Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 30

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“I was mistaken. She is not a monster.”

Mancheon remained wary, suspecting a trap, despite Muk-gang’s sudden declaration. But Muk-gang seemed to have genuinely lost his will to fight, turning his back and retrieving his shirt from a nearby rock, proceeding to put it on.

“A monster would not protect a human. It is always a human who protects another.”

Dressed in a simple yet striking black martial arts uniform that seemed to reflect his personality, Muk-gang turned to face them and continued.

“Therefore, your younger sister is not a monster, but a human. I apologize for calling her a monster.”

“While I’m glad we’re not fighting, are you sure about that logic?”

Muk-gang chuckled softly at Mancheon’s dubious question.

“Let’s just say it’s a personal conviction.”

Then, with a serious expression, he offered them the power to decide his fate.

“Regardless of my reasoning, I nearly took an innocent life. I will take responsibility for my actions. Tell me what you desire.”

Considering Muk-gang’s overwhelming strength, he was grateful to be alive, but the sudden shift in events was disorienting. He was speechless.

And it was rather awkward to have a muscular man essentially telling him, “Do with me as you please!” He felt the urge to call the police.

He wondered what he should do, but then he remembered…

The victim in this situation wasn’t him, but Yeonhwa, so he turned to her, seeking her opinion. As he turned, Yeonhwa mirrored his movement.

She hadn’t released her grip on his robe.

He turned back, but his younger sister wasn’t there. Sensing a presence behind him, he turned around again. Yeonhwa followed suit, stepping behind him once more.

They began to spin in circles, a bizarre game of tag.

Huh? Little sister radar? What is going on?

While he was relieved the situation had been resolved, this wasn’t the time for games, and this wasn’t like her. He was slightly bewildered.

Was she…. clinging to him out of fear?

If a muscular, tattooed yakuza were to suddenly appear, shouting, “Heh-heh… hey, you… bukorosu,” She would be terrified and would hide behind the nearest police officer. She would probably even sleep holding her mother’s hand that night.

Despite her mature appearance, she was still only fifteen. It was a sensitive age, and after such a traumatic experience, it was understandable that she would seek comfort and reassurance from a protector.

Did this mean she saw him as someone she could rely on, someone she could turn to for protection?

He recalled Yeonhwa’s arrival, burning with fever, yet refusing to rely on anyone, enduring the pain in silence.

The realization that she, who had always been so independent, had opened up to him, even just a little, filled him with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

As her older brother, he had no choice but to accept her display of affection.

He was honestly quite proud. And happy.

While Yeonhwa was actually just spinning in circles, unsure of how to face Mancheon and hoping to hide her flushed cheeks, Mancheon, oblivious to her true motives, felt a surge of happiness, believing they had taken a step closer to a more amicable sibling relationship.

“You two seem close. It’s good to see such a strong bond between siblings.”

“Ah… thank you.”

While he shouldn’t let his guard down, considering this man had just tried to kill Yeonhwa, Muk-gang’s calm, confident demeanor disarmed him, and he found himself nodding in agreement.

He studied Muk-gang, who stood motionless as a stone statue, patiently awaiting their response.

He didn’t seem to be lying. He appeared to have genuinely abandoned his intention to harm Yeonhwa.

He was ashamed to admit it, but he was no match for Muk-gang, so he was relieved the fight had been averted.

‘Whew… I thought I was going to die. How can someone be so utterly without weakness?’

As he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had overcome the obstacle, another, more formidable one, presented itself.

“A monster of the Zoroastrian cult and a Dharma protector of Esoteric Buddhism… Excellent. A worthy sacrifice for the Heavenly Demon.”

Five men, their faces grim and scarred, dressed in black martial arts uniforms, emerged from the shadows of the forest, surrounding them before he could even sense their approach.

Are you fucking kidding me? He rarely cursed, but this situation truly warranted it. What was going on today?

Why were they looking for Heavenly Demon offerings here? Go to a herbalist’s shop, or a secluded mountain spring.

His mother had made him consume copious amounts of Gastrodia elata, or “Heavenly Demon,” believing it to be beneficial to his health, so he knew from experience that the plant preferred clean water to human necks.

He had asked the plant before consuming it, just to be sure.

He sighed, assuming a ready stance, prepared to unleash the Dog Beating Staff Technique.

He was angry and frustrated, but he would protect Yeonhwa, no matter the opponent.

Come at me, you dark plant enthusiasts.

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“Secure the monster. Kill the Dharma protector. And…”

The Heavenly Demon Sect reconnaissance unit leader looked at Mancheon and licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.

“Naturally, eliminate the witness as well.”

His persistence had paid off. He had relentlessly pursued the escaped monster of the Zoroastrian cult with a small group of his most trusted subordinates.

To be able to offer the monster of the Zoroastrian cult and the head of Fudo Myo-o, his sworn enemy who had thwarted the Heavenly Demon Sect’s plans time and again, to his lord… he was truly fortunate.

He glanced at Muk-gang, who was impassively surveying his surroundings, his eyes scanning the positions of his subordinates. He was utterly without weakness, his presence as solid and unyielding as steel.

It was no wonder some of the elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect advised against confronting the Dharma protector of Esoteric Buddhism.

“Tsk!”

The thought of those spineless elders, cowering in their palace, hiding from the front lines, filled him with disgust.

Cowards. How could they flee from an enemy of the Heavenly Demon Sect? It was sacrilege.

He ripped the black bandages from his right hand, revealing a grotesque, withered arm, the bones exposed, the skin tainted grey from years of absorbing poisons and the blood of his victims.

The Black Corpse Demon Claw, a demonic art which is grew stronger with each kill, fueled by the absorbed poisons of his victims.

Not even protective qi could withstand the Black Corpse Demon Claw. A single blow… no, a mere scratch was all he needed to win!

He sent a silent message to his subordinates. They would serve as bait while he aimed for Muk-gang’s heart.

His blood boiled, his body thrumming with anticipation. He stepped forward with his left foot, lowering his upper body, preparing to strike, like a viper poised to deliver a fatal blow.

He focused all his senses on Muk-gang, attuned to every subtle movement, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

The opportunity presented itself sooner than expected.

Muk-gang turned his back to the enemy, addressing the boy and the girl.

“This will be over soon. Think about the responsibility I owe you.”

‘…Over soon?’

His face contorted in rage at the insult, an unforgivable slight to a martial artist. He lost control. He signaled his subordinates. They attacked simultaneously.

But their reckless, courageous assault never landed.

“Who said you could move?”

Muk-gang took a single step. And that was the end.

The Fudo Myo-o Steps.

The giant protector of the world moved to crush the demons who threatened humanity.

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It happened in an instant. A single, terrifying instant.

As Muk-gang executed the Fudo Myo-o Steps, the Heavenly Demon Sect assassins, who had just moments before radiated a chilling killing intent, collapsed, unable to execute a single technique.

Their bodies, as if crushed by an invisible force, crumpled to the ground, writhing and contorting, sinking into the earth. It was as if gravity itself functioned differently in their immediate vicinity.

But… such details were trivial. Unimportant.

What mattered was that he needed to learn that technique.

The moment he saw the Fudo Myo-o Steps, a fire ignited within him. An overwhelming desire to learn, to master, that technique.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and envisioned himself mastering the Fudo Myo-o Steps.

Jegal Liang, who always mocked him for his crippled leg!

He would meet him again, and the old man would undoubtedly pester him for another game of Go, but he wouldn’t tolerate it any longer!

He would bring the old man to his knees with the Fudo Myo-o Steps!!

Jegal Liang, realizing his mistake too late, would beg for mercy, but it would be too late~!

“This is the difference between you and me.”

He would deliver the perfect line and then crush the old man’s skull with the Dog Beating Staff Technique!

Heh-heh~ Just imagining it filled him with delight.

He opened his eyes. His simulation had concluded: he had to learn the Fudo Myo-o Steps. It was a mandatory course.

But it was clearly a powerful technique. Would he be able to learn it?

Muk-gang had offered to take responsibility for his actions. Perhaps he could use that to convince him to teach him the technique.

But that felt wrong.

He glanced at Yeonhwa, who was staring coldly at the unconscious Heavenly Demon Sect assassins.

She was the one whose life had been threatened. It would be unbecoming of an older brother to use this opportunity to gain something for himself.

He would have to find another way.

As he pondered this, Yeonhwa suddenly addressed Muk-gang in her elegant voice.

“You said you would grant us any request?”

“Indeed. Any request, as long as it does not involve harming another.”

With Muk-gang’s confirmation, Yeonhwa smiled brightly and stated her wish.

“Then teach my older brother the technique you just used. That is my request.”

A seductive fire flickered in her red eyes.

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Ay yo! Sist! I could imagine how could the sister asked about that to muk-gang, like MC’s eyes could sparked and she noticed. 🤣