MTLNOVEL Chapter 560
Jo Hyun-ryang is the Leader of the Martial Alliance.
If time permits, I’ll stay up all night praising the Cheonhwa-geom, everyone’s honorable granddaughter. I’m fully prepared to let the old man ramble on, and I’m mentally ready too. But really, can a leader just do whatever they please?
So, I have a duty to find out exactly what happened.
It turned into something like an interrogation, but since I kept my polite smile, it was, “Oh, how lovely! Such a good granddaughter! I just wish we could have one like her.”
No need for anything extraordinary, just a beautiful child with such good character.
But what does it even mean to have such character? Jo Hyun-ryang didn’t even know what wish he was making.
Anyway.
“So, I guess we can say the Blood Sect doesn’t have the Heart Consumption Technique.”
“Yes, based on the circumstances.”
“That’s a good enough harvest. You don’t have to worry about the false charges that you have the Heart Consumption Technique. The Martial Alliance has dispatched an investigation team to No Mountain, and they plan to sweep through it with a few Ronin and proper Sapa members.”
“Ah.”
Is that really a method?
Now that I think about it, instead of just talking, I should have pointed out the evidence of the Blood Sect idiots, showing where they eat, live, and set traps.
Of course, the implications coming from Qing and the investigation results involving the Martial Alliance and other third parties carry a huge weight difference.
“Still, there will be those who fight back, but with your mastery level, it won’t lead to any major disasters.”
Yet, the doubters will continue to doubt.
Just by looking at Qing’s hometown, you can see the flat world and the expected would-be child murderers promoting natural childbirth without medicine.
But this falls into the area of ignorance, not intelligence.
If someone believes in the Heart Consumption Technique of Seomun Qing, it doesn’t necessarily mean Qing has to suffer.
“Oh, and I met Unyeonjeong, Leader. You might find it hard to believe, but she appears to have surpassed the realm of Transformation.”
It was shocking news, but Jo Hyun-ryang didn’t seem overly surprised.
Trustworthy words are what matter for surprise.
Still, considering that Qing is already quite a master in the Realm of Transformation, it wouldn’t be something to be taken lightly.
“So you’re saying that child, hmmm… I can’t really spit it out, can I? She was such a good child, though. How did that happen? Sigh. So, are you saying Unyeonjeong has reached the threshold of life and death?”
“She said she hasn’t reached the realm of life and death, but she naturally conjured hundreds of sword-shaped Qis and performed actions with the principle of controlled chaos. While she may not be at full mastery, I personally witnessed a master having fun lifting such a skilled warrior and then brutally killing them by tossing them into boiling water.”
Unyeonjeong might feel wronged.
What’s this about after I went to all that trouble to help?
But Qing wasn’t lying.
Jo Hyun-ryang’s expression grew serious.
This was unbelievable.
Even if it wasn’t that girl, if someone else who spoke the same way came from behind the scenes, I would have thought it was just a mistake or that suggestion was leading you astray.
When it comes to external manifestations of Sword Aura, Jo Hyun-ryang could think of all sorts of mischief to operate it.
Capturing a Supreme Martial Artist using controlled chaos? It’s easy if you coordinate between two.
But words from the Cheonhwa-geom can be believed.
For one, this kid isn’t foolish enough to be tricked by someone else’s schemes.
A genius reaching the Realm of Transformation at just twenty-one years of age.
And how could such a straight-laced, righteous Cheonhwa-geom ever tell a lie? It’s simply unimaginable.
Now with concerns about the Imperial Family sharpening their swords and an undefined Blood Sect demon, could there have been too much peace for too long?
At least one comforting point is:
“Though she seems to be in league with the Blood Sect, there must be some other motive at play. She’s definitely a very shady character—ah! Sorry. Anyway, while she cooperates, it feels like she’s tricking us. I mean, there’s bound to be something else she intends to achieve.”
Thank heavens I heard that.
Jo Hyun-ryang let out a long sigh.
How did that good girl end up like this?
To think someone was alive and roasted alive! How horrifying and terrible is that!
And thinking about how much shock and heartbreak Cheonhwa-geom felt witnessing that makes my heart ache even more.
(However, opinions from the roasted Mahee may differ.)
“So, by the way, do you happen to know anything about the sorcery used by Jiangshis or those who operate using sorcery? It doesn’t seem like a normal way to attain mastery, you know? If there is indeed some method by which one can reach such a state.”
If sorcerers heard this, they might blow a gasket.
If there were such means, sorcery could have dominated the world ages ago, and the study of martial arts would have been replaced by sorcery.
But what’s the current state of sorcery, anyway?
As soon as something goes wrong, it’s all “You vile sorcerer!” with it treated as abominable and below worthless, like dog food—no, less than that.
In truth, when you trace the roots of martial arts, it developed from the ascetic practices of Buddhism and the life cultivation techniques of Daoism.
But indeed, the ascetic practices of Buddhism stem from the Yogas of the Central Continent, so martial arts is also just one branch of sorcery.
Yet, the ideas of Martial World individuals hold some truth.
After all, isn’t there the Great Master Muhak, who defines the complete path to self-fulfillment, world-reaching, and even ascension?
Often, those who stray from that righteous path and take the detour into sorcery tend to harbor ill will.
To confuse others, distort intentions, control corpses, curse and kill—in numerous ways.
Sorcerers argue that such acts are merely deviations of a few misguided, evil sorcerers.
But it’s common sense that you don’t describe the majority as only a part, denying the validity of the concerns of most.
Thus, even if asked, Jo Hyun-ryang would have nothing to reply when it comes to sorcery.
He’s just heard terms like Jiangshi magic or spirit possession techniques.
At least he thought Jiangshi magic was a technique for transporting corpses, created to preserve the dignity of the deceased and ease the sorrow of their relatives, but ultimately, looking at this girl, sorcery is indeed evil.
As the Leader of the Martial Alliance and a senior of the orthodox sect, it’s without question that one can’t chastise someone for being ignorant while living through so many years.
In the first place, reaching the Realm of Transformation isn’t something that can be accomplished casually while filling one’s head with trivial knowledge.
It’s natural that a higher-level warrior is often ignorant of anything but martial arts.
And originally, a high-ranking person shouldn’t need to know everything.
They can just rely on those who do!
“Hmmm, yeah. Sorcery really should be the forte of the Kunlun Sect, right? If it’s the Kunlun Sect, they should know all the details.”
“Ah, is it true that there’s a Daoist from Kunlun staying at the sect right now?”
“Ahem. Well, they are from a densely rural area, so, ahem, it’s quite far.”
“Er, that’s something I should go investigate…”
At this, Jo Hyun-ryang subtly turned his head away, as if he had suddenly gotten some epiphany from the patterns on the wall.
Ah, does that mean I have to go there myself?
But even if I go from the Divine Maiden Sect, crossing over Sichuan into Gansu, and with this body of mine, if I want to take a carriage… yeah, it’s quite far…
And then it happened.
Jo Hyun-ryang snapped his fingers!
“Oh. If it’s Chun-bong, maybe he’ll know.”
“It wasn’t Bong-chun; it was Chun-bong. Oh man. You mean Hyun-hwa? Hmm, I wonder if Je-gal knows of Chun-bong.”
“Hmmm, still, he’s a kid who loves reading and has a penchant for everything. And somehow, the child seems, how shall I put this? Though perfectly innocent, I can’t shake the feeling that she might have a penchant for dark sorcery.”
“Yeah, I had that feeling too.”
With tiny pupils entirely filled with whites above and below, that glaring face with sharp teeth makes her seem like a curse waiting to happen.
Why does she seem like she’s an expert on sorcery?
If Sama Chun-bong heard this, he might feel upset.
Or, on the contrary, this Sama might feign being pleased with a foul grin, lamenting what his exceptional talents have led to.
Thus concludes our lovely encounter with Jo Hyun-ryang and Sama Chun-bong.
“Oh wow. Whoa.”
Qing couldn’t help but gasp, unable to hold back.
Why am I stuck in the three-headed myth?
There really is a three-headed being somewhere.
Or is it just that her head appears larger than it actually is?
Anyway, standing tall with an abusive figure is Sama Chun-bong.
What on earth, are those watermelons attached to her chest?
Could it be they aren’t melons?
Aren’t there two watermelons hanging there?
Honestly, I need to check on that.
I demand the truth from Sama Chun-bong.
There have been rumors she’s got watermelons, so let’s have her gracefully peel one and prove it.
Sama Chun-bong bursts into thunderous laughter at Qing’s abundant gaze fixed on her chest.
“Ha-ha-ha! Cheonhwa-geom! The Cheonhwa-geom has also fallen prey to her remnant beauty and can’t help but praise! Ah, what cruelty is the fate of the gifted! How could it be so severe?”
And Qing thought, oh right. This was her.
It’s hard to forget her large chest and those colorless eyes; her ridiculous name sticks in memory. Thinking back, it’s not just that; there are plenty of suspicious aspects about this big-chested girl, no, this Sama lady.
“You surely understand the melancholy of being the one who shines alone amidst the ignorant and foolish, don’t you?”
“Ah, I can relate. Even with friends, I try to fit in, but goodness! Why does a supreme martial artist have to care for mere kids who are only Supremes? It’s as if a mighty master must babysit those still in the game.”
Hearing that, Sama Chun-bong flinches.
“Cheonhwa-geom, did you just say? Realm, the Realm of Transformation, did you say? Could it be that you’re saying you’ve attained indeterminate enlightenment?”
“Pretty much, but I’m not ready to share it widely yet.”
Upon hearing that, a frantic duel begins within Sama Chun-bong’s mind.
It’s originally established that she’s the more talented individual.
Height-wise, Cheonhwa-geom may be a tad taller, but now, being tall doesn’t always mean you’re the better. So, she wins.
Still, while sitting, Sama’s head is at a higher position, which indicates a more advantageous position for studying. Sama wins here, too.
Martial arts? Perhaps we could call it a win for Cheonhwa-geom, though it becomes subjective and courtly on duty.
For though her martial prowess may be superior, it can’t be compared to Sama’s knowledge.
Martial arts simply involves being stronger at best.
But as for cleverness, wisdom, and all the details regarding task proficiency in the organizational culture, without doubt, Sama is light-years ahead.
So, comparing martial capabilities between Cheonhwa-geom and Sama Chun-bong is a cruel standard.
Therefore, let’s not evaluate simply on martial arts but based on achievements and notoriety for their age – this would yield a roughly even score.
However, concerning the Realm of Transformation?
The distinction between the youngest Supreme Martial Artist and the youngest in Transformation, at twenty-one, carries significant weight.
For even to compete here, Sama would need to immediately elevate herself to the total military commander of the Martial Alliance.
What’s this? This time, I must concede defeat.
Ultimately, once I return, I’ll demand that my father retire immediately, and he can go fishing leisurely with Uncle.
Truly, the passionate good daughter, Sama Chun-bong.
“Ahem. This much is needed for me to acknowledge you as the right person I recognize as my best rival! Hehe, he. So, what was it that drives your urgent desire to see me, Cheonhwa-geom?”
“Not exactly searching for you…”
“Ah, you don’t sound sincere! Hehe, fine! Then consider me deceived! So, what wisdom would you like to inquire of me?”
Is it usual to refer to oneself when being asked questions?
That wasn’t how Qing thought it would go.
“Ummm, do you know anything about sorcery?”
“Oh dear, dear. Why would you be interested in such heretical ways? But since you’re here, feel free to ask anything and receive a gleaming nugget of my wisdom.”
“Um, do you happen to know about the Blood Poison Body?”
At this, Sama Chun-bong lets out a loud, hearty laugh.
Her strong presence certainly gives the impression of being some ultimate secret villain.
However, seeing that laugh filled with confidence made Qing think perhaps she should have asked.
“Surely, Cheonhwa-geom, that’s your victory.”
“Eh?”
“Indeed. If you wanted to hear me say I know nothing, I wouldn’t offer a ‘sorry’ for losing my temper.”
Ah, so she doesn’t know after all.
Just as Qing was about to ask another question, Sama Chun-bong interjects.
“But! The esteemed Confucius never spoke of bizarre and supernatural matters, meaning you should refrain from discussing infamous sorceries! As more you linger on matters, failing to examine them appropriately could be overlooked; however, devoting the finest intelligence to the highest analyses comes at a tremendous waste to the world, thus there ought to be elements of ignorance on your part that surely never existed in your awareness….”
Sama Chun-bong fired off her shot of redirection.
It wasn’t quite the humble apology it seemed but more a sort of self-justified defense.
Well, as a martial artist, she was capable of continuously babbling without taking a breath.
Meanwhile, as Qing sat back, thinking about the cloud patterns on the bed, very orderly—now that’s a pretty sight.
“Ughhh, so, do you have anything else to ask?”
“Is there any technique in Jiangshi arts, particularly sorcery related to forcibly enhancing one’s mastery?”
“Please don’t attack me with sorcery! I’ve already acknowledged my defeat; it wouldn’t be gentlemanly of you to heap on more now, would it?”
That means she doesn’t know.
Well, it looks like head over to the Kunlun Sect.
That works, since I need to check out the Jeolgeumbyeok too…