791 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

As the old saying goes, "A hero's talent can transform in just three days, requiring one to rub their eyes in disbelief, and confirm whether this person is truly the same." Already ablaze with enthusiasm, the trainees spent nearly two and a half months traveling to and from Beijing, and their demeanor had changed notably. Even though the instructor was temporarily away, the swords trainees were fortunate to have Namgung Shinjae, the genius of sword education and completely enamored with the sword, guiding them. When Qing headed for Beijing, she could at least rest easy knowing she had a reliable friend. “Instructor, have you returned?” “Instructor, did you travel well?” The once-trainee swordsmen now carried themselves with the discipline of a bona fide combat unit. One of the reasons for establishing the Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy within the Murim Alliance was indeed to incorporate such talented swordsmen into their ranks. Nevertheless, Qing felt somewhat out of place. After all, two and a half months had forged memories and bonds amongst the trainees, which Qing had not been a part of. This was true for the instructors too, as they naturally gravitated towards Namgung Shinjae and Moyong after hours, focusing on studying the sword. Witnessing the likes of them becoming close left Qing musing, “When did they become so friendly...” Moreover, the reformed ragtag swordsmen and Tanned Girl, Chang Yohong, along with others, still tirelessly wielded their swords after daily routines. And wasn’t there an atmosphere of remarkable reunions as well? “Oh, you're back? Took longer than expected. Feel like loosening up a bit?” “Huh? No, I’d prefer to unpack first.” “Shouldn’t physical exercise come before unpacking? I can’t comprehend that.” For people of Zhongyuan, two and a half months apart felt much like a mere week. In Qing's hometown, even a one-way journey of about two hours would invoke complaints about the distance, evoking lamentations on how to reach such a far-off place. In contrast, a local trip in Zhongyuan meant planning in units of at least two weeks rather than hours. Thus, when Qing appeared to coincide with the anticipated arrival date, the devotion of mid-distanced travels of Zhongyuan was indeed reflected. Nonetheless, for children, two and a half months seemed an exceptionally long period. “...!” Ja-yeo’s eyes widened as she held tightly onto Jinjangmyeong’s hand on the return home. Though still showing the exhaustion under her eyes, her tired impression couldn’t hide the spirited steps her short legs ran towards Qing. Catching Ja-yeo in her embrace, Qing whirled her around with delight. Rubbing her cheek against Ja-yeo’s wrapping arm, a chill laugh unique to Ja-yeo bubbled forth. “Ja-yeo, how have you been?” “Good. But moms were annoying.” “What? Who was bothering our Ja-yeo? Tell me, and I’ll scold them right away.” “Seo mom and Tang mom.” “Uh...” “Oh, it was quite chaotic. Tensions were running high between them,” explained Jinjangmyeong. Indeed, after Tang Nanah forcibly took over as the medical officer at the academy, a childish rivalry between Seol Lily and Tang Nanah erupted: a contest of “who’s the better mom.” At meal times, both mothers vied fiercely over who would have Ja-yeo sit on their lap. Initially, they naïvely asked Ja-yeo, “Whose lap would you rather sit on?” This question, akin to those adults ask for fun, was a genuine dilemma for Ja-yeo, causing significant stress and mental fatigue—essentially the ‘mom versus mom’ version of “who do you prefer, mom or dad?” “Hm. These grown-ups, when will they ever mature?” On a child’s emotional aspect, it’s advised never to ask such things, regardless of how entertaining it seems. Initially, their amusement derived solely from watching the child squirm, uncertain and distressed—not the best form of joking. And surprisingly, not even a jest but thoroughly sincere. It was akin to parents locked in a custody battle, asking their children whom they would choose to stay with, a harsh choice. However, Ja-yeo proved surprisingly astute for her age. Since there were plenty of mothers, losing a few didn’t seem that bad. She wisely declared she would choose neither, opting for neutral ground among Moyong Ju-hee and Jinjangmyeong. The hardliners didn’t give in, even dragging Ja-yeo back to their lap during meals to outdo each other. Ja-yeo’s meal became an endless cycle of being passed back and forth, never touching the ground. Until, one day, Ja-yeo's radical declaration. With a frown, she announced disinterest in both moms, shocking them into negotiating peace. Now, they positioned themselves side-by-side, dividing her seat equally between Seol’s and Tang’s laps. Qing mused while listening, lamenting not witnessing Ja-yeo's rare expression of anger—probably adorable. “What a hassle, so uncomfortable.” The problem being Seo was elongated, whereas Nanah was petite, creating a height disparity when sitting combined. Both mothers insisted on feeding her, making each meal a standoff. Meanwhile, Nanah incessantly offering snacks while Seol attempted to cool Ja-yeo off, causing Ja-yeo to never truly stand on the ground for the entire summer. “Let’s see... Have you gotten rounder?” “Kihihee, ticklish.” Indeed, there was some soft flesh alongside, indicating she had been eating well and resting, with a sheen on her cheeks. Nevertheless, the dark shadows beneath her eyes remained notably present—perhaps irreversible pigmentation or residue from practicing some profound technique? Right around when Jinjangmyeong suggested it after the routines, Seol Lily appeared, eager to scoop up Ja-yeo straightway. “Huff, missed you so much. Sniffle.” “Huh? Is Gu-nyeong crying?” “I’m not Gu-nyeong, no.” “Really? Were you crying, Gu-nyeong?” “I said no, definitely not.” Seol Lily, with reddened eyes and a runny nose, was sniffling as her voice came out nasally. Could it be a cold? They say even dogs avoid summer colds. "Do you have a cold?" "No." "Then what is it?" "Some dog house let the dogs loose. Sniff." "Ah, was it that Nanah again?" It seemed Tang Nanah had once again unleashed her infamous concoctions, which could ruin one's reputation merely with their presence. "Oh, Qing, shall we eat? Let's eat, and since it's been a while, maybe bathe together? Hehe, I heard you were gravely injured? I can't live, seriously. I need to check your pulse and ensure nothing is missed, just in case. If left untreated, it could become troublesome later, you know?" "Your expression looks, well, rather lecherous?" "What? Me? I’m just genuinely concerned, okay? Do you think diagnosing is easy? It's a skill, and it's not about just groping or anything like that!" "Alright then. Did you poison Gunyeong?" "No? Couldn’t it be just a slight chill? Guarded by cold air all the time, it's no wonder they'd catch a chill?" "Oh. Tch." "Why is everyone on my case, seriously? Qing, you don't even know the situation. She keeps using her odd techniques on me, making frost form on my tea cup, so it's cold as soon as I drink it. Does that even make sense? Isn’t that crossing the line, turning my hot tea into iced water?" Chilling the tea, even as a jest, was a grave insult to someone from Zhongyuan. All tea must be enjoyed hot. Of course, fruity teas served cold were an exception. Technically, they were not classified as "cha(茶)" or traditional teas and thus didn't fall under the universal tea rules. Initially, fruit teas weren't even categorized as real teas but as snacks, which allowed some flexibility in consumption. Similarly, grains like barley tea or cassia tea weren’t considered real teas despite their names; still, no one from Zhongyuan would think of enjoying them cold. Besides, in Chinese culture, all beverages, except for snacks, had to be warm. Cold drinks were believed to harm health, the root of all illness, and were thought to have a detrimental impact on mental health, potentially leading to madness. "Isn't cold tea a nice refreshment in this heat?" "...Oh, Qing, everything about you is great, except this part..." "Anyway, friends don't use poison on each other. Hurry and give her the antidote." "What, we're not even friends." "That's right. We're not friends." "Well, if both parties say so, there's nothing we can do." Qing nodded and continued. "Family doesn't use poison either. Hurry and give her the antidote." "What, family? With someone like her?" "No." "Unfortunately, as long as you’re Ja-yeo’s mom, you are on the same family tree. If you don’t like it, stop being her mom. Right, Ja-yeo?" "Yeah. I have plenty of moms." "Oh, Ja-yeo must be delighted with so many moms to spare. You have the most, don't you?" "Cheoljung has seven moms. Even Woonhwa, Chaeryeong, and Tabok each have six." Among children, any conversation could quickly turn into a bragging contest, and there had once been a fierce debate over who had more moms. Given that having multiple mothers wasn’t uncommon in Zhongyuan, it was hardly unusual. Feeling the liveliness after so long, Qing finally sensed she had returned to the world of martial arts. The Forbidden City had been somewhat barren and quiet, with everyone always in a state of tension, creating a heavy atmosphere. Perhaps I’m not suited for court life. After dinner, Qing spent some private time with Sima ChungBong. “You’ve been appointed as an Inspector under the Twelve Censorial Offices? This is interesting. No matter how exceptional Heavenly Sword Flower(天華) is, it's fascinating that even someone as unparalleled as the lone talent guiding the future generation has received such authority." “The notion of being the unique powerhouse for the next era is plausible. Then again, with the title of 'The Wise Virtuous Flower( 지낭현화),' tidings of the world's greatest wisdom?” “Hum, naturally. Nonetheless, to be leaving the royal palace like this, one could consider several possibilities.” Indeed, the role of Inspector Qing had been appointed to was essentially that of a secret inspector. Nominated by the Emperor, holding unilateral inspection authority, and directly reporting results to the Emperor himself. In Qing's homeland, the title of secret inspector was formidable, known more as a perilous post where survival was difficult, often having to fight off tigers and wolves and dealing with provincial powers and corrupt officials who believe killing to cover their actions holds no consequence. However, things were different in Zhongyuan. The authority of the heavenly dynasty far surpasses earthly bounds, making the thought of silencing someone unthinkable, given the reverence for the Emperor above all. “But even if they appoint you, I expected it to be a nominal post devoid of mobility, yet such a real position of power?” “What do you think?” “There’s three possibilities. First, it could be a strategic deployment to rally legitimate grounds given the revealed ambitions for intrusion into the martial realm.” If Qing exercised her inspection rights? Then the authorities could easily enact their specialty, revoking the entire appointment, and thereby erasing Qing’s investigative efforts, reframing it as a martial figure assaulting lawful entities. “And the second?” “If not hard-line, it might be appeasement. Look here, the authorities have entrusted such responsibility to you martial artists. Thus, behave and refrain from rashness.” “And the third?” "The third possibility is that the authorities are greatly intrigued by the abilities of the Heavenly Sword Flower(天華) and wish to draw her into their ranks. This could be seen as a kind of love letter, although in reality, the likelihood is slim. Even if they're short of capable people, it's unlikely they'd entrust such an important position to the Heavenly Sword Flower. Unless, of course, we're speaking of someone with the everlasting genius of someone like me, Sima Rang, then maybe, but merely having martial talent without exceptional intellect is quite, well, lacking!" "What's this? You were doing so well. Were you really yearning for my fingers that much?" Sima ChungBong hastily hugged her substantial frame protectively. Qing pretended to blow alternately on her left and right outstretched index fingers, an action whose meaning might be lost on those from Zhongyuan. Regardless.