Chapter 265: Transcendent Qing

Truth be told, Qing didn't have any particular grand reason for teasing the two. If there was a small reason, it was simply that messing with them was fun because they gave such satisfying reactions.

If she boasted, "This body is now Transcendent Qing," to Gongson Yoye, she'd just get a "Wow. Young Lady Ximen, you're truly amazing," and that would be the end of it. Utterly lifeless.

Besides, it seemed Gongson Yoye had genuinely taken a proper beating when Qing was lost in her trance, so Qing felt both grateful and sorry. It was only because she'd used an unsharpened training sword; otherwise, Gongson Yoye would have been sliced into four pieces—no, diced even finer, consonants and vowels separated, strokes disjointed, utterly torn apart.

And Tang Nanah? She wouldn't even react to being hit with a difference in martial realms.

The Tang Clan, having unofficially joined hands with the Royal Household and even possessing cannons, could arguably be called the most powerful family in the current Central Plains.

With the firepower of cannons, plus the terrifying asymmetrical advantage of being able to load and fire poison bombs, a daughter of the Tang Clan probably didn't give a damn about mere individual skill.

So, Qing actively sought out opponents worth provoking.

Honestly, she didn’t have to look far. Weren't most of the people at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly just run-of-the-mill anyway?

Aigoo, look at these Peak Realm weaklings, drinking and chatting away so leisurely.

Of course, when I was at the Peak Realm, I definitely didn't skip sleep and meals, swinging my sword all day long out of sheer effffort… not.

“Yo. Isn't that Changbin?” Qing called out.

“Gasp, G-Grand Martial Junior, you’ve arrived…” Changbin stammered.

“What’s this? Why so stiff again? Did you get all formal just because we haven’t seen each other much lately?”

“That’s not it, the Sect Leader, he keeps calling the Young Lady our youngest Junior Sister, so, I, I wouldn’t dare.”

Seeing him glance around furtively, Qing smirked and replied.

“Hey, we’re friends, aren’t we? It seems Perfected Master Yuha thinks well of me, but how could I possibly be a Grand Martial Junior to a Mount Hua disciple? Relax. Just relax.”

“Uh, um. If you say so, then…”

“But let’s be clear,” Qing continued. “We were friends. I don’t care about seniority. However, don't you dare think you can treat a Transcendent Realm martial artist as your equal. Shouldn't martial artists speak through their martial arts?”

“Uh… Then, what should I call you?”

“Aish.” Qing sighed dramatically as Changbin floundered.

This one’s hopeless too.

What could I expect from a guy who can’t even make eye contact?

“Aigoo, I can’t even joke with you, Changbin. Lighten up, huh? Be a man? Huh? How long have we been friends, and you’re still acting like a stranger?”

“I-I am relaxed, really, I’m rela—”

“Alright. Enough. Pour me a drink.”

Changbin, perhaps savoring the alcohol that had become much tastier since a woman joined their group, took only small sips. Paying him no mind, Qing filled her cup and scanned the surroundings.

The person she actually wanted to tease was nowhere in sight, and she only ended up locking eyes with a row of men.

Hmm. Maybe I should have worn the veil.

I figured since they’ve already seen my face, why bother, but now they’re staring holes through me.

One notable difference was the lack of the fervent kindness the five Tang brothers had shown.

Why? Because for men of the Central Plains, a woman stronger than them was quite burdensome.

Later on, they’d want to bring in a second wife, take concubines, set up three wives and four concubines, and enjoy life. But if the main wife was a powerful martial artist, forget about a second wife—they’d be lucky not to get beaten up.

This directly contradicted the unspoken agreement of the Central Plains.

During courtship, it was female superiority, male inferiority; the man had to devote everything, practically offering up his heart.

After marriage, however, it reversed to male superiority, female inferiority. The women were expected to compete, showering their husband with affection and seduction, vying to become the most beloved among the three wives and four concubines. That was the agreement.

Just then, a beauty caught Qing’s eye.

Her skin was so white it was almost pale, her expression seemed melancholic yet utterly indifferent.

Despite this, the beauty mark beneath her eye was incredibly alluring, making Qing swallow unconsciously.

It was the Ice Snow Flower, Young Lady Seol Iri.

Qing patted Changbin’s shoulder and smoothly rose, heading towards the Ice Snow Flower.

As she sat down directly opposite her, an indifferent gaze met Qing’s squarely.

Qing grinned and offered a greeting.

“Um, hello? You’re Young Lady Seol Iri, the Ice Snow Flower, right? My name is Ximen Qing.”

“Yes.”

Qing was struck speechless.

Is ‘Yes’ the standard reply here?

And yes to what? To hello? To being the Ice Snow Flower? Or does she already know I’m Ximen Qing?

While Qing struggled to figure it out, Seol Iri asked, “Purpose.”

“Sorry?”

“What is your purpose?”

At that, Qing grinned and tapped the table lightly.

“Nothing, really. I just wanted to say hello. The moment I saw Young Lady Seol Iri, I thought, ‘Wow, she’s beautiful,’ and I wanted to get to know her better. Wow, you’re even prettier up close.”

“Yes.”

Another monosyllabic answer.

It felt as if that single word held some mysterious power to render people speechless.

Seeing Qing silenced by this mystical utterance, Seol Iri opened her lips.

“Anything else?”

Usually, that line meant, You’ve seen what you came to see, now leave.

An icy chill permeated the air.

“Um. Did I perhaps do something rude?” Qing asked.

“No.”

“Is there something you don’t like about me?”

“No.”

“Then, you just don’t want to talk to me?”

“Yes.”

And with that, Seol Iri firmly closed her mouth.

Perhaps the moniker Ice Snow Flower wasn’t given lightly; it felt like having a conversation with a mirror would be more productive.

Damn it, returning one martial art manual isn't easy.

When Seol Ganom had passed on the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art, hadn't he asked her to return it if she ever met someone from the Ice Palace?

She had heard Seol Iri was from the Ice Palace and intended to ask about it, but now…

Then, suddenly, the teapot caught her eye.

Qing grinned and tilted the teapot.

The distinct, comforting aroma of Longjing tea wafted out. Because it was hot, steam curled up from it.

Qing circulated her True Qi, instantly cooling the tea until frost formed on the cup.

It was cold Longjing tea, just the way Qing liked it.

Her origins being what they were…

Koreans are the kind of people who, even if a human-extinction-level ice age arrived, would still pour burnt-bean-water over half a cup of ice and gulp it down.

Conversely, to the people of the Central Plains, who held the very scientific belief that any liquid entering the body must be hot or it would be extremely harmful, this was akin to an outrageous crime against heaven and humanity.

At this atrocity, Seol Iri’s eyes widened.

“Just now.”

“This?” Qing gestured. “Drinking Longjing cold is quite a delicacy too. Young Lady Seol Iri should try it sometime—no, wait, would you like to try some of this—”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Before Qing could even finish her sentence, a cold refusal shot back.

A very stubborn refusal, at that.

“Nobody seems to understand this…” Qing muttered.

“Just now,” Seol Iri repeated. “You used Ice Arts. May I ask which one you learned?”

“Ah. You know Ice Arts! This is called the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art. It’s really… cold. Just. Like. Ice. Almost as cold as Young Lady Seol Iri’s attitude.”

“That, how could you!”

“Does ‘how’ really matter?” Qing countered. “What’s important is that I have the secret manual for the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art, and I was asked to return it to the people of the Ice Palace.”

“Who, who asked you to do that?”

“Hmm. But I left the secret manual back at the Divine Maiden Sect. Since I’ve learned it anyway, I’ll write out a new copy for you. I’ll take responsibility for burning the original, so you don’t need to worry.”

“More important than that nonsense, who, who passed it on?”

Nonsense?

Qing tilted her head.

It has a gold border, and it’s called a Divine Art, yet it’s treated so poorly?

Is it because she’s a direct descendant of the Ice Palace and already learned that Ice Soul Divine Art or whatever purple-bordered thing, so she doesn’t need this?

“To protect the public informant, their identity is strictly confidential. I received permission to learn it in exchange for returning it, so please don’t question me about—”

“Seol Ganom, it was that scoundrel, wasn’t it?” Seol Iri cut Qing off sharply.

Hearing the frigid tone, practically radiating cold air, Qing made an immediate judgment:

Seems like they’re acquaintances on bad terms.

“That man is a traitor to the Ice Palace,” Seol Iri stated coldly. “Not only did he murder his master and martial brothers, but he’s also a heinous Demonic Adept who burned down our sect before fleeing.”

“Hey, I said the identity is a secret. Anyway, I’ll transcribe the secret manual for you by tomorrow, no, the day after tomorrow, so just know that.”

If she stayed any longer, she’d just end up spinning lies. Besides, hearing what Seol Iri said, it seemed she harbored deep resentment towards Seol Ganom. Getting friendly with her would likely just cause trouble.

Ugh. I wanted to get close to Young Lady Seol, though.

But abandoning friendship just to woo a woman isn't something a true man should do.

Guess I have to give up, fighting back tears… not really.

But why is it that the women I find attractive always turn out to be final bosses or the enemies of my friends?

Is there some kind of Mara attached to the frail and pitiful character type…

Qing let go of her lingering attachment and left her seat.

However, it seemed Seol Iri couldn’t let go of her own attachment. Moreover, she displayed it quite openly.

Seol Iri’s gaze followed Qing directly.

Even though human eyes are capable of rolling around to observe surroundings, her pretty face remained fixed straight ahead, tracking Qing.

Her expressionless face following Qing like an owl or some other bird of prey was a bit scary, no matter how much it suited Qing’s taste.

No, should I say my taste just got shattered?

Just as Qing shuddered at the thought.

“Qing-ah, hey, Grandpa said he saw a blacksmith with amazing skills at the market, I was going to buy a few daggers, want to come—what the. Qing-ah, what did you do to Snow Flower?” Tang Nanah asked, arriving beside her.

“I just tried talking to her, but she was so cold I gave up.”

“What, you, again. This time you’re planning to drag Snow Flower into your bed?”

“Doesn’t that sound a bit weird…” Qing commented.

The words alone sounded strange, but coupled with her tone, it wasn’t.

It was said with a giggle full of laughter, something that had become a lighthearted joke tossed back and forth at some point.

“But what’s wrong with her?” Qing continued, glancing back. “Isn’t she staring incredibly hard? If she has something to say, she should just say it. Ugh, but, it’s a little creepy.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Tang Nanah agreed. “I didn’t see her like that before, but maybe she has a persistent side.”

She had shut down the conversation request so coldly and frostily that Qing had assumed that was just her personality. But as the saying goes, you truly have to experience someone to know their true nature.

Being stared at so blatantly made it impossible not to feel self-conscious, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.

“Hmm. This won’t do.”

Qing finally declared a retreat.

How could she possibly show off when she was this distracted? She’d finally reached the Transcendent Realm, so why couldn’t she brag? The great achievements of Transcendent Qing needed to be widely known to inspire everyone!

With a sigh of regret, Qing shelved her sound plan to motivate the Rising Generation by fostering their ambition and sense of crisis.

<Support the translation at Celestial Pavilion>

Guess I’ll just go back today and diligently transcribe the Supreme Yin Jade Maiden Divine Art secret manual.

On the way back, Tang Nanah started fussing again.

“What is it, Qing-ah? Why are you walking like that?”

“Huh? What did I do?”

“Why so… lewdly. Ha. And with those two moon-like things you’re already carrying. I swear. This is why you swap out women every night. Fine, tell me straight. Me or Gongson? Who’s better to sleep with?”

“If I had to choose, she’s better. At least she doesn’t grope.”

“I don’t grope anymore either, you know?”

“It’s not that you don’t, it’s that you can’t, right? Be honest. How much did you, just, have a field day groping me while I was asleep?”

Thanks to the heightened senses from the Awakening Divine Art, Tang Nanah’s impure touches constantly woke her up now.

After being woken up more than ten times, even Qing couldn’t help but flare up, demanding to get some sleep.

“N-No, I didn’t!” Tang Nanah protested. “It was just an accidental touch in my sleep, a, a very natural hand movement, yes, something like that.”

Even as she said it, she couldn’t quite meet Qing’s eyes. Qing narrowed her eyes.

Thanks to this, the topic of Qing’s ‘lewd’ walk was pushed aside.

In truth, Qing was just trying to be quiet. She naturally had no way of knowing what her walk looked like.

With the primitive, barbaric technology of the ancient Central Plains, there were no smooth surfaces capable of reflecting one’s image. Glass itself was a rarity.

Therefore, unlike in Qing’s homeland, there was no chance of awkwardly meeting someone’s gaze while fixing your hair in the reflection of a random car or building window.

And since Qing was the first female Divine Thief in history, Cheon Yuhak merely saw his disciple’s form and reminisced, "Ah, I used to be like that," feeling no particular inspiration otherwise.

As for Ximen Surin’s nagging, well, Master’s standard for beauty walking was notoriously strict, so naturally, she couldn't tolerate the sight of Qing tiptoeing around.

Anyway, bickering amicably like that, they entered the Mucheon Pavilion, where an attendant greeted Qing with news.

“A guest is waiting for you inside.”