Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 52

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“Man… cheon… wake up… Mancheon.”

He slowly opened his eyes at the sound of his name being called repeatedly.

He could see, despite the darkness surrounding him. It felt like he was submerged in warm mud. He could breathe.

An endless, dark void. He remembered.

This was the mental realm he had entered after Muk-gang had punched him in the gut.

It felt like only yesterday he had been wailing like a chimpy, but a year had already passed. Time flies, he thought.

He sat up and looked towards the source of the deep, resonant voice.

“Are you awake? Then assume a ready stance. Prepare to execute the technique.”

Standing before him was a man in a dark coat and sunglasses, a strangely familiar figure.

“Um… who are you?”

He didn’t remember creating such a dreary figure in his mental realm, so he asked cautiously, his voice laced with suspicion. The unknown man chuckled wryly and raised the staff he held in his hand.

“We may be meeting in this form for the first time, but you don’t recognize your own partner? That’s a little hurtful.”

He was about to retort, to tell the man to stop talking nonsense, when he noticed the staff.

It was identical to his own. No, it was his staff.

A shiver ran down his spine.

“You… don’t tell me…?”

It was absurd, but this was the mental realm, where the impossible was possible. And as if to confirm his suspicions, the man smiled smugly.

“That’s right. I am Taegu-zzang, the spirit of the Dog Beating Staff Technique. Your partner.”

He threw his staff to the ground.

Thud—!

“Hey?! Partner! What was that for?!”

“If I had learned a sword technique, I would’ve gotten a cute sword spirit girl… I shouldn’t have learned the stupid Dog Beating Staff Technique.”

If he had learned the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Technique or the Twenty-Four Movements of the Plum Blossom Sword, he would have a cute sword spirit girl calling him “Master!”, and they could have heartwarming, emotional exchanges, like in a light novel.

And later on, she would even transform into a real girl, and they could hold hands and go on dates, and she would say, “Don’t you have any shame, wanting more than just swordsmanship?”

“Haah…”

He sighed. Taegu-zzang also sighed, retrieving the discarded staff and thrusting it back at him.

“Set aside the weeb fantasies for now partner, and get ready. I’m going to teach you the ultimate technique.”

“The ultimate technique? But Master forbade me from using the ultimate technique of the Dog Beating Staff Technique. He said it was too dangerous.”

While the Dog Beating Staff Technique, with its focus on, well, beating dogs, might appear less sophisticated compared to other prestigious martial arts, it surprisingly possessed a secret technique comparable in power to the Nangong family’s King’s Sword or Mount Hua’s Purple Cloud Divine Art.

However, it was so esoteric and complex that, at his current level, he couldn’t even execute it. Even if he were to burn his life force, his innate energy, attempting to forcibly unleash the technique, he would likely die, his hair turning white from the strain, according to his master.

While his internal energy had increased since childhood, the final technique of the Dog Beating Staff Technique relied not on the amount of internal energy, but on one’s understanding of the technique. Therefore, it was beyond his current capabilities.

It was practically useless.

Despite his valid concerns, Taegu-zzang simply continued to offer him the staff.

“Don’t hesitate, Partner. You’re the genius who deceives even the heavens. Trust in yourself and unlock your hidden potential.”

The mental realm, a man in sunglasses, a secret ultimate technique.

The only logical next step was an awakening. He gripped the staff Taegu-zzang offered him with both hands and assumed a ready stance.

“I’m ready. What’s next?”

“As my partner, you should already know what to say.”

He knew. There was only one thing to say in this situation.

He drew upon his internal energy, channeling it from his dantian, unleashing it with the force of a tidal wave. He released his aura, his spirit pressure exploding outwards.

“BAN (卍)—”

And then… he woke up.

“KAI (解)!!!!!!!”

Xiaoshao, who had been sharing the carriage with him, stared at him wide-eyed, startled by his sudden, loud outburst in his sleep.

She blinked repeatedly.

He felt a pang of guilt at observing her like this after shouting in his sleep, but she looked incredibly cute, curled up like a hedgehog, her large eyes blinking in confusion.

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The connections between people were truly a mysterious thing.

Tang Meiniang, refusing to accept that she had been poisoned, had remained in Baihua County to investigate the tea the young martial artists had consumed. Quan Cong and Dao Jun had stayed with her.

Though they hadn’t said it outright, they clearly wanted to distance themselves from Xiaoshao, the cause of the incident.

They were currently in Zeshik County, a town situated between Hubei and Henan provinces.

He had initially intended to travel directly to the Jegal Estate to see Gwahae, but while he was delayed in Baihua County, being questioned and thanked by the Tang family martial artists who had been urgently summoned after their young mistress had been poisoned, he had sent someone to inquire about Gwahae’s whereabouts.

He learned that Gwahae and Jegal Liang had already departed for the Martial Alliance headquarters in Henan Province on the morning of his legendary fifty-on-one battle, to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

It was like Around the World in 80 Days, but instead of traveling the world, he was searching for Gwahae. But what choice did he have? He had to follow the path of those he sought.

He hadn’t seen Gwahae in far too long. He missed her.

He wanted to gently nibble on her soft cheeks.

As he gazed out the window, lost in thought, he noticed crowds of people and smelled delicious food. It seemed they had arrived during a festival.

He had agreed with Xiaoshao to stop at Zeshik County, famous for its medicinal soups, to recuperate for a few days before continuing their journey to the Martial Alliance headquarters.

It seemed they had arrived at an opportune moment.

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The Yakbang Inn in Zeshik County, where rooms came with medicinal soups and access to hot springs, making even a single night’s stay quite expensive.

He and Xiaoshao were enjoying a simple meal.

“This inn is quite pricey. And you even booked rooms for my coachman and myself. I am truly grateful for your generosity, Brother Nangong.”

Having abandoned the merchant group mid-journey, his funds were limited, so he was grateful for Xiaoshao’s generosity in providing such luxurious accommodations.

“You saved my life, Young Master Sima, and you’re traveling with me, so it’s only natural.”

While Xiaoshao was still maintaining a polite, somewhat distant demeanor, there was a hint of warmth in her tone.

Mancheon was eager to become closer, to learn Xiaoshao’s sword techniques, but he knew that building relationships took time, so he didn’t rush.

The important thing was to express his desire for connection while respecting the other person’s boundaries.

If Xiaoshao was still uncomfortable, he would simply adjust his approach and take things slowly.

As he refilled Xiaoshao’s empty teacup,

a child, who had just entered the inn, suddenly pointed at Mancheon – or rather, at the staff leaning against the table beside him – and shouted.

“Mommy! Look! Look! A staff! A crippled Sakra Devanam Indra!!”

“Um? Sakra Devanam Indra?”

“He’s just excited about the festival play. I apologize for his outburst.”

Mancheon nodded apologetically, watching as the woman, carrying the excited child, walked away.

He understood the “crippled” part, but the “Sakra Devanam Indra” part was confusing. Why had the child said that?

Xiaoshao also tilted her head in confusion, and

a woman, dressed in theatrical garb, who had been observing them from across the inn, approached, smiling brightly.

“Welcome to the joyous Sakra Devanam Indra Festival! May I offer my services as your friendly festival guide?”

It seemed the people in this town had a habit of approaching strangers and offering their services.

It seemed like a harmless enough diversion, so he agreed.

He borrowed the money to hire the guide from Xiaoshao, of course.

It wasn’t that he was broke, but, as a teacher, he had to save every penny he could.

He wanted to buy Gwahae as many treats as possible when they finally reunited.

Sorry, Big Sister Nangong. He would repay you later…

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Sakra Devanam Indra.

The king of the Devas, the most powerful of the Eight Legions, and the leader of the Twelve Heavenly Kings.

As befitting the leader of the Twelve Heavens, his domains were vast.

He was the god of thunder and lightning,

the god of weapons, wielding all weapons with mastery,

and a Dharma protector, guarding and protecting humanity.

But… when it came to women, he was a scoundrel. A depraved fool.

“Wait, you’re saying he seduced a girl while her father watched?”

The festival guide smiled brightly, recounting the scandalous tale with evident relish.

“Yes, Sakra Devanam Indra fell in love with Shachi, the daughter of Asura, and seduced her right in front of her father. Isn’t that amazing?”

“You’re not serious, are you? You’re being sarcastic, right?”

Just moments ago, he had found the children playing with toy vajras, excited about the festival play, rather endearing…

“Sakra Devanam Indra’s vajra! Sakra Devanam Indra’s vajra!!”

“Sakra Devanam Indra, he’s a god!!”

“Mommy! I want to be Sakra Devanam Indra when I grow up!!”

But now, it seemed more like a disturbing display of cult-like fanaticism.

“The protector of the world can seduce a woman and commit incest if he wants. It’s just a story; you have to be open-minded.”

As they approached the stage where the play was being performed, the crowd grew thicker.

And then he finally understood why the child at the inn had called him a crippled Sakra Devanam Indra.

The actor playing Sakra Devanam Indra, wearing an elaborate mask, was holding a staff and limping, mimicking a cripple.

“How did the god of thunder and lightning, the god of weapons, become a cripple?”

Even the festival guide, a devotee of Sakra Devanam Indra, chuckled awkwardly at his reasonable question.

“He fell from the sky while trying to descend to earth to save humanity. Or at least, that’s how the story goes in this village.”

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Don’t tell me our MC is their god 🤣