Murim Login - Chapter 527

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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 527
Seven days and nights had passed since that day, which the world now called the Songshan Resolution.
Beneath the roaring voices of countless Murim powers, the Martial Alliance’s banner was raised once more, and news of the organization’s official revival after decades spread like wildfire across Hanan and beyond, shaking the entire Martial World.
‘Time has been slipping away in a blur.’
At first, I couldn’t fathom why I’d be busy with anything, but I realized how naive that assumption was before even half a day had passed since the Martial Alliance’s formation.
“Leader. There’s a guest downstairs asking for you.”
“They didn’t come asking—they came and are waiting? What’s with the weird phrasing?”
“Cheong So-hyup ran into them while going out to buy dumplings. They’re waiting downstairs.”
“I suddenly feel like eating dumplings. And I’m not meeting them.”
“I took a quick look at their face, and they seem like someone important.”
“Am I some lowborn? I’ll send them off with proper courtesy.”
“How could I do that? They said they had an appointment arranged.”
“What nonsense. I’ve never made an appointment since arriving here. And how many people do I even know?”
“Well, that’s true. You don’t have any friends anyway, Leader.”
“Really? Sounds like you’re about to lose your head.”
“Hmm. Wasn’t it something you discussed with the Clan Lord?”
“This bastard’s gotten bold.”
“Three years with Hyuk Moo-jin means three lives’ worth of danger.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and send them away. But wait—who exactly is this important person?”
“Oh, just a moment. Let me go ask.”
“Go ahead.”
Hyuk Moo-jin descended at a leisurely pace, then returned at breakneck speed.
“T-t-the Gongdong Sect! The Gongdong Sect’s Sect Master!”
“Bring them up at once! Bring them up immediately!”
Wait, why is Elder Brother involved in this?
Starting with the Gongdong Sect’s Sect Master, who belonged to the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, a procession of those called the Martial World’s luminaries began arriving one after another.
Not only the Namgung Clan’s Clan Lord, with whom I already had some acquaintance, but figures from the sects and families with whom I’d forged connections across the Martial World started showing up in succession.
Of course, those coming to establish new connections vastly outnumbered the rest.
“Uh, Leader.”
“…Who is it this time?”
“The Shandong Ak Family. Their Clan Lord came personally.”
“…Receive them with proper respect.”
“The Gwiju Martial World also sent a representative…”
“…Receive them as well.”
“Oh, and Leader.”
“…Receive them.”
I had no idea I was this famous. Or rather, to be precise, I didn’t know it would be ‘to this extent.’
And as I continued meeting with the endless stream of visitors, I reached complete exhaustion within four days.
‘Damn it, I can’t take this anymore.’
A blind date with a pretty woman would be nothing compared to this.
Dealing with more than ten middle-aged and elderly men visiting each day left me feeling as though my very soul was being drained away.
The conversations we shared across tea cups that now made me nauseous merely from their scent had become tediously repetitive.
“Oh my, so you’re the legendary Fallen Divine Dragon I’ve heard so much about!”
[Jin Tae-kyung Conversation Strategy Guide].
It seemed as though each visitor had read some book with such a title, for their opening remarks were invariably identical.
Yet even the most obedient child reaches a point where they become obstinate.
Though I had initially forced smiles and exchanged meaningless pleasantries, I gradually became more candid.
“I’ve heard much about your reputation.”
“I’ve also heard much about my own reputation.”
“A young hero has emerged in the Martial World. Truly a joyous occasion. Hehehehe.”
“I’m the most delighted. Hahaha.”
“By the way, I have an unmarried daughter….”
“I have two unmarried Elder Brothers.”
“Good heavens, this man! Pushing his daughter on me so brazenly—are you in your right mind! So-hyup, don’t take this fellow’s words too seriously.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t listening anyway.”
“So forget him and listen to my story instead.”
“Well, things are developing in an unexpected direction.”
“Truth be told, I also have a daughter. She’ll surely capture your heart.”
“I’ll wager Hyuk Moo-jin’s manhood that she won’t.”
“What nonsense! What man in this world would reject a beauty!”
“A beauty, you say… Is your daughter particularly beautiful?”
“Is that even a question! Her reputation is already spreading throughout Fujian!”
“Oh. Oh my.”
“Everyone knows of her! You could stop any passerby and ask. She’s already quite beautiful now, but in five years, she’ll surely become the greatest beauty of Fujian!”
“Oh my, the greatest beauty of Fujian… Wait a moment. Why five years from now?”
“She’s twelve years old.”
I’m leaving.
I could barely recall how those seven weeks had passed.
Among those who visited me, some were already acquainted or had come merely out of curiosity, but most were seeking to establish some connection with me or the Taewon Jin Family by any means necessary.
Of course, this included those who were not martial artists.
“Chief. Someone from the Jungwon Commerce Guild is requesting an audience.”
“Not ‘requesting’—why would a commerce guild come looking for me? My Elder Brother, perhaps, but not me.”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure of their reasons, but from my perspective, they don’t seem like bad people. I think it might be worth meeting with them.”
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes?”
“You took a bribe from the Jungwon Commerce Guild.”
“Gasp! H-how did you…”
“Spit out every last coin and send them back. I’m being nice about this.”
Now there were even those foolish enough to slip bribes to Hyuk Moo-jin.
Most of the visitors who had come thus far had made appointments through Jin Wi-kyung, so I had met them reluctantly, as if swallowing something bitter.
Even knowing that Jin Wi-kyung was my only legitimate contact, the fact that they’d come directly to me meant one of two things.
‘Either they already had disqualifying reasons at Jin Wi-kyung’s level, or their status was grand enough that timing didn’t matter.’
Of course, the former case was overwhelmingly common, and such people typically attempted shallow schemes before leaving without ever seeing my face.
Why did they go to such lengths? Well, I’d already guessed the reason for this sudden flood of attention directed at me.
‘It’s the flag, obviously.’
On the day the Martial Alliance was formally proclaimed, I raised the Martial Alliance’s flag alongside Mae Jong-hak, who had assumed the position of Alliance Master, Jeok Cheon-gang, and Chung Poong.
It was quite an impressive moment for me personally, but I hadn’t attached much significance to it—yet it seemed to have been a tremendous culture shock for everyone else who witnessed it.
‘I mean, two green-eared youngsters overshadowing all the other elders and monopolizing the spotlight? Can you blame them?’
The platform had been packed with luminaries from the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, the Five Great Families, and other prestigious powers.
This Martial World suffered from demographic aging as severe as a remote mountain village in the twenty-first century—you could’ve renamed that platform a senior center and no one would’ve batted an eye.
Even the middle-aged men in their forties who’d somehow managed to secure spots there were little more than shuttles, yet here I was, barely past my twenties, and Chung Poong, scarcely older, brazenly inserting ourselves into that glorious, historic moment.
That astonishing sight had certainly delivered a fresh shock to everyone present.
Some had nodded in acknowledgment of those young upstarts’ skill and qualifications, while others had clearly found it rather distasteful.
‘The Zhongnan Sect, for instance.’
I’d wager the Zhongnan Sect’s insides were twisted in knots by now.
After all, the Taewon Jin Family and I, having accumulated continuous bad blood, had suddenly begun our meteoric rise.
The enmity that had begun with the Zhongnan Sect’s three fools—the Jongnam Three Masters—had escalated when the Angry Sword Immortal, who’d come to the Taewon Jin Family’s First Day of the Year banquet to cause chaos, was beaten like a stray dog on a hot day by Jeok Cheon-gang.
And that wasn’t all. The Tae-eul Mujeong Sword, regarded alongside Sect Leader Feng Yun Sword Lord as one of the Zhongnan Sect’s finest masters, had suffered defeat at my hands—the absolute pinnacle of humiliation.
Having endured such disgrace, they must have gnashed their teeth watching me gain prominence.
Perhaps right now, somewhere, they were tearing into me, the Taewon Jin Family, and Jeok Cheon-gang with their teeth and claws.
Given the temperament of the Zhongnan Sect members I’d encountered so far, it wouldn’t be surprising even if they joined hands with Dark Heaven.
‘Hey, Zhongnan Sect.’
‘Dark Heaven, welcome.’
‘The Martial Alliance is born, so why are things so gloomy?’
‘That bastard Jin Tae-kyung’s got me seething. Damn that young punk.’
‘Hehehehe. Want a smoke?’
‘Sure. Roll me one.’
I could picture it clearly. I really could.
Still, as a venerable Orthodox Sect faction belonging to the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, I doubted they’d actually go mad enough to join hands with Dark Heaven, but they’d certainly find ways to needle me relentlessly.
‘But honestly, it’s unfair. Why are they all swarming toward me?’
As that thought flashed through my mind, I turned my gaze toward the rice weevil—no, the dumpling weevil—fidgeting in the corner alongside Mi-mi.
“What is it, my benefactor?”
“Goodness, even insects can talk these days.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. But Cheong So-hyup, why do you look so idle? No one’s been visiting you.”
“When my belly is full, I don’t meet with other people. And if they don’t bring delicious things, I won’t meet with them either.”
After a moment’s thought, I asked again.
“Your belly’s always full though.”
“Yes, that’s why I don’t meet with anyone.”
“…Ah, right.”
I have to admit, you’ve got it easy.
If I had to name the most carefree spirit in all the Martial World, it would be Chung Poong.
On the day of the Songshan Oath, that fool was jumping around with joy just because he was raising the Martial Alliance flag for the first time.
‘Is he a genius, or is he insane?’
Probably both, I suppose.
As I muttered this to myself, Chung Poong yawned and opened his mouth.
“And I’m not idle. I’m training right now.”
“What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?”
“I’m serious. Look.”
Chung Poong set down the Thousand-Year Venomous Scorpion he’d been carrying on his shoulder—Mi-mi—and began writhing his body while seated.
“Um, sorry to interrupt, but… are you evolving into an insect?”
“No. It’s a martial technique.”
“A martial technique?”
“Yes. I created it by watching Mi-mi’s movements.”
But why doesn’t it look like a martial technique to me at all? I asked earnestly.
“The technique isn’t called something like Writhing or Hardening, is it?”
“No. It’s a movement technique.”
“…Then you should stand up to do it. You fool.”
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
What, I had to tell him that for him to realize it?
While I was momentarily at a loss for words, Chung Poong quickly rose to his feet and took a step.
No—the moment I felt him take that step, his figure vanished.
Whoooosh!
With a faint sound, Chung Poong reached the far end of the spacious room and flashed a brilliant smile, baring his teeth.
“Ta-da! How is it?”
“…!”
What in the world did I just witness?
In that instant, a chill raced down my spine.
It was like watching a ghost—no, like watching a serpent move. It was clearly a movement technique, yet it wasn’t.
Chung Poong wasn’t walking; he was gliding. At a speed so fast that only I, with my eyes, could barely confirm it.
“I mixed Mi-mi’s movements with various martial techniques. When I move like this, I feel like I’ve become Mi-mi too, and it feels wonderful!”
“…Mixed?”
“The name is Mi-mi Step! Would you like to learn it too, benefactor?”
He’s truly insane. In every conceivable way.
I stared at Chung Poong with my mouth agape and shook my head.
“No. I refuse.”
“Aww…”
And just as Chung Poong looked dejected, Hyuk Moo-jin’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Team Leader. We have a visitor.”
A visitor? Was there someone else coming?

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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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