890 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The figure that Qing had expected from the Mongol barbarians was something like each person wearing a pot on their head, with tremendously bushy beards that would make one exclaim, "Savage!" However, they were surprisingly neat, appearing more like regular humans. "Hmm, they’re just people riding horses...," she thought, feeling somewhat disappointed. Especially their headgear, whether it was a furred winter hat or a helmet; things looked off. What is this? Wasn’t it said that the uncomfortable small grill at home used for roasting lamb came from the helmets of the Mongol barbarians? That surely couldn't be true. From the beginning, Mongolian barbecue wasn't a dish from Mongolia but rather something made by those foreign barbarians, the Japanese. Regardless of the origin of this dish, what army would use a precious helmet as a substitute grill plate to roast meat? Doing so would damage the helmet’s metal, preventing it from fulfilling its protective role, and every time it’s worn, they would have to endure the intense smell of meat. These thirty horsemen, who offered such mild disappointment, approached with a clatter. Perhaps it is a martial artist's habit to involuntarily assess the armament. Three of them carried flags impaled on long spears, and the rest bore halberds, guandao (a large polearm), and changdao (a long sword) equally divided. The halberd was a spear with a hook, the guandao was akin to a crescent-moon blade, and the changdao was a long sword with an extended hilt, making them all ideal weapons for wielding on horseback. Additionally, they all appeared to have a bow or two at their waists, which is fitting, considering that the Mongol barbarians are notorious for their despicable and cowardly combat style of shooting arrows from horseback. R1o1RUY1V2dWdFByellBWDZwUWJGVUJBQklrZmVvTXhJbDR2QXBiR1poaE4zYnFNMWZEWGtVUm1rcExkaWxEbA In any case, Mongols. Mongol barbarians. After displaying a brilliant horsemanship skill, splitting off to the sides in the plaza, one horseman slowly rode out from the center. Clad in shimmering gold silk clothing, riding a tall, sleek black horse with shiny, well-groomed leather, it was indeed a noble steed among steeds. Clearly, this barbarian seemed like their chief. Naturally, all eyes were drawn to the center. Perhaps they had practiced beforehand? Imagining the Mongol barbarians rehearsing such an entrance on an empty plain might be amusing, though it diminishes the grandeur somewhat. Still, considering it a form of ceremony, and militaries being known for their strict procedures, it makes sense? Then, the spectators in the plaza knelt and bowed their heads. The leader, with a satisfied smile, spoke up. “Yes, my loyal flock of the tribe. Your devotion pleases me greatly even today.” He spoke fluently in the language of Zhongyuan. “Thank you, noble Nainporukdeok.” The middle-aged man at the forefront of the tribute answered in an extremely polite tone. It's difficult to discern if this is the Mongol barbarians’ raid or an event where they offer tribute, treating it like tribute-giving to a royal prince. Of course, although it’s merely borrowing the name of a raid, it matches the offering of tribute to the barbarians. Somehow, being called "welfare" doesn’t sound awkward, maybe because it's a respect inherently held by the residents of Geonpyeong. “For that reason, it is truly a good day. For you as well, because I have two pieces of good news to share with you.” “What might that be?” “One is that your flock need not offer tribute anymore. Our tribe has grown strong with your flock's milk and wool, so even though you are like lowly livestock, akin to slaves, it is a day to express gratitude.” “Thank you. I am at a loss for words because of your kindness.” The chief barbarian bluntly called them livestock, to which the middle-aged man expressed gratitude. His face even beamed with joy. A scene that might evoke insults from others, calling him spineless and servile. From the start, to the people of Geonpyeong, this plundering, or tribute, seemed merely a scripted play. But was it the same for the barbarians? “The other good news is that you can fulfill your loyalty as our tribe's livestock until the end.” A hint of doubt surfaced on the middle-aged man's face at that. But just for a moment. “Lambs are excellent creatures. They repay their shepherd— the owner of the plains— by dutifully following and serving him for life. Even when they grow old or injured, unable to produce milk or wool, they offer themselves willingly as meat and hide to serve their shepherd.” If actual lambs could comprehend human speech, they might find it unjust. They’ve given milk and wool all this time, and now they’d be slaughtered because they grew old or injured and became useless? If even a speechless creature feels injustice, imagine the extent of human grievance. “Young man, what do you mean by that? We have always been faithful—” “I will allow you to rest comfortably.” The Mongol barbarians lifted their weapons simultaneously. Qing’s expression, which anticipated witnessing some coexistence between Zhongyuan individuals and Mongol barbarians, turned slightly uncomfortable. What is this? Wasn’t it a staged plundering? Why does the atmosphere feel this way? “Kill the men and capture the women! Ugly women are not needed, just kill them!” Whether it was a joke or serious, the Mongol barbarians burst into laughter. The middle-aged man, jumping to his feet, blocked the barbarian chief's path. “Wait! Please wait! Milord! If the tribute is insufficient, I will—” “Ha ha ha! No need!” The chief barbarian, Nainporukdeok, let out a hearty laugh and yanked his steed’s reins sharply. The agile black horse reared, raising its front hooves, and Nainporukdeok raised his changdao high into the sky, as if piercing the heavens. The horse’s front hooves landed back on the ground. With added momentum, the massive blade of the changdao fell in a straight line toward the middle-aged man. As the middle-aged man stared blankly at the scene encroaching upon his vision, the menacing blade of the changdao filled his sight— Clang! A piercing metallic clang echoed as weapons collided. Following this, the changdao’s blade hit the earth with a thud, the sound of heavy impact resounding in the air. Thud. --- New Terms and Explanation: 1. Nainporukdeok (나인포륵덕): Translated to "noble Nainporukdeok," the apparent chief of the Mongol barbarians. - Translation Rationale: The lack of clear meaning in the original likely suggests a name or title, so it was preserved as is. 2. Geonpyeong (건평): Translated to "Geonpyeong," seemingly a location. - Translation Rationale: Consistently identified as a place, maintaining original Korean pronunciation ensures authenticity. 3. Changdao (참마도): Translated to "changdao," a weapon described with a long handle. - Translation Rationale: Retaining the weapon’s original name (and visual potential) provides context within the martial setting. Additional Context: The narrative includes a lot of reverse expectations, notably with Qing's disappointment with the perception versus reality of the Mongol warriors. The implied barbaric expectations are contrasted with their organized and ceremonious appearance, suggesting Qing's prior misunderstandings or prejudices about the Mongols. The negotiation scene blends cultural complexity with Qing's perspective on the exploitative practices disguised as ceremonial exchanges, hinting at deeper socio-political dynamics at play between the two peoples. Word play such as "welfare" not sounding awkward references cultural integration and assimilation, subtly hinting at the awkward respect dynamics between conquerors and the conquered. Suggested List Update: 1. "Changdao" should be added under weapon names to clarify its consistent usage throughout action scenes, especially those involving horseback combat. As the elderly man known as Jang fell back late, landing on his bottom, it seemed his old tailbone should have screamed in pain, yet he bore an expression completely devoid of consciousness, not even complaining about the discomfort. Only after hearing a creak as he turned his head in an unnaturally stiff manner to the side did he notice the sword blade that had dug two inches into the frozen earth, realizing with a start that he had narrowly avoided being split in two. Gasping in horror, Jang exhaled the breath caught in his chest, and desperately scrambled backward. All the while, a silence descended. Nainporukdeok, who had raised his eyes, saw the deep dent in the center of his changdao’s blade, brows knitted in displeasure. Something had struck the blade with a speed like a ray of light, so ephemeral that it seemed like nothing but a glimmer, preventing him from seeing what sort of projectile it might have been. Nainporukdeok slowly turned his head. "Who is it?" "What's that? Barbarians acting all serious. I'm just a passing beggar, why, haven't you seen a beggar before? Don't Mongolian village bumpkins have beggars? Hmm? Or is it a good thing you don't?" Nainporukdeok turned to see the beggar. Dressed in rags overstuffed to the point where his small head seemed oddly disproportionate to his bloated body. More curious than that was his greasy, matted hair draped over his face, making it look like he had gone a long time without a wash, revealing skin afflicted with what seemed like grotesque blisters and scars as if diseased. Someone might mistake him for a plague-ridden beggar, just looking at him might make one feel they were catching a disease. “What are you looking at? Is this the first time you're seeing a beggar?" Qing retorted defiantly. "Did I tell this story before? Alright, listen again. Don’t Mongolian bumpkins have beggars? Given that they're savages living under pitched tents, how would they understand a beggar?" As Qing’s tongue loosened, she continued mockingly. “Beggars you see, are parasites who don't work and leech off others, living without a fixed home, pitching a tent in some nook to crash, ah, right? You’re in our line of work indeed? It seems, Mongol barbarians are actually just a bunch of beggars.” Qing grinned broadly, even under what should have masked him as a beggar with the 'beggar's invisibility mask,' her bright and white teeth shining through. “Pleased to meet you, you bunch of beggars.” “Exactly! You beggars!” It was humorous enough to be called beggars, but a small creature next to him, looking like a fledgling beggar, parroted Qing's words. A fledgling beggar because though their clothes could be seen as cleaner, the kit of a beggarly existence was lacking. Qing met Nainporukdeok’s gaze with a cheerful smile. In response, Nainporukdeok clicked his tongue and instructed with a gesture. “[Odoksain, Sohyuk, bring this wench’s head—]” “Wait! Stop the violence! Violence is bad! Safety is good! Good! Good! Good!” Qing shouted, raising her palms. “Shall we talk like the civilized people we are? I see you guys are quick to draw your blades when ticked off. Let’s transition from the savage era to the era of civilization. You’ve bothered learning the language of Zhongyuan, so when else will you use it?” “Beggar sister?” “Yes, I was a bit rude on our first encounter. Allow me to apologize. Oh, what was it again? [I’m sorry], is that Mongol barbarian talk? I’m someone who can speak your language. So, let’s resolve this through conversation.” “Beggar sister? What are you saying? They’re bad barbarians who’ve invaded our land.” “[I like Airag. Vodka is delicious.]” “Beggar sister? Can you hear me?” Moyong Jun tugged at Qing’s sleeve insistently. Feigning ignorance of him, Qing continued to stoke the Mongolians’ pride with her crooked foreigner accent. “[Do you know him, Genghis Khan? Do you know who conquered Mongolia?]” “Excuse me? Beggar sister?” “I’m someone who truly loves Mongolia. So, can’t we work things out with dialogue?” “Beggar sister? Aren’t you fighting? They’re bad guys…” It was then that Moyong Jun’s eyes widened. A warrior from the Luoh guard managed to momentarily extend his fingers to convey a message on Moyong Jun’s back with calligraphy, causing him to freeze. -娘 (young lady), 民 (people), 逃 (escape), 弛 (slacken), 默 (silence). Each character conveyed: "The young lady is stalling for time so that the people can escape, so perhaps you should be quiet." When Moyong Jun looked up at Qing in surprise, her eyes shone with new admiration. Of course, the implication that Qing was deliberately stalling for time with nonsense was merely an arbitrary judgment by the Luoh guard. Whether Qing indeed had that intention, only Qing could know. It might simply be as ever, a ploy to provoke and gain momentum, a mere stepping back to kneel for push-off. Nevertheless, neither possibility was known to Nainporukdeok, and so his attitude seemed to soften slightly. “Hmm, interesting woman.” It was inevitable. People are, by nature, inclined to be more generous toward foreigners trying to speak their language. And if the foreigner’s ramblings serve to enhance national pride? It would be akin to how, back in her hometown, even a foreigner with a broken accent saying things like "I like kimchi, Sejong the Great is awesome," it’s enough to make people lose their composure. “But... talking it out?” “Well, you know, have you heard the story of the goose that laid golden eggs, or was it a duck? Anyway, such a bird… Once upon a time, there lived a golden egg-laying duck.” Despite furrowing his brow, Nainporukdeok listened to her unraveling tale out of sheer curiosity about what nonsensical rambling this beggar of a woman might say next. Qing was relaying a common tale known to the people of her hometown about the goose (or perhaps a duck) that laid golden eggs. In a nutshell, the tale tells about having it for a delicious meal, indeed goose meat! “So, are you saying these folks are the ducks, and if left alive, they will continue to offer tribute, hence there’s no need to rip open their bellies?” “That’s right, isn’t it?” --- New Terms and Explanation: 1. **Odoksain (오덕사인):** Retained the original as it seems like a name or specific term within the Mongol warrior context. - **Translation Rationale:** Without additional context or standard translation, the term is maintained to preserve character interactions. 2. **Sohyuk (소혁):** Preserved as understood contextually as another personal or rank identifier. - **Translation Rationale:** The name appears without additional context to interpret otherwise; added narrative intrigue continues where specific identity is suggested but not clarified. 3. **Luoh guard (녹 호위):** Added as a conceptual term within the context suggesting a specialized guard. - **Translation Rationale:** From the context, a passing communication role indicates a pivotal member aiding Moyong Jun. Notable cultural dynamics are demonstrated as Qing uses language and societal expectations to de-escalate violence by pandering to national pride, illustrating humor in her manipulation of stereotypes. Further, cultural nuances suggest how foreigner’s mimicry affects natives, driven by instinct and amusement. "That's a good story," Nainporukdeok commented, his expression suggesting genuine appreciation. "It's a tale worth passing down from the children of the plains to their children." In Mongolian terms, this was a high compliment, implying the story was worthy of being passed down through generations. Qing’s expression turned slightly bewildered. "Eh." What is this? Did he really understand what I was saying? He seemed to have derived such a profound lesson? However, it’s feasible. After all, the Mongol barbarians' karma is not exceedingly high—scoring barely over a hundred points, if that. For those ingrained with this level of karma, it’s entirely possible for conversations to actually make sense. To broadly comprehend why; perhaps these arranged pseudo-raids didn’t quite count as significant karma. In the middle of chowing down on the tribute offered by Geonpyeong, what possible wicked acts could they commit in the barren, desolate steppe? ...Qing pondered just as-- "But, woman. Whether to slit the duck's belly or not is ultimately up to the duck's owner, right? When the owner decides to butcher the flock, neither milk nor wool matters." It was essentially an indication that bloodshed was inevitable. "Hey, why do you consider the folks of Geonpyeong your flock?" "What foolishness! Have you Han people already forgotten your history? Weren’t you the lowest of slaves among slaves, creatures more worthless than beasts? Despite that, wasn't I the exceedingly benevolent master who treated you as part of my flock and cared for you? And you repay with anything but gratitude?" This alluded to the past era of the Yuan dynasty, when the Great Khan of Mongolia had unified Zhongyuan, and ruled over the Han people as slaves. During the Yuan dynasty, the Han people were regarded as one of the most lowly ethnic groups among Zhongyuan’s myriad peoples, reportedly treated worse than beasts. "Since you told such a fine tale, I will let you live, woman. Now, [Warriors of the Plains!]" Nainporukdeok called out to his men but then fell silent, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Ha, an audacious woman indeed. The flock has fled! You were just stalling for time.” “Time? What time?” “Even if the sheep manage to escape, they would just stick their heads into their pens. Do you think they can run away from the warriors of the plains?” “Why do you keep talking about sheep? You’re making me crave lamb. Ah, I’d love some lamb ribs.” “Kuhuhue, hahahaha! A valiant attempt, but you’re cutting off your own path to salvation. Had you not been so plain in appearance, I might’ve taken you as a wise and brave woman. Blame your attempts on your lack of beauty. [Odoksain, Sohyuk, bring me her head.]" Surprisingly, Qing felt the same way. She had considered sparing him, after all. Now, it couldn't be helped. Really. It's not like Qing particularly craved the thrill of slaughter or that Nainporukdeok's lenient offer to the people of Geonpyeong made her sword hand itch. No, she was left with no choice— yes, legitimate self-defense. Her wide grin split all the way to her ears could almost be considered a compelling justification. --- New Terms and Explanation: 1. **Plains' Children (초원의 아이들):** Translated as "children of the plains," referring culturally to those born of the nomadic life on the plains. - **Translation Rationale:** This phrase conveys a sense of legacy and lineage among nomadic peoples, indicating root and pride through generations. 2. **Pseudo-Raids (유사 약탈):** Translated as "pseudo-raids," indicating the superficial or staged nature of these tributes. - **Translation Rationale:** The term's use encapsulates the nature of Mongolian tribute collections, contrasting enforced tribute with wartime depredation. 3. **Yuan Dynasty (元/원):** Directly referenced historical context surrounding the Mongolian Yuan empire. - **Translation Rationale:** Historical connections strengthen understanding, connecting past rule to character dialogue and motives in present-day narrative. This dialogue exposes cultural tensions and prejudices through historical context, revealing how Qing navigates and utilizes these issues to attempt de-escalation through storytelling. The play on typical Mongol narratives emphasizes an entwined sense of pride and bygone supremacy which Qing cleverly manipulates to buy time, showcasing the complexities of cultural interactions.