Murim Login - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 12
Was it about ten years ago? Back when I was in high school, dozens of ordinary civilians entered a Gate with government approval.
‘It was China, probably.’
Gates are places where even Hunters become corpses if they lose focus, yet they let civilians in—truly the Miracle Continent.
On the very day this insanity unfolded, their identities were revealed during interviews with foreign media.
The Chinese Martial Arts Alliance.
In other words, modern-day Murim practitioners. Composed entirely of non-Awakened individuals, they solemnly declared before hundreds of cameras, their robes billowing dramatically.
‘Today, the thousand-year martial lineage of China will be gloriously revived.’
Glorious it was—within mere hours, their faces plastered the front pages of every news outlet.
– Twenty-five members of the Chinese Martial Arts Alliance annihilated in an F-rank Gate. More than half confirmed dead from goblin venom….
I don’t know how impressive a thousand-year martial lineage is supposed to be, but that incident left China utterly humiliated, and the Chinese Martial Arts Alliance became nothing but a hollow name.
‘Completely destroyed.’
Elite martial artists from the continent felled by goblin venom, masters of tai chi beaten senseless by mixed martial artists.
That’s reality. The scenes from novels and films—I’d thought them fiction, merely packaged with media spectacle and mystique.
‘But now….’
I’m no longer certain. The movements Hyuk Moo-jin displayed were ‘real.’
As I learned martial arts directly, my doubts gradually transformed into conviction. There was no weak, flaccid martial technique like what exists in reality.
The martial arts here are systematic, encompassing countless techniques. They bear no comparison to real-world martial arts or boxing.
‘How is this even possible? Simply because it’s a game?’
Inhale. Exhale.
With each breath, I sense the vital energy outside my body. And I draw it in.
Compared to ten years of cultivation rotating through the meridians, it was merely a speck—a small, weak energy—yet even that pittance was precious to me.
‘One rotation, two rotations….’
Following the incantations of the Taewon Jin Family’s core technique, I guided my energy circulation. It felt as natural as if I’d been training since childhood.
‘Jianjing, Yamen, Fengmen, Rudong….’
Names of meridian points I’d never heard or seen in my twenty-seven years surfaced and faded in my mind. Hundreds of acupoints became etched into my consciousness. How far does the system’s capability extend?
‘When I think about it, it’s almost eerie.’
The human brain isn’t a computer. Yet the system had implanted information into my mind like copying and pasting files. The same applied to other martial techniques.
Is such a phenomenon possible? Merely because it’s a game?
‘No. For now, I’ll focus solely on energy circulation.’
I steadied my breathing again and guided my cultivation. Only after rotating my ten years of accumulated power through twelve complete cycles according to the Taewon Jin Family’s core technique did I open my eyes.
Ding.
–
[Energy Circulation]
has been completed.
–
Your proficiency in [Taewon Jin Family Core Technique]
has increased slightly.
– A small amount of turbid energy has been expelled.
“Phew.”
Mastering the third stage of the Taewon Jin Family Core Technique was within reach. I couldn’t say whether it was because I’d started from the basics, but the progress felt remarkably swift.
‘Or perhaps it’s thanks to the item.’
I gazed at the ring fitted onto my right middle finger.
It was an item I’d received as a reward for completing the [Unity of Man and Sword] achievement.
Item Window
[Clarity Heart Ring]
Type
: Ring
Grade
: None
Restriction
: None
Description
: An exceptionally durable ring of unknown material. It stabilizes the wearer’s mind and aids concentration.
The Clarity Heart Ring. Its form differed from what I knew, but the effects were similar. Ever since I’d equipped it, the time needed to enter the breathing meditation had shortened considerably, and the proficiency I gained had increased.
‘It’s good, but….’
An uneasy feeling gnawed at me. As for logging out—well, that was some technical domain of engineers I knew nothing about. But the martial techniques and this ring, the Clarity Heart Ring, felt somehow unsettling.
‘It’s like something’s being forcibly injected into me?’
Whatever aid it provided to my survival, it was certainly not a pleasant sensation. In every way, this was a wretched game.
“What in the world is Sung Jin-ho doing? The man’s supposed to be the Gosiwon manager.”
If he’d woken me up, he should’ve at least offered me a bowl of hangover soup. Yet there had been no change whatsoever….
‘No. No, that’s not it.’
At the very least, the me in reality was still alive. Which meant I could still exist as a player in this game.
Alive in reality, alive in the game. And I would survive. My life held too much regret to end in such a pathetic death, and my burden was far too heavy to abandon.
‘I cannot die here.’
I clenched my teeth and crossed my legs into a seated position. Whether from the Clarity Heart Ring’s effect or not, my mind gradually settled and my breathing stabilized.
Beginning with the movement of inner force in my lower dantian, I commenced the breathing meditation—I’d lost count of how many times now.
* * *
My second day in the Training Pavilion.
I devoted myself to training without rest. I obsessed over spear techniques and footwork, and whenever my inner force was depleted, I immediately began breathing meditation again.
Ding.
–
[Taewon Jin Family Core Technique]
has reached the third stage.
– Your inner force becomes more refined, enabling more efficient breathing meditation.
Third stage Taewon Jin Family Core Technique. The progress was slower compared to the other two, but not poor. Or at least, I was trying to convince myself of that.
‘I must endure, even like this.’
At least when training in martial arts, I could cast aside the dark thoughts—for that I was grateful.
Whoosh, whish-whoosh.
I executed the forms of the Taewon Jin Family Spear Technique in sequence. Since grasping the connection with the Taewon Jin Family Footwork, my attacks had grown far more refined and piercing, sweeping across the space before me.
I was sketching the image of someone in that empty space.
‘Hyuk Moo-jin.’
The first genuine Murim practitioner I’d met in this game. A level 20 powerhouse who had toyed with me like a child.
‘With my current state, could I defeat him?’
The moment that question surfaced.
Ding.
– A new feature,
[Training Mode]
has been activated.
– You can summon phantoms of opponents you’ve previously fought. However, opponents with a level difference of 10 or more from your current level are unavailable.
– Currently summable opponents:
[Lv.20 Hyuk Moo-jin]
,
[Lv.10 Cheonryeok Bandits]
“Huh?”
Training Mode? I can summon phantoms of opponents I’ve fought before? I hesitated for a moment, then decided to test out this new feature.
“Summon Hyuk Moo-jin.”
–
[Lv.20 Hyuk Moo-jin]
is being summoned.
The moment the system notification appeared, a translucent figure abruptly materialized. Clad in the navy martial robes of the Taewon Jin Family with those distinctive caterpillar-like eyebrows, the figure stood with eyes closed—an exact replica of Hyuk Moo-jin.
“Wow, this is real.”
I cautiously approached and tried to touch Hyuk Moo-jin’s body. But since it was a phantom, my hand passed through him futilely.
Good, that passes the safety test.
– You can partially adjust the level of the summoned target.
“For now, let’s set Hyuk Moo-jin to about half strength.”
–
[Lv.20 Hyuk Moo-jin]
data is being input. The phantom can display 50% of the original’s ability.
At the same time, Hyuk Moo-jin’s phantom opened his eyes. Whether it was his nature or his personality, he gazed at me with that same arrogant expression.
– Will you begin training?
“Of course!”
Ding.
The system notification was my signal. I rushed forward like lightning and thrust my spear. Though it was a fight against a phantom, I poured all my strength into it without reservation.
‘First form.’
As I advance, I thrust and twist the spear shaft. If the opponent can’t evade the first strike, it’s all over.
Screech—
But Hyuk Moo-jin slipped away with movements as slippery as an eel. The moment my next move became meaningless.
‘So he dodges that too.’
I continued to unfold my spear technique. The sound of wind being torn filled the air, but Hyuk Moo-jin evaded every strike.
For a moment, a sneer seemed to flicker across his opaque face.
‘What good is fighting so crudely? A martial artist should naturally employ martial techniques.’
The same line he’d spoken while toying with me last time. It’s merely an illusion I created, but… this irritates me.
‘If you’re confident, stop dodging and come at me.’
Receiving my thoughts, Hyuk Moo-jin slid forward in a rush. But this was a battle between spear and fists. If I allowed his attacks to continue unimpeded, these past seven years would have been nothing but wasted effort.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Whoosh—
I swung the spear shaft. If this were real and not an illusion, there would have been a sharp crack. Even if he dodged, he would have failed to close the distance.
‘Let’s see how far he can retreat.’
The technique had begun. Under the barrage of attacks, Hyuk Moo-jin didn’t dare approach and only backpedaled.
Combat is about momentum. I rode that wave while Hyuk Moo-jin was swept along by it. Watching him roll across the ground with an exhausted expression, I thought to myself:
‘Weak.’
His movements were visible to me. This Hyuk Moo-jin projected here was a fist fighter. By watching his feet, I could read his movements and predict his next action. His fists could never reach me.
Shwish, shwish, shwish!
In an instant, I thrust three times in succession. An attack that F-rank Hunter Jin Tae-kyung could never perform. But as a martial artist who had drawn upon inner energy, Jin Tae-kyung could manage it.
—Aaaaagh!
Hyuk Moo-jin, pierced through the chest, seemed to let out such a scream.
I didn’t hesitate and drove the spear deeper, twisting it. The blade shattered his ribs and tore through his heart. The figure of the fallen Hyuk Moo-jin slowly faded away.
“Ah. This is too easy.”
The match was decided in less than five seconds.
Moreover, I’d maintained the upper hand throughout, yet it ended so anticlimactically.
‘Was the second half too weak?’
I pondered while recovering my depleted inner energy through breathing techniques.
Hyuk Moo-jin was level twenty and a martial artist who had trained in martial arts for at least several years. There’s no way he should be this weak.
‘Good, let’s try again.’
I gripped the spear and stood up. Closing my eyes, I conjured a new Hyuk Moo-jin.
A height of one hundred eighty centimeters. Lean, defined muscles and sharp, piercing eyes. I infused the movements I’d witnessed back then. When I opened my eyes, the illusion I’d envisioned stood before me.
But it wasn’t finished yet. Hyuk Moo-jin needed to be stronger.
‘Your physical abilities surpass mine.’
As I injected several additional conditions, the illusion of Hyuk Moo-jin smiled pleasantly. He now possessed far greater speed and stamina that would never falter.
“Yes, this is what it should be like.”
Those words were the signal. As Hyuk Moo-jin rushed forward like a flash of light, I thrust my spear forward.
Shwish, shwish, shwish!
* * *
Whooom. Boom!
The spear blade tore through the air. With the sound of swarming bees, the burst of energy summoned a wind. The final technique of the Taewon Jin Family spear method. Heavenly Gate Strike.
—Cough…
The illusion of Hyuk Moo-jin stared down at his pierced chest. Disbelief shone in his eyes. His knees buckled and the illusion scattered.
“This isn’t it.”
As I received the message that my proficiency in the Taewon Jin Family spear method had increased, I scratched my head in frustration.
‘Why am I still winning?’
Did the system make a mistake, or…?
‘Did I just get stronger?’
I shook off the stray thought. That couldn’t be it. I wasn’t some unparalleled genius. I’d only mastered a couple of martial arts.
‘This won’t be very useful at this rate.’
What was the point of a simulation to test how I’d fare against a stronger opponent if I kept winning?
If I at least knew what martial arts Hyuk Moo-jin had learned, I could test their effectiveness… wait, hold on.
“There’s an easier way.”
Taewon Jin Family Protective Technique and Taewon Jin Family Spear Technique. What if I grafted both onto a level 20 Hyuk Moo-jin?
I could assess the strengths and weaknesses from a third-party perspective.
Yes, that would be better.
“You think so too, right?”
The phantom of Hyuk Moo-jin, who had reappeared at some point, grinned and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s go again.”
I tilted the spear diagonally upward and stepped forward with my left foot. The phantom mirrored my stance.
– You’ll regret it.
“Stop spouting nonsense about regret.”
Now I was even having conversations with phantoms. Anyone watching would think I’d lost my mind.
– You’re insane.
…It’s my own imagination, but it irritates me.
“You’re dead.”
Without hesitation, I leveled the spear at him.
The same weapon, the same martial arts. This would be an interesting fight.
– Fun? You really are insane.
Yeah, I suppose.
Finding enjoyment in a situation like this. I’m quite mad myself.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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