Chapter 285: Journey to Zhongnan (8)

The Green Forest bandits are the masters of all mountains.

At least, that’s what they claim.

It’s nonsense that would dumbfound the Son of Heaven who owns all land in the Central Plains, but perhaps because he’s too noble to be angered by the words of lowly bandit bastards, there weren’t many cases of sending punitive expeditions.

As long as they didn’t specifically rob government shipments, the authorities didn’t waste soldiers on suppressing mountain bandits.

Because the Central Plains soldiers carry the grand cause of defending the Central Plains.

They’re too precious to mobilize for trivial matters like public safety.

Originally public safety was for the dirty commoners who breed like vermin, so the Son of Heaven and authorities were never interested in the first place.

If the authorities had suppressed bandits even half as much as they beat down and oppressed martial artists before the Celestial Martial Emperor, the Green Forest wouldn’t have flourished.

But this is the will of the authorities, of the Son of Heaven.

Shaolin daring to provide relief to the people in the name of the people is a major rebellion worthy of punishment by cannon fire, but bandits troubling the people is a trivial matter that can be ignored.

If Qing had been interested in Chinese history in her homeland (though not a single such person exists in the world), she would have known that in reality, the leaders of China were unusually lenient towards bandits.

But Qing doesn’t know.

Let alone Central Plains history, she doesn’t even know current martial arts history.

However, this can be considered very normal, because ordinary people don’t care about history.

Anyway, the Green Forest grew vigorously by feeding on the authorities’ indifference and the people’s tears of blood.

They weren’t suppressed even when the authorities were strong, and after the Celestial Martial Emperor it became completely unrestrained.

So the current prosperity of the Green Forest is said to be at its peak throughout the history of mountain strongholds.

Then what is this Green Forest?

If Qing knew about the Green Forest, she would have thought of the franchise concept from her homeland.

There’s a franchise headquarters called the Green Forest Main Stronghold, and eighteen directly managed branches called the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.

And if other bandits pay money to the Main Stronghold, they’re allowed to use the Green Forest name.

These strongholds that just borrow the Green Forest name could be called individual franchises.

And every few years they rank contributions in order, and provide special signboards and dispatch Green Forest masters to teach martial arts and provide various benefits to the top 54.

So the 18 direct branches plus the top 54 by contribution are called the 72 Green Forest Strongholds.

However, since contributions depend on the evaluator’s whim, there were several high-ranking strongholds that strangely made the list without much tribute.

And the Gamsan Stronghold had two signs, with “Gamsan Stronghold” below and the grand “World’s Mountain Lord Great Green Forest 29th Stronghold” above.

But Qing didn’t see it.

She came straight in by carriage so she didn’t see the fortified stronghold’s scenery, so how would she know what signs were hung?

Of course, even if she had seen it, what difference would it make?

So Qing’s thoughts were:

What is this?

What kind of bandits have all learned martial arts?

From the looks of it, they were at least second-rate, with inner force. It was almost a combat unit formation, making her wonder why such guys were doing banditry.

“I am Park Sal, the great hero leader of Gamsan Stronghold. It’s truly regrettable to receive you ladies like this, but may I ask where you’re from?”

How can a person’s name be Park Sal (Smash).

But originally Green Forest bandits are guys who discard proper names and change to tough names.

Park Sal was also truly pleased and proud after changing his name to Smash.

“What do robber bastards need to know for?”

Where are you trying to have a conversation while putting away good swords?

Not a chance.

Qing snapped.

“Can’t you read the situation? This isn’t the time to be so arrogant.”

Park Sal had been looking forward to it after receiving word that two peerless beauties were being brought.

But seeing the two who got out of the carriage, he thought, these are a bit too beautiful.

“What are you so arrogant about? I don’t know how trash that only harms the world can breathe. If it were me, I’d rather bite my tongue and die than live as a bandit.”

At this, Park Sal’s blood pressure rose a bit.

And there was one guy whose blood pressure rose a lot.

“You bitch, I was going to be nice since your face is decent. How dare you say bandit in front of the Great Green Forest? Should I split your legs?”

He was a young man around Qing’s age.

Qing looked him over and immediately found the spot that would hurt most.

“What’s this little bastard? Don’t interrupt when adults are talking and go to sleep. They say you grow taller if you sleep a lot, you need to sleep a lot. A man so short he’s like a bean.”

“Wh-what!? Fuck, that bitch-“

“Oh my, young master. Please calm down.”

At this, Park Sal stopped the young man and bowed.

Qing’s eyes flashed.

What’s this, young master? Is he someone important?

An important person colluding with bandits?

Not only is his evil karma high, but he gets an additional charge of treason.

How should I kill him to spread good rumors?

Meanwhile, Park Sal felt ominous.

Exceptionally beautiful appearances are a symbol of prestigious families.

Prestigious families basically have refined their beauty over a long period of good men and women marrying, so their appearance is extraordinary from the start.

Moreover, to be so confident in this situation, even more so.

Qing read Park Sal’s eyes.

That guy rolling his eyes seems quick-witted. First I’ll crack his skull with the Buddha’s Palm, then the rest-

“I’m Seol Iri from the Ice Palace.”

At that moment, Seol Iri suddenly opened her mouth.

Unlike Qing who was just thinking of fighting somehow, this situation was quite burdensome for Seol Iri.

“Ice Palace? The Northern Sea Ice Palace? Then who’s this bitch?”

“She’s Miss Ximen, disciple of the Divine Maiden Sect.”

“Oh ho. Is that so.”

The young man let out a lewd laugh.

“Ha. Just the Divine Maiden Sect and someone from the Ice Palace, right, Ice Snow Flower! Two of the Five Flowers of Murim were here.”

“Young master? Please calm down for a moment-“

“Right! A man should lay the Five Flowers of Murim under him at least! Isn’t that right! Fuck, today is the day to poke all holes!”

“Woohoo!”

At this, the Green Forest bandits all cheered.

Originally the driver bringing them here meant they were ignorant stupid women from elsewhere.

Since no one knows they headed to Gamsan Stronghold, who in the world would know if they passed them around until death then buried them?

If it was one of the Nine Great Sects Ten Great Clans they wouldn’t dare touch them for fear of the aftermath of a thorough search for the missing person.

But she says Divine Maiden Sect and Northern Sea Ice Palace.

The Divine Maiden Sect is a mysterious sect full of peerless beauties but not particularly dangerous, and what could those guys stuck in the far Northern Sea do?

On top of that, it’s already too late to let them go now that their cocks are hard.

Sadly, it’s a man’s fate to follow his cock rather than his brain.

Plus, will there be another chance in life to crush two of the Five Flowers of Murim under them?

And the taller woman next to her, though tall her beauty is even more outstanding, truly as expected of the Divine Maiden Sect, they say it’s a sanctuary forbidden to men but they’ve hidden a beauty that even surpasses the Five Flowers of Murim.

It’s worth fucking her even if it means death, letting her go now wouldn’t be manly.

The young man opened his mouth arrogantly:

“Right. Ten men.”

But Seol Iri who had said all she wanted to say firmly closed her mouth.

Qing was also watching nervously thinking this might go wrong, so she didn’t particularly answer.

Thanks to this, there was no response asking what he meant by ten men.

The young man cleared his throat and spoke again:

“Each of you give birth to five. Then we’ll let you go.”

At this, Qing felt relieved.

It almost went wrong because of this useless woman, but it seems the conclusion is to fight after all.

“Miss Seol.”

“Yes.”

“If it seems you can’t handle it, run away immediately. I have the ability to escape from anywhere, so Miss Seol should protect herself. Understood?”

As Seol Iri nodded, Qing’s foot struck the ground with a bang! Yellow true qi spread in circular waves.

The firmly packed ground caved in as if hit by a cannon from the terrifying true qi.

Qing is fast.

The strength in her legs, her leg power, originally far transcends humans. Add the cosmic mystery of martial arts to that monstrous strength, and it’s truly an otherworldly transformation like in stories.

Park Sal was startled by Qing’s figure rushing before his eyes at the bang and drew his sword.

As the leader of an official stronghold, Park Sal is a Transcendent Realm martial artist. Even startled, he’s reached the level of his body immediately reacting and responding.

So a deep blue sword force traced a straight line from sky to earth.

Qing’s hand stretched out to slip between.

As she fearlessly tried to grab the blade infused with force, Park Sal grit his teeth and added vicious intent. Planning to completely blow off her fingers.

But tuk. The sword force-infused blade touched Qing’s palm and its movement stopped completely.

Park Sal was surprised and looked at Qing’s hand, only then noticing the sunset-colored water force there.

Qing is beautiful, and also a young girl who has just come of age. Given her age, he didn’t think she could possibly use force, so only after seeing it did he think ah, I messed with the wrong person-

“W-wait!”

“Okay!”

Even as Qing shouted that, her other hand touched her waist then shot up, and the blue-edged iron short sword, the Azure Sword famous for its sharpness, entered below Park Sal’s wrist and came out above.

“Aak!”

“Oh. A big sword. Big and excellent.”

Qing picked up the big sword and pried off Park Sal’s hand still gripping it after being severed, then grabbed it and swung it around.

The big sword is a long large polearm among swords, with a gently curved blade good for cutting, and thicker and heavier towards the tip so the center of gravity is at the sword’s end, maximizing destructive power when swung.

The downside is that it’s heavy being a large weapon, and even heavier with the center of gravity far out.

But for Qing this is rather an advantage.

“W-wait!”

“Yes! Let! Me! Speak!”

The reason Qing answered emphatically three times was because she actually applied force each time.

At “Yes!” she kicked his shin.

At “Let!” she struck his bent waist’s cheek hard from below with a smack!!

At “Me! Speak!” she raised the big sword’s handle high and brought it down vertically.

Crack, the sweet sensation of rupture. Ah. Really. This is why I live.

The long handle of the big sword that leaves room below even gripping with both hands digs into Park Sal’s crown.

When Qing pulls it out, white and red things come up stickily trailing viscous threads.

Qing roughly wiped it off with her other hand and gripped the big sword firmly with both hands.

“Now! Cry! Hell Demon-Slaying Sword!”

The Yue Maiden Sword Sutra unfolds from Qing’s hands.

Regardless of the sword’s shape, size or weight, whether gripped with one hand or two, it’s just one sword in my hand.

Swinging the big sword horizontally with brute force, twisting her waist powerfully with a whoosh, two guys are caught.

Upper bodies cleanly cut above the solar plexus fall to the ground with a thud. Four arms severed below the shoulders also fall with thuds.

It happened in an instant.

Only then did the Green Forest bandits grasp the situation.

We messed with the wrong person.

Not a chance to fuck a peerless beauty to their heart’s content, but rather their own bodies are about to get stabbed.