Murim Login - Chapter 453

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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 453
“Hey! You bastards!”
For a moment, it felt as though an icy wind had swept across the area. Or perhaps my roar had been so thunderous that it created that sensation.
The latter seemed more likely.
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Dozens of people who had been scrambling to pick up silver coins froze in place, and silence descended upon the chaotic main road.
And in the next instant, a single word that escaped my lips shattered the brief stillness.
“Count to three.”
“…?”
“Assemble.”
“…!”
A dog at a village school learns to recite poetry after three years, and if beaten enough, will memorize the Four Books and Three Classics.
That was why Hyuk Moo-jin, the village school dog who had grown accustomed to my violence and curses over the past year, could move faster than anyone else.
“Here, sir!”
With a cry that sounded almost like a scream, Hyuk Moo-jin’s figure came to an abrupt halt right in front of me.
A beat later, Gung Ki-bang, who had finally grasped the situation and deployed his movement technique, arrived almost simultaneously with Hyuk Moo-jin, while Chung Poong….
“Flatbread! Flatbread, quickly please! My benefactor is angry!”
That damned fool. Look at him worrying about snacks in the midst of all this.
After wrapping up the provisions, I spoke gently to Chung Poong, who came rushing over like a flash of light.
“Come slowly. I’m not angry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Not angry—absolutely furious.”
“Oh, oh no….”
I watched Chung Poong fidgeting nervously and the other two avoiding my gaze, and I thought to myself.
‘When will these bastards ever become decent people?’
They couldn’t even muster the strength to rush toward the Je-gal Family Estate, yet here they were using martial techniques just to pick up a few silver coins.
Even worse, Gung Ki-bang had slyly stolen silver coins from other people’s hands. At this point, they weren’t beggars—they were thieves.
‘Life is….’
Despite my recent efforts to improve the disciples’ welfare, it all came to this.
Looking up at the clear sky, I spat into my palm.
“Hyuk Moo-jin. Forehead.”
“Yes?”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had lifted his head abruptly, asked with a bewildered expression.
“Just me?”
“Yeah. For now, just you.”
“What about So-hyup?”
“He’s a beggar to his very bones. Honestly, what can I say when a beggar is picking up silver coins?”
“A precise and wise judgment indeed.”
When Gung Ki-bang, who had been watching for an opening, interjected with a solemn voice, Hyuk Moo-jin’s eyes widened.
“What? But you get angry every time I call myself a beggar.”
“Me? What nonsense are you spouting? I’m a beggar from head to toe. Born a beggar, and I’ll die a beggar.”
“…You really are a beggar, aren’t you?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“You beggar bastard from Gung Ki Bang.”
“Ah, how delightfully sweet.”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who had been glaring at Gung Ki-bang as if to kill him, opened his mouth once more.
“Then what about Chung So-hyup?”
“Chung Poong is just Chung Poong.”
Huashan Sect or whatever—Chung Poong was simply that kind of man from the start.
At that single phrase encompassing everything, Hyuk Moo-jin muttered.
“It’s absurd, yet somehow it makes sense….”
“There are many eyes watching. Let’s finish this quickly.”
“How many strikes?”
“Tell me. How many strikes would it take for you to reflect?”
“Then one strike?”
“Three strikes.”
“Damn it, understood.”
“You cursed, so five strikes.”
“…Just give me ten strikes. Beat me to death.”
“I award bonus points for such resolute warrior spirit. So one strike. How many?”
“One strike!”
The very moment Hyuk Moo-jin answered with spirited affirmation and thrust his forehead forward.
“Stop right there.”
“…?”
I lowered my palm and turned around.
In the middle of the deathly silent main road, ten men and women atop a four-horse carriage gazed down at us with eyes mixing displeasure and curiosity.
Among them, adorned in lavish finery that flaunted their immense wealth, there was one youth whose presence stood out distinctly.
He was the owner of the voice I had heard moments before.
“I’ve stopped. Why?”
At my question, the youth’s eyes widened in disbelief. As if unable to trust what he had heard, he blinked for a moment before breaking into a smirk.
“You don’t know who this young master is, it seems.”
“Must I know that?”
“Such arrogance and insolence I have never witnessed!”
The words were not from the youth. I watched as a figure burst forth from the carriage with explosive force.
‘What is this now?’
Whoosh, ring of steel!
The Sparrow-eyed Man, who had landed after performing three aerial somersaults in mid-air, drew his blade with blazing eyes.
At that magnificent display, gasps erupted from the onlookers.
“It appears you are some wandering martial artist. Not content with causing a disturbance in broad daylight, you dare spout insolence toward such an esteemed person….”
“You’ve got a lot of jewels embedded there. Is that for dazzling the eyes?”
I stared at the jewels adorning the sword. Dozens of gems of various types sparkled brilliantly as they caught the sunlight.
“What?”
“Put it away—it’s too blinding.”
Clang—!
The Sparrow-eyed Man’s eyes widened in shock.
Unable to withstand the force of my flick technique, the sword slipped from his grasp and flew through the air, embedding itself deep into the ground.
“You bastard, where do you get off drawing a blade like that? And in broad daylight, no less.”
‘Tch, what a nuisance.’
Was he perhaps hovering around the first-rate level?
He seemed to have honed his skills reasonably well, but his arrogance was utterly insufferable.
“You, you—!”
“And it’s you lot making the noise, not me. I was keeping things quiet. Let’s not complicate matters for each other—just leave. Understood?”
I meant it sincerely.
Had I ever dealt with more than a fly or two before? This wasn’t even my house, just a road I was passing through. There was no reason to spray insecticide on every mosquito that came buzzing around.
Better to just wave my hand and continue on my way.
But no matter how sincerely one tries to convey such a message, there are always those who fail to understand on the first attempt.
Clink-clink-clink-clang!
Dozens of blades gleamed from all directions. As the martial artists of the Qing Xia Bang, dressed in blue silk robes, encircled us in layers, a smug expression bloomed across the Sparrow-eyed Man’s face.
“You seem to be some notorious rogue of some renown. Kneel now and beg for forgiveness. Who knows—perhaps the master will show you mercy.”
I glanced past the Sparrow-eyed Man’s shoulder. A young man who appeared to be their leader, along with several others, watched this place with gleaming eyes.
It was unmistakably the gaze of spectators observing monkeys in a zoo.
“Well, they don’t seem particularly inclined to do that, do they?”
“What?”
“Of course, neither am I. And from my experience so far, this is the most effective remedy. Wouldn’t you agree?”
As I raised my fist slightly, the Bermuda Triangle—who had been watching my every move—responded enthusiastically.
“That’s right. A good beating on a dog day is what brings people to their senses.”
“I was the first to take that remedy. It cured me completely.”
“Master, would it be alright if I went to buy some dumplings real quick?”
“No. Just stay. It’ll be over in a moment anyway.”
I took a step forward.
“Wait, just a moment!”
At my first step, urgency flickered in the Sparrow-eyed Man’s eyes.
A third-rate thug might charge forward out of sheer bravado without knowing his opponent’s level, but this man had learned martial arts to a certain standard.
He had clearly realized that neither the decorative Qing Xia Bang warriors surrounding us nor he himself could match me.
“W-we are the Qing Xia Bang!”
“Yes? And?”
“You… you haven’t heard of the Qing Xia Bang’s reputation?”
“No. My hearing hasn’t been great lately.”
I took another step forward.
“Stop! I said stop!”
“Ahem.”
I wasn’t the only one who grew desperate at this turn of events.
The Retainer of Zhuge Family, who had been watching the situation while clicking his tongue, opened his mouth with a clearing of his throat.
“If I may explain the circumstances, it would be best if you would cease….”
Crack! Thud!
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
“….”
The Retainer of Zhuge Family, alternating his gaze between me standing with clenched fists and Baek Sae-nun who had lost consciousness with his nasal bone collapsed, muttered awkwardly.
“I said it would be best if you ceased….”
“Pardon?”
“There seem to be various complications….”
“Pardon?”
“It would be prudent to avoid unnecessary conflict….”
“What?”
“…Never mind.”
“Ah, yes.”
I wiped my blood-stained knuckles on my trouser leg and looked around.
Gung Ki-bang was muttering that he knew that bastard would end up like this, and thanks to that, Hyuk Moo-jin’s expression was bright.
And Chung Poong….
“Hey! Where are you going!”
“Eek, my savior!”
Wait, is that bastard seriously going to buy dumplings right now…?
Watching Chung Poong’s retreating figure disappearing quietly without a trace made me question whether he was even human.
‘I will definitely catch that bastard.’
As I took a step forward with resolute determination, the flower-screen martial artists surrounding me swallowed hard and parted the way.
But the martial artists of the Qing Xia Bang present here were not limited to them.
“Ahahaha! How amusing, how truly amusing. Don’t you all agree?”
To the question posed by the laughing Young Man, the Four Giant Bearers carrying the sedan chair responded in unison.
“Yes, my lord.”
“We cannot simply let such an entertaining guest depart. I am content, so go and bring him to me at once.”
“Loyalty!”
A shout filled with martial power. Simultaneously, the Four Giant Bearers set down the sedan chair and rushed toward me with wind-like speed.
They, who had transformed from mere sedan chair carriers into outstanding masters at the pinnacle of skill, converged from all four directions.
Whoooosh!
In the moment when each of their powerful punches, infused with formidable force, interlocked precisely and were unleashed.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Exactly four impact sounds rang out, and four bodies collapsed at the same speed with which they had charged.
And they did not rise again.
“What the hell.”
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
Complete silence descended upon the main road.
I kicked the unconscious Four Giant Bearers aside and shrugged my shoulders toward the Young Man. His lips, which had climbed so high with confidence, were now trembling visibly.
“This is fun. This is really fun. Don’t you all think so?”
The Retainer of Zhuge Family pressed his forehead, while Gung Ki-bang and Hyuk Moo-jin nodded mechanically.
“In my thirty years of beggar’s life, this is the most entertaining thing that’s ever happened.”
“Boss. My belly button just popped off. I can’t see where it rolled, so I’m still looking for it.”
“Right, in these dreary times, how could we just let someone who brings us such grand entertainment slip away? So… grab that bastard by the collar and bring him here.”
“Yes, sir! Yes, sir!”
“I don’t care anymore. Whatever happens, you’ll handle it all anyway.”
Hyuk Moo-jin, who hated taking even a single blow, burned with enthusiasm, and Gung Ki-bang grumbled but stepped forward nonetheless.
The situation had completely reversed from its initial momentum.
When even the escorts they’d relied upon fell, the men and women of the Qing Xia Bang began screaming at the top of their lungs.
“No, no! Do you know who I am!”
“You rogue! How dare you defy the laws of a great nation!”
“If you lay a hand on me, do you think my family would stand idle!”
I’d only meant to grab one person, but these bastards came trailing along like a matched set.
I turned to the one who’d shouted first.
“Who are you?”
“I am the Lord of Great Bamboo Mountain Escort House….”
“Oh, Great Bamboo Mountain Escort House?”
“Yes, you know of us!”
“I don’t, you bastard. Get down before I smash your skull in.”
Maybe he’s somebody in Hubei Province, but if I haven’t heard of him, he’s nobody.
I spoke quietly.
“If you get down now, I’ll only smash the Qing Xia Bang. If you don’t, I’ll smash both the Qing Xia Bang and your legs. What’ll it be?”
The Lord of Great Bamboo Mountain Escort House answered with wide eyes.
“I’ll get down.”
“Should’ve done that from the start. But why are your eyes so wide?”
“My apologies. If I don’t keep them open like this, tears will start flowing….”
Ah, well, that’s understandable then.
Having easily dealt with one, I turned to the woman who’d been shouting so fiercely.
“What family are you from?”
“Hmph, hmph! Even if you’re a rogue, surely you’ve heard of the Hyungmun Sword Family!”
“Never heard of it. Stop spouting nonsense and get down.”
“…!”
“Next. Who are you?”
“I, I’m from the Eungseong Commerce….”
“Whether it’s Eungseong or whatever, if you don’t want to get beaten until you shit yourself, you get down too.”
“Yes.”
As two or three of them dismounted from the sedan chair, the rest began shuffling their feet nervously without even opening their mouths.
All except one.
“So, who are you?”
The young man’s face had lost all trace of amusement, his eyes gleaming with cold intensity.
“You’ve crossed a line you should never have crossed.”
“Looks like your lifeline crossed that boundary too. So who are you?”
“Ha, I’ve seen it all now.”
The young man let out a hollow laugh before crying out in an imperious voice.
“I am Lord Ju Won, bearing the blood of dragons through my eight-fold kinship with the great Emperor! If you know your crime, kneel this very moment!”
“Okay, Celestial Dragon. Get down.”
“…!”

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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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