In fact, Qing doesn’t really have a big reason for teasing the two of them. If there’s a small reason, it’s that the impact is so satisfying that it’s actually fun to beat them up.
When it cos to Gongsun Yoye, all Qing has to do is say, “This body, the Transcendent Qing,” and she’d just go, “Wow, Lady Seomun, you’re truly amazing,” and that’s it. No punch to it.
Besides, it seed like she really got beaten up properly when she was in that trance, so Qing felt both grateful and a bit guilty. If not for the fact that it was a practice sword without an edge, Gongsun Yoye would have been sliced into four pieces — Gong/Sun/Yo/Ye — with each character shredded to bits.
And as for Tang Nana, there’s no point in trying to hit her in the first place.
The Tang Clan, unofficially allied with the royal family and possessing even cannons, is practically the number one power in Zhongyuan at the mont.
In addition to the firepower of their cannons, they also possess terrifying asymtric power in the form of poison bombs they can load and fire. For soone like Tang Nana, the daughter of the Tang Clan, personal martial arts skills don’t seem to matter much.
Thus, Qing was on the lookout for soone she could actively ss with.
To be honest, there was no need to go far. Wasn’t the Yongbong Gathering full of people more or less on the sa level?
Ah, look at them. These people who can’t even reach the Transcendent level are just lounging around, drinking and chatting like they have all the ti in the world.
When I was at their level, I wasn’t just lazing around, drinking, or chatting. I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, and just swung my sword all day long, tirelessly... well, maybe not exactly, but still.
“Hey, isn’t that Changbin?”
“Gasp, th-the Taesago, Taesago-nim is here...”
“What the hell? Why so stiff all of a sudden? I haven’t seen you around lately, and now you’re all nervous again?”
“It’s not that. The Sect Leader keeps calling you the youngest junior sister, so, uh, how could a lowly disciple like ...”
Changbin glanced around nervously, and Qing smirked as she replied.
“Co on, we’re friends, right? It seems that Yuhak Jin-in thinks highly of , but how could I beco the Taesago to a Huashan disciple? Relax. Take it easy.”
“Uh, um... okay, then...”
“But let’s get one thing straight. We were friends. I don’t care about the past, but don’t even think about going toe-to-toe with a Transcendent martial artist. A martial artist should speak through their martial arts, shouldn’t they?”
“Oh... then, what should I call you?”
Changbin was so flustered that Qing let out a deep sigh.
This guy is hopeless.
What can I expect from a guy who can’t even look in the eye?
“Aigoo, can’t even joke around with Changbin. Just try to relax, okay? Act like a man, huh? We’ve been friends for how long, and you’re still acting like a stranger?”
“No, I am relaxed. Really...”
“Alright, fine. Here, have a drink.”
Changbin, now accompanied by a woman in his group, only sipped at his drink in tiny, reserved sips, as if savoring every drop.
Whether he drank or not, Qing poured him another glass and scanned the area.
The person she actually wanted to ss with wasn’t in sight. Instead, her eyes t with a row of n.
Hmm. Maybe I should have worn a veil.
I thought since my face was already exposed, I didn’t need it, but now everyone’s staring at like they’re trying to burn a hole through my face.
If there was one thing that stood out, it was the noticeable absence of the overt enthusiasm previously shown by the Tang Clan’s five brothers.
Why? Because, for n in Zhongyuan, a woman stronger than them was an uncomfortable presence.
Later on, when they take concubines and secondary wives, they want to lounge around and play. If their main wife is a martial arts master, they’re lucky if they don’t get beaten to a pulp by her.
This kind of thing goes against the implicit social contract of Zhongyuan.
In romance, n should cherish and devote themselves to won as if offering their hearts.
But after marriage, the roles reverse. The man reigns supre, and among his three wives and four concubines, they all compete fiercely to be the most beloved, acting coy and seductive to win the husband’s favor.
Just then, a beauty caught Qing’s eye.
Her skin was so pale it was almost ghostly, her expression seemingly lancholic yet completely indifferent.
And beneath her eyes was a single tear mole that was as sultry as it was captivating, making Qing gulp involuntarily.
It was Bing Seolhwa Seol Iri.
After patting Changbin on the shoulder, Qing stood up and casually approached Seol Iri.
Sitting directly across from her, Qing was t with Seol Iri’s cold, detached gaze.
Qing forced a grin and greeted her.
“Um, hi there. You’re Bing Seolhwa Seol Iri, right? My na’s Seomun Qing.”
“Yes.”
Qing’s words got stuck in her throat.
Usually, people would say, “Yes, nice to et you,” or “Yes, what can I do for you?”
But just “Yes”? What did she an by that? Yes, she was fine? Yes, she was Bing Seolhwa? Yes, she knew Seomun Qing?
Before Qing could gather her thoughts, Seol Iri spoke again.
“Your business?”
“Huh?”
“What business do you have with ?”
Qing tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, then smiled.
“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to say hello. When I saw you, I thought, ‘Wow, she’s so pretty. I’d like to get to know her.’ And up close, you’re even prettier.”
“Yes.”
Another single word.
That single syllable held an inexplicable, almost mystical power to completely shut down any further conversation.
Watching Qing, who had been rendered speechless by that mystical syllable, Seol Iri finally spoke again.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
Ordinarily, that would be a polite way of saying, “Get lost.”
A chill seed to blow right through the room.
“Um. Did I do sothing to offend you?”
“No.”
“Is there sothing about that you don’t like?”
“No.”
“Then... you just don’t want to talk to ?”
“Yes.”
With that, Seol Iri clamped her mouth shut.
The nickna “Bing Seolhwa” wasn’t just for show. Talking to her felt like trying to have a conversation with a mirror.
Damn it, returning this martial art isn’t going to be easy.
When Seol Iri received the Great Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art, Seolga had told Qing to return it if she ever encountered soone from Binggung.
Since Seol Iri was said to be from Binggung, Qing intended to bring it up, but...
Then, suddenly, Qing’s gaze fell on the teapot.
Qing grinned and picked up the teapot, pouring herself so tea.
The distinctive fragrance of Dragon Well tea wafted through the air. It was hot, with steam rising visibly.
Qing activated her qi, cooling the tea instantly until frost ford over the cup.
It was cold Dragon Well tea, just the way Qing liked it.
The very act of drinking cold tea was heresy to Zhongyuan people, who believed that anything ingested should be hot to avoid severe health consequences.
Seol Iri’s eyes widened.
“Just now...”
“Oh, this? Dragon Well tea is quite a delicacy when chilled. Would you like to try it, Seol Iri? Or maybe...”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Before Qing could finish her sentence, a firm rejection shot out from Seol Iri.
And it was a very decisive refusal.
“They really don’t get it...”
“Just now. You used an ice technique. Can I ask which one?”
“Oh, so you know ice techniques! This is the Great Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art. It’s as cold and sharp as your attitude, Seol Iri.”
“How... how did you...?”
“Oh, is that important? What matters is that I have the secret manual and was asked to return it to soone from Binggung.”
“Who asked you to do that?”
“Well...”
Seol Iri’s cold, biting tone pierced through the air.
Qing concluded instantly.
They must not have been on good terms.
“That man is a criminal of Binggung. Not only did he murder his master and senior brothers, but he also burned down the sect and fled. He’s nothing but a vile demonic cultivator.”
“Ugh, I told you, their identity is a secret. Anyway, by tomorrow — no, by the day after tomorrow, I’ll have copied the manual for you. Just know that and leave it at that.”
If she stayed here any longer, she’d end up spouting more lies.
Besides, from what she heard, Seol Iri seed to have quite the grudge against ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ that bastard Seolga. If Qing tried to get closer, it would only stir up unnecessary trouble.
Sigh. Qing actually wanted to get closer to Seol Iri.
But throwing away friendship just to seduce a woman? That wasn’t sothing a true man would do.
She’d just have to swallow her tears and let it go.
Why is it that every woman she takes a liking to is either so final boss or the mortal enemy of her friends?
It’s like the archetype of the sickly, pitiful character always cos with a cursed past or sothing...
Qing let go of her lingering regrets and left.
However, it seed that Seol Iri couldn’t let go as easily. In fact, she made it very obvious that she couldn’t.
Seol Iri’s gaze remained fixed on Qing.
Despite the fact that human eyes are naturally capable of looking around and taking in their surroundings, Seol Iri’s gaze stayed laser-focused on Qing, like an owl or so other nocturnal predator.
Even if Qing did find that kind of intensity sowhat appealing, it was still a little... creepy.
Or maybe it was more accurate to say that her taste in won was seriously twisted.
While Qing shivered slightly at the eerie stare, she heard a familiar voice.
“Hey, Qing. You know, Grandpa said he saw an amazing iron palm technique at the market, so we were going to buy so daggers, and — what the hell? Qing, what did you do to Seolhwa?”
“I just tried to talk to her. She was so cold that I gave up.”
“What, are you trying to drag Seolhwa into your bed now too?”
“Could you not say it like that...?”
The words sounded suggestive, but with the way they were spoken — filled with laughter and playful teasing — it was clearly just a joke.
“But seriously, what’s up with her? She’s staring right at you like she has sothing to say. It’s kinda scary.”
“I know, right? I didn’t think she’d be this persistent.”
Qing had thought Seol Iri was the type to shut down any attempt at conversation with her icy deanor.
But it seed that the saying was true: you never really know soone until you experience them firsthand.
It’s only natural to feel a little self-conscious when soone is blatantly staring at you so intensely.
“Hmm. I can’t take this anymore.”
Qing finally decided to call it a retreat.
How was she supposed to show off her newly acquired Transcendent level with Seol Iri staring holes through her like that?
This was supposed to be her big mont — a chance to boast about her grand achievents as the Transcendent Qing and inspire the lesser martial artists around her.
Qing begrudgingly abandoned her plans to flaunt her power and decided to just go back and work on transcribing the Great Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art manual instead.
,
,
On her way back, Tang Nana was there to greet her, and of course, she was as noisy as ever.
“What’s up with you, Qing? Why are you walking like that?”
“What? What am I doing?”
“You’re walking so... provocatively. Ha. And as if you weren’t already carrying those two big moons in front of you. I can’t stand it. No wonder you switch girls every night. So tell , who was it last night? or Gongsun?”
“If I had to choose, I’d say Yoye was better. At least she doesn’t grope in my sleep.”
“I don’t grope you anymore either!”
“It’s not that you don’t grope . It’s that you can’t grope . Co on, be honest. How many tis did you ‘accidentally’ grope in your sleep, enjoying every second of it?”
Ever since Qing’s senses had heightened after awakening her inner core, she could feel Tang Nana’s wandering hands every single ti, which kept waking her up throughout the night.
After it happened over ten tis, even Qing couldn’t hold back and finally snapped, demanding to just let her sleep in peace.
“I-I wasn’t doing that! I was just... my hand just happened to... you know, it was just a natural reflex...”
Tang Nana tried to defend herself but couldn’t even look Qing in the eye.
Qing narrowed her eyes, glaring at her in suspicion.
Thanks to that, Tang Nana completely forgot about Qing’s supposedly lewd walk.
In truth, Qing was just trying to move quietly, being careful not to make a sound.
She had no idea what her walking posture looked like, and there was no way for her to find out.
In this primitive, ancient Zhongyuan, where there was no smooth reflective surface to check herself in, the concept of seeing one’s own appearance was a luxury.
Glass itself was a rare treasure.
Unlike her holand, there were no glass windows in buildings or car mirrors to glance into and accidentally make eye contact with the people inside.
And Qing was the first-ever female Divine Thief in history.
To Cheon Yuhak, Qing was just a nostalgic reminder of his own younger days, so he didn’t particularly care about her behavior.
And Seomun Surin? With her strict standards of martial grace, she’d probably never allow Qing to walk around on her tiptoes, sneaking about like a thief.
Anyway, after bickering back and forth like that, they finally reached Mucheon Pavilion.
Upon arriving, the gatekeeper inford them.
“There’s a guest waiting for you inside.”
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