777 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The next day, right after breakfast, Qing learned that she was summoned by the Empress. The Empress typically didn't call upon them in the morning, but Qing wondered if perhaps she was accompanying her to the Divine Maiden Sect's event today. Wasn't it said to be a royal event by Gabia? And indeed, that was the case. "Have you heard the news? I'm sorry to tell you so suddenly. Your participation was decided quite hastily." "What could you possibly need to apologize for, Your Majesty?" The Empress smiled in response. But why did her smile seem so... off? Her awkward smile, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed, mirrored the very expression that Qing's friends would unanimously agree looked as though it was printed from a book. Cautiously, Qing asked with that ambiguous smile in mind, "Is there something you want to ask of me?" "I didn't want to take you to such a dreadful event. I'm worried you might be shocked. If you can't bear to watch, just keep your eyes tightly shut." The Empress hesitated before finally speaking with a voice heavy with concern. Hmm. Hearing it put that way... Could it really be? Is this truly what I think it is? A riotously outrageous show, supposedly not to be seen with open eyes, a veritable feast unsuitable for minors, possibly showcasing the erotic yoga of the Kamasutra-Tantra performed by temptresses! Oh, I want to see it. How could one miss this? Qing rhythmically patted her chest in anticipation. "Don't worry. Considering my age, it's nothing I wouldn't be able to handle. I've seen all sorts of things in the Central Plains." "Even so, ha..." The Empress let out a heavy sigh. Qing subtly glanced at her, gauging her reaction. "We're just observing, right? It's not interactive or anything, right? I heard it's a royal event..." "Don't even make such dreadful suggestions." Qing sighed in immense relief. While she'd enjoy watching a hedonistic indulgence, as long as it's not involving creepy guys but rather pretty women like Gabia, she'd be fine. Let's not consider the other possibilities with Her Majesty involved. And so, they headed toward the Divine Maiden Sect within the Eastern Palace. The Empress wore a mildly uncomfortable expression, unable to smooth out the wrinkles between her brows, though Qing was more than a little curious—she was quite excited, in fact. Thus, to the Divine Maiden Sect. In the hidden floor of the main building. Descending the stairs— "The Empress is entering!" A voice, suspiciously reminiscent of a young man's falsetto but more exaggerated, suddenly echoed with an unexpected sense of repulsion—the woman's voice fabricated by one of the eunuchs during an official ceremony, purposefully emphasizing femininity to ensure his own safety. Ahead, the view expanded to a vast underground filled with bowed heads and backs. "Oh." Qing took in her surroundings. This... feels like home in some strange way? In the expansive underground, they were pieced together with marble bricks, unusual in architectural styles originating from the Central Plains. Perhaps due to the nature of the entrance, marbles were tightly joined together, akin to the aesthetic of an expansive home kitchen, luxurious restaurant, or bathroom with the kind of marble used back in Qing's homeland—not jade stones, but marble—an extremely expensive premium interior material even within the Central Plains. And in the distance, small platforms or were they bathtubs? appeared. At a glance, they seemed to have human-shaped hollows, likely intended for someone to lie down in them. Five such mysterious structures lay before them. Though the purpose was unclear, Qing swallowed her excitement. What the—could this really be an authentic yoga performance? Qing followed the Empress, settling in the spectator's section at the rear behind the stairs. As they settled—everyone quieted, crouched in anticipation, desperately holding even their breaths. Just then— "The Emperor is entering!" Another eunuch appeared, this time with a robust, commanding voice. Ah, so this was preparation for the Heavenly Emperor. After all, this place still operates quite like a feudal era, although— Back home, even when the principal or military leader walked in, everyone remained in subservient positions like this too, reflecting on it. Trying to understand the scene, Qing identified four feet passing by as she crouched beside the Empress. Sensing them through spatial awareness, it seemed the Son of Heaven made his entrance while still seated on a chair. Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Long live the Emperor! As the chant echoed thrice, those crouched gradually raised their upper bodies, sitting straight with backs perfectly upright. What's this atmosphere— Everyone showed tension more fit of a situation far more burdensome than attending an ancient, explicit performance. After a while, across the way, women emerged from behind what seemed like person-shaped tubs? platforms? Although the spectator area only had a height of two steps above the floor, it seems they failed to notice the women crouched behind the platforms. They wore boldly designed, luxurious garments adorned with abundant gold and silver on the upper body, reminiscent of back home. However, unfortunately, they wore long skirts below, with sheer blue fabric draped over their shoulders in traditional Indian attire. And there was Gabia's face. And the woman standing in the very center was— With a red gem affixed to her forehead, presenting as a stunning Indian beauty. She possessed strikingly large eyes, appearing almost capable of making her eyes roll out with a tap on the back of her head, enhanced with dramatic eye makeup, amplifying her allure magnificently. Embellished with twice the adornments of the other troupe members, she made it evident—even to a stranger—that she was their leader, likely confirming Gabia's assertion of Lady Aasia being the chief of the Divine Maiden Sect. Aasia appeared to glance this way, although her focus seemed subtlety off, likely indicating her gaze was fixed on the Emperor as if seeking approval. In response, the eunuch, bearing the authoritative tone of majesty, echoed throughout the pristine, white underground location— "He decrees to start!" Immediately, five individuals from the front row stood. Clad in ornate gold clothing, the Golden Warriors, donning golden robes. The Golden Warriors turned sharply and hurled themselves toward the Emperor's seat with a resounding clang. With their foreheads, elbows, and knees anchoring to the ground, they performed the reverential Cultivation Rites(before the Son of Heaven, in the grand Middle Plains tradition, delivering the most honorable of greetings, prostrating on all five bodily points in veneration). "Hooray! Thump! Hooray! Thump! Ten Thousand Years! Thump!" With every shout of "Ten Thousand Years," the individuals bent their backs in a deep bow, striking their foreheads against the ground, which resulted in their foreheads splitting open and blood oozing down. Then, they proceeded to slot their bodies into the person-shaped openings on the platform. Following this, Aasia spoke up. "Then, let the beasts come forth." The Empress flinched at the announcement, visibly shaken. Qing was equally startled. Beasts? I expected something lewd, but beasts? Wasn't that crossing into the realm of deviance rather than mere eroticism? Moreover, those lying in the tub-like structures were all men—beings of the male gender. Qing recalled the Empress's earlier warning. "A dreadful event indeed. I'm worried you might be shocked. Better to close your eyes if you can't bear it." She decided then to keep her eyes shut, but curiosity got the better of her. The left door of the platform opened, and the so-called beasts Gabia spoke of were revealed. Qing's eyebrow twitched. These beasts were actually people, bound to wooden structures with bits in their mouths. Then, the women of the Divine Maiden Sect lifted the structures with ease, showcasing their surprising strength despite their slim limbs. With clinking noises, the chains were latched onto the platforms, suspending the structures upside down over the tubs. In that moment, the women unsheathed their daggers. Qing was taken aback. Whoa, whoa, whoa—what’s this atmosphere? Is this some sort of ritual sacrifice— The sound of skin being slashed filled the air. The blades cut shallowly over the beasts’ skin, avoiding major blood vessels, allowing blood to trickle down their bodies, pooling on the humans lying below, gradually filling the human-shaped hollows. The chant echoed through the space. "O Lord, grant happiness to all beings," the foreign words resonated with the Divine Maiden Sect's incantations, a language reminiscent of Amoghapasha. Yet this wasn't the solemn Buddhist apparent in the strange monk's practices—it was entirely different. Truly voices of serpent-like seduction, noises akin to winds harshly blowing, erupted aloud, with one Aasia’s voice resonating as though in a chorus of six, a bizarre, unsettling disharmony that left listeners uneasy. Swish, swish, swish. In synchrony with Aasia’s chant, the women of the Divine Maiden Sect continued to slash with their daggers. Steady streams of blood flowed over the beasts, draping the men below in a sanguine shroud, gradually deepening the blood-filled hollows. Then, lowering the beasts' height, they embraced them tightly, plunging knives deep into their bellies— I thought this was going to be something lewd. It's actually a grotesque murder show... But honestly, in a way, it's quite fascinating. Qing's eyes sparkled with intrigue. At first, it seemed simple—just slicing flesh to release blood—but the precision of their work was apparent. Skillfully controlling their slashes so that the blood neither splatters nor leaks out, they masterfully filled the tubs with such deliberation. Moreover, the embracing hands cutting into the beasts seemed to deftly avoid severing the organs, preventing anything from spilling out. Yes, that's right. Ah, even Gabia indulges in slaughter. Qing understood the secret behind the Divine Maiden Sect's rituals—why, after attending their events, karma felt diminished. They weren’t merely humans, but beasts—not quite human—worth inheriting scarlet karma. What transpired at the Divine Maiden Sect was, indeed, an execution ceremony for criminals. But why this elaborate setup? Though I won't deny its entertainment value. Though there seems to be a lot of blood in the human body, not as much as one might think. The process of slaughtering ten beast-men per tub continued to fill each one. It must have been grueling, as at one point, the women wielding the knives switched roles, and the chief, Aasia, solely chanted the sinister Tantric mantras, echoing fervently as her voice reached a crescendo. Finally, the men submerged within the tubs vanished, leaving only straws visible at the surface of the blood—no, on the surface of the liquid previously called blood. "May auspicious blessings be upon you! May all the world’s blessings be upon you! Grant happiness to all beings!" Aasia’s chant grew louder, rattling the entire white marble underground chamber with its echoing thunderous voice. Priests from the Divine Maiden Sect entered, respectfully holding silver trays, dropping golden goblets into the tubs with a plopping sound. Hmm? Is it just my imagination? Is the blood level decreasing? No, it wasn't an illusion. The liquid's surface in the tub began to lower. Nostrils cautiously peeking over, a mouth with a straw emerged, followed by bodies draped in once-vibrant, now deep-crimson garments clinging to them. But then… As the blood-soaked garments gradually drained of color, regaining their bright, elegant gold patterns. "Oh…" Qing couldn't help but gasp. What is this? A cleaning ritual? To extract blood like this? While the process wasn't swift, it was evident that the golden patterns proudly spread over the thoroughly soaked garments. Of course, this couldn’t just be a cleaning spell. Had such magic existed, it would have thrived as an essential domestic skill, accepted without the neglect of sorcery in the Central Plains. Hmm, they seem to be absorbing blood through their skin? Don't consume—let your skin indulge? The prospect of blood absorption through the skin was puzzling, but Qing didn’t question it for long. The impeccably dry and bloodless Golden Warriors suddenly stood, haughtily spreading their arms wide, each adopting an impressive stance. Immediately following, women from the Divine Maiden Sect appeared wielding large hammers. Past memories flashed through Qing's mind. That time, back in Sichuan… It was back when I fought that damnably tough brat from the Tang Clan, the one who consumed the Elder's personally devised poison and kept smashing things into thin air. Of course, back then, I was merely a greenhorn, not more than a day into my wandering martial artist life, yet that sturdy bastard, impenetrable by Sword Qi, was unforgettable. Thud! Thud! The resounding hammering noise broke Qing's reverie. The women of the Divine Maiden Sect swung the hammers with all their might, and although the Golden Warriors staggered and swayed with each impact, they stood firm with grit and determination, two feet planted resolutely on the ground.