Murim Login - Chapter 544

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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 544
Ju Hwa-ran had departed.
Beyond the window, her slender yet resolute silhouette receded into the distance, trailed like a shadow by Song Il-seom, and I watched in quiet acknowledgment.
“She carries herself with such grace, Miss Ju.”
At the sound of Hyuk Moo-jin’s voice from behind, I nodded silently.
‘It was the same back then.’
Suddenly, the day I first met Ju Hwa-ran came flooding back to me.
That unwavering resolve in the face of hundreds of enemies closing in—the light in her eyes refusing to yield.
Perhaps she was far more of a true martial artist than I had ever given her credit for.
“And yet, it’s regrettable too.”
“Indeed. She carries a heavy burden on her shoulders. Her father still struggles with his mobility….”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Hmm?”
When I turned my head, I saw Hyuk Moo-jin’s face twisted in a pitying expression.
“If her goal were simply to earn merit, there would be many other options. So why did she come all this way?”
The reason. As I pondered it, I swallowed a hollow breath.
“Wait. You don’t mean…?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
“Because she could accomplish something even greater here?”
“…That’s enough. This is making me sick, truly.”
Just as I was debating whether to land him a blow, a voice came to Hyuk Moo-jin’s rescue.
“Ah, what a relief.”
After spending barely an hour in the outhouse, Jeok Cheon-gang emerged.
His joy at the successful delivery was evident—grinning widely, he reached for a wine bottle first, then froze upon seeing Hyuk Moo-jin’s expression.
“Why do you look like you’ve been chewing on excrement?”
“Jeok Dae-hyup. It’s that….”
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been listening silently as Hyuk Moo-jin launched into his explanation, suddenly widened his eyes.
“The Escort King’s granddaughter came here?”
“Yes.”
“Huh, while I was in the thick of it, I felt two extraordinary presences pass by. So one of them was her.”
Jeok Cheon-gang stroked his reddish beard as he continued.
“I’ve heard tales of such things happening when the old man was walking the line between life and death, but seeing it unfold like this—it’s quite a persistent bond.”
“But why do you think she sought out the Commander instead of choosing from other options?”
The corners of Jeok Cheon-gang’s mouth twitched.
“Must I really say it with these old lips?”
“Of course not. You are indeed Jeok Dae-hyup, as expected.”
Just as Hyuk Moo-jin’s face lit up like an LED bulb, Jeok Cheon-gang, wearing a meaningful smile, spoke.
“Because she could accomplish something truly enormous.”
“….”
Ah, the bulb just went out.
Hyuk Moo-jin’s complexion darkened in an instant, as if midnight had descended upon him, and his voice emerged subdued and measured.
“Are you serious?”
Jeok Cheon-gang nodded with unwavering confidence.
“Though the Zhongnan Sect has compensated us with considerable wealth, maintaining and leading the Escort Agency in the future will require both renown and martial prowess in the Murim. From what I observe, the Escort King’s granddaughter possesses a keen understanding of how the world truly operates.”
“Pardon me, Jeok Dae-hyup.”
“What is it?”
“If I may be so bold—have you ever taken a lover in all your years?”
Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been contemplating Hyuk Moo-jin’s question, finally answered.
“Of course I have.”
“When was that?”
“I was about ten years old then. More than a hundred years ago, I’d wager.”
“….”
“What troubles you?”
“No, it’s nothing. It seems I was engaged in wall-gazing meditation.”
“…?”
“A literal wall. A wall. The wall of lamentation.”
Jeok Cheon-gang turned his gaze from Hyuk Moo-jin, who was muttering like an enlightened sage, and directed his attention toward me.
“Now then, what are your thoughts on this matter?”
“Hmm.”
“Judging by your expression, you’ve already made your decision. That’s why I’m asking.”
I shrugged and replied.
“You’re quite perceptive. I haven’t even told you yet.”
“It’s not a bad arrangement. You may be an absurd monster, but for someone of your generation to have reached the pinnacle—that’s a remarkable achievement. And having been involved in Escort Agency affairs since childhood, your experience is substantial.”
“I share that assessment. Song Il-seom as a guard will be a considerable asset in terms of martial strength alone.”
Though Jeok Cheon-gang had not directly encountered these two individuals during his time wandering the brink of death, having heard all that transpired after his awakening, he had no difficulty understanding the situation.
“The last bloodline of the Guangdong Chen Family. From what I sensed in the outhouse, he had reached a considerable level of mastery.”
“…It was somewhat unpleasant, but I agree with your assessment.”
Jeok Cheon-gang had reached the realm of Half-Step Returning Immortal—a supreme master of the highest caliber. For him to speak of Song Il-seom as “considerable,” no one in the Murim could dispute the level of his martial prowess.
‘An unrecognized genius hidden from the world.’
He had lost his blood relatives early and was cast alone into this world. He served as a sword attendant among the Bandits, drifting across battlefields, until finally he drew his own blade.
Song Il-seom was no delicate flower in a greenhouse—he was a weed that had endured harsh winds and storms.
His other name, the Soul-Chasing Guest, remained a legend even among the Bandits.
‘Not quite on the level of Chung Poong and Moon-kyung, but certainly a formidable asset.’
It was regrettable, yet I harbored no resentment. The roster had been extraordinarily brilliant until now, after all.
In truth, change from this point forward was inevitable.
A supreme master is an existence capable of reversing an unfavorable war in a single stroke. To contain the flames of warfare spreading in all directions, this was the natural choice.
‘Mae Jong-hak likely separated me and Chung Poong for the same reason.’
When there are multiple fires, a single fire truck cannot concentrate on one location alone.
To achieve victory in the war against Dark Heaven and to prevent even greater sacrifices, this was the natural flow of events.
And… I had to assemble a team to suppress these flames together.
Now is the time to make decisions with cold judgment and reason.
‘There’s no helping it.’
No matter how much I think about it, this is the best option. Even if it’s not the best, I cannot deny it is at least the second-best choice.
After organizing my thoughts, I called out a name in a low voice.
“Hyuk Moo-jin.”
Hyuk Moo-jin always seemed dull, yet his perception was sharp.
At least whenever I called him by both family name and given name together, he understood the atmosphere was different from usual.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Let me ask you directly.”
The choice is not granted to me alone. Each person’s choice gathers to form a single will.
But before I could even finish speaking, Hyuk Moo-jin answered quickly.
“I will go with you.”
“What?”
“I’m saying I’ll follow you, Captain. Isn’t that what you were about to ask?”
“…That’s right.”
“Then that settles it. There’s no need to ask. It’s only natural that thread follows the needle. Of course, traitors like So-hyup are exceptions. That’s why outsiders from different factions shouldn’t be trusted. Why do they always have so many complications?”
I gazed silently at Hyuk Moo-jin, who was smiling playfully, then lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Do you have any regrets?”
“Regrets?”
“Yes. Regrets.”
“Captain, did you know?”
Hyuk Moo-jin continued with a serious gaze.
“Ever since I met you, Captain, my life has been one regret after another.”
“You bastard.”
“But I figured, what’s a few more regrets?”
Hyuk Moo-jin shrugged his shoulders and continued slowly. His gaze, directed at empty space, seemed to trace something from the past.
“Just a few years ago, people called me the son of the Hyuk Family Fabric Shop. But at some point, they started calling me the Swift Wind Sword. They also said I was the right arm of Yeolhwa Shinryong. I quite like that.”
“Moo-jin, you….”
“Hehe. Were you moved?”
“No, not that. You’re not the right arm—you’re the little toe.”
“Wow, you’re quite harsh, Captain. After all the hardship I’ve endured, am I still just the little toe?”
Seeing the aggrieved expression on his face, a quiet chuckle escaped me. Maybe it’s time to give him a promotion.
“Then the little finger.”
“…The left hand’s little finger?”
“The right hand.”
“The right hand, I see.”
After thinking for a moment, Hyuk Moo-jin carefully presented a counter-proposal.
“Then how about the right hand’s thumb?”
“Try aiming for that in your next life.”
“I knew you’d say that. Then how about the index finger instead of the thumb?”
“Not a chance.”
“Damn it. To become my right arm, I’d have to dedicate my entire life to it. Does that even make sense?”
“That’s right. Since it’ll take a lifetime, stay by my side until then. Don’t die.”
“…!”
Had I said something unnecessary?
I’d only just bathed, yet my skin felt oddly itchy. Scratching my chin absently, I extended my hand.
“L-Leader.”
Hyuk Moo-jin, whose eyes glistened with moisture, grasped my outstretched hand firmly.
A solid grip.
“I am Hyuk Moo-jin, the pinky finger of the Leader’s right hand. I pledge my unwavering loyalty….”
“What are you doing?”
“Pardon?”
“Who’s asking for a hand pledge? Bring what you received earlier.”
“…Ah.”
With an expression that said *of course*, Hyuk Moo-jin clicked his tongue and withdrew the two bamboo tablets he’d received from me moments before.
Small characters were inscribed on the cord binding the tablets, bearing two names.
Eun Bi-hwa, Ju Hwa-ran.
Soul Pursuer, Song Il-seom.
But the bamboo tablets I was to receive were not limited to these.
Noticing that my hand remained extended, Hyuk Moo-jin’s expression grew troubled.
“Leader. Are you certain of this?”
“I am.”
“Sigh. I’m not sure this is the right decision.”
With a heavy breath, two more bamboo tablets were added to my palm.
I gazed quietly at the names and titles inscribed on the cords.
Black Dragon Blade, Sa Ma-pyo.
Tiger Giant, Tae-san.
Hyuk Moo-jin’s words—that he wasn’t sure this was the right decision—lingered in my ears.
The reason was simple. I too harbored doubts about whether this choice was truly the best.
But in the next moment, Jeok Cheon-gang’s voice reached me, instilling a final conviction in my wavering heart.
“Why hesitate? Simply move forward, and that is all.”
The tangled thoughts in my mind cleared.
Drawing a shallow breath, I whispered toward some deep corner of my heart.
‘Ju Hwa-ran, Song Il-seom, Sa Ma-pyo, Tae-san….’
And finally. Hyuk Moo-jin.
After releasing the five names in succession, I entered the command.
‘Two Dragon Pavilion membership approval.’
To words heard by no one else, a voice answered.
Ding.
– Initiating membership approval procedure.
– Confirmed.
[Eun Bi-hwa of Eunbihwa]
.
[Song Il-seom, the Soul Seeker]
.
[Sa Ma-pyo, the Black Dragon Blade]
.
[Tae-san, the Tiger’s Roar]
.
[Hyuk Moo-jin, the Swift Wind Sword]
.
– Will you accept these five individuals as members of the Two Dragon Pavilion?
The answer was already determined.
As I gave a small nod of assent, a cheerful chime rang out, and the translucent holographic window hovering in the air shifted like the turning of a book page.
Ding.
– Quest,
[Become My Comrade!]
One of the conditions has been completed.
– Secured minimum of 5 or more comrades (Completed)
– All minimum personnel have been selected!
– One final procedure remains to become an official pavilion. Please designate a new name for the pavilion you will lead!
‘A name, then.’
I had not given thought to what name to bestow upon this newly formed organization.
Yet no matter how much I deliberated, nothing could surpass what had just flashed through my mind.
‘Hwaryong Pavilion.’
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Accompanied by clear bell chimes bursting forth like celebratory fireworks, a powerful system notification pierced my ears.

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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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