853 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

As Jong Moon-Woon's trembling subsided, he realized a remarkable presence had been with him, someone who seemed always on his side. Jong Moon-Woon's voice broke the silence with a question more composed than he had expected. "Uncle, you treated me well, played with me often. Was it all a lie? Were you just afraid of provoking my father?" "No, it wasn't that. I merely wished you wouldn't become like your father. And so did your father. He believed that a child raised with love wouldn't be overwhelmed by madness. Your grandfather was harsh even toward his own children." "You mean it? Truly?" "If things had been different, if your brother's wife hadn't been driven to madness when my child was born, you would have cherished a sibling who was nothing like you. I would have remained your good uncle forever." "Then why... why did you cast us out..." "Upon becoming a father, I couldn't overlook any possibility, no matter how small. You, being perceptive, would question an unnatural death, and once the truth was revealed, the consequences were terrifying. I prioritized my child over my nephew, but I'm sorry for the wrong I've done to you." The head continued his explanation calmly. "Yes, I too am a criminal, no different from your grandfather and father. I handled those your grandfather and father marked for death and cleaned up afterward. So, condemn me. Cut me into pieces and hang them in the marketplace." "......" "Your mother, however, is different. She is a pitiable woman. Feel sorry for her. She was tricked into marrying merely because she caught your father's eye, and after that, never had a day without bruises. Even if she was with this man, without him, she would have long taken her own life." "Brother-in-law! No! Please, Young Lord, forgive me just once, just once. I was wrong..." With tears, Mrs. Lee clung to his trouser hem, begging for forgiveness. Jong Moon-Woon clenched his fists tightly. "I..." He squeezed his eyes shut, his mind swirling with stories he wished weren't true. His gentle father was in truth a lunatic murderer. His trusted uncle conspired with his stepmother to drive him and his sibling toward death. Yet, his uncle and stepmother, too, must have suffered greatly because of his father... But what wrong have I done? And what wrong did my brother, Moon-Yeok, an innocent child, do to deserve this? If not for my benefactor's help, he might not even be alive today. At that moment, Jong Moon-Woon felt a cool hand grasp his shoulder tightly. Suddenly, the radiant, brilliant smile of his savior flashed vividly in his mind. Yes. Because of my benefactor. He did not wish to forgive them. But although he almost died, he did not, and thus, they too should not die. Nor would he question the crime of his father's killing. Not because he was ashamed of his father's actions as a murderer but because to lay accusations and seek revenge meant accepting that legacy himself. He could not do such a thing, not even for his benefactor's help, so he and his brother must remain innocent. To remain unashamed before his benefactor... "You two, just leave." The weight slowly lifted from Jong Moon-Woon's shoulders. With a newfound lightness, as if releasing a heavy burden, he turned and slightly bowed his head to Jihyeon. "Great Master Jihyeon, it's customary for a child to pay for their father's sins, however, I dare to say, I will not accept any inheritance, thus I wish to not inherit the sins either. Therefore, as a son of Jong, I shall not hold others accountable for my father's death, nor can I advocate for punishment of those fiends." By not taking any inheritance, essentially I am severing ties, so consider it a breach. Jihyeon's expression brightened somewhat. Even if he couldn’t show blatant joy with the Magistrate present... Qing was a little surprised. Jong Moon-Woon, who seemed like a child a decade younger, speaking so well? Though she knew he was precocious, was he a genius? Such unfairness, my daughter does nothing but eat, sleep, and relieve herself, without any particular talent, but in this world... Of course, Ziyao is much cuter. Well, if she's cute, that's enough. Yes. Being healthy is what’s important. Oh, somehow I feel like crying. "Additionally, those who tried to harm me and my brother failed in their intentions, and now, as irrelevant strangers, I find their plight pitiable, so I shall forgive them." For Qing, it was a somewhat anticlimactic resolution. For a man to be ruthless is manly, I'd expect him to directly demand retribution, but to forgive like this... They say the best revenge is forgiveness. Though it’s foolishness in others' affairs, when you’re the one speaking, it’s not entirely wrong. Revenge is to live on, to calm a burning sense of injustice, to soothe the heart that feels it's bursting with anguish. Yet if forgiveness can bring peace to one's heart, then perhaps it is the best revenge for that person. "Hmmm, if that is truly your will..." Jihyeon glanced at Qing. Upon her nod, his expression returned to a dignified one. "With this, I conclude the judgement! Jong’s descendants shall bear no disadvantage from their father’s actions henceforth! The head of the household and Mrs. Lee are pardoned, yet they must leave the village immediately!" Waahh!! The townsfolk, sensing the atmosphere of enjoying a good spectacle, cheerfully joined in with loud shouts. Terms and Characters: - 종문운 (Jong Moon-Woon): A young boy dealing with family betrayals. - 종씨 (Jong's descendants): Referring to the family name. - Mrs. Lee: Translated from 이씨, who sought forgiveness. - Jihyeon (지현): The judge or elder making the final decision. - Qing (청): Nickname used for character's reflection on a child’s intelligence. - Moon-Yeok (문역): Jong Moon-Woon’s younger brother. - Ziyao: Referenced as Qing's daughter, providing a personal reflection. Changes or Suggestions: - The list team needs rectification for Ziyao(자여 - Character not initially specified in the list). - Consistency in the portrayal of ages is implied by Qing’s reflection based on seeing Jong. The assumption of her own daughter's comparison about talent is juxtaposed as an internal monologue. - The differentiation between forgiveness as nobility versus societal expectation in 'man's ruthlessness' reflects cultural nuances surrounding mercy vs vengeance. "Young Lord, thank you, thank you very much. Thank you! Sobs, thank you..." Mrs. Lee was in tears, expressing her gratitude, while the head of the family bowed deeply beside her, showing the crown of his head. Some of the villagers couldn't hide their tears and seemed deeply moved. Qing, however, felt a bit ambiguous. Is this really something to be so moved by? The head of the family and Mrs. Lee tightly held hands as they left. Though they were sent away with nothing, their eyes were full of affection, and their steps were steadfast and fearless. Thus, the incident at Jong’s household concluded. ...Though for someone, it wasn’t really over. "Sniff, I'll kill, I'll kill them all." There was a man in a pitiful state. His hair, unkempt and slick with grease, hung in wild disarray, as though it hadn’t been washed. His clothes were nothing but rags, stained black with grime, and his exposed skin was in no better condition. However, it was not shocking. Anyone seeing him might exclaim, "Wow, a beggar." Yet, this beggar had a distinct characteristic. He only had one arm! But in the Central Plains, beggars are more about surviving rather than begging. So having one arm is not particularly advantageous for a beggar. "I'll kill them..." And he incessantly muttered the word "kill," adding to his pitiful appearance. Even the rare few who might have spared some coins felt intimidated and kept their distance. But the beggar had no interest in alms. He was consumed by infinite hatred and a desire for revenge. Hatred towards those who left him in such a state, who made him a one-armed cripple. However, no matter the vengeance, there are achievable and unachievable aspects. The one who left him one-armed was a formidable martial artist in the martial world. So from the start, the beggar hadn't considered that martial artist within his scope of revenge. It might be deemed selectivity in revenge. But to a powerless beggar, martial artists are akin to natural disasters. No one seeks vengeance against a flood or drought just because they resent them. So the target of his revenge was different. Those damned kids. But even more so, those cursed scoundrels from Jong’s household. What, not holding any accountable? Pitying their situation? Pardoning their crimes? No crimes at all? Those people? Then what about me? I ended up in this miserable state because of those scoundrels' orders! In the Central Plains, where antibiotics don't exist, losing an arm often means life or death, even with the best healers. Just tightly bound to stop the bleeding, the wound was festering with pus oozing out, and his whole body was crawling with fever and pain, leaving him sleepless. In such a delirious state where reality and dreams were indistinguishable, he only felt pain and more pain. When he lorded over as the leader of the beggars of Geumpyeong, his underlings, once obedient as a tongue in the mouth, soon turned their faces, kicking and laughing at him. But hatred kept the beggar moving. He thought he couldn’t be the only one to end up in such a horrible fate, so he vowed to see the end of those who caused this — those who ordered him to harm the child, those who were the root of his current state. And now, amidst the villagers rejoicing and wiping tears in emotion, hidden in a corner. In the beggar's eyes, intense hatred transformed into madness, reflected in a dangerously shiny hue. Now, those dreadful enemies are leaving, hand in hand. This can't be. It shouldn't be! In the bustle of the crowd, no one noticed a lone beggar slipping away. Or perhaps they felt a sense of relief that the foul-smelling mad beggar muttering threats was leaving. Thus, who would care that the beggar, holding a rusted yet sharply honed blade in his coat, vanished to pursue the exiled couple with intense murderous intent? Terms and Characters: - Geumpyeong(금평현): A location where the beggar was once a leader, translated as it was appropriate within context as part of his backstory. - (금평현 거지의 대장): Refers to the Beggar Leader of Geumpyeong, a title indicating his prior status. - Yongin (양인): Translated as "villagers" or “commoners”, reflecting their reactive sentiments. Changes or Suggestions: - The character list needs expansion for specific characterization like the Beggar(거지), though not mentioned as a critical character, he holds narrative weight against Jong’s household. - Geumpyeong(금평현) is culturally relevant and geographically specific, hence retained as Geumpyeong for continuity in understanding location-based influence. - The beggar’s fixation and revenge plot detail emphasize sociocultural dynamics of Eastern martial narratives.