Murim Login - Chapter 256

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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 256
“What the hell are you doing?”
Jong Ri-chu’s eyes narrowed to crescents at the weight of meaning packed into those few words.
“Do I need to say it again?”
“Jong Ri-chu from Yunnan. Yes, I know. So…”
The voice that followed was calm in a way that even I found surprising.
“Who are you?”
“Before that, shouldn’t we tend to your friend over there first?”
Jong Ri-chu’s words held truth. I caught Chung Poong’s arm as it began to collapse.
There was slight bleeding from the shallow wound across his chest, but it was far from the kind of injury that would fell a master of Chung Poong’s caliber.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing. Merely damaged his mental force, that’s all.”
“If anything happens to Chung Poong…”
“You worry much. It was merely Empty Beginning, so nothing of the sort you’re imagining will occur.”
“Empty Beginning? That strike just now?”
“If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. Friendship is a wonderful thing.”
Watching Jong Ri-chu smile gently, my insides burned as though I’d swallowed a ball of fire.
‘I’ve been completely deceived.’
I remembered our first meeting.
That cheerful vagabond who spoke of fate and asked to be friends at the mere brush of sleeves. It was bothersome, but not unpleasant.
But now I understood nothing. Everything about him, from beginning to end. All of it shrouded in mystery.
It was then that my grip on White Flame tightened of its own accord.
“Wait, please!”
The voice that interjected urgently belonged to the Examiner. His bewilderment at this unexpected turn of events was plainly evident.
“Both of you, step back. And So-hyup Jin, interference during a match violates the Seonglae Tournament regulations.”
I answered without taking my eyes off Jong Ri-chu.
“So you want me to just watch while someone nearly dies?”
“B-but didn’t he say it was Empty Beginning?”
“That’s just what that bastard claims.”
The Examiner’s lips trembled at my firm response.
“If you don’t withdraw now…… you could face disqualification according to the regulations.”
“Disqualification?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t want to be disqualified with the finals still ahead, would you?”
I laughed softly.
Victory at the Seonglae Tournament? Certainly it would bring vast experience points, renown, and rewards beyond measure.
Jin Wi-kyung would embrace me, praising how I’d elevated the family’s honor, and Fire King Red Sky River would be pleased as well.
‘But that’s all.’
That year in Yeolhwa Cave was not for winning the Seonglae Tournament.
And the same would be true for this sinister bastard standing before me now.
“Let’s fight.”
Jong Ri-chu deliberately widened his eyes.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Hah, if you don’t withdraw immediately, you’ll be disqualified, won’t you?”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Well, I’m grateful for that. Thanks to you, I can easily claim the championship and make my name known throughout the realm.”
“Stop spouting nonsense. Drop the act and tell me what you really think.”
Jong Ri-chu paused, then smiled wryly.
“My eye for people was accurate. You’re truly an interesting fellow.”
“Fellow? That’s not the right word for this. Especially not between you and me.”
“It’s a shame, but… well, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“So what’s your answer?”
“I’ve always wanted to test myself against you.”
The Examiner, who had been listening to our exchange, interjected with a stern expression.
“Did you not hear what this examiner said? Furthermore, the finals of the Seonglae Tournament must proceed tomorrow according to regulations.”
In that moment, a low voice pierced through everyone’s ears.
“Then change that regulation starting today.”
“Who dares—!”
The Examiner spun around in fury, then froze entirely. A small, elderly figure had approached like a phantom.
“Is it… the Red Sky River?”
Fire King Red Sky River. His eyes, flushed with heat, swept across me and Jong Ri-chu before settling on the Examiner.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“I-I apologize. This humble one misspoke.”
“Never mind that. Proceed with the next match at once.”
“B-but…”
“But?”
The Examiner swallowed hard.
“To change the schedule, a meeting must be held and approval obtained from the Chief Seat.”
“The Chief Seat of the first Seonglae Tournament was Mu-shin. After he disappeared, it fell to the Shaolin Abbot as the organizer. Is that correct?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Pardon?”
“Dharma King Hung-do had urgent matters and stepped away temporarily. Considering both seniority and standing in the Martial World, the current Chief Seat is myself.”
All eyes turned toward the seat of honor a hundred paces away. As Fire King Red Sky River said, the seat where Dharma King Hung-do should have been sitting was empty.
No—there was another person who was nowhere to be seen.
‘Cheon Myeon Ho-ri Song Ho.’
Two key figures absent at the same time—what was happening?
A question flickered through my mind, but it quickly faded. That wasn’t important right now.
“So I can disregard that damned regulation or whatever it is, yes? Was my word incorrect?”
“That is…”
The conflicted Examiner nodded his head.
“Yes, I’ll proceed.”
“Good. And you there.”
Jong Ri-chu, who had been watching this spectacle with keen interest, pointed at his chest with one hand.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you with half your tongue cut off.”
“My tongue isn’t exactly half severed, but I understand.”
Despite knowing who his opponent was, he remained utterly composed.
Jeok Cheon-gang fixed Jong Ri-chu with a sunken, piercing gaze.
“I’ll ask you directly. Did you come from Tianshan?”
Tianshan Mountain Range—none other than the headquarters of the Demon Cult.
At those words, the Examiner flinched as though burned, while Jong Ri-chu wore a subtle smile, as if savoring the moment.
“Well, I’ll defer my answer on that matter.”
“If you wish to live long, you’d best think carefully before answering.”
Jong Ri-chu stroked his smooth chin.
“What if an unfortunate accident were to occur before I give that answer?”
“An accident?”
“In the Martial World, one never knows what might happen. For instance, what if a master were to lose his only disciple?”
In that instant, a deathly silence pressed down upon the surroundings.
Jeok Cheon-gang, his gaze fixed on Jong Ri-chu with emotionless eyes, opened his mouth.
“Should such a lamentable thing occur… the master who lost his disciple would be consumed by great rage.”
“Would you unfurl the Heavenly Net to hunt down the culprit?”
“Not at all. I’d burn them alive. I stake my life on it.”
“Aren’t you being rather hasty? You don’t even know who we’re talking about.”
“As it happens, I know this person quite well.”
“Ah, I see.”
Jong Ri-chu burst into hearty laughter.
“Then I’ll have to exercise restraint with my hands.”
“Aren’t you underestimating this disciple of yours?”
“He shows promise, but he likely won’t be my match.”
“Is that so? What do you think?”
In response to Jeok Cheon-gang’s question, I gripped my spear tightly and answered.
“That bastard’s thinking is a bit twisted.”
Jong Ri-chu regarded me with amusement.
“I can’t tell if what you’re displaying is confidence or arrogance.”
“Neither. I’m the type who wants to live long and well. But there’s one thing I do know.”
I spoke each word deliberately, one syllable at a time.
“You don’t know anything until you try.”
“A fine sentiment. But will it hold true this time as well?”
“I hope it does.”
“I could die.”
“That’s why you have to do your best. And if you die after that… well, it’ll be unpleasant, but someone will avenge you. Isn’t that right?”
Jeok Cheon-gang nodded.
“Go with peace of mind. I will take your revenge, so don’t worry about what comes after.”
“Is that supposed to be comfort?”
“So stop spouting nonsense and remember one thing. If you die by that bastard’s hand, you die by my hand.”
“Then I’d better work hard to avoid dying twice.”
Jong Ri-chu, who had been listening to our conversation, burst into raucous laughter.
“Hahahaha! This is quite the amusing master-disciple relationship.”
I stared at him intently, my mind churning with calculation.
Before we fought, I needed to tear away even a fragment of the veil shrouding that man.
‘Skill, use Aura Sense.’
Ding.
–
[Aura Sense]
has been activated.
– At the current Eight Star realm, you can detect targets below Lv.100 within eighty chapters.
I possessed two forms of aura sense. The aura sense that existed as a skill, and the aura sense of a martial artist.
In the early days after arriving in the Murim, I relied entirely on the former, but as time passed, I realized that level and strength were not absolutely proportional, so I reduced its frequency of use.
The Murim was a place with too many variables to judge by level alone.
‘Show me something. Your true form.’
Whoooosh!
As my aura sense reached the Eight Star realm, I could concentrate on a single person.
A blue line visible only to me extended without obstruction toward Jong Ri-chu. No—the moment I thought it had reached him.
Beep!
–
[Aura Sense]
has failed!
– Unable to identify the detection target!
– An unknown force rejects the skill!
“…!”
What?
My eyes widened in disbelief at the impossible system message. I stared at Jong Ri-chu with a bewildered expression.
The blue line of aura sense, blocked by something, circled around him before vanishing.
“…What on earth did you do?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask you.”
Jong Ri-chu, whose laughter had ceased, turned an intrigued gaze toward me.
“You have quite the interesting trick, don’t you?”
His words stirred a distant memory within me.
It was a memory of someone I had first sensed with aura sense a year ago.
‘How fascinating this fellow is.’
Fire King Red Sky River.
As a supreme master, he could manipulate his aura with perfect freedom, and through that incident, I had first come to realize that the system was not omnipotent.
‘Yet even Red Sky River himself couldn’t deflect the skill.’
An inexplicable force had rejected the skill instead. I had never heard of such a thing before.
The more I witnessed Jong Ri-chu defying common sense at every turn, the more a single word echoed through my mind.
‘Demonic Arts.’
Martial techniques that transcended all convention.
My suspicion hardened into certainty. Now I finally understood the meaning behind the question Red Sky River had posed to me earlier.
“Are you truly from the Demon Cult?”
“If you beat me, I’ll tell you. What trick did you just pull?”
“I won’t tell you even if you win.”
“That’s quite the losing proposition. I suppose I have no choice.”
Swish.
The rusted blade rose slowly, pointing at the space between my brows.
A voice followed—humming like a song, utterly at odds with the suffocating sharpness that emanated from him.
“Come now, let us play with fervor.”
I raised White Flame and answered.
“Yes. Let us play with utter desperation.”
A roar erupted!
The Fire Dragon coiled within my dantian awoke from slumber and stretched.
– Give it everything.
As Red Sky River pulled Chung Poong toward him through the void and retreated by treading on empty air, the Examiner’s urgent cry pierced the arena.
“According to the revised schedule, we now commence the finals of the Seonglae Tournament immediately! Ascending Sword Jong Ri-chu against Shanxi Sleeping Dragon Jin Tae-kyung…!”
Heedless of the Examiner’s proclamation, we were already surging toward each other.
A piercing shriek!
One step, and the distance vanished.
A tremendous crash!
Two steps. Two torrents of radiance erupted from our hands and collided in the void.

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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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