834 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The sound of the forest swaying in the wind resembled the crashing of waves. The breeze brushing against the skin, Qing's keen senses detected a change in a grand flow of energy. The wind was changing. And in a most unnatural manner. Qing's sensitive perception indicated a bizarre anomaly that defied description. Something subtly amiss, something confusing—what is it? The flow perceived through the air seemed slightly different from what was seen or heard, creating a sense of queasiness. Illusions and delusions did not easily affect Qing. However, the Thousand-Eighty-Four Doors Sealing Formation, which twisted the earth's energy to confound the senses, relied more on compliance than defiance against the heavens. Thus, Qing was only partially affected by the formation. If fully ensnared, the distorted senses would have been perceived as normal, while remaining unaffected would mean no influence at all. Being only half-affected made Qing's sharpened senses a bane instead. Though calling it poison would be an overstatement. If the heightened senses failing to fully succumb to the formation resulted in nausea, the formation's creators might find it unjust. With a slight headache and nausea, Qing attempted a deep breath. However, the damp, moisture-laden wind merely clung to her cold heart, fluttering awkward warmth like a grimy stain. Unpleasant and oppressive... Qing gazed down at the decapitated head of an Elder from the Odokmun. A face locked in a permanent grin. Somehow, it was annoying. Incredibly so. What right did he have to die with a smile? It was indeed a fine farewell. Qing raised her foot. One solid Heavenly Demon Stomp would shatter the head like a watermelon. But then, a deep sigh escaped her. Qing delighted in the pain of living villains, not in desecrating the already dead. Yet, the head bothered her. If he'd begged for life, perhaps she'd have spared him. Of course, she'd have confiscated his limbs, but he could've watched Odokmun’s obliteration from prime seats. Could that be why her mood was sour? Still, the elder died smiling, finding satisfaction in his final moments. So perhaps, did she ultimately lose... Ugh, how bothersome. Qing scratched the back of her head, the sound loud and unrestrained. Well, no matter. How grand a trap had they prepared? Qing leisurely loosened her body. Without witnesses, it’s an assassination, the dead cannot speak; eliminating everyone here means no more Obscure Fiends or Heavenly Sword Flowers, she could act in Alleysummer's favor for reconnaissance — though she already exhausted that with the Blood Cult. Hup, two, hup, two—rotating arms and stretching the waist—is this national gymnastics or safety exercises? Safety is great, great, great? As Qing casually warmed up, her ears perked up. Rustling leaves and approaching presences from all directions. Then it happened. Qing covered her face with her hand. A three-inch needle caught between her index and middle fingers. A tiny droplet clung to its tip, quivering with tension. "Who goes there! I am Eummijeok, the Supreme Bandit Overlord, one who never hides nor flees. Show yourselves boldly!" A declaration brimming with dignity. Yet, only needles flew in response. "No, resorting to sorcery! This kind of sorcery, used only by vile and luridly sinister beings!" Sorcery? Hearing such, even Odokmun Shi would flip out. Qing's Formless Poison once again triumphed effortlessly. "Is it you?" Qing stomped the ground. Heavenly Demon Stomp, the impact was tremendous! As if a cannonball detonated, soil and leaves erupted in all directions. Master, today this virtuous thief assumes divinity, claiming the wicked’s lives for the greater good. Had Chun Yu-hak heard, he’d berate, “Crazy woman, why is the divine thief stealing lives?” with glaring eyes. But Chun Yu-hak wasn't present. Only the grinning head of the Odokmun elder, cast into the air with the erupting earth, met Qing's eyes. Ah, it seems you grant your approval! Not the Master, yet sharing age and gender, that’s about three-quarters commonality—mathematically granting a three-quarters approval. (Incorrect, but still.) Throwing stars clashed against crossed forearms before her face, creating a metallic clang. These are bulletproof forearms! Where do you think you are aiming? Scratching through the underbrush, Qing faced an Odokmun warrior with a startled expression. Holding up fingers, each adorned with long needles, a method akin to Nang-ah's, where weapons hurled are much the same. Qing’s figure spun gracefully mid-air. A cheap helmet flew off from the swirling motion, as her extended heel chopped down like an axe on the Odokmun warrior’s shoulder. A delightful crunch resonated from heel contact, like an electric pulse up her spine past her knee, ah, the knee! The Odokmun warrior clasped her own shoulder, a tremor in her voice. "How, how could—?" "Well! And you, become my comrade!" "What—?" Qing swiftly reached. Grasping the warrior’s left arm, she rose with elegance. Moon Maiden Footwork’s anti-gravity movement. Amid countless subtle movements felt around, Qing shouted. "Behold, this person is now my shield! Can you still shoot? Do you dare hit your kin?" "Shoot, fire! I don’t care—augh..." Surprisingly, the responder was none other than the Odokmun warrior turned human shield. Had she not bitten her tongue, it might've sounded gallant. "I don’t care! The vengeance of the master...!" As if in agreement, fierce iron arrows whistled from all sides. Qing swung the warrior’s left arm. With the body attached, arrows sprouted all over from the sudden barrage. "No, these are your sect mates, truly you fired—?" Beep! Beep, beep! --- **Terms Translated:** - 오독문 (Odokmun): This refers to a faction or a sect. I have retained "Odokmun" since it gives a distinctive feel and relates to a specific martial arts group in the novel. - 진법 (Formation): I chose "formation" interpreting it as a powerful mystical or martial arts barrier affecting the environment. Alternatives include "array" or "strategy." - 천망육십사문봉쇄진: Thousand-Eighty-Four Doors Sealing Formation: A tactical array using complex manipulations. - 천마-발구르기 (Heavenly Demon Stomp): A powerful technique mentioned; translated to reflect its fierce nature. - 음미적 (Eummijeok): Name retained as it seems specific to the character's identity or title. - 오독문도 (Odokmun warrior): Translated as warrior from Odokmun, suggesting belonging to a specific group. Alternatives include “member” or “disciple.” The sound of a whistle abruptly cuts off Qing's words. Qing's expression turns fierce in an instant. This damn whistle sound! Who's blowing that whistle! The whistle appeared to be a signal. Bang! The sound of fireworks exploding, with small shattered objects flying out to cover a vast area. An ammunition barrel, a kind of needle shrapnel triggered by gunpowder. Qing quickly realized what it was, recognizing it from similar weapons Tang Nanah had already shown. Qing put the human shield she was holding in the front. At that moment, on both sides from behind, bang! The shattered needle fragments covered Qing's back. Ouch! Ouch, ouch, ouch! "Ouch, stings!" Qing let out a cry—not quite a scream. For the raw power of the ammunition barrel wasn't particularly strong unless it hit straight on. The sheer physical limitations meant it couldn't be loaded with significant gunpowder to dial up its power due to the sheer size of the ammunition barrel and the needles within. To pierce the muscle of a martial artist in the Transformative Realm was beyond it. Not even piercing through the oily, ragged clothes Qing wore and barely anything else. Yet some managed to graze the skin, while a very few succeeded in embedding in the skin like bee stings. The intention of ammunition like this was never its damage but the shards coated in poison, where even a sting depth was sufficient. It's just that such tiny poison pins also carried small toxic quantities, so no matter how vicious the poison, it wasn't life-threatening unless hit at close range. This was the handling guideline for ammunition barrels as a last resort—to be used at point-blank range. How could Odokmun, known for its poison, not even know such basic usage of ammunition? Of course, that wasn't the case. If minuscule poison was less dangerous, the solution was to keep adding more until it was plenty dangerous. It was a reckless plan, where all the clan's resources were pooled to saturate in poison, mortgaging their future on it. Considering that a sect’s resources also included its people's lives. "How dare you! My precious skin!" Qing shouted, unleashing rage she'd never felt for her skin before, poised to surge forward. But suddenly, something grasped tightly around her leg. Glancing down, she saw the meat shield twisting with its dislocated left arm, yanking Qing's ankle into its armpit. Locking eyes with Qing, it let out a laughing cough, even as dark blood oozing with venom poured out. "Cough, huuug, heh heh, you can't leave, can't go..." "Eek! Gross!" Qing recoiled in shock. This guy, spewing blood everywhere, rubbing it into his armpit of all places— Meanwhile, zhoop, clang! Each time Qing tried to shake him off, iron arrows flew in, forcing her to fend them off. "Well, if you like my ankle so much, fine, just keep holding on then." Qing dragged the clinging Odokmun warrior along with her ankle. This gritty fellow, dragging on the ground, bouncing like a fish out of water, banging into stones, crashing into tree roots yet sticking like a leech. But, wasn't the saying the power of the legs was thrice that of the arms? Given Qing already boasted an unparalleled strength with her arms, it meant her legs could unleash thrice that force. Qing sprinted! With someone dangling from her leg! "There you are!" These underhanded guys, intent on retreating if approached and throwing weapons from afar then running again if closed in. Bulging veins on her forehead, Qing whipped her arm, drawing a graceful yet powerful arc. Booooong... The sound of a Buddhist temple bell echoed unexpectedly through the rainforest, signaling the Buddha's Divine Palm. But it missed! The powerful shockwave merely burst the bark of an innocent tree. Qing was incredulous. How could they run like that? The Odokmun warrior's flight was peculiar. Running in a perfect straight line without a single sway, yet like lightning, zigzagging, shifting directions indiscriminately. Thus, appearing and disappearing between dense rainforest trees, it appeared ever so dazzling and mysterious. What is this—a teleportation skill? Typically, altering directions fiercely leftwards or rightwards requires leaning the upper body and thrusting one’s legs outdoors. Thus, having freedom in direction change without altering posture meant the opponent couldn't predict shifts at all. A truly bizarre and marvelous technique. No wonder the Buddha's Divine Palm missed. Did Odokmun possess such extraordinary lightness techniques? Truly outstanding, yet why had Qing never heard of such wondrous skills? Could mastering Odokmun yield the same? As Qing's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Yet it was Qing's misunderstanding. Odokmun warriors merely ran straight, and the formation's distortion falsely induced sideward maneuvers. A remarkable skill lured in the martial practitioners. Suddenly engrossed into the martial world she'd barely dabbled in, Qing was momentarily distracted, entranced by extraordinary skills. Zshhh! A sound differing from preceding iron arrows—this, a javelin— With the toe skyrocketing. The extreme flexibility gifted by the Flowing Chain Technique of the Ten Stars had its limit challenged. Her straight left foot soared high, even surpassing her own crown. Simultaneously lifting the human shield on her, who ascended with her, whoo! Thunk! The javelin pierced through the human shield, tapping lightly on Qing's iron chestplate. "Ugh!" The human shield vomited a final mouthful of blood, meeting a gallant end. The tightening grip on her armpit slackened—detaching from Qing's lifted foot, falling with a thud having been used to its expendable potential upon taking the javelin. Exposing herself fully, draped in the blood spewed from her meat shield. "Hah..." Qing wiped the blood-laden visage.