Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 44

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
It was a good parting, a clean break.

Or so Muk-gang thought,

until a wolf, its footsteps muffled, emerged from the darkness.

“It’s been a while, Brother Muk.”

“I am not your brother, so do not address me as such.”

Despite the firm rebuke, Sima Bu smiled genially and bowed to Muk-gang.

“If I cannot call a great hero like Brother Muk my brother, then who can I call brother? This humble Sima owes you a great debt.”

Like father, like son.

Muk-gang sighed wearily, now burdened with a two-faced, treacherous younger brother and a greedy nephew, both plotting to exploit him and steal his secret techniques.

“What do you want?”

“If I owe you a debt, it is only natural that I repay it.”

Sima Bu clapped his hands, and a servant, who had been waiting discreetly in the background, stepped forward and carefully opened an ornate wooden box.

Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, was a plaque inscribed with the character “Sima” (司馬).

“This is a plaque of gratitude from the Sima family, one of the Four Pillars of the Demonic Sects, descendants of the Four Traitorous Ministers (Wang Mang, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Sima Yi).”

Debts were repaid with gold, grudges with steel. It was an unspoken rule of the martial world, regardless of affiliation.

“Presenting this plaque will ensure that none of the demonic sects under the Sima family’s control, such as the Red Wolf Sect or the Green Serpent Sect, will ever oppose you. Furthermore, they will offer their assistance should you require it. And…”

“Enough. That’s quite sufficient.”

Muk-gang, deeming further platitudes unnecessary, cut Sima Bu off, pulling out the cloth bundle containing the dried meat.

“I have already received repayment from your son. So put away your useless plaque.”

Sima Bu, noticing the dried meat peeking out from the bundle, smiled knowingly and bowed even lower to Muk-gang.

It was the bow of a parent to their child’s teacher.

“Thank you for taking my foolish son as your disciple.”

Seeing Sima Bu’s expression, so reminiscent of Yeonhwa when she had brought him lunch in the mountains, Muk-gang sighed.

Like father, like daughter. It seemed Sima Bu had passed on not only his blood, but also his devious nature, a trait that shouldn’t be inherited.

It seemed Mancheon had inherited his father’s shamelessness, while Yeonhwa had inherited his cunning. They were a devious, scheming wolf family.

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

Sima Bu wiped the smile from his face and finally addressed the true purpose of his visit.

“What are your thoughts on the recent movements of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

Muk-gang felt obligated to answer, recalling the lunch Yeonhwa had prepared for him.

It was a Buddhist’s duty to offer a sutra in return for alms.

“When internal conflicts arise, one seeks distractions elsewhere.”

With those words, Muk-gang turned and walked away. He didn’t stop, even when Sima Bu called out to him.

“I’ve told you all I deem necessary. The rest is for you to figure out.”

He took a piece of dried meat from the bundle and popped it into his mouth. It was quite good.

The Heavenly Demon Sect had raided the Zoroastrian cult, seeking a sacrifice for their Heavenly Demon, and had mobilized their forces to attack the Sima family.

While it appeared as though the Heavenly Demon Sect was preparing for a full-scale offensive, Muk-gang didn’t believe that was the case. They were simply trying to quell internal dissent by creating external conflicts.

He was surprised they had remained quiet for so long. After all, the Heavenly Demon, the spiritual leader and symbol of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the ancient and supreme demon…

He looked up at the night sky, the moon obscured by dark clouds.

Just like that night… seventeen years ago, when the sky was shrouded in darkness… something had disappeared.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
“Shall we pursue him?”

Jang Sam, who had been concealed in the shadows, materialized and awaited orders. Sima Bu shook his head.

“Spying on your son’s teacher is inappropriate.”

Since when did he care about propriety? It was absurd. Family truly softened a man.

“If you’re so eager for him to learn more, why not teach him yourself?”

He didn’t understand why Sima Bu refused to teach Mancheon, his legitimate heir, the family’s secret techniques. Sima Bu responded to Jang Sam’s reasonable question with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“He’s already learned powerful orthodox techniques. What good would it do to taint him with the dirty, underhanded techniques of the demonic sects? I don’t want to ruin his life.”

Despite his grand title as one of the Four Pillars of the Demonic Sects, a descendant of the Four Traitorous Ministers, he was, in reality, nothing more than the leader of a criminal organization.

How could he reveal to his beloved wife and son that he was the head of a ruthless demonic sect, a man who would bury anyone, regardless of age or gender, in the mountains or the sea, if they posed a threat? It was impossible.

He wanted to be seen as a good husband and father. That’s why he had gone to such lengths to cover up the Heavenly Demon Sect’s attack, fabricating a story about bandits and paying off witnesses.

While he would have preferred to report the incident to the authorities or the orthodox sects, doing so would lead to an investigation, revealing his dealings with the Heavenly Demon Sect, exposing the true nature of the Sima family.

The Sima family’s plan to integrate into mainstream society was finally on track. He could finally leave the shadows behind.

He looked towards Mancheon’s room, his gaze not that of a demonic sect leader, but a concerned father.

“I… will never burden Cheon-i with the stigma of the demonic sects. I will give him only good things, a bright future.”

‘You hypocrite,’ Jang Sam thought, barely managing to suppress the outburst.

If he truly despised the demonic sects, he shouldn’t be accepting their money. He was like a leech, sucking the lifeblood out of the underworld, then slithering into the light.

But… then again, the demonic sects were criminal organizations, and Sima Bu was one of their leaders.

It would be rather hypocritical for a thief to criticize another thief for stealing.

Jang Sam nodded to himself, having argued with himself and reached a conclusion.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
Summer arrived, the peach blossoms in full bloom, a canopy of delicate pink petals obscuring the sky.

As promised, Mancheon and Yeonhwa stood beneath a peach tree, exchanging cups of wine, sealing their vow.

“I, Sima Mancheon, swear to heaven and earth that I will never betray Yeonhwa, and that I will remain by her side until the day I die.”

It was a standard oath, but Yeonhwa felt it was lacking, so she amended it slightly.

“I, Sima Yeonhwa, swear to never betray my older brother, and to love him and remain by his side, even in death.”

They raised their cups to the heavens and drank, sealing their vow.

The oath, intertwined with the red thread of fate, bound them even more tightly.

Yeonhwa lowered her cup, her cheeks flushed, and she shyly glanced at Mancheon.

Thick eyebrows, a sharp jawline, a straight nose, and amber eyes like a wolf’s. He was as handsome as ever.

Yes…, her handsome older brother.

She placed a hand over her heart, feeling the rapid beat beneath her palm, her heart overflowing with joy at being connected to her beloved older brother.

“Now that we’ve made our vow, shall we visit the market?”

Yeonhwa’s cheeks flushed like the peach blossoms falling around them as he offered his hand, warm and inviting.

Holding hands in public… it was a vulgar, indecent act.

But… she couldn’t resist. His sweet words had bewitched her, her reason clouded by his presence.

She placed her delicate fingers in his palm, their hands clasped together.

The two, their vow complete, walked side by side through the streets, beneath a shower of falling peach blossoms.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
A cheerful melody escaped her lips.

She brushed her beautiful black hair with the comb her older brother had bought her at the market.

She had merely glanced at it, admiring its beauty, and he had immediately bought it for her.

It wasn’t simply the gift itself that brought her joy, but his attentiveness, his consideration.

She felt loved, cherished. It was a blissful feeling.

She looked at her hand, the hand that had been clasped in his.

She recalled his warmth, his touch, his voice, his face.

It was troubling. She had only just left his side, and yet she already missed him.

But… she no longer considered her feelings indecent or shameful.

After all, it was only natural for a married couple to long for each other. It was as normal as a brother and sister marrying.

So, she didn’t hesitate. She left her room.

She wanted to run to him, but she couldn’t. She had to maintain her composure, her every movement graceful and elegant.

As the future mistress of the Sima household, his wife, she had to maintain a dignified, demure demeanor.

With her back straight and her steps measured, she approached his room. Just as she was about to knock, a passing maidservant addressed her.

“My lady, the Second Young Master is not in his room. He went to deliver a letter to Miss Gwahae.”

It felt like she had been struck in the back of the head with a hammer. Not because her older brother wasn’t in his room, but because of the name the maidservant had uttered. Her head slowly turned.

“Miss… Gwahae?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard of Miss Gwahae? Apparently, she’s a young lady the Second Young Master befriended during his year-long stay at the Jegal Estate. They seem to be quite close, exchanging letters even now. I suspect there’s something… special between them.”

The maidservant’s words, a torrent of unwanted information, washed over her, each word a blow to her heart.

The maidservant continued her gossip until another servant called out to her, and she excused herself with a hasty bow, hurrying away.

“…….”

An unsettling silence filled the hallway after the maidservant’s departure. Yeonhwa opened the door to Mancheon’s room, her eyes unfocused.

She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help herself. She began to search his desk, her hands trembling. She opened a drawer and saw a stack of letters, carefully preserved.

Each letter was signed “Gwahae (Across the Sea).”

Why… why would you treasure letters from a mere friend so carefully…? This is… strange, Older Brother.

She quickly closed the drawer, her body trembling, and forced herself to leave the room.

She had wanted to read the letters, but the thought was too indecent, too shameful. She fled. She couldn’t bear the idea of his affection being directed toward someone else.

She ran down the hallway, her usual grace and composure abandoned.

She had found traces of another woman in her beloved older brother’s room. Her breath hitched in her throat, her body burning with a mixture of rage and fear.

Anger at the woman who dared to steal what was hers, and fear of losing him.

Tears welled up in her blazing red eyes.

She threw open the door to Sima Bu’s private study, her movements rough, unrefined.

“What is the meaning of…”

“Teach me… martial arts.”

He was her older brother, her Saoshyant. She wouldn’t let anyone take him from her.

And if they did, she would take him back, by force.

A predatory gleam flickered in Yeonhwa’s red eyes. The greedy wolf, hidden beneath a mask of elegance, revealed its true face.

The wolf’s bloodline had found its heir.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Woaaah a plot twist, I thought mancheon would inherit the family technique.