786 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

"Hold on a moment, don't take this the wrong way," Qing quickly took a step back. If she provoked Bum Yakgong now, the only one at risk would be herself. For now, she needed to let him speak, to ensure a conversation could occur at all. It was essential groundwork for a persuasive dialogue; like oration, which often begins with strong words to avoid appearing weak, it's first necessary to pierce one's ears with bold talk. As the art of war states, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you shall not fear a hundred battles." If one knows both themselves and their foe, they'll find a way to avoid a losing battle, or at least minimize the damage if it's inevitable. And after narrowly dodging about thirty moves, Qing had learned about her adversary. Enough. She clearly understood Bum Yakgong's level now. Her initial impression was correct: this could truly end in her death... However, as she began to grow accustomed to his swordsmanship, Qing found moving around became slightly more manageable. But that was all. A battle is not fought alone. Bum Yakgong, too, would become accustomed to Qing's movements. Qing's physical abilities had long surpassed those of a normal human, and she even incorporated the flexibility gained through intensive training with the Flowing Chain Technique, allowing for highly creative evasive maneuvers. Yet what happens when the opponent adapts to that? Understanding Qing's speed and reactions, her joint mobility range, her directional preferences in certain situations, and so on. For now, it seemed a bit easier, but that was it. A martial artist who had reached the Profound Realm(현경) did not have common talent. Catching up was only a matter of time. Therefore, Qing's trust now solely lay with the Imperial Guards. She couldn't do it alone. She needed numbers. Oh, but when are they coming? She needed to stall for time until they arrived. "Alright. I've realized with painful clarity that I can't contend with you, so listen well. I'll call it just this once. Wusang Gong!" "Wait—" "All phenomena arise and perish; as they change in a moment, they are not as still. Thus, they say that appearances are essentially impermanent and non-existent. However, I, Wusangzi, proclaim, is it truly that appearances are impermanent and non-existent? If they transform and become something different, has their essence itself changed? No, within change, the essence exists. If one can perceive the essence of all things, then all changes can be comprehended." "I commend your effort, but isn't that the Buddhist doctrine of impermanence? Wusang Gong isn't that impermanence." "Oops." Qing flinched. She thought she had crafted a good beginning for her martial art, imagining it carried the almighty trait that allowed learning just by witnessing. Was it not this kind of Wusang then? However, Qing had already dived in. "Have I learned Wusang Gong or has Bum Yakgong? It's possible Wusangzi might have crafted it through Buddhist studies. It's not as if I asked Wusangzi how it was made and learned it that way, and don't you know that Buddhism and Daoism eventually connect? Oh, it's like, 'All streams return to the origin,' yeah, 'all streams return to the origin.'" "You have that look for excuses. There's no need to discern truth from falsehood here. Verifying in person is enough—" "Wait!" Qing hastily waved her hand. The old man's aura seemed about to pounce at any moment. It seemed that calling out random martial arts like Wusang Gong to stall for time wasn't working. What on earth? Does my death automatically transfer something? Why is there such impatient eagerness to kill? So, how should... Qing racked her brain desperately, and suddenly it was as if a light dawned upon one side of her mind. "Look, look at this!" "If you just stay still, it'll be painless—" Bum Yakgong's words halted abruptly. Of course, it was because of the radiant light emanating from Qing's hand, a dazzling luminescence she had never seen before, resplendent with iridescent colors, yet indescribable by any known hue. It was a square horn rising from Qing’s hand. At first glance, it seemed to be a sacred entity, not of the mortal world, acting like a mystical material upon one's soul and spirit. "So, you wanted Wusang Gong?" Qing displayed what was in her hand. Naturally, it was not Wusang Gong. This was the mental parasite, the Demonic Spirit of Heaven, which had long ago chosen death over enduring subconscious torment, its ego shattered. Finally revealing its true form after all this time, Qing's trump card, the Heavenly Demon Summoning! "Here, I'll give it to you, so just step back. I'll toss it to you." "That's satisfactory." Bum Yakgong took a step forward alongside Qing. As she hesitated, Qing stepped back. "No, I said step back!" "That's satisfactory. I wasn't at peace with harming a princess. If you wish to live, you'll hand it over before you return." "Oh gosh, wah, waagh!" Bang! The sound of a foot smashing against the floor of the Imperial Palace. But before that, the old man's form had already reached her with speed faster than sound, arriving before any noise. However, Qing had prepared herself from the moment Bum Yakgong lifted his foot slightly. With a forceful stomp, Qing barely avoids the slash that passes just in front of her, the fierce sword wind scratching her skin fiercely enough to burn. Her form stretched backward. Just barely avoiding decapitation, Qing crashes through a wall, flying out onto the marble floor, sprawling out. And then. "He has escaped!" "Capture the traitor Bum family!" "Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!" Cries of recognition and determination echoed robustly from all sides. At the same time, piercing whistles loudly signaled the enemy's discovery. Even as she rolled end over end, Qing, tumble after undignified tumble, spies the streams of martial artists converging on the palace grounds. Dressed in gold were the imperial guards; those in luxurious garb, some even with makeup, were eunuchs from the Eunuch Directorate. Who would've thought I'd be glad to see the imperial guards and the Eunuch Directorate? And even the sound of those whistles! Qing leapt up, her expression filled with unparalleled gratitude, heading towards the imperial martial artists as they flooded the extensive courtyard of the Imperial Palace. With a furious force striking from behind. Yet Qing's figure splits into eight. Bum Yakgong's charge cut through the figures scattering in all directions as if slicing through fog. Qing landed behind a Golden Guard warrior who was charging towards him and immediately turned around. The warriors of the imperial palace, each raising their blades, charged as one towards Bum Yakgong, their sword auras tracing starlight paths through the air. It was at that moment. The imperial warriors parted to the sides. Like a stream encountering a rock and naturally splitting, they flowed left and right in a seamless motion. However, an instant that felt like a nightmare unfolded for the palace warriors. A sudden, irresistible force swept through. Weapons extended uncontrollably, stabbing comrades in the side, slashing arms, and even turning to cut the very thigh of the wielder. Warriors who ran forward slid and fell, blood spilling as they tumbled onto the ground. Whoa, what the hell is that? It's a good thing I only dodged. If I had attempted a clumsy counterattack, I would've really been in trouble. Bum Yakgong’s martial arts aimed not at the annihilation of the enemy, so his swings weren't as sharp, allowing Qing to narrowly evade. But look. It wasn't an attack but defense. Not destruction but preservation. The martial art's true form and intent were on display, showcasing divine power from the hands of one in the Profound Realm(현경). "Destroy the traitors!" "Kill them!" "His Majesty commands it!" "Enemies of the Emperor!" "Die!!" Despite such divine power, the imperial warriors' determination remained fierce and unyielding. Their eyes displayed a sinister red glow, casting long trails as they charged with an otherworldly fierceness. Bum Yakgong’s sword moved with steady elegance. It was never rushed, slow yet inexorable, a flow as immense as the Changjiang, impossible for any human to resist. People were slashed, soared bloodied into the sky, plummeted to earth mid-stride, and headless bodies took several steps before collapsing. Countless deaths. He was merely an old martial artist wielding a single sword, yet none dared approach. Like moths to a flame, they suffered utter defeat. In a moment, Qing noticed something in Bum Yakgong’s expression. The round, surprised eyes, followed by a soft curve of assured realization. Chills crawled up Qing's spine. This old man hadn't fully grasped how powerful his martial arts were, nor how to adapt and apply them until now. But now he understood. Whatever it was, that martial art wasn't initially for offense—it was meant to stand firm, to dissolve approaching foes with their own strength. Qing stomped down with force. What if this old man gained enlightenment from experiencing proper combat at such an age? Not to mention, what if he became more familiar before he was dealt with? Furthermore, what is happening with the Golden Guards? The Golden Guards, clad in golden attire, charged without regard for their own lives. Watching them only brings about futile deaths. Sure, I've never had good experiences with the Golden Guards, and they serve the emperor's orders without regard for their own lives, viewing the lives of commoners as mere tools, but... Still, they came to help. I can't just let them die like this. And most importantly— It has to be killed now. While they can still charge collectively, while there are madmen willing to throw themselves at a master of the Profound Realm. DONG! The Buddha’s Divine Palm cracked the air with a sound akin to a grand bell. The flowing path of Bum Yakgong’s sword wavered slightly. While one might not cut water with a sword, in that fleeting instant, the impossible happened, as the waters parted. DONG! DONG! DONG! The shockwave of the Buddha’s Divine Palm surged forward, a string of intense blows. Though it might seem like it didn’t have much impact. The swords of the Golden Guards, which had been bending towards each other, brushed against one another, narrowly escaping mutual carnage, as if shaking off some wretched spell. And then, Thwang! The powerful auras of the Golden Guards collided fiercely with Bum Yakgong’s sword, sparking violently. "Go! You scoundrels!" Qing lowered her stance, pulling the sword from the hand of a Golden Guard still sputtering blood. Springing up, her waist bending like a bow. Her right hand wielded the sword forward, elbow drawn back as far as it would go, while the other hand aimed straight towards the enemy, setting its murderous mark. BOOM! Her front foot hammered the ground. The recoil travels up from her ankle, through her knee, past her hip, gradually amplifying its force in this peculiar path, directing it towards her weapon. She couldn’t deal with it like that old man the Great Celestial Martial Emperor(무천대제). A naturally talented noble, striking like the center of the universe, descending like the heavens and ascending like the earth, the Great Celestial Martial Emperor would punch a hole in a cliff absent any preparation. That first form of the Lone Nine Swords Technique(독고구검), Without Venom, No True Man(無毒不丈夫). But she couldn't mimic that. While the Great Celestial Martial Emperor would coolly straighten his blade at his nose before striking, if I tried it, it would be all for nothing but a headache. So in her own way. She just had to struggle with all her might. Qing’s right arm shot out like a beam of light. A massive surge of internal energy gushed out from her dantian in a single breath, causing the qi pathways throughout her body to scream. The blade she released was enveloped in a brilliant yellow sword qi that transformed into a piercing beam of light. Bum Yakgong clenched his teeth, causing a bulge beneath his ears as he urgently swung his sword, distorting the circle it was tracing. While the sword qi of the Golden Guards skimmed Bum Yakgong’s shoulder and torso, the more pressing matter was the need to urgently intercept the beam. Bum Yakgong barely managed to position his blade against the rapidly incoming strike that Qing released. BOOM!! With a deafening roar, the streak of light shot forward in a straight line, veering sharply. Yet the projected sword did not decelerate. The light beamed into the first floor roof of the Imperial Palace— KABOOM!! A massive explosion reduced approximately a quarter of the roof to rubble, a cloud of dust billowing upwards. In that instant, everyone simultaneously froze, their eyes wide with shock as they gazed at the Imperial Palace. A portion of the palace's golden roof had crumbled as if a boulder had struck it! And as if coordinated, countless eyes then turned to Qing. With that, Qing opened her mouth to shout. "How dare you! You treacherous scoundrel! How dare you bring ruin to the Imperial Palace! This cannot be forgiven!"