Murim Login - Chapter 239

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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 239
Nam-goong Yong was a middle-aged man with sharp, penetrating features.
As befitted the family head of the venerable Namgung Clan, an ancient martial house, an air of authority radiated from his confident bearing, and his lips pressed into a firm, unwavering line spoke volumes about his character.
Despite having traveled together from Jiuhua Mountain to Hefei, he had uttered scarcely more than ten words.
“Would you mind waiting a moment? There is one important matter I must attend to.”
As the family head of the Namgung Clan, his workload must have been considerable.
Having grown accustomed to such things from my time with Jin Wi-kyung, I nodded without complaint.
“Of course.”
Crack!
Ah, I had forgotten about the iron weight.
Unable to bear the burden, I found myself sitting among the shattered remains of the chair, and I glanced awkwardly at Nam-goong Yong.
“Oh dear, what is this? The chairs really ought to be made more sturdy…”
“That is blackwood imported from the Southern Regions. A timber harder than steel itself.”
“…”
“Simply stand, then.”
After a moment, Nam-goong Yong set down the bamboo slip he had been examining carefully and spoke.
“I fear my hospitality toward a guest has been lacking. I apologize.”
“Not at all. It is quite all right. You must be busy, after all.”
“That apology extends as well to the rudeness my son has committed.”
“What do you mean…”
“I heard there was some commotion.”
Suddenly, the image of that young guard from moments before came to mind—the one who had demanded I disarm myself so forcefully.
I had wondered why the youngest among them carried himself with such arrogance…
“So he was your son.”
“My only child, and I have raised him with great care. Perhaps because of that, he still has many shortcomings.”
Yes, he certainly did have shortcomings.
I nodded, recalling the boy’s sullen expression.
“It will improve in time, I’m sure.”
“…”
“Is there something more you wish to say?”
“Ahem, no, nothing.”
Nam-goong Yong cleared his throat and continued.
“People around him keep saying he has some talent in martial arts, and well, you must have heard the epithet ‘Sword Dragon,’ yes?”
“Sword Dragon?”
“Surely you have heard it. Indeed, how could you not…”
“I have never heard of it.”
“Ah.”
“It is a splendid epithet, though.”
“Is that so…”
A dark shadow flickered across Nam-goong Yong’s expression.
“In the Murim, you’re well known as one of the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes.”
“Ah, so you were one of the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes. My second brother is also among them.”
“I heard you had quite the brawl the moment you entered Cheon Mu Academy.”
“Good heavens. Youth, youth. When you’ve just enrolled, you’re barely past your coming of age—it’s the perfect time for such things.”
“….”
“It’s fine. At that age, people mature through trading blows with one another. But the reason you called for me…?”
This man was clearly far more obstinate than his appearance suggested.
Nam-goong Yong, who had momentarily lost his words at my swift interruption, parted his lips.
“It concerns the matter of the Fire King.”
“No, you mean my master?”
“That’s right.”
He nodded heavily and continued.
“I’ll speak plainly. You must dissuade the Fire King from this.”
My relaxed posture suddenly tensed. I stroked away the beard that had grown thick over the past year and asked.
“Is this because of the martial duel with Chang Cheon Geom-wang, the Sword King?”
“Precisely. Do you know what transpired between the Fire King and my father some twenty years ago?”
“I know to some extent. That my master emerged victorious.”
“It was by the narrowest of margins. A contest balanced on a knife’s edge where either outcome would have been unremarkable.”
Nam-goong Yong exhaled deeply.
“My father seemed deeply aggrieved by his defeat that day. For years afterward, he secluded himself in closed cultivation, grinding his teeth in bitter resolve.”
Defeat is always a bitter pill to swallow.
And when the one defeated is counted among the realm’s mightiest—a man so devoted to the martial way that he’s called mad for the blade—the sting of loss magnifies proportionally.
‘If his own son speaks of it like this, my master must truly be seething.’
A clash between supreme masters would be fierce beyond description, and in the worst case, could descend into bloodshed.
Had they merely exchanged a few moves and parted with hollow laughter, Nam-goong Yong would have had no reason to broach this subject.
The problem is….
“I myself have no confidence in persuading my master. Rather, I cannot persuade him.”
Fire King Red Sky River is not a man who yields to dissuasion.
That year in Yeolhwa Cave was a time of profound experience and understanding. Not merely of martial arts, but of the character of the man beside me.
Red Sky River was a man of unmistakable conviction.
“He would sooner die than step back.”
“You misunderstand my meaning. It is not ‘do your utmost to prevent it.’ It is ‘you must prevent it, without fail.'”
Nam-goong Yong fixed me with an unwavering gaze.
“Do you comprehend what would unfold if something befell either of them in this duel?”
“I can make a rough estimate.”
The Fire King and the Sword King. Both are titans who command the Murim.
Should the worst come to pass, the shockwave would be like a meteor striking a tranquil lake.
“Then you shouldn’t have brought us to the Namgung Clan Estate.”
“That is….”
“I understand. You had no choice. But if the Family Head himself cannot persuade my master, what can I possibly do?”
I shook my head slowly. There was no point in saying anything more in this place.
“I’ll do my best to convey your words.”
“I’ll give it a try too. I should go find Father right away.”
“I doubt that will help much….”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing at all. Then I’ll take my leave.”
I offered a respectful bow to the bewildered Nam-goong Yong before turning to depart.
As I stepped out of the Pavilion, Namgung Ok, the young escort—or rather, the young master of the Namgung Clan—stood waiting with eyes wide as saucers.
“You!”
“What? When did we meet that you’re calling me names?”
“I heard everything outside. Such disrespect toward Father! Do you think the great Namgung Clan is a joke?”
“Disrespect? I showed him the utmost courtesy, as I would to my own master.”
“What nonsense are you spouting!”
“I’m serious. If you’re so curious, ask our master yourself. Now I’m leaving.”
I was dragging the iron ball along as I tried to slip past Namgung Ok.
“How dare you!”
Shing, click!
It happened in an instant.
The blade, emanating a chilling aura, hadn’t even halfway emerged from its scabbard before it snapped back inside.
Namgung Ok stared at my hand pressing down on his sword hilt.
“H-how?”
“That’s not a weapon to be drawn and swung so carelessly. You’ll end up dead before you know it.”
“…!”
“Act with some dignity, young man.”
Pat, pat.
After tapping the shoulder of the youth, who had gone rigid as stone, I approached Si-bi, whose eyes were wide with shock.
“Excuse me.”
“Y-yes?”
“Is there a mountain nearby with few people around?”
“May I ask why….”
“Just because.”
I glanced up at the clear sky and continued.
“I thought I’d get some fresh air.”
* * *
I shook off Si-bi, who insisted on following, and began climbing the Mountain Road.
It was the height of spring; the mountain was verdant green and the sky a brilliant blue.
Fluffy clouds drifted lazily overhead, and birds chirped merrily on the branches. After walking for some time, I stepped into a wide clearing and suddenly stopped.
“This should be far enough.”
Everything remained as it was—leaves rustling in the breeze, sparrows ceaselessly turning their heads and chirping, and wildflowers in full bloom scattered about.
Yet standing incongruously in that natural landscape was a solitary, imposing figure.
A voice pierced through the air, reaching my ears.
“Impressive. Quite impressive indeed.”
The man was an Old Master of towering height. His fingers, stroking the whiskers that descended to his chest, bore prominent knuckles, and from within his sunken eye sockets blazed two brilliant orbs of piercing light.
I cupped my fist and bowed toward the Old Master, who bore a striking resemblance to Nam-goong Yong.
“I pay my respects to Chang Cheon Geom-wang Namgung Cheon, the great master.”
Chang Cheon Geom-wang Namgung Cheon, the supreme patriarch of the Namgung Clan and one of the Ten Kings, fixed his gaze upon me before abruptly speaking.
“There must be a reason you summoned this old man to such a place.”
“I’m not certain what you mean, sir.”
“In his twilight years, the great master Red Sky River took on a cunning disciple like you. I see through your schemes plainly—no need to feign innocence.”
“Ah, if I’ve offended you, I sincerely apologize.”
I scratched the back of my head and chuckled. Though it was somewhat embarrassing to be cut through so directly, it was far more convenient this way.
“Was it that obvious?”
I first became aware of his presence at the Family Head Hall.
Nam-goong Yong had not noticed, but I was different. The very reason I had climbed the mountain under the pretense of getting fresh air was because of Chang Cheon Geom-wang.
An unspoken invitation had been extended, and I had accepted it.
“Heh.”
A sound like air escaping leaked from between Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s lips. His expression was one of bewilderment—what manner of creature was this?
“You’re quite bold. Or perhaps you simply lack fear?”
“My master says I’m presumptuous.”
“Yes, that seems fitting. Presumptuous… I had forgotten what that feeling was like. It has been far too long.”
“Indeed. Who would dare show such presumption toward Chang Cheon Geom-wang?”
“It has not appeared for decades. Not until you arrived today.”
Those brilliant eyes fixed upon me. That gaze alone sent my fine hairs standing on end, my senses drawn taut as a bowstring.
“Speak. Tell me why you summoned this old man to this place.”
I drew a deep breath. Without hesitation, I prostrated myself fully before Chang Cheon Geom-wang.
The chains clattered loudly as they struck against the ground.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Please reconsider the martial contest with my master.”
“Reconsider? Why should this old man do such a thing?”
“I cannot reveal the reason.”
“…What did you say?”
I could not see what expression Chang Cheon Geom-wang wore at this moment.
Yet from the sharp sting at the back of my skull—as though pierced by a blade—it was clear he was deliberating whether to kill me or not.
‘It is madness, certainly.’
He who had trained for twenty years for today’s martial contest.
And now a mere boy, barely his grandson’s age, suddenly appeared asking to cancel the contest. Moreover, he refused to explain why.
But the die had already been cast. I pressed my forehead into the fresh earth and spoke again.
“I apologize. However, I cannot reveal the reason.”
“Speak.”
“I cannot reveal it.”
“You wretch!”
Boom!
A tremendous wave of qi swept across the surroundings. Trees snapped, and the flowers that had barely bloomed were uprooted entirely.
“This is your last chance.”
My answer was already decided.
“I cannot tell you.”
At my parrot-like repetition, a crystallized killing intent pressed down upon my entire body.
After a brief silence, Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s voice reached my ears.
“Stand up.”
Thud.
As I rose to my feet, dirt cascaded down. Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s voice was as dry as desert sand.
“I have waited twenty years.”
“Then please wait just one more year.”
I spoke calmly.
“I cannot reveal the exact reason, but my master is not in good condition right now. Surely you did not wait twenty years merely to achieve such a hollow victory?”
“Such a hollow victory, you say….”
Chang Cheon Geom-wang let out a low chuckle.
“Jeok Cheon-gang has trained his disciple well.”
“He would be pleased to hear that.”
“But you are destined for an early death. To survive in the Murim, one must observe at least the bare minimum of courtesy.”
“What do you mean by that….”
“Three moves. If you can withstand three of my moves, I shall grant your request.”
Ding!
– Sudden Quest Generated:
[Three Killing Moves]
has been created!
– Will you accept the Quest?
I gazed into his eyes, burning like molten lava.
None other than Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s three moves. Three strikes that could cleave mountains and sever rivers would come crashing down.
I opened my parched lips.
“I accept.”
Ding! Along with the system notification that the Quest had been accepted, a fierce light ignited in Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s eyes.
“Your recklessness will be your death.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps not. But before that….”
I smiled grimly and raised my arms. Clank! Dozens of iron spheres swayed with the chains.
“May I remove these?”
“Try. The outcome will not change.”
With a cold gaze, the aura of an emperor who could make all under heaven kneel surged forth from the old master’s entire being.
The azure sky overhead trembled with turbulence.
“The Emperor’s Sword Form. Can you withstand it?”
Crack! Snap!
I tore away the steel shackles that had bound my limbs for over a year, ripping them apart like parchment.
The moment the chains and iron ball crashed to the ground.
Whoooosh!
A brilliant flash erupted from Chang Cheon Geom-wang’s waist.

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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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