Murim Login - Chapter 493

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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 493
Opportunity is not distributed equally to all people.
From that perspective, Xuangong Zhenren, who became a direct disciple of the Wudang Sect Master at merely ten years old, could be said to have received far more opportunities than others.
Truly, a path paved with gold.
Blessed with martial talent that ranked among the finest of his era and possessing an upright disposition, Xuangong Zhenren had always received unwavering support.
Conversely, this meant he had never once experienced want in his entire life.
And yet….
‘I want it.’
Xuangong Zhenren’s pupils trembled faintly. It was a material desire he had not felt in a very long time.
‘Never before have I experienced this.’
Gold and glory? Such things held no appeal for me.
Once I received a Taoist robe, I wore it until it fell to tatters, and I always sustained myself with simple, modest meals.
Elixirs and secret techniques were no different. Since reaching the pinnacle of my cultivation, I devoted myself to spiritual refinement.
Even when my Master offered me elixirs, I yielded them to the promising younger disciples, and the secret techniques I had already mastered from the Wudang Sect’s absolute arts were more than sufficient.
But this… this was different.
“Sigh, Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha.”
Xuangong Zhenren recited the dharma while roughly stroking his beard.
Yet despite his efforts to maintain composure, my gaze kept drifting toward the corpse of the great serpent.
‘I’ve heard it’s that incredibly hard.’
Between the fractured scales and the gaping wound, a massive bone gleamed with a subtle luminescence.
Being a five-hundred-year-old great serpent, that bone possessed a luster unlike any other, and I had heard it boasted a hardness that even formidable sword energy could not cut through.
‘If a sword were forged from that bone, it would be extraordinary… No, no. What am I thinking? Xuangong, compose yourself!’
Xuangong Zhenren squeezed my eyes shut. The memory of witnessing Je-gal Poong torn to shreds by the two brothers of the Taewon Jin Family made it all the more difficult.
At least Je-gal Poong had been present during the battle, but I had been hundreds of leagues away at the Dongjeong Channel headquarters.
I had neither justification to make demands nor the shame to overcome in order to ask for a favor.
‘Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha. To be a Taoist and yet have my mind stolen by such wicked desire. Come to your senses, Xuangong.’
It was precisely at that moment when Xuangong Zhenren was silently suffering alone.
“Zhenren. Are you occupied?”
“Hmm?”
Xuangong Zhenren’s eyes flew open. A familiar young man was regarding me with a subtle gaze.
‘Jin Tae-kyung.’
The young man was one of the principal figures stirring up the Martial World alongside Chung Poong, the Huashan Divine Dragon and disciple of the Sword Saint.
Among gossiping enthusiasts, the saying had already spread that beneath the Ten Kings stood the Two Dragons.
‘A remarkable young man. Almost unbelievably so.’
But what mattered to Xuangong Zhenren now was not an assessment of Jin Tae-kyung.
‘Could it be?’
A faint hope and excitement stirred within me as the old Taoist regarded Jin Tae-kyung with a quickening heart.
“What brings you here, Jin Dou?”
Jin Tae-kyung answered with a gentle smile.
“If you’re not busy, I wondered if I might impose upon you for a conversation.”
“If you wish to discuss something, what is your business?”
“Well, we need to dispose of the corpse, but there’s far more of it than I anticipated.”
“And… so?”
“Surely, when Xuangong Zhenren himself has come all this way, he must leave with something of value, no?”
“Hm!”
Xuangong Zhenren’s eyes gleamed with sudden interest. Seeing his reaction, Jin Tae-kyung smiled faintly and continued.
“The Taewon Jin Family has always held the Wudang Sect’s Taoists in the highest regard. As fellow members of the Martial World, we would be delighted to share a portion of this harvest with you.”
“Is… is that truly so?”
“Of course. I stake my oath upon Hyuk Moo-jin’s honor. And my Elder Brother wholeheartedly approves of this arrangement.”
“Heavens above, Amitabha Buddha!”
Having scratched the itch he was too ashamed to voice himself, Xuangong Zhenren was overjoyed, scarcely knowing what to do with himself.
Whether I understood who Hyuk Moo-jin was or why Jin Tae-kyung swore by his honor mattered little—what mattered was that he would share the spoils.
‘Such benevolence!’
A far cry from those silver-tongued hypocrites who spoke only honeyed words.
A beacon of light cast upon this cold Martial World, teeming with shameless wretches.
At this moment, Xuangong Zhenren could almost see a halo radiating from above Jin Tae-kyung’s head.
“I am truly grateful! May the Primordial Celestial Worthy bless Jin and the Taewon Jin Family! Amitabha Buddha!”
“Amen.”
Something seemed odd about that, but it mattered not to Xuangong Zhenren.
And as he stood there beaming with satisfaction, Jin Tae-kyung’s gentle voice resumed.
“However, there is one small matter that troubles me.”
“Mm? A small matter, you say?”
“The corpse is so enormous that I alone cannot manage its disposal. And I cannot simply move it in one piece.”
“Indeed. Quite so.”
From head to tail, the beast stretched some hundred paces in length.
Not only was it questionable whether such a thing could be moved whole, but deploying sufficient manpower would make maintaining secrecy utterly impossible.
“Therefore, I must ask a small favor of you, Zhenren.”
In that instant, suspicion flickered across Xuangong Zhenren’s eyes.
“Wait. Jin. This favor you speak of… surely not…?”
“Yes. I will need you to lend your strength. At this rate, it will take days.”
So that was it! The reason for his generosity!
Xuangong Zhenren glared at Jin Tae-kyung with the expression of one betrayed.
“So you’re asking me to use the Wudang Sect’s sword techniques to dismember this water demon’s corpse?”
“Think of it simply as labor.”
“Labor? Simply labor! I did not cultivate my martial arts for such work!”
To reach the pinnacle of mastery meant dedicating nearly one’s entire life—indeed, one’s entire existence—to the martial way.
Xuangong Zhenren was no exception. How many years had he spent with a single blade as his companion and confidant?
For one who had honed his craft through wall-facing meditation in pitch darkness, Jin Tae-kyung’s request was nothing short of an insult.
‘How presumptuous.’
Xuangong Zhenren’s face hardened, and he opened his mouth to speak.
“Amitabha Buddha. Jin Tae-kyung, you have now dishonored not only this humble Taoist, but the very sword techniques of the great Wudang Sect.”
“Dishonored? Surely not, Reverend. I merely asked for a helping hand, nothing more.”
“But this humble Taoist’s sword cannot be used for such trivial matters….”
Just as Xuangong Zhenren’s voice began to rise, Jin Tae-kyung suddenly interjected with a casual remark.
“Now that I look at it, your sword is quite worn, isn’t it?”
“What did you say?”
“It seems about time for a replacement. What do you think?”
“…!”
Xuangong Zhenren’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
Without realizing it, his gaze fell upon the worn Songwen blade hanging at his waist, and a single thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
‘It is indeed worn… No, what am I thinking!’
This was the sword he had carried with him since he was ten years old. It was also a precious gift from his late master.
Xuangong Zhenren hastily shook his head to regain his composure, his eyes widening.
“It is not worn!”
“It is worn. Look for yourself. Just the hilt alone is completely frayed.”
“That may seem so… but no! You’re mistaken!”
“Well, setting that aside, the scabbard is full of cracks. Has there been a drought?”
“Ah, when did this happen….”
“Oh, the condition is quite serious. Would you draw the blade and show me?”
“Why would this humble Taoist do such a thing!”
Shing!
After his outburst, Xuangong Zhenren was horrified to realize that he had already drawn his sword.
‘When on earth did I…!’
But regardless, the devil’s whispers continued unabated.
“The blade itself is also in rather poor condition.”
“This was a gift from my departed master!”
Jin Tae-kyung replied with an unruffled expression.
“My body was also given to me by my parents, but it deteriorated from use. If I could have replaced it, I would have done so long ago.”
“Come to think of it, this humble Taoist’s joints have been aching lately, and I’ve been longing for a complete renewal… what are you trying to say!”
“What am I trying to say? I’m simply showing you the cold reality. Oh, but the edge is still quite sharp?”
Regain your composure. You must regain your composure, Xuangong.
Xuangong Zhenren steadied his scattered thoughts through controlled breathing and answered with a voice full of pride.
“Of course. I honed this blade by mixing four taels of eternal cold iron into it—nothing less.”
“My goodness. Four taels of that precious eternal cold iron?”
“Now do you understand? Though this sword may appear worn to the eye, it is more than worthy of being called a treasure blade.”
“I see. Is that so?”
“Of course! I already possess such a fine sword that anyone would covet—why would I need another….”
Clang!
“Oh, my apologies. My hand slipped and I dropped the spear. Please, continue what you were saying.”
Jin Tae-kyung’s sheepish smile barely registered in Xuangong Zhenren’s awareness.
Xuangong Zhenren’s eyelids trembled as he gazed upon the spear radiating a subtle luminescence.
“J-Jin Tae-kyung. Surely that isn’t….”
“It’s nothing special. This is also made from ten-thousand-year cold iron, but compared to the sword you possess, it’s trivial.”
That didn’t look trivial at all.
Xuangong Zhenren swallowed hard and asked carefully.
“Could it be… how many taels?”
“Solid. Everything from the blade to the shaft.”
“This is madness. Infinite Buddha.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing. Never mind.”
This is temptation. This is the whisper of a demon.
Yet as if enchanted, Xuangong Zhenren’s gaze remained fixed on Jin Tae-kyung’s spear, White Flame.
“Light as a feather, and how incredibly sturdy it is. Even sharp beyond measure. But.”
Then came the gentle, seductive voice that burrowed into the old Taoist’s ears.
“I’ve been wanting a weapon forged from the bones of a water spirit.”
“Infinite Buddha. Not I.”
“Consider it carefully. A weapon infused with the essence of a divine water spirit that has lived for five hundred years—wouldn’t that be extraordinary?”
It would certainly be magnificent. I really do want it.
Xuangong Zhenren barely suppressed the words and shook his head frantically.
“Impossible! This humble monk could never abandon the sword bestowed by my master….”
“Who said anything about abandoning it? You could simply have both.”
“This damnable method! Oh, Original Celestial Worthy!”
“Yes?”
“Stop! Enough of this! Infinite Buddha!”
“If you help me, the Wudang Sect won’t go unrewarded. Surely I wouldn’t settle for just one sword?”
“This humble monk already possesses a sword forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron!”
“Yes. From a water spirit’s bones.”
“How could I take another sword when my master gave me this one!”
“Indeed. More is better.”
“This martial art was not cultivated for such purposes!”
As Xuangong Zhenren clung to his last shred of dignity with a sigh, Jin Tae-kyung called out toward somewhere.
“Hey, Cheong So-hyup! How’s it going?”
A bright face popped out from behind the massive corpse. It was Chung Poong, who had been promised a substantial share as payment for fighting alongside them.
“Yes, benefactor! I’m working on the waist section right now!”
“Is that so? That part should be especially thick—isn’t it difficult?”
“No, sir! I’m cutting through it well with the Infinite Primordial Sword!”
“Good. I’ll be there soon, so keep working.”
“Yes, benefactor!”
Jin Tae-kyung smiled warmly at his diligent worker, then turned back to Xuangong Zhenren and asked.
“Ah, my apologies, Zhenren. I was momentarily distracted.”
“….”
“By the way, what were we discussing? My memory’s been rather scattered lately.”
Xuangong Zhenren alternated his gaze between Chung Poong and Jin Tae-kyung, who were both absorbed in their work.
And half a double-hour later.
Scritch!
The Wudang Sect’s most celebrated blade technique, the Taiji Wisdom Sword, was methodically separating scales from bone.
“The Martial World has truly gone mad.”
It was Moon-kyung’s terse observation as he watched the entire scene unfold.

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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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