833 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

There was no reason to think they would be discovered. After all, if anyone had survived an encounter with the Thief Alliance, it would surely be considered a mere happenstance, like those few spared a breath atop a mountain pass. Moreover, the sole individual with whom any semblance of dialogue had occurred was isolated from the world by being blind, deaf, dumb, and missing both hands. The rest were simply a handful of Blood Cult subordinates, sent back to deliver a false scent, trying to sow confusion because their lives, which were ruthlessly shaped, were deemed too valuable to starve to death. Yet what mysterious link exists between the Heavenly Sword Flower and the Mighty Supreme Bandit of the Thief Alliance? In truth, Qing made no mistake. When a foe of the Blood Cult appears, the Poisonous Fiend simply sacrifices the not-so-precious Five Poison Sect members for the enemy, instead of his own underlings. Thus, it was a baseless accusation without any credible grounds, leaving Qing as a perfectly unfortunate victim. The grievance gnawing at Qing worsens, making her question if she erred somewhere. The paranoia has her heart pounding heavily. Could it be that she was discovered getting away through the mountains? If the Blood Cult was aware enough to track her movements up there, could it mean they are already on alert or have made some preparation? Suspicion is spreading like wildfire within her. "Urgh..." Meanwhile, while Qing ponders, the Five Poison Sect member under her grasp struggles desperately. The frantic, fish-like jerking of his throat against her palm as his lungs desperately try to reopen his airway finally prompts Qing to make a decision. Withdrawal, for now. Knowing the enemy is essential, whether the outcome should be one of invincibility or victory. Besides, she did not come merely for rampaging this time. The goal was always reconnaissance of the Blood Cult- At that moment. Rustle! A sound of bushes rustling. And suddenly, an old man emerges, raising a bottle gleefully. “My disciples, are you on duty well? Would you like an extra drink?” "Ah." “I’ve got a little left—huh.” The elder, who had attempted to distribute another round to his disciples, gasps in shock. He had made his way back to this distant outpost to give his pupils another drink, using the leftover alcohol, as the elder had taken the task of teaching this batch due to the untimely death of the previous generation of disciples. The vision of his disciples eagerly rushing over with joyful laughter was vivid in his mind, filling him with warmth and lightened steps. Unaware of the gravity of the situation, he had sneaked up, saying "Surprise," with bright eyes, but what greeted him was— The gruesome sight of a disciple's body split in half, and another’s eyes rolling back as they were lifted by the neck. "Heavenly Sword Flower...!" Uttering a lament, the elder immediately launched himself away. He used a technique known as the reverse retreat charge, flinging himself back through the bushes he had emerged from in an instant withdrawal without a moment’s hesitation. Crack. The sickening sound of a neck breaking. With one hand, Qing effortlessly crushed the Five Poison Sect soldier’s neck before propelling herself off the ground urgently. What the heck!? I mean, couldn't he at least have hurled an insult or something when seeing someone 'unexpected' and turning away like that? Even if you claim to be your disciple’s avenger, shouldn’t you at least pretend to be angry? Qing feels utterly wronged. Especially considering she hadn’t even said a word this time! With a reed hat hiding her face, her uncovered chin deliberately smeared with dirt, and even metal padding pressed against her torso to distort it. R1o1RUY1V2dWdFByellBWDZwUWJGUUtxU1Z4T2llYXdab05ZY2NaM2NOZVNROVJEQVljQXJqbll6RGxESXVRQw Yet how did he recognize her instantly!? It’s not as if her name or the words ‘Heavenly Sword Flower, Ximen Qing’ were inscribed anywhere, right? In any case, there must be no witnesses. Whether by death or containment, the fact of her presence here must not reach the Blood Cult’s ears. Her environment blurring away on both sides as she sprints, Qing navigates with her relentless gaze, heightened senses parsing the terrain to leap, duck, and sway with agility. Performing unrivaled light-footed martial arts, even in dense rainforests with natural barriers on all sides. However, the elder had been navigating the Ten-Faced Ambush Array for over half a month. Already accustomed to the terrain, his movements reflect years of familiarity, manifesting as an effortless escape. In contrast, Qing, encountering the path for the first time, faces a ground obscured by foliage and leaves in the dense forest. Even so, the distance between Qing and the elder gradually narrows. As a martial artist with poisoned skills, the elder’s overall prowess is weaker, and without poison, his pure skills are minimal. Qing’s right hand brushes the back of her head. In her hand appears a long hairpin, a special combat accessory of the Divine Maiden Sect. Her right arm rises high, as though to throw a great spear, swinging the hairpin widely, schwing— But, it misses! The pin’s sharp tip emerges midway through the elder’s thigh, almost in concert with the throw. The hairpin, which was aimed to halt at the back of the knee, became lodged in the ground, perhaps due to hidden water or a miscalculated trajectory. Even so, it demonstrated formidable power, akin to skipping the flight of a hidden weapon with terrifying force. Admittedly, to master hidden weapons is one thing, but it would be reasonable to see it as a mere force usage rather than a mastery in demand. Also, targeting a moving opponent’s knee isn’t always easy; with the legs in compressed motion, while the torso can be a probable target... Deeply embedded in the thigh, leaving only the hairpin head visible, yet the elder doesn’t emit even a small cry. He merely continues to run in limping determination. Is it a desire for life or perhaps a chemically induced response in the brain at the brink of life and death? In another moment, she would have cunningly provoked him with words. Had he lived as long as he wished, the old man would be ridiculed for turning his back on his disciples’ enemy to pursue life, living wretchedly to his aged days. The distance from the enemy closed quickly, thanks to the hairpin hit. Fifteen steps reduced to ten, a half-length and then further still, closing in. --- **New Terms/Concepts:** 1. **Thief Alliance (도독련) -** Translated as "Thief Alliance," maintaining the concept of a secretive or organized group of thieves or bandits. Alternate translations could include "Bandit League" or "Robber Consortium." Literal translation: Stealing League. 2. **Poisonous Fiend (독마) -** Translated as "Poisonous Fiend" to convey a sinister persona involved with poisons. Alternate translations could be "Venom Evil" or "Toxic Demon." Literal translation: Poison Demon. 3. **Five Poison Sect (오독문) -** Translated as "Five Poison Sect," suggesting an organization specializing in poison-related martial arts. Alternate terms could be "Quintuple Poison Cult." Literal translation: Five Poison Gate. These translations are chosen to retain meaning, cultural context, and tone. No changes to the previously provided list appear necessary based on the new content. Just five steps away now, the edge of her sword might just reach. In that instant, a surge of Heavenly Demon True Qi burst forth from Qing’s dantian. Formed from years of bitter resentment, this Qi, reduced to pure obsession, was now bereft of its original purpose—a most sorrowful energy between heaven and earth. The jagged flow scraped across the energy channels of her leg, moving with a searing pain before settling into the Yongchun Acupoint on the soles of her feet. And then—Bang! A distinctly different sound echoed from her stride. Qing's form elongated like a thick stroke of calligraphy. In no time, she closed in on the opponent's back. The tip of her forward sword touched the enemy's back and naturally penetrated with ease. "Gurgh." Qing ruthlessly slashed her sword. The blade that pierced through the center of the enemy's back emerged from his side. Blood spattered roughly across the thickets. The enemy collapsed with a thud, and a moment later, Qing's feet landed on the ground, taking a steady stance. She bent forward, reaching for the shoulder of the writhing elder when suddenly— Beeeeeeep!! Beeeeeeeep!! Beeeeeeep!!! Whether a desperate last act of defiance by the near-dead elder or not, a resounding whistle erupted. Qing quickly severed the throat of the Five Poison Sect member, and the elder's rolling head half-turned, fixing its gaze upon her. Just before death, the elder witnessed Qing, storing the face of his disciples' enemy in his eyes. Disciples buried within his heart, to the elder, who lived childless, they were akin to offspring—how great was his loss. Do you think that you, still wet behind the ears, could fathom the sorrow of losing a child? When his disciples dispatched to Sichuan returned as salted heads, he was already as good as dead; the lives you took didn't just include my disciples but me as well. Why would I fear death, then? It would have been better to lure you in deeper, but this is enough; struggle until death in the crucible of blades prepared for you. I shall wait for you in hell. Had Qing been able to read his thoughts, they would have been so absurd she'd be at a loss for words. Seriously, did his disciples perform any righteous act to die for, spreading poison in another’s territory and getting caught while planning to massacre innocents? Were it me, raising disciples like that, I wouldn't be able to lift my head in shame, let alone call them children. But the elder died without uttering a word. Only the crooked curve at the edge of his lips held the whistle firmly bit down. Qing’s forehead creased deeply. Laughing? What is this? After fleeing frantically without looking back, suddenly showing this tragic poison, as if triumphant upon trapping her— As if she’s been caught in a trap. Ah. So rather than fleeing for life, did he aim to draw her in somehow, acting as bait? -Beeep, beep, beeeep. -Beep! Beeeep! Beep beep beep! -Beeeb, beep! Beeeep! Beep beep beep! In response, sounds of whistles signaling from all directions. Beeeee…—Pop! Even the sound of firecrackers bursting from the canopy of trees above. Qing takes a deep breath. This time, I really intended to simply wait and quietly scout. These poison masters want to challenge me with ineffective poison? --- During the exhausting ambush operation, although not favored, the warmth from a slightly clear drink had cozily heated their bodies, it was such a lazy evening. Until— Beeeeep, beeeeep, beeeeep…! A violent sound shattering that laziness. The leader of the Five Poison Sect, Hu Chen-Chi, sprang to his feet. No specific signal was needed for the whistle blown when an enemy—when that accursed Heavenly Sword Flower was sighted. For regardless of who, blowing the whistle violently meant that enemy had arrived, that wretched Heavenly Sword Flower had come. Expecting no countermeasure for the Heavenly Sword Flower's eruption, there was no need to specify the signal of discovery. With only one item, numbers or classification were unnecessary; the mere first whistle sufficed. The whistle sounds cascaded outward. This time, adopting a systematic whistle pattern. Signal confirmed from Unit Forty of enemy sighting, preparing to respond. Confirmed, Unit Forty-One enemy sighting signal confirmed, preparing to respond. Confirmed, Unit Thirty-Eight… Check… The pace of the whistle sounded growing rapidly. Even just from hearing it, Hu Chen-Chi could envision the formation of the sprawling circular Ten-Faced Ambush Formation being filled and set into motion. Subsequently, Beeeep, Bang…! Bang…! Bang…! These were the firecracker signals indicating the placement of the core of the formations. Hu Chen-Chi counted the firecracker signals. One, two, three… six, seven. Eight! Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Gates Sealed Formation(天網六十四門封鎖陣). Dividing each direction into eight, totaling sixty-four gates with only one living gate, constantly changing its position. Despite the grand name, the true effectiveness laid simply in twisting paths, trapping the enemy preventing an exit. Simplicity being ultimate in efficacy. Morbidly notorious formations with extreme distortions or hallucination-like tricks were omitted, focusing solely on bewildering and confining. Yet enhanced by deadly poison-infused traps. Added with the many soldiers well-versed in the changing formations and tactical routes? The Heavenly Sword Flower is just a budding Transcendent Realm fledgling. Even assuming the absurd possibility of having reached the Creation-Transformation Realm, it wouldn't matter. No difference, even if they reached the Profound Realm. Even a Profound Realm master could be killed within such a trap. Though powerful, prolonged exposure to poison would ultimately delay and require post-remedial detoxification from even Profound experts. So, surpassing their limits by flooding them with poisons would be lethal regardless of their mystical level of mastery. Of course, capturing a Profound Realm master would come at the cost of losing almost the entire Sect. And the Five Poison Sect was already prepared to lose nearly everyone. Having aligned with the Blood Cult, the downfall of their sect was inevitably determined, planning distant or close matters inconsequential. --- **New Terms/Concepts:** 1. **Yongchun Acupoint (용천혈) -** Translated as "Yongchun Acupoint," preserving the traditional name of an acupressure point often referred to in martial arts and healing techniques. Alternate translations could include "Gushing Spring Point." Literal translation: Dragon Spring Acupoint. 2. **Hu Chen-Chi (후천치) -** Newly introduced character name. Translated directly maintaining its phonetics; alternative consideration could involve interpretation for meaning-related name adaptation. Further context necessary for more in-depth interpretation. These translations are chosen to maintain meaning, cultural significance, and the original narrative tone. There are no necessary updates to the initial list based on this content. But if I do not avenge my kin, my sect members, then why should a sect exist at all? Hu Chen-Chi's expression contorted. It was a face that appeared as if on the verge of tears, yet was filled with rage, forming a grotesque smile. Therefore, the Heavenly Sword Flower, she will perish today. Who does she think she is, achieving such a preposterous level as one would only find in the absurd tales of idle talkers— Indeed, unless she has reached the level of immunity to all poisons,