768 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Qing swiftly lifted Bum-ryak-gong to his feet. As a native of a country with deep-rooted Confucian customs, Qing felt uncomfortable about an elderly person kneeling before her. Of course, Qing could laugh and chatter while making a hundredfold sinful person kneel and extract their insides, treating them as inhuman. But in this case, the other party was showing goodwill, and there was a past connection through arts with this person. "When I see Your Majesty's great achievements, I am overjoyed and could not be prouder. How unfortunate it is that this old man cannot boast that he taught swordsmanship to you across the world." "Well, it's not certain yet. Besides, the swordsmanship style you've seen has changed many times." At first, Qing's swordsmanship was merely a rigid mimicry directly inscribed in her mind by a martial arts genius. Over time, it evolved to allow her to wield according to her desired artistry. Thus, recognizing it as the same as before is unlikely, how could one discern and be sure of it? "How could I not know? No refined master of arts could carry on the stubborn habits of their early times of learning swordsmanship. Such a person wouldn't even reach the pinnacle, let alone the Transcendent Realm(超絶境)." "Really?" "Did you not showcase the true form of Yue Maiden Sword Technique(月女劍法)? There is only one person in the world capable of such skill, and that person is you." Qing tilted her head in doubt. Only one person in the world? "Not two?" There should be at least two since there must have been someone who taught it, it's not as if some ancestor descended in dreams and taught it. However, Bum-ryak-gong shook his head. "The Yue Maiden Sword I taught you was a common military skill. Even if you persistently asked, how could I dare to teach martial arts recklessly? The Yue Maiden Sword was such a basic skill that anyone could follow, hence why I taught it." Even as a princess cried and pestered, firmly pressing with continuous pouting, no subject serving the imperial court dared break the national law. Fortunately, the young princess read "Yue Maiden Chronicles(月女篇)" and was so enchanted by its legends that she demanded the Yue Maiden Sword. That seemed a plausible excuse if caught, by claiming she was mimicking what she saw being practiced by the imperial guards. And indeed, it worked. An enthralled young princess wielded a wooden sword, hopping around from day to day. With shouts of "Take this, Yue Maiden Sword! Yue Maiden Ascent! Yue Maiden Soar! Yue Maiden Shower!" starting with Yue Maiden and ending with the heavens, echoed through the palace, despite the multitude of eyes and ears. Most assumed, "The princess is at it with her whims again," and let it go. Some members even of the imperial guards indulged her by pretending to be struck, making the young princess elated. And then some fool talked. It is still unknown who that accursed one was. The real Yue Maiden Sword was elsewhere. Within the deep chambers of the imperial armory existed a legendary manual, untaught to anyone. Children are peculiar in their self-overestimation. Believing in their capability to achieve what others cannot is a child's nature, and thus the young princess's eyes sparkled. The legendary manual in the depths of the imperial armory! Untaught to anyone up to now! A legendary sword technique! It wasn't a lie. The original manual indeed existed. A historic tome transferred visuals of a few postures without any character narration on inner power utilization, from an era devoid of martial skills. Painted by an artist ignorant of swordsmanship, the positions lacked attention to stance, the coordination of sword and body, and the flow. Merely an album, a pictorial, proving Yue Maiden's former beauty, nothing more. Naturally, no one mastered it. The Yue Maiden Sword's original version remained a mere legend. "So then, did the princess have nothing to do with my Yue Maiden Sword?" "No. Your Majesty mastered it. From that disheveled picture book." A truly baffling statement. "Uh. How?" "Exactly proclaiming, 'Because I am Yue Maiden herself! I am an exceptional genius!' she said." "Was she truly a genius?" "Uncertain. From that point, it was not merely a simple imitation. It involved national law and the punishment of execution, hence reporting to Her Highness. Severely reprimanded, she halted serious training, waving it just playfully." Hmm. But indeed, it seems she hadn't completely stopped wielding it. Difficult to comprehend, a princess of such manner arouses one's curiosity to witness. "Furthermore, are you not the heir to the legendary Shaolin technique, Buddha’s Divine Palm(如來神掌)?" "Uh, well, sort of happened like that?” "Actually, I have always been curious. If Your Majesty had properly learned martial arts, what great accomplishments could you have achieved? If truly an unparalleled genius, could you possess mystical ability to intuit whole methods from a sparse manual? What do you think?" "Oh, there's no such ability anywhere." Qing, known for repeatedly stealing martial arts secrets through contact with manuals, waved her hand dismissively. But Bum-ryak-gong firmly observed Qing and resolutely answered. "Such an ability exists." "Eh. Really? Was there somebody like that? Perhaps it was the Great Celestial Martial Emperor(無天大帝), no, I mean..." "Your Majesty. It’s Wuchenzi (無天子), Your Majesty.” "Yes. Was Wuchenzi like that?" ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVczJObkdGNWRUeHJETUpjZUowTHBuVXNueklWTXRqbVozU1JOOWZCamVwTQ “That person is not the one. Come to think of it, I've heard rumors that you inherited his martial arts.” Bum-ryak-gong's eyes narrowed. "Your Majesty, do you by any chance know of a martial skill called 'Musangong'? No, never mind." Bum-ryak-gong redirected his words midway. Given that still expression on her face—a genuine look of not knowing—one could discern the answer without asking. However, Qing's curiosity was piqued. "Musangong?" In the past, there was a mysterious sect settled by unknown martial arts masters. The martial arts of this sect transcended the norms, possessing uncanny abilities beyond the world. Initially, they lived detached from worldly affairs, but gradually descended to the world, enjoying reverence for their ever-changing magical arts. In time, they became so arrogant that they called themselves immortals, deeming themselves a celestial sect above the heavens. The imperial court couldn't let such arrogance stand. When the time came to enact a sharp retribution, they suddenly split into factions and quarreled over the ownership of the martial arts, reducing themselves to ashes overnight. As a result, their mystical martial arts scattered to unknown places. "Oh, I think I've heard of them somewhere..." "It is a well-known tale. It serves as evidence that no matter how powerful these so-called martial artists might be, they cannot transcend their greedy nature. Those claiming to be immortals, daring to mimic the Celestial Realm, ultimately met their downfall due to their own greed—such is fitting of these martial artists." A sudden surge of disdain toward martial artists. It was awkward to sympathize, and improper to refute, so silence seemed the best option. "Musangong 無相功 is among those martial arts." Musangong 無相功, or the Lesser Musangong 少無相功. Those who mastered Musangong were said to comprehend all martial arts simply by observing them. Moreover, when mastering understood martial arts, their proficiency would leap decades' worth of training in an instant. Even when learning conflicting martial arts simultaneously, no adverse effects appeared. Possibly, it allowed one to wield all martial arts in the world with adeptness as if they were one's own. "Oh…" Qing expressed admiration. That seemed very much like the Martial Arts Window, even surpassing it. The Martial Arts Window required full contact with the manual or hearing the teachings registered, whereas merely watching could lead to understanding, mastering to the level of decades of practice. That Martial Arts Window might boast a lot, but it was just another average skill after all, just a poor substitute. The Martial Arts Window would feel quite aggrieved. This ungrateful girl seems unaware of who has helped her survive so well, speaking so thoughtlessly. But, without any voice to protest, it can only remain misunderstood. Of course, the will-less Martial Arts Window might not even realize its predicament. "But is there really something like that? It just doesn't make sense. What would you learn to get such results? Is it like some miracle study method?" Something akin to a hundred-day exam study method, a fifty-day method, a thirty-day method, or even a night-before-the-test method; similar to the empty dreams and hopes of those who never really applied themselves. "That's how the tale goes, but like other mysterious arts, its true nature is unclear. It could be a spiritual artifact inscribed onto the soul in some magical form, or it could merely be a rumor. Other martial arts outside of Musangong have occasionally surfaced, such as Baekhong Palm or Six Yang Palm, or skills like Neungpami Step, ah. I hear Your Majesty is now the owner of Neungpami Step, isn't that right?" "Ah! That's it!" "Oh, do you remember something?" "No, I just realized that I've heard that sect's story somewhere. When the person handed over the Neungpami Step manual, he mentioned it was a bloody manual, saying they fought tooth and nail for it, didn't he?" "Didn't I already tell you they killed one another to the brink of extinction?" Bum-ryak-gong's response seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. "Ahem, Your Majesty. Seeing how you've grown brings me great joy." "Are you leaving?" "My desire to stay by your side as in the past is strong, but my duty overseeing the Imperial Court Affairs does not allow me prolonged absences." "No need to ask for my forgiveness." Bum-ryak-gong smiled gently. "Thinking back, those were indeed good times. Still, I will visit frequently. Would you permit me to do so?" ---- The Crown Prince was waiting, still awake. What if even Bum-ryak-gong succumbed to the flattery of the deceitful claimant, the Heavenly Sword Flower? If all those who related to her from childhood collectively declared Heavenly Sword Flower to be the real Yeonsul, what could be done? What else could he do but take matters into his own hands? Deceiving others is one thing, but not him. Even regarding Yeonsul, he saw through her. Despite her crossing the limit of cheerfulness and miserly courtesy, many palace officials were unduly swayed—but not he. He had seen through Yeonsul's base nature, akin to a pig or a monkey, a primitive beast. So, he would strip away the Heavenly Sword Flower's deceitful façade to uncover the beast within, revealing to everyone the real Yeonsul— Wait, this line of thought implied Heavenly Sword Flower was concealing Yeonsul. Somewhere along the way, the logic became bewildering. Could it be that even the mind was ensnared by the treachery of the Heavenly Sword Flower? At that moment— - Your Highness, it is I, Bum-ryak-gong. "Please, come in." A guest was welcomed within the Crown Prince's quarters at night. Due to its location from the southern gate, anyone entering or exiting the Crown Prince's residence at Nam Sam-so had to pass through the Annals Hall, Kwanbon Pavilion, and lastly the Hill Pavilion; thus, Bum-ryak-gong's entrance to head towards the Crown Prince's place after visiting Qing was naturally seamless. "So, how was it?" Then suddenly—Flop! Bum-ryak-gong knelt before the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, please punish me." "What, why are you doing this?" "I have committed a grave offense, Your Highness. Despite witnessing a heinous traitor daring to impersonate the Celestial Dynasty(天朝), I returned empty-handed without executing them on the spot. This sin reaches the heavens." In this context, "Celestial Dynasty(天朝)" refers to the imperial family of the Central Plains. And when one speaks of a heinous traitor who dares to defy the Celestial Dynasty, the implication is clear. "Your words mean..." With a resolute expression, Bum-ryak-gong confessed earnestly. "The Heavenly Sword Flower is a baseless charlatan, an enemy of the empire seeking to defy the Celestial Dynasty. Please, give me the order. I shall discreetly deal with them and erase them from the world."