide.

Qing recognized the length immediately.

She hesitated for the briefest moment, stealing a glance at him.

Even though he was clearly in her field of vision, there was something strangely faint about him.

Not quite human. Or an unfathomable master.

Qing made her decision immediately.

"Ahaha. I just found it on the road. I had no idea it belonged to someone. Should I return it?"

Don’t resist.

She quickly pulled out Bokshinjeok and held it out.

The man’s smile widened.

"Good. You're a thieving cat who knows her duty."

A shiver ran up Qing’s arm.

Thief… cat?[^has been used as an insult toward women who ‘steal’ husbands or lovers—similar to "homewrecker" in English]

Did he just call her a thief cat?

What kind of sane person says that?

No doubt about it. He was a complete lunatic.

Qing reached another decision.

Stay the hell away from him.

But before she could act, the man spoke again.

"By the way. Did you blow it?"

She had heard that once the flute made a sound, it would unlock itself for its new owner.

Would he buy a lie?

And if he didn't, would she get stabbed for it?

Qing’s eyes darted around nervously.

The man’s grin widened.

"You blew it, didn’t you?"

"…And if I did?"

"Then the threads of fate are irrevocably woven. Not only have you usurped my rightful possession, but you have claimed its very essence as your own. Thus, by the immutable laws of destiny, you are now bound to me."

Holy shit.

Every single line out of his mouth was a goddamn masterpiece.

Qing took a deep breath.

Then exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

"Pardon my rudeness, but… may I ask what realm you’re in?"

"Me? I will soon reach the Natural Realm."

The Natural Realm was a legendary realm that the Sword Emperor in his later years was presumed to have reached. 

In Ximen Surin's words, it was a complete lie that people made up because no one in the world had ever reached it.  

And yet, here was this guy, claiming he was about to reach it.

"Oh. So you’re in the Celestial Realm?"

"No. But I’ll be there soon."

"Then… you’re in the Life and Death Realm?"

"No. But I will reach it soon."

What the actual fuck?

Qing barely restrained herself from cursing.

Breathe. Stay calm. No need to pick a fight.

"So… you’re in the Profound Realm?"

"If I put my mind to it, I could reach it by tomorrow."

So not even the Profound Realm?!

Why does it keep going down?!

A tiny flicker of hope sparked within Qing.

If he was only Trancendent Realm, she might just be able to handle him.

If he was bluffing with all this grand talk, she’d smack him with a Fivefold Buddha Palm right here and now.

Qing pressed on.

"Then… are you in the Unrestrained Realm…?"

The man didn’t answer.

Instead, he simply snapped his fingers.

Qing’s face fell into disappointment.

Damn it!

Just a little more, why stop there…?