Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 101

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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Frost Treading Ice Shattering Palm versus Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

The palm strike battle between Mancheon and Gwahae.

To put it bluntly, Mancheon was overwhelmed.

The light emanating from his hand, like a spider’s web, tried to push back the dragon-shaped palm strike, but…

-Crash Crash Crash Crash-!!

…he was outmatched in terms of inner energy and strength.

The dragon’s roar echoed like thunder, swallowing the obstacle.

-Crash-!!

Strength against strength. Swept away by the shockwave from the clash of two powerful martial arts, he rolled on the ground like a helpless child who had just been hit.

“Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeng-!!”

He rolled to the feet of his little master, Wang Meiyang.

Fortunately, the inner energy of the Frost Treading Ice Shattering Palm had acted as a cushion, reducing the power of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, so he wasn’t seriously injured, but…

‘Shit… I can’t believe the Frost Treading Ice Shattering Palm was broken by the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms…’

Taegu-zzang’s mocking voice echoed in his mind.

‘Taegu~ Taegu~? Shattered Taegu? Your strength is the same as mine, or even less, Taegu!’

To be fair to the Emei Sect’s secret art, the Frost Treading Ice Shattering Palm wasn’t weak.

It was just that the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms was the strongest palm technique in the martial world, and…

Gwahae was overwhelmingly powerful.

Anyway, the fact that the Frost Treading Ice Shattering Palm, which had always been a reliable stepping stone to victory, had been defeated in a head-on clash,

was a greater mental shock than a physical one.

But… there was no time to dwell on it.

The next attack was coming.

Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms – Flying Dragon in the Heavens.

Gwahae kicked off the ground and charged towards the fallen Mancheon without hesitation.

She reached out for her treasure, which was trying to escape her grasp, but…

…she was stopped by a small, white, doll-like hand.

Emptiness Illumination Fist.

It didn’t reach.

The Emei Sect’s fist technique redirected the force, blocking and deflecting Gwahae’s hand.

Mancheon’s eyes widened as he lay on the ground. A neatly tied blond ponytail swayed before him.

A frail yet reliable back was revealed.

“M-master…!!”

She protected her only precious disciple.

“The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms is the essence of external martial arts, overwhelming opponents with power. Avoid a head-on confrontation.”

Wang Meiyang took a step forward, standing protectively in front of Mancheon.

“Your foolish three wives and four concubines… your pool of wine…”

Her cheeks and ears turned red as she spoke, embarrassed. She bit her lip.

“…and forest of meat… I’ll scold you for that later.”

Wine, meat, women, the symbols of a tyrant.

He hadn’t said he would build a pool of wine and a forest of meat, but that wasn’t the important thing now.

Wang Meiyang’s gaze fell on Gwahae, who had been sent flying by the Emptiness Illumination Fist but had landed safely with a light somersault.

A level of strength unheard of in an aspiring martial artist.

“So… get up. You’re a disciple of Emei.”

As the leader of the Emei Sect, as a master, she encouraged her disciple.

“Even if it’s a foolish challenge, if you’ve made it, win.”

And Mancheon had to help her with the revival of the Emei Sect later.

It would be troublesome if he lost and was dragged away to the Jegal Family.

Encouraged, Mancheon stood up, leaning on his staff and Wang Meiyang’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Master. I’ll buy you a delicious dinner tonight.”

If Wang Meiyang hadn’t blocked Gwahae’s attack, he would have been defeated or at a great disadvantage.

Even though it was an unofficial duel, she had intervened and even given him advice.

He was touched.

Heh~ this was the camaraderie of the Emei Sect, the sect with the Heavenly Dipper Formation, a group attack technique.

He took back what he had thought before, ‘Despicable! Emei Sect!!’

Well, that was enough joking. He assumed his stance again.

He was sorry to his master, who had given him advice, but he had no intention of giving up on a head-on confrontation.

It was a simple duel, but… it wouldn’t be over just by winning.

He had to make Gwahae admit defeat.

So he had to face her head-on, be broken, and accept everything.

-Clang-!

He threw away Taegu-zzang and smiled confidently. He opened his arms.

“Come, Gwahae.”

“heh…”

At Mancheon’s attitude, Gwahae’s brow twitched. Her long eyelashes trembled.

One step, two steps, she closed the distance, exuding an unusual aura.

Then, another intruder appeared.

-Snap!

With a snap of her fingers, a wall of fire appeared between Mancheon and Gwahae, then vanished.

“That was a warning. Don’t get any closer to my brother.”

Her beautiful red eyes shone.

Yeonhwa, who had been frozen in shock at the “three wives and four concubines” declaration, had finally come to her senses and intervened.

She hadn’t intended to step in.

Helping Mancheon here would be an indirect endorsement of the “three wives and four concubines”.

She hated the thought of her beloved brother embracing another woman. But…

Yeonhwa’s gaze fell on Mancheon, who was covered in dirt from rolling on the ground.

She didn’t want to see her precious brother get hurt even more.

She touched the Zoroastrian symbol hanging on her chest.

‘Really… I’m here… and you’re still so greedy, brother…’

She recalled her brother’s shameless declaration, his amber eyes sparkling like a wolf’s, that he would have her.

‘Well, that’s… what I like about him… anyway!’

“I heard there’s a saying in the Central Plains, ‘Heroes love beauties’.”

She acted the part of an understanding, composed wife, befitting the spouse of her beloved brother.

“My brother is the reincarnation of Saoshyant, the Shahanshah (King of Kings). Three wives and four concubines is culturally normal… normal… normal…”

But it wasn’t easy.

She had to show her understanding and composure as the main wife, defending Mancheon’s decision to take other women, but… the words got stuck in her throat.

Her pinky lips opened and closed, repeating the words.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she pouted and scolded Mancheon cutely.

“Brother, we need to talk later.”

First Wang Meiyang, then Yeonhwa. The number of people he had to meet with later was growing.

And another one was added.

The ribbon Mancheon had given her, which she had tied in her hair, swayed as she walked.

“I don’t know what your sister is talking about, but”

Nangong Xiaoshao, the Sword Dragon of the Nangong Family, who had been holding back until now, also intervened.

“I agree that you shouldn’t get any closer to Young Master Sima.”

She unleashed an inner energy that was unimaginable for her small frame and protected her benefactor, her precious person.

Yeonhwa and Xiaoshao flanked him, holding Gwahae at bay.

At the sight, a faint smile formed on Mancheon’s lips.

He was happy that they were helping him in his time of crisis, but…

“Hmm…”

He looked at Gwahae, whose gaze was fixed only on him.

This was something he and Gwahae had to resolve.

And if Yeonhwa, Gwahae, and Xiaoshao started fighting, his efforts to draw aggro would be wasted.

“Thank you for stepping in, but please move aside.”

He walked past the two girls, who exclaimed, “Brother!” and “Young Master Sima!” in surprise.

He appreciated their concern, but if his prediction was correct, no one would get hurt.

The duel was no longer the issue.

So he took one step, two steps, and approached Gwahae without hesitation.

They were only a step apart.

-Bang-!

Gwahae’s outstretched right palm struck the empty air next to his face, creating a loud sonic boom.

“There won’t be a next time.”

She looked up and grabbed Mancheon’s collar with her slender hand.

“Gwahae belongs to Mancheon, and Mancheon belongs to Gwahae.”

She warned him, her voice filled with suppressed emotion. She pleaded.

“Say you’ll be mine.”

He wrapped his arms around Gwahae with all his might.

“Eh…?!”

Gwahae’s eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t care.

He held her so tight that their chests were pressed together, so tight that he could hear her pounding heart, so tight that they could share their warmth.

“Sorry, I surprised you.”

He whispered in her ear, his voice soft and reassuring.

“It’s okay, I’m not hurt. I just lost my balance because of my leg and rolled on the ground.”

That’s right, Gwahae was shocked. Confused.

Her desire to possess him and her desire not to hurt him were in conflict.

That was why she hadn’t been able to say anything when Yeonhwa and Xiaoshao had intervened.

She had thought he was hurt, so she couldn’t attack him anymore and had deliberately missed, pleading with him.

Gwahae liked him.

She had attacked him at first to possess him, but the option of truly hurting him had never been there.

As he gently stroked Gwahae’s trembling back,

“Let go… I hate you…”

Gwahae’s tearful voice pushed him away. But her hands, which had once unleashed the powerful Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, were now weak.

She tapped his chest weakly with her small hands, a meaningless resistance.

If he let go now, he would be a real fool.

“If you want something, take it. If you want to cry, cry. A greedy, clingy man.”

He held her even tighter, their bodies pressed together.

“I’m sorry, but this is me.”

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and whispered words of love.

“I can’t give up anything. Be with me. Don’t leave me.”

“I missed… you… I hate you…”

At her tearful voice, he pulled back slightly and looked at her.

“I missed you… I missed you so much… I didn’t want to fight you… I didn’t want to hurt you…”

Her blue eyes, reminiscent of the morning sea, wavered, and tears welled up.

And for some reason, seeing Gwahae’s tears, an irrational impulse arose within him.

-Kiss.

He kissed the tear rolling down her cheek.

He had read in a novel in his previous life that the bird that drank tears died the earliest and was the most beautiful.

Now he understood. Because he was drinking such sweet and bitter water.

He would die early, he would be beautiful.

He decided not to think about what others might be thinking. He continued to kiss her.

He drank Gwahae’s tears. He drank her sorrow.

“Do… it…”

He looked up at the whisper in his ear.

He wasn’t so clueless as to ask, ‘Do what?’

Her half-closed, moist blue eyes looked up at him, her face flushed with a mixture of desire and shame.

Their soft lips met.

He didn’t know who initiated it, but their moist tongues intertwined.

Gwahae’s arms, which had been pushing him away, now wrapped around his back, pulling him closer.

They savored each other’s warmth, exploring each other.

The kiss of a dragon and a human.

His tongue was scratched by her sharp teeth, but it was a pain he could endure.

After a long kiss,

-Pah.

their lips parted, and a breathless sigh escaped.

A shimmering thread of saliva connected them.

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