839 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Amidst a heap of gruesomely scattered corpses, a lone woman stood. Her face, stained with dirt, still dripped with fresh blood, clotted gore, and fragments of flesh congealed to it, resembling a fiend in outward appearance. As she surveyed the surrounding scene with a chilling gaze, the woman suddenly opened her mouth to murmur. "I'm hungry." Indeed, it was about time for her to be hungry. The sky was already turning red with dusk as she had spent more than a shichen and a half running, leaping, and engaging in swordplay, exhausting quite a bit of her energy. Moreover, Qing typically ate four meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a midnight snack, with little snacks tucked in between whenever possible. Her gluttony partly stemmed from a past filled with longing for food. However, the necessity of her four daily meals was largely due to the side effects of a technique used to cultivate her innate Heavenly Qi within the precious pearls of consciousness. In any case, she was hungry... “Hm. Let’s see if there’s anything to eat.” Qing swiftly moved her feet. Amidst the corpses of the fallen soldiers of Daemyeong Country, she lifted the still-intact tent flaps to search inside, hoping to stumble upon a makeshift kitchen or some hidden stash of food... Yet, what she found was disappointing. Gold trinkets, porcelain, bloodstained silk clothes, inks and inkstones, silver coins, and copper pieces... Had the soldiers of Daemyeong Country decided to buy souvenirs in Zhongyuan while they were at it? As if that could be the case. There was only one thing invading foreign soldiers did: plundering. In Zhongyuan’s long history, and in this era itself, plundering was a natural and legitimate right of any invader. Invading another’s territory meant plundering was the norm—so obvious there was no one to oppose it. Even those on the receiving end fortified their villages and buildings, knowing this was inevitable. With no interest in keeping the bloodstained loot, Qing tossed them aside while searching the military tents in exasperation, halted. In her hand, a small accessory—a hair ornament perfect for a little girl—lay. Bloodstains and clotted blood marred its tips. Hmm, these filthy scoundrels. She should have ensured none of them escaped and killed them all instead of letting them flee... With so many deadly traps set in the rainforests, they would likely meet their end. Besides, she was slightly fatigued now. And there really was no need to venture back into the rainforest. If they were targeting her, it was better to wait in the clearings where the trees were cut down, the sky was wide open, and there were no obstacles. Hm, if this is a military camp, water and food stockpiles should be somewhere around here. Ah, found it. Qing took a copious scoop from the water container. For a moment, the intense cold of her Ice-White Divine Arts roared, then she drank from her cupped hands. The cold water soothed her parched throat, parched from inhaling the heavy smoke. Ah, this must be what heaven feels like. The people of Zhongyuan don't know what they're missing out with cold water. After quenching her thirst, Qing took another scoop of water, held it to her nose, and snorted it up. With a gag, the water passed through her nose and flowed out of her mouth again, almost like a mini waterfall. Huff, that's better now. Clearing her sinuses brought relief. With her nostrils cleansed, Qing began a thorough search of the food storage. Dried bread, most likely the rations used by Daemyeong soldiers. Yum, it lacks flavor though...Chew, chew, even so, it's bland at best. Despite her complaints, Qing gnawed on a piece of bread while opening a crate. Salted meat, what kind of meat could this be? But they're soldiers of Daemyeong, so it shouldn’t be anything odd. Are these grains? Ah, rice grains, but elongated. Ooh, salt. And this? Maybe a Daemyeong spice? And this sniff-sniff, herbs, coriander. After a quick round, things started to make sense. Next to food storage, of course, there must be a kitchen area. Using the stacked firewood, she lit a fire, placed a large pot onto it, filled it with water, and added all the ingredients she could find. Experienced cooks have a knack for haphazardly tossing ingredients together and still ending up with a delicious meal. Especially when it's simply meat, rice, water, and some spices boiling together—it’d be difficult for it to taste bad. As a savory scent began to waft, Qing inadvertently hummed a little tune. Ah, if only she could wash up before eating, soak her body in hot water until it prickled, that would be paradise. Then coming out all clean, she could leisurely scoop up the thickened porridge, simmering and fast reduced—it’d be like heaven! Qing lost herself in a daze, her eyes fixated on the fire beneath the iron pot. These were the 'fire gazes' spoken of in her homeland. Ah, she wanted a bath. Dirt gritted her skin, she felt so muggy, dirty, and when was the last time she washed her hair? Washing was a chore, with hair so long that instead of washing, it would feel like laundering her hair, which took forever to dry… Meanwhile, the water in the pot bubbled and roiled. Should she start eating now? No, the starch needs to expand, for it to thicken and slightly stick to the bottom for that delectable crust. Right now, it’s more a soup, a soup...Ah, craving soup! Qing’s gaze lifted from the fire to the pot. Swallowing her saliva as she stared at the porridge. Now it wasn’t fire-gazing, but porridge-gazing. How long had passed like this? The bubbling water transformed into burbling porridge, gradually rising in hefty bursts. Good, now it’s edible. Qing beamed with a brilliant smile like never before. However rugged her appearance, a beggar’s look was indeed picturesque enough to suit the scene. At last, just as she wielded an improvised spoon—a bowl leg whittled in a rush— BEEP! BEEP! BEEP-BEEP-BEEP! -The Heavenly Sword Flower is here! -Throw all the remaining poison! Noises of thudding and thumping echoed from afar, followed by the entrance of the tent being flooded with... Qing's face crumbled in frustration. “No, dammit, I haven't even taken a bite-yet—” --- Terms and Translations: - Daemyeong Country (대월국): Translated with 'country' to reflect a nation or a kingdom. - Bloodstains and clotted blood (혈흔, 굳은 피딱지): Literal translation of staining and clotting to describe remnants of violence. - 'fire gazes' (불멍): This idiomatic expression was retained to capture the act of gazing at a fire, bringing out wordplay similar to "fire contemplation" having a reflective or meditative quality. - Porridge-gazing (죽멍): A playful nod to 'fire gazing', emphasizing Qing's intent focus on the cooking porridge, akin to a hobby-like entrancement. - Heavenly Sword Flower(천화검): Use of a familiar phrase for a skilled individual, possibly reflecting a martial title known to those invading/searching, contrasting the peaceful imagery with the aggressive act. - Shichen (時辰): A traditional Chinese unit of time, a shichen is equivalent to two modern hours for historical and atmospheric richness. Changes needed in the list: - “대월국” should be added as “Daemyeong Country” to denote a nation or location beyond Zhongyuan. - “fire gazes” and “porridge-gazing” should be noted in the translation strategy list for their usage as cultural idioms for Qing’s reflective and humorous ambiance. Potential changes in the list: - “칭(ching), 청(Qing)” more frequently used for both name and nickname interchangeably, reinforcing personalized use. Crash, sputter, bang, clatter, boom. The sound of poison bags bursting, releasing smoke, the clinking as poison bottles shattered and thickened into a miasma, and the explosions of poison grenades. In an instant, the entire tent was filled with a dense vapor of poison fumes. ---- The leader of the Odokmun, Hu Cheon-chi, quietly opened his eyes. Hu Cheon-chi presented a rather menacing appearance. His entire body was etched with blackened, bulging veins, and the whites of his eyes had turned a ghastly black, making him look grotesquely sinister. He was a half-baked poison practitioner—a half-completed poison being who had summoned his toxic aura to prepare for confrontation with his foe. Achieving an unattainable level by means of a trickery, he naturally had to pay an appropriate price to wield such power. Especially since it involved poisons. And Hu Cheon-chi had already resolved to pay that price. So, with a conviction that lay his very life on the line, he asked solemnly. “Is she trapped? What is transpiring?” This was the final despair to be enacted upon the Heavenly Sword Flower. He had gained time. Now she would surely be struggling, desperately attempting to extract the poison from her body. Even a master handling poison would be at their most vulnerable trying to manipulate their own internal energy. Moreover, trying to purify oneself from poison right in the heart of the enemy lines—what state of mind must one possess for that? Her heart must pound with the fear of an imminent attack, anxiety gnawing away at her insides, coupled with a chilling apprehension. With that slim hope, she’d try to stabilize her poisoned body, clinging to the faint chance of dispelling the poison and fleeing. Unaware that the warriors and elders of the Odokmun had encircled the camp of the Yang barbarians. Upon realizing, she’d be in despair once she saw adversaries cutting off all paths of escape. She might even plead for her life. A sinister smile grew on Hu Cheon-chi’s face. But one of his warriors hesitated. “Uh, my Lord. There's…something…” “What do you mean? We are in wartime; there’s no time for hesitation!” The overseer admonished the hesitant warrior. Prompted, the warrior spilled out his words with difficulty. “Well, it appears the Heavenly Sword Flower is currently…” “Currently?” “...cooking.” “What!?” “What the!?” Hu Cheon-chi and the overseer shouted in unison. “What do you mean by cooking? While she should be quietly meditating, fighting the poison and catching her breath, she’s cooking?” “Yes, uh, there’s smoke rising, and reportedly, a rather appetizing aroma…” Hearing this, Hu Cheon-chi’s and the overseer’s expressions twisted in disbelief simultaneously. Is she out of her mind? With the pressing need to expel the poison from her body, she’s cooking? If she was hungry, being in a camp she could have just gommed on the tasteless military rations discreetly, but cooking? And it smells good? This woman—she dares mock us to the final word. From Hu Cheon-chi's eyes emanated malevolent venom. This wasn't a mere expression of profound anger; the actual toxic aura began to seep out, transforming into a visible mist. For, Hu Cheon-chi was a poison practitioner. “Cough, hack.” “My lord.” The weaker warriors among them coughed at the venomous aura, prompting the overseer to carefully caution Hu Cheon-chi. At this, Hu Cheon-chi took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “I intended to grant her time for her final affairs, but no longer. Prepare immediately.” Thus, the warriors of the Odokmun began casting the remaining poison all at once. Those with less skill simply hurled it as far as they could manage. The elders, though, with greater precision and skill, launched it in perfect arcs toward the entrance of the tent from which the smoke was rising. Consequently, a dense blanket of poison gas began to envelop the entire camp site. bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTd3BOTnB5Si95Y2MrbDJHclc5a00yQ05ZaEVaVktTaUhreksrZGhMTmxMbg Hu Cheon-chi gazed at the poison fog that spread. As if smoke would drive the beast from a lair, that wretched woman was bound to dart out in panic soon. With the elders maintaining their encirclement, Hu Cheon-chi would finally close this long-standing vendetta. Hu Cheon-chi's eyes gleamed. Yes, what should be done with her corpse? Stripping and mounting it for eternal humiliation in history, or fermenting it to be sent to the Divine Maiden Sect...that would be fitting. Thus, with grim joy, Hu Cheon-chi continued deliberating over the posthumous treatment of the Heavenly Sword Flower. Alternatively, tanning her hide to make a rug, and displaying her head as an ornament... or even using it as a footrest, no, perhaps in a more dishonorable manner... His dark contemplation continued. And continued. Endlessly. The sinister smirk on Hu Cheon-chi’s face gave way to a sudden disquietude. How long had he been lost in thought? “...The Heavenly Sword Flower?” “There’s been no word yet.” “Are we sure the Heavenly Sword Flower is in there?” “Yes, we’ve not seen her leave the tent since she entered; we are certain.” “Then what the hell!” Hu Cheon-chi’s heart sank suddenly. Could she have died already? Preparing a meal, realizing her own failure and choosing to savor a final meal... No, it can’t be, it mustn’t be! “I ordered no use of lethal poison, didn’t I!?” “My lord? The poison used was only aerosol and time-release, nothing lethal.” “Damnation! Have I overestimated her abilities?” Shouting thus, Hu Cheon-chi hurriedly moved to venture into the partially dissipated toxic field engulfing Daemyeong’s camp. She must not die—she must die by our Odokmun’s hands, not simply succumb alone to such poison! “My lord! Brothers! Damn, Elders!” The overseer urgently pursued Hu Cheon-chi, as piped signals sounded, and elders converged from all sides, tightening the formation. At the Daemyeong's military kitchen tent. Elders, encircling the tent still enveloped in dense poison, simultaneously struck the support columns and broke them. With a tremendous crack, all columns snapped at once, and the tent collapsed, billowing out before crumpling down. --- Terms and Translations: - Odokmun (오독문): Translated to 'Odokmun' as a fictional sect that specializes in poison. - Hu Cheon-chi (후천치): Personal name and title rendered in a format likely derived from a position of leadership within Odokmun. - Aerosol and time-release poison: These terms describe non-lethal poisons used strategically, retaining the context of military toxins. - **bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTd3BOTnB5Si95Y2MrbDJHclc5a00yQ05ZaEVaVktTaUhreksrZGhMTmxMbg**: Appears to be a base64 encoded string or some coded message embedded, retaining the original shape for narrative intrigue. Changes needed in the list: - “Odokmun” should be added as “Odokmun” to signify a sect, group, or organization specializing in poisons as the fictive context dictates. - “Hu Cheon-chi” as a potential leader of this may need adding for clarity on its significance within the Odokmun. - Inclusion of encoded messages could note enhanced military or esoteric communications within sections or factions. Potential changes: - “Aerosol and time-release” should appear where poison usage describes strategic deployment versus immediate lethality. - Specific phrasing for the culinary activity and implications of preparation amidst danger, using humor or derision suggested within context. Poison fumes surged fiercely towards the entrance. In that moment, as dusk's crimson radiance flashed, multiple intersecting slashes formed a web of starry light. A starlit trail severed the tent. Through the gaps of the collapsing fabric, an unmistakable figure emerged. Finally, Hu Cheon-chi faced the Heavenly Sword Flower. However, she appeared with a pot of porridge. "Wow, munch-munch! Ah, hot—ha, phew, ah, gulp. Wow, munch-munch. Huff, huff, hot." Cradling a large pot tightly under her arm, glancing around as if wary of someone snatching her meal, she busily wielded the spoon. The Heavenly Sword Flower was devouring the rice porridge with an utterly ravenous appetite. --- Terms and Translations: - “Dusk's crimson radiance” was used for 노을빛 강기(roughly meaning a radiant dusk or twilight force) to evoke a vivid, stunning light that sets the scene's intensity. - “A starlit trail” described 천막을 가른 별빛 (starlit light splitting the tent) to enhance the mystical imagery of the light's path, invoking a divine or otherworldly connotation. - “Crimson radiance”: Reflects the intense twilight or dusk energy included within the narrative to signify strong techniques or aura as a combination of striking visuals and martial power. Changes needed: - Amplify terminologies centered around light or energies associated with divine or intense combat to reflect narrative action showcasing mystical martial feats.