Murim Login - Chapter 199

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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 199
“Take your hands off what’s mine.”
At Jeok Cheon-gang’s single utterance, the air grew heavy and oppressive. In the next moment, Ak Bul-gun’s hand, which had been resting on my shoulder, slowly withdrew.
“Jeok Dae-hyup. I was merely….”
The words that were about to follow were cut short by a sharp, crystalline voice.
“Where did you learn such a habit of laying hands on what belongs to others?”
What belongs to others?
Setting aside the matter of treating a person like an object, I questioned why that object was me. I was neither Jeok Cheon-gang’s disciple nor his grandson.
I had been deliberating over the excellent choice that was Cheon Mu Academy, and I never expected him to throw such a wrench into my plans like this.
‘Why is this old man suddenly acting like this?’
Unlike me, who was flustered, Ak Bul-gun remained composed.
“I apologize for disturbing your peace of mind, but I merely wished to offer Jin Sohyup here an opportunity.”
“An opportunity? Opportunities are worthless. Your words sound fine, but ultimately you’re trying to spirit this boy away, aren’t you? Do you think this old man doesn’t see through your dark intentions?”
“Spirit him away? That is absolutely not the case.”
“Then what?”
Despite Jeok Cheon-gang’s narrowed eyes, Ak Bul-gun continued steadfastly.
“I have come here not as a member of the Shandong Ak Family, but as an Instructor of Cheon Mu Academy. How could there be any personal feelings in conveying the will of the leadership?”
“So these so-called leaders don’t even know what relationship exists between this boy and me, yet they issued such an order?”
“If I may be so bold, might I ask exactly what that relationship is?”
“What?”
Jeok Cheon-gang fixed Ak Bul-gun with a stare, his face hardened like stone.
“This old man entrusted that wretch with the Main Sect’s sacred treasure.”
“I have heard as much.”
“You understand what that means, do you not? Are you mocking this old man now?”
“How could I harbor such intentions? Only….”
Ak Bul-gun’s gaze alternated between me and Jeok Cheon-gang.
“It simply did not appear to be a relationship between master and disciple, so I conveyed my intentions with caution.”
“…!”
“…!”
We both flinched simultaneously. True, I wasn’t certain how warm and affectionate a typical master-disciple relationship should be, but at the very least, I wouldn’t address my master using the title “Dae-hyup” as I did.
Moreover, Jeok Cheon-gang’s demeanor toward me thus far had been equally distant.
‘How perceptive.’
I had been far too careless. Glancing sideways, I saw Jeok Cheon-gang gnawing at his lips. At our reactions, Ak Bul-gun’s eyes deepened with understanding.
“Jin Sohyup hesitated upon hearing the proposal. If he were truly the disciple of Jeok Dae-hyup, he would have refused without a second thought.”
Everything he said was correct, leaving no room for rebuttal.
Would the disciple of the Fire King, one of the world’s supreme masters, madly enter Cheon Mu Academy? That would be like passing up gold to pick up a pretty stone.
‘It seems everything is already exposed.’
The upper seats were not occupied by only the three of us. Everyone’s eyes were directed elsewhere, but their ears were perked up.
If word of today’s conversation spread, the sturdy shield of being the Fire King’s disciple would crumble. And what would come after that?
‘All manner of vultures would come swooping down.’
Until recently, the Taewon Jin Family was nothing more than a bare bone stripped of all flesh.
But now things are different. With meat hanging plump upon those bones, the wolves would surely begin to circle.
They would merely watch and wait for their moment, then descend upon us without hesitation.
The death of Fire King, already past a hundred years old, would be the very signal for them to bare their fangs.
‘Without question, the Zhongnan Sect will be the first to strike.’
I needed to build my strength before that day came. For that purpose, the Cheon Mu Academy was infinitely superior to the hollow title of Fire King’s disciple—a name that would vanish soon enough.
‘Good. Let’s go to the Cheon Mu Academy.’
Once I had steeled my resolve, I opened my mouth to address Ak Bul-gun.
“Actually, I….”
I have no connection whatsoever to the Red Sky River Master here—merely a passing acquaintance. I desperately wish to enter the Cheon Mu Academy, but in my case, would I qualify as a scholarship student? Or perhaps through the rural recruitment program of Shanxi Province? And so on.
But the torrent of words I was about to unleash was cut short by a single statement from Jeok Cheon-gang.
“You are my disciple.”
“I have no connection to the Red Sky River Master…. Pardon?”
What in the world was he saying?
I whirled around to stare at Jeok Cheon-gang.
‘What did he just say?’
Ignoring my bewildered gaze, Jeok Cheon-gang continued with an untroubled expression.
“I had intended to keep this hidden until the time was right, but it seems that won’t do. Everyone appears to have much to say about this matter, so I suppose I must drive the nail home once and for all.”
“Wait, hold on a moment.”
The words I barely managed to voice were swallowed in the next instant by Jeok Cheon-gang’s thunderous proclamation, infused with martial power.
“I declare this to all the Martial World!”
A tremendous wave of energy shook the earth and pressed down upon the grounds of the Taewon Jin Family. All noise ceased, and hundreds of eyes turned toward us.
There was no time to stop what was unfolding.
Veins bulged in Jeok Cheon-gang’s neck, age spots mottling his weathered skin.
“I, Jeok Cheon-gang, the Eighteenth Sect Master of the Yeolhwa Sect, hereby accept Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family as my disciple and shall pass on the direct lineage of the Main Sect!”
After a moment of silence, those who understood his words erupted in gasps and cheers.
It was the moment when my lingering doubts became truth, when an old man’s perfect deception transformed into reality.
And I….
“This old fool has committed a grave discourtesy. Young Master Jin, I apologize to you as well. I shall inform the Cheon Mu Academy accordingly. No one would dare lay a hand on the disciple of the Red Sky River Master, so the Academy Director will surely abandon any such notions.”
Every path to entering the Cheon Mu Academy—indeed, every possibility of becoming another’s disciple—had been sealed shut. Watching my stunned expression, Ak Bul-gun laughed heartily.
“Look at this fellow, making such a face on such a glorious day!”
“….”
Of course I looked like this—I knew full well that there was virtually zero chance Jeok Cheon-gang would ever truly take me as his disciple.
With nothing gained and my future path blocked, my fists trembled with frustration.
‘Damn that old fool.’
A bleak future was already taking shape in my mind. He would teach me no martial arts while subjecting me to every manner of mistreatment, beating me, and burdening me with endless chores.
At best, I would serve as nothing more than a living storage chest for his belongings.
‘This is a disaster.’
Congratulations poured in from every corner of the hall, but I heard none of it.
Toward me, Jeok Cheon-gang spread his arms wide with an artificial smile.
“Let your master embrace you once, my boy. Come. Here. Now.”
“….”
“Heh, look at this one. Shy in front of people, are we? Hehehehe.”
Jeok Cheon-gang chuckled and subtly flicked his fingers. In that instant, an irresistible force—one I’d never experienced before—seized my ankles and pulled.
One step, two steps. Regardless of my will, my feet moved toward him of their own accord.
‘…What, the Void Grasping Technique?’
This couldn’t be real.
Finally, his small frame wrapped around me in a tight embrace as his lips curved into a smile.
“Now, smile.”
“…Yes.”
“Link arms with me. Stretch those lips to your ears.”
Damn it, I’ve given up. Whatever happens, happens.
We stood arm in arm like a harmonious master and disciple, beaming widely. Instead of camera flashes, thunderous cheers erupted, and that day, Sangshan King Ju Pyo received an ultra-rare limited edition autograph: Fire King & Shanxi Sleeping Dragon.
* * *
Deep night, shrouded in thick darkness.
Behind a stone wall at the Taewon Jin Family Estate where no one lingered, I finally spoke.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
The small figure didn’t answer.
“Protecting the Taewon Jin Family is fine. I’m grateful you drove out those Zhongnan Sect bastards. But!”
“….”
“This is blocking my path forward! Everything’s become too big—I can’t even enter Cheon Mu Academy anymore, and I can’t take anyone as my master! Do you know why?”
The small figure, Jeok Cheon-gang, answered while drinking straight from the bottle without a word.
“No matter how bold someone is, they won’t dare approach my disciple.”
“Exactly! That’s why Great Hero Jeok has completely blocked my path!”
“I see.”
“You don’t ‘see’ anything! Why would someone of your stature do this? I need to eat and live too!”
Gulp. Gulp. Burp.
After draining the last drop and belching loudly, Jeok Cheon-gang stared at me intently.
“Why does someone like you ask such things?”
“Pardon?”
In an instant, the bottle in his hand smashed against the stone wall.
Whoosh, crack!
Normally, a bottle should shatter with a clear ringing sound. But with a deafening boom, it was the stone wall that exploded. The round bottle, now condensed into solidified force, rippled in the air.
“Have you forgotten who your master is? I’ll just kill you outright.”
“Gasp!”
“You raise your voice when you should be kowtowing? A greenhorn like you?”
“W-wait! Please hold on! Hold on!”
“Hold on? Do you want to be fixed in a grave until your bones turn to dust?”
“….”
I’d momentarily forgotten—that elderly man before me, who seemed like a kindly grandfather, was a notorious tyrant in the Martial World.
When I recalled that what they extorted wasn’t money but lives, my entire body went cold as ice.
‘I’ve made a terrible mistake.’
The night was already dark, and now my vision seemed to darken further.
Then Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly opened his mouth.
“Do you hate it that much?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you hate taking me as your master so much.”
“….”
He hadn’t even decided to take me as a disciple, yet here he was saying such things.
I had plenty to say, but keeping silent was the path most favorable to extending my lifespan.
However, Jeok Cheon-gang wouldn’t let me off so easily as I kept my mouth shut and averted my gaze.
“Speak.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Your expression suggests you have plenty to say, so tell me what’s on your mind.”
“There’s nothing like that.”
“Nothing?”
Crash!
The remaining stone wall crumbled into dust and scattered.
Staring blankly at the sight, I quickly opened my mouth.
“Actually, now that I think about it, there is.”
“You just said there wasn’t?”
“There wasn’t, but now there is.”
“Good. Speak.”
I had blurted it out in desperation, but now that I had to actually say it, my heart shrank. I fidgeted with my fingers and cleared my throat awkwardly.
“But that is, somewhat….”
“Speak with an open heart. I want a sincere answer without lies.”
“Really?”
“No matter what you say, I won’t lay a finger on you. I swear by Heaven and Earth.”
“You don’t even believe in Heaven and Earth anyway.”
“….”
“….”
It seemed I had struck a nerve.
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been glaring at me with a terrifying gaze, finally forced his mouth open.
“As of today, I believe. I don’t know what cursed being exists in the heavens, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so I have no choice but to believe.”
“…?”
I didn’t know what he had seen, but he seemed sincere.
Only after he had staked both his sect’s honor and his own name did I cautiously open my mouth.
“First of all, your personality is somewhat….”
“Somewhat?”
“Isn’t it rather crude?”
“….”
“That’s quite filthy too.”
His expression was exasperated, but the wine bottle in his hand remained still. Emboldened by this, I pressed on.
“Your temper is rather problematic as well.”
“….”
“You remember what happened a few days ago, don’t you? I’ll admit my own fault played a part, but how does it make sense to unleash a Flame Divine Palm without warning?”
“…Continue.”
“I’m willing to accept a certain degree of physical punishment, but that should be limited to a few strikes with a stick or cane—not training while being struck by a Flame Divine Palm. That’s not the rod of love; it’s the rod of death. The rod of death. Get hit wrong and you die, I’m telling you.”
Once I started, the complaints came pouring out like a broken dam. From my first meeting with Jeok Cheon-gang to everything I’d felt until now, each grievance flowed forth. The more I spoke, the more his face hardened into stone.
‘At least it feels good to get this off my chest.’
After a long tirade, once I’d finished my tempestuous confession, Jeok Cheon-gang asked in a subdued voice.
“Are you finished?”
“There’s still one important thing left.”
“Huh, sigh.”
Contrary to my expectation that the wine bottle would come flying, Jeok Cheon-gang merely sighed heavily.
“Speak.”
“My greatest grievance is what I mentioned earlier. If you weren’t going to teach me martial arts, why did you insist on making me your disciple in the first place?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Of course it is. If I’m learning alone anyway, it would be a hundred times better to enter Cheon Mu Academy.”
“Learning from me is a thousand times better than some Cheon Mu Academy.”
“….”
As if I didn’t already know that.
Bewildered, I stared at him when a sudden thought struck me.
“Red Sky River Master, could it be….”
Jeok Cheon-gang replied curtly.
“What.”
“Ah, never mind. I was just thinking something ridiculous.”
“Speak.”
“No. What’s the point in saying it? Let’s just move on.”
“Speak. Unless you want to die.”
Ah. Then I have to speak. If I don’t want to die, I absolutely have to speak.
I let out a rueful laugh and opened my mouth.
“I was just wondering if maybe you were thinking of actually making me your real disciple or something. But that’s nonsense, so you don’t have to answer. Hahaha.”
“….”
“Hahaha.”
“….”
“Um, Red Sky River Master?”
After a long silence in response to my call, Jeok Cheon-gang dropped a single word.
“Why not?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why can’t I be your master?”
“…Pardon?”
What is this atmosphere?

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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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