Murim Login - Chapter 19

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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 19
Quest
[War]
A war has begun, with the fates of two families hanging in the balance.
In Murim, one proves oneself through strength alone! The survivors are the strong, and only the strong will survive.
I wish you fortune in your martial endeavors.
Rank
: Main Quest
Restriction
: Jin Tae-kyung
Objective
: Submission or annihilation of Hangsan Inspection Bureau (Incomplete)
Reward
: ???
Failure
: ???
As I stared at the Quest window with burning intensity, Jin Wi-kyung spoke.
“You seem quite exhausted.”
Exhausted? I was startled that my current mental state could be defined so simply.
Instead of answering, I gazed at the teacup from which wisps of steam rose.
‘The water has already been spilled.’
I had done what I could, but I couldn’t prevent the war. The Family Council transformed into a war strategy meeting, and Jin Wi-kyung, backed by the Grand Elder’s unwavering support, took up the baton without hesitation.
All warriors of the Taewon Jin Family must assemble at the main estate immediately!
As dawn broke, dozens of carrier pigeons took flight across the sky, and messengers galloped on horseback. A thorough surveillance network spread like a net.
When the Family Council adjourned amid that tense atmosphere, Jin Wi-kyung, Wi Paeng, and I moved to the Acting Family Head’s Office.
“This was bound to happen eventually. It’s not your fault, Tae-kyung.”
At Jin Wi-kyung’s warm words, tears threatened to spill—not from gratitude, but from frustration.
‘Of course it’s not my fault!’
And since we were speaking of it, why did that ‘inevitable’ event have to happen now of all times?
As I seethed inwardly, Wi Paeng suddenly opened his mouth.
“But my lord.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about the Grand Elder… I simply cannot fathom his intentions.”
The Grand Elder. The moment I heard that name, all other thoughts scattered. He was the most unsettling NPC I had encountered in this game.
He seemed genuinely devoted to the family’s welfare, yet he also carried the scent of a politician moving for personal gain.
I opened my mouth carefully.
“What kind of person is the Grand Elder?”
“A martial master of the highest realm with profound schemes. He represents the most dangerous type in Murim.”
“Is that all?”
Jin Wi-kyung nodded gravely.
“The other elders are merely extensions of the Grand Elder’s will. He rarely shows himself, yet through the Elder Council—his hands and feet—he has brought the core members under his influence. That has been going on for decades.”
“Then the Family Council’s support for us was also….”
“I cannot know the exact truth, but there is certainly some hidden agenda. I’m certain of it.”
“They should have all been killed.”
Wi Paeng interjected coldly.
“They are disloyal traitors. When the Grand Elder suggested killing them, I honestly wished my lord would have accepted.”
I felt the same way. But that was merely the Grand Elder’s cunning rhetoric—a suggestion to withdraw at this point.
If Jin Wi-kyung had recklessly accepted that proposal, the outcome would have been obvious.
“A bloodbath would have erupted.”
“I know. That’s why I endured it.”
The leadership of the Taewon Jin Family would have split in two, locked in a cycle of killing and death. Defeat meant annihilation, and even victory would have cost us dearly.
‘Perhaps that was the result the Grand Elder desired all along.’
The Grand Elder. An invisible hand. The thought that suddenly came to mind sent a chill down my spine. It aligned perfectly with the image of the Grand Elder I had formed.
A politician like a hyena, stepping back and waiting for the right moment.
Jin Wi-kyung raised his teacup to his lips.
“But it is all conjecture. I do not know the Grand Elder’s true intentions. For now, he remains an elder of the main house and a powerful ally. Be cautious, but do not make him an enemy. This is a time to navigate the situation itself, not to be wary of individuals.”
See the forest, not the trees.
The problem was that the forest itself was in dire straits.
As if reading my thoughts, Wi Paeng broached the related matter.
“The situation is grave. According to external sources, rumors that Lee So-gun was poisoned are spreading, and the main house’s reputation is plummeting.”
“In just half a day?”
“Yes. All of Shanxi Province is abuzz with the news.”
Concern settled across Jin Wi-kyung’s face.
“Fast. Too fast for mere rumor. Someone is definitely orchestrating this from behind.”
This wasn’t a world with the internet, yet the rumor had already spread across this vast territory. It was certainly unnatural.
‘An invisible enemy.’
Who could it be? A third faction? A scheme by the Hengshan Sword Sect?
I hoped it was the latter. There was nothing more dangerous than an enemy that remained hidden.
“The common people still seem skeptical, but the other sects….”
“Still no response?”
Wi Paeng bowed his head instead of answering.
Shortly after obtaining information about Lee So-gun’s poisoning, Jin Wi-kyung had immediately sent requests for support to the other minor sects in Shanxi Province. But it seemed every single one had come to nothing.
‘This keeps getting worse.’
Should I really flee?
As I gazed out the window with such thoughts, a flutter of wings sounded, and a pigeon landed on the windowsill.
“…It seems a reply has arrived?”
* * *
Taewon Jin Family Estate.
As the Coachman drew closer to the main gate, where a plaque inscribed in grand calligraphy hung and stern-faced warriors stood guard, he loosened the reins.
“Halt. State your identity and purpose!”
The Gate Guard shouted loudly, blocking the carriage. Given the circumstances, his voice carried an unmistakable tension.
Moreover.
‘This is no ordinary matter.’
From the Coachman holding the reins emanated the distinct aura of a trained martial artist, and the four-horse carriage he drove possessed both splendor and nobility.
‘Yet why does this seem familiar?’
The Coachman, the carriage itself—where had I seen them before?
The fleeting question vanished the moment I glimpsed the Coachman’s sharp, piercing gaze. That bearing, that intensity in his eyes. Clearly, no ordinary guest.
The Gate Guard swallowed hard and spoke again.
“Please state your identity and purpose.”
The carriage door opened, and a crimson silk slipper descended gracefully.
Then a voice, gentle as a spring breeze, settled upon the Gate Guard’s ears.
“I’ve come from Honghwa House. As for my name—it’s a secret.”
With the voice came the revelation of a face.
The Gate Guard’s eyes grew distant and hazy. He was not alone in this reaction. Everyone who glimpsed the woman’s visage responded identically.
A dazed voice escaped the Gate Guard’s lips.
“Ah, a secret… then what brings you here?”
The woman, Wol-hwa, answered with an enchanting smile.
“Well. I’ve come to collect on a debt.”
* * *
“Have you been well? Did you miss me?”
I froze mid-rise, my body rigid.
A face I could never forget. And a face that absolutely should not be here.
“Wol-hwa?”
The first NPC I met in this game. A courtesan of Honghwa House and my, Jin Tae-kyung’s, little pinky promise. That thing.
Why was she stepping out from there…?
“As expected, you remember me. Our young Master Jin.”
Wol-hwa laughed melodiously. She had a beautiful face, and her laughter was equally beautiful, and when a beautiful woman laughed it became even more beautiful… no, this is not the time for this.
I whispered urgently, my voice barely audible.
“What brings you here? Never mind. You need to leave. Go.”
I nudged Wol-hwa’s body with my elbow repeatedly. Gods, this is driving me mad.
Of all moments, she had to appear now.
The entire family was under high alert, and if rumors spread that I summoned a courtesan, my reputation would be ruined. The mere thought made my vision spin.
“Don’t poke me. It tickles.”
“I understand, so please leave quickly. There are other people here right now, and you just suddenly appear—what are you thinking? We’re expecting an important guest.”
The timing could not have been worse. I was waiting in the Acting Family Head’s Office for a guest from a sect called Haowen Sect.
Naturally, Jin Wi-kyung and Wi Paeng were with me.
“Tae-kyung.”
Jin Wi-kyung’s call. I waved my hand frantically without even turning around.
“Ah, it’s not what you’re thinking. I didn’t summon her. She’ll be leaving now anyway. Isn’t that right?”
Wol-hwa’s laughter grew louder.
“Our Young Master Jin is still adorable. But you’ve got it wrong. I’m here on business.”
“Oh my, our Young Master Jin. I’m going to live a chaste life from today onward. I have no further business with you, so please leave quickly.”
“Hmm. What if I refuse?”
Then there’s no choice but to move her by force. With desperate determination, I grabbed Wol-hwa by the waist and lifted her up—
“Huh?”
What is this? Why won’t she budge? Wol-hwa looks slender on the surface, but she’s solid muscle—does she weigh that much?
‘That’s nonsense.’
What are my Strength stats? With raw strength alone, I could pulverize boulders into dust. Yet I can’t lift a single female NPC?
“Um, Tae-kyung?”
Ignoring Jin Wi-kyung’s second call, I quietly released my grip. Then I activated my Ki Sense.
“Ahahaha! This is driving me crazy, seriously.”
As Wol-hwa burst into laughter, a level window appeared above her head, and Jin Wi-kyung’s third call reached my ears.
[Lv.50 Eun So-wol]
“Tae-kyung, pay your respects. This is the Shanxi Branch Director of the Haowen Sect…”
Ah. Ahhhhh.
I want to die.
* * *
“I offer my greetings. I am Wol-hwa, Shanxi Branch Director of the Haowen Sect.”
Eun So-wol. Or rather, let me call her Wol-hwa for now. She was completely different from her previous demeanor. Every movement exuded the grace and elegance of a noblewoman.
“I am Jin Wi-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family.”
“I am Wi Paeng.”
“…”
Like a mute, I kept my mouth shut, and Wol-hwa smirked at me. It was an ominous smile.
‘This won’t do. Don’t laugh.’
Don’t even speak to me. Please, anything but that.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced to one person.”
Her gaze was piercing. Someone stepped on my foot beneath the table.
With the feeling of coughing up blood, I opened my mouth.
“…Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Yes. I look forward to our acquaintance, Young Master Jin.”
Ahem. Jin Wi-kyung cleared his throat and glanced at me sideways.
“I didn’t know my younger brother was acquainted with you.”
“He’s a regular at our establishment. Honghwa House in Taewon. It’s also the Shanxi branch of our sect.”
“Ah, a regular customer…”
I avoided everyone’s gaze. Poof—Wol-hwa burst out laughing and brought up the main topic.
“Shall we discuss business now?”
I’ve felt it many times before, but she’s truly a straightforward woman. Jin Wi-kyung and Wi Paeng also turned their attention away from me and engaged in conversation.
“First, I offer my sincere gratitude for the Haowen Sect’s assistance.”
“Please, think nothing of it.”
“However, might I ask the reason behind your willingness to aid our family?”
At Jin Wi-kyung’s words, Wol-hwa smiled softly.
“Reasons… I’ll explain if necessary. First, it’s for the benefit of our sect.”
“Benefit, you say. What compensation do you seek specifically?”
“Half of all shops and assets owned by the Hangsan Inspection Bureau.”
“Agreed.”
“My lord!”
Wi Paeng rushed forward in alarm, but Jin Wi-kyung paid him no mind.
Wol-hwa herself seemed slightly taken aback.
“You decide quickly.”
“I’ve wagered everything the family has.”
“Is this already agreed upon internally?”
“I am the Acting Family Head, and with Father absent, I hold the authority of the Family Head.”
“I hear there’s considerable resistance from within. The Elder Council, for instance?”
“As expected of Haowen Sect. Your information network is impressive.”
“It can’t be helped. In this barren Murim, information is essential to survive. Without such cunning, how else would we eat?”
Watching Wol-hwa’s smile, a sudden thought occurred to me.
‘Could that information have come from me—or rather, from Jin Tae-kyung?’
Haowen Sect—where had I heard that name? It was a regular fixture in martial arts novels, an information-dealing sect. Which meant Wol-hwa, as a branch leader, was a seasoned information merchant.
On top of that, she was also a formidable martial artist at level fifty. A woman like that disguising herself as a courtesan to meet someone like Jin Tae-kyung?
‘That’s laughable.’
I stared at Wol-hwa. Her beauty was so radiant it seemed a goddess had descended. Every time she smiled, I thought of roses—that brilliant splendor now revealing the sharp thorns hidden beneath.
Jin Wi-kyung spoke with a stern expression.
“Then tell me your second reason.”
Wol-hwa answered with her characteristic radiant smile.
“Young Master Jin has caught my fancy.”
“Pardon?”
“He’s young, handsome, well-built, and has an endearing personality.”
“….”
“….”
How much of that was sincere, and how much was jest?

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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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