Murim Login - Chapter 508

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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 508
“Do you know who I am?”
“…!”
“…!”
In that instant, the air around us froze solid. I found myself doubting my own ears, while Moo-song’s pupils trembled violently.
With an expression as though he might lose control of his bladder, he squeezed out a hoarse, strangled voice.
“I, I know nothing of the sort, sir.”
“Is that so.”
Moon-kyung fixed Moo-song with a cold, withering stare.
“Then why do you address me with such formal speech, Moo-song Dae-hyup?”
“…!”
“Fearless, aren’t you? Daring to speak falsehoods before me.”
“Gasp!”
He’d been caught red-handed. But how had Moo-song seen through Moon-kyung’s true identity?
‘I’d been wondering why he kept flinching like a dog desperate to relieve itself.’
Judging by his behavior, he’d known Moon-kyung’s identity all along—yet by the martial cultivation level I’d assessed in Moo-song until now, such a thing bordered on impossible.
Moon-kyung had already reached the realm of Returning to Simplicity, and beyond that, Returning to Youth itself.
To perceive such a state required either a master of comparable enlightenment, or at minimum someone who had transcended the threshold of the Ultimate Realm to sense even the slightest dissonance.
‘Moo-song detected it?’
Impossible. I’d sooner believe that Hyuk Moo-jin had felled Chung Poong with a single punch and three kernels of corn.
As I was contemplating such absurdities, Jeok Cheon-gang opened his mouth with a flat tone.
“Enough of that. Since he was keeping his mouth shut, it seems he was trying to let it slide. An old man intimidating a youngster—it’s not a pleasant sight.”
“An old man? Intimidation?”
Moon-kyung let out a scoff.
“Until yesterday, you were whining about your final days, and now that you’ve regained a bit of youth, your mouth runs wild? Third parties should stay out of this.”
“…What did you say?”
Deep furrows carved themselves across the forehead that had been smooth and wrinkle-free from Returning to Youth.
I hurriedly wedged myself between Jeok Cheon-gang and Moon-kyung to intervene.
“Wait, both of you, please calm down. Calm down.”
“You stay out of this.”
“Get out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I slipped away nimbly, leaving Moo-song sandwiched between these two monsters like lettuce between bread, his eyes pleading for salvation.
It was the look of someone begging for mercy, but when whales fight, the shrimp’s back gets broken.
‘I need to save myself first. Besides, it doesn’t look like these two are about to fight to the death right now.’
And my judgment proved accurate. Jeok Cheon-gang and Moon-kyung, who had been glaring at each other, simultaneously lowered their killing intent as though by prior agreement.
“Hmph. Still, since he helped, I’ll let it slide.”
“An ungrateful old man, that’s what you are.”
Like petulant elderly men in a nursing home trading barbs, both their gazes immediately fixed upon Moo-song, who stood rigid as a stone statue.
“Now that I think about it, you’re quite the mysterious one. How did you come to know?”
To be honest, I’m just as curious about that.
I was staring at Moo-song’s lips, waiting for his answer, when the response flowed instead from between Moon-kyung’s lips.
“Those men. The subordinates who were with us when we pursued the water demon, or rather, the Water Thieves of the Water Dragon Sect. Am I correct?”
Moo-song swallowed hard.
“Y-yes, sir. This young physician named Moon-kyung possesses formidable martial prowess, and it seems his rank is high enough that even the Jeongal Family Head can barely handle him….”
Had something like that happened without my knowledge?
Well, thinking about it, it made sense. There was no way he could have found me by leaping across that vast Dongting Lake using lightness of foot alone.
‘In any case, his identity is being exposed like this.’
Moon-kyung, who had concealed his true identity for decades.
Even after the Sichuan Blood Slaughter, only a handful knew his true identity—excluding his disciple the Divine Physician, there was myself, Jeok Cheon-gang, and perhaps one or two others.
Though they hadn’t yet deduced that he was the Kill Star, the growing number of people aware of the secret was far from pleasant for Moon-kyung.
Of course, Jeok Cheon-gang couldn’t care less and looked ready to tear into some popcorn right then.
“Foolish old man. You should have used a body swap technique, hehehehe.”
“There was no time for that. Every moment was precious rushing to save your disciple.”
“…Ahem. I’m grateful for that part.”
When Jeok Cheon-gang’s laughter abruptly ceased, Moon-kyung clicked his tongue softly and fixed his gaze on Moo-song.
“I clearly warned you through sound transmission, yet it seems you have rather loyal subordinates.”
“Gasp!”
At Moon-kyung’s chilling voice, Moo-song’s eyes widened.
And in the next instant, if not for the energy barrier wrapping around us, a cry so loud would have made everyone turn around.
“No, that cannot be!”
“What cannot be?”
“My subordinates are innocent! Please, take my head instead!”
“…Why would I kill you?”
At that moment, not just Moo-song but myself and Jeok Cheon-gang simultaneously widened our eyes.
“Pardon? You won’t?”
“You’re not going to kill us?”
“Has that old man gone mad, or wait—can No-hwan’s condition be contagious?”
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been briefly pondering the contagious nature of No-hwan’s condition, exclaimed with a triumphant expression.
“Ah, I’ve got it! Instead of killing, the old man plans to cripple your dantian or sever one of your limbs!”
“…!”
Moon-kyung, whose eyes trembled as he looked at us, muttered in a voice tinged with regret.
“The urge to kill stirs within me.”
Moo-song opened his mouth, his expression a mixture of fear and resolve.
“My subordinates bear no guilt. Please, let me alone suffice….”
“For heaven’s sake, shut your mouth before I tear it off.”
“Yes, sir.”
Moon-kyung sighed, looking down at Moo-song with an exasperated expression.
“Six in total, including you. Is that correct?”
“Y-yes, sir. Elder Moon-kyung. They have all walked this long path with me, and their lips are sealed.”
“I’ve never had a junior like you, and I’m no longer part of the Murim. But if you keep your mouth shut, I can erase all traces of you without leaving a mark.”
“…!”
“If you wish to live out your remaining years in peace and die naturally, you’d do well to seal that mouth forever. Don’t breathe a word of this to the Sea King or anyone else. Do you understand?”
Moo-song pressed his lips together and gave a small nod, whereupon Moon-kyung gestured toward the door with his chin.
“Go. And tell your subordinates not to show their faces near the stern of the ship until we reach Hanan.”
“Yes?”
“What. Do you have more questions?”
“No, no. If there’s anything you need, please call for me anytime.”
Moo-song bowed deeply and scurried away. Now only three of us remained—myself, Jeok Cheon-gang, and Moon-kyung.
Jeok Cheon-gang, his face full of regret, smacked his lips and jabbed me in the ribs.
“That fool should spread the word everywhere. Wouldn’t that be more fun? Don’t you think so?”
“I… *cough*.”
I hastily buried my agreement beneath a cough.
Moon-kyung was glaring at me with an expression of absolute displeasure. He looked ready to grab the nearest convenient target and beat them senseless for how unfunny he found what he’d just heard.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Neither did I, yet you seem to have a guilty conscience?”
“That’s not it. I was just speaking preemptively.”
“Then perhaps I should preemptively deal with you as well.”
“I’m telling you, that’s not what I meant.”
“I heard ‘In.’ What comes next?”
In moments like this, panic is the enemy. I opened my mouth with deliberate calm.
“I meant that with human will, how could such a thing occur?”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
“But it is.”
“It isn’t.”
“It is. Why are you being so stubborn?”
Though he didn’t know what the word meant, he’d clearly sensed it carried an unfavorable connotation.
I deliberately ignored Moon-kyung’s chilling gaze and hastily changed the subject.
“But why did you tell them not to show their faces near the stern?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
Moon-kyung clicked his tongue at my sullen silence.
“To think I’ve been raising such a disciple all this time.”
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been standing with arms crossed watching the river, let out a quiet laugh.
“That’s precisely why you’ve been raising him all this time.”
“This fellow who knows nothing of propriety?”
“Is that so? I thought the old man had no flaws. It seems we think differently. Or perhaps someone is simply choosing to ignore such thoughts.”
Moon-kyung stared at Jeok Cheon-gang and me in turn before clicking his tongue.
“…Clear as a mountain stream, they said. Half-enlightened and fully awakened, yet only his mouth has come alive.”
I have no idea what this conversation is even about.
Just as I stood there bewildered, unable to follow the thread of dialogue, Jeok Cheon-gang pushed himself away from the wooden railing of the Fast Ship.
“I should head to the cabin. I’m sick of staring at this damned river.”
“Wow, that’s an excellent idea. Wait—is your surname not Jeok but Zhuge?”
Now that was welcome news to hear.
But the moment I tried to follow him, I was stopped in my tracks by Jeok Cheon-gang’s hand.
Thump.
“Huh?”
“Huh? What do you mean why? Why are you following me?”
“You said you were heading to the cabin?”
“So?”
“I was just about to head there myself.”
“What, you want two men crammed into a cramped cabin?”
“It’s a five-person cabin to begin with, so where exactly is your conscience….”
“I’m going to cultivate my qi and organize the insights I’ve recently gained. You don’t need to follow.”
“Ah, so you’re cultivating your qi. Then allow me to stand guard and protect you….”
“Not necessary. Stay here.”
“Pardon?”
When I asked again, Jeok Cheon-gang suddenly bellowed.
“Stay here, I said!”
“Geez! Why are you shouting like that?”
“Quiet. If you follow me, I’ll ring your bell for you, understand?”
“…?”
I watched Jeok Cheon-gang disappear, utterly dumbfounded, before a sharp gaze made me turn my head away.
And I met Moon-kyung’s stare—as dry as sand near a sphinx’s front paw.
‘Damn it, I should have just followed him.’
What did it matter if Jeok Cheon-gang rang bells or gongs?
Being left alone with a man who could slit my throat was far worse than diving into the vast Yangtze River itself….
“The river looks particularly clear today. Don’t you want to jump in?”
“Pardon?”
Wait, what kind of mind-reading technique is this? Could he actually be a real psychic?
A suspicion suddenly flashed through my mind. The very next moment, I instinctively searched for the golden-armored general wielding an iron mace and scanned my surroundings.
Whoosh—!
An iron mace swung through the air.
No—it was a secretive and swift torrent of palm force.
I hastily crossed my arms to block against the piercing sound of the technique cutting through the air, but the palm force unleashed by Sal-sung, that legendary master, was not something so easily defended against.
Boom!
Damn, this really is like getting hit by an iron mace.
I felt a dull ache in my chest as I was sent flying out of the Fast Ship.
Just before plunging into the water, I flipped my body and channeled the power from my lower dantian through my legs, stepping across the water’s surface.
Splash!
As if I had plunged my foot into a puddle, the once-calm water surface erupted into violent ripples.
Standing upright using the Treading on Duckweed technique, I fixed Moon-kyung with an incredulous stare.
“What are you suddenly trying to do?”
“The tranquil river waters are becoming turbulent.”
“What is this even… Huh?”
“Your rough movements threaten to stir up waves, it seems.”
I had no chance to respond. Moon-kyung, clicking his tongue softly as he regarded me, continued.
“Then… we should begin.”
Ding.
– Linked Quest,
[Counterfeit Martial Artist – Stage 2]
has commenced!

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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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