Murim Login - Chapter 393

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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 393
War is an endless succession of battles.
When the day’s fighting—marked by countless bloodshed and death—finally ends, victory and defeat are determined, and the survivors gather to prepare for tomorrow’s battle.
The commanders overseeing the Eastern-Western Front of Sichuan Province had assembled for precisely this reason.
“The casualties are catastrophic.”
The first to speak was a middle-aged soldier who appeared to be in his forties. He continued in a weary voice, his military uniform still stained with dried blood.
“We managed to hold the high ground, but we lost over three thousand troops in a single day.”
A hollow victory.
The loss of three thousand soldiers was staggering in itself, but the greater tragedy lay in the fact that more than thirty percent of the fallen were Hunters, including the commander and several high-ranking officers.
Even accounting for the threefold difference in troop strength, the blow was devastating.
“Has headquarters sent word?”
“Of course. After internal deliberation, they’re dispatching a new commander before dawn.”
“Well, that’s something at least. Then, who might the new commander be…?”
As people exchanged these words in the oppressive silence, someone suddenly spoke up.
“Something at least? Do you all really think so?”
“…!”
Words spoken in silence carry weight. Far more so when uttered by a living legend of the Cataclysm and an S-rank Hunter.
“Flying monsters tore half the command staff to shreds, including the commander. The troops under their command panicked and suffered mounting casualties. How can you call that fortunate?”
The people flinched before the overwhelming presence in those eyes.
“W-well, you see…”
“Making excuses, are you? I suppose you understand the situation well enough. But…”
A chilling voice flowed between crimson lips.
Faye Chen’s gaze swept across the assembled officers before fixing upon one man, where it stopped.
“Why do you have no excuse at all?”
Wu Hei-xing, who had remained silent for a moment, swirled the crystal glass containing liquor.
“Why should I make excuses?”
“If you ask why, then perhaps…”
Faye Chen’s eyes deepened.
“Because some idiot abandoned his post, and the flying monsters waiting for that moment tore the command center to shreds?”
“…That was to support the front lines.”
Wu Hei-xing’s response was nothing but a pathetic excuse. When he had abandoned the rear, the front-line forces under Faye Chen’s command had been holding their own against the endless tide of monsters.
“Ah, so that happened too. You went deep in like some clueless fool chasing glory, broke the formation, and those kids you went to rescue—you couldn’t even find their bodies, could you?”
“Death and survival are common occurrences on the battlefield.”
“Indeed. Quite common.”
Faye Chen continued in a low voice.
“Creatures like you dying without a trace used to be even more common. Come to think of it, the world has improved. Back during the Cataclysm…”
But Faye Chen’s words could not continue.
Crack, shatter!
Sharp sounds erupted as crystal shards scattered in all directions.
Wu Hei-xing, who had crushed the glass, slowly rose to his feet.
“That’s enough, isn’t it?”
“Enough? Your words are remarkably sparse, aren’t they?”
“Even patience has its limits, Faye Chen.”
“Go ahead and keep talking. The shorter your words become, the shorter your lifespan grows—remember that.”
“How dare a Hong Kong traitor like you—!”
“Ah, so you’re talking about that Hong Kong operative who cleaned up the mess you left on the front lines? That sounds about right.”
Ssshhhhh.
A tremendous aura flowed from the two of them, permeating the interior. The overwhelming pressure made it difficult for people to even breathe properly.
And the brief standoff between the two S-rank Hunters ended the next moment, accompanied by a sneer that appeared at the corner of Faye Chen’s lips.
“Frightened, exhausted, desperate to prove yourself in the midst of it all. No wonder you’re growing increasingly impatient, yes?”
“What?”
“Listen, child. War is always like this. It constantly drives people to the brink and tests them. To endure this hell, you need mental fortitude. For a thoughtless fool like you, who’s lived however you pleased, it’s simply too much.”
“…!”
Wu Hei-xing’s expression twisted grotesquely. Each word from Faye Chen struck directly at his weak points.
“An S-rank Hunter? What good is that when your mind is nothing but a seven-year-old child’s? Someone like you is worse than useless in a war like this.”
“Shut your mouth! What could you possibly know—”
“What could I know? Are you asking me that?”
At Faye Chen’s scoff, Wu Hei-xing’s face flushed crimson.
Though he had been born with power and wealth in both hands, his opponent was a war hero who had weathered the great upheaval with his entire being.
While he had suffered discriminatory treatment from the media for being Hong Kong-affiliated, in terms of experience, Wu Hei-xing was utterly incomparable to her.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Wu Hei-xing clenched his teeth and avoided responding, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
Though everyone deliberately refrained from speaking aloud, the light in their eyes mirrored Faye Chen’s own.
‘This damned…!’
What made it even more infuriating was that among them were figures closely connected to the Crown Prince Faction.
The Crown Prince Faction—the largest faction within the Chinese Communist Party. Wu Hei-xing, the bloodline of one of its most prominent leaders, felt a bone-deep sense of betrayal.
“Remember everything that happened today… very carefully.”
Wu Hei-xing turned away, leaving behind words seething with rage.
As he departed, reeking heavily of strong alcohol, Faye Chen’s quiet voice flew after him and struck deep.
“Remember this too. Your childish recklessness ends today. If a situation like this arises again… then I won’t show mercy.”
Grind.
Wu Hei-xing, grinding his teeth as he returned to his quarters, immediately set about destroying everything in sight.
Crash! Crash crash crash!
“Damn Hong Kong bitch! Traitorous bastards every last one of you!”
Amid the chaos, expensive luxury furnishings brought in through his private aircraft shattered into fragments.
After a considerable time of shrieking like a madman and trampling and smashing everything within reach, Wu Hei-xing finally collapsed onto his bed, breathing heavily.
“Damn it all.”
A rage that refused to subside.
Far from fading, the more he thought about it, the more fury surged through him—his heart pounding violently, his vision turning white-hot.
‘How dare she treat me like this?’
I was born into the most powerful family in China and made my way here.
Ever since becoming an S-rank Hunter, the world became entirely mine.
No matter what major incident I caused, Father would summon me for a few words of reproach and nothing more. I paid no mind to the criticism and opposition from the masses.
‘I am Wu Hei-xing. Wu Hei-xing!’
An S-rank Hunter became the face of a nation, another name for national power itself. No matter how much public opinion pointed fingers, that fact never changed—and that was reality.
Was that why I grew passionate about press interviews and parties rather than filthy, foul-smelling Raid Teams? Why I abandoned training and started using drugs?
But this war, experienced for the first time in my life, was chaos. Watching endless waves of monster legions crash down day after day left me breathless.
For someone who had walked an elite path paved with diamonds, this environment was far too harsh.
Moreover, Wu Hei-xing’s repeated mistakes bore the influence of one person.
‘Jin Tae-kyung.’
A wall far greater than Lei Fei, the object of my long-standing jealousy whom I had faced only once before in my life.
The shadow he cast was vast and dark.
The fear carved deep into my mind by that one-sided defeat could never be shaken off as long as Jin Tae-kyung remained.
‘That’s right. As long as that bastard doesn’t disappear…’
An inexplicable light flickered in Wu Hei-xing’s eyes as he stared at the ceiling.
He laughed, recalling the conversation he’d had with Lee Jung-yong that night of his humiliating defeat. The hot rage that had been boiling over had long since cooled.
‘Let’s see then. Who will be laughing at the end.’
As his mind settled, the fatigue he’d forgotten came rushing back, pressing down on his eyelids. Wu Hei-xing felt drowsiness overtaking him and suddenly wondered.
‘Damn it. How many more battles like today do I have to fight?’
Shortly after, Wu Hei-xing, now fast asleep, remained unaware.
In the deep night where not even an inch ahead could be seen, countless monster legions were withdrawing from the front lines under cover of darkness.
The mass exodus was occurring simultaneously across all fronts in Sichuan Province.
* * *
「…Phew.」
Shao Shen, his eyes bloodshot around the rims, let out a sigh.
The one who had spent the night with an IV needle in his arm had only regained consciousness two hours ago.
The moment he opened his eyes and started ranting about killing General Liao, both Choi Team Leader and I broke into a cold sweat trying to calm him down.
“Shao Shen. Are you alright?”
“Yeah, are you calm now?”
Shao Shen answered.
「Yes. When I first woke up, I had no strength in my body, but now I’m fine. This is enough to rip that bastard’s head clean off.」
“….”
“….”
Calm my ass.
Still, despite his words, his fists were only trembling slightly, and he didn’t seem to be planning to use General Liao’s head as a golf ball right this instant, so I let out a breath of relief.
“I’m telling you again—I didn’t want to do that to you. The timing was just bad.”
Shao Shen, who had been silent for a moment, nodded.
「I understand, Elder Brother. I also know you stepped in on my behalf.」
“When did you hear about that?”
「The company commanders came and told me. They said you, furious on my behalf, broke General Liao’s arms and legs.」
“…I wasn’t in a position to stop you, but well, it turned out this way.”
Choi Team Leader interjected with a clipped tone.
“If you weren’t supposed to do it, why did you?”
“Well, that’s… I lost my head for a moment.”
“It’s fortunate the current situation is in chaos, otherwise this could have escalated into something far worse.”
“Lucky for us, given how things stand. If circumstances were different, that bastard would’ve been dead by my hand long ago.”
An incompetent commander is far more terrifying than the enemy.
Nearly a thousand lives squandered and an operation in ruins—General Liao deserves death for even speaking of merit.
“It’s been resolved well enough. Your body’s nearly healed with the potions, and since they have their own vulnerabilities, let’s just let this pass quietly.”
“Resentment lingers long, Jin Tae-kyung. A high-ranking general from the Central Military Commission, and a Crown Prince Faction elite known for holding grudges—there’s plenty of room for future complications.”
“What can we do? The milk’s already spilled. If problems arise, we’ll deal with them then.”
Just as Choi Team Leader was shaking his head at my carefree response, Shao Shen opened his mouth in a low voice.
「Don’t worry. The matter you’re concerned about won’t happen.」
“Huh?”
“Shao Shen. Have you heard something separately?”
「Rather than heard….」
Shao Shen, who had hesitated for a moment, shook his head with a hardened expression.
「It’s… just my personal thoughts.」
“…?”
“…?”
What’s this suspicious feeling?
Choi Team Leader and I were regarding Shao Shen with suspicious eyes when it happened.
「C, c, c, can I come in?」
“…Did your vocal cords have an earthquake? Come in.”
Only then did the presence that had been lingering outside the Military Camp cautiously enter.
A familiar face. One of the staff officers who served closest to General Liao.
The same man who had wet himself witnessing me break his superior’s limbs the day before.
“A great nation’s aide has arrived. But what brings you here?”
「I, I, I….」
“Spit it out, spit it out, what do you want to say? Please, speak clearly.”
The staff officer’s body trembled slightly as he swallowed hard and answered.
「A, a visitor has arrived.」
“A visitor?”
「Yes.」
“Who? Can visitors even come here?”
Surely Mother and Ha-yeon didn’t come.
As that absurd thought crossed my mind, the staff officer’s answer flew at me.
「Magic Johnson, a Hunter from the United States, has come to see you.」
I felt it. The tension suddenly gripping Choi Team Leader’s body as he stood beside me.

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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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