Murim Login - Chapter 195

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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 195
The banquet held on the First Day of the Year was nothing short of a resounding success.
Jin Wi-kyung had made a bold move by embracing the Hangsan Inspection Bureau, securing the loyalty of dozens of minor sects, while the involvement of the Zhongnan Sect and the unexpected appearance of Fire King Jeok Cheon-gang—whom everyone believed long dead—left all in shock.
And…
‘I’m part of it too.’
Eating, drinking, moving about—with every gesture I made, eyes followed in my wake.
Just half a day ago, those gazes had reflected interest in the “Shanxi Sleeping Dragon,” but that was no longer the case.
‘The Fire King’s disciple. The heir of the Yeolhwa Sect.’
Such whispers rippled through every corner of the gathering. People spoke endlessly about the significance of Jeok Cheon-gang, the current sect leader of the Yeolhwa Sect, entrusting me with the sect’s sacred treasures, and about why he had protected the Taewon Jin Family even while opposing the Zhongnan Sect.
‘It seems like half of this has already solidified into fact.’
Truth be told, I don’t fully understand Jeok Cheon-gang’s intentions either. That’s precisely why I’m here.
Now, while everyone was distracted, was the perfect moment to slip away.
“Phew.”
I took a deep breath.
I now stood before the quarters where Jeok Cheon-gang had been lodged. Near the grand pavilion, it seemed special orders had been given—not a single soul dared venture near.
“Fire King, are you awake?”
A voice came from beyond the door.
“Sleeping.”
“I came because I have something to ask you.”
“I said I’m sleeping.”
“…How are you answering if you’re asleep?”
“Sleepwalking.”
This was ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.
I was exasperated, but if the Fire King said so, then that was how it was. I collected myself and spoke again.
“Look, no matter how much I think about it, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Does this old man look like someone who resolves your curiosities?”
“Well, no.”
“Then go wash your feet and get some sleep.”
An iron wall. But I couldn’t retreat now.
It was just as I began approaching the firmly closed door with utmost caution, treading softly.
“Take one more step and you won’t see the sun rise tomorrow.”
“…How did you know?”
“Your footsteps and thunder sound the same to this old man.”
“Please, couldn’t you just let me in now? It’s winter and the weather is quite cold.”
“Should I warm you up with the Flame Divine Technique?”
“…”
Just hearing that made my internal organs feel scorched.
As I fell silent, stillness settled over us. The quiet that lingered for a time was finally broken by Jeok Cheon-gang’s words.
“I visited Jeong-yang.”
“Ah.”
Even a bead of little worth carries profound meaning to someone. Jeong-yang was precisely such a place.
Among the dozens of districts scattered across Shanxi Province, Jeok Cheon-gang had reason to visit a particular mountain road in Jeong-yang.
‘Jo Pil.’
On that day when heaven wept snow in torrents, a man who had lived as Jang Cheon died under the name Jo Pil.
“I lingered long at that very place you mentioned. An old man was pacing about the mountainside, and passersby would ask him—why are you here?”
His voice grew heavy.
“I answered that my blood kin had died in this place. That I came hoping to at least gather what remained of his body.”
“….”
“It was then I understood. Even had I met that child before you did, I could never have killed him. I would have released him again and lived with regret.”
I could not easily guess what expression Jeok Cheon-gang wore beyond the door.
I hesitated before speaking.
“Did you find the body?”
“There was nothing.”
Several months had already passed.
A life walked entirely upon the path of blood. The subordinates who would have gathered the remains had died with him, so it was likely buried by the capricious weather or became sustenance for ravenous beasts.
“The greed of an old man. Shameful and futile.”
Glug.
The sound of wine filling a cup rang out unusually loud.
“You said you were drunk earlier?”
“Cunning wretch. Asking when you already know.”
Candlelight filling the pavilion cast his shadow upon the wall.
Jeok Cheon-gang laughed softly and drained his cup.
“Ah. Excellent.”
His voice carried the relief of one who had shed his sorrows with a single draught.
It occurred to me then that Jeok Cheon-gang had sought out the place where Jo Pil died to finally cast off the regret and lingering attachment that still held him captive.
I spoke with deliberate brightness.
“I was taught that good things should be shared.”
“From childhood, I was taught that anyone who covets another’s possessions should be burned by the Flame Divine Palm.”
“Who was this terrifying person who taught you such things?”
“My master.”
Of course it was the Yeolhwa Sect. Merciless indeed.
Whatever the matter, they burn everything with the Flame Divine Palm.
I do not know the history of the Yeolhwa Sect or who its past sect leaders were, but watching Jeok Cheon-gang, I can hazard a guess.
‘A sect with a deep history of ruthlessness.’
As the saying goes, beans grow where beans are sown, and red beans where red beans are sown.
Like master, like disciple. Though Jo Pil was the exception, of course.
‘But that is not why I came here.’
As I watched his shadow, reading the silence and sipping wine, Jeok Cheon-gang suddenly spoke.
“From now on, the Flame Heaven Sword is yours.”
“Flame… what?”
“The Hwa Cheon Blade. The sword I entrusted to you.”
I finally learned the true name of the [Nameless Sword], but that wasn’t the issue at hand. I was so shocked that I even stammered.
“B-but this is a sacred treasure of the Yeolhwa Sect.”
“Ah, a sacred treasure.”
Jeok Cheon-gang tilted another cup of wine—I’d lost count of how many—and continued.
“That’s a lie.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s not a sacred treasure. About a hundred years ago, some sect leader of the Main Sect used it, and his successors inherited it. It’s old, sure, but even back then it was called a divine weapon of exceptional quality, so it’s still serviceable.”
“…!”
What in the hell was this nonsense?
My mouth fell open at this shocking truth I never could have anticipated.
“That was all a lie? Are you mocking me right now?”
“Mock you? Why would I waste my time on a little brat like you?”
“You said it in front of everyone! That you entrusted that bastard with the Yeolhwa Sect’s sacred treasure!”
“I did. Because people were watching.”
Jeok Cheon-gang’s voice was utterly indifferent as he went on.
“I had to give them something to talk about. Oh, that fellow must be deeply connected to the Fire King. He was given a sacred treasure, so he must be a disciple. If anyone touches the Taewon Jin Family, that terrifying Fire King will step in. That kind of rumor spreads like wildfire.”
“….”
“Did you really think the Old Master would entrust a sacred treasure of the Main Sect to some greenhorn like you? Besides, since it’s a single-line transmission and no one knows about it anyway, if I say it’s a sacred treasure, then it’s a sacred treasure.”
“….”
“So keep the sword. That way, those Zhongnan Sect bastards won’t dare make a move.”
Was this a dream? As shock consumed me, a system notification chimed in my ears—the final confirmation.
Ding.
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[Nameless Sword]
information has been updated.
Item Window
[Hwa Cheon Blade]
Type
: Sword
Grade
: Pinnacle
Restriction
: Successor of the [Yeolhwa Sect]
Description
: A beloved sword used by the tenth sect leader of the Yeolhwa Sect.
Forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron, it is exceptionally sharp and durable. Through countless owners across the ages, it has transformed of its own accord.
Only the successor of the Yeolhwa Sect can draw out its true power.
Effect
: Unknown
The updated information matched Jeok Cheon-gang’s words exactly. A cherished blade once wielded by a sect leader of the tenth generation. There was no trace anywhere of it being a divine treasure of the Yeolhwa Sect.
Even the ‘true power’ supposedly hidden within the sword required inheriting the Yeolhwa Sect’s legacy to unlock.
In other words, it was a corpse—except for being an eternal cold steel.
‘I genuinely thought it was a divine treasure. I was so torn when he said he’d make me a disciple of the Yeolhwa Sect….’
As I stared dejectedly at the hologram window, Jeok Cheon-gang added as if bestowing a favor.
“Think of it as a long-term loan. If this old man forgets and dies as is, you may keep it. Ah, and spit out the secret manual of the Flame Divine Immortal right now.”
“Damn old bastard… Huh.”
What I’d only thought suddenly tumbled out of my mouth.
The instant I froze in shock and clamped my lips shut, the pavilion door that had been firmly sealed burst open.
Crash!
A pair of eyes blazing with flames fixed upon me.
“You little blood clot. What did you just say?”
“I, I, it was just a slip of the tongue.”
“A slip of the tongue? Then this old man will slip his hand once too.”
Whoosh!
A palm glowing crimson and overwhelming heat.
I spun around without hesitation, and in that fleeting instant, I didn’t forget to hurl the secret manual of the Flame Divine Immortal from my inventory.
“Gasp, the manual, the secret manual of the Flame Divine Immortal!”
Had he simply reached out, the manual would have turned to ash.
Jeok Cheon-gang, startled, hastily withdrew his fist. I seized that opening and ran with all my might.
“I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry! Please spare me!”
“You, you bastard! Don’t you dare stop!”
His roar echoed thunderously at my back.
* * *
Jeok Cheon-gang watched Jin Tae-kyung’s fleeing figure with his tail between his legs and let out a soft chuckle.
The fury that had filled his face moments before had vanished without a trace.
“Boy, no matter how much you run, you remain within the palm of this old man’s hand.”
He could capture him whenever he wished.
Yet Jeok Cheon-gang turned away with his hands clasped behind his back.
Though Jin Tae-kyung was the one who had killed Jang Cheon, the disciple he cherished like a son, Jeok Cheon-gang harbored no hatred for him. Rather, he was one of those to whom Jeok Cheon-gang owed a sincere apology.
All of this had stemmed from his own misguided choice ten years ago.
“He called me a damn old bastard.”
Despite hearing such abuse from the little blood clot, his mood was not sour. Rather, it felt refreshing.
“That’s right. I am a damn old bastard, a senile old fool. Hehe, hehehehe.”
Since his master’s death, no one had dared criticize or curse Jeok Cheon-gang to his face.
He was the Fire King, after all. A great warrior who had written legend alone.
Yet hearing Jin Tae-kyung’s words, something that had been blocked for so long felt suddenly unobstructed.
“How refreshing. Truly refreshing.”
As one grows older day by day, loneliness deepens. Not for lack of those to touch flesh with, but for lack of those to lean one’s heart upon.
One can be a pillar for others, but one becomes too old to lean upon another.
“Someone to lean upon….”
Jeok Cheon-gang was a rough and jagged thornbush. Having lived through many years, I had brushed past countless people, yet I had never allowed anyone to depend on me.
But there was one exception—Jang Cheon.
“Were you ever able to feel this master as a reliable support, even for a moment?”
My eyes grew hazy as I recalled him. Yet now the ache in my chest was not as sharp as before, and my eyes no longer burned with tears.
The dead had already returned to a handful of dust.
I drank a bottle of wine and poured another at the very place where my disciple had collapsed, spraying blood.
I wept freely—tears I had not shed in the past decade—and let the sorrow in my heart flow away with them.
“Forgive me. This will be the last time I think of you.”
If there comes another time, it will be in the next life.
There may be moments when I recall my dead disciple. But those will be memories, not regrets of the past.
“This is enough. This will do.”
I had been pacing the courtyard for some time when I stopped abruptly. The image of Jang Cheon that had been hovering before my eyes vanished, replaced by an unexpected face.
‘Why is that bastard coming to mind?’
Those clean-cut features. That confident yet somehow irritating smile.
The way he gauged my mood carefully while still accepting my sharp words.
‘Did I grow angry without realizing it because he called me a damned old man earlier?’
It was then that I furrowed my brow.
Crackle.
A thin wisp of smoke rose alongside the sound of something burning.
Upon recognizing the source of the sound, my eyes widened.
“The secret manual!”
Seeing the secret manual of the Flame Fire Sect already half-consumed by flames, I let out a roar of fury.
“Jin Tae-kyung! You bastard, I’ll kill you-!”

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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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