860 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

As soon as they decided to investigate the suspicious activity of the Odukmundang, the blood cult disciples attacked. Wearing Odukmundang uniforms and claiming to have subdued the Odukmundang, even a ten-year-old child could now understand that the blood cult and Odukmundang were one and the same. "Truly lamentable. Hmm, since the Odukmundang will be erased by our Dianchang Sect, you should head swiftly to the Tang Clan of Sichuan. I heard the esteemed daughter of the Tang Clan is currently in Kunming, so everything seems to be working out well; time is of the essence." Upon hearing this, Qing was startled. "Huh. Is something happening in Sichuan?" "Hmm? How would I know about affairs in Sichuan? I’m not from Sichuan. If you’ve questions about Sichuan, ask someone from there. Isn’t the matter more pressing for you?" "For me?" "You’ve fallen victim to the poison, so you need to get the antidote from the Tang Clan. Ah, this is a secret. If the blood cult disciples find out there’s an antidote to this poison, wouldn’t they try to cultivate other poisons?" "Ah, I was aware of that, but, um, let’s deal with it later. I need to handle the Odukmundang first, and also check the Absolute Sword Wall. After all, it’s on my way back." "If the poison explodes within you, it’s tough to survive, no matter how skilled. Actually, because it’s only the Hua Realm, it’s unmanageable." It was something Qing often said to her friends. Mere Transcendent Realm folk wouldn’t understand. Alas, being in the Hua Realm is lonely, constantly worrying about the fragile Transcendent folk. So, what was Qing’s true feeling about it? Well, as someone proficient in the Profound Realm, it was understandable. To be honest, everything below the Transcendent Realm is pretty much the same; whether it’s Third Tier or Transcendent, they all fall with one blow. However, the wall between the Hua Realm and the Profound Realm is much greater—perhaps ten thousand times—than the gap between Third Tier and Transcendent. (This is Qing’s personal opinion.) "Wait, before that. Weren’t you in pain? They say when the poison burns, it's an agonizing ordeal that most can't endure with a clear mind. If you managed to withstand it, it must have been nothing." Ah. There are people like this. They speak openly, devoid of malice, as if their manner of speaking was flawed from birth. But it’s too late to change these habits now. Moreover, when one reaches the Profound Realm, who cares whether it’s words or wind from the mouth? "Oh, really? I didn’t feel a thing! My poison must have been faulty. Oh wow. Didn’t even sense a thing. Completely fine?" Her speech was stiff, her gaze unable to meet theirs directly, and even a bead of sweat perched on her head. It was a lie so awkward that even a dog wouldn’t believe it. Of course, Qing was a master of reading the room. She had no reason to tell an unworkable lie. And it seemed her audience was just naive enough to believe her. "Really? You’re fortunate. Indeed, a precious elixir can rot without proper care. What good fortune this is, and a blessing for the Rightful Orthodox Martial Community." "Hehe. It’s not that significant." "Excessive humility can be rude. Despite being at merely the level of the Hua Realm, nobody your age has reached it. Your well-being isn’t just yours alone, cherish it as a cornerstone for the future of the Rightful Orthodox Martial Community." Especially in such turbulent times as these. Gilyun thought as he added a comment. Since the blood cult is stirring, it indicates that another tidal wave of bloodshed is approaching the martial community. After a bout of bloodshed, a more chaotic era may unfold. Our senior generation doesn’t have long to live, and before we leave, we should dedicate our lives to clearing the obstacles and entrust the future to you. And isn’t Qing a reassuring junior to entrust the future to? "Hmm. Since it’s confirmed that the Odukmundang is a lair of the blood cult, there’s no need to sneak around at night. But as for this guy, hmm, we should capture him and extract information." "Ugh! Uuuugh!" The deputy commander beneath Gilyun’s foot opened his mouth wide, but only suppressed sounds escaped. Qing's eyes sparkled. What’s this? Some kind of Profound Realm technique? If it’s this simple to silence someone, there’s no need to bother making an airhole in the trachea. Well, technically, making the hole isn’t bothersome, but blocking it every time you make them talk is indeed tedious. "It’s a form of acupressure, but it’s beyond your capability for now. When you reach a mystical level, come find me. I’ll gladly teach you." That means it’s beyond you for now. Hmm, to what extent does the ability of the Profound Realm reach? Only those of the Profound Realm could know…… ---- Baek Mudan, the foremost commander of the Bloodhand Army’s First Brigade, Jang Choi ryang, is extraordinarily cautious. Some might call it very cowardly. And now. The deputy commander sent to deal with an unnamed acquaintance from the Odukmundang has been missing for a day, then another day, and still hasn’t returned. Thus, Jang Choi ryang’s caution reached its peak. "Commander, what do we do now? If the deputy failed, our cult’s existence might be exposed." “I-I told him not to go. Wh-what should we do? What do we do?” Isn’t answering a question with another question the worst way to address a query? As a result, his subordinate was stunned into silence. The one who decides what to do next must be the commander, right? Regardless of his scarecrow reputation, which he attained by crafting excellent poisons and currying favor with the Poison Demon, leading to his position as commander, while the deputy led their troops effectively. In a situation like this, he should either angrily declare vengeance or decide to retreat due to the risks. For now, the subordinate spoke, hoping for direction. "Revenge? Not now. Not at this moment. We don’t know who that woman is. The deputy fell and four of our poisoneers, all went, too. She must be an immensely gifted master, yes, maybe the Female Mad Dog(여광견)? If information leaked, then... then what do we do?” "Please, calm down. And doesn’t it say the Female Mad Dog is currently in Cheonghae?" --- **Additional Terms & Translations:** - **Odukmundang (오독문):** Translated as "Odukmundang," an organization possibly affiliated with the blood cult. - **Dianchang Sect (점창파):** Retained as "Dianchang Sect," indicating a martial arts organization. - **Absolute Sword Wall (절검벽):** Translated literally as "Absolute Sword Wall," possibly a location or technique. - **Gilyun (길운):** Translated as "Gilyun," seems to be a character involved in the discussion, possibly in the Profound Realm. - **Baek Mudan (편육단):** Translated as "Bloodhand Army," an organization affiliated with the Blood Cult. - **Poison Demon (독마님):** Possibly a title or a character within the Blood Cult, remains untranslated as it fits the theme. **Gender Identification:** - The passage hints at Qing being female. This is consistent with her being referred to in context traditionally used for a young woman. **Contextual Clarifications:** - It is implied that Qing is highly skilled, hinted at being in the Hua Realm, which is a rarified state in martial arts, often signifying a stellar prowess. - Jang Choi ryang's portrayal underscores his timid nature, suggested by his panicked responses. **Suggestions for Updates to the List Above:** - The passage reveals a nuanced backdrop with multiple sects and organizations, any further context derived must consider these affiliations appropriately. "Well, it's somewhat close to here and Cheonghae, right?" "Not at all close. So, should we prepare to retreat?" "No, we can't do that either. The grand plan—Master said to protect this place. If we flee..." Jang Choi ryang exercised his caution once more. His subordinate felt like he might explode from this cautious approach. "Then, what should we do? In the worst-case scenario, rumors might spread about our cult's presence here." "The—Master, the Master must return. Once the Master arrives, well, the Master said to keep guarding..." "So, are you saying we just wait here? We need a plan." "Just, just being here isn’t enough. The enemies, the oppressors of Zhongyuan, we must prepare. Ah! Right, prepare. Traps, formations, what do we have? One pound of zanmaeyum, one and a half pounds of jakyulwoonsan, four pounds of balsimdoc, three pounds of charyeon simbun, two and a half pounds of usadok. Ah, used some for the combination yesterday, so two pounds and a bag..." Jang Choi ryang continuously listed the names of Bloodhand Army's and Odukmundang’s poisons, like he was reciting a well-organized ledger. This means he knew the stock of poisons by heart—an utterly useless yet remarkably genius aspect. "We reinforce the formation, since there’s already a prepared formation in Odukmundang. We need to, how to modify it further, put Chang Sang-sang in the Ninth Palace, Palgon at Uha, Choyeong at Palgeon. Then the Life Gate... no, not Choyeong but Ochonse..." To someone knowledgeable in formations, it would have sounded like an incredible art, mouth agape. Typically, an ancient sect's base has defensive formations installed. Planning another formation on top of existing ones without disrupting them is like a mental calculation you solve in your head. Despite being notorious as an empty shell, Jang Choi ryang maintained his status as the leader of the first battle group under the Poison Demon due to this. Thus, his subordinate waited quietly for Jang Choi ryang’s calculation to end without rushing him further. "Yes! That's it!" Jang Choi ryang enthusiastically picked up a brush and began vigorously writing. After some time, he pointed to a pile of papers. "We will protect this area because Master instructed us to, so we’ll set up formations, poisons, and traps to kill all enemies when they arrive." The subordinate looked at the top sheet. The detailed map depicted the western clearing known as Jeongyangjeon, complete with precise instructions on how to set up formations and traps. While it's clear that it’s complex. "How powerful is this formation?" "Two hundred. It can block two hundred." "What kind of two hundred? Two hundred high-level martial artists? Moreover, if Dianchang Sect intervenes, that flash sword might appear." "Eh, even without the Profound Realm, we can't stop it. Unless Master is here... but wait." Jang Choi ryang's hands trembled and fingers twitched. He spent quite a while calculating. And finally, he reached a conclusion. "If there's no Profound Realm, we might win. The odds are seventy percent in our favor. If Master arrives, we win everything. But if there's one Profound Realm, two Hua Realm, and twenty Transcendent, and the rest as Pinnacle, half, at least half would die." The subordinate accepted it neatly. No matter how great a formation is, with numerous traps laid and unbelievable tactical skills, this is sheer folly. Win once, and more enemies will come; win again, and even more will swarm. Ultimately, it leads to death surrounded by enemies, so it’s best if the Poison Demon doesn’t return at such a time. However, defeat wouldn’t be entirely in vain, for it would cause much bloodshed among the oppressors of Zhongyuan. Their compatriots remaining would inevitably exact revenge. That resolute enmity, using even death as a tool, is what defines the Blood Cult. ---- With the night patrol canceled, Qing’s role was to monitor whether the blood cult members would flee while waiting for the arriving martial artists from Dianchang Sect. And perhaps ensure that the captured blood cult member stayed alive. "Come on, time to eat?" Ssssshh, the sound of air leaking. After all, it was a deputy commander with an airhole blown through between his collarbones. Such a Profound Realm silence technique wasn’t particularly long-lasting. According to Gilyun, it was a simple method, merely locking the noise by deploying a technique compactly to seal the mouth. Hmm, is that simple? The ability to mute sound without a trace, how could that even be possible—it’s astounding. Qing can block sounds too. By unleashing mindless inner force to encapsulate everything, but that presence— Even village folk unfamiliar with martial arts would sense it from afar due to the formidable aura akin to a master’s intimidation. Thus, Qing did it her own way. Without needing to employ difficult or extraordinary methods, prevent air from entering the vocal cords. Poke a hole with a finger, and it’s done. It doesn’t even require inner force—just a sharp tool, making it an incredible technique that can be used even without martial arts. Incidentally, Gilyun was deeply impressed by Qing’s approach. "As expected, this might be useful at our Repentance Hall too. Each time they eat, we untie their gags for them to reflect earnestly, but some fools tend to choke." Qing unleashed poison on Dianchang Sect’s Repentance Hall! But, as it turns out, Dianchang Sect completely silences them in that hall, to begin with… Indeed, it wouldn’t be right to let the ruffians who end up here yap away amiably. Shaolin's Repentance Hall goes to the extent of having solitary confinement carved into the cliffs. --- **Additional Terms & Translations:** - **Cheonghae (청해):** Translated as "Cheonghae," a locality whose significance is derived from strategic or narrative importance. - **Zanmaeyum (잔매염), Jak-Yulun-San (작율운산), Balsimdoc (발심독), Charyeonsimbun (차련심분), Usadok (우사독):** Poison names retained in their transliterated forms, denoting specific substances related to the situation. - **Dianchang Sect’s Repentance Hall (점창파 참회동):** Retained, refers to a disciplinary or confinement area within a martial sect setting. **Contextual Clarifications:** - Qing is actively monitoring the situation, demonstrating responsibility and awareness of her task and martial situations. - Shaolin's Repentance Hall is indirectly referenced as more severe, highlighting disciplinary differences among sects. **Suggestions for Updates to the List Above:** - Recognize the presence and role of Jang Choi ryang, identified as male, expanding on character affiliations to the subplot involving tactics and defense at a sect locale. When you think about it, wasn't the Repentance Hall of the Kunlun Sect offering too humane treatment? Occasionally providing special meals, indeed. Yes, special meals. Qing looked down at the meal in the bowl. Something that was slightly dark and viscous. A mix of various items thrown together, mashed and blended with some broth—well, it wasn't cooked into a porridge, so what to call it? Hmm, liquid food? Still, it had meat, fish, and grains mixed in—it could be considered a special meal, couldn't it? Nothing rotten or inedible was included; if this had been available when I was a beggar, I’d have shed tears of joy while savoring it. And there lay the funnel on top. Yes, it was a funnel. A tool used to conveniently pour contents through a narrow opening. In the room, sprawled before her, was a vile individual from the blood cult, rendered entirely paralyzed except for the rolling of his eyes. Pairing this with mealtime, one can imagine the scene that unfolds. There's no need for further explanation. Incidentally, Gilyun was quite impressed by this too and considered implementing it actively. The prisoners in Dianchang Sect's Repentance Hall might find it quite unfortunate, but in hindsight, they should have lived lives that wouldn’t result in their capture.