Murim Login - Chapter 533

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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 533
The third floor where the commotion had erupted long ago was already completely emptied.
With railings and walls crumbled from fights between martial artists, there weren’t many with the audacity to casually sip wine amid such an ominous atmosphere.
Moreover, the wealthy and high-ranking martial artists who could afford to visit Gowol Pavilion typically sought out proper establishments rather than inns.
So deducing the identity of the uninvited guest who was smiling despite such circumstances wasn’t particularly difficult.
‘A martial artist.’
There was no need to overthink it.
The man, who appeared to be barely thirty at most, had a refreshingly handsome face, and a dark-colored saber hung from his waist.
And….
‘His aura.’
I let out an involuntary gasp. The power and presence emanating from this man surpassed anyone among the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes I’d met so far.
Even stronger than Jin Moo-kyung before he entered seclusion.
‘Could it be?’
The name of someone I hadn’t yet met flashed through my mind.
Moyong Young-hwi, the Solitary Heavenly Dragon—the eldest son of the Murong Family and one of the foremost among the ten dragons and phoenixes known as the Martial World’s greatest rising talent.
‘Should I confirm with my senses?’
Just as I was watching with that thought in mind, Hyuk Moo-jin approached with an awkward expression and opened his mouth.
“This, he’s an acquaintance of mine. He said he really wanted to meet you, so….”
I stared at the man and spoke.
“Moo-jin.”
“Yes?”
“I’m genuinely curious—you don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Sigh.”
“Tell me the truth. Now.”
“…I soiled myself, and he helped me.”
“That makes sense. We’ll talk later. Step aside for now.”
As Hyuk Moo-jin retreated with an expression of despair, the smile on the man’s lips deepened.
“My, you’re quite perceptive for someone I didn’t expect much from.”
“Perceptive? It’s stranger that a cloth merchant’s son has a friend like you in the first place.”
“Hmm, I didn’t know that. Truth be told, I didn’t have high expectations either.”
“But you haven’t introduced yourself on first meeting. Who are you?”
“Just a passing traveler.”
“You’re a man of few words.”
“If it bothers you, why don’t you drop the formality too? Let’s be comfortable.”
A peculiar fellow. He felt different from everyone I’d met so far. I answered while loosely crossing my arms.
“Fine then. Let’s be comfortable.”
At my response, the man laughed aloud.
“I’ve only heard rumors about Yeolhwa Shinryong, but you’re more entertaining than I expected.”
“From my perspective, this isn’t exactly an entertaining situation. But are you really planning to introduce yourself as just a passing traveler?”
“You don’t seem to know me. Though it looks like a few people already do.”
As the man finished speaking, his gaze fell upon Ju Hwa-ran, Gung Ki-bang, and Song Il-seom.
Ju Hwa-ran, who had worn a faint smile mere moments before, now hardened her expression and opened her mouth.
“It’s been a long time, Demon Lord.”
Demon Lord?
Without thinking, a confused voice slipped past my lips.
“Miss Ju. Do you know each other?”
“We’ve met once before. In Gansu Province.”
“Gansu, you say…”
It was one of the regions that suffered the greatest devastation during the Great War, alongside Qinghai and Sichuan. It was also the land where the Gongdong Sect, one of the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, was located.
I studied the man intently.
“No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t seem like a Gongdong Sect master. Tell me if my eyes are deceiving me.”
“No, you’re seeing correctly. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
The man shrugged and continued.
“If anything, the Gongdong Sect would be displeased to learn I’m entangled with the Demonic Heretical Way like me. Though I suppose the feeling is mutual.”
“The Demonic Heretical Way?”
“Have you heard of the Black Dragon Demon Gate?”
The Black Dragon Demon Gate. It didn’t take long for those four characters to surface in my memory.
“I’ve heard of it.”
There was a time when I had learned of the heretical sect that dominated Gansu Province.
No matter how weak the Gongdong Sect’s influence was among the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance, it was quite refreshing to hear that a heretical sect, shunned by the world, possessed such formidable power.
‘Now I understand. Why this man couldn’t join the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes.’
It was a similar case to Song Il-seom, who sat beside us.
No matter how much people cried out about the Martial World and brotherhood within it, there existed their own exclusive league.
The people—or rather, the Orthodox Martial Arts World—simply didn’t want to include bandits who sold their blades for coin or the Demonic Heretical Way, who were little different from criminals, in the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes.
“So then, what brings someone of your stature, a Demon Lord of the Black Dragon Demon Gate, to this place?”
At my question, the man’s brow suddenly furrowed.
“Is that all?”
“What else do you need?”
“That is…”
“Ah, if you want to say more, let me hear your alias or title. I may forget, but at least I should know it.”
“…Black Dragon Blade Sa Ma-pyo.”
“I didn’t ask for your name. Well, I understand now.”
“…”
“By the way, that’s a cool name. Is there any relation to Sima Yi?”
“What?”
“What do you mean what—Sima Yi. That Sima Yi from the Records of the Three Kingdoms.”
The man—or rather, Sa Ma-pyo—answered with a bewildered expression.
“We merely share the same family name. There is no relation whatsoever.”
“Is that so? What a shame. If you were sworn enemies with the Je-gal Family, I would have introduced you to someone I know.”
“…But that doesn’t mean I’m on good terms with the Je-gal Family either.”
“Yeah, that’s true. So go ahead and state your business.”
Sa Ma-pyo, who had been studying me with an enigmatic gaze, finally spoke.
“I’ve come to retrieve my subordinate.”
“Your subordinate?”
“That bear of a man sitting over there.”
Not a single person in this room was unaware of whom he meant. All eyes, including mine, converged on one figure.
Geo Han, a towering giant of eight feet, was hunched over despite his enormous frame, nervously gauging Sa Ma-pyo’s mood.
“Tae-san. Stand up.”
Was this brute also from the Black Dragon Demon Gate?
Whoever had named him certainly had a gift—the name suited him perfectly.
At Sa Ma-pyo’s call, Tae-san, the massive giant with a physique like a mountain itself, responded in a sluggish voice.
“Master. I am not Tae-san. You have mistaken me for someone else.”
“….”
This one really needs to invest some points in intelligence.
Sa Ma-pyo clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“You troublemaking fool. The moment I turn my back, you cause problems. Stop this and get up.”
“I cannot. My food has not yet arrived.”
“What kind of bear are you? Even after eating all that, you’re still hungry?”
“Today. Only six meals. I have eaten.”
“What? Six meals?”
Sa Ma-pyo’s face hardened as he muttered to himself.
“Only six meals? Have you suffered an internal injury?”
“….”
“….”
Damn it, I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
While everyone, including myself, stood speechless, Sa Ma-pyo, who had been pondering for a moment, nodded.
“Fine then. Let us eat before we leave.”
“Food! Excellent! Tae-san will eat everything here!”
I spoke with utmost sincerity.
“Would you please take that lunatic—whether his name is Tae-san or whatever—and get out?”
These madmen were trying to sneak in and join our table.
At my resolute attitude, Sa Ma-pyo’s brow furrowed.
“How stingy.”
“Exactly! Stingy! But Master, what does stingy mean?”
“Tae-san, it is a shortened form of ‘you bastards who are petty and cheap.'”
Having kindly explained this to the child-like simpleton, I pointed toward the stairs and continued.
“So please, now leave. You bastards.”
“…!”
In an instant, a heavy pressure descended upon the surroundings.
Ju Hwa-ran exhaled sharply and placed her hand on the jade sword at her waist, while Song Il-seom, who had been lounging casually, straightened his posture.
And their sudden vigilance was directed at only one person.
‘Sa Ma-pyo.’
But he didn’t move. His pupils merely widened slightly, and he simply stared at me with eyes that held an unfathomable thought.
Soon his tightly sealed lips parted, and a soft voice flowed out.
“How refreshing. In Gansu Province, or rather, throughout my entire life, I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“The first time is always difficult, but from the second time onward, it becomes easy. I’ll make sure to do it often for you going forward, so don’t worry.”
“Often, you say?”
“I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other frequently. Or perhaps not.”
“You’re certainly different. Truly different. Wouldn’t you agree?”
The question added at the end was not directed at me.
Tae-san, whose bulging eyes had been rolling about, nodded his head.
“Master. That’s right. That person. Different.”
“Yes, it does seem so.”
An incomprehensible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth and then vanished.
And in the next moment, Sa Ma-pyo grabbed Tae-san by the nape of the neck from far above and pulled him up.
“It’s difficult to linger in a place where one isn’t welcomed. Let’s go, you fool.”
“Tae-san. Regretful. But Tae-san follows master. Listens well.”
“Then let’s be on our way. Until we meet again. Yeolhwa Shinryong. And you as well, young lady.”
That was the end of it.
After the two descended the stairs, and not long after, when the sound of the Inn’s door closing reached us, Ju Hwa-ran’s rigid expression softened slightly.
“Phew.”
A lingering sigh. Then Song Il-seom also loosened his posture, leaning back against the chair rest.
“He’s grown stronger than before. Or should I say, more dangerous?”
Hearing those words, the doubt I’d been harboring deepened.
From what I’ve seen so far, it’s clear they have some acquaintance and that something had happened between them…
‘What is it?’
Perhaps noticing my expression, someone touched my foot beneath the table.
Tap. Tap.
Without question, it was Gung Ki-bang. The one who’d sent the signal moved his bristly lips.
– Don’t say anything. Don’t ask.
– Why?
– Just don’t. Damn it.
Has this bastard lost his mind? What in the world is going on?
But human nature is predictable. Even without asking the person involved directly, one inevitably wants to hear about it from someone who knows the truth.
– What’s wrong with you.
– I don’t like it. I won’t tell you.
– Why?
– There’s nothing good about knowing.
At that moment, Ju Hwa-ran, who sat right beside Gung Ki-bang in a position directly across from me, handed me a plate with a smiling face.
“Please try this, Jin Dae-hyeop.”
“Ah, yes.”
I should have laughed, but for some reason, the smile wouldn’t come.
I shoved the food Ju Hwa-ran had given me into my mouth while continuing to send her a transmission.
– Tell me.
– I don’t want to.
– Tell me now.
– I said I don’t want to.
This bastard really…
He might as well admit he knows something instead of playing dumb. His absolute refusal to budge was infuriating.
And it was at that very moment I was about to send another transmission.
“Ah, Jin Dae-hyeop. I forgot to mention something.”
“Speak while I’m still in a good mood, will you?”
I almost made a grave mistake.
With my mouth full of food, I lifted my head as Ju Hwa-ran continued.
“That person. He’s the information broker of the Black Dragon Demon Gate.”
“Sa Ma-pyo?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Ah… did something happen?”
“You could say something happened. Or you could say nothing did.”
Ju Hwa-ran, who had been staring at me intently, dropped a bombshell.
No, that was a bomb.
“That person was once my betrothed.”
“Pfffft!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
“Uaaaagh!”

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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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