Murim Login - Chapter 339

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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 339
Early morning.
The Sichuan Provincial Governor, nestled in his concubine’s embrace, asked in a drowsy voice.
“Who? Who’s come to visit?”
The Guard Captain, who had been forced to confront his superior’s naked form at this ungodly hour, hastily averted his gaze as he answered.
“Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family, and a man named Chung Poong of the Hua Mountain Sect are requesting an audience.”
“The Hua Mountain Sect?”
The name was fairly familiar to his ears.
Born into the bloodline of a powerful aristocrat with no connection to the Martial World, even the Sichuan Provincial Governor had heard of the Hua Mountain Sect more than once.
“The Hua Mountain Sect… aren’t they one of the Ten Major Sects, or something like that?”
“To be precise, they’re called the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance. The Hua Mountain Sect is indeed a renowned and prestigious faction in the Martial World.”
“Prestigious or not, they’re just ruffians. Swinging swords in broad daylight without proper credentials—calling them a prestigious faction is laughable.”
The Guard Captain himself was once a wanderer of the Martial World. He had much to say, but contradicting the Provincial Governor’s mood was not a wise choice.
Watching the Guard Captain bow silently, the Provincial Governor clicked his tongue before suddenly speaking again.
“Wait, the name Taewon Jin Family also sounds rather familiar.”
“A rising faction that unified the Shanxi Martial World a year ago and has now made a name for itself even in the Central Plains. Of course, if we’re speaking purely of the family’s history, it’s old enough to rival the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance…”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I’ve definitely heard of them before… Ah!”
The Provincial Governor, who had been frowning in thought for a moment, suddenly struck his knee with an exclamation.
“That’s it. The Jinga Escort Agency!”
“The Jinga Escort Agency, you say…”
Only then did the Guard Captain recall a memory he had momentarily forgotten.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t such ancient history. It had been only a few months ago—perhaps three or four—when carts laden with treasures had streamed into the city, and the Sichuan Provincial Governor’s lips had stretched from ear to ear.
“But weren’t they the Jin Family Trading Company?”
“The Jinga Escort Agency and the Jin Family Trading Company. Both belong to the Taewon Jin Family, as I recall. Now it comes back to me.”
The Taewon Jin Family had pioneered new trade routes through the northern foreign peoples and had begun in earnest to establish themselves in commerce, gradually making their name known throughout the Central Plains.
“So, what have they brought this time?”
At the Provincial Governor’s hopeful gaze, the Guard Captain hesitated before answering.
“It appears… they’ve come empty-handed.”
“What?”
“However, the young man named Jin Tae-kyung is a direct descendant of the Taewon Jin Family and is building quite a reputation as a rising talent in the Martial World…”
“Spare me the Martial World nonsense.”
The Provincial Governor’s face was already contorted.
Born into an aristocratic family, he had nobility ingrained in his very bones.
Had the Jin Family Trading Company arrived bearing bribes, he would have welcomed them with open arms. But a mere youth, a direct descendant of some remote Martial World faction, requesting a private audience at this early hour—that was another matter entirely.
‘Whatever they want, it’s bound to be some request. This is precisely why one shouldn’t easily accept gifts from such lowborn people.’
Having deemed them unwelcome visitors, the Provincial Governor pulled the blanket up to his neck.
“Bah, I was finally sleeping soundly, and now my mood is ruined.”
At those words, the concubine, who had just awakened, asked in a seductive voice.
“My lord, what’s caused you such displeasure?”
“Some young brat showed up at the crack of dawn. You know Aehyang, don’t you? That Jin Family Trading Company that visited a few months back.”
“Oh my. Yes, yes. Of course I know.”
“The Taewon Jin Family from Shanxi—those ruffians of the Martial World—and now a direct descendant of theirs, a mere boy, has come calling.”
“And so?”
“And so what? It’s obvious he’s come to make some sordid request. We should throw him out at once. How dare he presume—”
“My lord.”
“What is it?”
“Wouldn’t you consider meeting with him, just once?”
“Huh? What?”
“He may have brought another lovely gift. Like this beautiful necklace I’m wearing now.”
The Sichuan Provincial Governor’s heart melted like wax at the sight of the Concubine’s radiant smile.
As she said, the Jin Family Trading Company’s previous shipment had contained many rare treasures.
Particularly the various precious metals and ornaments crafted by northern barbarians—mysterious and exquisitely detailed—which the Concubine wore constantly and never removed.
“Won’t you grant me this one request? Really?”
The Concubine unleashed a three-second barrage of plaintive, longing eyes!
The effect was devastating! The Sichuan Provincial Governor gestured urgently toward the Guard Captain.
“Bring them here at once!”
“Yes. Shall I show them to the Guest Room?”
“The Guest Room? No, no—I only want a quick look. Bring them here.”
“….”
“Well? What are you waiting for? Go fetch those Martial World ruffians!”
The Guard Captain bowed with a reluctant expression and departed, while the Sichuan Provincial Governor—his protruding belly thrust forward with exaggerated pride—preened before the Concubine.
“I’m doing this only because you asked, you understand.”
“Thank you, my lord. But they say those Martial World ruffians are terribly rough… Ae-hyang is frightened.”
“Frightened? You?”
The Sichuan Provincial Governor burst into laughter, then adopted an artificially stern tone.
“Preposterous! I govern an entire city by imperial mandate from His Majesty himself—and you fear mere street rabble?”
“How wonderful. My lord, you’re so impressive!”
The Sichuan Provincial Governor embraced the Concubine as she nestled against him, beaming with satisfaction.
“Fear nothing. The moment those men enter, I’ll have them on their knees, unable even to look upon you.”
* * *
“Th-th-that is!”
Thud-thud-thud-thud, crash!
The Sichuan Provincial Governor, naked as the day he was born, bolted from the bed and threw himself prostrate on the floor, crying out.
“A token of His Majesty the Sangshan King! I am honored to behold it!”
What a shock. Had he eaten some rare delicacy that disagreed with him?
His reaction was so violent that even I found myself momentarily flustered.
I had done only one thing—shown him that single object.
‘Was it really worth this much?’
I gazed at the golden token in my hand.
About a year ago, I had even held a solo fan signing event for Sangshan King Ju Pyo, and received this item as a Quest completion reward.
Item Window
[Sangshan King’s Insignia]
Type
: Treasure
Grade
: None
Restriction
: Jin Tae-kyung
Description:
An insignia imbued with the authority of Sangshan King Ju Pyo, the Emperor’s sole younger brother and a Prince of the First Rank. The clouds and dragons engraved upon its surface symbolize the Imperial House and possess tremendous artistic value.
Special Notes
: Can only be used once.
I never imagined I would actually use this item, which I had buried in my inventory and forgotten about.
I knew that Imperial authority held considerable sway in this world, but the City Lord’s reaction exceeded my expectations.
‘It’s a shame I can only use it once.’
Still, what more could I ask for?
I resolved to provide Sangshan King with even more abundant fan service in the future.
‘When we meet again later, I’ll have to present him with rare collectibles and offer a free hug as well.’
As I fell silent, the City Lord quietly raised his upper body.
His eyes, which had initially regarded both Chung Poong and me as common street rabble, now trembled as though an earthquake had struck.
Quiver, quiver.
“….”
No matter what, that particular part shouldn’t be trembling quite so visibly.
At my look of disgust, the Sichuan Provincial Governor hastily covered his lower half.
“Th-this is due to circumstances….”
Circumstances indeed.
Outside, spring blossoms were beginning to bloom, yet this room reeked of night flowers.
I picked up a nearby blanket and tossed it to him.
“Th-thank you.”
“Please, think nothing of it.”
If anything, I should be thanking him. Witnessing a middle-aged man in his birthday suit, appearing to be roughly thirty-five weeks pregnant, was torment itself.
Beside me, Chung Poong gazed at the City Lord’s protruding belly with curious eyes and whispered.
“Benefactor. Will it be a boy or a girl?”
“Men cannot give birth.”
“Gasp!”
Still, he had developed considerably. A year ago, he had blindly believed in the stork delivery rocket shipping theory.
I addressed the City Lord, who was covering his lower half with the blanket and nervously gauging my reaction.
“Since there’s nothing good to gain from prolonging this conversation, I’ll be direct. I’ve come because I have a request.”
“P-please speak, envoy of Sangshan King. I shall assist you to the fullest extent of my power.”
“I’m searching for someone. First, how many people can you mobilize?”
The Sichuan Provincial Governor, who had been hesitating, answered in an uncertain voice.
“Well, I suppose… if we exclude the troops stationed to defend against invasions from the border tribes, there should be several thousand available.”
Several thousand government soldiers alone—and if we mobilize the constables from the provincial office as well, the numbers would be even greater. It was welcome news to hear.
I smiled broadly, grasped the Provincial Governor by the shoulders, and pulled him to his feet.
“Then let’s start by thoroughly searching throughout Chengdu. The first condition should be that we’re looking for a physician.”
“A physician? The person you’re searching for is a physician?”
“Yes. People call this physician the Divine Physician.”
“Gasp—the Divine Physician, you say?”
“Why? Do you lack confidence? If you handle this well, I can speak favorably of you to the Sangshan King himself.”
The Sichuan Provincial Governor, who had been pondering for a moment, cried out in a trembling voice.
“I shall devote all my strength to completing this mission!”
Clatter, clatter.
….
Everything was fine, but I wished he’d stop trembling like that.
* * *
The reputation I’d heard regarding the Sichuan Provincial Governor was abysmal.
An incompetent bureaucrat who occupied his position through the prestige of his family background. His hobby was accepting bribes from various places and indulging in them; his specialty was known to be debauchery and gambling.
‘But he is a Provincial Governor, after all.’
That was what mattered most. Just as I had borrowed the authority of Sangshan King Ju Pyo, he possessed the authority and power of Sichuan’s foremost authority figure.
“By the command of Sichuan Provincial Governor Won Gyun, all officials of Sichuan shall execute the orders given without fail!”
Upon hearing his name, my confidence dropped considerably, but a Provincial Governor was still a Provincial Governor.
Mounted couriers carrying official documents galloped throughout Sichuan, and notices seeking the Divine Physician were posted on Market Street. A substantial reward was naturally offered to anyone who provided information.
“A thousand silver taels? Truly, you live up to your connection with the Sangshan King—your generosity is remarkable!”
Won Gyun’s admiring gaze did not last long.
“What are you saying? You’re the one paying for it.”
“…What?”
“Do I look like someone who carries a thousand silver taels around with me?”
“Ah, but even so, the amount is far too large.”
“Well then, put it on credit. Later, I’ll mention it to the Sangshan King and ask him to repay you.”
“No! I shall pay it myself!”
“By squeezing the blood from the common people? Or by squeezing the fat from your own belly?”
“I shall open my personal coffers and pay it, no matter what!”
“My, how admirable—our Provincial Governor!”
A massive reward that could change one’s life several times over, and a search operation mobilizing countless personnel. Yet even this was insufficient.
‘If they could be found with this much effort, the Imperial Court would never have given up.’
Who was the Divine Physician?
A mysterious figure whom the Emperor himself had failed to find despite issuing proclamations under his own name to all under heaven.
Such individuals typically had a tendency to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
“Let’s leave the Market Street and bustling areas to the government soldiers, and we’ll search every place with beautiful mountains and clear waters.”
“I agree.”
“I should have just stayed with the Qingcheng Sect….”
The hundreds of disciples who had descended the mountain alongside the two elders of the Qingcheng Sect would have been the perfect choice.
Four days after the government and the Martial World had joined hands in this unprecedented manner and launched a full-scale search, they finally arrived.
* * *
“Captain….”
The moment I saw Hyuk Moo-jin, his exhaustion written plainly across his features, and Gung Ki-bang with his jaw clenched in grim silence, I understood.
‘Everything has gone wrong.’
I could not rejoice at their arrival, for I already knew they had not brought the news we had been waiting for.
Without a word, I stepped forward, passing both Hyuk Moo-jin and Gung Ki-bang to stand before a single figure.
“I am Jin Tae-kyung of the Taewon Jin Family.”
She was a middle-aged Buddhist nun. Her head, shorn close to the scalp, and her pallid complexion struck me immediately.
The Emei Sect had sent only her as reinforcement. No—this was the appearance of a survivor from a rout.
“I, I am a nun who bears the dharma name Myo-ryung…” *cough*.
Droplets of blood traced down her chin one by one. Internal injuries.
I steadied her as she swayed, and staring into Myo-ryung’s eyes, which seemed ready to extinguish at any moment, I demanded with urgency.
“What in the world has happened?”

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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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