Murim Login - Chapter 329

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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 329
When Song Il-seom’s true identity was revealed, everyone couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had yearned for the Murim even before joining the Taewon Jin Clan, naturally knew the stories about him, and Chung Poong even pretended to know by mentioning he’d heard about it from the Sword Saint.
“Smack, smack. Grandfather said the Escort King was a good man, gulp. He did.”
“…I know already, so swallow everything and speak. Please.”
“Yes! Smack, smack.”
Since even Chung Poong knew, there was no need to mention the other two.
Ju Hwa-ran, the Escort King’s granddaughter, was gazing at the jade hairpin with trembling eyes, while Gung Ki-bang excitedly sprayed everything in his mouth in all directions.
“The, the Guangdong Chen Family!”
Patter, patter, patter!
Song Il-seom, who had flicked away the dozen or so grains of rice that Gung Ki-bang had spewed out with his chopsticks, replied.
“As I said, the Guangdong Chen Family’s bloodline has already been severed. Anyway, could you do something about what flies out of that mouth?”
“My master also spoke of the Escort King’s Ten-Thousand-Li Escort Run. But to think that child in that story was you!”
“Did you hear with your nose? That child was my father. And since it’s filthy, stop spitting it out.”
Whoosh, patter, patter, patter!
Impressive, he’s deflecting all of it.
Song Il-seom, wielding his chopsticks like lightning once more, asked me.
“Is this beggar really Hu Gae of the Beggar Clan?”
“Despite appearances, Hu Gae is correct. Why?”
“Because a downpour of flowers was spilling from his mouth. I wondered if he might be a disciple of the Sichuan Poison Sect.”
“Well, I doubt that’s the case.”
While we exchanged such words, Ju Hwa-ran, who had been gazing endlessly at the jade hairpin, finally spoke.
“Father told me. Grandfather was curious about news of the Guangdong Chen Family until the very end. But he could never find it….”
“That remained a regret for my grandmother as well. She had to flee without leaving a single letter, taking my father who was just an infant.”
“Why did you suddenly disappear?”
“Because it was dangerous. The Guangdong Chen Family’s martial arts were all lost when the clan burned, but people refused to believe that fact.”
“Still, if you had remained within the Orthodox Sects’ sphere of influence….”
“Greed recognizes neither the Orthodox Sects nor the Demonic Heretical Way. Among those who coveted the Guangdong Chen Family’s supreme martial arts, there were those who couldn’t be deterred even by the Escort King’s name.”
Turbulent times.
As those two characters came to mind, I began to understand what my mother and grandmother must have endured back then.
In turbulent times, the rules between people crumble, everyone indulges their base instincts, and morality fades into obscurity.
Mother fled to protect her child from people’s greed. Without telling anyone.
“My grandmother couldn’t even match a third-rate swordsman, yet she was wiser than ten masters of the highest caliber combined.”
Song Il-seom, who had been silent for a moment, added one more thing.
“Of course, she couldn’t escape even the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.”
“Then….”
“She passed away from illness when I turned ten. She gave me this jade hairpin and told me everything that had happened until then. It was an astonishing story, one I was hearing for the first time.”
Despite appearing taciturn, Song Il-seom had considerable talent for unfolding a story.
The one thing I had been curious about was regarding his parents, but after hearing that he had wandered Market Street after his grandmother’s death, there was no need to ask further.
It was clear that both of them had unfortunately died young.
And as one question vanished, another took its place.
“Then how did you manage to build up such skill? Wasn’t it said that the Guangdong Chen Family’s martial arts were lost?”
Song Il-seom’s answer was simple.
“On the battlefield.”
“You lived as a bandit?”
“I had no talent for begging. More often than not, people would hit me and leave rather than toss me a single copper coin, saying my face and expression annoyed them.”
Gung Ki-bang, who had been listening quietly, nodded vigorously as if he deeply understood.
“There’s a proper way to beg, you know. The most important thing for a beggar is a face and expression that evoke pity, but handsome fellows like So-hyup and I find it hard to scrape together even pocket change. I went hungry on many days myself.”
Song Il-seom spoke with a stern expression.
“Hu Gae, that remark is quite offensive. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult me.”
“Why? Have you seen my face when I was young? Without exaggeration, Song Ok himself would weep?”
“Song Ok would weep?”
Song Il-seom stared intently at Gung Ki-bang’s face, which resembled a Picasso masterpiece.
“With that face, he’d have every reason to weep. If you happen to cross paths with me at night, keep your distance. If I suddenly catch sight of your face, I might accidentally slash you.”
Song Il-seom, who looked like he was seriously considering just slashing him right now, continued his story.
“In any case, I was hopeless at begging, and there were no decent jobs to be found. After going hungry for more than three days, the sky turned yellow before my eyes. I thought it better to become a sword bearer than starve to death like this.”
“A sword bearer? The one who carries swords?”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t that something only people with money hire? They don’t want the bother of carrying their swords themselves.”
“Do you really think wealthy people would hire some ragged street urchin they knew nothing about?”
“Fair point.”
“Surprisingly, bandits are the ones who hire sword bearers most often. They assign all sorts of odd jobs in peacetime, and use them as sword carriers when things get urgent.”
I thought it would be a cushy gig, but it turned out to be a hellish one.
“It wasn’t a particularly pleasant or enjoyable experience.”
Song Il-seom recounted his past with a matter-of-fact tone.
In peacetime, he served under constant abuse and violence, and during battles, he scavenged weapons amid a hail of arrows.
On the day the bandits, busy saving their own skins, abandoned and fled from him, he experienced true hell.
“I hid among the corpses for four days. When I finally crawled out and found the bandits, the first thing they asked for was their swords.”
“Wow, that’s insane.”
“Fortunately, the two swords I was carrying were safe. I held onto them stubbornly even while fleeing.”
“…Wow, that’s really insane.”
“Not as much as him. He claimed he’d originally entrusted three swords, spouting nonsense, then told me to get lost if I didn’t want to die a dog’s death. Of course, I received not a single coin for a year’s work.”
Song Il-seom muttered as he brushed back his fallen bangs.
“I was furious.”
Naturally, instead of filing a complaint with the labor bureau, he chose the faster route.
“As it happened, there were two swords. I picked up one of them. It was heavy.”
“You won?”
“I killed him.”
Song Il-seom casually corrected me, twirling his chopsticks.
“It wasn’t that difficult. It was martial arts I’d always watched, and it was predictable. Like a choreographed routine, I dodged ten times and struck once, and he fell.”
Gulp.
Hyuk Moo-jin swallowed hard and asked.
“How old were you at the time?”
“Twelve? Thirteen? I don’t remember exactly, but it was around that age.”
“Then, the opponent was….”
“Just some third-rate bandit. If he’d been first-rate, I would’ve been insane to charge at him.”
Besides, a kid who hadn’t even finished elementary school throwing himself at a martial artist in the first place—that was madness in itself.
‘What was I doing at that age?’
I had no idea. Probably picking my nose and playing around, I suppose.
‘This guy’s a natural talent too.’
Countless martial sects and families existed throughout the realm.
If the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance and the Five Great Families were the first tier, then a second tier naturally existed as well.
According to what Jeok Cheon-gang had casually mentioned, the Guangdong Chen Family was exactly that.
‘Does the blood of a martial family truly never stray?’
To achieve such accomplishments without even the secret techniques of one’s own clan.
Just as I was marveling at the thought that talent was talent no matter what, Gung Ki-bang, who had been silent until now, suddenly looked startled and stared at Song Il-seom.
“You wouldn’t happen to be the Soul Chaser, would you?”
“That’s what I was called ten years ago. Anyway, is your mouth a cornucopia? Why does this endless stream of dog-like drivel keep pouring out….”
“My, so that famous Soul Chaser was someone my age all along.”
The Soul Chaser—that appeared to be Song Il-seom’s epithet.
He seemed to be quite the famous figure, given that even Ju Hwa-ran’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re the Soul Chaser who won a hundred life-and-death duels?”
“To be precise, one hundred and two. It’s all overblown reputation anyway, nothing worth making a fuss about. There are two others here younger than me and more impressive than that.”
Chung Poong, who had by now finished most of the food, answered with a chuckle.
“No, that’s not true. Song Il-seom is still quite remarkable.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Well, I suppose. Though still weaker than me.”
“…Are you all making fun of me right now?”
Chung Poong spoke while sipping what looked like a fruit punch.
“Not makin’ fun, just sayin’!”
“He says he’s not making fun of you.”
With my helpful translation, Song Il-seom’s gaze shifted toward me.
“And you?”
“I’m definitely making fun of you.”
“…Is there no alcohol? I feel like having a drink after all this time.”
* * *
The meal that had begun in early evening finally ended as midnight approached.
Song Il-seom, who had deliberately emptied cup after cup of strong liquor despite having good wine available, had his head planted on the table, while Ju Hwa-ran, who had been sipping slowly, had her cheeks flushed a rosy hue.
And….
‘It’s truly time to go now.’
As I rose from my seat, Gung Ki-bang dispelled the intoxication through his inner energy, while Hyuk Moo-jin had already hoisted the thoroughly drunk Chung Poong onto his shoulder, snoring loudly.
“My apologies for the intrusion, Miss Ju.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“I’d like to stay longer, but it seems impossible this time.”
“I see.”
Her eyes, glazed with alcohol, curved like crescents.
Her footsteps were light and graceful as if dancing. Dimples marked her cheeks distinctly. It appeared her drunken nature was simply to laugh.
“Wait, would you like to take a walk?”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s walk. The flowers have just bloomed in the Flower Garden.”
“Ah. How wonderful. They must be beautiful.”
A burst of laughter escaped me. Before I could even ask why, Ju Hwa-ran giggled and stepped outside.
I found myself following her out, but then I stopped and turned back.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“…Are you human?”
“…Worse than a beggar, like a beggar. Even more pathetic than a beggar.”
“What? Why are your eyes so wide?”
“It’s my choice.”
“It’s my choice.”
“Let’s go. Miss Ju says the flowers have bloomed in the Flower Garden. If we look around and leave right after, the timing will be perfect….”
My words were cut short by sighs from Gung Ki-bang and Hyuk Moo-jin.
The two of them shook their heads with expressions of utter dismay and spoke in turn.
“I need to use the outhouse urgently.”
“Me too. We’ll take turns going back and forth, so take your time looking around.”
“…Yes, alright.”
What’s wrong with those two? Are their stomachs bothering them that much? Their expressions today were practically demonic.
I must have been mistaken about seeing contempt and anger in their eyes.
I hurried outside and began walking through the Flower Garden alongside Ju Hwa-ran, who had been waiting.
“The Great Hero Jin is quite an amusing person, I must say.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Sometimes you’re frustrating, but… well, that could be seen as an advantage too.”
“…?”
What is this? Are you criticizing me indirectly?
At my bewildered expression, the smile on Ju Hwa-ran’s lips deepened.
“I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud. It must have been over half a year ago.”
“Hmm? Didn’t you laugh last time too? When we passed Heukseok Mountain.”
“Ah, you’re right?”
“Perhaps you simply don’t remember? It’s already happened twice in just four days.”
“I wonder. Is that really true?”
Ju Hwa-ran, murmuring in a distant voice, suddenly pointed toward the sky.
“Grand Master Jin, do you see that?”
“I do. It’s a full moon.”
“The moon is particularly bright tonight.”
“Miss Ju, did you know? The reason the moon shines so brightly is because light from the sun reflects off it.”
“Really?”
“No, it’s not nonsense—it’s actually true. It’s already a well-known research result… or rather, something I heard from a scholar. Somewhere around… yes, from the Imperial Palace.”
A soft chuckle escaped again.
“No, I’m serious about this…”
“I understand. I’ll believe you. Anyway, Grand Master Jin.”
“Yes?”
“This.”
Ju Hwa-ran suddenly thrust something toward me as I stood there looking wronged.
A solid, elongated wooden box. I’d seen one like it before at the tea house.
“Is this perhaps…”
“That’s right. Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng.”
“…”
“It’s meager compared to what you’ve done for us, but would you accept it? So my heart can find a little peace.”
I stared silently between Ju Hwa-ran and the wooden box. Should I refuse? Should I accept? Should I refuse…?
After several moments of internal conflict, I finally nodded.
“I’ll accept it gratefully. Thank you.”
Ju Hwa-ran smiled brightly. Her expression shone even more luminously than the moon hanging in the sky.
As we walked together, exchanging trivial conversation, we’d covered perhaps a quarter of an hour when the flowers lining both sides of the path gradually began to thin.
Ju Hwa-ran’s pace beside me also slowed.
“Grand Master Jin.”
“Yes, Miss Ju.”
“Can I… really do this well?”
Her voice, which came suddenly, was damp and desolate.
Perhaps that’s why she’d been drinking.
But there are moments like this. Days when no amount of restraint can hold back emotion. Moments when feelings carefully suppressed suddenly surge and overflow.
“Can I really do this well?”
I opened my mouth without thinking.
“It’s okay if you can’t.”
“…”
It’s alright, I understand that feeling now. Be strong.
There are times when any words of comfort ring hollow. Of course it’s not alright, and a stranger standing one step away cannot understand everything about the person suffering, and hearing “be strong” doesn’t suddenly fill you with strength.
The reason I wouldn’t offer clumsy consolation to Ju Hwa-ran today was because she was already struggling enough.
“You’re human too, Miss Ju. It’s okay if you can’t do it, and it’s okay if you don’t have to be strong.”
Just move forward as you have been, flowing with the current.
One step at a time, at your own pace—not someone else’s.
“Wouldn’t that be enough?”
Tears clung to her eyes as she gazed up at me, and soon they curved into a crescent smile.
* * *
Thud!
I kicked off the ground. The landscape receded as the earth blurred beneath me.
Ju Hwa-ran’s voice and those from Yongbong Escort Agency gradually faded, then cut off entirely.
Only then did the two who had been watching for their moment speak up.
“I noticed earlier that Miss Ju’s eyes were swollen…”
“Did she cry? Nah, no way. She wouldn’t have.”
Quite observant in the darkness, weren’t they.
When I offered no particular response, Hyuk Moo-jin pointed to the bulge protruding from my chest and asked.
“But what is that?”
“Oh, this.”
I’d forgotten to put it in my inventory.
I chuckled and answered, remembering someone’s lie.
“Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
“Huh?”
“What?”

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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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