Murim Login - Chapter 526

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 526
Waaaaaaah—!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A tremendous roar consumed everything.
Thousands of warlords poured their cultivation into a unified cry, their fierce determination awakening the once-silent Songshan and reverberating endlessly across its peaks.
Above the heads of these warriors—different in name, temperament, life experience, and gender—banners soared proudly in the wind.
The Martial Alliance.
Upon the pristine white cloth was written only those three characters.
It was neither as ornate as the banners symbolizing emperors, nor as massive as the sect flags of the Demon Cult’s vast armies that once invaded the Central Plains.
Yet it was enough.
Those three characters—the Martial Alliance—contained everything.
Now the martial artists of the Central Plains would unite beneath that banner. They would face new enemies in this new era they had opened for themselves.
And….
“New heroes will be born.”
A soft murmur from someone.
From atop a nameless ancient tree that had recently sprouted luxuriant leaves, Moon-kyung’s gaze, which had been observing this entire spectacle, fell upon one figure.
‘Jin Tae-kyung.’
Moon-kyung’s eyes saw it clearly—the blazing intensity in the eyes of the young man standing like an iron tower, holding the banner aloft.
Alongside two titans, the Sword Saint and the Fire King, and another rising star, the Huashan Divine Dragon Chung Poong, his figure accepting the endless cheers from all directions was already that of a hero.
“The Flame Divine Dragon!”
“The Flame Divine Dragon Jin Tae-kyung!”
The warlords powerfully chanted the name of the young hero holding the Martial Alliance’s banner.
And from between Moon-kyung’s lips, as he watched this spectacle unfold, came a soft whisper.
“At last, it begins.”
A new era. New enemies. And new heroes.
At last, the curtain of the long-closed stage had risen.
Some would fall on nameless battlefields and never rise again, while others would etch their names into the long annals of martial history.
Life and death. Disgrace and glory.
Here, at Songshan, the prelude to a great war for dominion over all under heaven was beginning.
* * *
All under heaven trembled. No—it was a tremendous upheaval.
What has not yet occurred is fiction, mere rumor. But when it finally becomes reality, its impact is vast and immense.
The Songshan Accord.
On a warm spring day, the news spread like wildfire that countless martial sects, including the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance and the Five Great Families, had finally gathered beneath a single banner.
This meant that a fierce war to determine the master of all under heaven was about to commence.
“Sect Leader, the Martial Alliance has been established in Hanan!”
“Send word at once. Our Main Sect will gladly stand beneath the Martial Alliance’s banner.”
“Understood!”
“Send messages to the other sect leaders in Fujian as well. We must convene a meeting.”
The world was vast, and the number of sects and families that existed was beyond counting.
Those who couldn’t reach Hanan for various reasons declared their intention to join the Martial Alliance, and independent martial artists without sect affiliations each made their own decisions about their paths forward.
“Master Jang, let us go to Hanan together. Shouldn’t we participate in the Martial Alliance?”
“I’m sorry, but I intend to head toward Sichuan instead. You’ll have to go to Hanan alone, Master Gwak.”
“Hmm. Though Qingcheng and Emei still stand, if Dark Heaven moves toward Sichuan first as the Demon Cult once did, it may become a Demon Suppression Hall.”
“That’s precisely why I must go to Sichuan. Even if my strength is meager, shouldn’t I lend what aid I can?”
Someone carried the two characters of righteousness in their heart.
“Master Hyung-jang, our paths seem to overlap. Shall we travel together?”
“A righteous wanderer, I see. May I ask your name?”
“Names are unnecessary. Besides, I’m just a rogue who lives by the sword, so spare me the embarrassing title of righteous wanderer. I don’t know how strong these Dark Heaven things are, but if I cut down whoever comes my way, I’ll make a name for myself and earn some coin in the process.”
Someone took up their weapon, dreaming of victory and glory.
And among those unaffiliated with any particular sect, each pursuing their own purposes, there were also unfamiliar faces—those who had long hidden from the martial world or had never appeared in it at all.
“Master, what brings you out here?”
“The weather is fine, so I was enjoying the breeze. But your expression doesn’t look good. What troubles you?”
“Well, I was wandering the mountain searching for snow ginseng to bring you when I met an herb gatherer, and from what he told me….”
The rumor that the Martial Alliance would be revived in Hanan had already spread widely even before the Songshan Accord.
News of the martial world’s situation related to this had even reached hermits who had withdrawn from the secular world and shut themselves away in deep mountain valleys.
“Hmm. Dark Heaven, the Martial Alliance….”
“Already, chaos reigns below the mountain. The Martial Alliance has declared war against Dark Heaven, and the common people tremble in fear.”
“Alas, after a long peace, calamity has arrived.”
“Master, what should we do?”
“As in the past Orthodox-Demon War, countless will perish. Prepare immediately. We must go to Hanan.”
An old master who had spent his remaining years in a nameless deep valley departed for the Central Plains with his disciple.
“Old Master Noya, did you catch much today?”
“Ugh. The fish aren’t biting worth a damn today.”
“Ha. I’ve been hearing that same complaint for forty years now. You caught several carp—take them and enjoy them.”
“Of course I will. It was I who saved your father’s life ten years ago, after all. Give me a big, plump one.”
“Understood. Since this is the last time, I’ll give you all of them.”
“Eh? The last time? What nonsense is that?”
“Haven’t you heard? A great calamity has befallen the martial world.”
“A calamity? Tell me more.”
“The Martial Alliance was formed in Hanan, and it’s said they’re about to clash with Dark Heaven, the successor to the Demon Cult. Since we don’t know what might happen, I’m trying to take my family and leave for a while… Old Master Noya? What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see? I’m preparing to depart.”
“Where to? And you’re leaving your fishing rod behind?”
“I won’t need it anymore. You take it.”
“Old Master Noya, Old Master Noya!”
“Perhaps we’ll meet again. Stay safe.”
The white-haired old man who had spent his days by a quiet lakeside suddenly departed, a spear strapped to his back instead of a fishing rod.
No Gang-ho, who had once dominated an entire era long ago, and some of the hermits in deep valleys who had devoted their entire lives to the single character of martial prowess set foot into the secular world and flowed into the realm of all under heaven.
“Is this the Martial Alliance?”
“It is. However, if you’ve come to join, we cannot admit you at this moment. You must go to that pavilion over there and present your alias, name, and proof of your identity….”
“You’ve found the right place. Go tell them Hong Jeok has arrived.”
“Hong Jeok, Red Bandit Hong, whatever—first we need to verify his identity… Wait. What did you just say?”
“Hong Jeok. A man from Guangxi named Hong Jeok.”
“Guo… the Fist King…!”
Names swept away by the tide of years, lost to time. Yet their legendary titles remained etched vividly in the memories of all who knew them, surfacing again and again.
Even as the sun set and darkness fell, their existence shone like torches in the night.
And the rumors of these newly risen stars continued to spread from mouth to mouth among the people.
“Mark my words—in this great battle, the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes will make a spectacular showing.”
At the words of the middle-aged man with the jutting jaw, Baek Sae-nun let out a derisive snort.
“That’s rich. Sure, they call them the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes, the greatest rising talents in the martial world, but they’re just disciples and heirs plucked from the great orthodox sects.”
“So? What’s your point?”
“They’re all hothouse flowers, that’s what. How much can those raised in comfort and plenty truly accomplish on the battlefield?”
The jutting-jawed man’s eyes narrowed.
“Listen to you. Are you with Dark Heaven?”
“What!”
Baek Sae-nun bristled and shouted indignantly.
“My mouth may be crooked, but my words are straight! Don’t spout such dangerous nonsense! Why would I be with Dark Heaven!”
“Then why are you belittling the promising talents of our Orthodox Sects?”
“Belittle? I’m just stating facts! And I can’t exactly file down your jaw, can I!”
“Why are we even talking about that? Why resort to insulting someone’s appearance!”
Fire blazed in the jutting-jawed man’s eyes.
“If one more word about my jaw comes from your mouth, you’d better be ready. Understand?”
“Jutting jaw! Jutting jaw! Just looking makes me choke! Boom-boom-boom, crack crack crack!”
“You bastard!”
Crash! Splinter!
The table overturned, scattering appetizers and wine bottles across the floor.
In the tense atmosphere where violence seemed imminent, the goat-bearded man who had been watching the confrontation between Baek Sae-nun and the jutting-jawed man spoke up with measured composure.
“You’re both wrong.”
Baek Sae-nun and the jutting-jawed man turned their heads simultaneously to look at the goat-bearded man.
“What do you mean?”
“Pluck out all your whiskers.”
“…”
The goat-bearded man shook his head and continued.
“I don’t particularly disagree that the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes will perform well, but compared to the power Dark Heaven has demonstrated in their recent actions, the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes are ultimately just rising talents.”
Color returned to Baek Sae-nun’s face.
“So I was right, wasn’t I?”
“To some extent, I’d say so.”
“I knew it. You have remarkable insight. And your whiskers look particularly distinguished today.”
“…”
The jutting-jawed man ground his teeth, glaring at Baek Sae-nun.
“A man with eyes smaller than his asshole has now stuffed his ears full of nonsense. Have you already forgotten what I said earlier—that you were both wrong?”
“…Well, that’s true. But what’s the actual reason? My argument seems perfectly sound to me.”
The goat-bearded man stroked his whiskers with dignified composure before responding.
“The point is, there are always genuine talents everywhere. You’re right that the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes grew up in the finest circumstances. But that doesn’t change the fact that they’re among the strongest rising stars in the Martial World.”
“Hmm. And?”
“Not all of them are disciples of the great orthodox sects. Take Jin Cheon Sword Jin Moo-kyung, the second son of the Taewon Jin Family, for example.”
“Ah, I forgot about Jin Cheon Sword.”
The spatula-jawed man interjected with a sneer, seizing the moment.
“Jin Cheon Sword is one thing, but Moyong Young-hwi, the bloodline of the Murong Family, is absolutely overwhelming. Though what would a fool like you know anyway?”
“What are you saying, you bastard—even if you drowned in water, only your chin would bob to the surface….”
The goat-bearded man let out a deep sigh as the two began growling at each other again, then opened his mouth.
“Stop fighting and listen to the rest. The rising stars we should be paying attention to right now aren’t the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes. It’s the Two Dragons that come before them.”
In that instant, Baek Sae-nun and the spatula-jawed man froze.
Even they had to admit the goat-bearded man’s words were undeniable truth. The Flame Divine Dragon Jin Tae-kyung and the Huashan Divine Dragon Chung Poong—before the names of these two divine dragons, even the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes paled in comparison.
“That’s certainly….”
“True enough.”
As they reluctantly nodded, a sudden question escaped their lips.
“What are those two doing right now?”
“Who knows? But one thing’s for certain.”
The goat-bearded man continued with a solemn expression.
“They’re doing something extraordinary.”
* * *
Chung Poong opened his mouth with a rigid expression.
“Ugh, I really want some dumplings!”
“….”
Don’t speak so loudly, you idiot.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————