Murim Login - Chapter 154

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

Chapter 154
The Middle-aged Martial Artist and Jang Chil-deuk found themselves gazing upward once more—not at the sky, but at the cliff face.
“Tell me, Chil-deuk. Have you ever trained in Wall Tiger Technique?”
“Wall Tiger Technique? Ah, someone with shallow courage like me wouldn’t dare attempt it. Have you, Elder Brother?”
“Once, about five years ago.”
“Why did you stop?”
“I’d been training Wall Tiger Technique for about three months when I mistepped and fell. Broke my ankle in the process.”
“My goodness, you must have fallen from quite a height.”
“Only about fifty feet or so. I trained without missing a single day for three months, and that’s when my ankle broke.”
“What a shame.”
“A shame, you say?”
“Who knows—if you’d continued, you might have become a master of Wall Tiger Technique.”
“A master of Wall Tiger Technique? Me, who can’t escape second-rate status even with a lifetime of sword cultivation?”
The Middle-aged Martial Artist chuckled softly and pointed toward the cliff.
“No matter the martial art, you need martial talent to be called a master. Don’t you feel anything watching those two?”
“That much is certainly true.”
The two men watched the two figures ascending the cliff face with remarkable speed.
Without question, it was Jin Tae-kyung and Hyuk Moo-jin, dedicating themselves to Wall Tiger Technique training once again today.
Patter, patter, patter, patter, crack!
Stones and chunks of ice tumbling down from dizzying heights above.
In this very moment, both men shared the same thought.
‘Are those people, or are they lizards?’
Their hands and feet moved without hesitation up the nearly vertical cliff face.
Though the difference in speed was considerable, considering their training period, the results were truly remarkable.
“How many days has it been now?”
“Let’s see, this is the third rotation, so… exactly four days.”
“Only four days. If I’d trained for a year instead of three months, could I have mastered Wall Tiger Technique to that degree?”
….
Both the Middle-aged Martial Artist and Jang Chil-deuk knew the answer to that question.
Jang Chil-deuk, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke.
“Elder Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“What can we do without martial talent?”
“We’re useless. Pull out the dried meat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jang Chil-deuk quickly produced dried meat and a bottle of liquor from his pouch. He was adapting swiftly to what was supposedly the Taewon Jin Family’s most coveted posting—duty at the Training Pavilion.
* * *
Whoooosh!
He hugged the cliff face tightly, evading a boulder plummeting at terrifying speed. High above, Chung Poong could be seen clicking his tongue in disappointment.
‘I knew it would be like this, you bastard.’
How many times do you think I’ll fall for this?
Since childhood, while my scholarly aptitude was poor, my ability to learn through physical experience was unparalleled.
“Hnnnngh!”
By comparison, Hyuk Moo-jin is rather slow. It’s only natural—there’s clearly a gap in our current levels.
I called out to Hyuk Moo-jin, who was clawing his way up from far below.
“Moo-jin, are you alright?”
“No!”
“…Oh, really?”
Look at that. Of course he’s not fine, but normally people would at least lie and say they’re okay. Hyuk Moo-jin doesn’t do that.
“Stop whining and get up here faster!”
“My whole body is cramping! I barely dodged it just now!”
Despite what he says, he’s keeping up quite well. Through this training, I’ve confirmed it once again—Hyuk Moo-jin has considerable tenacity and martial talent.
“We’re almost there. Grit your teeth and climb!”
I wedged myself into a hollow of the cliff and paused to catch my breath.
‘Quest window open.’
Ding.
Quest
[Sword Saint Training Indirect Experience Record]
Masters are forged through countless trials and tribulations.
Chung Poong, who underwent rigorous training under the Sword Saint, will now educate you by reviving memories from his childhood!
Rank
: Peak
Restriction
: Those who have received Chung Poong’s permission
Objective
: Climb the Cliff 10 times (9/10)
Reward
: [Wall Tiger Technique] acquired
[Chung Poong] is very pleased
???
Failure
: Injury or death
[Chung Poong] is very saddened
Today marks exactly the third day since I began climbing this accursed cliff.
Only one more ascent remains until quest completion, but I cannot afford to be careless.
Because…
“Benefactor! Where are you! Stick your head out!”
“No! Get lost!”
“Ah, there you are! I took a while gathering rocks to throw since I’d used them all up!”
It’s because of that psychopath who looks ready to drop a boulder on my face at any moment.
The first cliff ascent was already grueling enough, but with each successive attempt, Chung Poong’s interference grew increasingly relentless.
I crouched low and shouted.
“Why did you have to retrieve that?! If a rock falls, just leave it alone!”
“But… if I don’t do this, you won’t be able to properly master Wall Tiger Technique!”
“….”
Is he insane? How many people in this world actually master Wall Tiger Technique while getting pelted by boulders?
As I stood there speechless with exasperation, a scarred hand suddenly thrust into the space where I was taking shelter.
Not the ghost of someone who died here long ago while practicing Wall Tiger Technique—it was Hyuk Moo-jin.
“Huff… I’m dying here.”
When you’re truly exhausted, words fail you. My breath came in ragged gasps, my head throbbed, and even breathing alone made my chest ache.
Yet the creature beside me, still looking surprisingly alive, crawled over and spread his legs wide.
“Hey, it’s cramped.”
“Is it only cramped for you, sir? It’s cramped for me too.”
“Either fold your legs or move further over. This space is meant for one person to begin with.”
“Ah, I’m exhausted. Why don’t you move over, sir? Isn’t it cruel to treat my right arm—which struggled so hard to climb up here—so harshly?”
“I’m generous to my right arm. But you’re just a pinky toe, so I can afford to be a bit harsh.”
“Wow, are you serious? This is the only place to escape the rocks, and you want me to just leap out and take one to the face so you can feel better?”
I spoke with a serious expression.
“Why would you say such a thing? Of course not.”
“Oh, that’s unusual of you, sir…”
“You’ll feel suffocated and guilty for a while. But after about a year, you’ll be fine. After ten years, you’ll have forgotten your face entirely.”
“…That’s remarkably pragmatic.”
“That’s just how life is, friend. So fold your legs now. Otherwise, I might end up feeling guilty about something.”
“Yes, sir.”
A sprawl-legged fool can take a rock to the head without consequence. Because he’s a sprawl-legged fool.
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had drawn his legs in tightly and steadied his breathing, let out a sigh.
“No matter how I think about it, this seems insane.”
“What does?”
“That Chung Poong assigning this seems insane, and me accepting it also seems insane.”
“You’re doing well for something so insane.”
“I’m just going all in, you know?”
“That’s the answer.”
“Sir?”
“Going all in. That’s the answer. When death truly comes knocking at your door later, you’ll regret not giving it your all in moments like this.”
I gathered my disheveled hair and continued speaking.
“I should have worked harder back then. You know, that kind of regret.”
During my years as a Hunter, I prided myself on giving blood and sweat. Yet even with that effort, regret remained. Regret always comes too late. And it cuts deepest only after losing something precious.
“Your life, your wealth, or people—if you don’t want to lose what matters, stake your life on it now. Isn’t striving with all your might while alive better than dying?”
“Uh….”
Hyuk Moo-jin stared at me with wide eyes.
“You speak like someone with experience.”
“Why? Is that strange?”
“It depends on who’s saying it. The way I see you, Squad Leader, is… hmm.”
“Not something a young master who grew up without hardship should say?”
“Well, if you put it that way. You seem like someone who’s never lost anything precious in life, yet you carry yourself like a seasoned veteran who’s seen it all.”
This fellow has decent instincts.
Or perhaps I appear that way to everyone else as well?
I let out a quiet chuckle, and Hyuk Moo-jin regarded me with suspicious eyes.
“What’s with that laugh?”
“Just thinking you’re quite perceptive.”
“Wait… Squad Leader, you’re not a fake, are you?”
“What?”
“It’s awkward to bring up now, but you’ve changed too much. Your personality, your martial skills—it’s like you’ve become a completely different person.”
“Haven’t you heard? A secret weapon the Taewon Jin Family raised in secret.”
“Rumors are just rumors. Unverified gossip. How many people haven’t seen you living it up recklessly?”
“And you’re one of them?”
“Yes. At first I thought you might be wearing a human skin mask, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“A human skin mask? That thing where you peel off someone’s face and wear it?”
“See? You act like you’re hearing about it for the first time. You often say things we don’t understand.”
“Hmm.”
Now that I think about it, I stopped worrying about avoiding suspicion at some point. Everyone around me believed I was Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family. I had long since accepted my Murim identity as part of myself.
“If you’re some kind of body double sent by a secret faction like in novels, just tell me now. I’ll keep quiet about it.”
“You’re an absurd fellow. I’d have to report you immediately.”
“Well, things are much better now than before. And I owe you my life, Squad Leader. Hehe.”
His mouth smiles, but it’s no joke. The slight tremor in his throat and the wavering in his eyes prove it.
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Want me to be honest with you?”
“H-honest?”
“I’ve been itching to tell someone anyway. And this place is perfect for it.”
Hyuk Moo-jin glanced around nervously. A cliff face hollowed out just enough for two people to sit side by side. And conveniently, if we stuck our heads out, a madman was waiting to drop rocks on us.
Truly, a perfect spot where one could die and no one would notice.
“You’re really not very bright, are you?”
Hyuk Moo-jin swallowed hard.
“S-Squad Leader. I don’t care who you are.”
“It’s already too late.”
“No! I won’t say anything! I meant what I said earlier!”
“What if I told you I belong to the Demon Cult?”
“The Demon Cult!”
“I’m only saying this once. Listen carefully.”
“I didn’t hear anything. No, I won’t hear anything!”
Hyuk Moo-jin, his face turning ashen, tried to cover his ears, but I spoke faster.
“I actually came from a different world.”
“…?”
“Even separated by thousands of miles, people can talk to each other. Monsters with horns or wings swarm everywhere. In Murim terms, you’d call them evil spirits, right?”
“…What?”
“Anyway, I somehow ended up here from that world, and strange things started appearing before my eyes—then boom! Level up! Points exploding! My head ringing with notifications!”
“…”
“So it’s been about two or three months since I entered martial arts. I’ve defeated dozens of first-rate masters and captured three peak-level masters. So, question for you?”
Hyuk Moo-jin slowly lowered his hands from his ears.
His expression was a complex mixture of frustration and relief.
“Fine, let’s just say I was wrong. How’s that?”
“Why? It’s the truth. You don’t believe me?”
“Even a stray dog wouldn’t believe that. If only my martial skills were stronger….”
Smack!
I struck the back of his grumbling head, then rose to my feet. It’s the truth, but it doesn’t sound like the truth.
Of course, I had anticipated Hyuk Moo-jin’s reaction, which is precisely why I told him.
Coming from another world—isn’t that an absurd story no matter who hears it?
“Brain level-up? Points? Goodness, I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t know what I was expecting from you, squad leader.”
“What were you expecting? The Demon Cult? The Blood Sect?”
“Ah, stop! Please stop!”
I grabbed Hyuk Moo-jin’s shoulder as he rose. The next instant, a boulder the size of an adult man whistled past with a sinister sound of air tearing.
“Be careful. You still have a long way to go.”
I patted his back reassuringly and began climbing the Cliff again. Only half remained until the summit.
* * *
The moment Hyuk Moo-jin and I finally reached the summit, system notifications erupted like celebratory fireworks.
Ding. Ding. Ding!
– Cliff Ascent 10 Times (10/10)
– Quest completed successfully!
– New martial technique,
[Wall Tiger Technique]
has been activated!
– Exceptional performance beyond expectations! Additional rewards granted!
– Level Up!
– Gain 10 Stat Points and 10 Skill Points each!
– Title,
[Novice Practitioner]
has been
[Intermediate Practitioner]
upgraded!
– Please open the system window to confirm and apply the changes.
Chung Poong flashed a brilliant smile at us.
“Wow, you actually pulled it off!”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Perhaps.”
This bastard—surely not? At our sharp gazes, Chung Poong shook his head.
“It’s nothing serious. It took me a full fortnight, you see. I had no idea you’d finish so quickly.”
“A fortnight, you say?”
Hyuk Moo-jin, repeating the words, stared at me with bewilderment.
Who is Chung Poong? A successor to the Sword Saint himself, and a master of the pinnacle who defeated Jin Moo-kyung. The fact that I’d achieved this faster than him was simply unbelievable.
But…
“Why are you pleased, you fool? We’re different ages. Aren’t we?”
“I wasn’t that young. I was already ten years old back then!”
“…Isn’t ten years old still just a child?”
Chung Poong laughed brightly, reminiscing about those days.
“Back then, climbing up Nak-an Peak and falling back down was just daily routine. It was quite fun, actually.”
“Nak-an Peak?”
“It’s a peak on Huashan. The height easily exceeds five hundred zhang? Ah, of course, I could only climb all the way to the top starting from age eighteen.”
“…”
“…”
Isn’t that the age where you can’t even watch PG-13 movies?
Third grade elementary school—hardly old enough to be called a food-obsessed kid.
‘At that age, I was just playing on the jungle gym in the school yard…’
This bastard Chung Poong was playing on mountain peaks of Huashan.
The continent truly operates on a different scale.
“In any case, both of you have worked incredibly hard. You’ve achieved remarkable results!”
Chung Poong, clapping enthusiastically by himself, continued speaking.
“So here’s the thing…”
Hyuk Moo-jin, sensing something ominous, rushed forward urgently.
“No, wait. Wait just a moment.”
“I know many more interesting training methods.”
“Hey! Wait just a moment!”
Hyuk Moo-jin charged forward with a shout, but it was already too late. Chung Poong, having easily subdued him with the Golden Finger technique, cried out cheerfully.
“Let’s all do our best together!”
Ding.
–
[Chung Poong]
is in high spirits from your outstanding achievement!
– As a special reward, the linked Quest,
[Sword Saint Training Indirect Experience Record-2]
has been generated!
“Hey, you bastard! Let go of my arm right now!”
As I heard Hyuk Moo-jin’s shout, a sudden question crossed my mind.
‘Just how many linked Quests are there?’
One thing was certain.
That Chung Poong would never stop at merely 2.
‘He’s going to be absolutely relentless.’
I turned my gaze skyward, leaving Hyuk Moo-jin’s incessant squawking behind me. The vast expanse of sky stretched endlessly blue. The air was crisp and cool, and several hawks with their massive wings spread wide drifted lazily across the heavens.
The First Day of the Year was now merely ten days away.

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