Chapter 256: Advent of the Divine Dragon (12)

There is a great figure who can hardly be considered one of the uncivilized Central Plains people.

Sima Qian, the first and greatest historian of the Central Plains, who can proudly be counted as the greatest historian across all eras and the entire world.

Sima Qian was a historian of ancient civilization who achieved the great feat of writing the history of an era as an individual.

While doing so, he stayed true to his duty as a reporter.

He vividly recorded the lives of rulers above and common people below, and was a true reporter who tried to be objective, setting aside personal feelings and resentments as much as possible.

Of course, he seemed to have deep resentment towards Emperor Wu of Han who made him a eunuch, but that level of resentment from a eunuch is understandable.

This was noble as a single reporter, fundamentally different from the human trash in Qing’s homeland that should all be burned.

Of course, it’s fundamentally different to compare humans with non-recyclable toxic waste in the first place.

Anyway, this masterpiece of Sima Qian is called the Records of the Grand Historian, or Shiji for short, as the lazy Central Plains people shortened even four characters as too long.

According to this Shiji, “A scholar dies for the one who appreciates him.”

So the grace the vagabond martial artists felt towards Qing was not something that could be expressed in just two characters.

Vagabonds are basically expendable.

They were expendable resources used efficiently with money on the front lines of battle as cannon fodder, combat analysis, and trap breakers.

What? You’re hurt? Then fill in with someone else.

What? You’re dying? Then fill in with someone else.

What? You died? Too bad. Fill in with someone else.

Not only was their treatment miserable, but the perception of them was even more miserable.

If there’s work, they’re vagabonds, if not, they’re bandits.

They act like close friends who can’t live without each other, but when they meet on opposite sides they fight with swords, so in reality they’re cold-blooded people who just pretend to be close to use each other.

The bandit story isn’t completely false, but for unaffiliated martial artists who pride themselves on living with righteousness, it’s just an unfair accusation.

Moreover, if they just pretend to fight when they know each other while fighting for money (which they usually do), isn’t that also cursed for having no business ethics or loyalty?

Then Qing appeared.

To the vagabonds, Qing didn’t deny their shameful vagabond origins.

Rather, she comforted, encouraged, and affirmed them.

Their efforts to live righteously despite their difficult backgrounds were recognized.

This wasn’t just empty talk, but a fact proven even at the risk of her life.

It was the first positive affirmation in the lives of the vagabond martial artists, and also recognition that their lives so far hadn’t been in vain.

So the vagabonds could die for Qing with their current hearts.

Of course, their hearts might change in the face of death, so they couldn’t guarantee their future hearts.

So the story edited by the vagabonds reached the level of “Let’s all praise our Ode to Dragon Flight”.

The unvirtuous vagabonds were completely fooled by the evil Blood Cult’s cunning tricks, so as a result they didn’t hesitate to use the petty means of Temporary Indulgence Pills and even swallowed parasites.

At this, the wise and brilliant Great Expert Ximen Qing saw through this and said, “It’s truly sad that you couldn’t endure a moment’s temptation, but don’t worry, I, Ximen Qing, will solve everything.”

So she tracked down the Blood Cult alone and drove them to their underground lair hidden beneath the earth, swung her sword once to separate the bones and flesh of the Blood Cult warriors, and pointed with her hand commanding them to die, so they couldn’t help but commit suicide at her majesty.

Finally, she executed the vicious Blood Cult leader (which would bewilder the Blood Demon) and used her brilliant wisdom to remove the parasites.

Meanwhile, Murong Juhui was completely left out of this story, because the vagabonds didn’t know about her at all.

These people never even set foot underground in the first place.

Sima Chunfeng, who heard the whole story, thought:

They’re called vagabonds but they just spout lies endlessly when they open their mouths.

But when analyzing and synthesizing truth and falsehood with her brilliant mind, the conclusion was that Qing understood the situation and asked her master for help to resolve it.

If she’s the greatest woman under heaven, wouldn’t the Blood Cult’s independent unit, even the Blood Parasite Team, be mere insignificant bug breeders?

At this, Sima Chunfeng felt crisis and elation.

The crisis was that a powerful enemy threatening her position as the next world’s greatest female genius had appeared.

And the elation was that finally, a proper rival had appeared for this super genius super beauty Wise Flower.

Originally, rivals are essential for geniuses.

Because rivals are also the greatest understanders at the same time.

It was also an extremely joyful thing that a great intellect who could finally understand her, different from the ordinary people of the present world who couldn’t even be considered the same species, had appeared.

Though it’s regrettable that she was born in the same era as this great Miss Sima.

Anyway, Sima Chunfeng quickly wrote up a report and submitted it.

And that report went from the Chief Military Official’s hands to the owner of the Alliance, the Murim Alliance Leader.

So Cho Hyeonryang admired:

“Surin did a great job. No, if she did it she should say so. Why is she keeping her mouth shut about an achievement that should be widely announced to the world?”

“Isn’t it for the face of the Alliance? She probably judged that it wouldn’t be good for people to know about the Blood Cult’s secret activities while the Murim Conference is being held.”

“Mm.”

Cho Hyeonryang answered shortly.

However, unlike how the Chief Military Official took it, here “Mm” was not affirmation but complete denial.

How could the world’s Female Madwoman do such a thing?

She’s absolutely not the type of person to think about the Alliance’s face.

She would surely have made a fuss to the whole world like always, saying “See? In the end, women do all the big jobs. Look at this while the men are just playing around.”

But Cho Hyeonryang didn’t need to keep thinking it was strange in his heart.

“That? My disciple did it all, I just went down with her in case it was dangerous, but only cut down a few small fry.”

“You mean that child Ximen Qing? Even if the Blood Parasite Team wasn’t a front-line combat unit, the Condemned Demon shouldn’t have been an easy opponent?”

“Would I lie about something like this?”

Cho Hyeonryang nodded.

The Female Madwoman was mad, but she didn’t lie. Because she was originally an infinitely plain person.

“And don’t worry, the Leader is dead too, so it’s been completely uprooted and dealt with.”

“The Leader too? You must have dealt with the Leader?”

“No. When I woke up my disciple thrust out a head. It was the guy called the Blood Wheel Demon.”

Of course, she just didn’t lie.

Ximen Surin knows that the act of not lying becomes a great weapon.

“The Blood Wheel Demon! Then, are you saying that child Ximen Qing cut down the Blood Wheel Demon? Is that the truth?”

Ximen Surin just smiled silently.

At this, Cho Hyeonryang slapped his knee.

“My goodness, what talent, what talent. It’s truly a divine sage, a divine dragon in the martial arts world. No, how on earth do you raise a disciple to become like that? When I saw her, not only her skills, but her character is truly excellent and she’s polite and friendly too, ha. I’m so envious I could die.”

“Did I raise her? She was like that from the start. I didn’t do anything special, but she’s so admirable.”

Though Ximen Surin was being humble like this, her face was blooming brightly.

Cho Hyeonryang didn’t hide his envy.

“How on earth did you shape her character? Please, I really need to discipline the Cho clan’s heir now, tell me the secret. Hm?”

“When I saw Qing’er, the part I liked most was her character, so I didn’t particularly do anything…”

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

“Hmm. If I have to say, it’s the rod of love.”

At this, Cho Hyeonryang asked doubtfully:

“You beat that child? That good child?”

“Wouldn’t I have been heartbroken too? But what could I do? I disciplined her until she cried her eyes out whenever she went down the wrong path.”

“Hmm. So the rod is best after all…”

This was a very, very regrettable moment for Cho Hyeonryang, the Cho-style disciplinarian.

“But why didn’t you announce such good news? You properly cleared out a real troublemaker with the Blood Parasite Team.”

“Don’t even mention it. My disciple has such a soft heart. She’s worried the vagabonds might be cursed for taking some Temporary Indulgence Pills. How will she survive the harsh martial arts world being so soft? I’m so worried, so worried.”

Ximen Surin said with a bright smile.

“How can her nature be so beautiful? Tsk.”

“Is it praise to say a martial artist has a beautiful nature?”

Ximen Surin saying this was bright and clear.

She was the brightest and clearest Ximen Surin that Cho Hyeonryang had ever seen.

Cho Hyeonryang finally sighed deeply with envy dripping from his eyes and said:

“Well. If that’s really the child’s wish. What can we do?”

Cho Hyeonryang instructed to just bury it since it was Qing’s wish. It was too regrettable to give up the honor of subjugating the Blood Cult just to take care of some vagabonds, but that too could be called righteousness, so it could be said to be a willing thing.

But things in the world don’t always go exactly like that.

The problem was those Demonic Cult bastards.

“The Demonic Path Alliance declares to the Central Plains.

There are too many parasites eating away at the world.

Typically, we’ll point out those called Black Store.

Look at the atrocities of those Black Store bastards.

Since they can freely dispose of stolen goods, you just have to steal and sell to Black Store. Therefore, thieves are rampant throughout the Central Plains.

What about the human traffickers?

They openly carry out human trafficking banned by national law, so they brazenly steal precious lives and easily sell them off.

Those cursed cannibals are the same.

These cannibal scum who should be burned to death easily obtain human flesh, so they hide their evil nature with the face of a gentleman in everyday life.

Meanwhile, they sell deadly poisons recklessly so poisoning has become commonplace in the Central Plains, and they sell twisted, unsound martial arts manuals so promising talents perish from qi deviation.

They are truly harmful parasites, completely useless, existing only to bring harm to the world.

The new Heavenly Demon Lord has commanded to make the world a better place, a world where good people are rewarded.

To this end, the Demonic Path Alliance intends to clear out the parasites eating away at the world to follow this majestic command.

Heroes of the martial arts world!

If you too hold righteousness, won’t you set aside past resentments and join hands as comrades before our common enemy to lend a hand in clearing out those evil parasites?

On behalf of the great Heavenly Demon Lord.

The High Priest of the Divine Cult to the heroes of the martial arts world.”

“The Demonic Path Alliance is always accepting membership inquiries at the Alliance Headquarters in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. Even if you don’t believe in the Divine Cult, we warmly welcome Demonic Path heroes with righteousness who want to walk the right path even though they hold demonic energy, so please show a lot of interest.”

“Didn’t I say we should clear out those Black Store bastards! What kind of disgrace is this?”

Ximen Surin argued.

The absolute masters of the orthodox martial arts world avoided her fiery gaze.

Ximen Surin’s proposal to subjugate Black Store at the Great Council was rejected by majority vote, the fairest method in human history.

And this was the result.

“The Murim Alliance sat on their hands while those evil Demonic Cult bastards took the initiative first, what disgrace could be worse than this?”

“Ahem.”

What was the purpose of the Murim Conference in the first place?

Wasn’t it to reaffirm the unity of the orthodox martial arts world because of the Demonic Cult’s rampant activities and the emergence of new forces?

But the Demonic Cult threw down the gauntlet while presenting a morally perfect justification, so it was a direct blow to the face of the orthodox martial arts world.

“There are already rumors going around asking if those Demonic Cult bastards have really become good, if the new Heavenly Demon seems truly benevolent. What are we going to do about this?”

“Hmm.”

Everyone had nothing to say even with a hundred mouths.

Maybe they would have something to say with a thousand mouths. How could we have known the Demonic Cult bastards would come out like this?

The situation had become truly nasty, so if they ignored this, the orthodox martial arts world would be criticized for not participating in truly righteous deeds.

Even if they joined the subjugation, they would end up as mere assistants.

It could be called one victory for the Demonic Brain Ji Seungju.

The Demonic Path Alliance succeeded in widely spreading their name as righteous through this, and reaped plenty of practical benefits through the new business called White Spot.

On top of that, they even resolved the rampant internal dissatisfaction by pointing out an easy enemy for slaughter, so it was truly a brilliant move worthy of being called divine victory.

The Murim Alliance leadership, who dreamed of unity through the Murim Conference, had gloomy expressions after suffering a miserable defeat from this surprise attack.

At that time, the Chief Military Official, the all-knowing Sima Jong, presented a solution:

“Matriarch. I’m sorry to your disciple, but it seems we need to widely announce the merits of subjugating the Blood Cult. Would that be alright?”

“What?”

“What do you mean subjugating the Blood Cult? What’s that about?”

“Why are those cursed evil bastards suddenly coming up?”

At this, the masters who didn’t know the situation murmured.

Sima Jong sent a look asking for permission from Ximen Surin, and she finally nodded reluctantly.

So Sima Jong explained Qing’s righteous deed.

“Ooh. That’s truly a blessing for the orthodox faction.”

“See? I said I knew at a glance this child was a true hero. Crescent Moon Divine Sword! How well-named.”

The Mount Hua Sect Leader raised his voice excitedly, and beside him Wuxue Dashi nodded in agreement.

The corners of Ximen Surin’s mouth rose slightly.

“Now that things have come to this, the Murim Alliance must also set out to subjugate Black Store. However, we can’t fall behind those Demonic Cult bastards, so I’m thinking of announcing the news of the Blood Cult subjugation to let the world know the righteousness of the orthodox faction is still alive.”

In the end, it’s a battle for honor.

The Blood Cult is much more evil than Black Store, in fact it’s to the point of being unfair to Black Store to compare them, so they’ll announce this achievement to save face for the orthodox martial arts world.

At this, Ximen Surin shook her head.

“That can’t be done. If we announce that, will the Blood Cult bastards just sit still? Are you saying to let my disciple take on all that resentment?”

“So I’m sorry to say this, but could we treat it as a secret operation of the Murim Alliance?”

“Ahem.”

Ximen Surin coughed uncomfortably.

There was a clear difference between rumors that Qing had cut down some of the Blood Cult, and the official position that Qing had accomplished it.

While the former might be okay, if it became the latter, the Blood Cult would be in a position where they had to eliminate Qing even for their own honor.

However, they couldn’t just stand by and watch the face of the orthodox martial arts world get completely crumpled like this either.

So what could be done?

“What can we do? Do it that way. But since my disciple has her wishes, leave out all the talk about vagabonds and Temporary Indulgence Pills. If you do that, my disciple will agree without a second word.”

“Thank you for your decision.”

Ximen Surin snorted.

“Don’t just thank me with words. The one who will be upset about having her achievements taken away is my disciple, so give her some compensation.”