Murim Login - Chapter 156

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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 156
Thud!
Timing, speed, power. And finally, the point of impact.
This strike landed perfectly. The only unfortunate fact was that this perfect strike was driven straight into my solar plexus.
“Kgh!”
In an instant, my breath caught in excruciating pain. Beyond my blurred vision, I saw Chung Poong raising his fist again.
“Wait, hold on!”
“What?”
“I—I got hit in the solar plexus, the solar plexus.”
“Grandfather said that once you start fighting, you must incapacitate your opponent completely.”
“This is a sparring match!”
“Grandfather also said that sparring must be conducted like real combat, or you won’t survive the treacherous Murim.”
What could I say? The Sword Saint himself had taught him this way, so who was I to argue? And truthfully, training like it’s real combat wasn’t wrong either.
Once I let go of everything, my mind became peaceful.
“…Fine, go ahead. Hit me.”
“Yes!”
Crack!
Ding.
– Powerful strike!
[Durability]
has increased by 2.
My vision flashed white, and strength drained from my legs. Against my will, my body tumbled backward.
‘I can’t let the back of my head hit the ground.’
Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. Hyuk Moo-jin, who had already been knocked unconscious and lying on the ground, cushioned the back of my head with his buttocks.
‘Gross. Disgusting yet soft. Disgusting yet firm.’
This bastard definitely had an apple-shaped rear.
I suspected he’d been doing Pilates and yoga during his downtime at the Gate Master’s Office.
I gazed up at the sky, using Hyuk Moo-jin’s rear as a pillow. After getting thoroughly beaten, the sky looked yellow to me.
‘Check quest.’
Ding.
Quest
[Sword Saint Training Indirect Experience – 2]
Delighted by your outstanding performance, Chung Poong has presented a second training challenge.
Knock him down even once before the First Day of the Year!
Rank
: Peak
Restriction
: For those who have completed the preceding quest
Objective
: Victory in sparring with Chung Poong (Incomplete)
Reward
: ???
[Chung Poong] is very pleased
Failure
: ???
[Chung Poong] is very sad
I’d thought I might win at least once, but that confidence evaporated the moment we began.
My sparring with Chung Poong was far more one-sided than it had been with Moo-jin, and proportionally more brutal.
‘How does he know so many martial techniques?’
In just two days, I’d witnessed over a dozen different techniques.
Just as I was growing accustomed to the Tai Yi Mirage Palm, the Falling Flower Chasing Shadow Palm would emerge. And the moment that technique began to feel familiar, the Crouching Tiger Fist would burst forth.
Beyond those, countless secret techniques that had elevated the Huashan Sect to its current status among the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance were woven throughout Chung Poong’s entire being.
‘The roots of his martial arts lie in the Huashan Sect. His teacher is the Sword Saint.’
At this point, shouldn’t this be subject to a balance patch?
“Heh heh, uh-heh heh heh.”
As I stood there laughing hollowly, Chung Poong approached and asked.
“Benefactor, are you alright?”
“If you’re going to ask that, then go easy on me.”
“But if I do that, you won’t improve. Half-hearted effort is worse than no effort at all, as they say….”
“Your grandfather must have told you that.”
“Huh? How did you know? Did you perhaps live on Lotus Peak before?”
“…No.”
I’m a native of Gyeonggi Province, you brat.
I let out a deep sigh and pushed myself to my feet. Hyuk Moo-jin, who had lost consciousness long ago, remained completely motionless.
“What did you do to this man? Isn’t he going to die at this rate?”
“Well, I did try to control my strength, but it seems I was a bit clumsy about it.”
“Control your strength?”
“Yes. Throughout my life, I’ve only had one sparring partner.”
Chung Poong, who had sparred with the Sword Saint—an absolute master—as casually as eating every single day, would naturally have only ever learned to fight at full power.
He continued with sorrowful eyes.
“Now that I’m out here, it seems much harder than I expected. Because I’m clumsy, I’ve injured the Zhongnan Sect senior, and now I’ve done the same to Warrior Hyuk….”
It seemed the natural man’s adaptation to the Martial World was proving quite difficult.
I scratched the back of my head and spoke.
“Don’t worry about that. The Zhongnan Sect member deserved it anyway, and Moo-jin won’t hold it against you since it’s all part of training.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’re improving steadily, so don’t worry too much.”
Chung Poong broke into a bright smile as if he’d never been troubled at all.
“Benefactor, do you know something?”
“How would I know?”
“Among everyone I’ve met in the Martial World, I like you the best!”
I drew upon my inner energy.
“Step back this instant. If you lay even a single fingertip on me, I’ll bite my tongue and die.”
“Because my benefactor can take my full strength and still get back up!”
“Ah.”
“And the feel of hitting you is the best!”
Listen to how he speaks.
Relief and frustration washed over me simultaneously. I’d wondered why he was pounding away so relentlessly, but it turned out I’d become a punching bag for measuring striking power without even realizing it.
‘No wonder my durability stat has been climbing steadily.’
I hadn’t invested any special points into my durability stat, the latest one I’d acquired. Yet it was catching up to the combat stats I’d poured countless points into.
‘Should I be grateful for this?’
Though it’s only been a few days of intensive training, I’m seeing tangible results.
Scaling the cliff and practicing the Gecko Technique had granted me considerable stat increases, and now, directly experiencing the Huashan Sect’s martial techniques through my body, I was raising my durability like a madman.
“I look forward to your continued guidance. I’m learning so much while striking you, benefactor.”
“…Yes, of course.”
I wanted to smack the back of Chung Poong’s head as he bowed so politely, but I restrained myself. I knew there was no malice behind his words.
And in another sense, I felt relieved.
‘If he were any stronger than this, there’d be no hope.’
For me, Chung Poong was a mountain I had to overcome.
If he’d been holding back even while facing me, I would have felt bitter about it.
Consideration from an opponent you want to break never feels like consideration.
I spoke in a grave voice.
“I have one request.”
“Whatever you ask, benefactor.”
“When facing me, please give it your all.”
“My all?”
“Yes, your all. That’s all I need.”
Chung Poong, who had been staring at me intently, nodded.
“Understood.”
“Thank you——”
Ssshhhhh.
Before I could finish speaking, the heat of the Crimson Flame Divine Art erupted across Chung Poong’s entire body like wildfire, scorching the frigid winter air.
His eyes, now tinted with a faint violet hue, fixed upon me.
“I really will give it my all, benefactor.”
“…Ah, so this is your full strength?”
Damn, I’d forgotten about that.
At my hollow gaze, Chung Poong smacked his own forehead.
“Oh, that’s right. My apologies. I’m a bit slow to understand.”
“It’s fine. As long as you understand now——”
Shhhhk.
This time, sword energy erupted from the blade in Chung Poong’s hand.
“I’m ready to give it my all now.”
“Ah….”
“Benefactor, I’ll really work hard! After all, no matter how much strength I put into facing you, you’ll definitely get back up!”
Well, I don’t think I’m getting up this time.
I watched silently as the undulating aura of the Zahashin technique and the blazing sword energy swirled before me, and finally managed to open my mouth.
“H-hold on, let’s skip the sword energy.”
I’d like to survive this too, you bastard.
* * *
Screeeech!
The spear blade tore through the air. A swift, sharp strike. As I dodged by shaking my shoulder, the second and third attacks came in rapid succession like a storm.
“Hah!”
With a battle cry, the spear strikes poured down. The martial technique itself was simple and heavy.
But the body movements of the one wielding the spear were light and swift. Hidden within the efficient motions were unpredictable variations.
Whoosh! Whish whish whish whoosh!
A smile bloomed at the corners of Chung Poong’s lips as he narrowly evaded the spear strikes.
‘Wow, this is fun. Was my benefactor this strong?’
He grinned as he watched the young man pressing forward relentlessly.
Jin Tae-kyung. Though we hadn’t known each other long, he was my benefactor who had helped me greatly.
When he gave me all of Bing Tang Hu Lo on our first meeting, I nearly wept.
‘What a good person. To give me something so precious.’
Grandfather was wrong. He said the Murim was teeming with vicious and ruthless people, but they were all kind and pure-hearted.
Even the senior from the Zhongnan Sect whom I had wounded by my own mistake wasn’t someone I disliked.
‘Since they’re my senior, they can’t be a bad person.’
From what Chung Poong understood, the relationship between senior and junior was no ordinary bond. It was a deep connection tied by something thicker than blood.
And Grandfather always said to protect the weak.
The senior from the Zhongnan Sect was weak in martial prowess. Wounding such a senior pained my heart.
‘But….’
With Jin Moo-kyung and Jin Tae-kyung, there was no reason to feel such pain.
They were the strongest people I had met since leaving Huashan. Even now, exchanging moves with Jin Tae-kyung was nothing but joyful.
Screeeech!
Chung Poong easily evaded the spear thrust toward his shoulder and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Hehe.”
“You’re laughing?”
“Because I’m happy.”
“You really need to watch what you say. That’s a dangerous thing to say.”
Whish whish whish whoosh!
Six true strikes and twice as many feints poured in from all directions. But Chung Poong was already gone from that spot.
Jin Tae-kyung, piercing through the faint afterimage, cried out with the expression of someone who’d seen a ghost.
“What was that!”
“It’s the Subtle Fragrance Drifting technique. Hehe.”
“That’s cheating!”
“Would you like me to teach you?”
“Chung Poong, the great hero—as for me, I’m merely scraping by in this harsh world with a humble martial art called the True Martial Footwork….”
“Oh, that’s right. Grandfather told me not to teach it to anyone.”
“What, this bastard?”
Whoooosh!
Jin Tae-kyung shifted his direction and thrust the spear downward.
Just before the ferociously spinning spear blade pierced through his foot, Chung Poong lifted his foot at blinding speed and drove the blade down toward the ground instead.
Clang, clang, clang!
“Wow, that was a bit dangerous just now.”
But Jin Tae-kyung wasn’t listening to Chung Poong’s words. With a sharp shout, he lifted the spear shaft that Chung Poong was standing on.
“Hah!”
“Benefactor, it’s useless. This is a thousand-pound weight….”
Whoooosh!
In the next instant, Chung Poong felt himself floating.
The spear shaft, swung skyward by Jin Tae-kyung’s tremendous strength, naturally sent Chung Poong’s feet flying into empty air.
Losing his balance in that moment, he urgently drew upon his inner power.
Boom, boom, boom! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The palm force of the Falling Flower Chasing Shadow Palm struck through the void, sending his body sliding backward. In a split second’s delay, Jin Tae-kyung’s spear pierced and slashed through the empty space where Chung Poong had been.
‘Wow.’
Though not quite matching his grandfather’s, Jin Tae-kyung’s strength was beyond imagination.
No, it wasn’t merely strength alone.
The stamina to fall countless times and rise again, agility that shouldn’t come from that physique, and the durability of an absolute monster.
‘The way he deploys his martial arts is different from everyone else.’
Chung Poong was a master at the peak of perfection. He had been raised by the Sword Saint and grew up watching the Sword Saint’s martial arts.
From just the first move of an opponent’s technique, he could gauge their level.
‘Jin Moo-kyung was sharp.’
Jin Moo-kyung, with whom he’d had a martial contest days ago, possessed an aura that seemed like it would cut if touched, and his techniques were the same.
But despite being brothers of the same blood, Jin Tae-kyung’s nature and martial arts were the complete opposite of his elder brother’s.
‘How should I describe this?’
Rough, unrefined, seemingly ordinary martial arts, yet movements that gave off an uncanny sense of tension. An aura that naturally emanated….
“Huh, not coming? Then I’ll come?”
Watching him stride toward him with heavy steps, Chung Poong finally recalled a single word.
‘Ferocity.’
A beast determined to sink its fangs into the prey’s throat.
Jin Tae-kyung’s claws were still unpolished, and that made them feel all the more formidable.

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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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