Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 78

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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Mancheon picked up one of the magnificent swords displayed in the blacksmith’s shop and slowly admired it.

King of All Weapons.

There was a saying that the spear was the king of all weapons, the supreme among armaments, but swords were still cooler.

There was a reason why protagonists in fantasy manga, novels, and games used swords.

He, too, had somehow ended up learning the Dog Beating Staff Technique as his first martial art, so he went down the staff and fist technique path, but in a corner of his heart, he always nurtured a small, ego-sword girl.

Suddenly, from within his inner world, Taegu-zzang poked her head in.

He could hear it saying, ‘Mancheon, you said we were soul-bound partners? Did you lie to me?’

He lightly ignored it.

‘Shut up! I’m sick and tired of your weakness, breaking at the slightest touch! Go away, Taegu-zzang!’

Of course, he was joking. Taegu-zzang was his precious starting martial art. It was his Pikachu, his starter Pokémon.

But that didn’t mean Ash only used Pikachu, right?

He twirled the sword with a flick of his wrist.

He had nothing to do for a while anyway, so should he learn some sword techniques?

The more, the merrier. The more martial arts he knew, the better.

“Is there anything that catches your eye?”

As he was thinking this, Xiaoshao, a new sword strapped to her waist, approached.

“I was just wondering if I should learn some sword techniques myself, so I was looking around.”

Swordsmanship wasn’t just about swinging your arm. You needed to use your lower body for balance and power.

As with all martial arts, the lower body was important.

Therefore, Mancheon, with his crippled leg, wasn’t exactly suited to learning sword techniques, but…

Xiaoshao’s eyes scanned Mancheon’s body.

A well-built torso honed through years of training, a naturally large frame, strong arms.

While fancy swordplay like transforming or changing swords would be difficult, his physique was well-suited for heavy or powerful sword techniques that pressured and pushed opponents.

A dual-wielding style, using his right hand to support himself with a staff and his left hand to wield a sword, could also work.

“Um… Young Master Sima, if you’re interested, I can teach you the basics.”

Moreover, this was an opportunity for Xiaoshao, who no longer had a reason to stay with Mancheon after arriving at the Martial Alliance headquarters.

Of course, she could have simply left, but…

She felt uneasy about making a self-serving offer to the person who had saved her from assassins not once, but twice, fighting with all his might, but…

No…, wait!

This was a beneficial offer for Young Master Sima as well.

Because of her small frame, Xiaoshao had struggled to learn the heavy Nangong swordsmanship, so she could empathize with Mancheon, who was learning martial arts with a physical disability.

Also, after training, they could have tea together and get to know each other better. Sometimes, they could go flower viewing together, or go on short outings.

If the mood was right, they could even hold hands…

Xiaoshao’s face flushed momentarily at the happy thought before returning to normal.

Anyway, she was confident she could teach him well, using her own experience.

“I may not look like it, but… I’m called the Sword Dragon, Nangong Xiaoshao. I’m quite confident in my swordsmanship.”

Overcoming her shyness, she even boasted about her reputation, something she never did.

“I would appreciate that. This unworthy younger brother will be in your care once again.”

Mancheon had been planning to ask Xiaoshao for some pointers when he had the time, so he readily accepted her offer without hesitation.

“Are you… really going to learn from me?”

Xiaoshao widened her eyes, unconsciously rising onto her toes to look up at Mancheon, then quickly regained her composure.

“Ah… um… it’s a promise.”

She quickly lowered her heels, her cheeks slightly flushed, and muttered softly.

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After browsing the market with Xiaoshao, acquiring a new body for Taegu-zzang, and returning to the Martial Alliance headquarters,

an unexpected person was waiting for him.

An ordinary face you could find anywhere, an ordinary physique you could find anywhere.

A childhood friend, his father’s errand boy.

“Jang Sam? What are you doing here?”

“Of course, I’m here to deliver your travel funds, as per Master’s orders. You’re almost out of money, aren’t you?”

Jang Sam-bung, who had been secretly escorting him under Sima Bu’s orders, decided it was no longer feasible to hide his identity and continue his escort, so…

he returned to his familiar role as a servant and appeared openly before Mancheon.

“My father sent you?”

He had sent a letter to his family, informing them of his change of destination from the Jegal Estate to the Martial Alliance headquarters, and asking them not to worry, but he hadn’t expected them to send someone.

Moreover, he hadn’t expected his father, who disapproved of his meeting with Gwahae, to send him money in this way.

“Yes, of course, Master sent me.”

But the most important information, the real reason for Jang Sam’s appearance, was yet to come.

“Ah~ and Master will be arriving at the Martial Alliance headquarters soon, along with Miss Yeonhwa.”

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-Slap!

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re nothing but one of the countless seeds I’ve sown that happened to sprout.”

Sima Lun, the head of the Sima family, slapped Sima Bu across the face for daring to talk back to a direct descendant, a child of his legitimate wife, despite being born from a concubine.

Stung by the harsh words, young Sima Bu tearfully ran away.

“Tsk! What a weakling… What am I supposed to do with him?”

“He’s all bark and no bite.”

“Even a wolf gives birth to a dog if the mother is a mongrel.”

The disapproving clicks of his father’s tongue and the sneers of his half-siblings pierced his heart like daggers.

He returned to his room, his sanctuary, and opened his diary.

He poured his emotions into his brush, filling the pages.

Tears fell onto the diary, blurring the ink. His cheek throbbed with pain.

-Knock… knock…

“Sima Bu… it’s Mother. I’m coming in.”

“M-Mother…”

As he sat alone, wallowing in self-pity, scribbling in his tear-stained diary, his mother, the person he loved most in the world, came to him.

“You can call me Mom. You’ll always be my little boy.”

She approached gracefully and gently embraced him, patting his back.

“Can I ask why you were fighting?”

“I… was protecting a puppy. They were bullying it. I tried to stop them, but… Father hit me.”

He burrowed into his mother’s warm embrace like a mole digging into the earth, quietly sobbing.

“Does… Father… the Head… hate me because I’m weak?”

“You’re not weak, Sima Bu. You’re kind.”

He looked up at his mother, a gentle smile gracing her face.

“R-Really?”

“Really.”

He burrowed into her embrace once more. For young Sima Bu, these moments of affection with his mother were the few moments of happiness in his cold, harsh home.

But… soon, even this small happiness was brutally shattered by others.

“Y-you bastards! Do you know who I am?! I’m a direct descendant of the Sima family… ugh!!”

Screams echoed throughout the house. Blades flashed, reaping lives.

“Leave no male child alive! Kill them all!!”

Those who had been bowing and scraping before Sima Lun yesterday now drew their blades and attacked.

The direct descendants, who had boasted of their noble, imperial blood, now lay on the ground, bleeding.

Young Sima Bu couldn’t understand why this was happening.

But one thing was certain: the world he had known was about to crumble.

“Sima Bu! Quickly, change into these clothes!”

His mother, her usual composure gone, hurriedly handed him a girl’s clothes.

“Mother… I’m a boy… I can’t wear this…”

Whether it was his male pride or the memory of being mocked for being like a girl, he uttered foolish words that didn’t suit the situation.

-Slap!

For the first time, his mother slapped him.

“Get a grip! This is not the time for such nonsense!”

Her delicate hands, now firm, gripped his shoulders.

“During the siege of Wuzhang Plains, Sima Yi wore women’s clothing sent by Jegal Liang as a counter-provocation.”

“He pretended to be a senile old man to avoid Cao Wei’s scrutiny.”

She looked at her precious son, the only one she had left in the world, the one she could no longer protect.

“Humiliation is temporary… S-survive. Please, survive.”

Sima Bu was speechless, hearing his mother’s trembling voice.

“That is… my only wish.”

He untied his hair and changed into the unfamiliar, flowing garments. It was all he, a weakling, could do.

“There’s another child born from a concubine! Find him!!”

“It’s a boy! Kill him!”

He fled on horseback, guided by his mother’s bodyguard.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

He was running away, leaving behind the mother he loved most.

The martial world was cruel. If you were weak, you could have nothing, protect nothing.

If there was one lie his mother, who always told him the truth, had told him, it was…

“If you’re going to do it, do it properly… From now on, call me Miss.”

…that he wasn’t weak. He was weak. He had lost everything because he was weak.

“Understood. Then what should your alias be?”

He carefully turned his head, looking back at the dark red smoke rising into the sky.

It wasn’t a place filled with fond memories, but it had been his home. It shouldn’t have been burned down by others.

“Hwa…” (fire)

A flame flickered in Sima Bu’s dark amber eyes, eyes that resembled a wolf’s.

“Hwa.”

He etched the name into his memory, so he would never forget the humiliation.

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Will sima bu seek for revenge in this sudden throwback??
anyway sorry for the delay update. I was caught by dengue fever when i went to the jungle. I’m a surveyor of real estate company so I’ve been recovering in hospital. And now I’m going to keep up with my pace. Peace out guys!