Murim Login - Chapter 13

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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 13
Five horses galloped with tremendous force. After crossing mountains, fields, and rivers, we finally arrived at our destination around noon.
“Where have you come from?”
The young man at the front laughed at the gate keeper’s tense question. His lips curved upward in a crooked smile that couldn’t hide the unmistakable hostility beneath.
“Hangsan.”
Jin Wi-kyung summoned the family elders an hour later.
* * *
Hyuk Moo-jin was endlessly versatile. I simply needed to visualize his form in my mind. Spear, sword, saber, bow… There were times I won and times I lost, but one thing was certain.
“I’ve got the feel for it now.”
The martial arts had become second nature to my body. At first, I focused on executing each move sequentially from beginning to end, but now it was different.
The techniques shifted depending on the situation. Martial arts didn’t require each move to follow in rigid order. I had reached a level where I could chain techniques together, transcending the prescribed sequence of moves.
‘Just like this moment.’
Whoosh!
By the time I heard the wind’s whisper, it was already too late. Hyuk Moo-jin sighed as his abdomen was pierced through.
– Your skills are improving rapidly.
“I’ve been practicing spear techniques for seven years, you bastard.”
When I opened my eyes after closing them, the empty Training Pavilion came into view. The system notification chimed as if celebrating my victory.
Ding.
–
[Jin Family Spear Technique]
has advanced to Fourth Rank!
–
[Jin Family Movement Technique]
has advanced to Fourth Rank!
– Techniques become more refined and destructive power increases.
– Level Up!
“So I’m level 14 now?”
I’d gained three levels in four days.
For someone who’d been cooped up in the Training Pavilion for four days straight, it was a steep climb.
On top of that, the Jin Family Core Technique had reached Third Rank, while the movement and spear techniques had reached Fourth Rank.
“Open status window.”
After distributing my remaining points, my nose tingled strangely.
Status Window
[Lv.14 Jin Tae-kyung]
Occupation
: Second-Rate Martial Artist
Renown
: 10
Titles
: 3 (Title Effects Applied)
– Heir of a Prestigious House (All Stats +5, Fame +50)
– Shame of the Family (All Stats –5, Fame –50)
– Novice Practitioner (Training Speed +10%)
Strength
: 51
Endurance
: 61
Agility
: 61
Intelligence
: 10
Charm
: 10
Martial Power
: 10 years
Remaining Points
: 0
“Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
Look at this perfectly balanced distribution of stats.
This is combat incarnate—combat through and through, combat perfected.
‘And martial techniques on top of that.’
I’m not the same person I was then. Hyuk Moo-jin? I’m confident I could defeat him now.
That F-rank Hunter who didn’t even know the first character of martial arts is dead. Now I am a true Murim warrior—one who has mastered the supreme meditation technique and learned two first-class martial techniques.
‘Today marks the beginning.’
All preparations are complete. Once I leave the Training Pavilion today, I’ll gather the items I’ve prepared and slip away from the Taewon Jin Family.
‘I might even be able to get help from Jin Wi-kyung.’
Just dealing with incompetent bandits like the Cheonryeok Bandits will let me reach my target quickly. At most, two days. After that, I can return to the warmth of my family.
‘Mother, Ha-yeon. I miss you.’
That’s when my eyes began to glisten.
Creak—
“Oh, ohhh!”
The moment I’d been waiting for. The iron gate blocking the Training Pavilion entrance was opening. That dark, heavy mass of metal looked as beautiful as the gates of heaven itself.
“Finally! I’m getting out!”
I rushed toward the heavenly entrance with a face full of joy.
The angel who would free me from this place appeared from behind the door.
“Third Young Master. Four days, then.”
Not a particularly welcoming face, but right now I’m nothing but delighted.
“You came to let me out, right? Yes? That’s right, isn’t it?”
Wi Paeng, the angel who resembled a desert fox, answered with a subtle tone.
“Yes. For now, at least.”
“…?”
“I will leave, but there’s a place I must stop by first.”
“A place you must stop by?”
A chill ran down my spine. Some primal survival instinct was raising its head.
“Where are you going?”
“The Grand Conference Hall. The Family Head is waiting for you there as well. And….”
Wi Paeng added on.
“The senior members of the main family and an emissary from the Hengshan Sword Sect are also present.”
“The Hengshan Sword Sect? Why would they come here?”
Wol-hwa had mentioned it at Honghwa House. The Taewon Jin Family and the Hengshan Sword Sect were sworn enemies. So why were they here?
‘Things are going wrong.’
This was ominous. Deeply ominous. I had to find a way out of this somehow.
“Could I just go back to my quarters and change clothes before we go?”
“That is not possible.”
“It seems like an important occasion, and I wouldn’t want to smell bad….”
“Are you planning to flee?”
He looked like a camel but had the perceptiveness of a meerkat. Before I could say anything, Wi Paeng’s hand pressed down on my shoulder.
“Third Young Master. From now on, I ask that you answer truthfully to my questions. Do you understand?”
His voice was dry and his eyes were cold. I couldn’t open my mouth under the pressure emanating from him. All I could do was nod.
‘Jin Tae-kyung.’
Three characters suddenly flashed through my mind.
It was certain. This bastard had definitely caused a disaster I knew nothing about.
And….
“Is it true that you attempted to violate the daughter of the Hengshan Sword Sect?”
That disaster was far greater than I could have imagined.
* * *
As I followed Wi Paeng toward the Grand Conference Hall, my mind was completely blank.
‘Attempted sexual assault?’
Even if it was only an attempt, it was a sex crime worthy of death.
I remembered how I used to say habitually, as a person and as an older brother with a younger sister, that sex offenders should be executed.
‘This insane bastard.’
My palms were damp with cold sweat. I uttered words for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I really didn’t do it. Please believe me.”
Wi Paeng answered without even turning around.
“Has your memory returned?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m telling you, I really didn’t do it. Do I look like the type to do something like that? To commit such filthy acts?”
“Yes.”
Are you serious.
He answered without even taking a breath.
“Hey, then could I just stop by the restroom before we go?”
“That won’t do.”
“No, you have to let me take care of business!”
“Just fight.”
Damn bastard. I gave up and immediately spun around to run. I drew upon all my inner strength, concentrating it into my legs.
Whoosh.
“Third Young Master.”
I was caught in three strides. Wi Paeng, gripping the nape of my neck, looked down at me with cold eyes.
“If you continue like this… I may have no choice but to be disrespectful.”
Resistance was futile. Wi Paeng was a master whose level I couldn’t even discern with [Perception].
‘There’s no helping it.’
After walking with a heavy heart for some time, a towering Pavilion came into view.
Several warriors stood guard ahead, and while the navy blue garments distinctive to the Taewon Jin Family were familiar to me, some wore crimson robes I’d never seen before.
‘So those are the Hengshan Sword Sect.’
Considering the usual relationship between the two sects, they should be at odds, yet now they all glared at me with singular purpose.
“Damn it….”
Wi Paeng turned his head at my muttering.
“The Patriarch believes in you, Third Young Master. Do not forget that fact.”
Right. Jin Wi-kyung exists. My greatest hope and shield.
As I recalled that truth, Wi Paeng pushed open the doors to the Grand Conference Hall.
“I have brought the Third Young Master.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the Pavilion. Internally, I kept repeating endlessly.
‘Even if a tiger mauls you, if you keep your wits about you, you’ll survive. Even if a tiger mauls you, if you keep your wits about you….’
As I entered the conference hall, the low murmuring voices abruptly ceased. A dozen men, young and old, were arrayed on both sides, and Jin Wi-kyung occupied the seat of honor.
And in the center stood a young man.
“It’s been a while, Young Master Jin.”
The moment I met that unsettling smile.
Ding.
–
[Murderous Intent]
detected!
…Turn up the lights a bit before coming in.
* * *
Murderous intent.
Familiar. Monsters are creatures bound together by malice and killing intent, after all. I’d felt it countless times, and I thought I was accustomed to it by now. But this one….
‘It’s different.’
It operates on an entirely different level from what I’ve experienced.
If I had to compare it, I’d say it’s like the difference between a low-tier and mid-tier monster. Far more refined, subtle, and chilling.
“I believe we crossed paths briefly on the street last time. I’m not sure if you’d remember.”
Word by word, Lee So-gun spat them out, a system window hovering above his head.
[Lv.30 Lee So-gun]
The moment I sensed the killing intent, I read the creature’s level with [Energy Sense]. It exceeded my level by more than double.
‘This is insane.’
What was even more disheartening was the gaze of the others around me.
Dozens of vicious eyes—young and old alike—fixed upon me, and my legs trembled at the oppressive atmosphere. It was then that Lee So-gun opened his mouth.
“What a shame. Had you arrived just a bit earlier, we could have had a much deeper conversation. We were just discussing something quite fascinating.”
“…Is that so?”
“Aren’t you curious what we were discussing?”
“No, it’s fine.”
I could only pray it wasn’t a debate about whether to slit my throat or something far worse. And if my unfortunate suspicion proved true, I’d rather it be the latter.
‘If I play my cards right, I can recover through leveling up… Why am I even thinking about this?’
It was utterly pathetic. Lee So-gun, who had been watching my expression intently, spoke again.
“I heard you returned to the family a few days ago. Where were you before that?”
“At Honghwa House.”
“And before you went to Honghwa House, where were you?”
‘I was at the Gosiwon. Damn it.’
I wanted to confess everything honestly. That day, I was fired from the Guild, had a drink with my Elder Brother at the Gosiwon, then went into a capsule to sleep. When I woke up, I was at Honghwa House, and I’ve been desperately trying to log out ever since. Something like that.
‘As long as he doesn’t draw his sword, I’ll count my blessings.’
As I hesitated, unable to answer, Lee So-gun pulled something from his robe. I thought he might actually draw a blade, but it was just a bundle of papers.
“Since you seem to have forgotten, allow me to refresh your memory. The night before you went to Honghwa House, you visited Myeongwol House. You headed straight to a premium room that had been reserved.”
“Myeongwol House?”
“That pleasure house you frequented so often? Don’t bother claiming ignorance. Here are the testimonies and signatures of those who witnessed you at Myeongwol House that night.”
In other words, it was a list of testimonies. I took the papers and began reading through them.
And I found something odd.
“What is this?”
“Can’t you tell even after seeing it yourself?”
This bastard was dropping formalities with me.
“Looking at it, there’s no proper testimony here.”
I read through dozens of testimonies, but there was no decisive evidence anywhere.
The accounts were all similar. Jin Tae-kyung was heavily intoxicated and entered the wrong room, which happened to belong to a daughter of the Hengshan Sword Sect. And there were screams.
“How shameless—attempting to assault my sister and tearing her clothes. The rumors were true indeed.”
“No, that’s not what—”
“You bastard!”
*Whoosh!*
“Ugh.”
The bundle of papers that struck my face scattered across the floor. Lee So-gun spat on them.
‘Look at this guy.’
It wasn’t anger. Just suspicion.
How should I put it? The entire sequence of events felt deliberately constructed, especially regarding the testimonies.
But I had no time to dwell on this unease.
“Follow me. I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done!”
It was the moment Lee So-gun let out a roar.
Ding.
–
[Martial Contest]
Quest has been created.
What is this now.

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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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