893 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

[Trip to Shenyang(심양행)] The face of the Mongolian under the horse was pale. Horses are inherently large, heavy beasts. With only his shoulders protruding from beneath the creature, which was lying on its side and breathing its last ragged breaths, it's likely his ribs had been thoroughly crushed. A warrior who once rode high upon his steed, gracing the earth with his presence, now lay dying beneath it. Well, perhaps this was a good death after all. At that moment, the warrior coughed, spewing out a handful of blood, and his focus returned. As his eyes met those of Qing, who was looking down at him, he gave a sincere, non-malicious smile. "[Truly a magnificent feat, warrior. I honor you.]" "[You seem quite composed, don't you?]" "[You will surely become a renowned warrior, known throughout the lands. I have no regrets in losing to such a warrior. However, it's rather inconvenient. Could you kindly end it for me?]" To this, Qing snorted dismissively. Just a moment ago, it was as if he was rushing at me with the intent of avenging his parents, overflowing with murderous intent, and now he's trying to act friendly upon facing death? Was he fearing an untimely end or perhaps hoping to find some gap to survive by adopting this demeanor? "[Before that, while you were happily taking tributes, why did you suddenly decide to kill everyone?]" "[That's an odd question. Should an outsider question why an owner decides to slaughter his livestock?]" "Eh." Genuinely perplexed, Qing just let out a sigh. The warrior didn't even question why the attack on Gunpyung was necessary. "[So, that 'Great Warrior'? If the Great Warrior commands something, do you follow it without question and end your life?]" "[If the command to die is given, it must be for a reason. There would be no reason not to comply.]" "[You would die if ordered to?]" "[Haha! Cough, cough, haha... You are indeed a warrior deserving of the world. But unfortunately, you remain a Central Plains person. What warrior would follow someone who kills their kin for no reason? Thus, if the Great Warrior commands death, there must be just cause.]" Qing sealed her lips shut. It’s a statement like ‘you’re from the Central Plains, you wouldn’t understand’, leaving nothing to say in return. If upon hearing ‘go kill’, your response is ‘understood’ without a second thought, what distinguishes that from a trained hunting dog? Not much. Simply beast offspring. A human, upon receiving a command, should independently ponder whether it’s right or wrong. They should arm themselves with their independent thought, becoming self-dependent warriors, individual warriors, hmm, the term does sound a bit off. Qing planted the Hell Demon Slaying Blade into the ground. Though between the blade and the earth lay the Mongolian warrior's head. Wouldn't the blame lie with the head’s owner for placing such a valuable cranium in such a hazardous spot? Qing moved, embedding her blade around these wayward souls, who eager to risk their heads in dangerous places met terrible ends. Meanwhile, the genius of the Moyong Clan, Moyong Jun. Simultaneously, Moyong Jun, being the eavesdropping expert of the Moyong Clan during daylight and moonless nights (in the sense that birds listen during the day and mice at night). To be an expert at eavesdropping, one must be adept at hiding. Thus, an eavesdropping expert is almost synonymous with being a master at concealment. Green Escort would not have aided Qing frivolously. The Young Master was acting based on a strong belief that he could hide well and remain undiscovered during combat scenarios! And so, tucked away behind civilian homes on one side of the square— To be precise, Moyong Jun had rearranged furniture rather inconspicuously to create blind spots, curling up behind them. He'd observed the chaotic spectacle of the beggar sister’s Wah-tang-tang barbarian riot through strategically drilled peepholes on the walls facing the square. Qing's dogfight was nothing short of a creative, free-spirited primal battle, unconstrained by martial arts forms, a total collection of ways a person can use their capabilities. No, a fight implies some reciprocity; this was outright one-sided violence, raw, unrefined brutality. And Moyong Jun’s assessment after witnessing this brutality? "The beggar sister's insane! Totally cool!" Moyong Jun's eyes sparkled. Ah, this is 'cool.' Compared to this vivid display of violence, the dignified and solemn practice matches with the elders of the clan merely imitated theatrical portrayals of fights. For Moyong Jun, the most revered martial artist was his father, Moyong Seongik. Dignified and serious, yet generous and unrestrictive, embodying the mannerism of a gentleman; his martial arts exuded elegance and formality, reminiscent of an idealized knight from legend. Now, however, that ideal seemed to grow translucent and blurred. Simultaneously overlapping was the image of a quirky woman, seemingly carefree and mischievous, unconcerned with others' eyes, indulging in eccentricities. Yet when it comes to fighting, she crushes her opponents with unmatched, primal ferocity unmatched by anyone else. A significant shift in the child's pursuit of coolness occurs! Qing was an exceedingly detrimental presence in the child's emotional development and value formation. Just how harmful her mere existence was, embodying the advice parents give about staying away from bad influences. It's truly terrifying. Thus Moyong Jun, who desperately wanted to rush out as soon as the battle ended. But having promised Green Escort that they would wait about ‘one quarter of an hour after the battle concludes to assess the situation before emerging’ when they left home. Ultimately acting as a well-behaved boy, Moyong Jun waited until he dashed towards the magnificent beggar sister. And that magnificent beggar sister? Surveying and dealing with the remnants, *whinnying*. The familiar sound of a horse snorting made her turn her head; it was the black horse the barbarian chief rode. Although horses are naturally magnificent creatures, this one was particularly handsome indeed. As Qing observed the horse, it approached with lazy hoofbeats, arriving with a noble demeanor, nudging her arm with its massive head, rubbing affectionately. Qing hesitantly caressed the horse's neck, to which it emitted contented, whinnying sounds. --- **Terms and Clarifications** 1. **Gunpyung (건평)**: Not identified as a specific location, interpreted in this context as a location under attack by the Mongolians. 2. **Central Plains (중원)**: Referring to the historical and cultural heartland of China, emphasizing the cultural and perceptual divide. 3. **Hell Demon Slaying Blade (지옥참마도)**: The specific technique used by Qing, demonstrates a fearsome fighting style. 4. **Green Escort (녹 호위)**: Likely referring to a group or guard associated with Moyong Jun or Qing. **Character Identification** 1. **Mongolian warrior**: Male, unnamed, emphasized loyalty and obedience. 2. **Qing (청)**: Female protagonist, displays a fierce and unyielding nature. 3. **Moyong Jun (모용준)**: Male, portrays a child's evolving perception of heroism and martial prowess. **Translation Notes** - The translation strives to retain the tone and style, balancing direct speech with cultural nuance related to warrior honor and obedience. - Moyong Jun’s childlike admiration for Qing reveals a pivotal growth in his understanding of martial prowess. - Consider adding **Moyong Clan’s Genius (모용세가의 천재)** and **Green Escort (녹 호위)** to the list for future reference. **Context** Qing is depicted as a complex character whose interactions are both life-affirming and dangerous, instilling both fear and admiration. This scene underscores conflicts not only of physical battle but also internalized cultural beliefs about honor and obedience that might contrast with Qing's approach to combat and independence. "Is this horse acting coy?" It seemed surprising that a horse could recognize a person who possessed prowess, but was it really shifting loyalties right after its master died? Now that its master is dead, it better seeks out a new one? While this might seem like a practical train of thought, it hardly exhibited fidelity or loyalty. Instead, it was a prime example of swift adaptability. “Wow, beggar sister, you've managed to acquire a fine horse.” “Hmm?” Moyong Jun, having emerged seemingly out of nowhere now that the battle was over, expressed repeated admiration as he looked at the black horse. Reaching out to pat the horse— Snap! The teeth of the black horse collided fiercely. Barely pulling his hand back in time, Moyong Jun was unable to conceal his disappointed expression. “It seems to want you as its master, beggar sister. It's acting quite fierce...” “Huh. What did I even do?” “Well, there's always these types, you know? What do you call them... Boss horses? Ones that enjoy flaunting about?” For particularly clever horses, understanding the might of their riders means that if someone of high status rides them, they become smug and make a show of elegance, enjoying the occasion. Moreover, they progress to the point where they refuse to carry anyone who isn’t prestigious, essentially saying, 'How dare a lowly human touch me?’ “So, because I’m strong, it came to me?” Are things really okay that way? They talk about the connection between a horse and its master, don’t they? Isn’t there a famous story about a horse following its owner into death? What was it called? Right, Chollima? However, Qing only knew about Chollima. “Would you give it a name?” “A name? Well, since the original owner is now dead, there isn't any way to know it, hmm.” Qing looked at the horse. Now, as for a name, since it’s a black horse... Blackie? Midnight? Black Bean? Black Rice? What other black things are there? Hmm, Jjajangmyeon? I want to eat Jjajangmyeon... Had the horse understood Qing’s thoughts, it would have immediately kicked its hind legs and fled. But Qing, enraptured by the sweet, deep flavor of her homeland’s traditional dish, Jjajangmyeon, couldn’t escape the nostalgia. It was only after swallowing her saliva twice. But, what was I thinking of just now? Ah right, the horse's name. “Alright. From now on, your name will be Lu Bu.” “Lu Bu? Oh, so you're wishing for it to become the strongest horse, like Lu Bu among men, Red Hare among horses, right?” “No. Simply because it betrayed its master easily and came to me as soon as the former got killed.” “...Wouldn’t it be better to name it Chollima, or since it’s a black horse, how about Haktoma?” “Chollima? Doesn’t that sound more like a loyal horse?” “Chollima also kept switching masters.” “Hmm. Oh? It did?” Come to think of it, Chollima was originally the horse of Dong Zhuo—Lu Bu got it, then Cao Cao seized it, gave it to Guan Yu as a gift, and then Sun Quan took it by force. What the heck, I thought Chollima was some legendary horse; turns out it's totally a symbol of betrayal. Well, if it's a good horse, everyone would covet it. But since the beast won’t starve if it doesn’t have an owner or commit suicide with its head in a feeding trough... Qing gently stroked Lu Bu. The texture of its coat was oddly addictive—kind of stiff yet incredibly soft, like dog fur but with a plush feeling reminiscent of 羽緞. Qing continued to stroke Lu Bu. Green Escort was inherently reticent, so merely existed by Moyong Jun’s side. Moyong Jun, watching Lu Bu with envious eyes, looked around the surroundings once again. “Beggar sister?” “Yes?” "Will you stay around here? By watching you fight, I seemed to have felt a glimpse of understanding." “Hmm. Sparring would be nice, but let’s do it later.” “Yes...” Moyong Jun sulked briefly, but soon, he began looking around again. As is typical for children, simply doing nothing had quickly made him bored. As they say, boredom is the hardest thing for children to endure. However, Qing wasn’t idly petting the horse; she had her reasons. Shortly thereafter, perhaps due to the quiet ambiance, the people of Gunpyung who had fled began to emerge cautiously into the square. Some gasped upon inhaling, others rushed to the corners retching from the intense smell and ghastly scene. Yet most cast fearful glances at the beggar who had created this devastation. Qing quietly observed this when Mr. Jang stepped forward from within the group. “Respected warrior, thank you for the grace of saving our lives.” “What do you mean ‘respected warrior’? I’m no hero. Who decided I’m this ‘respected warrior’? I won't accept that. Instead, didn’t I tell you what I should be called?” “...Final Boss.” Then, Qing looked at Mr. Jang and, in a serious tone devoid of any playfulness, stated, “It would be best to leave the city. While we’ve just driven off these invaders, there’s no telling when others might appear.” “But, Final Boss, this is our home and our life. Where should we go if we leave?” “That’s for you to decide. Stay if you wish, but do you think the next invaders will overlook you as these did, masquerading their pillage as a tribute?” Qing scanned the people of Gunpyung. Indeed, she had already avenged herself here in Gunpyung. Despite the audacious plots of Gunpyung-loo’s owner, she'd remained for a while to deal with the situation. Now the barbarian spectacle was over, she could leave immediately if she wished. Despite it all, even if just for a warning, she felt she should say something before leaving. --- **New Terms and Clarifications** 1. **Gunpyung-loo (건평루)**: Not explicitly translated, but possibly a location or establishment within Gunpyung related to the main character's personal vendetta. 2. **Mr. Jang (장 대인)**: Inferred to be a leader or spokesperson of the Gunpyung residents, respecting but slightly intimidated by Qing. 3. **Jjajangmyeon (짜장면)**: A traditional Korean-Chinese noodle dish with a sweet and savory black soybean paste, evoking Qing’s nostalgia. **Explanation and Translation Choices** - **Qing’s Naming of the Horse**: Employs the concept of irony, choosing Lu Bu, a known historical figure for betrayal, reflecting the horse’s quick change in loyalty. - **Chollima (적토마)**: Known for changing masters, reflecting the dual nature of loyalty and betrayal, offering a moment for ironic reflection on historical perceptions. - **Mr. Jang**: Addresses societal roles and respect, demonstrating cultural expectations regarding authority interactions. **Context** This excerpt showcases Qing’s complex character through humor and cultural commentary. Her interactions reveal much about her worldview, revealing both her disdain for loyalty misplaced on practicality and her deeper understanding of human-nature reflections through seemingly trivial observations—like that of a horse. Her playful banter with Moyong Jun also highlights different generational understandings and the constant internal struggle between following cultural traditions and seeking personal truth.