895 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Qing had not set out on her journey with any specific knowledge of the barbarians' base. She only knew they had come from the north and had arrived just after lunchtime. This implied that they likely started from somewhere north, a distance that would take a morning ride to reach by slightly past noon. One might question how she could simply head north, as even the slightest deviation off course for half a day's ride could lead one astray. Moreover, there was the possibility the barbarians had traveled for more than a day, making it rash to embark on such a journey without a plan. Yet Qing didn't think much about it! She never did. After all, it was an open grassland; if there were barbarian tents, they'd be visible from afar, wouldn't they? What if the barbarians had traveled over a day to invade Gunpyeong? Would that change anything? They say a man who unsheathes his sword must cut at least a radish; similarly, Qing could keep riding in pursuit, pushing on since she had already started. That was typical of Qing, pursuing distractions without urgency or deadlines. And she wasn't in any pressing schedule with deadlines looming. Fortunately, just when the sun was about to kiss the horizon, she spotted red, glinting structures far north. Qing's vision was beyond that of normal humans, making it easier for her to spot anything out of place in such expansive terrain. The barbarian tents were already half-disassembled and loaded onto carts, with people busy dismantling the rest. Had Qing not left in pursuit so swiftly, she wouldn't have found them, as they would have retreated by nightfall. This is why having a good physique means your mind doesn't need to suffer. With her strong body, results came without much thought. Qing pulled the reins to stop her horse, looking at the Mongolian barbarians busy with their task in the distance. While doing so, Moyong Jun, with a puzzled look, asked, "Hey big sister? Oh, are those the barbarians? Aren't they trying to escape? Shouldn't we chase them now?" "Let them escape on their own." "But they're barbarians. What if they come back later? Shouldn't we eradicate them, as they say, root and stem?" "Only if their roots run deep do you pull or burn them out. If there were more of those bandits, we might deal with a few." Qing cast her gaze again at the busy barbarians. The smaller ones seemed to be children, the hunched figures were likely elders, and naturally, where there are children and elderly, there are women. "Jun, they seem to be children and women, should we kill them just because they're barbarians?" "No, I don't think that's right." "Then do we spare them? If we leave them, women will give birth, and children will grow into nasty barbarian bandits to attack again. Do we spare barbarians?" "Uh? Well, that shouldn't happen." "So what? Kill the barbarians, including the weak ones with no martial arts?" "That's..." Moyong Jun struggled to respond, struck by the complexity and lack of simple answers to such a dilemma. While the Green Guard watched the pondering Moyong Jun with a satisfied smile, a commotion arose from the barbarian camp. Several figures on horseback appeared and blocked their view. However, they made no aggressive moves, merely surveilling from their position. Time passed quietly as the sun continued to descend toward the horizon until the horsemen turned and melded back into the shadows of the camp, where a few torches soon flickered to life. Naturally, they needed fire to work through the night. At this sight, Qing redirected her horse. "Let's go." "Huh, are we just leaving?" "So, should we kill them all? Really wipe them out, so not a word escapes?" "No, not that, but shouldn't we at least tell them not to invade again, grant them mercy, something?" "Doing that in words ruins the scene. Come on, let's go. We should find a place to rest overnight." It was then that Qing realized she shouldn't have brought a kid along, especially in this cold. While her friends might endure a night outdoors in the harsh winter, the presence of young Moyong Jun troubled her. Nonetheless, even though he was just a child, Moyong Jun had some martial arts skills, so it might be better to push through and find shelter in a village after a night on the road. But, returning to Gunpyeong now seemed rather discouragingly cowardly. "Wow! Big sister, are we camping out? Are we spending the night under the stars? With tents, bonfires, and grilling meat from a hunt?" Seeing Moyong Jun's eyes sparkle brightly even in the dim light made Qing smile. "Jun, you've never camped out before?" "It's my first time running away too." It should be the first time running away. If the kid were a habitual runaway, things would be even more troublesome. Qing, seeing the vitality in Moyong Jun's sparkling eyes, couldn't help but grin. Why not? If it got unbearably cold, she could hold him close; after all, he wasn't a total novice without any martial skills. Would one sleepless night really be an issue? --- Fortunately, the Green Guard had brought supplies for such a campsite. Since the family had condoned the escape, naturally, they ensured the guards were well-prepared for whatever could arise. Terms: - Gunpyeong(건평) -> transliterated as "Gunpyeong," referring to a place that conveys the narrative setting's geographical context. - Green Guard(녹 호위) -> translated as "Green Guard," referencing a specific character's role or affiliation. The above decisions aim to maintain the context and settings integral to the original story. Gunpyeong is given a concise transliteration as it frames the action's location. Green Guard is meant to signify the character's distinct association and responsibility. My translation kept close to the meaning while providing a seamless reading experience, maintaining character relationships and dialogue tone true to the original text. A more literal translation of Gunpyeong could have been utilized, but the transliteration aligns it as a place name without altering the story's sense of direction. The Mongol cavalry likely had supplies ready for camping out as well. When Qing's group captured their horses, they inherited these preparations too. This included waterproof tarps, fur sleeping bags, iron pots, and provisions—grain flour, dried meat, sheep's milk or mare's milk, along with a few spices like salt. Just looking at it, it wouldn't take much effort for it all to make a delicious meal if thrown together and boiled. And adding Qing's instinctual cooking skill, famously known as her 'magic touch,' made it all the more promising. Qing’s mixed stew was of such a quality that even her friends, typically dining on lavish meals with refined palates, offered effusive praise despite being unable to pinpoint why it was so delicious. It was Qing's masterpiece, certified by her friends, who came from prestigious backgrounds. "Wow, big sister, this is really good. It looks like a mash but tastes so great," Moyong Jun commented. "Heh, that's the charm of a mixed stew. It's different inside than out. It always looks the same when boiled, but brings a variety of flavors," Qing explained. After enjoying a full dinner, they decided to sleep early since there wasn’t much to do at night. They laid out the thick tarps, setting up a makeshift tent just high enough to crawl into. Inside, they wrapped themselves snugly in their fluffy fur sleeping bags, feeling warm and cozy. Although there was a bit of an unpleasant smell from the sleeping bag, it wasn’t too bad. A little while later, Moyong Jun spoke up. "Hey, big sister. Are you asleep?" Qing had anticipated this. It was the first time camping out, so falling asleep immediately would have been unusual. "Yes, big sister is asleep," Qing replied teasingly. She heard a giggle from the child. "So, big sister, you let the barbarians go. Why did you do that?" "Well, they gave up first." "Gave up?" "They went inside while we were having our staring contest and lit the torches, even though they knew I was watching." "Is that a gesture of surrender? Why?" "Because they knew I was watching but still loosened their guard and just went inside. They even lit the torches in the dark, making themselves well-visible, which means: 'We are powerless and not trying anything funny, so do as you please, kill or spare us.'" "Oh……." "So there's no need to go and say if they leave now, I'll spare them; don't ever invade Zhongyuan again. There's no need because they already understand I've shown mercy. Actions speak louder than a hundred words." "Oh, wow……!" An enthusiastic exclamation returned. Deep in Moyong Jun's heart, the image of a true chivalrous hero, bright and golden, was standing firm—a beggar-like statue inscribed with wise words. - Actions speak louder than a hundred words. What a true hero! Qing's idol status was rising, breaking through the limits. Thus, Moyong Jun's first momentous experience of camping out passed by. The following day, Moyong Jun seemed to have become more talkative, although he was verbose to begin with, saying whatever came to mind, much like any curious youth fondly dreaming of becoming a romantic hero. He’d previously been an avid eavesdropper, spilling secrets without reservation. Now, even more talkative, he couldn't stop chattering. Qing figured perhaps they'd become closer. After all, kids tend to chatter incessantly once familiar. So it was genuinely random talk flowing—a tale of an unnamed warrior possibly marrying a cook, a passing mention of a big bird he saw without context, a sudden tangent about his favorite foods, praising last night's mixed stew, suggesting they should hunt, fish for a whole cooked fish next time they camp. Moyong Jun mentioned his assumptions about future camp activities, then casually brought up stories about Mongolian horses. "Do you know? Originally, Mongolian horses weren't these pretty ones; they were said to be quite ugly. Short legs, twice-thick necks, enormous heads, and very plump." Imagining that description, Qing mused, “They sound cute.” "They're very ugly in reality." "Animals are cuter when they’re a bit ugly." "……?" In truth, Qing often favored animals with less-than-perfect appearances, particularly those with unintentionally comedic looks. She preferred pets like smushed-face cats and dogs but couldn't keep them while living alone, and they were quite expensive. In that regard, Lu Bu was a beautiful horse, yet somehow Qing favored those with slightly awkward nobility to their appearance. "Anyway, didn’t the Mongolian barbarians take pristine horses from Zhongyuan during the fall of the imperial dynasty?" he pondered, referring to the Yuan Dynasty when the Central Plains were under Mongol rule. Yet it was a mostly moot story. Mongolian horses were renowned for their endurance and adaptability to harsh climates, essential assets in the northern highlands steppe. However, with their short legs and vulnerability to hot climates, they struggled to maintain strength in the southern regions. Being less impressive in stature and appearance also played a role. Nonetheless, as the Mongol barbarians expanded from Zhongyuan to the western territories, they captured the world’s finest steeds for breeding. **Terms:** - Zhongyuan(중원) -> translated as "Zhongyuan," reflecting the historical and geographical context referencing the Central Plains. - Lu Bu(여포) -> transliterated as "Lu Bu," reflecting a character’s name in the narrative as a historical reference, although here it reflects Qing's expression affectionately referring to her horse. These translations aim to offer context while preserving the cultural significance and story’s atmosphere. I preserved the name Lu Bu despite it typically being a historical figure, as the tone indicates it’s applied as a name to her horse. Nowadays, they say there are no horses more outstanding than the ones ridden by the Mongolian barbarians. "So, it seems they want to run a bit. I've heard that horses, especially warhorses, need to run occasionally to stay healthy." What was this nonsense? Isn't that like saying machines need to be revved once in a while to prevent breaking down? It's the same as the saying about people needing a bit of a beating now and then to stay healthy. Although, in truth, that part about people actually holds some weight—regular exercise, not the beating part. "Jun, maybe we should get the horse's opinion on-" "Big sister, let's run! Hyah!" Before Qing could put in a word, Moyong Jun had already kicked the side of his horse hard, galloping ahead at full speed. It was almost something that needed to be done hand-in-hand, but then he just rode off alone, which kind of marked his limits as a kid. Right behind him, the silent Green Guard's horse took off. With a drawn-out whinny, Lu Bu let out a heavy huff, as if indicating she, too, was eager to run. Hey, I should have a say in this, right? I’m not exactly friendly with horses… In truth, Qing's equestrian skills were abysmal. Skills often develop to compensate for physical inadequacies. Humans use weapons because their fists are weak, and martial arts evolved because bodies are fragile. Conversely, with a strong physique, there was no need for such skills, hence Qing's horseback riding was reduced to just clinging on with her superhuman agility. And, truthfully, riding a horse provided such a terrible ride… With a resigned sigh, Qing muttered, "Alright, let's go. Fine." For now, it seemed she would have to escort their secret little friend back home, to the Moyong Clan in Shenyang. --- Terms: - Shenyang(심양) -> transliterated as "Shenyang," indicating the place associated with the Moyong Clan, key for the narrative context. - Lu Bu(여포) -> preserved as "Lu Bu," maintaining the reference to her horse, emphasizing the personality and a touch of historical nodding in her choice of name. This section focuses on the character's reluctance and dialogue, maintaining its humor and dynamics with figurative language preserved. ‘Lu Bu’ continues to refer to Qing’s horse playfully yet familiarly, and Shenyang is provided transliteration to give geographical substance to the journey.