Chapter 454: A Sad Legend, What Kind of Legend Is It? (4)

Regardless, the twin-sword martial artist snorted and drew the blades smoothly.

Srrrng—well-honed steel sang with a crisp sound as they carved a wide circle through the air.

Oh, wasn’t that a stylish draw?

Qing was a little impressed at the posture.

“A rutting dog of West Lake can’t break his filthy habits, even here trying to lure women.”

“What? Rutting dog? How dare you, do you know who I—”

Pounsel barked back, but his words were cut clean off.

“Who are you? A rutting dog prancing around under Daddy’s shadow. You think even here in Jimo your daddy can protect you?”

Pounsel faltered, his momentum sharply clipped.

But his mouth wasn’t.

“Are you insulting the Ironblood Sect?”

“Dogs bark only on their own turf. Step outside and you get eaten. What, want to test it with blades?”

Pounsel’s eyes rolled nervously.

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong—that was the way of heretics, and of Qing too.

With the twin-sword martial artist pressing so hard, he wilted.

Already, there were plenty of notorious demonic thugs in this city.

And yet this one showed no reaction even at hearing Ironblood Sect’s name?

That could only mean they had backing even higher.

“Tch. What a buzzkill. Let’s go. Ptui, what bad luck.”

Pounsel spat on the ground, turned sharply on his heel as if insulted, and left.

The so-called Seven Heroes turned out to be a brood of six younger brothers trailing after him, and they all vanished in a pack.

Only the twin-sword martial artist remained, with the crowd showing faint disappointment.

“Uh, was that guy a famous demonic thug?”

“Not really a thug. Just a bastard born handsome to a good family, tricking women into bed, playing around until he’s bored and then discarding them. Well... though it’s also the fault of those women who fall for it thinking, He’ll treat me differently.”

In Qing’s homeland expression: a good-looking rich kid doing eat and dump.

“Mm. No wonder it felt off. Well, thank you for helping?”

“No. I only came because I heard a familiar name—and saw some bastard making trouble. You said you’re Eon Yeonyeong?”

“Yes. And?”

“Mm. Must have been someone else then. Forget it.”

Qing’s eyes gleamed.

Oh? So he knows of Eon Yeonyeong?

A Blood Sect pawn?

But if so, why was his aura blue—for virtue? And strong, at that?

Extremely suspicious.

Qing ran her eyes up and down the martial artist.

Huh.

Twin swords. Short stature, even under the conical hat.

Flat chest.

But hips—hips broad enough to rival her shoulders.

Which brought one person to mind.

The twin-sword martial artist gave a brief nod and turned away.

Qing quickly grabbed hold.

“Wait. Since you helped me, can I at least treat you to a cup of tea?”

“Eh? No. I wasn’t looking for payment, don’t trouble yourself.”

“Come now, don’t be like that. If not tea, then wine? A bowl of fishcake stew with Jimo wine—no, a bowl of Jimo wine with fishcake stew?”

The martial artist glanced behind Qing, at the towering pile of empty fishcake bowls.

“...Drinking when the sun’s still high?”

“Then we’ll drink until it sets. Please, it’s just gratitude.”

“Sorry, but I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh-ho. Are you going to keep dodging like this?”

The martial artist tilted their head, thinking the line sounded oddly familiar—when suddenly Qing leaned in close and whispered by the ear.

—Lady Murong? You are Lady Murong, aren’t you?

“Wh—who...?”

“Come on, come. Wine? Tea? Snacks? Let’s go all out today to honor my benefactor. Come on, come on.”

“W-wait—”

And before she knew it, Qing had linked arms with her, tugging insistently. The martial artist couldn’t quite break free and ended up dragged along.

The onlookers, too, wore strange expressions, struck with déjà vu as though they had seen this before.

****

Inside a teahouse’s inner chamber, once the martial artist took off her conical hat—sure enough, Gunhwa’s beauty was revealed.

“My goodness, to meet here of all places. Have you been well?”

But Murong Juhee’s mind raced at full speed: Who on earth is this acting so friendly?

And the boy at her side glaring like a venomous snake—his identity was a mystery too.

Still, the social graces she had honed at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering didn’t vanish.

“Um... Miss Yu? Is that right? No? Sorry if I’m mistaken.”

It was a roundabout way of saying she didn’t know the name.

If she had, she’d have recognized immediately.

So maybe some young lady of a middling sect she had only crossed paths with a few times.

And such women were always desperate to curry favor with Phoenix Society’s hostesses.

So such eagerness wasn’t strange. But—

“What, already forgot? It’s me, Qing. Seo Mun Cheong.”

“...Eh?”

“Oh, I’m in disguise. Well? Convincing, right? You couldn’t recognize me—because you didn’t.”

“Huh? Now that you say... but, Miss Seo Mun, um, your—here.”

Murong Juhee lifted a hand in front of her chest in a brushing gesture.

“Ah. Disguise too. Look.”

Qing opened her front to show tightly bound bandages.

Jin Jangmyeong jabbed Qing’s side.

“Who?”

“This is Jin Jangmyeong, youngest disciple of Divine Lady’s Gate. Jangmyeong, this is Gunhwa of the Murong Clan, one of the Five Beauties of the Martial World. My friend.”

“Friend?”

At that word, the venom drained from Jin Jangmyeong’s face.

“Hello. I’m Jin Jangmyeong. My sect owes your elder much.”

Murong Juhee blinked slowly.

“Miss Seo Mun? It’s really you?”

“Drop the ‘Miss.’ What’s with that?”

Murong Juhee’s face lit up like a flower suddenly blooming, pale wan petals bursting into full radiance, bright enough to make the whole room feel illuminated.

Jin Jangmyeong’s eyes sharpened again.

But Murong Juhee scooted from her seat, sliding to Qing’s side, leaning close, pressing her arm against Qing’s.

“Heheh. S-so... you’ve been well?”

“I’ve been fine. And you, Lady Murong? Feeling better? Sleeping well?”

“Thanks to you, I’m better now. Though... mm, I still don’t sleep deeply. So if... if Miss Seo Mun wouldn’t mind, maybe tonight I...”

Jin Jangmyeong’s eyes narrowed like blades.

But Qing wasn’t much concerned.

“I’m glad you’re better. But what are you doing here? Did you also come searching for the Absorbing Qi Demonic Art?”

Murong Juhee’s eyes widened.

Jin Jangmyeong’s stayed sharp.

“You mean... the Absorbing Qi Demonic Art? Saljungsal? That vicious technique—why...?”

“Eh? You didn’t know?

“I just... came out for air. Somewhere far from familiar faces. Sometimes I just want to be alone. It’s close, so...”

“It’s fine. All fine.”

Qing stroked her back gently, feeling pity.

Murong Juhee gave a sudden gasp, making Qing think she had misstepped.

But really, since she had been leaning awkwardly, when Qing’s hand suddenly pressed, she just startled.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have approached. You wanted to be alone.”

“No! If it’s Miss Seo Mun... I truly wanted to see you. With you beside me, I feel safe. I’m happy.”

Murong Juhee’s expression shone bright.

Before, Murong Juhee had always been hurting.

One might think, What’s so terrible about lacking breasts? But to her it was a despairing wound.

So she lashed out.

Women with breasts deserve some abuse from me, she thought.

But after she truly suffered greatly, and someone stayed by her, embracing her through those barbs, she realized something.

Everyone has their pain and scars. Whether great or small, to them it hurts unbearably.

Her own tantrums—demanding recognition for her pain—were shameful.

She wanted instead to become someone who could be a comfort to others.

And she did.

Strangely enough, once she changed, people gathered around her.

Among people, her pain eased, smiles came naturally.

But sometimes it still hurt.

Sometimes she needed someone to recognize her pain too.

So she had come out alone to breathe. And then—

“Hehe...”

She found someone who understood.

Murong Juhee rubbed her cheek softly against Qing’s arm, yet still watched Qing’s face to see if it was acceptable, if this was okay.

A flicker of concern crossed Qing’s eyes.

Is this alright? Her way of speaking, too... She seems like a child. Is she still badly hurt?

What Qing didn’t know: Murong Juhee’s reputation had completely flipped, skyrocketing.

People whispered she had matured overnight—gentle, poised, womanly.

A natural elder sister.

But even elder sisters want someone to cling to.

Qing didn’t know the circumstances.

And Murong Juhee wasn’t about to say aloud, I became that adult myself, out of embarrassment.

“Jangmyeong, you too? Stop rubbing, your scar’ll peel.”

“Hmph.”

On both sides, little ones rubbing cheeks.

Well, both had the right to.

Qing brushed it off and asked,

“So, you knew Eon Yeonyeong?”

“Of course. She’s a traitor. A Blood Sect pawn.”

And before her betrayal, she had been a Martial Alliance patroller, and part of the Jin Clan of Jinju—one of the Ten Great Houses.

So how could any later generation of the Orthodox Factions not know her?

“Ah.”

Qing only now realized the gaping flaw in impersonating Eon Yeonyeong.

Good for deflecting grudges, but she had never thought that orthodox people would know her better.

Mm. Better hold back on that.

Save it only for when turning away grudges is essential.

“But—you mentioned the Absorbing Qi Demonic Art...”

“Ah. They say a secret treasure is hidden in Mount Lao. And that treasure is the Absorbing Qi Demonic Art.”

“Ah. No wonder the city’s packed with martial artists. Shouldn’t we report this to the Martial Alliance immediately?”

“Too late. Even if you reported now, the Alliance’s investigators would take two months to arrive at best. In two months, they’d strip Mount Lao down to bedrock.”

“Then... Miss Seo Mun, you’re here to find and destroy it?”

“Yes. Destroy it quietly. That’s why the disguise.”

Murong Juhee’s face hardened with resolve.

****

Back at the inn, sprawled in their room toward evening, Cheon Yuhak suddenly banged the door open.

“Ah, there, there.”

“Oh, Master, you’re back?”

Qing jumped up, and with that force, the two clinging brats beside her were tossed sprawling.

Her perennial-iron abs had strength enough to fling off a couple of children leaning on her.

“Mm? And who’s this young lady?”

“This is Murong Juhee of the Murong Clan. She wants to help eradicate the Absorbing Qi Demonic Art. Ah, Lady Murong, this is my second Master, um...”

“Call me Scholar Cheon.”

After brief introductions, Cheon Yuhak spread a map wide.

“This is Gebong, the tallest peak. Usually if a stele is mentioned, it means the highest summit, so it’s a strong candidate. And even if not, it would give the best view of the surroundings.”

He pointed lower.

“Here, they say there’s a square stone called Natural Stele. Too obvious. If it really was there, the art would have been plundered long ago.”

His finger tapped several more spots.

“Here, here, here—large caves. We’ll check them on the way to the summit.”

With the map, a plausible plan formed.

If you had this, why not get it earlier?

And where did he even get it?

Then Qing noticed in the corner: a red seal stamped on the map.

Dojihuin.

Ah. So he raided the Provincial Commander’s military camp.

For reference, the Provincial Commander commanded sixty to eighty thousand troops in one province.

Qing quietly folded the map’s edge to hide the seal.