Murim Login - Chapter 242

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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 242
He was a young man with a melancholic, gentle expression.
He appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties at most, and a disarmingly familiar smile played at the corners of his lips.
“Phew, why are you walking so fast?”
“Do you know me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“They say even brushing sleeves is a bond of fate, don’t they?”
“We haven’t even brushed sleeves yet.”
“But we’ve exchanged words, so it doesn’t matter. Let’s be friends.”
….
One of two things: either a madman or a mad extrovert.
I studied the young man carefully, noting the well-developed musculature hidden beneath his loose robes and the sword hilt protruding slightly from his waist.
Simultaneously, I sensed the formidable energy coiled within his body.
‘A master at the pinnacle realm?’
I couldn’t say what his actual age truly was, but it was an impressive achievement nonetheless.
In fact, one could call it remarkable—reaching the pinnacle realm in one’s twenties was extraordinarily difficult.
Yet somehow, the energy I felt from the young man before me seemed to stop at exactly that level.
If I had to describe it….
‘An ordinary pinnacle master?’
Even though reaching the pinnacle realm was already an extraordinary achievement, it felt ordinary because I’d been surrounded by so many monsters.
After all, facing that insane trio of Hyuk Moo-jin, Chung Poong, and the Fire King in succession would leave anyone with such aftereffects.
In any case, my assessment was complete. I spoke to the young man with measured courtesy.
“Don’t mind me. Go on your way.”
“Tsk, isn’t that too cold for friends!”
“If we’re friends, can I drop the formalities?”
“Haha, of course!”
“Then get lost, you bastard.”
….
I turned and began walking, leaving the young man behind. After a moment of stunned silence, he hurried after me with quick steps.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard such crude language! Perfect—now that’s what real friendship is!”
“Leave while I’m still being nice about it.”
“What’s your name, anyway?”
“Michael Johnson.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
“…You actually believed that?”
“Jang Sam? Or perhaps Yu Pil? Could you be a disciple of the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance or the Five Great Families?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Because I’m interested, naturally. Is it true you killed Jeok Sal-bu with a single strike?”
My footsteps halted abruptly at the unfamiliar epithet.
“Who are you?”
“The leader of the Black Mountain Bandits. Wasn’t that your handiwork?”
I recalled the shaggy-haired bandit chief I had dealt with on my way here. With so many of them, I had eliminated him first to suppress their momentum.
I had thought it odd that a bandit was so formidable, but it seemed he was actually quite renowned.
“But how did you know that?”
“I heard it from the merchants of the Geumwa Trading Company at an inn earlier. The surviving bandits said it was the work of a strange person wielding iron spheres and chains.”
The young man grinned widely and pointed to the iron spheres fixed to my back.
I had covered them with cloth and disguised them as luggage to avoid strange misunderstandings, but it seemed even the keen eye of a master-level expert could not be deceived.
“And then you happened to pass by. I found it intriguing, so I followed you at once.”
“Hmm.”
“So what is your name?”
Should I tell him or not?
After a brief moment of deliberation, I spoke. I was beginning to grow curious about which sect this eccentric young man belonged to and who he was.
“Jin Tae-kyung. That is my name.”
“Could you be that Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family in Shanxi Province?”
“You know of me?”
“Know of you? I have heard the rumors about the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon becoming a disciple of the Fire King so many times my ears have grown weary.”
A year is short, yet it is also long.
However, it was sufficient time for rumors about me and the Fire King to spread across the entire continent.
“And who might you be?”
“Ah, myself….”
The young man chuckled and continued.
“Jong Ri-chu. Jong Ri-chu from Yunnan, they call me. I must ask your understanding that I cannot reveal my sect for certain reasons.”
“Jong Ri-chu of Yunnan?”
“My epithet is the Ever-Victorious Sword. Have you heard of it?”
I knew the place name Yunnan, but I had never heard his name or epithet before.
It was only natural, having been confined to Yeolhwa Cave for the past year.
“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with it.”
“Is that so? Well, you might not know.”
Look on the bright side. Most martial artists of that age would be disappointed, yet he showed no sign of it whatsoever.
This positive fellow continued with a serious expression.
“Because I have only just created this epithet. The swordsman who always wins. Doesn’t it sound impressive?”
“….”
Is this man insane?
As I found myself momentarily at a loss for words, Jong Ri-chu made a gesture of twisting his wrist.
“What do you say? Shall we have a drink together to commemorate our friendship?”
“I’m not particularly interested. There are no vacant seats at the nearby inns anyway.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve been watching you the whole time, and there are always a seat or two available.”
“…Jeom So-i said there were no seats.”
“Huh? But then why did she tell me there were vacant seats and invite me in?”
“….”
Damn it. Of course. Even with Seongnae Daeyeon practically within reach, it made no sense that not a single room remained vacant among dozens of inns.
‘I’m filthy, so I’ll wash. Filthy.’
I’d have to draw water from the stream to bathe—otherwise, I’d end up sleeping rough on the street despite perfectly good inns being available.
“I know a decent inn. Come with me. As a token of our newfound friendship, I’ll cover the drinks.”
“Friendship? You said your name was Jong Ri-chu, didn’t you? Go on your way now.”
I wasn’t some penniless vagrant, so I had no intention of getting tangled up with this strange fellow and wasting time.
If I remembered correctly, a stream ran straight ahead down this road.
As I moved forward, searching my memory, Jong Ri-chu called out to me.
“Say, where are you headed?”
“None of your concern. Don’t follow me.”
“Then just answer me one last thing! Where can I see you again?”
“Seongnae Daeyeon.”
That was my final answer. I deployed my lightness technique and swiftly departed. In an instant, I had covered over a hundred paces, and Jong Ri-chu’s voice echoed behind me.
“See you next time!”
Not if I can help it.
* * *
One had left, and one remained.
Jong Ri-chu gazed in the direction Jin Tae-kyung had vanished and murmured to himself.
“The Shanxi Sleeping Dragon, Jin Tae-kyung….”
Soon, a dimple carved itself deep into his smooth, unwrinkled lips.
After standing alone for a while, chuckling softly, he turned his steps toward a nearby inn.
Moments earlier, Jeom So-i, who had driven Jin Tae-kyung away, bowed with a beaming smile.
“Welcome!”
“Do you have any rooms available?”
“Of course we do, sir!”
Jong Ri-chu’s smile deepened further.
* * *
Splash.
As I rose, the hot water filling the wooden tub sloshed about.
The dilapidated tub was something I’d found rolling about in the grass, and I’d filled it with cold stream water, heating it with solar energy.
After repeatedly discarding and refilling the water to scrub away layers of grime, I felt as though I’d shed several kilograms.
“I feel completely reborn.”
Now I finally felt human again.
It would have been nice to have shampoo or body wash, but this was more than satisfactory.
Besides, my inventory was divided between the Murim and modern worlds, so bringing such items was impossible from the start.
‘But these clothes….’
As I pulled on the tattered rags—if they could even be called clothes—my brow furrowed involuntarily.
Beyond the discomfort, it seemed pointless to have washed at all.
I wandered the streets, thinking I should buy at least some cheap clothing.
A year ago, the streets of Hanan had bustled with people from different walks of life and professions, but given the season, martial artists were particularly conspicuous.
As a result, their conversations naturally drifted into my ears.
“Have you heard? The Sword Dragon of the Namgung Clan won’t be competing in this Seongnae Daeyeon.”
“What? The Sword Dragon suddenly won’t compete? Is there some problem?”
“Who knows? He was a strong contender for the championship. It’s unfortunate. Things are becoming increasingly mysterious.”
“Among the younger generation, the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes have the best chance, but… the age limit is thirty-five, so who can say what will happen.”
“That’s a fair point. The world is vast and masters are plentiful. There’s certainly a possibility that a rising powerhouse from outside the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance or the Five Great Families could emerge.”
“You mean someone like Jin Cheon Sword of the Taewon Jin Family or the Shanxi Sleeping Dragon?”
“Exactly. Though whether they’ll actually participate in this Seongnae Daeyeon remains to be seen.”
Hearing this made my face flush with embarrassment.
I quickened my pace and hurried away from the street.
As soon as I stepped onto the broad avenue lined with large buildings, a fabric shop caught my eye, displaying silk and dozens of varieties of clothing.
“Excuse me.”
“My, clothes do make the person! You look absolutely stunning. Surely you’re a celestial maiden? A celestial maiden… what’s your name?”
The fabric shop attendant, who had been lavishing flattery on pretty female customers, frowned at my call.
His expression changed so dramatically that I barely restrained the urge to punch him in the face.
“What brings you to a fabric shop?”
“Begging, what else.”
“….”
No matter how tattered my rags, my massive frame couldn’t be hidden.
In fact, the exposed portions were so extensive that my muscular build was quite apparent.
When I fixed him with an intense stare and tensed my strength, the attendant flinched.
“What, what are you staring at? Did I say something wrong?”
“Let’s drop the regrettable remarks and look at some clothes instead.”
“Oh, clothes?”
“Here, I have money. Don’t treat me like a beggar.”
I pulled out silver taels and waved them, and the attendant’s expression changed.
But not in the way I expected.
“That’s all you have?”
“Well, yes. Is there a problem?”
“Good grief, you think you can buy clothes with just one measly silver tael?”
“…one measly silver tael?”
What? Had there been a major currency reform in the past year that caused silver prices to plummet?
As confusion gripped me, the attendant’s scoff hit my ears.
“Did you even read the price sign before coming in?”
I turned my head and checked the price sign without thinking.
On the wooden board displayed at the counter, large characters proclaimed:
[The owner has lost his mind. Seongnae Daeyeon special discount! Martial robes for martial artists—two silver taels!]
“…two silver taels? For martial robes?”
“That’ll only get you undergarments at best. Our fabric shop deals exclusively in premium silk. Even our martial robes are made from the finest brocade.”
“….”
A Department Store brand, then.
Of all places to stumble into, why did it have to be somewhere like this? I had no idea what kind of humiliation this was.
The other employees and customers inside the fabric shop began to whisper as they looked at me.
“Oh my, is that a beggar? How pitiful. Don’t you think so, dear?”
“It does seem that way. He looks strong enough to work, so why don’t we take him in and use him as a servant?”
“Your kindness knows no bounds. That beggar will surely be delighted.”
Being called a beggar alone was infuriating, but hearing such words from a couple doubled my rage.
I bellowed with all the fury I could muster.
“Who’s a beggar!”
“Gasp!”
“Eek!”
“You, you bastard!”
People recoiled in shock at my thunderous roar that echoed through the shop.
At the same time, a group of burly employees came rushing from somewhere and surrounded me. The clubs in their hands swayed menacingly.
“You scoundrel! How dare you cause trouble here!”
“A beggar like you—do you even know where you are!”
“What? A beggar? Damn it, these bastards are really—”
Yes, I had spoken well.
I rolled up my already half-torn sleeve.
“Fine, let’s cause some real trouble today. Who’s the owner of this place!”
It was at that very moment.
“One who needs to see a coffin to regain his senses. How dare you cause such trouble?”
A solemn voice pierced my ears.
As I slowly turned, a man came into view.
A bamboo hat worn low, black silk robes embroidered with dragons, and a hand resting on the sword hilt as though ready to draw at any moment.
Beneath the bamboo hat, his lips curved into a faint smile.
“It seems you’ve learned a thing or two somewhere, but if you wish to avoid bloodshed, step back now.”
I tilted my head to the side.
“What if I refuse?”
“Unknown martial artist, the price of recklessness is death.”
As dialogue that belonged in a martial arts film spilled from his lips, the people around us erupted in cheers.
And just as those cheers began to fade, I opened my mouth.
“Hey, can I ask you one thing?”
The martial artist answered with ease.
“Speak. It shall be your final words.”
I stared directly into the depths of his bamboo hat and continued.
“You’re Hyuk Moo-jin, aren’t you?”
“…!”
I let out a deep sigh and looked up at the sky. A wooden plaque written in bold, dragon-like calligraphy caught my eye.
Hyuk Family Fabric Shop
“Three seconds. Smash your head in.”

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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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