Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 34

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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Five men, dressed in matching black martial arts uniforms, entered a small, bustling inn situated between two villages.

“Innkeeper, a table for five. We’re just here for a meal.”

The innkeeper, sizing up the men, their stern expressions and disciplined movements marking them as martial artists, plastered a servile smile on his face and hurried to accommodate them.

“I apologize, esteemed sirs, but as you can see, we’re currently full. You may have to wait for a table.”

The men in black scanned the inn. One of them, a large scar marring his face, smiled, a grotesque, unsettling smile.

“That’s alright. If there are no tables, we’ll simply make some.”

“Excuse me?”

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Bodies. Everywhere he looked, there were bodies.

The once bustling inn was now filled with corpses, scattered haphazardly across the floor. The only ones still alive were the cook and the men in black.

“Personally, I believe it’s only natural for weak martial artists to die. What are your thoughts on the matter?”

The scarred man, seated amidst the carnage, calmly ate his noodles, addressing the terrified cook.

“Y-your wisdom is… profound, Master. I-I wholeheartedly agree.”

“There’s no need for such formalities. Even I am but a humble swordsman, barely scraping by.”

The scarred man patted the cook’s shoulder reassuringly.

“But you see, there are those who call themselves martial artists, yet they cannot even earn a living with their skills. Isn’t that absurd?”

“Haha…”

The cook, unsure what was so amusing, forced a dry chuckle, careful not to offend the murderer before him.

“Can one truly call themselves a martial artist if they cannot survive by their martial prowess? I think not. Do you understand?”

“Yes! Yes! I understand, Master!”

The scarred man smiled, a grotesque, predatory smile, at the cook’s eager agreement.

“I’m glad we understand each other. Now then, tell me, what should be done with a cook who cannot cook? Hmm?”

The cook didn’t answer. The scarred man had swung his empty bowl, decapitating the cook mid-sentence.

The headless body collapsed to the floor, blood gushing from the severed neck, while the head spun in the air before landing neatly in the bowl, a dark, malevolent energy swirling around it.

The scarred man,

Yeong-do (Shadow Blade) of the Black Assassination Unit of the Heavenly Demon Sect, looked at the cook’s head, now resting neatly in the bowl, and smiled with satisfaction. He offered it to his companions, who were enjoying their Dong pa yuk and Baek ju.

“Care for some?”

“We’re not blood cultists. Get rid of that.”

While the sight of a severed head in a bowl would normally induce nausea and revulsion, the men in black remained impassive, their faces expressionless, as they continued to enjoy their meal.

Unfazed by his companions’ rejection, Yeong-do shrugged, placed the bowl containing the cook’s head beside the unappetizing noodles, and reached for a piece of Dong pa yuk.

His eyes widened as he savored the flavor. He took a swig of Baek ju. A sigh of appreciation escaped his lips.

“I should have ordered the Dong pa yuk instead of the noodles. Then our friend here wouldn’t have died.”

He tapped the severed head playfully, then filled a cup with Baek ju and placed it before the head.

“A toast, as an apology. Enjoy a drink on your journey to the afterlife.”

Caw- caw-

The members of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Black Assassination Unit, enjoying their late-night meal and revelry, paused, their chopsticks hovering mid-air, their senses alert at the sudden sound of a crow’s caw.

With a flurry of wings, a crow flew into the inn, landing on the table where the assassins were seated.

A small scroll was attached to the crow’s leg. A messenger crow of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

The sect’s orders were absolute. There could be no delays, not even for a meal. They immediately retrieved the message.

The assassin who retrieved the message took a swig of water to cleanse his palate, then stood up.

“Finish your meals. We have a new mission.”

“What is it?”

Yeong-do’s eyes gleamed, the wrinkles around his mouth twitching. He wasn’t trembling with anger at being interrupted during his meal. He was trembling with excitement at the prospect of more killing.

“The reconnaissance unit has been eliminated. The rumors of an alliance between the Sima family and the Zoroastrian cult were true.”

“So, a wolf hunt.”

“Indeed. We are to eliminate Sima Bu, the head of the Sima family, and retrieve the monster of the Zoroastrian cult.”

Yeong-do’s eyes gleamed with predatory anticipation. Intelligent, powerful predators were keenly aware of differences in strength and power.

“We’ll need reinforcements. Are we receiving backup?”

“We are the reinforcements. Elder Qiu Gao-e has already led the others to the Sima estate. We are to join them.”

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“Ah~ that was delicious.”

Mancheon patted his full stomach contentedly, a blissful smile on his face. Yeonhwa mirrored his expression, her own face alight with happiness.

“I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Older Brother. It makes me happy.”

She wasn’t lying. It wasn’t a polite, forced smile.

She wanted to see her older brother smile. She wanted to do more for him. She wanted him to need her.

These thoughts filled her mind, bringing her immense joy.

But then, a shadow of doubt crept into her eyes, dimming the happiness that had shone so brightly just moments before.

‘Do I even deserve to be by his side?’

She knew from their conversations that her older brother possessed a kind heart, a heart worthy of Ahura Mazda’s creations.

All good things were creations of Ahura Mazda, and all evil things were creations of Angra Mainyu.

Zoroastrian monster, saint destined to set the world ablaze, one of many scattered seeds, a tainted bastard, born without love.

Earth, fire, water, and air were creations Ahura Mazda had taken special care in crafting. They must not be defiled.

Those who associate with vermilion become red; those who associate with ink become black.

The proverb, which she had learned while studying the language of the Central Plains, hadn’t held much meaning for her then, but now, it struck a chord, silencing her.

‘As a monster, do I even have the right to desire his heart? To taint it?’

And she was deceiving him, relying on his kindness, hiding her true nature. She concealed her monstrous form, presenting only the image of an adorable younger sister, yearning for his affection.

She was a truly despicable monster.

“You look pale. Are you alright? Did you overexert yourself preparing the meal?”

Mancheon’s concerned words brought her back to reality. But a flicker of insecurity remained in her beautiful red eyes. She craved reassurance, a confirmation of his love.

Snap-

She impulsively snapped her fingers, a small spark igniting in the air. Trying to calm her racing heart, she looked into her older brother’s eyes.

“I know you’re trying to be considerate by not asking, but… I want to know… what you think.”

He looked at Yeonhwa, her eyes flickering like the flames dancing in the air, reflecting her uncertainty.

She was a perceptive child. Empty platitudes and false reassurances would only hurt her more.

It took courage to reveal one’s true feelings, to risk being hurt. So, he would be brave as well.

He would reveal his true feelings.

He reached out and gently, yet firmly, grasped her slender shoulders, meeting her gaze head-on, her red eyes focused solely on him.

He spoke the words he had wanted to say ever since he saw her conjure flames from her fingertips.

“Yeonhwa, if I join the Zoroastrian cult, pray diligently, and donate a lot of money, can I shoot fire from my fingertips like you?”

“Excuse me?”

Yeonhwa blinked, her beautiful eyes wide with confusion. But he was serious.

He hadn’t said anything at the time because of the gravity of the situation, but he had been incredibly impressed by Yeonhwa’s display of pyrokinesis, snapping her fingers and unleashing flames like Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist. It had been awesome.

He wanted to be able to do that too.

He honestly wanted to become Sima Mancheon, the Flame Martial Artist, surpassing even the Flame Alchemist.

He hadn’t mentioned it before because she hadn’t seemed receptive to discussing the topic, but he was grateful for the opportunity.

He saw the light of genuine interest and affection shining in her eyes, like stars. Yeonhwa’s heart fluttered.

He can only look at you like that because he doesn’t know the truth, a voice whispered in the back of her mind, but for now, it was enough.

His actions, his words, the warmth radiating from his hand on her shoulder, filled her with a sense of security.

Yeonhwa smiled brightly at her eccentric, kind, and wonderful older brother, who had once again accepted her childish whims.

“Yes, you can.”

It was a lie. Yeonhwa’s pyrokinetic abilities stemmed from her unique lineage as a fire maiden. No amount of prayer or donations would grant Mancheon the same control over fire.

“But you have to follow a few rules.”

“You mean… good thoughts, good words, good deeds?”

“Yes, those as well, but there are a few more.”

Mancheon’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Yeonhwa, though slightly embarrassed by her own boldness, couldn’t contain her overflowing emotions and spoke her mind.

“First, you must cherish your younger sister.”

“That’s my specialty.”

At Mancheon’s immediate, confident response, Yeonhwa, ignoring the blush creeping up her cheeks, continued, weaving a tapestry of sweet lies, expressing her hopes and desires, filling them with her own selfish wishes.

“Second, you must protect your younger sister.”

Mancheon nodded in agreement, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Yeonhwa, her heart swelling with joy, hesitated before revealing the final rule of her newly created Three Commandments of Younger Sisterhood, a blush of embarrassment warming her cheeks. But…

Having already committed to this path of deception, she decided to go all the way, confessing her love.

“And th-third, you must… love your younger sister.”

“I already love you more than anything in the world. Loving one’s family is only natural.”

Mancheon’s brazen smile, so carefree and confident, pierced Yeonhwa’s heart.

Yeonhwa adored her shameless yet kind, eccentric yet wonderful, older brother.

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A confess from his lil sist, I wonder how was gwahae feels right now…