Murim Login - Chapter 337

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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 337
Inside the vast, frigid Pavilion, a cold draft slipped through the window cracks, causing the oil lamp placed on the sill to flicker. Above it, an old man’s face gradually overlapped with the dancing shadows.
Two eyes suffused with jade-green light, and a body withered like ancient wood.
The old man’s name was Dang Sa-dok. His alias was the Ten Thousand Poison Immortal.
He was the patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family, one of the Five Great Families under heaven, and the son of a man who had lost his father mere weeks ago.
Whiiiiing.
In the sound of cold wind knocking against the closed window, his voice from hours earlier seemed to linger.
‘When I received word, everything was already too late. Not a single limb remained intact.’
The Divine Physician, the Three Stars, the Ten Kings.
Those heroes who once stood against a hundred thousand demonic cultivators and saved the world had long since become white-haired elders.
Some had grown old or succumbed to illness and death, others had sought peace and vanished without trace, and still others had stepped down from their positions after entrusting their successors.
The Poison King, Dang Sa-mun, had also departed to find his own path.
‘Two days’ journey away lies a place called Mi-san. Father often spoke fondly of the beautiful mountain landscape there.’
Twenty years prior, when the Poison King had retired from his position as patriarch, his journey to Mi-san was perhaps inevitable.
It must have been the final sanctuary chosen by an aged martial artist who had endured the fierce currents of the Martial World throughout his lifetime.
‘He did not welcome visits. I could only send people occasionally to confirm his wellbeing in his stead.’
And that had become a scar that would never fade.
Days ago, an unbelievable urgent report had arrived.
Dang Sa-dok, who had rushed there in panic, witnessed the traces of a world-shaking battle and the corpse of the Poison King.
‘Father’s body was… severely mutilated. Those were unmistakably signs of torture.’
I do not know why the murderer had tortured the Poison King.
Yet thus died the supreme master who had dominated an era—the Poison King, Dang Sa-mun—at the hands of an unknown figure whose name and face I did not know.
Dang Sa-dok, consumed with rage, personally led his household warriors to search the surroundings thoroughly, but it was already too late.
‘I will surely find that bastard and kill him. I will tear his limbs to shreds and scatter them across the Nine Provinces, and let the blood flowing from his body pour into the Four Seas Five Lakes.’
What could I say to Dang Sa-dok, who radiated suffocating killing intent in his fury? I understood his rage and resolve completely.
He and the Sichuan Tang Sect would never cease until they captured and killed the murderer. It was only natural that they could not assist in searching for the Divine Physician.
“The Poison King, Dang Sa-mun, is dead. That very Poison King…”
A massive tectonic shift was occurring. And it was happening very close by.
Just as I murmured softly while gazing at the oil lamp, an urgent voice came from behind me.
“Watch your mouth. Do you know what happens if you say such things in the heart of the Sichuan Tang Sect?”
It was not difficult to discern who the voice belonged to. I had long since sensed the presence of the three people approaching.
I answered without turning my head.
“You’re here.”
“‘You’re here’ nothing. Watch your mouth. Your mouth!”
“It’s fine. There’s no one nearby.”
“Just be careful. Being around you makes my skin crawl, I swear.”
Gung Ki-bang sighed and collapsed into a chair. Chung Poong and Hyuk Moo-jin, who followed him in, each took their own seats.
“Where have you been?”
Gung Ki-bang answered curtly.
“The Beggar Clan in Chengdu. Bun-ta.”
“Is Moon-kyung coming along as well?”
“Not a chance. He’s holed up in the separate pavilion the Tang Sect provided, buried in their pharmaceutical texts. When I checked earlier, he was so absorbed he didn’t even notice me enter. Looks like he’ll stay the night and leave with us tomorrow.”
“So, did you learn anything?”
“Nothing but wasted effort. I probed carefully about the Sichuan Tang Sect, but even Bun-ta doesn’t know much yet.”
That made sense. From what I’d heard, the Poison King’s residence was hidden away in a remote mountain valley where no one ventured, and only the servants Dang Sa-dok sent would visit in secret, occasionally.
‘Besides, the Sichuan Tang Sect deliberately concealed it.’
Dang Sa-dok desired vengeance through his family’s strength alone.
Considering the power wielded by the Sichuan Tang Sect as a great martial family and the character they’d displayed, his independent course of action wasn’t particularly strange.
“Something felt suspicious, though. Apparently, the Sichuan Tang Sect recently sent people requesting necessary information.”
“They’ve already caught the scent. Did you tell them anything?”
Gung Ki-bang, who had hesitated briefly, finally spoke.
“Though Dang Sa-dok issued an order of silence, I am of the Beggar Clan under Hu Gae. I told only Bun-ta the truth and instructed him to keep watch over anyone suspicious.”
“What about Chung Poong?”
Chung Poong, who had been fighting to suppress a yawn amid the grave atmosphere, answered.
“I sent a messenger hawk to Grandfather as my benefactor instructed.”
Gung Ki-bang nodded and added his words.
“The message will arrive within seven days at the latest.”
“Good, well done.”
I considered this the minimum precaution we could take.
If Dang Sa-dok discovered it, he would rage—but this was something I had to do.
“Um, Squad Leader.”
“Hmm?”
Hyuk Moo-jin glanced around cautiously before speaking.
“May I ask you just one thing?”
“If I say no, would you not ask?”
“No, sir. You know I can’t help my curiosity.”
“…”
My mind was already troubled enough without this absurdity.
I held back the urge to give him a solid punch for the first time in ages.
“What is it.”
“Why are you clenching your fist like that? It’s frightening.”
“Then stop stalling and just ask, you fool.”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had been watching my fist with wary eyes, whispered softly.
“Who is the culprit?”
“The culprit?”
“Yes, the culprit who killed and tortured Dang Sa-mun, the Poison King of all under heaven.”
“Hah, the culprit indeed.”
Smack!
“Ow! Why did you hit me!”
“If I knew, would I be sitting here like this? Huh?”
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Without restraint, I rained blows upon the back of his head, and the sensation of release was exquisite.
“Ugh, you could just say you don’t know instead of spouting such nonsense….”
“This fool is uttering words that make no sense. It’s infuriating.”
“Ow. Ow.”
Gung Ki-bang regarded the struggling Hyuk Moo-jin with a look of utter contempt, clutching his own head.
“Tsk, tsk. A friend more foolish than a stray dog in the street. How could anyone know who this despicable wretch is or where he came from?”
Hyuk Moo-jin muttered while wiping away tears that had begun to trickle down.
“Gung So-hyup sits begging right beside that stray dog, spreading out a mat.”
“What did you say?!”
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“How dare you disrespect the Gaebang!”
“Even if the mouth is crooked, the words should be straight—no misunderstanding. I was only disrespecting So-hyup.”
Chung Poong burst into laughter and clapped his hands.
“Wow! Benefactor! Hyuk So-hyup just disrespected Gung So-hyup!”
“Stop laughing and try to stop him! You mad bastard, Chung Poong!”
That Hyuk Moo-jin fellow has certainly developed quite the sharp tongue.
I blocked Gung Ki-bang, whose eyes had rolled back from the barrage of facts, with my hand and spoke.
“Both of you, calm down.”
Sensing this wouldn’t be effective, I added a word.
“Unless you want to be beaten to death by me.”
“….”
“….”
That’s better now.
I exhaled deeply while watching the two of them glare at each other.
“Who could possibly know what kind of person this murderer is? If anyone knew, the Sichuan Tang Sect would have captured and killed him long ago.”
Hyuk Moo-jin spoke, his eyes still sharp with intensity.
“I understand that. I’m asking whether there’s any basis for conjecture.”
“Think before you ask—think. You foolish wretch.”
“But when did you ever see me to keep speaking informally? Is it acceptable to disrespect Hu Gae, the Vice-Commander of the Jinryong Squad of the Great Tae Won Jin Family? Isn’t that right, Squad Leader?”
…Actually, a difference of that magnitude would probably be acceptable to overlook.
When I didn’t answer, Hyuk Moo-jin’s eyes narrowed.
I subtly changed the subject.
“Well, suspicious characters are plentiful throughout the Murim. There are Dark Heaven and Demon Cult members, for instance.”
“Hmph! Do you think that’s all?”
Gung Ki-bang, who had snorted forcefully, took up the thread.
“The Sichuan Tang Sect devotes all its strength to eliminating the Demonic Heretical Way. It could be the work of someone with a personal grudge.”
I gazed with disgust at the booger clinging to the bridge of Gung Ki-bang’s nose and asked.
“Wasn’t the Demonic Heretical Way already completely eradicated?”
“No matter how much you sweep a courtyard, sand always remains. The world is so vast—how could there be nowhere to hide? There are those who survived the relentless pursuit and lived on.”
That’s a fair point.
Moreover, if they survived pursuit by the Orthodox Martial Arts World that dominates the realm, they must all be extraordinarily skilled masters.
‘Much like the Yin-Yang Twin Demons I faced at Shaolin.’
Who could have predicted that two supreme demonic leaders, thought long dead, would appear at Shaolin?
The Martial World is a place where countless chains of favor and enmity are tangled together. Nothing would be surprising, no matter where or what transpired.
‘And torture on top of that.’
Torture serves two purposes.
Either the torturer harbors such hatred they wish to inflict pain before death, or they seek to extract information from their victim’s mouth.
Regardless of the intent, one thing is certain.
‘…A damnably dangerous opponent has emerged.’
And someone I would never wish to encounter, even by chance.
My current realm stands at the very edge of the peak. Though I have not yet achieved enlightenment, the power granted through the system allows me to contend with those in the early stages of the supreme realm.
‘Tae-eul Mujeong Sword Hwang Bo-eom is a prime example.’
But against masters beyond that level, it becomes difficult. In truth, had I not gained a small insight during my battle with Hwang Bo-eom, I might have fallen to his Tae-eul Shadowless Sword.
How much more so if my opponent possessed the skill to slay the Poison King, who ranked among the top five of the Ten Kings….
‘As things stand, defeat is certain.’
A bitter reality I cannot help but acknowledge.
As I sat lost in contemplation, Gung Ki-bang suddenly spoke, as though a thought had just occurred to him.
“Come to think of it, there’s also the possibility this could be an Assassin.”
“An Assassin? You mean a hired killer?”
“Then are there other kinds of Assassins?”
I furrowed my brow.
“Are those people really that skilled?”
“You don’t know much. According to what my master told me, the Valley Master of Moon Shadow Kill Valley has slain three supreme masters thus far.”
“…An Assassin killed three supreme masters?”
“Undoubtedly. I heard the entire Martial World was turned upside down over it.”
“So this Valley Master or whatever is the greatest Assassin under heaven, something like that?”
Gung Ki-bang looked at me as though I were utterly mad.
“What are you saying? The greatest Assassin under heaven does not change.”
“Ah.”
I had momentarily forgotten.
The existence of those called Sword Saint, Bow Star, and finally, Kill Star.
‘When I first heard of it, I thought he was called Kill Star simply because he had killed so many people.’
But it turned out his very profession was that of an Assassin.
According to what Jeok Cheon-gang told me, he has harmed countless lives throughout his existence, and with perfect impartiality, he killed both the righteous and the demonic so evenly that he was branded a public enemy of the Martial World.
‘Until the Great Righteous-Demonic War began.’
So many demonic leaders fell by his hand that the people had no choice but to grant him amnesty and bestow upon him the epithet Kill Star.
“Of course, it’s unlikely that Kill Star was the one who killed the Sichuan Poison Sect’s Grand Master, but the Sichuan Tang Sect will certainly keep it in mind.”
“It’s unfortunate, but they’ll handle it themselves.”
Whoever the culprit may be, my sole objective remains unchanged: find the Divine Physician and save Jeok Cheon-gang.
Though it was unfortunate that I couldn’t secure the Sichuan Tang Sect’s aid, I still had the Blue Star Sect and Emei Sect remaining.
Which meant….
“Gung So-hyup. Is that booger on the bridge of your nose something you picked out earlier to eat as a late-night snack?”
“What the—!”
“Wahaha! Benefactor! He eats boogers for late-night snacks!”
…No, but these bastards really.
I couldn’t hold back and flipped the table over.
“Get out! We’re leaving early tomorrow, so go get some sleep!”
After roaring like a lion to chase away that Bermuda Triangle of idiots, I collapsed into a chair.
I stared blankly at the swaying lantern flame and muttered softly.
“Inventory open, summon.”
Thunk.
A small jade-colored token appeared in the palm of my hand.
When I flipped over the [Divine Physician’s Token], faint writing became visible.
[The finest gall nuts come from the land of Sichuan.]
Gall nuts—damn it, why didn’t he just write down a house address.

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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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