Murim Login - Chapter 313

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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 313
Huashan’s Single Lineage, Baek Moo-sung.
In Shaanxi Province, indeed throughout the entire Murim, there was no one who did not know his name.
He was the direct disciple of Cheon Geom Jin-in and had been called the future of the Hua Mountain Sect since childhood.
Among those with keen ears and loose tongues, rumors circulated about the Sword Saint’s youngest disciple, yet even they harbored no doubt that Baek Moo-sung would one day become the sect leader of Hua Mountain.
“I hear the martial prowess of Huashan’s Young Dragon has already surpassed the elders of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance. Truly, a genius born once in a century, if that.”
“Still, the next sect leader is undoubtedly Huashan’s Single Lineage. Baek Moo-sung is of a different caliber. He was born with everything necessary to be a sect leader.”
“That’s true enough. Is it lacking martial skill, or lacking character? If not him, then who would become sect leader?”
The people conversing over wine cups on the first floor of Xi’an Tower did not know.
That the subject of their conversation was passing directly behind them.
“I have heard much of Great Master Baek’s reputation. It is an honor to meet you in person.”
“Great Master? Please, such excessive praise is unwarranted.”
“Not at all. It is only proper to address a Great Master as such. What could be excessive about that?”
To the Guard Captain’s fervent gaze, Baek Moo-sung responded with an awkward smile.
People’s attention was nothing new to him.
As the standing of Hua Mountain rose following Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak’s retreat into seclusion, so too did Baek Moo-sung’s burden increase.
‘Sect leader, they say.’
For Baek Moo-sung, barely in his early thirties, it was a distant and weighty title.
Just as he was inwardly shaking his head, the Guard Captain’s footsteps came to a halt.
“This is the place.”
“This is…?”
“The Separate Annex—one of only a handful in all of Xi’an Tower, which prides itself as Shaanxi’s finest.”
Baek Moo-sung surveyed the garden adorned with jade and stone, the interior brimming with luxurious furnishings, and his expression grew uncomfortable.
“I apologize, but I do not have sufficient funds to warrant the use of such an annex. Might you instead provide me with a simple, quiet room?”
“Ha ha, truly as I have heard—you are indeed frugal.”
The Guard Captain chuckled warmly and continued.
“Please, do not worry. The Tower Master has repeatedly instructed us that should any guest from Hua Mountain arrive, we are to accept no payment whatsoever and treat them with the utmost care.”
“The Tower Master himself said this?”
“Yes. Last autumn, there was a certain matter involving the Zhongnan Sect, which was resolved well thanks to Hua Mountain’s assistance. The other two disciples of the Plum Blossom Three Absolutes rendered great service.”
“Ah, I see. That occurred while I was in closed-door cultivation, so I was unaware of it.”
“In truth, I myself have only heard of it through hearsay. I have only been working here for about a month, ha ha.”
Baek Moo-sung nodded as if understanding at last.
Over the past year, he had not been idle either.
The meeting with Chung Poong, a talent of ancient renown, and with Jin Tae-kyung had been both a profound shock and a new stimulus for Baek Moo-sung. It was for this reason that he had decided upon a year of closed-door cultivation.
‘It was a meaningful time.’
The insights gained during his cultivation had made Baek Moo-sung stronger and more profound than before.
Yet what changed was not limited to him alone. The position of Hua Mountain itself was incomparable to a year prior.
Even the government offices, where Zhongnan’s lay disciples were heavily positioned, would seek out Hua Mountain first when problems arose.
‘If the letter my master sent speaks truth, then it could be no other way.’
Five days ago, the Messenger Hawk sent by his master, Cheon Geom Jin-in, had carried astonishing news.
The blood catastrophe at Shaolin, the death of Dharma King Hung-do. And the news that Geom-seong Maejong-hak was being considered as the leader of the newly revived Martial Alliance after decades—that was it.
“In any case, everything around here is in an uproar. My friends have been asking me too. They say their children seem to have talent in martial arts, and they’re wondering if they could enter the Hua Mountain Sect as outer disciples.”
Baek Moo-sung caught the subtle meaning in the Guard Captain’s gaze and smiled wryly.
By all appearances, he was well past forty. A parent’s desire to have their child admitted to the Hua Mountain Sect would be the same for him as well.
But Baek Moo-sung pretended not to understand and replied.
“Well, if fate permits, it could happen. But is there really a need to learn martial arts? At that age, it’s enough that they grow up healthy.”
“…I see.”
At the Guard Captain’s disappointed expression, Baek Moo-sung muttered inwardly.
‘If you knew of the blood wind about to sweep through, you wouldn’t make such a face.’
Rumors about the blood catastrophe at Shaolin had already begun to leak out.
But the existence of Dark Heaven remained a top-secret known only to a select few. As one of those rare individuals, Baek Moo-sung had a premonition.
Soon a storm of blood would sweep across the Martial World. Dark clouds would obscure the sky, and thousands upon thousands of weapons would roll across the earth with their masters.
The wails of children who had lost parents, of parents who had lost children, would echo from all directions.
‘I will prevent such a thing from happening. I, and Huashan.’
Everyone in the Martial World must share the same resolve as Baek Moo-sung.
It was just as the Guard Captain was tilting his head, puzzled by the sudden heaviness of his mood.
“Where is the manager? Manager!”
“So-hyup, the manager has stepped away for a moment. So please calm yourself and….”
“Calm myself? I’ve been treated with such disrespect, and you expect me to settle down now?”
“Sir, as I mentioned, the Separate Annex is already full. I’ll guide you to a special room instead, so please ease your anger.”
“Silence! I absolutely must use the Separate Annex today—move aside at once!”
“Oh my, So-hyup!”
Crash! Crack!
With the sound of commotion came increasingly loud shouts drawing closer. The Guard Captain furrowed his brow and spoke.
“I apologize for showing you such an unpleasant sight. It seems my subordinates have failed in their duties.”
“Not at all. I understand completely.”
No matter how selectively one screened guests, Xi’an Tower was still a pleasure house. It was only natural that all manner of insects would slip into a flower garden.
“Still, it’s not even noon yet, and he seems quite drunk.”
“It happens often enough. He appears to be some nobleman’s son. We’ll handle it properly and send him back, so you needn’t concern yourself, Master Baek.”
Baek Moo-sung let out a hearty laugh and shook his head.
“Haha, I think it would be better if he stayed here.”
“Pardon?”
“He doesn’t seem to be an ordinary nobleman’s son.”
“What do you mean….”
The Guard Captain, who had been about to question him, stopped short. He felt the approaching presence of someone, growing rapidly closer along with the unceasing commotion.
‘A martial artist!’
As the situation grew increasingly ominous, the shouts of the Inner Court guards echoed through hurried footsteps.
“Stop right there!”
“You cannot pass beyond this point!”
Xi’an Tower’s security was of high caliber, given that high officials frequented it. Yet even these experienced first-rate martial artists found themselves overwhelmed in stopping the drunken rampage.
“Bandits risen from the dregs—how dare such third-rate ruffians….”
“Hah!”
Whoosh, crack-crack-crack!
As the warriors’ short protective cries and the sharp, forceful impact of their blows echoed out, the area beyond the Separate Annex fell silent in an instant.
Staggering, rough footsteps began to approach, breaking through the silence.
‘To fell six first-rate warriors in a single instant while in such a drunken state….’
A master—and one at the peak of mastery at that.
Just as the Guard Captain, his face hardening, reached for his sword hilt, Baek Moo-sung gave a small shake of his head.
“I believe I should handle this.”
“Baek Dae-hyup, that is….”
“It’s fine. We’ve crossed paths several times before, so for the sake of propriety, he’ll stand down.”
“That would mean….”
“There is a connection passed down from my predecessors. Ah, of course….”
Baek Moo-sung scratched his cheek and added a word.
“It’s hardly been a harmonious one, though.”
“…!”
In that moment, a thought flashed through the Guard Captain’s mind like lightning.
One was the three characters: Zhongnan Sect. And following that came the name of a single person.
“Could it be…?”
It had been barely more than two weeks since becoming the Guard Captain of Xi’an Tower. Yet the rumors about that person had been hammered into his ears relentlessly.
A man possessed of a temperament as formidable as his origin from the Zhongnan Sect.
Just as the Guard Captain, his expression contorted, was about to speak a name.
Crash!
The door of the Separate Annex, crafted from solid blackwood, shattered to splinters that scattered in all directions.
Toward the staggering young man whose face flushed crimson with intoxication, Baek Moo-sung offered a wry smile.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
And at the same moment.
“Why are you here?”
The face of Hyuk So-pyung, the Dragon of Zhongnan, twisted like that of a demon.
* * *
“Wow! Wow wow!”
“Please, stop shouting. Everyone’s staring.”
“Benefactor! Look, candied fruits!”
“Those damned candied fruits. Aren’t you sick of them?”
“No!”
“Then why don’t you just open a shop?”
“Then can I go all the way to Sichuan with the candied fruit vendor?”
“No, you crazy….”
“Look, they’re selling thin noodles! Made with beef broth!”
Chung Poong, you boundless thing. Like a rubber ball bouncing in every direction….
I quickly grabbed Chung Poong by the scruff of his neck as he scurried toward a street vendor’s stall.
“Please, just a little more restraint. Let’s live like human beings. Like human beings!”
“But the candy, the noodles….”
“Ah, just wait a bit longer and I’ll feed you until your belly bursts!”
“Really?”
“How many times do I have to say it? So please, zip your mouth and follow me quietly. Got it?”
Of course, it wasn’t my money feeding him but the Hua Mountain Sect’s funds, but what difference did it make either way?
‘I should have just passed through here originally.’
According to the original itinerary, there was no need to stop in Xi’an at all.
But before departing, I’d received a request from Cheon Geom Jin-in, the sect leader of the Hua Mountain Sect, to visit Xi’an, and since it was Chung Poong’s hometown, I’d decided to pass through as a matter of convenience.
After nearly seven days of forced marching without proper food or bathing, I wanted to rest and be treated well for at least one day.
‘Baek Moo-sung of the Hua Mountain School was supposed to be waiting.’
It had been over a year since I last saw him.
Before departing along the Red Sky River toward Anhui, Baek Moo-sung had said something to me.
‘Whenever you come to Shaanxi Province, please contact me. I’ll treat you properly. Haha.’
When he mentioned treating me to the full course, I wondered if this fellow might be from Busan, but it seemed he wasn’t entirely lying.
Judging by how we were meeting like this today.
“By the way, where is the Xi’an Tower?”
According to a passerby I’d stopped to ask, I just needed to follow the main road, but this street seemed impossibly crowded with no end in sight.
Just as I was looking around, a finger darkened with grime pointed toward a building visible in the distance.
“That’s the Xi’an Tower.”
“Where? Oh, it really is. How did you know?”
Gung Ki-bang, the future king of beggars, answered with a face full of pride.
“It’s the best begging spot. The leftover food discarded there is of the finest quality, and since high-ranking people frequent it, there are many charitable donations. No beggar could not know of this place.”
“….”
So it was the hottest spot in the Beggar Clan.
I shook my head and walked toward the Xi’an Tower.
When I arrived at the massive main gate large enough for ten people to enter and exit simultaneously, a guard captain who appeared to belong to the Xi’an Tower bowed his head.
“I apologize. We are not open for business today.”
“…What? Is it a day off?”
“No, rather. A small problem occurred during business hours.”
“Ah.”
I hadn’t anticipated this.
Glancing back, I saw Chung Poong on the verge of wailing.
I scratched my head and spoke to the guard captain.
“Is there any way around this? I had an appointment today. Baek Moo-sung. He said you’d know the name.”
“I apologize again, but right now… Pardon? Did you just say Baek Moo-sung, the great master?”
“Yes. Baek Moo-sung of the Hua Mountain School.”
Chung Poong cried out in an urgent voice.
“Baek Master! Where are you, Baek Master! Can you hear my stomach growling!”
The escort warrior who had been alternating his gaze between us swiftly thrust open the tightly sealed Main Gate.
“I shall escort you to the Separate Annex at once!”
What is this?
Why the sudden change in attitude?
‘Did Baek Moo-sung stand us up?’
My assumption was wrong. Following the escort warrior who rushed forward as if flying, I arrived to find the Separate Annex nearly devastated and Baek Moo-sung waiting for us with his blade drawn.
Wow, this is completely—
‘The full experience, really.’
This is so disgusting I can’t believe martial artists actually do this.

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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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