Chapter 955: I Want to Watch (9)

People of the Central Plain were seasoned spectators.

The instant a fight looked like it was about to break out, they all shuffled backward in a single rush, opening space—despite the sheer size of the crowd, their timing matched like one body.

Because the spectators who weren’t seasoned got trampled, got clipped by broken sword fragments, got dragged into the fight and disappeared.

The spectators who survived became seasoned spectators.

In the open “plaza” that formed, Azure Dragon Gate’s swordsmen drew their blades and took their positions, grinning without even trying to hide it.

It probably did look easy.

There were four opponents. Three of them looked like brats, and only one was an adult—and even that adult was just a woman.

Sure, people said to be careful of women, but in truth, how many famous female masters were there, really?

So laughing like they’d already won before the first strike—there was a logic to it. A crude one, but still.

SHIIING—

With a cold, clean sound, the woman’s large saber slid free.

Even in that moment, a small ripple of awe ran through the crowd, because just the sound carried the deep resonance unique to a finely tempered renowned blade.

Only then did the Azure Dragon Gate disciples’ expressions tighten.

Masters carried a presence all their own.

It wasn’t the kind of pressure that came from blasting killing intent, or crushing someone with internal power like shimmering true aura heat.

It was something else—an odd pressure you could feel even when they did nothing.

And the more experienced disciples quickly realized the source of it.

Ease.

Even facing more than thirty elite sect disciples, the woman’s posture was simply relaxed.

If she’d been alone, maybe.

But she had three short figures at her sides, and she was still absurdly unbothered.

No matter how strong she was, a blind blade didn’t care who held it. She should’ve shown at least a flicker of concern for the children with her.

Yet even the three shorter ones—stiff, sure—weren’t stiff with fear. It was the focus of martial artists about to fight, not the kind of tension that came from panic.

So what did that mean?

Either the woman’s attainment had reached a realm so extreme she truly believed she could fight while protecting all of them—

Or the three of them also had enough skill to protect themselves.

An old proverb of the martial world surfaced again.

Be careful of women, children, the elderly, and the disabled.

It got repeated for so long because no matter how often it was said, people still relaxed around them.

After all, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled were, by definition, the weakest people in the world. The phrase “the weak and vulnerable” didn’t exist for nothing.

Did the sect leader of Azure Dragon Gate not know that?

He realized something had gone very wrong.

His own level was widely known—anyone in Dangsan County could tell you if you asked.

So that woman couldn’t possibly be ignorant of it either. And yet she was that relaxed.

Supreme Peak or higher? A Harmonization Realm master?

A Harmonization-realm female swordsman—who was there?

If she belonged to one of the Nine Great Sects—no, she wore secular clothes, so she likely wasn’t.

Then a woman from the Sword Pavilion?

But then why was she traveling with children?

Or maybe she wasn’t an orthodox heroine at all.

A Harmonization-realm female swordsman from the demonic paths—who was there?

The sect leader’s mind spun so hard it felt tight, names surfacing and dissolving, again and again, yet none of them landing.

And honestly, that was why people treated female martial artists as safe to ignore.

They told you to be careful, but the truth was, the level of most female martial artists was plainly lower.

The sect leader’s calculations tangled.

Ordering the attack now felt dangerous, because that ease bothered him.

But backing down after coming this far required justification.

Qing’s calculations tangled too.

I hid my strength pretty well, but when it’s actually time, isn’t it kind of weird to reveal my identity with my own mouth?

Somehow this is like that celebrity chef show where the kid next to the judge always pulls off the covered armband at the exact moment.

Me saying, “I am the Heavenly Flower Sword!” is... forced as hell. And then I’d have to show my face. Taking the veil off myself is awkward, and more than that, it’s not even cool.

Couldn’t there be a convenient gust of wind right now? Something like a storm? If the veil got whipped away, sure, that would work.

Hiding strength was easy.

Revealing it was way more complicated than she thought.

So both of them were busy doing math in their heads, the standoff dragging on—

And then it happened.

“Move, move! Out of the way! What is this commotion in broad daylight!? Hurry and clear the road!”

A loud, richly projected bark came from somewhere behind the crowd—the kind officials used.

And sure enough, moments later, government soldiers with tridents pushed through, shoving the crowd aside. At the front was a middle-aged man wearing an official robe.

And beside him, a goat-bearded man suddenly shouted.

“Insolent! Put away your weapons at once! You dare violate the laws of the state in front of the Prefectural Magistrate!”

Dangsan County’s prefectural magistrate appeared.

Dangsan County Prefectural Magistrate: Chong Nakyong.

He kept his promise.

The promise to come “help” the sect leader of Azure Dragon Gate.

Chong Nakyong flicked a meaningful look at the sect leader, and the meaning was obvious.

See? I told you I’d come.

That’s right.

Chong Nakyong—though he wore a prefectural magistrate’s body—was a man who also valued friendship.

Even if the other man was the head of a martial sect, he would not hesitate to help a good friend.

Yes.

He was a man of loyalty.

So the government soldiers arrived, turned their backs to Azure Dragon Gate’s disciples, and leveled their tridents at Qing.

“The laws of the state say that carrying weapons longer than two ja is restricted to matters of soldiery. And it also forbids covering one’s face to conceal one’s identity. Yet you conceal yourself, and you wear such a vicious weapon in the middle of the day—who are you, and why do you point it at people?”

Qing was a little dumbfounded.

Why is this bastard only talking to me? Yes, sure, those were actually parts the law forbade, but still.

But at the same time, it was perfect.

They said someone slaps you on the cheek when you’re about to cry, right?

She’d been embarrassed to declare “I’m the Heavenly Flower Sword” out loud.

This timing was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° great.

This made it natural.

Qing sheathed Moonlit Night, then carefully removed her face veil.

In an instant—

A collective inhale tore through the crowd, and silence dropped like a guillotine.

“I am Seomun Cheong of Hubei.”

Then—one voice, two voices—

“Three-headed beauty!” “Heavenly Flower Sword!” “Heavenly Flower of the Blossoms!” “The most beautiful under heaven!” “The Seomun clan!” “Young hero!”

“Kyaaaaa!” “Heavenly Flower Sword! Heavenly Flower Sword!” “Unni!” “So cool!!”

The first set was men.

The second set was women—fewer in number, but screaming loud enough to drown the street.

The crowd didn’t care. The moment everyone started shouting over each other, the entire space became a boiling pot.

So she wasn’t just doing the “Heavenly Flower” act—she’s the Heavenly Flower Sword herself? The most beautiful under heaven? Isn’t that a bit much? No, it’s not—when was the last time you heard that? The scholars in Jiangnan all agreed: the Heavenly Flower Sword is literally the reincarnation of Hang’e, the most beautiful under heaven. It’s official, it’s official. But—she really is unreal...

The prefectural magistrate, who’d been spellbound by that otherworldly beauty, snapped back to himself.

“Ahem. I see. It is a long-standing rule that government does not involve itself in the affairs of the martial world. I did not realize this was a martial matter, so... I will take my leave.”

That’s right.

Chong Nakyong—though he wore a prefectural magistrate’s body—was a man who valued ancient tradition as well.

Even if it meant refusing to help a good friend, he could not break the long-established separation between government and the martial world.

Yes.

He was a man who did not waver for private affection.

If he disgraced a young hero personally praised by His Majesty, that would become a problem.

If he acted too friendly, that could become a bigger problem, entangling him with central politics.

Better not to get involved.

Not because of reasons like that—

But because he respected the long tradition of non-interference.

If he’d known Qing’s true identity, or the fact that she held the post of Royal Censor, he would’ve turned the spears the other way on the spot.

But Chong Nakyong didn’t know.

Only a tiny handful knew Qing’s true identity, and it would be strange for a local magistrate to know about a Royal Censor’s post anyway.

The prefectural magistrate appeared like the wind, then vanished like the wind.

And then all that remained was the roaring, excited crowd—

And the awkward sect leader of Azure Dragon Gate and his gang, holding swords like idiots.

The sect leader blinked.

Then, stiffly, he asked.

“Ah... th-then, Heavenly Flower Sword... y-you really...?”

“It is more than I deserve, but yes. That is what I’m called.”

“Th-then your... your companions are...?”

“I am Moyong Jun, the young lord of the Moyong Great Family!”

A youthful voice shouted out, sharp and eager.

Even without looking, you could tell he was thrilled—like he’d been wanting to yell that once in his life.

Qing’s all-direction sensing—the Divine Thief specialty Awakening—read it clearly: the kid had raised his sword high, and by the feel of it, he’d even wrapped it in sparkling sword aura for the occasion.

“The Moyong Great Family!” “For reference, Moyong Jun is the noble son of the great hero Ilwol Sangjae, one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, and he is twelve years old by age!” “Look at that vivid sword aura—he’s definitely reached the Peak!” “They said the Moyong young lord was brilliant—Peak at twelve!” “Is the martial world’s record being shattered again!?”

Since Moyong Jun was new to the martial world, “those with insight” didn’t have a sobriquet to scream, so they compensated by unleashing rabid ‘insight’ at full volume.

Qing’s spatial sensing caught Moyong Jun’s tiny shoulders puffing up.

Yeah. He would love this.

With the “insightful commentators” screaming themselves hoarse in the background, the crowd’s eyes grew even brighter.

Wait. The Heavenly Flower Sword, and the Moyong Great Family’s young lord?

Then who were the others?

“I’m Moyong Juhee.”

A cold voice, proudly aloof, as if she didn’t even want to answer—strangely unfamiliar.

Then again... when Qing first met her, she’d been sharp like this. Huh. She’d softened a lot.

“Golden-Yang Sword Blossom!” “Sword Blossom!” “Five Blossoms of the Martial World!”

The crowd’s chanting got even more ecstatic.

And then their gaze, packed with expectation, slid to the last remaining figure—

A short boy—or a young man—wearing a face veil.

“...I am Kim Heojung.”

Instant silence.

Then: murmurs.

Kim Heojung? Who’s that? Do you know? No. Anyone? Never heard of him. Me neither. What the hell...

Unfortunately, the order was bad.

It was like those famous masked-singer contests back home—stars revealing themselves one by one—then suddenly someone steps up and says, “I’m Lee Junyeong from Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.”

Sure, even famous people have ordinary friends. They could travel together. It wasn’t like celebrities only moved in celebrity packs.

But the disappointment still crept in anyway. That was just human nature.

And.

The sect leader of Azure Dragon Gate screamed silently.

The Heavenly Flower Sword? Why is the Heavenly Flower Sword here!?

Who was the Heavenly Flower Sword?

Her background, strictly speaking, wasn’t that impressive.

The Priestess Order was famous, sure, but mostly because it was a mysterious women-only sect. Its martial strength had always been dismissed as nothing special.

But the Priestess Order wasn’t the Heavenly Flower Sword’s true background.

Because the Heavenly Flower Sword’s true background was the Martial Alliance itself.

The figure representing the next generation of the orthodox martial world.

A genius who reached Supreme Peak at twenty.

The inevitable next “Number One Among Women.”

The top prodigy most likely to become the next generation’s Number One Under Heaven.

The Martial Alliance had already recognized her as the next generation of orthodox martial arts itself.

And that wasn’t all.

As the Society Master of the terrifying elite social club that every young martial artist dreamed of joining—Half-Sword Twin-Blade Society—she’d already gathered the next generations of the old sects and the Five Great Families in her grip.

And her standing?

Her master was the Great-Grand Senior Teacher of an old Daoist sect, meaning the Heavenly Flower Sword held a place in the current martial world’s master ranking—at the very bottom of the elder order, yes, but still inside it.

And her master was also the current Number One Among Women, a true peerless monster who ranked fourth among the Ten Great Masters of the World.

So if he touched her wrong, getting attacked by the entire orthodox martial world plus an actual peerless master would not be a joke.

The sect leader’s vision went dark.

Then, suddenly, a regretful “Aaaah...” snapped him back.

The Heavenly Flower Sword had put her face veil back on—the very veil she herself had made famous—and the crowd moaned in disappointment.

And at the same time, another sound.

SSSSHHK.

What was that?

The sound of the sect leader’s face draining of blood.