826 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

[Always Silent] Despite the constant collapse from within, the mine continuously spewed out acrid smoke. The only silver lining was that the injuries of the fallen martial artists weren’t severe, allowing them to regain consciousness soon enough. They only complained of dizziness and nausea. "For now, we're closing the mine. It’s coal meant for our compatriots. We can’t just let it all burn." Thus began the operations to shut down the mine once again. The smoke was laced with poison, so progress was slow due to caution. Yet, being careful meant no further symptoms of poisoning appeared. The poison fumes Tang Nanah had set up had merely dissipated, but the warriors of the Zheng household hadn't the faintest suspicion that the mine had been attacked. While the captain of the Zheng family's guards effortlessly directed (or rather, observed) the closure of the mine's entrance, a subordinate who had been tasked with searching the miners’ quarters returned. "Captain, the entire dormitory is empty." "What did you say?" "They probably went in to extinguish the fire and..." The subordinate’s words trailed off. The captain gave a long, regretful sigh. Even the guards, seasoned martial artists, were foaming at the mouth from just the smoke, so how could the miners who didn’t even know martial arts withstand it? In the fire that rose from the internal poison manufacturing facility, all the miners, unaware of their own peril, had likely rushed in to attempt putting out the blaze and met a tragic fate. Qing would have likely scoffed if she had heard. Were they naive, or was it just a gross overestimation of the collective’s capabilities? Wouldn’t a normal person think that someone had attacked, killed them all, and set the methane mine ablaze? However, this is the pitfall of a brainwashed society. If every compatriot must and is striving for the liberation of all, endlessly fed into one’s mind, it eventually becomes accepted common sense. That illusion, however, didn't last long. What awaited the Blood Cult warriors as they returned to the Zheng family estate at dusk, having completed the exhausting mine closure— —was an unsettlingly eerie silence. Beyond the wide-open gate lay the vision of bodies. Only then did the captain face reality. Simultaneously, every hair on his body stood on end. An ambush! It was indeed an ambush! The enemies had killed the miners, set the blaze in the mine, and then attacked the Zheng estate while the fire brigade was dispatched. Then a shocking realization struck him! "No, Young Master! Young Master! Are you here? I, Dongjuk, have come! Young Master!!" The captain, Dongjuk, urgently dashed inside with heavy steps. As warriors swiftly followed in alarm. "Young Master!!" Despite desperately calling out, there was no response. Dongjuk swiftly made his way into the estate chief’s office. As Dongjuk scanned urgently, his eyes caught a familiar silk robe draped over a body in a corner. The face covered beneath the cushion, he couldn’t be absolutely sure it was the estate chief, but the clothing was indeed a favorite garment. Dongjuk’s heart sank. Yet. Looking closely, the chest of the body sticking out from under the cushion was carefully rising and falling, albeit faintly. "Young Master? Young Master, it's me, Dongjuk!" "..." "Young Master?" Could he have fallen into a deep slumber? As Dongjuk cautiously approached and reached out to the estate chief— "Aaaack!!! Aaack! Aaak!! Aaaagh!!!" A harrowing scream erupted. The pitch of the scream was one thing, but the indistinct pronunciation, akin to the cry of a mute, was unsettling. "Young Master?" "Ack! Aaaack!! Ugh! Aaagh, aaack!!" "Please calm down, it's Dongjuk, Young Master, it's Dongjuk." Dongjuk’s voice abruptly halted. With an awkward, unnatural movement, the cushion slipped away, revealing the estate chief’s horrendously disfigured state. His eyes grotesquely damaged, blood smeared around his mouth, congealed blood crusted thick in his ears. Who had perpetrated such a brutal act, and how?! Dongjuk urgently examined the estate chief’s body, resetting the dislocated shoulder. "Aaaack!!" "Young Master, it's me. Please calm down, calm yourself." Dongjuk embraced the estate chief tightly. The body flinched, quivering with terror. Though the shoulder was set in place easing the pain, the torn ligaments left the arm dangling, the estate chief desperately struggled to break free. In his sightless and soundless state, Dongjuk’s presence was no more than a terrifying stimulus. After a long moment. The estate chief’s panic subsided. Only then did he seem to verify his safety. "I will escort you to a secure place for now." "Ugh." "Young Master, excuse me for this. You cannot hear, um, pardon me." Dongjuk lifted the estate chief and stepped outside the office. "Captain?" "I'll take the Young Master first. Assemble the warriors, handle the bodies, burn the estate, and follow afterward." "You mean to the Five Poison Sect?" "Yes. Make haste, I'll go on ahead. Leave it to you." "Oughh!" "Hush, Young Master, it’s alright. You’re alright." Dongjuk immediately advanced with great speed. His strides were crisp and precise, a testament to his competent internal arts. He swiftly exited the estate’s main gate, running along the road with all his might… Someone suddenly burst out from the main gate. There, far off on the hills. From the road through the farmland, hidden within the foliage on the slope of the hill, a figure watching, with large eyes, glittered beneath their mask. As if trying to discern who the distant figure might be. One corner of their mouth crookedly lifted soon after. Then. With a subtle noise of the rustling leaves, the masked figure vanished without a trace. ---- Between the Zheng family estate and Gae Gu-hyun lay a small ridge known to the locals as Black Dragon Ridge(黑龍丘). The name might seem grand, but in truth, the number of ridges called Black Dragon Ridge(黑龍丘) in Zhongyuan, or Central Plains, easily exceeded several hundred; it was a very common name. The name Black Dragon was typically given to narrow, elongated mountain passes with steep inclines that were arduous to cross. --- **New Terms Translated and Contextual Explanation:** 1. **Zheng family estate (정가장)** - Translated to "Zheng family estate" to convey the identity of a family-associated group or structure, aligning with naming conventions used for other sects, clans, or estates within martial arts fiction. 2. **Black Dragon Ridge (흑룡고개 / 黑龍丘)** - Retained as "Black Dragon Ridge" and noted with Chinese characters to highlight its commonality and the multiple sites bearing the same name within the geographical setting of Zhongyuan. 3. **Blood Cult (혈교)** - Interpreted here as a likely organization since it's within the context of warriors, suggesting an established group or sect within martial arts world delineations. 4. **Five Poison Sect (오독문)** - Translated as "Five Poison Sect" to adhere to the usual distinction of such names representing significant martial or mystical groups within wuxia narratives. No changes are needed for previously mentioned elements as they align well with prescribed translations based on the prevailing context. The long and slender mountain ridge resembled a dragon, and among dragons, the Black Dragon is synonymous in Zhongyuan with a nasty dragon. So, the name fits perfectly for a treacherous pass that is difficult to cross. Therefore, one could infer without firsthand experience that this Black Dragon Ridge, with its steep incline, was an arduous mountain path likely to elicit groans of difficulty. As someone sprinted quickly up the slope, or rather two figures—or was it just one figure? If someone was carrying another person while running, does that mean one person is running, or two? One person’s running, but two are moving, right? Hmm, never thought about it like this. Qing, distracted momentarily, soon confirmed the one plus one running halfway up and quietly shifted about thirty steps inward to the peak's highest point. Standing in the path, she unsheathed a sword—too big to be merely a sword, yet too small for a greatsword—and planted it cane-like, standing skewed. Not visible from below, once the climb ended and one reached the ridge's peak, it was positioned precisely as Qing intended. bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTNk40cEtjVzVvaU1CelhrQ2NLRDRlR1FhLzE5QzR5eVh3UEFYRkp3MHgwRw How long had it been? Finally, a Blood Cult warrior carrying the estate chief jumped up, finishing the climb. Taking a breath, Qing bellowed. "Stop right there!!" The capability of martial artists to amplify their voice using internal energy was a phenomenon Qing never truly understood but accepted. If Qing were a science student, she might have pondered how sound waves and amplitudes, combined with a mysterious universal component called qi, influenced the air. Alas, being from the humanities, Qing was content with knowing it simply happened, without the lofty pursuit of understanding why. Regardless. The Blood Cult warrior, Dongjuk, abruptly halted, leaping back to create some distance. Cradling the estate chief with one arm, he discreetly leaned, brandishing his sword with the other, aiming it at Qing. He then cautiously examined the masked figure blocking his path. "...Who are you?" At his query, the large eyes beneath the mask formed a charming curve. "When asked who I am! It's only proper to respond! I am none other than a bandit!" "What...?" "The people of the world refer to me as 'Supreme Bandit Lord(最强盜賊至尊),' feared by many. Or, if they dare not utter the title, they call me 'Silently Stealer,' the grain eater." "Supreme Bandit Lord...?" In general, it wasn't unusual for bandits to fashion grandiose titles to intimidate. Claiming 'I am Bandit Chang So-and-So' is far less effective than something like Assassin Ghost or Heavenly Slaughter, attaching a sinister epithet having the desired effect. But the Supreme Bandit Lord? When boasting becomes excessive, it tends to sound rather ludicrous. And what's this about being a grain eater? Is there truly someone who doesn't eat rice? As Dongjuk momentarily forgot the urgency, lost in confusion, Qing straightened her posture and proclaimed. "Yes! I am that very Supreme Bandit Lord, known as… hmm, my name." She pondered briefly before continuing. "Right, I am indeed the Supreme Bandit Lord, The Mighty Bandit Lian!" Supreme Bandit Lord, The Mighty Bandit Lian! The one who eats rice! Then, wielding her sword in a basic stance— "In any case, I’m a bandit! Hand over everything you’ve got!" Dongjuk squinted his eyes in wary skepticism. While he could easily cut down an unskilled bandit. Facing one with a blatant alias was troublesome. Moreover, now was a crucial time for escorting the young lord, who was in a condition unable to perceive or defend against any dangers. Dongjuk stabbed his sword hard into the ground in front of him. A common technique employed when one hand must be free. He fiddled with his waist pouch and quickly tossed it toward Qing. The pouch arced through the air, dropping precisely at Qing's feet with a clang. Qing chuckled, her laughter lackadaisical, as she picked up the pouch and peered inside. And then. "What's this? Only coins in here? Are you broke? Broke guest? No money?" “...Take it, and go.” "Oh, I can't conduct business like this. Say, how many guests do you think come by while I stand here day in and day out? None. Just none. Yet, I stood here through rain, snow, and storms. And after all that diligence, the rare guest I get tosses me just a few measly coins? That’s just wrong. What happens to all my hard work then?" Qing was utterly immersed in her role, embodying the Supreme Bandit Lord Lian. Had Cheon Yu-hak heard her, he'd have laughed, claiming she was born for banditry. Amid the usual nonsense of bandits, Dongjuk's eyes darted nervously left and right. Bandits seldom operate alone, typically employing flanking ambush strategies while one initiates a confrontation. “Ha! I can hear your eyes rolling. Look, Guest, let’s be reasonable. Your token of sincerity is severely lacking, so you’d best be on your way. Oh, say, that outfit looks quite high-class, doesn’t it? How about that outfit your son’s wearing, silk, isn’t it? The colors are stunning." "Watch your mouth—" “Oh, please. You think I haven't faced armed men before? Look here? Do you see this? This is Sword Qi, you know? An extraordinary feat that not just anyone can replicate unless they’re top-notch. I only stand firm because I am confident in my skills, Guest. Aren't you aware of the situation?” Dongjuk halted in his tracks. Sword Qi visibly emanated, and near it, strands of Sword Intent started rising. A sign of a Pinnacle martial artist. Suspicion clouded Dongjuk’s eyes. At the time of the Zheng family estate attack, a Pinnacle martial artist ambushing travelers on a remote but nearby mountain path? Could it be— “Both of you, father and son, seem to have nice clothes on. For once, I’ll spare you from removing your undergarments. Isn’t that trivial for a guy anyway? It’s been a while, and I could use a visual treat.” **New Terms Translated and Contextual Explanation:** 1. **Supreme Bandit Lord(최강도적지존 / 最强盜賊至尊)** - Retained as Supreme Bandit Lord, a self-proclaimed grandiose title, used sarcastically by Qing, enhancing the humorous tone of the narrative. Alternate translations could be "Strongest Bandit Supreme" or "Mighty Bandit Supreme." 2. **Silently Stealer (음미적)** - Playful nickname Qing invents, also suggesting someone who 'steals' silently or perhaps even with grace ("elegant grain eater"). Alternate and literal translations could include "Subtle Bandit", "Silent Pilferer." 3. **The Mighty Bandit Lian (도독련 / 盜獨憐 )** - A humorous alias Qing gives herself on a whim, fitting her playful, bold alter ego for the ruse. Alternate translation could be "Thief Lian the Pitying." This section introduces more whimsical, made-up character elements by Qing, therefore preserving the playful and comedic tone. The emphasis lies on maintaining Qing’s sudden yet absurd self-claimed epithets which play upon the typical narrative tropes of wuxia bandits humorously. Dongjuk dismissed the thought that had arisen. This attack seemed unrelated; he was convinced that this woman, with her rude and vulgar behavior, was born to be a bandit. Dongjuk hesitated. Should he surrender and undress? Despite her crudeness, the opponent before him was a Pinnacle martial artist, and judging by her level of maturity, she might be in the latter stages of that realm. Moreover, it was rare for such formidable bandits to travel alone, so if she had hidden allies in wait... Dongjuk gritted his teeth. "Did you say you were the Supreme Bandit Lord, The Mighty Bandit Lian? How do you think you will escape unscathed? Do you not fear the repercussions of knowing who you’re dealing with?" “Oh, I’m so scared. Do you think this is the first time I’ve heard something like that? Either way, I was thinking of closing up shop since this place is in a poor spot. Getting even just a final customer is lucky. But I have yet to make money; this place is just no good. They say location counts for half of business success.” Qing chuckled nastily. “Repercussions? Once I close up and leave, what could you possibly do? So just undress quietly. Acting like you're something special. Tsk tsk.” Bulging veins popped on Dongjuk’s forehead. This was the 'Formless Poison,' the tongue that flips people inside out, the mouth of horror. Once you engage in conversation, you’re already ensnared! Qing beamed with a sweet but sinister smile. Frustrated? Then come at me.