Chapter 954: I Want to Watch (8)

In truth, for a mere sword-seller to square up to a sect leader took a hell of a lot of courage.

And if the sect in question was one of the city’s most influential powers?

Even more.

A sword-seller who lived day to day, meal to meal—if someone like that got on a major local sect’s bad side?

They’d have trouble finding work at the local Mercenary Guild, starting immediately.

Even “wanderers” didn’t usually just roam completely at random. Most of them drifted around one region and built a name for themselves, however small.

And once their face became known here and there, if they managed to enter a sect, or even land a job as an instructor at a small manor, you could say they’d achieved a remarkable level of success for a wanderer.

So for a wanderer—the Southern-Dynasty King—to slam into the sect leader of Azure Dragon Gate like that was rare courage.

But why?

Because sword-sellers were people too. People.

It was after yesterday’s mess in front of Azure Dragon Gate finally dispersed.

“I saw you watching the whole thing, you know? Right. I ended up with some extra money thanks to that, so I’ll treat you to dinner. I’m paying properly today.”

“Ah... we already ate. He—well, after he finished eating, he started throwing a fit about not having money, and it became... no, not a fit, not—whatever, it turned into that. More than that, we should hurry and pack up and leave.”

“Huh? Right now? The sun’s about to set. Ah. Well, I guess he does look like the type to hold a grudge, yeah?”

She understood the wanderers’ situation surprisingly well, instantly.

The wanderers had only been victims, but from Azure Dragon Gate’s perspective, they’d be “uppity little shits.”

And beating up some wanderers after picking a fight didn’t require any grand scheme.

“So don’t do that. Stay at an inn tonight. There’s a really nice inn right in front of Dragon Spring Tower—sleep there one night and leave in the morning. I can’t buy you dinner, but at least eat a solid breakfast before you go.”

She was offering to pay for an inn for wanderers who were afraid of possible retaliation.

“If it’s in front of Dragon Spring Tower... you mean Dangsan Tower? That place is disgustingly expensive—ahem. We can’t accept that level of kindness.”

“I’ve got a gold ingot from the sect leader, so that’s nothing. I’ll still have plenty left over, so it’s a profit for me. And I’m keeping whatever remains, so I need to do at least this much to feel comfortable. If you refuse, I’ll feel awkward. I’m asking you. Please.”

In that moment, the Southern-Dynasty King’s throat tightened.

Even if you said the same thing, there were words that sounded good, and words that sounded filthy—how could she speak so elegantly, so refined?

“Why... are you doing this much for us?”

“It’s not ‘this much.’ I used to drift without a home too, living off bounties, so it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem. And... the one who swung the fist is fine. The one who got hit shouldn’t be the one who has to run.”

And so the Southern-Dynasty King spent the first night of his life at a high-end inn.

Then he ate until he was stuffed through breakfast and came out into the street.

And now the sect leader again?

Was he already trying to harm her?

The Southern-Dynasty King lowered his head slightly to hide his face, pricked his ears, and listened—and the things coming out of that man’s mouth were beyond disgusting.

Saying his benefactor had infiltrated Azure Dragon Gate last night and stolen a sword, calling her a thief, talking about reporting her—spitting out dog-shit nonsense.

Something hot surged up in the Southern-Dynasty King’s chest.

And when he snapped back to himself, he’d already slammed into the sect leader.

His heart dropped through the floor, and a wave of belated regret crashed in.

Am I insane? What the hell am I doing, butting into a real martial world brawl? I’m just a sword-seller. You crazy bastard.

And that was when it happened.

“What’s with all this noise so early in the morning? Is there a show? Did a fire break out at the pancake shop—or... oh? Sect Leader? What’s going on here?”

Seomun Cheong appeared.

To be honest, Qing was a little dumbfounded.

They came barging in first thing in the morning? Barging in... or barging out? Either way, she wasn’t even at Dragon Spring Tower, so it wasn’t like they were barging in on her—whatever.

Still, seeing the sect leader and his trash making a spectacle like this, of course she’d be dumbfounded.

Why in the morning?

What kind of martial artist got their sword stolen and then calmly waited for sunrise? A thief is a thief, but at night you sleep, so let’s just keep sleeping?

She’d been planning to make them suffer by forcing a chaotic midnight chase the moment she hopped the wall, but what was this? The second she cleared the sect wall, nobody even pretended to pursue.

A perfect chance to use a Divine Thief secret—Lure to Catch by Letting Go. Teasing them like she was almost caught, almost caught, and then refusing to be caught.

But Qing didn’t know anything about the delicate power game and posturing between government and the martial world here.

She didn’t know the laws in this region were strict as hell. She didn’t know anything. She didn’t want to know, either.

Anyway, it worked out.

A crowd of spectators had already gathered, and her original plan was to wander around wearing the “picked up” swords until she lured the sect leader out.

If he came to her on his own?

Great. Thanks.

Qing had a long blade strapped across her back, and on her waist—crossed behind her—one sword on each side.

Three swords total.

And she placed her hands, deliberately and brazenly, on the left and right hilts.

The sect leader’s eyes bulged.

What swordsman wouldn’t recognize his own sword?

And this wasn’t Qing’s old world, where mass-produced goods rolled off identical lines. A blade hammered by a craftsman’s individual hand might resemble another, but there was no such thing as “the exact same.”

Seeing his expression, Qing flicked her tongue.

“But wow. Sect Leader, you got your sword stolen? Wow. A swordsman gets his sword stolen? Th—no, hah...”

A swordsman who couldn’t even secure his own sword—what was he, then?

The effect was incredible.

The sect leader’s rage detonated instantly.

“Y-you bitch—! You bitch!”

“Sect Leader? Could you watch your language? ‘Bitch,’ really? I’m concerned your conduct isn’t something the people under you should learn from—ah. So that’s why Pyeong Goun turned out like that.”

So that was it.

The father was like this, so the son was like that.

“Anyway, don’t make such a commotion this early. A weary guest might want to sleep late—how can you raise your voice right in front of an inn? Go do it somewhere else. I’m going to—last night I couldn’t sleep, so I think I should get the rest I missed. Haaahm.”

I couldn’t sleep because I was stealing your sword, so stop being loud. I’m going back to bed.

If she’d added a greasy smile too, it would’ve been perfect, but the face veil hid expressions—good and bad, that was how it went.

“Haah!! You thought you’d be safe after stealing my sword!? You thief bitch!”

“Huh? Steal a sword? Me?”

Qing tilted her head.

And then the sect leader finally drew his sword—showing he was done talking, issuing an ultimatum.

“Haah!! You bitch, draw your sword! I will no longer forgive—”

“Wait!!”

Qing’s booming voice severed his words clean off.

“Wait. You seem really worked up. Calm down for a second, and let’s organize this for a second. So. This sword is your sword, and it was stolen last night. And I stole it. That’s what you’re saying, right?”

“Is it not!? The sword you’re wearing is the proof. If you draw it, the letters ‘Eternal Azure Dragon’ will be engraved on it—how dare you stand before me wearing the sword you stole and say it isn’t?”

Qing stood at a slant and asked back.

“But that’s just your one-sided claim, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“I mean—fine. Let’s say your sword was stolen, and the stolen sword is on me. So what? Where’s the proof I’m the culprit?”

“You broke into my bedchamber and woke me!”

“That’s so strange. Do you know my face? My name?”

“Th-that...”

The sect leader trailed off.

Because he didn’t know.

“You don’t. So how do you know the intruder was me? Did the intruder introduce herself while stealing your sword, like, ‘Hi, I’m the person who came to collect money this evening’? Why are you pointing at me so confidently?”

The crowd’s eyes turned toward the sect leader.

...Huh.

Now that you said it, that’s true.

“W-what nonsense! With that body and that attitude, who else could it possibly be but you!”

The crowd nodded, heads bobbing.

There couldn’t be another woman in the world with that kind of presence. You saw that once and you’d never forget it. Seriously.

“Wow. Sect Leader, you even have a child, and you’ve been watching women that closely? What a thing to say.”

“W-what.”

“And honestly, you can imitate a ‘presence’ like this by padding cloth under your clothes. That doesn’t prove it’s me.”

“Th-that—”

“And if you wanted to frame me, you could make up words as much as you like, right?”

Again, the crowd’s gaze slid toward the sect leader.

“This—this—!”

“So, if you don’t have any other proof, stop tossing pointless accusations around. If it’s a thief, they’d obviously try to sell the sword, so wouldn’t it be better to go look for a fence instead?”

The sect leader’s mind snapped back into place.

Why am I explaining myself here? The evidence is literally hanging on that bitch’s waist.

“The proof is on you! The sword you wear is my sword, the Azure Dragon Sword! If you draw it, the four letters ‘Eternal Azure Dragon’ will be engraved on it—the swordsmith of Cangjin Workshop made it and carved those letters! Well!? What now!”

“Huh. Really? Oh—wow. It really is.”

Qing slid the blade out with a clean SHIIING, checked it, and nodded. Ohhh.

Then she even thrust it forward so everyone could see.

Her reaction was so far from what he expected that the sect leader couldn’t hide his stunned expression.

And that was when—

Qing suddenly snapped.

“Sect Leader, I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us?”

“A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding could there be!? My sword was stolen, and you have that sword! How could that happen if you didn’t steal it!?”

“It’s a misunderstanding. A sword without an owner was lying there, so I picked it up because I thought I should find its owner.”

“What are you saying!? Picked it up!? Where!?”

“Above the pillow on the bed? It was left half an inch drawn—like it was set up so you could pull it instantly.”

It was the same kind of joke as telling a child, I picked you up under a bridge.

That bed was my bed!

“Okay. I’ll admit it looked like something you could misunderstand. I had the sword that was stolen, so I get why you’d misunderstand.”

“What kind of ridiculous—”

“So where’s your proof? Proof. Where is it? Why are you calling an innocent person a thief? Nobody saw the thief except you, and why should anyone believe what the ‘victim’ says? If you want to frame someone, couldn’t you have ordered your people to bring the sword and put it on me?”

“What kind of dog-shit—! You stole it! That voice—! You stole it, you dog-shit bitch—!”

“Ha. So you’re really going to insist? That I’m a thief? That I infiltrated Azure Dragon Gate and stole a sword—this ridiculous claim?”

“Hah! Don’t make me laugh! I saw it and heard it with my own eyes and ears. Don’t think your pathetic sophistry will get you out of this. You dare insult our sect?”

He snarled like a beast.

Like he would draw his sword at any second.

And not just posture.

He issued the order.

“All of you—draw your swords! To defend the honor of our sect and our ancestors, we will execute the enemy of our sect!”

Qing’s mouth split wide.

This was the moment she’d been waiting for.

I’m the enemy of your sect?

Then now I have to kindly teach you—

Exactly who you just made your enemy.