Murim Login - Chapter 325

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 325
A chill ran through the air.
It was an emotion shared by everyone present in this place.
Huashan, Beggar Clan, Zhongnan Sect, Haowen Sect, and even Yongbong Escort Agency—dozens of pairs of eyes trembled as they witnessed the spectacle unfolding before them.
“So then.”
Crack!
“When I’m being reasonable.”
Crack!
“You should have stopped.”
Crack!
“Where do you get off throwing the first strike, the first blade?”
Thud!
That final impact was particularly thunderous. With a wet, gurgling sound, the Old Master’s body crumpled to the ground.
His face was drenched in blood. The sharp, elegant nose that had once stirred the hearts of countless women had long since collapsed, and the even teeth that belied his eighty years now left only a single front tooth remaining.
“Insulting another’s master, spouting such filth.”
Thud!
That last front tooth flew through the air and landed in a corner of the tea house.
Those watching with vacant expressions suddenly shared a single thought.
‘What am I witnessing right now?’
Something that should never have happened was unfolding before their eyes.
A youth barely past his coming of age, who had only recently begun to make a name for himself in the Martial World, was thoroughly beating the foremost master of Zhongnan Sect and the sect leader’s senior brother—who could possibly believe such a thing?
Yet everyone present had witnessed it clearly.
The exchange between the two fighters that defied the eye’s ability to follow, and at its conclusion, the fallen Old Master and the solitary youth standing victorious.
“The Fire Dragon….”
Those two characters, murmured like a lament by someone, pierced deep into the hearts of all present.
The Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi—that was the martial name by which the youth Jin Tae-kyung had become known throughout the Martial World.
But they were mistaken. The sleeping dragon had finally awakened, and would soar not merely over Shanxi, but across the heavens of all under heaven.
As a Fire Dragon.
“The only subject I ever got a perfect score on in my entire life was ethics, but today I’m doing ethics right—beating up an old man. Get up.”
Or was it a Mad Dragon instead?
At the sight of Jin Tae-kyung seizing Hwang Bo-eom’s soot and blood-matted beard as though it were hair, the thirty members of the Taeul Sword Squad, who had been completely stunned, suddenly snapped back to awareness.
Who was this old man? He was none other than Hwang Bo-eom, the Tae-eul Mujeong Sword—the sect’s venerable elder and the sect leader’s senior brother.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Sect Leader!”
Voices erupted simultaneously as if by prior arrangement.
Among them was one cry that rang out with particular force and urgency.
“You! Release the Venerable Elder at once!”
It was at that very moment that Hwang Cheon, the commander of the Taeul Sword Squad and second-generation disciple of Zhongnan Sect, rushed forward with his sword drawn.
Shiiing, click.
“…!”
Hwang Cheon’s eyes dilated like saucers.
It all happened in a single, breathless instant.
A cold blade halted at his throat; the bamboo staff pressed against his chest, while the sword that had been halfway drawn from its sheath was now caught by another’s blade, unable to advance further.
Three men and women—masters of the highest caliber—had subdued Hwang Cheon in mere moments, and they began to speak in turn.
“I’d advise against drawing that sword.”
“If you desire combat, the Yongbong Escort Agency and I shall be your opponents.”
“A strike from the Tagu Bong technique would hurt quite a bit. Though I’ve only mastered up to the fifth form so far.”
Baek Moo-sung of Huashan One School, Ju Hwa-ran of Eunbihwa, and even Hu Gae and Gung Ki-bang of the Beggar Clan.
But that was not all.
“Protect the Young Master!”
“This is troublesome. Things were nearly concluded, but this complicates matters.”
Heo Jun, the chief escort, and Song Il-seom, whose cold expression belied his cryptic mutterings, led the Yongbong Escort Agency’s escorts in confrontation with the Zhongnan Sect’s disciples.
“By order of Bun-ta, the Beggar Clan commands you wretches—more worthless than yellow dogs—to taste the sting of beggar’s cudgels!”
“You’re a beggar yourself, so what’s with the attitude?”
“Ah, it’s been far too long since I’ve had such a satisfying brawl.”
“If anyone gets injured, it falls on Bun-ta’s shoulders. Don’t go blaming us for bruises from begging.”
Heuk Geol-gae and the Beggar Clan’s enforcers drew their cudgels with flourish from their belts.
“You lot stay out of this and don’t get hurt. Record everything that happens—we can sell this account for a handsome price later.”
“Um, are you certain about making enemies of the Zhongnan Sect?”
“What? Why would I make enemies of such a valuable customer? This account is meant for the Zhongnan Sect. They’ll buy it no matter how much we inflate the price.”
“Ah, of course!”
“Draw it too. Make it vivid enough to leap from the page.”
“Yes!”
Wol-hwa and the Haowen Sect disciples, eyeing a substantial profit, began meticulously transcribing and illustrating the unfolding spectacle.
“Wow! I’ve never witnessed anything like this in my life!”
“You fools! I am Hyuk Moo-jin, vice-commander of the Jinryong Squad of the Great Tae Won Jin Family and the right hand of our leader!”
And finally, standing apart as if watching a fire across a river, were Chung Poong and Hyuk Moo-jin.
As events spiraled beyond his control, Hwang Cheon’s face flushed with panic and fury.
“This—what is the meaning of this! All of you, cease at once!”
The answer came from elsewhere.
“What if we refuse?”
…!
Hwang Cheon drew a sharp breath.
Beyond the shoulders of those blocking the Zhongnan Sect’s path, a pair of eyes burned with cold flames, fixing their gaze upon him.
“I asked you already. What will you do if we don’t stop?”
White vapor curled from Jin Tae-kyung’s lips as he spoke with barely concealed mockery.
Perhaps it was witnessing such an unbelievable divine presence—or perhaps it was merely the low, cutting edge of his voice that pierced the ear—but Hwang Cheon found his breath stolen away.
Momentum. It was an utterly overwhelming momentum.
‘How… how can one so young possess such power?’
Hwang Cheon understood once more: to the youth who had felled Zhongnan’s greatest master, age was merely a number.
‘A monster. The author is a monster.’
And now, that very monster was staring directly at me.
The martial prowess I had taken pride in felt utterly insignificant. It was at that moment when Hwang Cheon, overwhelmed by Jin Tae-kyung’s momentum, kept swallowing dry saliva.
“Master, step back now. Everyone else, lower your swords.”
A calm voice accompanied a single figure blocking the view ahead—a familiar back.
Hwang Cheon’s eyes widened at the recognizable silhouette.
“Senior Brother Hyuk…!”
Hyuk So-pyung, the Zhongnan Dragon. Once called the future of the Zhongnan Sect, he remained the sect’s greatest late-stage master even now, despite his descent into debauchery.
Standing before Hwang Cheon, he fixed Jin Tae-kyung with an unwavering gaze.
Despite dozens of weapons trained upon him, his voice emerged without the slightest tremor.
“Please cease this meaningless conflict.”
“Meaningless? Cease?”
A soft hiss escaped between Jin Tae-kyung’s lips.
“You may have started this, but I decide how it ends.”
“I understand. That is precisely why I ask.”
“Ask? Don’t speak carelessly just because your mouth works. You might end up with it truly sealed shut.”
“The victor is already clear. I merely beseech the magnanimity of the strong.”
More than his remarkably courteous demeanor and tone, the content of his words caused the Zhongnan disciples’ eyes to widen.
Hwang Cheon, who had maintained silence behind him, lifted his head and cried out.
“Senior Brother! The magnanimity of the strong? Such words diminish the honor of the Sect Leader and the Great Zhongnan Sect…!”
“Junior Brother.”
“Yes, yes?”
Though Hyuk So-pyung’s voice cutting off Hwang Cheon’s words was gentle, what followed was sharp as a blade’s edge.
“Can you not shut that mouth?”
“…Senior Brother?”
Not only Hwang Cheon but all members of the Taeul Sword Squad stared at Hyuk So-pyung with vacant expressions.
Hyuk So-pyung, bearing the weight of his disciples’ gazes upon himself, slowly opened his mouth.
“Had we not been blind, we would have seen. Had we not been deaf, we would have heard. How all of this began.”
“…”
“To scheme in darkness to swallow the Yongbong Escort Agency is not the conduct of a prestigious great sect. Thus, our Main Sect has already lost its dignity.”
His voice grew quieter, his expression twisted. Yet Hyuk So-pyung did not cease speaking.
“Moreover, before such undeniable evidence, we not only failed to acknowledge our fault but wielded our blades with murderous intent—this has severed the last thread of trust remaining in our sect. Who among us dares speak of honor? Is it me, who abandoned my duty and wallowed in debauchery? Or is it you, who refuse to admit your wrongs and cling only to pride?”
Hwang Cheon hung his head low. Not only he, but all thirty Zhongnan disciples clamped their mouths shut and gripped the sword sheaths at their waists until their knuckles whitened.
They felt shame at the truth flowing from Hyuk So-pyung’s lips, and as the pride in their sect—embedded deep within their bones—crumbled, they felt hollowness and humiliation.
No one spoke, yet the emotions they felt transmitted vividly to those around them.
“At least for today…we were not the Great Zhongnan Sect.”
A final word.
Hyuk So-pyung, regarding his disciples with eyes full of regret, turned his body. Then, without a word, he performed a deep fist salute toward the one person who had waited patiently for him to finish.
“This humble disciple of Zhongnan, Hyuk So-pyung, dares to implore you. Our sect deeply reflects upon and apologizes for the wrongs we have committed. I beseech you—grant us your magnanimity this once and spare his life.”
A posture of utmost respect, as though addressing a legendary master of the Martial World.
However, the recipient of the palm strike was merely a young man with an inexperienced face.
A moment later, my lips parted as I gazed down at Hyuk So-pyung with his head bowed.
“Keeping a dog-like old fool alive leaves a bad taste in my mouth… but fine, I’ll let it slide this once.”
Before Hyuk So-pyung could even lift his head, my cheerful voice continued.
“Just one more strike for good measure.”
Crack!
* * *
The interior of the Tea House was beyond ruined.
The collapsed roof, the furnishings reduced to powder by the aftermath of my battle with Hwang Bo-eom, and from the crumbled walls came the chill wind and murmurs of the crowd outside.
“Good heavens, the Deng Wang Tower…”
“What on earth happened? Does anyone know what’s going on?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself, but from what I’ve heard, about an hour ago, the Tae-eul Mujeong Sword of the Zhongnan Sect led his disciples…”
Xi’an was the heart of Shaanxi Province. No matter how secluded the Deng Wang Tower was, it couldn’t escape the attention of the people.
And the common folk who had gathered out of curiosity and concern found themselves facing dozens of sharp, piercing gazes.
“That’s far enough.”
“This is a matter of the Martial World. Do not interfere and return to your homes at once!”
When dozens of martial artists bearing weapons formed a human barrier to block access, the gathered commoners hesitated and retreated to a distance.
I clicked my tongue as I watched the Zhongnan Sect disciples struggling desperately to conceal what had transpired inside.
“How they toil, how they toil.”
The prestige of the Great Zhongnan Sect was already shattered, yet watching them struggle to salvage even a shred of dignity was both pitiful and absurd.
I collapsed into a wooden chair with a broken backrest and opened my mouth.
“Well, though unpleasant matters have occurred, we must conclude what needs concluding. Now, instead of barbaric violence, let us seek common ground through dialogue.”
“….”
“….”
Ouch, the stares were piercing. I ignored the gazes raining down from all directions and offered a smile to one person.
“So, what are your thoughts, Master Hwang Bo-eom?”
Hwang Bo-eom responded immediately—or rather, groaned.
“Ugh… ugh…”
Both arms were fractured, one leg broken. On top of that, he had suffered internal injuries that would require at least a year of recovery, and his nose and teeth were shattered.
From his slightly opened mouth came the sound of blood bubbling and whimpers of pain.
“Ugh…”
I grasped Hwang Bo-eom’s wrist as he struggled to breathe.
Resisting the urge to break it further, I infused a small amount of inner energy, and his pallid complexion improved slightly.
“Patient, patient, regain your senses. It’s time for negotiation, not violence.”
“Ugh… Jin Tae-kyung. You…”
“That catchphrase went out of style fifty years ago.”
“You wretch, you think the Main Sect will overlook this…”
“Hmm.”
What do I do with this? He still hasn’t come to his senses.
I scratched the back of my head, then moved my hand with the speed of lightning.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Hwang Bo-eom’s eyes rolled back white as the slap connected across his face.
Hyuk So-pyung caught him as he trembled violently and nearly tumbled from his chair, exhaling deeply.
“Sigh.”
“It’s not my fault. He keeps asking for a beating. He’s practically begging me to kill him—what am I supposed to do?”
“Still, you must restrain yourself. Any further and his life will be in danger.”
“You’ve had it rough too. Looking at his personality, I doubt he treated you kindly either. Am I right?”
“…Whether he was kind to me or not is irrelevant. He is the senior brother of my master and a disciple of the Main Sect.”
The complexity in his expression suggested there was more to this story.
Looking at him now, he seemed surprisingly reasonable—was his drunken rampage back then because of this?
The question flickered through my mind, but I had no desire to ask. Not particularly curious about it.
There were more pressing matters at hand.
“Well then, shall we negotiate? Miss Ju, you’re ready, correct?”
“Yes? Yes, yes.”
“You may state your terms.”
What on earth is happening? Is this a dream?
Ju Hwa-ran, her cheeks flushed red and still struggling to process reality, opened her mouth.
“The Yongbong Escort Agency demands contract nullification and penalty fees from the Zhongnan Sect as compensation for this incident….”
Hwang Bo-eom’s hoarse voice cut off her words.
“Refused. The Main Sect will provide no compensation whatsoever.”
I knew this would happen.
I gestured to Ju Hwa-ran, whose expression had gone rigid.
“Miss Ju, one moment please.”
“Yes?”
“Just a brief moment.”
And without hesitation, I swung my hand across Hwang Bo-eom’s cheek.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
“Three hundred!”
“I ask again. Compensation—yes or no?”
Hwang Bo-eom glared at me with blazing eyes.
“The Main Sect will… provide no compensation whatsoever….”
Crack!
“Ugh! No compensation whatsoever.”
Crack!
“Ughhhh! We will provide compensation!”
“Okay, compensation! Okay! Thank you!”
Negotiation—it’s really that simple, isn’t it?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————