Murim Login - Chapter 125

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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 125
“Silver Merit.”
Eun So-wol was particularly radiant today. Draped in a snow-white archery robe, her hair was swept up with a jade hairpin, gleaming with lustrous vitality.
Though she still bore the pallor of recent hardship, her breathtaking beauty rendered even that exhaustion captivating.
‘What am I thinking right now?’
Beautiful? Captivating? At seventeen, she should be wearing a school uniform, preparing for entrance exams in the real world, not marriage arrangements.
Two years younger than Ha-yeon, making her ten years my junior. That’s practically niece territory.
‘Yet she’s undeniably mature for her age… No. Get yourself together.’
I averted my gaze from Eun So-wol’s penetrating stare and assumed a martial stance.
“Greetings.”
“We seek an audience with the Sect Leader.”
Eun So-wol was no ordinary girl—she was the Sect Leader of the First Gate, bearing that responsibility with full authority. Just as Jin Moo-kyung and I offered our formal respects, she prepared to reciprocate.
“For the Sect Leader of the Great Hangshan Sword Sect to grace us with her personal presence—I, Hyuk Moo-jin, am truly honored!”
Of course. It wouldn’t be right without him.
Watching Hyuk Moo-jin bow deeply while keeping his gaze fixed on her, I could only sigh.
“My apologies. He’s always been a bit… lacking.”
“…Squad Leader.”
“See? He’s not close to you at all, yet he acts so familiar. Simply ignore him—it’s easier that way.”
A faint dimple appeared at the corner of Eun So-wol’s lips.
“Not at all. He fought for our sect—he’s a benefactor.”
“Don’t worry about it. That fool didn’t even draw his sword, so he hardly qualifies as a benefactor.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Her laughter faltered at my helpful fact-checking.
“He’s a benefactor to me, though.”
The gravelly voice came from behind Eun So-wol—its owner a salt-and-pepper-haired man of middle years, seated upon a creaking wooden cart, offering a nod of acknowledgment.
“Forgive me for not rising. Getting old, you see—the body doesn’t cooperate like it used to.”
In terms of age and renown, no one present could match the figure before us.
At Chul Moo-baek of Hangshan Lake’s entrance, Hyuk Moo-jin hastily bent at the waist.
“Master Chul Moo-baek, I am honored to—”
“First time seeing my face? Spare me the tedious formalities.”
“Yet your reputation is legendary among the Murim elite—”
“Senior, junior—if we nitpick every detail, life in the Murim becomes exhausting.”
“…”
The old man’s casual temperament was refreshingly uncompromising.
Even Hyuk Moo-jin, shameless as he was, fell silent. Now it was Jin Moo-kyung’s turn.
“You’ve arrived.”
Nothing elaborate—merely a brief greeting accompanied by a modest martial salute. Yet Chul Moo-baek’s face bloomed with delight upon spotting Jin Moo-kyung.
“Ah, if it isn’t our Jin Cheon Sword himself. So you’re departing already?”
“That is the plan.”
“Why rush off? Stay a while longer. We could have a deeper discussion about martial arts, hmm?”
“My apologies. Time is rather pressing.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Will you visit this old man again when you have the chance?”
“For a senior of the Murim to offer guidance—I should be the one asking such a favor.”
“Hehehehe! ‘Senior,’ now that’s pleasant to hear.”
What on earth is this spectacle?
They’ve only been together for a few days, yet they look like a grandfather and grandchild getting along famously.
And what’s this? Just moments ago he was saying that worrying about seniority makes life exhausting, and now look at him changing his tune.
I exchanged a glance with Hyuk Moo-jin.
‘What’s gotten into those two?’
‘I have no idea. When did we become benefactors? Is it acceptable to discriminate between people like this?’
‘But honestly, you didn’t do anything anyway.’
‘….’
Seeing him clamp his mouth shut with an irritated expression, my message had clearly gotten through.
“Yes, let’s definitely meet again next time.”
Chul Moo-baek, gazing at Jin Moo-kyung with a warm grandfather’s smile, turned his head toward me.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
Was it my imagination, or did I sense the gaze of a predator in that moment?
I decided to follow the better of the two examples I’d witnessed earlier.
“Welcome.”
“So I’ve come, then I’ve gone?”
“….”
This wasn’t it at all.
But smiling through hardship is the mark of true refinement. I smiled without showing my bewilderment.
“I trust you’re feeling well?”
This time, Chul Moo-baek shook his splinted limbs.
“Do I look well?”
“…No, sir.”
“If I were well, I would have walked here. These days, the horse bandits work us old folk without mercy or retirement—how could someone like me possibly endure?”
“….”
The old man’s memory was sharp. He still held a grudge over the slip of the tongue I’d made when we first met.
Eun So-wol, unaware of the situation, let out a startled cry.
“Uncle!”
“Alas, this old man’s ears are about to fall off.”
He, who had been grumbling, suddenly bowed with utmost respect.
“Thank you all.”
This was no reluctant greeting. Chul Moo-baek of Hangshan Lake—an old master who had walked his own solitary path for countless years—spoke with genuine sincerity.
“Not merely for extending this old man’s remaining days, which are few. So-wol, thank you for protecting that child. Thanks to all of you, the Hangsan Inspection Bureau has survived.”
He fixed me, Jin Moo-kyung, and Hyuk Moo-jin with a calm, penetrating gaze in turn.
“In my more than sixty years of life, I’ve learned one truth: debts of gratitude and enmity must be repaid by any means necessary. I swear here and now that I shall never forget this deed as long as I draw breath. Should you desire it, I would surrender my very life.”
Eun So-wol immediately continued Chul Moo-baek’s words.
“The Hangsan Inspection Bureau will remember our benefactors. And for the wrongs committed by my late father… I offer my apologies here and now.”
“We beg your forgiveness!”
“Please, grant us mercy!”
The ringing cries erupted from the mouths of the Hangsan Inspection Bureau’s warriors.
Each bearing wounds both great and small, they knelt in the snow that had yet to melt, awaiting our response.
Thump.
– You answer them.
At Jin Moo-kyung’s silent transmission, I licked my parched lips.
‘Forgiveness.’
We had won the war, yet scars remained.
Warriors who fought and fell endlessly by command, and even women and children who had never learned martial arts—all had been sacrificed. It was the work of Lee Cheon-baek, blinded by his son’s vengeance.
The wounds left by the war with the Hangsan Inspection Bureau ran deep, and healing would take a long time.
‘And scars would remain.’
Some scars are never truly erased.
The young siblings who lost their home and parents in an instant would bear them, as would I. The face of that fool who dreamed the absurd fantasy of becoming the greatest martial artist of all time still haunts me.
Yet I cannot deny that this moment represents the beginning of closure.
‘Because all those who inflicted these wounds are now dead.’
The Grand Elder and Lee Cheon-baek, who each harbored dreams of vengeance, had already met their end.
Was that not why we had ridden day and night to save the Hangsan Inspection Bureau?
If there is sincere apology and forgiveness… even if scars remain, wounds can heal.
Just as they are now.
“I will not accept your apologies.”
The words tumbled out after much deliberation. I continued without waiting for others’ reactions.
“I am not someone worthy of receiving apologies or granting forgiveness to anyone.”
No one here possesses such standing. Those who should apologize are in the Taewon Jin Family.
Eun So-wol and Chul Moo-baek nodded, understanding my meaning.
“We shall meet again on the coming First Day of the Year.”
“Taewon, then. It will be our first journey beyond these lands in thirty years.”
The Hangsan Inspection Bureau would never be a welcome guest. Especially now, diminished and weakened as we are, we may face all manner of humiliation and disgrace.
But this too is something they must all endure. There is nothing I can do, nor any reason for me to interfere.
– Well done.
I offered my final farewell while hearing Jin Moo-kyung’s brief silent transmission.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
It was the moment I turned toward the carriage.
“Benefactor.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know? There’s less than half a month until the First Day of the Year.”
Eun So-wol’s voice flowed like a gentle stream.
“I’m looking forward to the answer I didn’t hear last time.”
As I stood there flustered, my lips moving soundlessly, Jin Moo-kyung grabbed and pulled me along.
With the sound of Chul Moo-baek’s discontented cough fading behind us, the carriage lurched forward with vigor.
* * *
The journey back to the Taewon Jin Family was swift and smooth. The Coachman’s skilled hands played their part, but more than anything, the anxiety that had plagued me seemed to dissolve, making everything feel effortless.
“Phew.”
Jin Moo-kyung, who had just finished his breathing cultivation, let out a soft murmur.
“Come to think of it, I never got to see a peak-realm martial technique.”
He had been lured into accompanying us by Jin Wi-kyung’s promise that we could witness peak-realm techniques at the Hengshan Sword Sect. I replied with measured composure.
“It’s fine. Thanks to Pung Yang, you at least got to see Beimang Mountain.”
“Is that supposed to be consolation?”
“No, I was teasing.”
A cracking sound emanated from Jin Moo-kyung’s joints.
“You’ve grown considerably.”
“Once your injuries heal, would you spar with me?”
“Right now, this instant… ugh.”
Jin Moo-kyung, who had begun to rise from his seat, winced in pain.
No matter how swift his recovery, it had only been four days. The time was far too short for his injuries to fully mend.
He collapsed back onto his seat, glaring at me.
“Consider yourself fortunate.”
“I don’t know about fortune, but my lifeline is impressively thick.”
Each time I faced death’s threshold, I somehow survived. It seemed my lifeline was robust from birth—or perhaps I was blessed by Heaven’s fortune.
“In any case, you did well.”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
Both Hyuk Moo-jin and I widened our eyes at this unexpected praise. The one being complimented himself looked bewildered.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve heard something you shouldn’t have.”
“That’s uncanny.”
“Wait, could it be that you already died to Pung Yang and became a vengeful spirit here?”
It was a plausible hypothesis, but around Jin Moo-kyung, one had to watch their tongue at all times.
I reached into my robes while watching Hyuk Moo-jin get pummeled senseless.
‘Inventory open. Summon.’
In the next moment, something round and solid touched my fingertips.
The sole object Pung Yang left behind—or rather, the only thing I managed to take from him.
‘Check item.’
Ding.
Item Window
[Latent Potential Pill]
Type
: Spirit Pill
Grade
: ???
Restriction
: [Peak Warrior] or above
Description
: A pill crafted by [an unknown someone]. For approximately one hour, it dramatically amplifies the user’s latent power, but a price follows in return. Do not consume unless in the direst circumstances.
Effects
: All combat-related stats +100
[Internal Force] +15 years
[Body Protection Technique] usable
The effects are absurdly powerful, even accounting for the short duration. I finally understand why Pung Yang was so confident.
I don’t know how severe the aftereffects are, but if my life is in immediate danger, I’d swallow twenty of these, not just two.
But there was something else that truly bothered me.
‘A pill crafted by an unknown someone.’
The item grade itself is a question mark, the exact aftereffects aren’t listed, and even the creator is shrouded in mystery.
What kind of person creates such a bizarre thing?
‘This reeks of something fishy.’
I was lost in thought, rolling the Latent Force Pill in my palm, when it happened.
A distant, faint cry echoing from afar.
– Moo-kyung! Tae-kyung!
Jin Moo-kyung, who had been passionately striking Hyuk Moo-jin’s forehead, froze.
“An auditory hallucination?”
No, it wasn’t.

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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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