Murim Login - Chapter 494

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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 494
Scrape! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Scales split apart, and massive chunks of flesh are severed at precise intervals.
The enormous bone revealed between them was so cleanly exposed that one wondered if such perfection was even permissible.
Thud! Scrape!
Craftsmanship bordering on the miraculous.
Among those watching the wondrous spectacle with vacant gazes, whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
“Hyuk, I’m asking because I genuinely don’t know—was the Taewon Jin Family actually a family of fishermen?”
“Would it be acceptable to ask the Family Head directly about that?”
“Of course not, you madman. But that’s impossible without being born to it. Could he really be a fisherman….”
“Family Head! Just now, So-hyup said something!”
“Hey, hey!”
“Was there a fisherman among our ancestors? How is the youngest doing that?”
“…Family Head?”
“Had Je-gal Moo-hu witnessed this sight, he would have tumbled from his celestial carriage in astonishment. Would you not agree, Xuangong Zhenren?”
“Heavens, infinite compassion, Avalokiteshvara.”
“…Zhenren?”
While everyone questioned the roots of the Taewon Jin Family and, on the other hand, achieved a religious synthesis, one person alone harbored different thoughts.
‘Look at this fellow.’
Moon-kyung’s transparent eyes captured Jin Tae-kyung’s movements as if possessed—cutting, slicing with absolute precision.
‘Tremendous power. And not only that—swift and economical.’
From even the smallest movement, one could discern a person’s level of mastery.
By that measure, what Jin Tae-kyung was demonstrating was extraordinary.
‘A remarkable achievement. Unbelievable for one barely past his twentieth year.’
I already knew Jin Tae-kyung was someone who transcended common sense by far.
No—not just I, but every martial artist belonging to this turbulent Murim knew it as fact.
Even the promising successors of the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, receiving the finest support, struggled to break through the wall of perfection by their twenties, yet Jin Tae-kyung had ascended to the realm of transcendence, standing shoulder to shoulder with masters of previous and earlier generations.
Yet that was not the sole reason for my admiration.
‘As seasoned as No Gang-ho. Control of power that shouldn’t be visible at that age. Flawless.’
Thud! Scrape!
Every minute movement is efficient. One might expect him to be conscious of others’ gazes, to display the vanity typical of his peers, yet none of that exists.
Like a wanderer seeking only the fastest and most convenient path, he simply cuts, slices, and separates with quiet determination.
‘It was the same when facing the Water Dragon.’
An Assassin absorbs and analyzes every situation unfolding around them. For their profession is to assassinate the target and secure an escape route under any circumstance.
Moon-kyung was Sal-sung, called the greatest Assassin of all ages.
From Sichuan until now, I have observed Jin Tae-kyung—not with the eyes of a Divine Physician, but with the eyes of Kill Star.
‘Heaven’s Martial Body, Earth’s Physical Form… Was it true?’
Forty years since I departed from Murim. During an era in which mountains and rivers changed four times over, I lived as a physician.
I accumulated vast experience, diagnosing and treating thousands upon thousands of patients.
Yet even to me, Jin Tae-kyung’s physique and constitution defied easy explanation.
‘Similar to Chung Poong, yet subtly different.’
Moon-kyung’s gaze shifted toward Chung Poong before withdrawing.
The only person comparable to Jin Tae-kyung. No—in terms of understanding martial arts and their application, one could even say Chung Poong surpassed him.
Even Chung Poong possessed a physique so extraordinary that Moon-kyung had rarely witnessed its equal, yet it fell short of Jin Tae-kyung’s.
‘If Chung Poong was refined, Jin Tae-kyung was born this way.’
The shape and size of his muscles, the structure of his bones, the pathways of his meridians—everything was flawless.
A body blessed by heaven itself.
Moon-kyung’s eyes grew distant as he regarded Jin Tae-kyung.
‘If that beast were to fully master my secret martial arts…?’
A fleeting thought surfaced in his mind, but Moon-kyung quickly dismissed it.
‘Absurd.’
Martial arts were like an endless mountain range.
Most of the Murim below would believe Moon-kyung had reached the summit, yet he faced another mountain beyond it.
The world of martial arts existed in a realm so vast and boundless.
Even Moon-kyung had not glimpsed the end of the secret arts he had mastered, so no matter how heaven-blessed one’s body, achieving satisfactory progress in a short time was impossible.
‘Especially not now.’
War loomed at the very threshold.
With countless battles approaching, it was right to teach what was most necessary. Excess became poison, after all.
Fire King Red Sky River must have understood this truth, which is why he entrusted Jin Tae-kyung to Moon-kyung.
‘But… what in the world should I teach that beast?’
Moon-kyung felt a sense of helplessness he hadn’t experienced in ages as he observed the scene unfolding before him.
“Cheong So-hyup! Are you ready?”
“Yes, benefactor!”
“Use the Plum Blossom Sword Technique!”
“Ugh!”
“Master! Where are you, Master!”
“Ah, here I am!”
“Why aren’t you working! Don’t you see us laboring!”
“Well, I was just taking a brief rest….”
“Master, you are too individualistic! How can you lack such teamwork!”
“I, I apologize.”
“Show your apology through action. Tai Chi Wisdom Sword, commence!”
“Oh, merciful Buddha!”
Scrape! Scrape! Scrape!
Following Jin Tae-kyung’s commanding lead, which radiated tremendous force, the Water Dragon’s corpse was dismantled in an instant.
While others gasped in admiration, Moon-kyung’s heart only grew more frustrated.
‘What on earth should I teach that beast?’
At this rate, he’ll grow strong on his own anyway….
Moon-kyung, caught in his internal conflict, steeled his resolve.
No. Since it’s come to this, I must see it through to the end.
I wanted to see firsthand just how far that arrogant bastard Jin Tae-kyung would go.
‘First, I need to fix that hopelessly reckless mindset of his.’
Moon-kyung approached Hyuk Moo-jin, who was watching with a vacant expression, and struck up a conversation.
“Hyuk Warrior.”
“Damn, look at that. He cut it clean in one stroke. Oh, Moon-kyung. What’s up?”
“Young Master Jin must be quite exhausted. I thought perhaps I could bring him some water.”
“Huh. You really do think differently from others. I’ll deliver it right away.”
“Please don’t mention that it was from me. It brings me greater joy to see you receive the praise, Hyuk Warrior.”
“You really are…!”
Hyuk Moo-jin gazed at Moon-kyung with glistening eyes and accepted the waterskin.
Of course, within it lay not only cool water but also the Seven-Step Soul-Chasing Powder—a deadly toxin that kills before one can take seven steps.
* * *
“…What is this?”
Shortly after I finished my work, Hyuk Moo-jin approached with a leather waterskin and answered my question with a proud expression.
“Water. You seemed to be working hard, so I thought you could use some.”
“There’s no way you’d do something this thoughtful.”
“I really did fetch this water myself! Why don’t you trust me like that!”
Have I been too on edge lately? Seeing Hyuk Moo-jin so aggrieved, I felt a twinge of guilt for my suspicion.
Truthfully, after working for so long, my throat was parched.
“Mm. Is that so?”
“That’s it. If you’re going to be like this, don’t drink it! I’ll drink it myself!”
“Hey, hey. I understand, so just leave it. I’ll drink it gladly.”
“I said that’s it!”
“Just this much. I’m about to lose it.”
“…Yes.”
After sending Hyuk Moo-jin away, I carefully uncorked the leather waterskin and inhaled its scent. Hmm, it smells fine.
‘The smell seems normal, at least.’
Still, I don’t let my guard down. I tilt the waterskin with extreme caution.
A single drop of water slowly trickles out and lands on my tongue with a soft tap.
‘Just to be safe, let me start with just one drop….’
Beep.
–
[Potent Seven-Step Soul-Chasing Powder]
You have been poisoned!
–
[Potent Seven-Step Soul-Chasing Powder]
is a deadly toxin capable of killing dozens of oxen with a single drop!
– Severe internal injuries and organ damage are feared. Extremely, extremely urgent treatment is required!
“…You bastard, Hyuk Moo-jin.”
Damn it, this wasn’t the kind of single drop I had in mind.
‘Inventory open, summon!’
I frantically equipped the Thousand Poison Antidote Ring while drawing up the Blazing Yang Qi to expel the toxins.
The system notification that followed announced the detoxification was complete, but that wasn’t the end of it.
Beep.
– Swift action, but aftereffects of the extreme poison remain!
–
[Meridian Channels]
have sustained minor damage!
–
[Meridian Channels]
damage has caused some stats to decline!
–
[Strength]
has decreased by 5!
–
[Agility]
has decreased by 5!
– Status abnormality:
[Severe Abdominal Pain]
acquired!
– Status abnormalities will be fully restored upon complete recovery, but stat decreases cannot be reversed!
“Damn it.”
No, hell. Permanent stat loss? Seriously?
And it wasn’t just 1 or 2 points—a full 10 points combined from Strength and Agility simply evaporated.
’10 points is an entire level worth of gains!’
Damn it all. I could tell exactly whose handiwork this was.
As the stats I’d painstakingly raised through countless ordeals vanished in an instant, a scorching rage surged from the depths of my belly.
Gurgle, gurgle.
…Wait, was that rage or something else?
Of all the status abnormalities to catch, it had to be this wretched one.
Feeling my vision turn white from the abdominal pain, I hurried my steps.
“Hey there, Jin. Where are you off to?”
“Benefactor, where are you going?”
“Move aside, step back. The dismantling is finished anyway—I just need to organize everything. I’m going to take care of something real quick….”
“Benefactor, are you going to take a dump?”
Don’t say it so loud, you idiot. What if Moon-kyung hears?
I staggered forward with a ghastly, pallid expression. Only once I’d moved away from where people could see me did relief finally wash over me.
‘Phew, thank goodness.’
Never mind the utter humiliation of soiling myself standing up—if Moon-kyung had witnessed it, I’d never live it down.
Fortunately, I’d stayed out of sight among the crowd, so she should be elsewhere by now….
‘Wait. Somewhere else?’
The moment doubt bloomed in my mind, my foot touched the ground.
Then came a faint sound piercing my ears.
Thud, crack.
A chill raced down my spine in an instant.
I instinctively launched my body into the air.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Four piercing sounds carried on the wind.
Four throwing blades streaked from all directions, tearing through my collar and grazing my skin by mere inches.
Had I not evaded, they would have surely embedded themselves in my chest, back, and limbs.
‘This insane bastard…!’
Tap.
Landing with my body upright, I glared furiously at the cliff face some twenty paces away.
“Could you at least show some restraint? Please?”
Shimmer.
The cliff face wavered like heat haze.
A figure emerged, answering in a dry voice.
“I made myself clear. I decide the training methods.”
“You’ve reduced me to this state and you’re hiding over there? At least come at me directly…”
“I wasn’t hiding. I was observing.”
“Well, what does it matter now? You’ve been caught.”
“I revealed only as much as you were capable of noticing. If you couldn’t detect even this, you should bite down on a blade and die.”
“You…”
“You?”
Moon-kyung. No—Sal-sung. Meeting those deeply sunken eyes, chills and searing rage erupted within me.
Growwwwl. Splurt.
“…”
“…”
That wasn’t rage. It was my stomach.

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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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