I Am This Murim's Crazy Bitch-Chapter 266: Transcendent Qing (3)

When Qing entered the guest room, the person sitting inside quickly sprang to their feet, fidgeting nervously. Their hands were clenched tightly together, fingers twitching restlessly, and their eyes darted around as if searching for an escape. Their lips trembled, but they couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

“Oh my god, Moyong Sojeo. You look like you’ve lost half your face. Why would you treat such a pretty face so badly?”

Moyong Juhee looked as if she hadn’t eaten for days. Her cheeks were sunken, and dark circles hung under her eyes so heavily that they almost reached her cheeks. Her lips were dry and cracked, and her skin had taken on a rough texture.

After a moment of silence, Moyong Juhee finally managed to speak, though her voice was weak.

“Hello... Have you been well...?”

“I’ve been fine, but it doesn’t look like you have. Did something happen?”

“Well...”

And then, just like that, she clammed up again, shrinking back into herself, unable to finish her sentence.

Qing debated what to do but eventually just sat down and waited for Moyong Juhee to gather her words.

A full moment passed, and just when Qing was about to start thinking up some new lines to tease her, Moyong Juhee finally spoke.

“Well, you see... I was wondering if... if you could do it for me. Just once more...”

“Do what?”

“You know, that thing you said last time... That it would be okay, that everything would be okay, and that it wasn’t my fault...”

Qing let out a long sigh.

What the hell had happened to her? She looked even worse than when she was here last time.

Moyong Juhee’s father had seemed like a decent man, so what the hell had he done to her?

At Qing’s sigh, Moyong Juhee flinched, no, more than flinched — she practically jumped out of her skin, her shoulders jerking violently. Then she dropped her head, staring at the ground.

Qing sighed again.

She couldn’t even sigh in front of a wounded kid without making her flinch.

Not that she held back on sighing, anyway.

“Moyong Sojeo? Come here.”

“Yes...”

Moyong Juhee shuffled over hesitantly, step by step.

Qing patted her own thigh. It was a gesture that anyone could understand.

“Well...”

“Come on. Sit down.”

Moyong Juhee awkwardly settled onto Qing’s lap, her body as stiff as a board. It was like holding a wooden log rather than a person.

Qing wrapped her arms around her and whispered softly into her ear.

“I don’t want Moyong Sojeo to be in pain anymore. You did nothing wrong. The ones at fault are those Blood Sect bastards. So why is Moyong Sojeo the one hurting? It’s going to be okay. It’ll get better. And it’ll keep getting better from now on.”

A slight tremor spread through Moyong Juhee’s body. A silent sob escaped her lips.

Oh, for god’s sake. Why was she crying so pitifully?

If you’re going to cry, then cry properly. Ask, “Can I cry now?” and then wail and scream and sob as much as you want.

Should she just tell her to let it all out?

Cry to cleanse your soul... or no, that wasn’t it. Why did that phrase sound so familiar? Where did she hear it? fгeewebnovёl.com

Qing debated for a moment, then decided to just stay silent. If she told her to cry freely, Moyong Juhee might get self-conscious and try to hold it back instead.

Is this the right approach? Would that psychology professor, whose name she couldn’t even remember, have said so?

If there were a way to transcend time and space, maybe that psychology professor would pop up and say:

“Inappropriate contact with a client. D. Never take this class again. Goodbye.”

The truth was, Qing saw physical contact as a panacea for everything — a way to calm a troubled heart, soothe a wounded mind, and heal a broken body.

It was a conclusion she had reached after her own experience of being comforted by Gyeon Pohee.

After a while, Qing’s thighs, strong as steel and sturdy as iron, bore Moyong Juhee’s weight without the slightest discomfort.

Moyong Juhee finally calmed down, her breathing evening out. Her voice came out in a choked, but somewhat clearer tone.

“I’m... I’m okay now.”

“I’m fine too, so just stay like this a little longer. But did something happen? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but it might make you feel a little better to talk about it.”

“Well, actually...”

Moyong Juhee poured out everything her father had said to her.

Oh, that man. He seemed decent, but it turns out he’s got quite the radical mindset.

“It was so hard. Why didn’t you just tell him off? Tell him, ‘What the hell are you saying that crap for? I’m hurt, you know.’ Moyong Sojeo, you’re good at that kind of thing, aren’t you?”

“If he hadn’t said those things, I would have. But after hearing that, I just couldn’t. It would hurt him twice as much....”

“Oh my, what a kind-hearted girl.”

And then a thought suddenly struck Qing.

Wait, it’s okay for her father to be hurt, but what about me? Wasn’t I the one who actually saved her?

Hearing this now, it kind of pisses me off.

Moyong Juhee couldn’t see Qing’s expression, as she was still leaning back against her, but if she could have, she would have seen it — a glint of chilling, almost eerie light rising in Qing’s eyes.

Qing was now at the Transcendent level.

A Transcendent could use sword intent.

Sword intent was the manifestation of the star one was born under.

The star Qing was born under was Cheonsalgo, the Heavenly Killing Star — the most fearsome, ominous star in all of the Three Thousand Worlds.

Unlike the Pacheon Demonic Qi, which always cackled and laughed, the Heavenly Killing Star simply loomed quietly, emanating its sinister glow, as if waiting to consume everything in its path.

“So, why did you hurt me so badly back then? You even used your internal energy, didn’t you? If I were just an ordinary person, I would’ve been crushed to death.”

Her voice was cold, seeping with a sharp, chilling undertone.

Moyong Juhee’s blood ran cold.

“I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t in my right mind back then! I swear, I’ll never do it again!”

“It’s not about being sorry. Why did you do it? Was I someone you could hurt just because you felt like it?”

“No! No, that’s not it! It’s just that, back then, when I saw Seomun Sojeo, it reminded me of painful memories, and I just... I lost it. I’m so, so sorry!”

“Hmmm...”

A sultry, almost purring sound slipped from Qing’s lips.

Moyong Juhee’s body stiffened like a wooden board.

“Do you think just saying sorry makes it all go away? How am I supposed to believe you?”

“Then... then, I-I’ll pull out my nails. You like that, right? You like pulling out nails, don’t you?”

“What a waste. These pretty little fingers. Besides, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, right?”

From behind, Qing’s arms wrapped around Moyong Juhee, and her cold hand slipped under her jacket. The icy touch slithered like a snake, creeping upward toward her chest.

And then, a low, sultry laugh echoed right against her ear.

“Oh my. But there’s nothing here to squeeze, is there? With this, how am I supposed to return the favor?”

“I-I’m sorry. I-I was wrong.”

“How am I supposed to understand what I did wrong if you don’t say it clearly? Tell me exactly what I did wrong.”

“I’m sorry... because... because they’re so small.”

“You’re not saying it right. It’s not that they’re small. It’s that they’re practically nonexistent. Wow, and what do we have here? Unbelievable. You’re actually carrying this around? Maybe I should twist this instead? Here, a little pinch.”

“Hnnngh.”

Pinch.

Moyong Juhee let out a choked, breathy gasp.

It was a strange reaction. Normally, touching that spot would make her lash out in anger and hatred. But this time, it didn’t. It hurt. It had to hurt. A lot. A whole lot. Her heart was about to explode with fear. Was it because she was scared? But, but —

“If that’s what you want... If Seomun Sojeo really wants to do it, then I... I can take as much as I did to you...”

Moyong Juhee’s voice trembled violently.

Qing let out a sigh, then leaned in and blew a soft breath against her ear.

Moyong Juhee’s body jolted like a startled rabbit, nearly leaping off Qing’s lap, but Qing’s firm grip held her in place.

“Oh my. That was just a joke. Moyong Sojeo wasn’t in her right mind back then. I understand that much. So, does it still hurt when you look at me?”

“No... that’s not it. It’s just... the memories keep coming back, and when I see Seomun Sojeo, I feel like I can finally breathe. I feel like hearing your voice will make me feel better...”

“Oh, is that so? Well then. Since Moyong Sojeo is being honest for once, let me ask you — why did you follow me all the way to the training grounds and sit there looking so pitiful? You looked so miserable that I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

“I-I couldn’t sleep at night. When there’s no sign of people around, I get scared. I’m afraid that if I open my eyes, I’ll be back inside that box... or that they’ll come to take me away again. It’s so terrifying... so, the safest place for me was there.”

“Oh.”

Those words struck a deep chord in Qing.

She felt a strong surge of empathy.

After all, she was the same. Qing, too, couldn’t sleep alone because of the same fear.

And to think that she had someone so close by sharing that same sleepless nightmare without even realizing it.

“Then why didn’t you say anything? How would I know if you don’t tell me? Not being able to sleep at night is such a horrible thing. You poor thing. You must have had such a hard time. I wasn’t paying enough attention. I’m sorry.”

“No, no. Why would Seomun Sojeo be sorry? I... I was the one being so horrible. I’m... I’m so, so sorry.”

Unlike before, when her speech was a confused jumble of informal and formal language, and her gaze swung wildly between friendliness and hostility, now Moyong Juhee was sitting stiffly on Qing’s lap, as if afraid to disturb her.

Her tone was unfailingly polite, and genuine remorse bled through her every word.

Qing tilted her head.

Seomun Sojeo? Since when did she start calling me that?

Where did she pick up such a formal title?

Anyway, it seemed like the mental therapy had worked well enough.

At least she wasn’t trying to gouge at Qing’s chest anymore.

Feeling generous, Qing decided to offer a suggestion.

“If it’s too difficult, you can stay at Mucheon Pavilion for a while. Well, the Martial Arts Tournament closing ceremony is coming up soon, so I’ll be leaving in a few days, but until then, you’re welcome to stay.”

“Can I really?”

“If that’s what Moyong Sojeo wants.”

But Moyong Juhee shook her head.

From Qing’s perspective, it just looked like the back of her head was swaying back and forth.

“No... I want to, but... If I stay, I feel like I’ll just keep being weak... and pathetic. Maybe after some time, I can forget it all and move on like ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) nothing happened.”

The words surprised Qing.

Such a mature response.

Qing’s expression softened, a hint of pride and warmth in her gaze.

Maybe she was on her way to spreading the knowledge of modern psychology throughout Zhongyuan.

If she told Tang Nana about it, perhaps the Tang Clan could further develop these ideas.

Encouraged by the positive development, Qing offered a sincere reply.

“You definitely will.”

And then, the atmosphere grew somewhat ambiguous.

The conversation seemed to have reached its natural conclusion, yet Moyong Juhee didn’t get up.

Instead, she leaned back, resting more comfortably against Qing.

What the hell?

Wasn’t she going to leave? Why was she leaning back?

Should I keep holding her? She seems to have calmed down now. Shouldn’t she get up?

Usually, in moments like this, wouldn’t the other person say, “Thank you, I’m okay now,” and get up themselves?

Why is she still lingering?

Before Qing could sort through her confusion, Moyong Juhee spoke up.

“Um, so... there’s one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I still feel like I did something really bad to Seomun Sojeo. If we leave it like this, I don’t think I’ll ever feel at ease. You said ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ earlier, right? So... why don’t you go ahead and do what you were going to do?”

“Oh, come on. I told you, it was just a joke. What would that make me? Can’t even joke around anymore.”

“No, it’s just... I feel like that’s the only way I’ll be able to let it go. Can’t you...?”

“Let’s just forget it ever happened. You weren’t in your right mind back then, Moyong Sojeo.”

“But... it’s still bothering me...”

Even though Qing kept saying it was fine, Moyong Juhee remained persistent.

And she was adamant that unless she received retribution, she wouldn’t be able to let it go.

“If that’s the only way you’ll feel better... Fine. Stand up for a moment. And close your eyes tightly.”

Moyong Juhee swallowed nervously.

Then, obediently, she stood up and squeezed her eyes shut —

Qing let out a deep sigh.

Did she really have to go this far? But if that’s what Moyong Juhee wanted, if that’s what would give her peace of mind...

And so, on this commemorative occasion of reaching the Transcendent Level, Qing prepared herself to unleash the first strike of her new power.

Thus, with Moyong Juhee standing there, eyes tightly shut, Qing raised her hand above her head.

And then, with the full might of Seomun Surin’s nuclear-level forehead flick technique, “Majestic Retribution,” she brought it down.

CRACK!!!