Murim Login - Chapter 336

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

Chapter 336
An ancient, withered tree.
That was the first word that came to mind upon seeing the Old Master.
Standing alone in the dim Pavilion, its walls draped entirely in cloth, the Old Master’s silhouette resembled a gnarled tree stripped of all vitality.
Had he not turned around slowly in that next moment, I might have believed he had already taken root in the floor itself.
“Yes….”
Two eyes gleamed with an eerie green luminescence.
The Old Master, Dang Sa-dok, the Ten-Thousand Poison Asura, continued in a voice that hissed like a serpent.
“You’ve brought a letter?”
The middle-aged guard answered.
“Yes, Uncle. It was sent by the Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak, the great master….”
“Did I ask you?”
“…!”
“This is not your place to speak. Leave at once.”
The middle-aged guard, realizing his mistake, bowed respectfully and withdrew from the Pavilion.
Dang Sa-dok, who had dismissed his own nephew with mere words, reclined against a leather chair.
‘Look at that aura of authority.’
The problem was that it was the aura of a villain.
Based on first impressions alone, one might believe he belonged to the Demon Cult rather than the Orthodox Sects.
I stepped forward before Dang Sa-dok’s gaze.
“Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family pays respects to the great master Dang Sa-dok, the Ten-Thousand Poison Asura.”
Dang Sa-dok replied with an unreadable expression.
“I’ve heard that Jeok took on a disciple in his later years. There’s also a connection with the Taewon Jin Family.”
“Ah, is that so?”
This was a good sign.
Dang Sa-dok, who had been stroking his chin in thought, suddenly spoke.
“The name… yes, Hwa-yang Geom Jin Baek-yang. Now I remember.”
So much for good signs. That name keeps resurfacing whenever I think it’s finally gone.
It seemed the Grand Elder truly had been quite prominent in his day.
In fact, it made sense—he had been a supreme master who achieved remarkable feats during the Righteous-Demonic War, so it was hardly surprising that he had formed connections with other masters during that time.
‘Even the Fire King said he’d seen him once or twice, so what can you do.’
Because of that, during my first meeting with Jeok Cheon-gang, I received a Flame Divine Palm strike before I could even explain the situation.
Dang Sa-dok gazed at me intently and asked.
“How is Jin Baek-yang doing these days?”
“Well, about that….”
Before answering, I glanced around cautiously. I needed to be ready to dodge quickly in case a venomous snake suddenly appeared or a hidden weapon was launched.
“He has passed away.”
“What?”
Yes, I saw this coming.
I hurriedly continued speaking toward Dang Sa-dok, whose eyes had widened in shock.
“An unfortunate accident, nothing more. Of course, there are circumstances, but if you grant me a moment, I can explain everything without any misunderstanding….”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
“He was an irritating bastard. Every time people around him praised him as some great hero or righteous wanderer, it made my skin crawl.”
“….”
“In the Murim, there is no death without reason. Once dead, that is the end of it.”
I was relieved the matter had resolved so easily, but this old man’s character was practically toxic. It seemed he was simply satisfied that an unlucky wretch had died.
‘His nature is practically Dark Heaven itself.’
Whether Dang Sa-dok knew of the suspicion blooming in my heart or not, he waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough talk of the dead. Let us move to the matter at hand. So, the great hero Mae Jong-hak sent a letter to me?”
“Yes. It would be faster if you saw it yourself.”
I made a motion of reaching into my robe and summoned the Sword Saint’s handwritten letter from my inventory.
As Dang Sa-dok took the letter and read through it, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper, until finally a roar filled with fury erupted from his lips.
“What vile wretches! I’ve never seen the like!”
Whoooosh!
The Pavilion trembled at his cry, infused with formidable inner power.
Dang Sa-dok, his green robe fluttering as he vented his rage, spoke in a tone like grinding teeth.
“Is everything written in that letter the truth?”
“Yes. Every word is accurate.”
The Sword Saint’s letter had laid out the events in Hanan in clear order, and contained a request for active cooperation in searching for the Divine Physician to treat Jeok Cheon-gang.
“So the senior’s condition is truly that grave….”
“Before we search for the Divine Physician, there is something I wished to ask of you.”
The Sichuan Poison Sect was renowned for poison and dark techniques, but each member of the family was also an exceptional physician.
And among them, there was one who stood at the very pinnacle.
I looked directly at Dang Sa-dok and asked.
“Might I be granted an audience with the Patriarch?”
The Poison King, Dang Sa-mun.
Since before the Great Confrontation, he had been called supreme under heaven in all matters of poison and dark techniques—a master of the highest caliber.
That legendary figure had vanished twenty years ago, having passed the position of Patriarch of the Sichuan Poison Sect to his only child.
Which was to say, to the old man before my eyes now, Dang Sa-dok.
“Finding the Divine Physician may take days, even weeks. If the Poison King would examine my master’s condition beforehand….”
“Stop.”
Dang Sa-dok, cutting off my words, opened his mouth with a face hardened like stone.
“Impossible. That is my answer.”
“…!”
My heart sank at this unexpected response.
Though the Poison King had not shown his face for many years, Dang Sa-dok clearly knew of his whereabouts.
Impossible—a refusal—meant he would not help, even knowing. My voice trembled as it escaped my lips.
“W-why is that?”
“I cannot say.”
“You cannot speak of it?”
“Instead, I will assign you several guides to show you the way. Both Qingcheng and Emei would be willing to assist.”
What had I just heard?
This shock was several times greater than the previous one. What Dang Sa-dok had just said carried the clear implication that the Sichuan Tang Sect would not be offering their help in this matter.
Well, it wasn’t that they were refusing to help entirely.
‘Just a few guides to show the way to the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect.’
That was all the assistance I could expect from the Sichuan Tang Sect.
My head throbbed as if I’d been struck with an iron club. Something hot and fierce surged up from deep within my chest.
“Is that truly all?”
“What more did you expect?”
“We must find the Divine Physician!”
“That is your concern, not mine or the Main Residence’s. Even if you brought a letter from Geom-seong Maejong-hak, it would make no difference. This was a request, and I have declined it. That is all.”
My words caught in my throat.
Everything Dang Sa-dok said was true. For him and the Sichuan Tang Sect, all of this was a choice, not an obligation.
‘That’s right, it was.’
As I finally acknowledged the truth I had secretly hoped against, bitter disappointment and anger welled up inside me.
Just as I lost my words, a figure stepped forward, carrying the sweet scent of confections.
“Chung Poong of the Huashan Sect offers his respects.”
Was there such a side to him?
Chung Poong, with a face and manner I had never seen before, cupped his fist and continued.
“I do not know the reason for the Patriarch’s refusal, but if you would help us, I swear this kindness will never be forgotten.”
“I know you are a disciple of Geom-seong Maejong-hak. One must be cautious when creating bonds of favor and enmity in the martial world. Do not meddle where you do not belong—step back.”
“It is not meddling.”
“Then what is it?”
Chung Poong answered with unwavering eyes.
“My grandfather called it the will of humanity.”
“…!”
Dang Sa-dok, who had been regarding Chung Poong with a complicated expression, shook his head.
“Even if Geom-seong Maejong-hak himself came to ask, my answer would not change.”
“But….”
Just as Chung Poong, Gung Ki-bang, and Hyuk Moo-jin were about to speak simultaneously, I suddenly blurted out a word.
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Everyone knows what power the Sichuan Tang Sect possesses. So what possible reason could you have for refusing?”
“And if I do not wish to speak of it?”
“Then what?”
I met the gaze of Dang Sa-dok’s eyes, which shimmered with a greenish light, and answered.
“Then a bond of favor and enmity will be formed between you and me. And I should tell you, it will not be a favorable one.”
“…Ha, I have never seen such a fearless fool.”
“Normally I measure my steps carefully, but in this case, I find myself rather… quite desperate.”
At most, I have half a year left.
The Divine Physician whom even the greatest martial sects and the imperial court couldn’t find despite their efforts.
If Jeok Cheon-gang dies without receiving treatment in time. If it happens because the Sichuan Tang Sect doesn’t help….
“Then I honestly don’t know what I might do.”
As I finished speaking, a suffocating silence filled the Pavilion.
After staring at me with those deep, penetrating eyes for a long moment without uttering a word, Dang Sa-dok finally parted his lips.
“It is unfortunate that Senior Jeok has come to this.”
“If you find it unfortunate, why not help?”
“I wish I could. But what can I do? The Main Residence simply lacks the capacity right now.”
Lacks the capacity?
The moment those words reached my ears, the sights I’d witnessed on the way here flashed before my eyes.
An atmosphere so tense it bordered on murderous, craftsmen ceaselessly forging something, and weapons being constantly transported somewhere.
“What in the world is happening here?”
“Happening?”
Footsteps.
Dang Sa-dok took a step toward me.
Was it the influence of the poison techniques he’d mastered? His green eyes, gleaming more eerily than ever, held both rage and sorrow.
“The deed is already done. All that remains is to mobilize every force of the Main Residence to slaughter every beast involved in this matter.”
There it was. The reason the Sichuan Tang Sect couldn’t help us now.
The reason they couldn’t easily speak of it, even after hearing such defiant words from a green youngster like me.
The reason finding the Divine Physician and saving the Fire King’s life took a backseat, the reason they flatly refused to meet with Poison King Dang Sa-mun.
“…Surely not.”
Had he noticed the realization dawning on my face?
Dang Sa-dok, whose eyes had widened, spoke in a voice laden with killing intent.
“By the time we received word, everything was already too late. There wasn’t a single limb left intact.”
One sentence that transformed suspicion into certainty.
Poison King Dang Sa-mun was dead.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Of average height with a round face, the Middle-aged Guard possessed the kind of unremarkable appearance you could find anywhere.
Leaning against the dark cave wall, he muttered while carefully examining his forearm.
“This won’t do. The poison is vicious.”
The Middle-aged Guard clicked his tongue softly.
Despite his best efforts, he’d managed only to concentrate the poison into one arm.
“Poison King… formidable indeed. More than I anticipated.”
Poison King Dang Sa-mun.
His final expression as his breath ceased was still vivid before my eyes.
Yet for the Middle-aged Guard, it was far from a victory.
He’d succeeded in eliminating the supreme master known as the Poison King, but he’d failed to accomplish the more crucial task.
‘I never expected it to be easy anyway.’
Muttering inwardly, he suddenly struck his left forearm with a hand knife.
In that instant, a blinding flash erupted, and the severed forearm fell to the ground, cleanly separated from his body.
Squelch, hisssss!
Venom-laced blood sprayed outward, dissolving everything around it, while acrid poison smoke billowed upward simultaneously.
The small creatures hidden in the darkness that had been watching the Middle-aged Guard dropped dead the moment they were exposed to the poison smoke, never understanding what had happened.
Squeak, squeeeeeak….
Hearing the death cries of the bats, the Middle-aged Guard emerged from the cave and laughed upon seeing the sunlight streaming down.
It was a laugh that seemed impossible from someone who had just severed his own arm.

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