Murim Login - Chapter 520

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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 520
The Young Man gazed blankly out the window.
It was truly a beautiful spring day.
The sunlight was gentle, and a cool breeze drifted through the half-open window. Even the delicate fragrance of flowers in full bloom wafted through the air.
It was precisely what one might call the Myriad Peach Blossom Land of the mortal realm.
Everything would have been perfect, had it not been for a voice that suddenly emerged from behind him.
“A fine day indeed.”
The Young Man was not startled. He had long since sensed the approaching presence.
And it was not only this voice’s owner that he perceived.
Front, back, left, right. Above, below—everywhere.
The Young Man grasped and accepted everything occurring around him.
Not through any deliberate effort or will, but as naturally as breathing itself.
‘How vexing. I cannot even properly enjoy the spring scenery.’
The Young Man muttered inwardly and turned around. An elderly man with the confident bearing of a youth smiled warmly at him.
“I stopped by on a whim, concerned for your wellbeing… and here you are, shirking your duties.”
His voice carried the weight of years simply in its tone.
Though he spoke with the gentleness of a grandfather addressing a grandchild, the Young Man had learned through experience well enough.
Hidden within this old man lay a blade both secretive and razor-sharp.
“What thoughts occupy your mind?”
“I was merely grateful that you are not my enemy.”
The old man chuckled softly at the Young Man’s response.
“People might think me a fearsome person if they heard such words.”
One must not be deceived by that pleasant laugh.
No one could fathom the depths of cunning calculation concealed behind that smiling face.
During the upheaval of the Jeong Ma Great War, the head of the Shadow Pavilion of the Martial Alliance—who had seen through the state of all under heaven like lines upon a palm and eliminated countless Demon Masters—could be no ordinary man.
“Others would hardly agree with that sentiment, Cheon Myeon Ho-ri.”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri Song Ho.
The old fox of the Shadow Pavilion, said to possess a thousand faces, shrugged at the Young Man’s words.
“Of course, there may be those who fear this old man. But I suspect that does not apply to the person standing before me now.”
“Me?”
“Is it not so?”
The Young Man, who had been lost in thought, suddenly widened his eyes.
“Ah, you’re right.”
“Indeed?”
“Your words ring true. Upon reflection, I find myself not particularly afraid at all.”
Had these been martial artists who staked their pride on such words, blades would have already been drawn.
But the two people facing each other now did not belong to such ordinary categories.
That Cheon Myeon Ho-ri Song Ho’s feelings remained unruffled owed much to the identity of his counterpart.
“Remain vigilant of your surroundings, yet fear no one. That is what the Martial Alliance Lord must always be.”
The Young Man, Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak, replied with a wry expression.
“I would prefer if you refrained from calling me Alliance Leader, if possible.”
“You must accept it now.”
“I simply cannot grow accustomed to it.”
“But you will become the Alliance Leader soon.”
“Not yet.”
“They say it is better to receive the rod of discipline first.”
“I have always wondered why I must be the one to receive it.”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri’s answer was concise.
“Because the Mu-shin is no longer with us.”
The epithet Mu-shin once signified absolute perfection. Rather, it still does to this day.
All who had encountered him even once sang his praises, and even after the passage of countless years, that immense and brilliant reputation continued to illuminate the realm.
But….
“We could not find him.”
The Mu-shin had vanished. Whether he lived or died, why he had disappeared—no one knew.
In the days when the Martial Alliance still stood, Cheon Myeon Ho-ri had mobilized the entire intelligence network of the Shadow Pavilion to scour the realm, yet nowhere could he find a trace of the Mu-shin.
Like sunlight breaking through for a fleeting moment on a stormy day, like a meteor streaking across the night sky in an instant.
The Mu-shin had vanished thus. Leaving his epithet, which had become the heavens themselves, draped across the realm.
“Since That Person is not in his seat, Mae Jong-hak is the only suitable candidate for the position of Alliance Leader.”
“Surely there are other capable individuals besides me.”
“If you are referring to the other Three Stars and the Ten Kings, I shall pretend I did not hear that.”
“Why is that?”
“First, the whereabouts of the Bow Star remain unclear.”
“Is the Shadow Pavilion not continuing to search?”
“Will Dark Heaven wait for that? Should I send a carrier pigeon? ‘We are searching for the Bow Star, please wait a moment’?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, you have a point.”
“….”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri suppressed the urge to strike Mae Jong-hak on the head and opened his mouth.
“And as for his temperament, well, it is somewhat problematic, as you know.”
“I rather liked his directness.”
“If he directly ruins the Martial Alliance, others will not be pleased.”
“Hmm. I suppose so.”
“And as for the Sal-sung… there is no point in mentioning it.”
“That fellow might actually be suitable. His martial prowess aside, his commanding presence was formidable. He seemed to possess leadership.”
“People will certainly follow him. Those who do not are likely already dead.”
“Are you not viewing people too much as mere tools of death?”
“His epithet is Sal-sung to begin with—what do you expect from me?”
“That is true as well.”
I really should strike him once.
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri, who had been regarding Mae Jong-hak with such a look, let out a sigh.
“The other members of the Ten Kings are in similar circumstances. They have either already passed away or are unsuitable for the position of Alliance Leader for various other reasons.”
To be the leader of the Martial Alliance requires more than martial prowess alone.
One must possess the decisiveness to make crucial decisions, along with the virtue and magnanimity to lead others forward.
In that sense, Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak was the only suitable successor to Mu-shin.
“The Great Hero has earned the recognition of the leaders of the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance and the Five Great Families. With a righteous nature and impartial judgment, he shows no favoritism even to his own sect, Huashan, and listens attentively to others—surely he possesses the qualifications to lead the Alliance.”
With the emergence of the New Murim Alliance, the Shadow Pavilion was officially revived, and Cheon Myeon Ho-ri likewise regained his former standing, yet the position of Alliance Leader cannot be claimed through the support of a single man.
Only one who has earned the recognition of the masses—one who possesses not merely martial skill but the qualities of a true leader—can ascend to that seat.
‘Of course, there were some voices of opposition.’
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri, whose thoughts had drifted momentarily, suddenly furrowed his brow.
“Yet here you are, leisurely enjoying the spring air without a care.”
Mae Jong-hak answered with a regretful expression, glancing sideways toward the window.
“I was merely looking out the window for a moment because the weather is pleasant.”
“But there are so many pressing matters awaiting your attention….”
“Ah, that’s right. Take these with you. I’ve gathered them all in one place.”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri, who had been about to launch into a tirade, stopped short.
“What do you mean?”
“Those bamboo tablets brought in from the Shadow Pavilion earlier. To be precise, seventy-eight matters in total. I’ve handled them all.”
“…?”
Handled them all? Such a vast number of cases in such a short span of time?
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri, who had been silently regarding the mountain of bamboo tablets piled in one corner of the office, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Did you review the letter that arrived from Qinghai?”
“The one from Kunlun Sect? Of course I did. They mentioned being pressed for time while suppressing bandits and horse thieves. It would be ideal if they arrive on schedule, but a slight delay shouldn’t pose any real problem.”
“And the news from Sichuan?”
“It states that everyone is working in concert to accelerate the reconstruction of the Tang Sect. Ah, instruct the Inner Hall to prepare potent spiritual medicines. I heard the Tang Sect Master’s condition is grave—beyond large-scale aid, we should at least help in this way.”
“Then what of the letter that arrived from the Southern Beast Palace….”
“Such a thing? Among today’s matters, I saw nothing whatsoever related to the Southern Beast Palace.”
It could not have been otherwise. Just as Mae Jong-hak said, among the matters submitted today, there was nothing containing any content related to the Southern Beast Palace.
Only then did a subtle smile bloom at the corners of Cheon Myeon Ho-ri’s lips, his doubts finally dissipating.
“Hmm? Why do you smile so?”
“It is nothing. I merely find it pleasant to see you so diligent in your duties….”
“Do not smile so sinisterly. Others might take fright.”
“….”
“The wind is lovely today. Truly fine weather.”
Mae Jong-hak, having unsettled Cheon Myeon Ho-ri’s mood, suddenly gazed endlessly out the window and spoke.
“Would you not care to join me for a walk outside? A day like this may be our last.”
“I refuse.”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri answered curtly and continued.
“I shall send up more matters shortly, so do not idle about, Alliance Leader. Attend to your work.”
“Yet an honored guest is arriving, and it would be proper to go greet them.”
“Greet them, you say?”
Cheon Myeon Ho-ri, who had paused momentarily, limped toward the window on his wooden leg.
“Look over there.”
“…!”
Beyond the City Wall, some object slowly drew closer.
The distance made it hazy, but once I concentrated my inner energy, I could easily discern it was a carriage.
The problem was why a familiar face sat in the coachman’s seat of that four-horse carriage.
‘No, why is the Dark Assassin there?’
The Dark Assassin was among the elite operatives even within the Shadow Pavilion.
During the Seonglae Tournament, he had tracked Geom-seong Maejong-hak’s movements while the latter concealed his identity, and in the past Demon War, he had claimed countless Demon Masters’ heads.
“You recognize that face, do you not?”
“Yes, sir. I sent the Dark Assassin because there was trouble on the Main Road….”
The one I sent to capture him is bringing him here instead.
Geom-seong Maejong-hak’s voice reached Cheon Myeon Ho-ri’s ear as he swallowed his words.
“While you were briefly away, an urgent message arrived.”
“An urgent message, you say?”
“Indeed. News that some welcome faces were coming.”
Geom-seong Maejong-hak tapped Cheon Myeon Ho-ri’s shoulder and leaned out the window, muttering to himself.
“Come, let us go.”
* * *
“Welcome.”
The carriage that had entered the Martial Alliance Inner City came to a halt, and the voice that rang out the moment its occupants descended was quite familiar.
‘Geom-seong Maejong-hak.’
The man I once knew as Jong Ri-chu, the Ascending Sword, spotted me and smiled faintly.
“How have you been, friend?”
“….”
This persona of his certainly has staying power.
When I gave a slight bow, Geom-seong Maejong-hak clicked his tongue regretfully before turning his attention to Jeok Cheon-gang.
“I am relieved to see you in good health.”
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been yawning and surveying his surroundings, narrowed his brow.
“Were you speaking to me?”
“Indeed, it has been far too long. I am delighted to see you again.”
“You must have mistaken me for someone else. I have no particular connection with a youngster who has barely shed his blood….”
Jeok Cheon-gang paused mid-sentence. His eyes widened as he scrutinized Geom-seong Maejong-hak from head to toe.
“Surely, it is not you?”
“Indeed, it is I.”
Geom-seong Maejong-hak continued with a broad smile.
“Since we are delighted to meet, would you have any interest in becoming the Alliance Lord?”
“…?”
“…?”
Is this how the Martial World decides group project leaders?

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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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