Murim Login - Chapter 454

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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 454
Ju Won-gong, who had been frozen with his eyes wide open, asked in a trembling voice.
“What, what did you say?”
This fool must have had his ears plugged since earlier. He keeps making me repeat myself.
Ignoring the stares of the onlookers who stood with their mouths agape, alternating their gaze between me and Ju Won-gong, I opened my mouth again.
“Get down.”
“I, I am Ju Won-gong!”
“Whether you’re the protagonist or Ju Won-gong. Get down.”
“You too are ultimately a subject of the great nation, yet how dare you show such disrespect to one who carries the blood of the Emperor!”
“I have a friend named Johnson. If he were here, I would’ve committed a different offense.”
“…!”
“I’m telling you one last time. Get down.”
Regardless of what I said, any human being instinctively senses danger.
Ju Won-gong, whose buttocks had flinched reflexively, slowly rose to his feet.
Yet even as his eyes darted about nervously, unfamiliar with such a situation, he didn’t forget to make threats until the very end, trusting in his status as imperial royalty.
“Do you think you’ll escape unscathed like this!”
“Well, I think I will.”
“To insult the imperial family—this is treason!”
“As long as it’s not hair loss.”
“What kind of man is this…!”
I responded casually, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.
One who carries the surname Ju, same as the Son of Heaven, and flows with the blood of dragons. That alone makes the imperial family noble.
Even though the Murim and the government maintain a relationship of mutual non-interference, disrespect and threats toward the imperial family are treated as grave crimes.
It’s no wonder the Retainer of Zhuge Family has been whimpering like a puppy desperate for a bathroom break since earlier.
“P, perhaps it would be best to stop now, sir.”
I frowned at the retainer’s whisper.
“Why?”
“Yes, yes?”
“What did I do? I didn’t curse, and I didn’t threaten to kill him either. In fact, he attacked first. I only told him to get down from the carriage.”
“…Well, that’s true when you put it that way. But he is imperial royalty.”
“Imperial royalty or not, if he’s an eighth cousin, that’s not the same bloodline—it’s just a few drops of blood spilled, isn’t it? If I just spit into the Yangtze River right now, I’d probably be an eighth cousin to the Yangtze River too.”
“Gasp. Jin, please.”
“It’s fine. No one heard anyway since I said it quietly.”
Then, mistaking my whispered conversation with the retainer for something else, Ju Won-gong shouted with renewed confidence.
“So you’ve finally grasped the situation. But it’s already too late. Soon, one hundred thousand imperial troops will mobilize and exterminate the nine clans of you traitors!”
“Oh, Buster Call.”
“What have you been saying this whole time, you treacherous dog!”
“Gasp!”
“Eeeek!”
As undisguised fury flashed in Ju Won-gong’s eyes, the commoners gasped and prostrated themselves on the ground. Already, people were fleeing in all directions.
It seemed he was trying to avoid getting entangled in unnecessary trouble, which meant fewer eyes watching me—something I had no reason to complain about.
‘Anyway, these bastards keep throwing around Nine Tribulations like it’s nothing.’
Do they not even acknowledge anyone below Nine Tribulations?
As I let out a deep sigh, the Retainer of Zhuge Family whispered to me.
“Please don’t be too frightened. The talk of a hundred thousand troops is merely bluster.”
“…Am I supposed to believe that?”
“After all, Young Master Ju came here in exile after embezzling wealth under the guise of imperial authority, so he has no intention of escalating matters. Why not offer a proper apology and withdraw?”
“Wait. Exile?”
“Yes.”
“Him?”
“He is of imperial blood. No matter how distant a branch, bloodline cannot be ignored. Moreover, since he stands far from the line of succession, the court allows him to enjoy certain comforts even when he commits crimes.”
“In other words, he’s such a worthless fool that nobody bothers paying attention to him?”
“…Jin, please choose your words more carefully.”
I let the retainer’s complaint go in one ear and out the other, letting out a soft chuckle.
Here I’d been wondering why an imperial clansman wasn’t at the Imperial Palace but instead fraternizing with ruffians on the main road of Hubei Province—turns out he was far more insignificant than I’d imagined.
Though I suppose I’d suspected as much from the moment he mentioned being a distant relative.
“First, I shall gouge out those arrogant eyes of yours for failing to recognize this noble personage, and then perform the Five Horses Execution…!”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. How about we look at this first and discuss it afterward?”
I threw an object I’d pulled from my robes at Ju Won-gong, who was launching into his grand tirade.
At the same moment, the man who had been puffing out his chest collapsed, flailing his arms.
“An assassin’s blade! An assassin’s blade! This man is attempting to murder imperial royalty!”
“…Quite the performance, really.”
And in the next instant.
The ‘assassin’s blade’ that fell before Ju Won-gong’s feet scattered brilliant light before everyone’s eyes.
“Huh?”
Ju Won-gong stared at the object before his feet with confused eyes, his mouth falling open blankly.
“Huh? Wha—what, what, what?!”
It didn’t take long for his question marks to transform into exclamation points, for his anger to shift into shock.
Ju Won-gong alternated his gaze between the token of Sangshan King Ju Pyo—engraved with clouds and dragons—and me, then spoke heavily.
“I shall extend my mercy and forgive you.”
“…”
What nonsense.
* * *
“So you were heading to Dongting Lake?”
“That’s right! Or rather, yes!”
At my gentle tone, Ju Won-gong nodded vigorously.
The flower-like beauties from Qing Xia Bang that he’d hired were keeping people quiet alongside the government soldiers who arrived late, and Chung Poong, who had somehow succeeded in purchasing a massive quantity of dumplings, widened his eyes at the mention of Dongting Lake.
“Wow, Dongting Lake!”
Now that Ju Won-gong had finally learned the identity of this dumpling fiend, he glanced nervously at the sword hanging from Chung Poong’s waist.
“If… if you wish, I could extend an invitation…”
I muttered under my breath.
“You don’t sound very convincing.”
“It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding, I assure you.”
“So you’re the type who frequently misunderstands things? Judging by how you attack people just trying to pass by quietly, it certainly seems that way.”
“That… I must apologize once more. I had no idea you possessed the credentials of Sangshan King Ju Pyo.”
“Ah, so without those credentials, you would have brought a hundred thousand troops, exterminated my entire clan, gouged out my eyes, and dismembered my body?”
“N-no, such a thing. Heh, hehehehe.”
His forced laughter was almost pitiful to witness.
‘I didn’t realize the credentials would be this effective either.’
There was good reason for Ju Won-gong to be so deferential.
Even animals distinguish between purebred and mixed blood—how much more so would the imperial family, the noblest bloodline under heaven, care about such things?
Though both carried imperial blood, Sangshan King Ju Pyo was the Emperor’s only full brother and the sole vassal king directly appointed by him.
After the Previous Emperor’s death, during the succession struggle, the current Emperor had ruthlessly eliminated countless rivals—and Sangshan King Ju Pyo was his most cherished weakness.
Ju Won-gong, by contrast, was a distant collateral branch of the imperial family, eight degrees removed.
The legitimacy and authority possessed by direct imperial heirs, the distance measured by kinship—to Ju Won-gong, Sangshan King Ju Pyo stood impossibly high above him as an elder of the house.
‘This is what they call using barbarians to control barbarians.’
Defeating savages with savages, subduing weak celestial beings with strong ones.
That my most devoted fan club president would go this far—truly, the more I think about it, the more my chest swells with pride.
“Well, setting that aside for now. What exactly are you planning to do at Dongting Lake?”
“Th-that is… the weather is so pleasant, I thought a boat excursion might be…”
Ju Won-gong hastily corrected himself at the sight of my incredulous expression.
“A boat excursion, and also—the atmosphere in Hubei Province has been rather unsettled lately, so I thought to check on the people’s welfare.”
“…Shouldn’t you examine your own life first? Weren’t you exiled here after embezzling a fortune through the back channels?”
“Ahem, ahem!”
“And you’re gathering all these people for a boat excursion? In times like these?”
Everyone in Hubei Province with eyes and ears trembled with anxiety over the recent ominous rumors, yet this exiled imperial clansman planned a lavish boat party on Dongting Lake.
If the current situation had a face, it would deserve to have its skull smashed in.
‘These wealthy people are all the same.’
I shook my head and rose from my seat.
Since matters had concluded without incident, I intended to leave without further concern, but Ju Won-gong apparently saw things differently.
“Wait, just a moment. Where are you going?”
“I’m a busy man—too busy for boat excursions on Dongting Lake. Why do you ask?”
“If I’ve offended you, I’ll apologize again. In that spirit…”
As Ju Won-gong trailed off with a meaningful glance, the Qing Xia Bang warriors who had been waiting in preparation brought forward an ornate palanquin positioned among the procession.
The curtains hadn’t even been drawn back, yet a subtle fragrance already pierced my nostrils.
‘Surely not.’
There’s an old saying: surely not kills the man. This time was no exception.
“Show yourself.”
The moment Ju Won-gong’s words left his lips, the palanquin curtains slid open smoothly.
And in the next instant, as a woman descended carefully from the palanquin, an involuntary gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“…Sigh.”
People often say entertainers are beautiful or handsome.
But this woman before me possessed something that transcended such worldly standards.
‘Beautiful.’
Yes, perhaps that was the most fitting word.
The woman was beautiful to that degree—so much so that even I, who had already guessed Ju Won-gong’s intentions, couldn’t help but marvel.
Beautiful enough to make Gung Ki-bang hastily wash his face with saliva, to make Hyuk Moo-jin lose his composure, and to make Chung Poong—who had been holding meat dumplings and vegetable dumplings in both hands—drop them all in shock.
Through the gentle wave of astonishment, Ju Won-gong’s voice reached my ears.
“A courtesan I keep by my side. As you can see, her appearance is worthy of being called the most beautiful under heaven, and her skill in music is so refined that all who hear her play lose themselves in rapture.”
Well, even without music, she seems capable of stealing away a person’s very soul.
Ju Won-gong, noticing my undisguised admiration, chuckled and spoke to the woman.
“What are you doing? Come now, don’t you have a greeting to offer?”
Her crimson lips parted slowly.
“I am Hong Ran, a humble courtesan. I am delighted to make the acquaintance of such an esteemed guest.”
“…Oh.”
“…Wow.”
“…My.”
Before the shock of her appearance could fade, exclamations burst forth from all around. Her voice was pristine and clear, yet utterly captivating.
Hong Ran—the name of the red orchid suited her perfectly.
‘Of course, her real name is different, and she is no ordinary courtesan.’
Like most courtesans, including Wol-hwa, Hong Ran concealed her true identity.
And unlike Ju Won-gong, who knew nothing whatsoever of martial arts, she had cultivated martial skills, however modest.
– Haowen Sect?
At my silent transmission, her delicate shoulders trembled, and Hong Ran’s head tilted slightly in acknowledgment.
‘Haowen Sect, I suspected as much.’
The Haowen Sect was the faction with the second-largest number of disciples after the Beggar Clan.
Though Ju Won-gong beside me seemed unaware of this fact, Hong Ran, like other Haowen courtesans, had cultivated martial arts sufficient to protect herself.
“So, what say you, Jin? If you give me the chance, I shall treat you properly. Of course, Hong Ran will be seated beside you….”
His face practically screamed: ‘Surely you won’t refuse me now.’ I gazed at Hong Ran for a moment, then smiled and opened my mouth.
“That’s enough. Let’s each continue on our respective paths.”
“Then shall we all move to another table together, eh? W-wait, what did you just say?”
“Why so flustered? You clearly mentioned you had urgent business. Is my memory failing me?”
“Ah, no. But Hong Ran is here….”
I raised my hand to cut off Ju Won-gong’s words. I had already wasted time getting entangled in needless complications. If I were the type to be distracted by a beautiful woman, I would never have survived this long.
“Enjoy yourself for a while. It would be best if you went home and stayed quiet. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Just as I turned to go, Ju Won-gong thrust something toward me.
“Wait! At least take this.”
“…?”
“I heard that when the Sangshan King learned of my reputation, he had Jin sign something for him. Please, might you do the same for me….”
“…!”
It seems the fan cafe will soon reach Leaf Level 2.

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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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