871 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The Absolute Sword Wall is a remnant of the sword marks left by the Great Celestial Martial Emperor. Qing would observe these marks and emulate the techniques therein. However, it's not as if the Absolute Sword Wall would suddenly conjure an apparition of the Great Celestial Martial Emperor to engage in conversation as Qing devoted herself to it. In other words, to observers, Qing merely appeared as a young master standing still, gazing vacantly into space without focus. "Here we are, the Absolute Sword Wa—" "Shh." Just as the Grand Elder was about to introduce the Absolute Sword Wall at their arrival, the Single Wheel True Person raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence, and then pointed at Qing. Noticing Qing's unfocused gaze and trance-like state, the Grand Elder pursed his lips in silence. In more elegant terms, one might describe this as a state of Muah(Yujing)(無我之境)(The State of No-Self), suggesting Qing had realized something profound upon observing the sword scars. The Grand Elder, inwardly swallowing his admiration, was suddenly overcome by an unexpected irritation. How dare Gilleon display such irreverent behavior towards him, the senior disciple of their master! bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTd1F0aEExaDRiU3plWkNnRW5vSmxWd1p0RVFUbDhUTVRSYVNqbVRKWWdMdA Does he think he can match me just because we’re aging together? Such was the insight of an elder, fortified with the wisdom that comes with age. Indeed, Gilleon harbored such thoughts. Both the Grand Elder and the Elder were aging together, lamenting the passage of time. If a ten-year and a thirty-year-old have a threefold age difference, a twenty-year and a forty-year-old have merely a twofold difference. When one reaches sixty and the other ninety, isn’t it reasonable to be friends? It was at that moment. Suddenly, everyone's heads turned sharply, a sense of pressure, or perhaps danger, sounded the alarm. A swish echoed as a blade emerged from its scabbard. As the sound of robes brushing against the air preceded a sword being drawn, all eyes focused on a back now completely taut with tension. And then, like a bowstring that had been pulled back to its limit and released, an elbow shot out with a perfectly horizontal trajectory. Soon after. With a sound of swishing, the severed stumps of trees began to sway as thinner cypress branches snapped and jittered. Dozens, possibly hundreds, of trees began to lean all at once. Some to the left, others to the right. In an instant, the south, east, west, and north were filled with the sound of snapping and breaking trees. "Hoo..." During this, Qing exhaled deeply. Her rejuvenated blue eyes surveyed the entangled and felled cypress forest. A forest in disarray, monkeys, startled and screeching, jumped away wildly, while birds flapped their wings in a frantic exit. Qing's eyes trembled slightly. Gasp, this isn't nature destruction… right? Other Absolute Sword Walls might feel wronged. Not because of disdain directed at mere rocks, but while those ancient and weathered cliff faces remained indifferent despite being sliced and pierced, here was Qing being taken aback for merely toppling some trees. Indeed, such is human nature, arbitrary and fickle. In the midst of it all, a slow clap could be heard. Gilleon’s gravelly voice followed. "Indeed. Magnificent. To blow away a forest with a single sword strike; a true swordmaster of an era stands here." Qing’s expression turned uneasy. Was that a compliment? With the way the slow clap came in, it sounded almost sarcastic. Regardless, Qing decided to take it as praise. Because it was Gilleon. He often couldn't distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate remarks, and he had a peculiar way of expressing himself… "And what is the name of that discerning technique?" "The fourth form of the Lone Nine Swords Technique, Sever Bonds, Cut Away Love(斷緣切愛)." An awed sigh escaped from somewhere. It was a lamentation from the Grand Elders who were shocked by Qing's mastery of the fourth form, considering themselves of high caliber, capable of mastering at least the sixth form among the remaining techniques, even if not the ninth. "Hmm." Yet, Gilleon seemed deep in thought, his brows furrowing in contemplation. What's going on, wasn't it a compliment? Was the discernment, with its intonation, actually a rebuke of how well the forest was destroyed? In truth, Gilleon was genuinely impressed, and genuinely curious. His furrowed brow had another reason entirely. "Hm. I had no idea the Great Celestial Martial Emperor was such a nag." "Excuse me?" "'Sever Bonds, Cut Away Love(斷緣切愛)', detach from worldly ties...' Is the diligent message left from this far-off mountaintop really that kind of admonishment? Isn’t it essentially him saying, 'Stop dawdling and focus on training'?" Remarkably astute was the insight of a martial arts master of such repute. While Qing marveled, Gilleon continued to elaborate. The notion that Zhongnan is overly secular has long echoed even before the Great Celestial Martial Emperor’s time. Even among the sect, it was a topic that routinely surfaced whenever there was a lull. One such worldly aspect was Pyoju漂周. As an originally independent country, Zhongnan maintained a unique tradition distinct from Zhongyuan, mandating its disciples to venture into Jianghu once to procure one of three things and present it to the sect. Either eliminate a wicked antagonist and seize their weapon, or engage in a duel with a renowned swordsman to claim their sword. Alternatively, for a non-violent and peaceful approach, bring back a talented child. "However, the reason Zhongnan initially got involved with worldly affairs dates back to the Dali Kingdom era, when the monks were exceedingly dignified. Are you aware that the teachings of Buddhism are generally divided into two major groups?" The Mahayana school, which advocates vigorously propagating teachings to save suffering beings, and The Hinayana school, which asserts that since the Buddha has already pledged to lead mankind to enlightenment after eons, one should focus on nirvana and leave the unenlightened to their fates, stating that monks, too overwhelmed by their own practices, should not interfere. The Buddhist faith of Dali was demonstrably the latter, with the royal family being devout followers, paying little attention to the common folk. Thus, Zhongnan’s predecessors, driven by frustration, initiated the practice of Pyoju, venturing forth themselves. **Terms not included in the list:** - **Single Wheel True Person (단륜 진인):** An important elder character; translated based on title and context. - **Gilleon (길운 진인):** The character's name, often offered informal commentary; identified as male. - **Muah(Yujing)(無我之境):** Refers to "The State of No-Self" in deep meditation; translated for literary elegance. - **Pyoju漂周:** A unique tradition of procuring martial artifacts or talent; maintained as distinct for authenticity. - **Dali Kingdom (대리국):** The historical name is retained to maintain cultural and contextual relevance. - **Mahayana and Hinayana schools:** Two major Buddhist factions; translated directly for clarity. **Changes to the list:** - Instead of adding, clarify Gilleon's gender as male via direct narrative context. - Include explanations of other traditions like Pyoju(漂周) and their implications in cultural martial arts background. - Emphasize the translation choice maintaining cultural integrity and narrative style. "That is to say, they decided to become a 'Mahakali.' Without understanding these circumstances, one might think Zhongnan neglects training and indulges in worldly pursuits like fame and wealth." Mahakali, another name for Mahakr (Mahakala), originally the Hindu god Shiva, was absorbed into Buddhism as a guardian deity protecting Buddhists from evil. "If that's the case, I came to watch for no reason. The technique itself seems impressive, but we have Splendid Light Teachings too, so it's not particularly necessary." Shock, Gilleon. He declared that the techniques of the Absolute Sword Wall were unnecessary! Hearing this, the spirit of the Great Celestial Martial Emperor, who intentionally left the Absolute Sword Wall behind to sever any lingering attachment to his successors, would likely be apart with frustration. But Qing simply accepted it as such. More intriguing was the mention of the Splendid Light Sword. Qing slyly sought it out and found the Thirty-Six Swords of Splendid Light with their purple edges. As expected from one of the Nine Great Sects, they had reserved such purple-level martial secrets. While Zhongnan Sect's Death-Sword's unique form was known for its extremity and rapid attack, they also boasted many renowned secret arts. Among those secret arts, the Splendid Light Sword Technique slices the sunlight cutting through the clouds, indicating its speed. Other secret arts included the Spear of Piercing the Sun, the Sword of Dropping the Split Sun, and techniques like the Solar Finger Art, which emits sunlight from the fingertips. Especially Solar Finger Art, which even Heavenly Demon's death ray must bow before, was considered the strongest finger technique. It seems there's a fixation on the sun throughout. That's because Zhongnan Sect is the descendant of the Sun-killing Death-Sword. Qing observed Gilleon. During the days when Zhongnan Sect attempted to convene their Grand Elders, Gilleon appeared to be someone who led a rather leisurely life. To put it nicely, leisurely; frankly speaking, he spent his days reclining somewhere, drinking, carving statues of Buddha, or idling. As per the assertive teachings of the Great Celestial Martial Emperor, one would assume that Gilleon, reaching the Profound Realm(現境) through diligent training, was dedicated. Qing, similarly chastised directly by Sever Bonds, Cut Away Love, hesitantly spoke up. After all, Gilleon wasn’t Qing’s master, and it was a potentially sensitive question. "Why did you start learning the sword, Gilleon True Person?" "Hmm? I eagerly learned because they offered to teach. Why wouldn’t I? If someone offers to teach, wouldn’t you learn?" "Uh…" "I was a farmer’s son, and like farmer’s sons, I figured I’d die chewing on dirt till the end. Besides, in these tumultuous times, I didn’t think I could survive away from home." Then a martial artist from Zhongnan appeared, acknowledging his talent and inviting him to join Zhongnan. Live the rest of his life tilling fields, or live as a martial artist of Zhongnan wielding splendid techniques. "Of course, the latter, right? What idiot would refuse this? Naturally, I joined enthusiastically. Then as I learned, I found martial arts not that hard. I just did what I felt like and reached here. It’s nothing special to reach the Profound Realm; with a bit of talent, it’s attainable, and with a long path ahead. Martial arts truly begin at the Profound Realm; before that, it's only prep work." Suddenly, the Grand Elders who had been listening were agitated. They hadn't reached the profound mystery simply because they lacked that 'bit of talent,' spending a lifetime in prep work. To argue would mean admitting no talent, so they swallowed their indignation… But, knowing Gilleon’s usual talkative nature, they shrugged it off. "Sever Bonds and Cut Away Love. It tells you to detach, but if you cut off worldly ties and immerse entirely in training, doesn't that create an obsession with training itself? So, you don't need to bear such burdens." "Burden?" "Being the youngest to reach the Harmony-Realm must come with mental agony. Why, if you die aged in the Harmony-Realm, what would the world say? They’d mockingly say you started with much hype and promise, thinking you a divine genius but died a commoner without reaching the Profound Realm." Gilleon True Person, explosive declaration! The Harmony-Realm, was it? It was the Harmony-Realm? The sudden confession, given thoughtlessly, stirred commotion among the Grand Elders as they exchanged glances. How old was the Heavenly Flower again? Wasn't she barely past twenty? Surely, it had to be kept secret. For Grand Elders, it'd be understandable why such an incredibly young expert would conceal her age. More importantly. Come to think of it, shouldn't we send sharp candidates during the Pyoju campaign or whatever that Half-Sword Dual Sword Society event is? I heard the Heavenly Sword Flower runs a secret martial arts upper-echelon gathering. Regardless, Qing scratched her chin. Hmm, she'd never thought of it that way. But hearing it, it made sense. Even back home, there'd be mockery likened to launching a missile with water propulsion. Indeed, even her master anticipated she, known as the Zenith of Women, would become the World’s Greatest. "Do as your heart desires. Train when you want to, rest when you want to, eat when you desire. The most dangerous arrow is the purposeless one, but while some may call them blind arrows, to me, they're the sharpest." Gilleon True Person wore a mischievous grin. They say a man remains boyish even as he ages, a sentiment reflected in his childlike smile even in middle age. In Laozi’s Dao De Jing, it is said that one who returns to innocence becomes like a child, and Zhuangzi remarked that a Great Person never loses their childlike heart. "And if you go where your heart guides you, even if the destination doesn’t meet your expectations, you won't regret it." Qing quietly fell into contemplation. Sever Bonds and Cut Away Love. Hm, the intent of the Great Celestial Martial Emperor, the one who set the question, may not have been that, but detaching from attachments? **New Terms:** - **Mahakali (마하칼리/마하칼리):** Originally "Mahakali" from Indian lore merged into Buddhism; retained and explained for clarity in Sino-Indian/Buddhist context. - **Splendid Light Sword(분광검):** Translated to Splendid Light Sword for consistency, referencing its context as a sect technique. - **Death-Sword (사일):** Retained literal meaning as it's a formidable title known for its lethality. - **Gilleon (길운 진인):** Named character, maintained as established; gender confirmed male via dialogue. - **Pyoju漂周 or Half-Sword Dual Sword Society (반검쌍도회):** Kept names contextual to martial culture; explaining martial rituals and philosophies. - **Harmony-Realm (화경):** Realm standing maintained for its significance in advancement within the story. **Changes to the list:** - **Include further context/explanatory notes:** Particularly on elements like Pyoju漂周/white crane art philosophy, older Eastern philosophies as referenced, underlining cultural techniques and advancements. - **Gender note:** Affirm all apparent gender identifiers through textual evidence and dialogue tone as per list standards. It felt as if she understood something—an idea that seemed within reach yet elusive.