Murim Login - Chapter 28

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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 28
A long exhale.
I sat in lotus position, regulating my breathing. The breath I expelled carried traces of qi I hadn’t fully contained.
‘What a waste.’
Breathing exercises were meant to absorb external qi and circulate it alongside internal qi, accumulating it within the body. Yet the amount that remained was negligible.
Most of the energy simply returned to nature.
‘In novels, even a little practice would skyrocket your power.’
Supreme martial arts under heaven? Legendary elixirs?
None of that existed here. The Jin Family’s core technique was peak-tier, but it was utterly useless for accumulating power. As for miraculous pills—I hadn’t even glimpsed one. All I’d done was suffer endlessly.
‘Is there only one hope left?’
Another reservoir of power, crouched in a corner of my dantian. If I could make it entirely mine, it would be invaluable in future battles.
The problem was that no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t budge.
‘Move. Just move!’
That stubborn thing had been immovable as a boulder all this time. I’d tried drawing it upward, but it gave no response. I sighed and rose to my feet.
“Are we departing?”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who’d been keeping watch, asked.
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
With that, he swiftly mobilized the Patrol Unit members and scooped So-yul into his arms. It was a moment that left me dumbfounded.
‘What’s gotten into this bastard?’
Why had he suddenly become so efficient?
This was the man who barely moved unless I shoved a fist in his face—yet something about him seemed different now.
‘Not that I’m complaining.’
I pushed aside idle thoughts and hoisted Gong Ya-cheong onto my back. His complexion had darkened to a sickly blue as the poison’s effects worsened.
Hyuk Moo-jin asked with concern.
“Will he be alright?”
“He has to be.”
I’d already done everything within my power. All I could do was hope Gong Ya-cheong would endure. I murmured toward his unconscious form.
“Not much longer. Just hold on a bit more.”
Sunlight pierced through the dim dawn. I took a stride toward the light.
Or rather, I was about to.
– Awoooooo!
At first, I thought it was the wind. But it was the cry of living beasts. Hyuk Moo-jin muttered.
“Wolves seem to be hungry.”
“Wolves?”
“Of course. It’s hardly strange for wild beasts to inhabit mountains.”
This was a game set in ancient China. Wolves and tigers could emerge from anywhere without surprise. I’d heard the cries of wild beasts several times over the past few days.
But…
‘Something feels wrong.’
This was different from before. Just hearing that cry made my chest tighten and my fingertips tingle with unease.
Seven years of accumulated experience whispered through my instincts. Beyond that forest where sunlight had yet to reach, something lurked.
“Prepare for combat.”
“Then we should depart now… eh?”
“Form a defensive formation.”
Hyuk Moo-jin quickly regained his composure and relayed my orders. Three scouts bearing shields reinforced with thin iron blocked the snow-covered path.
A narrow mountain trail with elevated ground above—an advantageous position.
– Auuuuu!
The second wolf howl echoed closer, and with it came an ominous foreboding. Hyuk Moo-jin opened his mouth cautiously.
“It appears to be merely a wolf pack, but…”
“Then all the better.”
“Aren’t we wasting precious time?”
I shook my head. We’d been fleeing for two full days. If we were caught because of this brief moment, then it was fate.
“Hold position. Wait a little longer.”
The beasts seemed to understand my words. For a quarter hour, the howls grew incessant and ever closer. The snowy dawn mountain echoed with the crack of branches and the thunder of paws bounding across the white expanse.
“It’s not just one or two of them.”
Hyuk Moo-jin cast a sidelong glance at my face.
“By the sound of it, there must be dozens… Wolves do pack together, but this is certainly unusual.”
Before he could finish, the wolf pack emerged into view. Most were gaunt and skeletal, their ribs showing—winter had left them without prey. Yet their nature remained that of fierce predators. One could not afford carelessness.
‘Starving beasts, nonetheless. The children could be hurt.’
Contrary to my concern, an odd sense of relief washed over me. While martial artists were abundant in the Murim, surely even beasts hadn’t mastered martial arts.
There was no need for premonitions—they were easy prey.
‘Haven’t run a raid in so long, my instincts are completely dulled.’
I clicked my tongue and stepped forward. The dozens of wolves charging fiercely already looked like nothing but experience points.
“Let’s finish this quickly, shall we?”
I flicked my finger at the lead wolf bounding from the distance. By its size, that one was clearly the alpha.
– Krooooarrr!
What kind of wolf roars like a lion? Could it be some kind of mystical beast? Surely I wasn’t about to lose to an animal?
‘That can’t happen.’
I swallowed hard and raised my spear. Determined not to lose in this battle of wills, I hardened my gaze and deepened my voice.
“Come.”
The effect was extraordinary!
– Krrrrr…
The charging beast suddenly veered and bolted into the forest. Dozens of subordinate wolves followed their leader and vanished in a thunderous rush.
No, they had fled. Cold wind swept across the countless paw prints scattered across the snow.
‘What is this?’
It charged as though it would devour me alive, so why did it run?
Then a certain famous manga came to mind—a rubber man with hyperactivity disorder destroying maritime military forces.
“C-could it be… that ability from there?”
The power that intimidates and even renders enemies unconscious through sheer presence alone.
Given how absurd this game was, it was entirely plausible. Then shouldn’t the system send a notification at this point…?
Ding.
That’s right! I waited eagerly for the system voice, my anticipation mounting.
The Patrol Unit members, their expressions bizarre, paid me no mind and muttered ceaselessly.
“Come on, come on, come on!”
It appeared.
The Quest window.
– A Quest has been generated.
Quest
[Jo Pil]
The relentless pursuit has ended. You have faced these cruel and persistent pursuers, and now you must confront Jo Pil.
May you find peace… no, may fortune favor you.
Rank
: Peak
Restriction
: Jin Tae-kyung
Objective
: Survival (Incomplete)
Reward
: ???
Failure
: Death
– You do not have the authority to decline this Quest.
– Quest has been forcibly accepted!
“…What?”
What is happening? Where am I and who am I?
In that instant, countless questions surfaced and dissolved. Then I heard someone’s voice.
“At last, we meet.”
Beside a skeletal tree, a man stood. Twenty paces away—far if you consider distance, near if you consider proximity. The problem was that no one had sensed his presence. Not even I.
‘When did he arrive?’
As my level and martial prowess ascended, my five senses grew sharper. Yet I had not detected this man. I hadn’t even heard his footsteps.
If he hadn’t spoken first, if the Quest window hadn’t appeared, I would have turned away knowing nothing.
‘The wolves.’
Those beasts had fled—not from me, but from this man.
The unease that had lingered since earlier now revealed its true form, and I had no need for Qi Perception. I already knew the man’s name.
“Jo Pil?”
The man, Jo Pil, nodded with a broad smile.
* * *
Until now, I have encountered three Peak masters.
Jin Wi-kyung, Wi Paeng, and the Grand Elder. All three bore the appearance befitting a Peak master. But Jo Pil was different.
‘Ordinary.’
I was neither a giant like Jin Wi-kyung, nor did I possess the sharp, piercing gaze of Wi Paeng, nor the silver beard of the Grand Elder.
Jo Pil, the One Strike One Kill, was of average height with an unremarkable appearance—which made him all the more dangerous.
“Pleased to meet you.”
The moment Jo Pil stepped forward with a bright smile, I retreated without hesitation.
“Nimble. Quick reflexes too. I like that.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. Tension made my voice come out hoarse.
“Don’t come any closer.”
“My apologies. I’m just so delighted to meet you.”
I felt anything but delighted.
“Don’t be so tense. I merely wish to have a conversation.”
“A conversation?”
“Yes. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
From Jo Pil’s perspective, he certainly would have wanted to meet me—he’d lost twenty subordinates just days ago.
‘Damn it. This is fucked.’
The thought that this master had chased me for two days and nights with the intention of tearing me apart made my stomach churn.
“Stop playing games, Jo Pil!”
As I shouted, I felt the air behind me freeze. Jo Pil laughed as if he understood everything.
“What difference would it make if I revealed my identity to them? Second-rate, third-rate. They’re all idiots and trash.”
He pinpointed the Patrol Unit members’ level with precision. I began to suspect whether this bastard was using the system as well.
“Why don’t we have a brief conversation instead? I have many questions about you.”
“A conversation? You’re not buying time?”
“Buying time? What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said. You’re waiting for your subordinates.”
Jo Pil’s nose twitched as if struck at a nerve. That was it. For some reason, he was alone right now. If I was willing to accept some sacrifice, it would be more than enough…
“Waiting? Me? For those weaklings?”
“…What?”
“Didn’t I say it already? They’re all idiots and trash. People without effort or talent—hopeless lives beyond saving.”
“…”
“Heuk San was decent enough, but he lacked the eye to judge people. He deserved to die. I tore out his eyes for failing to recognize true skill.”
I correct myself. Jo Pil isn’t just dangerous-looking—he’s genuinely fucking dangerous.
‘This bastard is completely insane.’
I’d never encountered someone like Jo Pil, neither in reality nor in games. His casual tone and demeanor. He treats humans as tools—a psychopath.
“In any case, you needn’t worry. Those sluggards will take at least half a shichen to catch up. Everything will be finished by then.”
One thing is certain: in the ending he envisions, his own death has no place.
“What do you say?”
“What if I refuse?”
Jo Pil smiled gently.
“I’d be very disappointed in you.”
I could easily imagine what would happen if he became disappointed.
“Junior. I harbor no grudge against you. In fact, I rather like you. If you simply answer a few questions truthfully, I might even let you go.”
“Wait. You’re letting me go?”
“That’s right. I’ll send you back unharmed, without laying a finger on you.”
“…Really?”
“I stake my life on it. Is that enough?”
Sincerity radiated from Jo Pil’s face. He was a psychopath, unpredictable and dangerous, yet I found myself thinking that perhaps—just perhaps—we might all walk away alive.
“Then let’s do it that way.”
Even if the worst came to pass, fighting was all I could do. I decided to buy time and probe for his weaknesses.
“Excellent. A man of reason, I see. Ha ha.”
Jo Pil clapped his hands together, laughing. The sword scabbard hanging from his left hip swayed with the motion.
‘Right-handed. Sword specialist.’
I filed the information away in my mind.
“First, I’d like to ask your age.”
“Twenty.”
Jo Pil’s eyes widened.
“Remarkable. To reach such heights before coming of age. Truly impressive.”
In seven years as a Hunter, I’d never escaped F-rank, yet in this game I’m treated as a martial genius. It’s a strange feeling.
“Your attire suggests you’re from the Taewon Jin Family.”
I nodded readily.
“First-rate mastery at such a young age. You’re not the famous Jin Cheon-geom, so what’s your name?”
“Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Jin Tae-kyung. Jin Tae-kyung. Where have I heard that name? Ah!”
Jo Pil, who had been lost in thought, suddenly exclaimed.
“The reckless third son! That’s you?”
“Not reckless. These days they call me a sleeping dragon.”
“Ha ha ha! That makes sense. The Taewon Jin Family—those rigid bastards wouldn’t poison anyone. I don’t know who set up this game, but it’s turning out to be quite entertaining.”
Jo Pil regarded me with satisfaction.
“I’ve heard rumors about you. Was all of that an act?”
“…Well, yes.”
“Good. A hidden blade, as they say. I like it. How long have you been studying martial arts?”
“Seven years.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. In Murim terms, Hunter combat techniques were a form of martial arts too.
“Seven years. Who was your master?”
“I had none.”
“No master?”
After studying me for a moment, Jo Pil spoke.
“That doesn’t seem like a lie.”
“You promised to spare me if I answered honestly. Wasn’t that your word?”
“Yes, it was. What an absurd yet fascinating story. A direct descendant of the Taewon Jin Family reaching such heights at your age without a master… Truly remarkable.”
My mouth had gone dry. I gripped the spear tightly, scanning Jo Pil’s body for openings. Right now, he appeared riddled with vulnerabilities. But was everything I saw truly all there was?
‘He might be hoping I’ll charge first.’
My thoughts could not continue further. Jo Pil had suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha! Excellent. I like it. I keep my promises.”
Keep his promise?
Could what he said actually come true? I stared at Jo Pil with a dazed expression.
“Don’t look so troubled. Truth be told, at first I really wanted to kill you… but now that I’ve met you, I find myself wanting to observe you further.”
Jo Pil continued speaking with warmth evident in his voice.
“It would be a waste to kill such outstanding talent. Especially in a situation like this.”
“A situation like this?”
“Ah, you might not know yet. You’ll understand once you return. Go on then. I hope you’ll have grown considerably the next time we meet.”
I was allowed to leave? Really? I backed away without lowering my guard. Jo Pil simply watched me with a smile.
His expression resembled that of a fisherman releasing a minnow back into the water.
‘They say even if you enter a tiger’s den, you survive if you keep your wits about you.’
Jo Pil’s unpredictable nature had become my escape route.
Once a safe distance was secured, I exhaled the breath I had been holding. But there was no time to catch my breath. I had to leave this place as quickly as possible, even by a single second.
“Move out. Quickly!”
But it was the very next moment.
“Now then, junior.”
Jo Pil looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing? Obviously I’m leaving as promised…”
“I only permitted you to leave alone.”
“…What?”
“Even if it doesn’t look like it, I’m still employed. I must complete my assigned task.”
A task? Could it be…?
“The three survivors from the Sak-ju Branch. And those trash you call your subordinates—you’ll leave them behind. I should be compensated for two days of labor, shouldn’t I?”
His eyes, which had been clear as a child’s, suddenly gleamed. In the next instant, his gaze transformed into that of a predator.
“Let me be clear. If you refuse, I’ll be very disappointed.”
I stared blankly at Jo Pil, the Patrol Unit members, the young siblings, and the dying Gong Ya-cheong. After a brief moment filled with dozens of internal struggles and conflicts, a single phrase burst from my lips.
“Then be disappointed, you bastard.”
Jo Pil laughed wildly.

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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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