Murim Login - Chapter 498

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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 498
The moment I awoke from that prolonged slumber and regained my senses, a thought flickered across my mind.
‘Could I still not be detoxified?’
My entire field of vision was shrouded in darkness.
But the anxiety dissipated quickly. Upon confirming the moon casting its faint light across the ink-black sky, I muttered hoarsely.
“Damn it, couldn’t you have woken me before leaving?”
I’d thought it was blindness from the Realmsight Poison, but it was simply nightfall.
It appeared a considerable amount of time had passed while I’d been unconscious. Lying sprawled out and staring blankly at the heavens, I gradually pushed myself upright.
‘What on earth happened?’
Since I’d moved unconsciously and had collapsed while intoxicated by the Realmsight Poison, I hadn’t witnessed the situation unfold. I touched various dirt-covered parts of my body.
‘Judging by the absence of injuries, it seems I definitely managed to defend myself.’
I could infer the result, but the process remained elusive. How had I moved? No matter how hard I tried to recall the sensations from that moment, everything appeared hazy and indistinct.
Instead, one fact became clear.
Ding.
– Mission:
Earn the recognition of [Moon-kyung]
(Completed)
– Sudden Quest, [Counterfeit Martial Artist]
has been successfully completed!
– Quest completion rewards are being distributed!
– Substantial experience gained!
– 10 points acquired!
– Remarkable Achievement unlocked:
[Deadly Poison Sommelier]
achieved!
– You have tasted and detoxified over a dozen specially crafted deadly poisons. We salute your robust constitution and detoxification prowess!
– [Poison Resistance]
increases significantly!
– Astonishing Achievement unlocked:
[Wow, You Actually Pulled It Off]
achieved!
– At the crossroads of life and death, you grasped a thread of new enlightenment!
– [Energy Perception]
becomes considerably sharper. Advance to greater heights through cultivation!
– Linked Quest,
[Counterfeit Martial Artist – Stage 2]
has been generated!
Connected Quest,
[Fake Martial World Member – Level 2]
has been created!
– The mission of the Linked Quest will be
[Moon-kyung’s]
future decisions!
– Ugh!
“….”
Making such a sound and collapsing like that. For someone who nearly crossed the Jordan River instead of Dongting Lake, it was enough to make my teeth chatter.
‘A Linked Quest, huh.’
Even though I’d anticipated it to some degree, I couldn’t help but worry. In Stage 1, I was told to dodge Kill Star’s sword strike with my eyes closed, so what kind of ridiculous task would Stage 2throw at me? At least the reward was generous enough to provide some consolation.
‘Still, I suppose all this physical suffering has been worth something.’
Though I hadn’t leveled up, I’d gained a substantial amount of experience points and recovered the points I’d lost to my addiction on Chilbo Chuhon Mountain.
And….
‘Who the hell came up with these Achievement titles.’
[Toxic Sommelier] and [Wow, You Actually Did It].
These two Achievements I’d obtained this time were quite respectable harvests, regardless of their rather unpleasant titles.
The poison resistance I gained from the former was needless to say a thank you, and the latter, though it might seem a bit ambiguous right now, was a great gift.
‘A clue to enlightenment.’
For someone who’d been feeling a wall lately, this was more welcome news than anything else. Of course, if I—someone who’d grown at lightning speed consuming the supreme martial arts of the Yeolhwa Sect and quarterly spiritual elixirs—said something like this, I’d be branded a public enemy of the Murim.
‘But a wall is still a wall.’
If you asked most second and third-rate martial artists what they needed, nine out of ten would say martial arts manuals and spiritual elixirs. But the answers from masters who’d reached the peak or beyond were different.
‘Enlightenment.’
Ten years, twenty years. Or even longer—enlightenment was something that rarely came easily no matter how long you waited. No matter how superior the martial arts you learned or how many spiritual elixirs you consumed, there was a limit to the heights you could reach.
If consuming spiritual elixirs made you a supreme master and half-immortal cultivation made you a deity, who would bother sweating through training? Because of this clear limitation, people couldn’t break through the wall, so they just clung desperately to cultivation.
According to what I’d heard from Gung Ki-bang before, there were quite a few martial artists in the Murim who consumed opium in hopes of expanding their mental realm and attaining enlightenment.
When I asked why they’d do such a thing, the answer that came back was simple.
‘Those bastards know too. That they’ll become addicted to opium if they continue like this.’
‘Then why do they do it?’
‘Because they’re martial artists.’
A brief answer that explained everything.
Martial artists were that kind of creature. They’d do anything if it meant becoming stronger—beings intoxicated by martial arts rather than the drug of opium, addicted to power. And I wasn’t so different from them.
‘Stronger. I want to become stronger.’
Even now, possessing far more than I could have imagined in the past, it remained the same. But if there was one decisive difference between me and other martial artists, it was that I sought to become stronger not to gain something, but to protect what I had.
‘If I’d been satisfied with the present, I wouldn’t have accepted Moon-kyung’s training.’
In that sense, obtaining a clue to enlightenment was an enormous achievement.
If there was one trivial problem….
‘Doctor, I don’t remember anything.’
I didn’t even know exactly what I’d done. How ridiculous.
No, really, how did I do it? It seemed like I’d barely dodged it, but I have no memory of what came after.
‘Perhaps I’ll understand if I continue training.’
I’d tried to recall the sensation from that moment, but for now it felt as hollow as wandering through fog. I let out a deep sigh, rose from my seat, and was brushing the dirt from my clothes when it happened.
Whoosh, boom!
Far in the distance, a brilliant blue flame erupted across the darkened sky.
‘A signal flare?’
Curious about what was happening, I quickly left the Training Grounds and encountered the martial artists standing guard.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, Jin. You’ve finally emerged.”
Gae Bang-do, clearly belonging to Hubei Fenta based on his tattered clothing and the two knots hanging from his waist, shrugged and continued speaking.
“The blue color indicates a visitor. We were informed beforehand, but they’re later than expected.”
“A visitor?”
This wasn’t exactly a tourist attraction.
Given how secretive this place was treated, I couldn’t immediately think of anyone who would come here. At most, it would be the three sects gathered here and the government officials. If it were about recruiting personnel, they wouldn’t use the word “visitor.”
“Where are they from? The Jeongal Family? Or the Wudang Sect? Ah, has the sect leader finally arrived?”
“Pardon?”
Gae Bang-do and the other martial artists looked at me as if I were the strangest person they’d ever seen.
“Um, well. Haven’t you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“About the visitor who’s arriving now.”
“What do you mean… Are they people I know?”
Gae Bang-do nodded at my question and answered.
“Yes. It’s the Taewon Jin Family.”
“…What?”
From where?
* * *
Splash! Splash splash!
Measured footsteps struck the river water reflecting the moon in the sky, leaving new footprints across the sand.
As roughly fifty martial artists moved as one body, arranging themselves in formation on both sides, a single figure walking slowly between them spotted me and came to a halt.
“It’s been a long time.”
Those sharp eyes remained unchanged, and his scars had only multiplied. I smiled faintly at the familiar face I was meeting for the first time in a year.
“Your face has become even more fierce. At this rate, you should be called Ghost Face rather than Ghost Sword.”
“There are more than a few people who need dealing with. As the Main Residence’s influence has expanded, all sorts of troublemakers have been crawling out.”
“Just tell me who they are. I’ll take care of them.”
“That won’t be necessary. They’ve already fled to places beyond reach. And…”
Laughter gleamed in his narrowed eyes, and his following words carried both sentiment and joy.
“There’s no need for a Divine Dragon to concern himself with slaughtering mere cattle and pigs.”
Wi Paeng, the Ghost Sword. The right arm of Jin Wi-kyung and once my instructor in harsh lessons, bowed deeply toward me.
“Wi Paeng, Commander of the Dae Tae Won Jin Jinryong Squad. I pay my respects to Sam-gong-ja.”
“We pay our respects to Sam-gong-ja!”
A tremendous shout shattered the silence of the deep night, echoing outward. From the martial artists arrayed like iron towers on both sides, a powerful aura radiated. Each one bore the two characters “Jinryong” embroidered in silk thread on their chests.
‘Wow, when did the Taewon Jin Family grow this much?’
It seemed like just yesterday I was muttering complaints about the insufficient number of first-rate masters during the war with the Hengshan Sword Sect, yet just looking at the Jinryong Squad members gathered here now, they were all at least first-rate masters.
‘Just watching them gives me a rush. What a rush.’
Watching the Taewon Jin Family, which had been slowly declining due to the patriarch’s prolonged absence, severe personnel shortages, and issues like Sam-gong-ja preferring Giru to the main residence, suddenly flourish filled my heart with pride.
‘So this is the satisfaction of raising a clan.’
Just as I was contentedly observing Wi Paeng and the Jinryong Squad, a voice that could split eardrums erupted from behind Wi Paeng.
“Hey there, you startled me. Why are you all making such a racket in the middle of the night? If an old man with a weak heart like me gets scared and drops dead, what then?”
That seemed unlikely, though.
As I studied him carefully—his physique far too robust to believe he was truly elderly—I finally managed to dredge up the memory.
“Jang Tae-bo?”
The former Iron Technique House master’s expression twisted.
“Watch your mouth, you brat. Am I your friend?”
Though I’d built an extraordinary reputation in just a year, it meant nothing to Jang Tae-bo, that stubborn old craftsman.
Perhaps because of that, I felt all the more affection and joy seeing him. After all, thanks to the White Flame he’d forged with every ounce of his strength, I’d saved my life countless times.
“What brings you here, sir?”
The answer to my question came not from Jang Tae-bo’s lips, but from elsewhere.
“I invited him specially.”
Upon hearing news of the Taewon Jin Family’s arrival, people had rushed over and now parted left and right with murmurs. As a single figure crossed through the crowd, an even louder cry erupted.
“Jinryong Squad Master Wi Paeng of the Great Taewon Jin Family pays respects to the lord.”
“Loyalty!”
“Enough.”
At any other time, I would have seized Wi Paeng’s hand and danced a waltz, but countless eyes were watching. Jin Wi-kyung waved his hand with a solemn and dignified expression, his deep baritone continuing.
“Jinryong Squad Master. And Old Master Jang. You’ve had a difficult journey.”
“Not at all, my lord.”
“Don’t concern yourself with this old man, Young Master.”
Wi Paeng was needless to say a trusted confidant, and even Jang Tae-bo, who called everyone else “this guy” or “that guy,” showed proper courtesy to Jin Wi-kyung. I’d heard he’d already retired long ago—had he perhaps taken a subcontract with the Taewon Jin Family in the meantime?
Setting aside my questions, Jin Wi-kyung spoke again.
“The journey must have been arduous. Let us all move to more comfortable quarters.”
It wasn’t difficult to discern that I was included in that “all.” And it was equally clear that the one rushing over here was not.
“Jinryong Squad Vice-Master Hyuk Moo-jin! I’ve just completed my patrol and returned!”
“….”
Patrol, my ass.
If you’re going to lie, at least wipe the sleep from your eyes first, you bastard.

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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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