Murim Login - Chapter 196

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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 196
“W-what in the world is happening?”
The middle-aged merchant who had been running a silk shop in the heart of Taewon, Shanxi Province for three generations, stood frozen with his mouth agape.
“The… the silks.”
The bolts of silk that should have been densely packed throughout the shop had vanished without a trace, various goods lay broken and scattered, and the shop owner who ought to have been attending to customers lay sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat.
“Thieves! We’ve been robbed!”
The merchant’s vision darkened and his legs gave way beneath him.
Though he operated several silk shops across different cities, Taewon was his flagship store—the largest and most symbolic, passed down from his grandfather.
Robbed at this very location. Every last bolt of silk stripped away!
“I should have known my luck was too good to be true.”
Over the past four months, the merchant had traveled between provinces inspecting his shops and closing several major contracts.
Yet when he finally returned to his main store after so long, he found it in ruins. As the shock threatened to overwhelm him and he began to collapse, a voice cut through the chaos.
“Tsk tsk, this place too. Those martial artists, I tell you.”
A middle-aged man who had been surveying the shop while clicking his tongue in disapproval widened his eyes at the sight of the merchant sitting on the ground.
“Oh? When did you arrive? I heard you had a big deal going on—didn’t expect you back so soon.”
But the merchant, already half-delirious, barely heard him. Only one word from the man’s statement echoed in his mind.
“This place… too?”
“Huh?”
The merchant lunged forward and seized the middle-aged man by his collar, shaking him violently.
“You said this place too, didn’t you?!”
“W-wait, yes, but could we talk without you throttling me?”
“What happened? Horse bandits? Brigands? Did the authorities requisition everything for war? And what do you mean by martial artists?”
“Please, just let go and we can discuss this!”
The middle-aged man finally wrenched himself free and examined his disheveled clothes with a grumble.
“This was a new tunic, too.”
“If you don’t speak now, we’re both done for.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll tell you.”
“So what exactly happened?”
The middle-aged man’s answer was simple.
“Everything sold out.”
“…What?”
“It wasn’t a robbery—the silks were all sold. They’re gone because people bought them. Get a grip, man.”
The merchant stared blankly at him before finally finding his voice.
“Are you insane? That makes no sense. Who buys over a thousand bolts of silk?”
“Government officials, merchants, martial artists—everyone came flooding in and swept the place clean.”
“…Why?”
“Why? They all wanted to make a good impression on the Taewon Jin Family, of course.”
“The Taewon Jin Family? The one I know?”
“Of course the Taewon Jin Family. Did you think I meant the Hangsan Inspection Bureau?”
“Of course it’s the Taewon Jin Family. Surely it’s not the Hangsan Sword Sect?”
“Why the Hangsan Inspection Bureau again? Has something happened?”
“…You haven’t heard the news?”
“I’ve been traveling for four months straight. I came directly without even seeing my wife’s face!”
“Wait, wait! Please, calm down. I’ll tell you everything.”
The middle-aged man, unwilling to ruin his new clothes, quickly and concisely explained the situation of the past several months.
A moment later, the Merchant, having heard the entire sequence of events from the war between the Taewon Jin Family and the Hangsan Inspection Bureau to the present, muttered with a dazed expression.
“Such things happened?”
“That’s what I’m telling you. Right now, with the Fire King’s appearance, everything’s in chaos. Not to mention Shanxi Province—outsiders seeking to meet him are swarming the streets.”
The middle-aged man continued with an animated face.
“I’ve been doing business in Taewon for over twenty years, but I’ve never seen such prosperity.”
“Yet the number of people on the streets seems no different from usual….”
“When did the sun reach its zenith? They wouldn’t still be loitering in the streets. They’ve already packed everything and rushed to the Taewon Jin Family Estate.”
“Hmm. Hard to believe.”
“I’ve completely cleared out my inventory.”
“A-already?”
“Why are you so surprised? Compared to you, it’s nothing. And this is information I heard from a trustworthy person….”
The middle-aged man whispered in a hushed voice.
“The gathering that was originally scheduled for three days seems to be extending. Real powerhouses are moving as rumors spread rapidly.”
“Real powerhouses?”
“The renowned sects of the Martial World are beginning to move. Even the Sangshan King, the City Lord of the Shi Family Manor, the greatest merchant house in the land, visited the Taewon Jin Family Estate early this morning.”
“The Sangshan King himself?”
“That’s why even the usually sluggish officials have become busy. When royalty arrives, one must show their face and demonstrate sincerity, no?”
“True. And one must arrive before others.”
“What kind of place is Taewon? Not quite the Central Plains, but it’s truly the premier commercial city of Shanxi Province. You can buy almost anything here.”
“Local procurement. Wise indeed.”
“The more people searching, the fewer goods available. Prices will rise.”
The Merchant’s eyes gleamed. He had grasped that this would not end in a day or two.
The confusion and despair he felt initially had long vanished, replaced by mountains of silver glinting before his eyes.
‘This is an opportunity.’
He could become acquainted with figures from the Martial World, the merchant class, and the government—and with proper execution, could seal extraordinary deals.
Having completed all his calculations, the Merchant spoke to the middle-aged man.
“I’ve stocked a few warehouses just in case. I’ll hand over some at reasonable prices, so speak freely. Who should I approach?”
The middle-aged man, having secured his fortune, answered with a broad smile.
“Remember just three people: the Fire King, Jin Wi-kyung the Young Patriarch of the Taewon Jin Family, and Jin Tae-kyung the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon.”
“…The Fire King and the Young Patriarch, I understand. But why that reckless Jin Tae-kyung?”
“Well, he’s the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon now. Moreover, he’s destined to become a supreme master who will soon shake the heavens.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Tsk tsk, for a merchant to be so ignorant.”
The middle-aged man savored the Merchant’s bewildered expression. And finally, he revealed the fact he had withheld from him until this very moment.
“The Fire King has taken the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon as his disciple.”
“What? Is that actually true?”
“It is. Two days ago, an elder from the Zhongnan Sect who didn’t know about it caused trouble and got beaten down before leaving. They’ve already entrusted the sect’s sacred treasure to the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon.”
“Then… that means…”
“Half the people visiting the Taewon Jin Family right now aren’t going for the Fire King—they’re going to make an impression on the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon.”
The Fire King was certainly one of the finest masters in all the realm, but he was old, and he had no real power base to speak of.
But Jin Tae-kyung was different.
At just twenty-one years old, he possessed exceptional martial talent and the formidable backing of the Taewon Jin Family.
‘No, that’s not quite right.’
It was the opposite now. The Taewon Jin Family had gained an enormous backing.
The renowned Fire King, and Jin Tae-kyung, who could grow into a supreme master comparable to a master himself in the future.
The merchant’s face flushed with excitement.
“It’s like giving a tiger wings.”
“So we need to climb aboard before it flies away.”
It was an opportunity worth pouring every last coin into.
The merchant, having finally made his decision, opened his mouth.
“I need to meet the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon right away.”
“Of course you do. But right now, even if you brought a fortune, you’d have trouble meeting him.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? According to word from the Taewon Jin Family, he suddenly went into closed-door cultivation.”
“Closed-door cultivation? That thing martial artists do? Why on earth would he do that now?”
The middle-aged man let out a heavy sigh.
“That’s what I’m wondering. I hear Jin Cheon Sword has also shut himself away, talking about enlightenment and such.”
“Hmm, there must be some way around this?”
“I’m not sure. The situation has grown too large too quickly. The Taewon Jin Family is so overwhelmed they’re being selective about who they accept.”
“Didn’t you say you had some connection with a certain master of the Taewon Jin Family? I thought you’d even slipped him some bribes.”
“He died. In the last war.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
With even the great powers of various circles moving, it wasn’t easy for mere merchants like them to get involved.
Just as the two men were putting their heads together in contemplation, the merchant suddenly spoke.
“I do know someone on that side.”
“Oh? Someone you know well?”
“Very well. My wife gave birth to him.”
At the merchant’s answer, the middle-aged man’s brow furrowed.
Having known each other for so long, they were well aware of each other’s family circumstances.
“Your eldest son?”
“Yes. That ungrateful wretch hasn’t shown his face in years. But seeing how my wife doesn’t complain much, he seems to be managing to stay alive somehow…”
The middle-aged man nodded with a deflated expression.
“Well, why don’t you try reaching out to him this time? Who knows? Maybe he’s made a name for himself as a proper martial artist.”
At those words, the merchant let out a bitter laugh.
“A martial artist? The son of a cloth merchant? He’s probably just serving someone.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon turned out to be someone like that?”
“In any case, it’s not. If it were, then my family name would no longer be Hyuk starting today—it would be Dog. The character for dog!”
* * *
“Achoo!”
With the sneeze came a refreshing sensation across my back.
Lying prone on the bed with my upper body exposed, I spoke quietly.
“Moo-jin, are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had been wiping my back with a cloth dampened in cold water, replied.
“Oh, my apologies. My nose suddenly started itching.”
“Try that one more time. That’ll be the last sneeze of your life.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“Good. Continue.”
Swish. Swish.
Each time the cold cloth brushed across my back, a throbbing pain surged upward.
My entire upper body was covered in deep purple bruises—hardly surprising under the circumstances.
‘Damn it. Two days have passed and I’m still in this state.’
This had never happened before. Until now, I’d recovered from any ordinary injury quickly through sleep mode and breathing exercises.
The [Bone Structure] and [Meridian Channels] I’d invested in with every level-up weren’t easily damaged by ordinary strikes.
But…
‘Truly a supreme master.’
Before the Fire King, such things meant nothing.
After a long silence, he suddenly came chasing after me and beat me senseless—with bare fists, no Flame Divine Form, yet it felt as though my bones were separating from my flesh.
When I regained consciousness from the overwhelming pain, I found myself in the Medical Hall of the Taewon Jin Family, and after being moved to my Pavilion, I’d been bedridden for two days straight.
“Damnable old bastard.”
“Gasp!”
At my words, Hyuk Moo-jin drew in a sharp breath.
“Chief, have you lost your mind? You’ll actually die like this.”
“Let me die then. What are the people outside saying?”
“For now, we’ve officially declared it as closed-door cultivation. If word gets out that the Fire King beat down the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon, it would look rather bad.”
“What about Elder Brother?”
“What could the Family Head do? When he first heard the report, he was furious and went to find the Fire King, but…”
“But?”
“When he saw that the secret manual of the Flame Divine Form had been burned, he apologized several times before leaving.”
“Apologize for what? Did I set the fire, or did he? And he beats me like this over a little scorching?”
“From what I glimpsed, it wasn’t just a little scorching. The cover with the title was nearly half burned—the Flame Divine Form became literally a flame.”
“…”
“Anyway, I think we should stop talking about this. Even if you’re fine with it, I’m trembling too much to continue. If the Fire King suddenly walks in here, we’re both as good as dead, aren’t we?”
“That’s true enough.”
Hyuk Moo-jin’s foresight proved remarkable. Not long after his words ended, the door burst open.
“Gasp!”
“Gasp!”
“…What in blazes is that reaction supposed to mean?”
“Oh, oh, it’s nothing at all, sir.”
The diminutive Old Master, Jeok Cheon-gang, narrowed his eyes as he studied us, then let out a snort of derision.
“Fine. Since it didn’t reach these old ears, I’ll let it slide this time.”
Displaying an unexpectedly easygoing side, he jerked his chin toward Hyuk Moo-jin.
“You’re dismissed. You’re in the way.”
I wasn’t sure what he intended to do, but it seemed like having Hyuk Moo-jin stay might be better.
My desperate gaze pleading for a long life received a response from Hyuk Moo-jin.
“Yes, sir. I’ll take my leave now. Good luck with your work!”
“Very well.”
…Damn bastard.
As Hyuk Moo-jin bolted from the room, I was seized by a creeping sense of dread.
The gleam in Jeok Cheon-gang’s eyes as he regarded my bare upper body was far from ordinary.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
Surely not… that couldn’t be it.
Yet Jeok Cheon-gang’s eyes burned with an inexplicable fervor.
“Remove your trousers as well.”
“Gasp! W-what are you saying?”
“Strip everything off. Not a single thread remaining.”
I desperately covered my chest, my voice trembling with shame and fear.
“I… I have someone I care about, sir.”
“…What does that have to do with anything?”
What a Western mindset!
No, that’s wrong. With no escape route in sight, I froze in place as Jeok Cheon-gang bellowed.
“Blast it, I’m going to perform Bone Marrow Cleansing for you, so take off your clothes and lie down this instant!”
“…”
Ah, why didn’t you just say so from the beginning?

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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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