I Am This Murim's Crazy Bitch-Chapter 237: Even a Ronin Has the Loyalty of a Ronin (10)

Moyong Juhee had been holding back her screams.

Or maybe she hadn’t.

The sensation of digging into flesh—disgusting beyond belief. The guard kept howling, over and over again. Her ears were ringing so badly it felt like she was underwater. She couldn’t even tell whether the scream in her throat had already joined his or not.

Taking a human apart was filthy, vile work.

Even if that human was someone she had hated enough to want to kill.

And yet, threading through the horror—this place soaked in horror, this entire grotesque world and its cruel, relentless hours, even her own self, a walking, reeking horror—there was one thing that slipped through like sunlight on frost.

That clean, warm voice whispering in her ear.

“You did wonderfully. Now then, let’s try the torso. Ready? Let’s open it up right... here.”

Those pale, elegant fingers ran across the guard’s belly, and as if laced with blades, the skin parted cleanly, revealing the insides in full, glistening detail.

Yellow, greasy fat bulged up first.

The fingers traced a single line—then came the organs, squirming and pulsing beneath a thin sheet of rising blood.

“Urk...”

“Oh my. Lady Moyong, a bit squeamish, are we?”

“N-No. I’m fine. I can handle it.”

No. I can’t show weakness.

Moyong Juhee fought the rising nausea with all she had.

Ximen Qing was warm—she had come to save her—but if she looked pathetic now, she’d be cast aside like everyone else always had.

“It might look grotesque, but if you really examine it, it’s kind of endearing how sloppily made the human body is. These are the internal organs. The five viscera, to be precise—”

“G-Guhhh—!”

She couldn’t stop it anymore. The bile surged up.

Colorless, watery stomach acid spilled into the open abdominal cavity.

The acidic splash hit the guard’s innards, and his already-ruined body spasmed in jerky, broken fits.

His limp arm—boneless now—flopped wildly and slapped Moyong Juhee across the face with a wet smack.

No, no... please no...

“Hic—haah... I’m sorry. I’m sorry I got it dirty. I’m sorry...”

“Oh no, don’t be. It’s okay. Really, it’s fine. Honestly, those bastards could’ve at least left a goddamn chamber pot in here.”

Juhee struggled to escape from Qing’s lap, shaking with shame.

I have to get away. I’m disgusting.

“It’s okay. Really. None of this is your fault, Lady Moyong. Not a single thing.”

“Let go! Let me go! I’m—no, I’m sorry, please let me go. I’m filthy, I—”

“Shh. You’re not filthy. You told me yourself—you didn’t do anything shameful. You held out. You survived. That’s amazing.”

That warmth—too warm—made her want to burst into tears all over again.

If I just listen—if I keep listening, and do as she says—maybe I’ll be okay...

“Alright. Looks like he’s about to die. Want to watch him go together? This insect that tormented you... look how pathetic he is now. Nothing to be afraid of.”

Moyong Juhee looked down at the dying guard.

His limbs flayed, muscles turned inside out, bones poking through pale tissue. His belly and chest split wide open, gurgling wetly with each shallow breath.

“Now, look into his eyes. You see that? That desperate, pleading look? Isn’t it funny? Someone that monstrous, begging so pathetically at the end.”

“Mmngh—!”

She bit down on a scream, strangled by the sight of that bloodshot, pleading gaze begging her for mercy.

Back in the day, Qing had somehow gotten the highest possible grade in Intro to Psychology.

Not because she was studious, ambitious, or even remotely curious—but because the class was so mind-numbingly dull that most students didn’t show up. Qing’s grade came from the sheer miracle of staying awake in the back row.

If that poor professor could see her now, he’d probably be slamming his head against the wall.

Therapy, as it’s taught, is about unconditional acceptance, validation, and empathy. That’s how you help a wounded heart heal.

The one thing you’re never supposed to do? Offer solutions.

Because if the patient was ready for those, they wouldn’t be broken in the first place.

Naturally, Qing did the opposite.

She had meant well, in her own twisted way.

After all, revenge that comes too easily just leaves you hollow. And once the hollow sets in, life ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) starts feeling meaningless.

Better to let her watch him suffer. Let her find some kind of comfort in that.

Qing, like many people, assumed her way of thinking was universal. So she thought the brutal anatomy lesson of Heaven-Killing Sect medicine would be cathartic for Moyong Juhee too.

“Lady Moyong, feeling better now?”

But if that kind of therapy had worked, Moyong Juhee would’ve been born with a malicious star hanging over her soul.

Maybe if Qing had just let her strangle the bastard, she’d feel relieved. But no—she had tried to be nice.

And for Moyong Juhee, that kindness became just another kind of torment.

“Y-Yeah. I did good, right? I did everything you said. You’re not going to leave me, are you? You won’t just throw me away, right?”

“Don’t say that. Sure, you were a bit annoying—”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault! Wait, no—it’s YOUR fault! All of it! None of this would’ve happened if not for you! It’s your fault! You have to take responsibility! You have to!”

Oh god. Qing sighed.

She’s not stable yet.

Definitely not ready for sarcasm.

And now I look like the bad guy... great.

Juhee flinched at the sound of her sigh.

Then dropped to her knees, scraping them on the stone as she scrambled over and clung to Qing’s legs again.

“No! Please—I didn’t mean it! Don’t leave me, okay? You’re all I have now. I did everything you asked. I’ll do whatever you say. If—if I crush that thing’s skull, would you believe me? Or should I rip out his eyeballs instead?”

“We don’t play with corpses.”

“Oh. Then... tell me what to do. Just say the word and I’ll do anything...”

Qing pulled her close and hugged her again.

“I’m sorry. I was joking. I’m not leaving you. Not now, not ever. So don’t be afraid anymore. Okay? Deep breath.”

“Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes...”

****

Qing almost sighed again—but this time, she held it back.

To be fair, she got it. Of course Moyong Juhee was terrified of being left behind.

“...Right. We need to head topside. Lady Moyong, could you wait here for just a moment? I’ll need to clear the way—there are still Blood Sect bastards lurking—”

“Let’s go together! Please don’t leave me!”

“If they start provoking the Gu again, it’ll hurt. And you hate pain, don’t you? Just wait a bit. I’ll clean up the route and—”

“It’s okay! I can handle it! I’ll endure it, just please—don’t leave me, don’t leave me alone...”

Qing scratched her head.

Why the hell was this girl so clingy?

“...The Gu’s venom hurts like hell, but it’s not fatal. You really think you can handle it?”

“Yes! I can do it! I promise—!”

“Alright then. Let’s go. We’ll talk once we’re out of here.”

Moyong Juhee grabbed Qing’s hand and struggled to her feet, her steps shaky and weak. She made it two paces before her knees buckled. Qing caught her just in time.

“Lady Moyong? Your feet—those sons of bitches. They tore your toenails out—”

“I’m okay. I can walk. It just hurts a little...”

“How can you walk like this? All your nails are gone. That’s it. No walking.”

“No, really, I can! I can walk!”

“Deep breaths. Sure, you could walk, Lady Moyong... but why suffer that much? I’ll carry you. Come on.”

And so Qing hoisted her up and strapped her to her back, tying her securely with the guard’s torn-up uniform.

Hmph. This again.

The world's greatest invention—praised by civilizations the world over—the Korean baby wrap.

Why did this keep happening to her?

****

Word around the base was that the unit commander hadn’t been seen since last night, and the vice-commander had stormed off after that morning’s commotion, saying he had business elsewhere.

In other words, it was the perfect time to smuggle Moyong Juhee out.

Qing had gotten a rough idea of the underground layout, but hearing a description and finding your way through the tunnels were two very different things.

Not that she was worried. If she didn’t know something, she’d just find someone who did.

Smart people always made others do the work.

She moved slowly, focusing on any sounds of movement.

Soon enough, she found her target.

“Wh-Who’s there? H—mph!”

The moment Qing stomped her foot, her shadow leapt from the ground and shot forward, clamping over the Blood Sect warrior’s mouth before he could shout.

But Gu parasites couldn’t be controlled by words alone.

A sudden burst of fire ignited right in Qing’s diaphragm—

“Agh!”

A sharp cry hissed past her ear.

And then—pop.

Pain exploded in her skull.

When pain crosses a certain threshold, the human body enters panic mode. It grabs for something—anything—and squeezes.

With all its strength. No matter what.

Moyong Juhee, still clinging to Qing’s back, just happened to find something within reach. Something very unfortunate.

“...Ugh.”

Qing’s vision went white.

The agony rivaled her worst torture training.

After all, female martial artists had even more pressure points than men.

Instinctively, Qing clenched her hand.

At the same moment, her fingers were gripping the Blood Sect warrior’s jaw.

The sound of his skull fracturing echoed like a melon dropped on stone.

His jaw shattered, and he died instantly.

Qing collapsed right after.

Moyong Juhee might’ve looked fragile, but she was a dual-swordswoman. That meant both hands were trained for weapon use—and her grip strength was inhuman even before trauma-fueled desperation kicked in.

She had crushed Qing’s pressure point with the force of a berserk beast.

Qing couldn’t even cry out. Just writhed silently in the dirt.

The Blood Sect warrior was dead, but his Gu was still alive—still sending pulses of venom, like ghost signals from a corpse.

It took nearly a full quarter-hour for the thing to realize its host had died and stop reacting.

That, right there, was karma.

The price Qing paid for dragging Moyong Juhee through a live-action murder simulation.

“I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—please don’t hate me—please don’t leave me—It wasn’t on purpose—I swear—I’ll let you hit me—Oh! You like pulling out nails, right? You can have all ten of mine if that’ll make you feel better—!”

...How could anyone stay mad after that?

Qing lifted her collar and peeked underneath.

Did it rip?

Did something rupture?

It still throbbed like hell.

She wasn’t sure if it was bruised or bruised.

“Ugh. I’m fine. And who said I like pulling out nails? What kind of slander is that? I mean, I do, but still.”

To prevent a repeat incident, Qing ripped the Blood Sect warrior’s sleeve off and shoved the whole wad into Juhee’s hands.

A little preventative action never hurt.

And thanks to that first disaster, the second attempt went off without a hitch.

The next Blood Sect warrior triggered his Gu, got a nice clean hole punched through his gut, and was so overcome with emotion that he changed careers on the spot—from parasite handler to highly motivated tour guide.

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“This tunnel exits at the northwest corridor. So, um, about our deal—”

“Of course. A promise is a promise. Though, technically, I never made one with you. Lady Moyong? Would you mind?”

With no hesitation, Moyong Juhee reached out and twisted the man’s head like a jar lid.

His neck spun over ninety degrees before the rest of him hit the floor.

Qing didn’t spare a second glance as she calmly climbed the stairs.