911 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

The fact they disguised themselves as monsters meant they were meticulous bandits who conducted raids while concealing their true identities. Qing was also a master of disguises, adept in the art of impersonation. At times, she was the sacred Heavenly Sword Flower of the righteous sects, other times, she became Daiyoreum, the living god of mechanical wonders, and yet at other times, she was Guangyuksik who delighted in flesh and Ju Gil-ryeon, the thief who carried out justice. Therefore, she knew well the sense of liberation and boldness that came with concealing one's identity. "So, what's your excuse? You can't survive without stealing?" "[With all your limbs intact, can't you dig up the earth or scour the mountains to survive? Does it make any sense to say there's no way to live besides robbing people? Or did someone hold a sword to your neck and force you to steal?]" Her query left an impression of admiration on the face of the Dongyi tribesmen. "[Indeed. As expected, does the divine one see through everything with extraordinary powers?]" "What." Qing, who had just been fuming with murderous intent, suddenly looked perplexed. Fortunately, she was wearing a mask, so her dignity as the Supreme of the Three Masters, who ruled the heavens and wielded the power of the Left Yama and Right Shangdi, remained intact. "[What do you mean? Did someone really threaten you with a sword to rob others?]" Her voice filled with disbelief, the expressions of the Dongyi tribesmen turned to worry again. "So, you didn’t see this with some miraculous power like heavenly vision or mind reading?" "[They didn't directly hold a sword, but it’s as good as they did. He knows well our situation—]" "[He doesn't just know! He constantly nudges us, typical line being, how can a person just starve to death? Pray earnestly, and the monster will assist, he claims!]" "[Bastard! Parentless scoundrel without manners!]" "[A villainous monk, taking advantage of poor souls!]" The Dongyi tribesmen erupted with resentment and curses. Historically, the Dongyi tribes were known as a nation of colorful curses — and now, colorful curses were flying thick and fast. Several decades ago, there was a massive and disastrous famine on the Joseon lands. Even before that, the commoners' lives were already dire in Joseon, as it was riddled with misfortune. Still, somehow, Joseon managed to function, albeit trailing downhill. As the nation became penniless, the once gradual descent turned catastrophic, a great cliff appeared overnight—it was the Imjin War's Japanese invasion. Qing’s expression turned complicated. Hmm, even in this pseudo-ancient parallel world, I'm receiving a history lecture... It wasn’t just the war; its horrifying aftermath ravaged Joseon. The Imjin War destroyed three-quarters of the farmland. Joseon had scorned commerce, suppressing merchants, and relied solely on farming due to its dictation as an agrarian country. With farmland sliced to a quarter, famine and hunger engulfed the nation. And chaos, like this, often invites diseases. As the Western priests said, the four horsemen of the apocalypse — war, famine, pestilence, and death — come in a bundle for reason. As a result, three in ten Koreans lost their lives to war and its aftermath, a severe catastrophe erasing thirty percent of the population. The majority of the vanished thirty percent were commoners and slaves, the lower class. Joseon’s ruling class, the Yangban, suffered greatly. Yet, inequality worsened post-war, making them even wealthier. During this chaotic era, the ruling classes exploited commoners, extracting every last drop of wealth. "[With interest on grains being so high, borrowing one seom of millet demands paying back four seom of rice the next year, piling up only debt despite earnest farming. Everyone ended up selling themselves; now, hardly anyone isn’t a slave.]" "[Hmm.]" "[When the weather warms a bit, we could forage on the mountains, at least, stripping bark to survive, but if we don’t start the raids by now, our whole family would starve before spring arrives…]" In the warm south, they may soon scrape by on sprouting greenery, but here, near Pyongan-do's northernmost point bordering Hamgyeong Province, they would wait another month and a half. So, to survive, they had no choice but resort to raiding. "[Hmm…]" Learning their plight, Qing felt pity and sympathy ignited within her. How could she ignore these desperate faces, striking but hollowed and withered from long hunger, marks of inescapable poverty. "[However, it's rumored that your raids grow aggressive every winter. Don't those villages across the river flee before you come? Even if you endure now, what’s your plan for the future?]" "[When faced with imminent starvation, when a couple more die each night, what does the future matter…]" Qing sighed deeply. She couldn’t just abandon them to prey on other unfortunate souls, unable to swallow the idea of endorsing pillaging as a noble, yet desperate, family-supporting endeavor. Moreover, the solution, upon hearing it, was simple. "[I heard you harbor great discontent towards that damned official—]" "[That bastard is a complete son of a bitch!]" "[When entire districts are perishing, he just bloats his belly with oil—]" "[Despite the Daedong Law being enforced over twenty years, he insists on gathering pelts—]" Profanities poured out loud and clear. --- **Terms Translated** 1. **Dongyi(동이족) - Dongyi tribesmen**: Refers to an ethnic group, held derogatorily in historical context. 2. **지존삼장 (Supreme of the Three Masters)**: A fictional title for Qing's masked persona. 3. **Daedong Law (대동법)**: Historical tax reform in Joseon era, requiring returns in rice. 4. **Seom(섬)**: Traditional Korean unit for grain. **Gender Identifications**: - Dongyi tribesmen (group); plural, mixed unknown gender. **Additional Notes**: - The imagery of Qing wearing a mask while maintaining a dignified expression adds to the air of mystery and leadership. - Qing's comedic internal struggle reflects a continuous theme of not taking her newly obvious abilities and responsibilities too seriously, maintaining her relatable identity. - Curses in this context emphasize anger against oppressive authorities, showcasing cultural nuance in expression. Upon hearing this, Qing nodded. "[From what I hear, it seems like this bastard deserves to die. But if what you say is true, and the government is hoarding all the grain, why not just raid the government?]" After all, it was the ruling class of Joseon, particularly the local officials, that had turned these people into bandits in the first place. Like Zhongyuan, Joseon also had a system where local officials had to earn their own salaries, getting richer as their people bled. This wasn’t unique to Joseon but rather the primitive and brutally inadequate administrative system of this era, sadly the standard for the time. However, unlike Zhongyuan, with its abundance of resources, where officials could exploit the peasants yet people still had enough to get by, even if it just meant replacing meat with vegetables. In corrupted Joseon, devastated by war, if there was any way for these pitiful bandits to eat their fill, it was— And if they wanted to avoid barely surviving through raiding henceforth— Qing surveyed the wretched appearance of these 'monsters.' The excuse of stealing to live could never justify the act of robbery. Yet, if those who had the duty to care for them actually forced them into being bandits... Dangerous colors swirled in Qing's eyes. A color unseen anywhere else, a foreboding light from a lonely star. Put simply, if you’re getting robbed, go beat up the thieves! Raid the raiders! "[But isn’t that rebellion?]" "[How can we do something so disloyal…]" "[What if a general from Hanyang brings an army to suppress the rebellion? Not only us, but the entire village would face mass slaughter...]" No country takes rebellion lightly. But Qing simply tilted her head. "[Then, do your raids get a free pass forever? Right across the river, Zhongyuan’s army is building a fortress with two thousand men. What makes you so sure they wouldn’t eventually invade out of frustration?]" "[And so, here we are, playing these ridiculous roles to avoid suspicion…]" "[...Huh?]" "[Hmm?]" The realization dawned on the Koreans, or rather, the supposed 'monsters.' Qing nodded firmly. "[Come, let’s go. Here’s Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie as well—]" "Sage, I’ll be Sha Wujing, calling me Zhu Bajie is too much, isn’t it? It’s highly appropriate for you, Sage, with your weighty carriage, to be Bajie. But, do the Joseon people call him Zhu Bajie and not Zhu Wuneng? Are you knowledgeable about Joseon vernacular and customs?" "Ah, damn, you know I speak Joseon language." "I never said I couldn't." "[Ahem, anyway, although Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing were initially monsters, having turned over a new leaf, will you not protect righteousness as my minions? I shall guide you, my monsters. You need not fear the blades of mortals!]" And so it was. Suddenly, the atmosphere turned to raiding the government offices. The first priority was clear. "[Well, let’s prepare some bamboo spears.]" "[Um, Sage? Bamboo doesn’t grow in this area; is it necessary?]" "[Damn, no bamboo spears.]" "[Why use bamboo spears?]" "[Well, a spear made of bamboo is a symbol of resistance capable of piercing the bellies of vile officials. It’s easy to make, sharp, and sturdy. Moreover, bamboo symbolizes integrity and loyalty, so resisting oppression with a spear made from it carries double the meaning.]" "[...!]” "[Oh wow!]” "[Indeed!]" Anyone overhearing might think something truly enlightening was being shared. But someone else had a somewhat different appraisal of it. "Oh, that was good. The Heavenly Sword doesn't seem so refined, yet it's amazing how it has a fragrance of elegance." Regardless. Qing led, riding a black horse, followed by martial bandits and monsters. Despite the growing entourage, it was curious how it was only bandits in the growing group when considering the presence of these monster-bandits. It's either a case of birds of a feather or... In a manner reminiscent of the founding king who turned back his army in Wihwado to establish Joseon, they returned across the Amnok River, the monster thieves proudly heading towards Pungcheong-ri. However, along the way, Qing's boiling anger began to cool off. Listening to their stories, Qing initially felt incensed and wanted to punish those wicked bastards, but upon reflection, was it really all right? After all, the accusation of exploitation by the officials was only one side—the bandits’ story. Maybe those officials have their own complications too. They could be starving themselves due to higher-ups squeezing them. Let’s see, who is the king of Joseon right now? Oh, during the Imjin War, there was the infamous fleeing king, and afterwards, wasn’t there a coup? Was there one? How were the Japanese driven back after all? Initially, come to think of it, wasn't the Emperor at that time a known Joseon enthusiast? Didn't Zhongyuan send reinforcements? Hmm, maybe I shouldn't wonder too much. It's not even my Joseon, it's just a parallel world with no real relationship to me... For now, despite acting in anger, maybe Qing should listen to what the officials, maybe the local magistrate, have to say. They’re surely not a typical corrupt official just drawn from imagination. Qing decided to attempt dialogue for now. Though she thought this. --- **Terms Translated** 1. **Pungcheong-ri(풍청리)**: A fictional location reflecting an area referenced in industry-standard ways of Asian-style storytelling. 2. **Sha Wujing (사오정/Sha Wujing)**: Another character from 'Journey to the West,' emphasizing Qing's playful dynamic with those she's addressing. **Additional Notes**: - Qing is cleverly addressing how the bandits could otherwise mask their true situation under monster disguises for plausible deniability. - Bamboo spears are historically seen as instruments of rebellion, particularly against oppressive regimes—tied deeply to cultural symbolism. - Qing exhibits both humor and leadership by equating real-life circumstances with ‘Journey to the West’ tropes and characters, easing the oppressive atmosphere and encouraging camaraderie. - Qing's fluctuating thoughts reflect a complex dimension typically found in seasoned characters with a deep sense of right and wrong versus relatability and historical situational awareness.