Murim Login - Chapter 328

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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 328
Gack, crack.
Blood surged from the gaping wound in his throat, bubbling upward in a grotesque fountain.
Heo Jun thrashed, clutching desperately at his own neck, but it was already too late.
Ju Hwa-ran’s blade had been swift and precise, striking with flawless accuracy to achieve its purpose.
“Krrgh….”
It was the death rattle of a man departing this world.
What had he wanted to say? That it was unfair? A plea for mercy? Or perhaps a curse that would follow her even beyond death?
Heo Jun’s lips, which had been trembling with the sound of blood boiling in his throat, went rigid.
The strength drained from his convulsing limbs, and the light faded from his eyes—eyes that had gazed upon Ju Hwa-ran with a tumult of emotions.
Haaaaah….
His final breath in this world scattered into the void.
Heo Jun, sworn brother to Ju Ho-gun of the Gentleman’s Sword, and chief escort who had devoted thirty years to Yongbong Escort Agency, died thus.
Slain by the hand of his niece, who had once followed him as though he were her own blood.
“…Uncle Heo.”
A whisper, barely audible. Ju Hwa-ran’s silhouette seemed desolate.
She gazed down at Heo Jun for a moment, his breath now stilled, before slowly turning around.
Her eyes, dark as obsidian, swept past the escort agents of Yongbong Escort Agency and fixed upon the outsiders.
One by one. And finally, as she looked toward me, Ju Hwa-ran offered a formal bow to all assembled.
“I am Ju Hwa-ran, Young Proprietor of Yongbong Escort Agency, and I have committed a breach of etiquette before the esteemed seniors of the martial world.”
Pain often matures the human spirit. I hoped that through this ordeal, she had grown one step further.
‘It’s fortunate she seems composed about it, at least….’
Though something about the atmosphere feels rather awkward.
As I was thinking this, something pressed firmly against my foot.
Looking down, I saw an ornate Tang-style shoe worn by a woman.
If I recall correctly, there’s only one person here who would wear something like that.
As I looked at her with questioning eyes, Wol-hwa gestured left and right with her gaze.
Only then did I notice the stares of the crowd.
Somehow, everyone had parted to either side, their eyes boring into me.
And at the end of that corridor, Ju Hwa-ran held her bow.
‘…What is this.’
Is there something on my face?
Seeing my confusion, Wol-hwa whispered so quietly I could barely hear her.
“Young Master Jin should say something.”
“Pardon?”
“Miss Ju just greeted everyone. You should accept it on behalf of all.”
“Why should I be the one to do that?”
“Hurry. Miss Ju will grow old waiting.”
“….”
Right, I’d aged about ten seconds in that span.
I wasn’t sure why I had to speak when there were prominent Huashan Sect candidates, Gung Ki-bang the Beggar Prince, and even the Shaanxi branch director of Haowen Sect present, but I bowed my head with a reluctant expression anyway.
“There’s no need for such formality. Besides, I’m not really a senior in the martial world, so you can treat me casually.”
“That couldn’t possibly be the case.”
Ju Hwa-ran lifted her head and spoke calmly.
“You and the other seniors are benefactors to Yongbong Escort Agency. Without your help, we would have suffered greatly… and we wouldn’t have been able to punish the traitor either.”
A bittersweet expression crossed Ju Hwa-ran’s face as she added those final words.
Perhaps she felt it herself, for her voice carried greater strength in what followed.
“I will repay the debt of gratitude incurred today without fail.”
It wasn’t really much, but the help I and the various sects provided had certainly been substantial. From Ju Hwa-ran and Yongbong Escort Agency’s perspective, a hundred bows wouldn’t be enough.
‘Still, being called a great master feels a bit much.’
Even being called a minor master was still cringe-worthy, but this had evolved to the next level.
For some reason, I felt the urge to grow a beard as I changed the subject.
“Repay the debt to the others instead. More importantly, what are your plans now?”
“We intend to collect the bodies and return to the escort agency. There’s much to be resolved.”
“You must be incredibly busy then.”
Ju Hwa-ran was overseeing the entire escort agency in place of her unconscious father.
Just handling the aftermath of the long escort mission would consume an entire day, and with the succession of dramatic incidents, it was clear that even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough to manage everything.
Ju Hwa-ran nodded at my words and opened her mouth.
“Still, we have enough capacity to properly entertain you and your companions.”
“Enough capacity, you say? That’s fortunate… Wait?”
“You are our benefactor who saved me and my family. I cannot possibly let you leave without proper hospitality.”
“Ah, Miss Ju. The thing is.”
“Are you perhaps very busy?”
Busy. Quite busy indeed.
Jeok Cheon-gang’s treatment window was a minimum of six months to a maximum of eight months.
Within that time, I had to search the vast lands of Sichuan to find the mysterious figure known as the Divine Physician.
‘It took a week to travel from Hanan to Shaanxi. To reach Sichuan, I’d need at least another week of travel even at maximum speed.’
And that was only if I fully unleashed my movement techniques.
The Divine Physician was a figure shrouded in mystery. No one could predict how much time would be needed to find them.
That was why my heart grew anxious after spending only a day in Xi’an.
‘I’m already behind schedule today.’
The sun had long since reached its zenith. The entanglement with Zhongnan Sect had cost me considerable time, so I needed to run with fire at my heels from this moment forward.
But….
“No. I’m not busy.”
Before I knew it, my mouth opened and those words tumbled out.
What just happened? This was the complete opposite of what I’d intended to say.
In that moment of bewilderment, Ju Hwa-ran asked carefully.
“Are you truly certain, great master? If there’s something urgent, we can postpone this for another time.”
Thank you. Thank you so much for bringing it up first.
True to her perceptive and intelligent nature, her words scratched exactly where it itched, and I answered without hesitation.
“No matter how urgent things are, surely we can share a meal together.”
“Of course.”
“I was getting hungry from exerting myself anyway. This works out perfectly. Let’s go.”
Is he an idiot? Why are we heading to Yongbong Escort Agency when we need to go to Sichuan?
But by the time I came to my senses, I was already shouldering a carrying pole.
Just as I exhaled a deep sigh inwardly, my eyes fell upon a man who had remained detached from all this commotion.
As I stared at him blankly, he spoke first.
“What, do you have something to say?”
It was the first time casual speech sounded so natural upon first meeting.
In any case, since he initiated the conversation, it made things easier for me.
“Just wondering. Aren’t you going?”
“I have no business there.”
“Then create one.”
“…?”
“You’ve got time to spare anyway, so let’s have a conversation.”
“A conversation?”
“Yeah, a conversation.”
Song Il-seom, who had been watching me with raised eyebrows, straightened his body from its reclined position.
* * *
Early spring. The brilliant sun had vanished beyond the western mountains less than two hours after our arrival at Yongbong Escort Agency.
A lavish spread of delicacies was laid upon the table in the guest room illuminated by lanterns, and Chung Poong and Gung Ki-bang, their eyes wide with wonder, were frantically shoving food into their mouths.
“Munch munch. Mmm. Try this drink. Munch munch munch.”
“…Eat plenty. Try not to talk if you can help it.”
It did look delicious.
At least until Chung Poong felt the need to show me what was in his mouth.
“Chomp chomp. This escort agency’s food is excellent. Proprietor, would it be possible to share some of the leftover food with the members of our group?”
Gung Ki-bang—that bastard is a beggar through and through.
Ju Hwa-ran nodded at the man who was in the midst of a meat massacre.
“Of course. Tell them to come by anytime if they’re hungry.”
“Oh, anytime?”
“…Well, not too much at once, if you don’t mind.”
If just the Beggar Clan members from Shaanxi Province alone showed up, four hundred thousand silver taels from the settlement fee would be consumed in food expenses.
Gung Ki-bang flashed a yellow-toothed grin.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to give them proper instructions.”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had been eating relatively normally, whispered.
“The more he says things like that, the more worried I become.”
“I know.”
At this rate, Yongbong Escort Agency will go bankrupt not because of Zhongnan Sect, but because of the Beggar Clan.
As I made a mental note to give them a warning, Ju Hwa-ran spoke to me.
“It’s a shame the other guests haven’t arrived yet.”
“Exactly. And the food is delicious too.”
Everyone except our party—Baek Moo-sung, Heuk Geol-gae, and Wol-hwa—declined the invitation.
I’m not sure why, but it seemed like Wol-hwa’s sharp glare at the two of them made them change their minds.
Well, in any case…
“For someone who says that, you’re eating quite sparingly, aren’t you?”
“No, it’s delicious. Look—I’ve already emptied two bowls of rice.”
“That’s strange. Yet it seems like you’re eating less than usual.”
“It’s relative. Look at those two over there. They’re waging war against the food itself.”
Munch, munch, munch!
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Smack, smack, smack, smack!
Ju Hwa-ran nodded her head as if she’d achieved enlightenment.
“Ah, I see.”
“Moo-jin and I are the normal ones. The ones eating less are over there.”
Song Il-seom replied in his flat voice.
“I’ve said it for ten years now—the food here is far too salty. Spicy and salty dishes are overstimulating and weigh heavily on the body.”
“Someone just came to mind. If they were here, I’d have beaten you to death with a ladle.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“There’s someone like that. One hit from them and you’d cry out involuntarily. I’ve taken an ungodly number of blows from them myself. Strangely enough, I’ve never managed to dodge even once.”
“Is that true, Great Swordmaster?”
“You’re asking me?”
Ju Hwa-ran asked in surprise, and Song Il-seom’s eyes gleamed.
“If someone who defeated the Tae-eul Mujeong Sword speaks of them that way… they must be a truly formidable master. Could you tell me their name and alias?”
“Kim Jung-hee. Her alias is the Matriarch.”
“Hmm. I’ve never heard of her.”
Of course not. She’s my mother.
I continued speaking in a solemn tone without letting it show.
“In any case, she always said that you must eat everything without being picky—only then will you grow strong.”
“Mm.”
“So stop complaining about the side dishes and eat.”
Song Il-seom, who had been contemplating seriously, picked up his chopsticks and began eating the side dishes.
That fellow really does have the strangest personality the more you observe him.
‘Strange as he is, he doesn’t seem like a dangerous man.’
A few hours ago, I had harbored deeply suspicious thoughts about Song Il-seom’s true identity.
It was a reasonable suspicion. An exceptional master at his peak who had hidden his abilities for ten years. I had already experienced a similar case in Shanxi Province.
‘Dark Heaven.’
The Grand Elder and the Sanseo Five Gates who had been crouching for decades. Song Il-seom’s behavior seemed to overlap with them.
But as our conversation continued, my suspicions faded and only curiosity remained.
‘What exactly is this man?’
His flat manner of speech and actions. Clearly crude-seeming in appearance, yet somehow refined grace emanates from his features and various aspects of his being.
Perhaps that’s why his casual speech sounds so natural to me.
‘This is something else.’
I studied Song Il-seom intently.
He swallowed what was in his mouth—he’d been chewing his food with an arrogant expression—and spoke.
“There’s that look again. What is it?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about your true identity.”
“Is that really so fascinating to you?”
“Yes. Very much.”
Conversations with this man are like a wide-open highway. That’s what makes them comfortable.
By now, even the others—including Ju Hwa-ran—had perked up their ears and were watching Song Il-seom’s mouth intently.
He seemed displeased by this fact, raising his eyebrows.
“There’s nothing to it. I simply stayed at Yongbong Escort Agency because my father had a connection with the previous generation.”
“A connection with the previous generation?”
“To be precise, my father received a great debt of gratitude from them.”
Wait. Something’s nagging at me, like a memory on the tip of my tongue.
When I turned my head, Ju Hwa-ran was staring at Song Il-seom with wide eyes.
It was clear this was the first time she’d heard this story in a decade.
“If I may ask, what is that person’s name?”
“Song Pyo-san.”
“Song Pyo-san… I’ve never heard that name before.”
“There’s nothing strange about that. It was nearly fifty years ago.”
Fifty years ago? During the time of the Great Martial Conflict?
Before we could ask further, Song Il-seom continued as if it were nothing of consequence.
“The Guangdong Chen Family is a clan long forgotten. His mother, who survived with the help of Escort King Ju Gong-san, feared the greedy martial artists and gave her own surname to her child. A wise choice.”
It felt like I’d been struck from behind. Ju Hwa-ran gazed at Song Il-seom with trembling eyes.
“Then perhaps you are…?”
Instead of answering, Song Il-seom drew a faded jade hairpin from his breast and held it out.
It was the only escort fee a young escort bearer bearing the Ju surname had received from a pregnant woman fifty years ago.

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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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