888 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

"Aigo, Great Hero! That villain's wickedness has truly gone too far." "Great Hero...! Ugh, hm." "Yes, Great Hero! That scoundrel goes around terrorizing villages, raiding homes and taking all the food. In a winter already full of hardships, isn't this act worthy of heaven's wrath?" The eyes of Gonpyeong Pavillion's owner redden. "Even when begged so the children can eat, they gleefully flip over the kids' plates and stomp them with their filthy feet, mocking us. Such a dreadful wretch!" "How can such an evil person exist!" "And that's not all! Our village once extended grace to this person, and now, how dare they act so ungratefully...!" "You bestowed grace upon them?" "That villain was originally a beggar living in our village. Thanks to our villagers' kindness, they survived. But one day, they disappeared, only to return with martial skills. Yet, clueless about the gratitude they owe, they brought nothing but havoc because we supposedly didn't offer more." The voice of Gonpyeong Pavillion's owner wavers with tears. "Great Hero, as I've run my small eatery, feeding those in need wasn't just a one-time act. Even though I didn't intend my leftover food for the beggars specifically, many have survived off what I've given. How could they repay me like this...?" The owner of Gonpyeong Pavillion couldn't continue speaking. Their face was full of resentment, and their eyes so moist that tears seemed ready to pour at any moment. It was a truly earnest expression of injustice. And it wasn't an act. The owner genuinely felt wronged! bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTOFlHaGRJMitHd05WeXZZYlJXejhJd0ZPa2N4RVNwZXE3U09mRDlTV1UrWQ It's said that a person’s memory is often edited to their liking, isn't it? Whenever it benefits them, events tend to change. Of course, had Qing seen or heard this, she would've been dumbfounded to the point that her fists would have instinctively flown. But Qing wasn't here; instead, a chivalrous hero faced someone genuinely persecuted by injustice. "How can someone be so shameless! It's outrageous!" Naturally, the hero would be enraged. ---- Qing had intended to merely reprimand the people of Gonpyeong Pavilion, but the owner fled, leaving useless time in Qing's hands. The residents of Gonpyeong seemed to have vowed off meat; even as they roamed around, there was no meat aroma lingering. Couldn’t Qing just leave Gonpyeong now, picking up her journey to Changbai Mountain? How could she, when that scoundrel of a pavilion owner ran away? When they return, if I'm not there, they'll think they were wise to escape. They'll believe they won. I can't stand the thought. Thus, Qing lay sprawled out in a large '大' shape, on the huge round table at the center of the inn. Actually, to gloss over this as a mere lazy sprawl wasn't entirely accurate. Though she lay with limbs spread out, her head and knees extended beyond the round table. Her hair hung down and grazed the floor, and on the opposite side, her shins lazily swung in the air. While legs might naturally bend that way, one might think having the neck so bent would be painful. Yet, Qing's physique transcended human limits, boasting a neck bone and strength far surpassing human capabilities. Moreover, despite such physical sturdiness, Qing's head was notably smaller and lighter than most. There she lay sprawled across the dining table, head dangling upside down, gazing blankly at the beaded curtain hanging at the entrance. Footsteps grew louder with an assertive rhythm, and the pavilion owner charged in, vigorously parting the beaded curtain. Standing upside-down on the floor, the owner's impudence was pinpointedly directed, summoning Qing's attention with a rude finger. From Qing's lips, a subtle, airy sound escaped. What is this? Have they gone mad? Where’s that finger pointing at? "Great Hero! Look over there! That's the villain! How could they... lie on the dining table...!" The pavilion owner shouted for someone. Great Hero? Who have they brought? Didn't they say they were heading inland? Wait, what's 'inland' anyway? Some kind of city concept? And then, from beneath the flipped entrance, parted the beaded curtain, revealing a martial artist brandishing a sword. By the way, the beaded curtain refers to a hanging screen at the shop’s entrance made of threads adorned with beads or weights, strung closely together. Those outside typically stand, thereby being concealed, while those inside can see out by sidestepping the curtain. A primitive yet scientific barricade. But to appear from beneath it? The curtain normally hangs around chest height, which suggests a stature shorter than that. Behold, a petite hero emerges! Upon meeting Qing's gaze, the startled hero jumps slightly, gesturing accusatorily. "A monster! It's a monster! Monsters truly exist!" "Great Hero! It's not a monster but a plague demon!" "A ghost, a ghost it is!" "No, it's not a ghost; it's a plague demon!" Understandable, indeed. Qing was an apprentice called Sin Togo (신투고), trained in various mysterious Sin Togo arts—otherwise known as theft-acquainted tricks. She was now wearing a dreadfully eerie plague-stricken mother ghost face mask. With a sly smile, Qing's head tilted further backwards, the upside-down ghost mask sinisterly forming a tear at the mouth corners—a sight terrifying even in dreams. "Ah...!" The poor, compassionate young hero, who had come to help the helpless villagers, was instinctively backing away after witnessing this haunting apparition. To that, Qing responded with a cheerful, laughter-laden voice. "Hey, little boy, pretend you don't know me? Surely you haven't forgotten? We decided to be secret friends, didn’t we?" "Uh?" The young hero blinked, and then blinked again. And after a moment of contemplation, suspicion began to cloud their youthful face. "Oh, are you the beggar sister?" "Yes, it's your flower beggar sister." "Um, claiming to be a 'flower' might be a bit much..." "What happened to being secret friends? Still firm as ever? You haven’t changed at all?" "We decided to be just friends, not secret friends..." Exactly! As birds overhear what’s said during the day, and mice hear what’s said at night, this boy is precisely the one who listens to the Moyong Clan. Not one to shy away from declaring what isn’t true, a resolute soul, a nocturnal wanderer by night! The secret friend and just friend of the flower beggar! The Moyong Clan's legitimate heir, Moyong Jun! Yet, how amusing. Only ever visiting when I look like a beggar? Qing gave a swift motion to sit upright, planting both feet firmly on the table. "Wow, how long has it been? Let's see, three years? Four years? So how old are you this year, Ajun?" "Twelve!" "Wow, Ajun, you’ve grown so much... huh? Ajun, do they not feed you at home? Can you honestly tell me?" "Oh, I grew by an inch!" "Oh, wow. That’s a lot..." In context, an inch ('chi' in Chinese) typically refers to the length of a finger joint. One inch in three years. At twelve, assume roughly nine years of growth during formative years, resulting in roughly three inches of growth. It seems his sister Moyong Su won’t be surpassed in height by her younger brother. Moyong Su is on the shorter side herself... Qing's gaze softly assesses Moyong Jun's projected final height. Height is something that can suddenly shoot up; the future isn’t yet set in stone. "So, Ajun, what brings you here?" Moyong Jun smiled brightly as he answered. "Oh! I ran away from home!" "Ah, ran away." "Rather confident, aren't you?" "Yes! Our family says we ought to be confident no matter where we go!" "Hmm. Yes. Confidence looks good on you." Qing chose not to lecture on how dangerous the Martial World (강호) is. Instead, she nodded subtly to the man standing next to the entrance, showing appreciation for his hard work. Red? Green? Black? Yellow? Blue? White? Anyway, she vaguely recalled him as one of those color-named bodyguards from before, but couldn’t pin down which. The bodyguard nodded in return to Qing. Seeing that the bodyguard accompanied him, it's clear that even the Moyong Clan is aware of his runaway. Not only that, but it’s likely they’re tracking him through periodic updates or markers. Before even that. There are seldom any human beings daring enough to challenge a well-dressed young master carrying a fine sword with an escort by his side. Thus, even if he’s run away, the Moyong Clan has likely turned a blind eye to it, letting him be for now. "So, what’s the matter?" "Well, they wouldn’t let me attend the Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy. But you went there, sister. I was left alone, and I wanted to attend the Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy too..." Although I asked what brings you here, it seems he interpreted it as asking why he ran away. But after hearing it, I realize it might've been severe. The Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy's youth division is more akin to a camaraderie training camp rather than martial arts training, isn’t it? The Moyong Clan probably believes that camaraderie will follow naturally, equating it more vital to focus on martial arts training. Still, to an eleven-year-old, it must've been incredibly disappointing. Then suddenly. Qing's gaze turned sharply, akin to an axe blade, intensely focusing on one direction. The owner of Gonpyeong Pavillion trembled at the sight, their face paling even further. "Heek." The setup was obvious. Advertisement to a master skilled enough to chase me away, losing to a kid dressed in fine clothes with a strong guard taming their side. Kids his age do naturally get swayed by titles like 'Great Hero', and it'd be easy to lure them into doing tasks like dismissing a plague demon. After all, an apparent young master from a noble family wouldn’t dare confront a so-called plague demon. The problem arises when it's not me but a genuinely deranged person. Few would want to bother a young master, especially one claiming descent from the Moyong Clan, making it exceedingly unlikely. But encountering a deranged demonic cultivator? Or someone harboring a grudge against the Moyong Clan? In essence, this imbecile brought Jun without knowing he’s Moyong Jun? "You little punk...!" In that moment when Qing just began to growl. Moyong Jun leapt up, stepping firmly between the owner of the Gonpyeong Pavilion and Qing. Though Qing was sitting on the table and Moyong Jun was short, so as not to block the view, but still. "Wait, you should not bully the weak!" "Eh?" "It's wrong. A true hero values righteousness and protects the weak. Therefore, one must not bully the weak ordinary folks who don’t know martial arts." "Oh, our little Jun is saying something very noteworthy? Quite touched." "Heheh..." "But Jun, what if this guy, no this gentleman, was beating up an old man. Who should you help then?" "One should help the old man... So it's that even a weak person can be a strong one to someone else?" "Listen. Now, the thing is, let's say that old man is actually this man’s arch-nemesis. What if it's the enemy of one’s parents? Should you still help the old man?" "Avenge the parents is a natural duty, so you shouldn’t help the old man." "Then what if the old man wasn’t a parent’s enemy but a thief? Stole money from this tavern and refused to return it. So, the beating was to get it back." "Uh, hmm. Theft is wrong, and not returning it is even worse..." "But what if the reason the old man stole money was because his granddaughter was ill and he had no choice but to steal to save her? If giving the money back meant losing his granddaughter, so he’s desperately holding on?" "Uhmm... Then that's just too sad. The old man likely doesn’t have a way to get large sums of money somewhere else, and he couldn’t bear to let his granddaughter die." "But, what if! It turns out the owner was also saving up to cure his wife's illness. If the old man doesn't return the stolen money, the wife won't get treatment and will die. So, who should you help?" "If it were me, I would compensate the owner for the money stolen by the old man—" "But what if, by chance, you don't have any money, Jun? Our secret friend may be wealthy, but not all heroes in the world are rich. In fact, isn't it said that a hero should be poor?" "Um..." Moyong Jun's eyes darted around. Qing pressed on with a mischievous smile. "So, who should you help, and who should be saved first? Isn’t it only right to help the original owner of the money, the tavern owner? So, let the granddaughter die? Given their poverty, she was destined to perish anyway, right?" "That's not right." "Then what? Help the old man save his granddaughter? Let the wife die? Since the young granddaughter has a long life ahead of her, it's only right that the older wife dies first, right?" "That's... that's also..." Moyong Jun hesitated, struggling with the dilemma. "Doesn't it seem too cruel? Then, what would the flower beggar sister do?" "Me? I'd storm into the clinic with a sword and threaten them. Demand them to save both." "But that... that's unfair. When I suggested giving money, it wasn't possible, but the flower beggar sister could threaten like that." "I’m just saying that's what I would have done. If I knew all the circumstances." "What if you didn't know?" "Then, it would be a disaster. 'You! How dare a strong adult bully a weak old man? A hero must never condone bullying the weak! Strike him down!' The granddaughter survives, but the poor owner loses both his money and his wife. Yet, I'd feel proud for acting heroically." "That's not heroic..." "Why?" "Because you didn't even understand the situation. The poor tavern owner ended up being the real victim." So, the tavern owner was indeed just that. Qing flashed a cheeky smile. "Really? Then, how long are you going to stand there blocking the way? Is it because the flower beggar sister is such a supremely strong martial artist that she shouldn’t bully the weak tavern owner?" "Ah." Moyong Jun's face flushed with realization. He lowered his head in embarrassment. Still, the kid is bright, understanding subtleties quickly. When they first met, he was a budding rascal, but after a good explanation, he straightened up and turned over a new leaf. Meanwhile, far behind Moyong Jun, at the doorway, the bodyguard politely bows to Qing. "You there, bow your head. Now." "Y-yes!" "Was that how we agreed you'd respond?" "I shall bow! O exalted beggar!" Thus began the tavern owner's true ordeal. --- **New Term Translations and Explanations:** 1. **모용세가 (Moyong Clan):** Translated as "Moyong Clan." Refers to one of the noble clans in the martial world. The context reveals it as a lineage with traditional values and martial prestige. 2. **의정무학관 (Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy):** Translated as "Righteous Orthodox Martial Academy." It can be inferred to be an institution for training future martial artists, focusing more on camaraderie among youth than actual martial arts proficiency. **Characters and Context:** 1. **Moyong Jun:** A bright and intelligent young heir to the Moyong Clan, known for his straightforwardness. 2. **The Tavern Owner (Gonpyeong Pavillion's owner):** Depicted as financially struggling, showcasing complexity and causing Qing to question moral decisions. The conversation reflects the moral complexities the characters face, posing dilemmas without clear solutions. Qing's approach, albeit unorthodox, showcases a pragmatic and somewhat anarchist approach to morality.