Murim Login - Chapter 641

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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 641
There are moments like this—instances where merely witnessing something sends a chill racing down your spine, where your very soul recoils in primal dread.
Like every landscape now spread before my eyes.
A soft whisper through the darkness.
The pale moonlight cascading through trembling leaves possessed the ethereal mystery of a scene from mythology, yet what it illuminated was no tranquil azure lake.
‘This is….’
A swamp steeped in darkness and desolation. And within it—hundreds of massive forms wrapped layer upon layer in webbing like cocoons, accompanied by countless smaller, pristine white eggs, numbering several times more.
‘What in the world is this?’
An ominous question, one whose answer I sensed I should never know, pressed down upon my mind.
Yet contrary to such thoughts, my hand extended instinctively, already touching the nearest unidentifiable cocoon suspended above.
A dull tap.
An unpleasant sensation transmitted through my fingertips. Simultaneously, a system notification pierced my awareness.
Beep. Ding.
–
[Thousand Year Spider’s Paralytic Venom]
has poisoned you!
– Without swift detoxification, you may fall into states of
[Complete Paralysis]
and
[Loss of Consciousness]
!
–
[All-Poison Ring]
latent effect has activated!
–
All status abnormalities related to [Poison]
are neutralized!
The tingling sensation at my fingertips faded, replaced by a refreshing coolness.
The All-Poison Ring was a divine artifact that absorbed even formless toxins. No matter how exceptional the Thousand Year Spider’s venom might be, it could not touch me.
‘If this is indeed the Thousand Year Spider’s webbing….’
A sudden suspicion flickered through my mind. I tightened my grip and tore at the webbing left and right.
A sharp rip. Crackling sounds.
The hundreds of layers of webbing gave way effortlessly to my terrible grip, tearing apart like paper.
As the form concealed within was revealed, Beast King Miao Wang, watching from beside me, let out a sound like a groan.
“A person?”
His words were truth.
A face drained of all color, pale as white paper, and a body utterly devoid of movement.
Beast King Miao Wang, checking the weak pulse of the nameless man revealed from within the webbing, exhaled a breath of relief.
“Fortunate. There is still breath in him.”
It was precisely what I had anticipated.
According to what the system had revealed, the Thousand Year Spider’s web contained no venom potent enough to drive its victims to absolute death.
And the reason for that was likely….
‘To maintain freshness, of course. That way, they can fill their bellies whenever they desire.’
Only then did I understand. From the moment I first set foot in this place, why an inexplicable chill had run down my spine.
‘A slaughterhouse.’
This swamp was far more than the Thousand Year Spider’s lair—it was a slaughterhouse and a colossal larder.
It was only then that I, piercing through the stench that had masked everything, detected the thick metallic scent of blood and muttered softly.
“These spider bastards. They’ve consumed quite the feast over the years.”
Hundreds. Perhaps thousands.
If the records of the Southern Beast Palace—claiming that the Five Poison Sect had created the Poison Blood Land—were true, then the number of those who had perished here across those ages would be incalculable.
Ironically, it was precisely because of the Thousand Year Spider’s nature that we were able to save so many today.
‘It was certainly strange. There were far more missing than dead.’
The elite forces stationed at Ai-nao Mountain numbered approximately three hundred in total.
The five Thousand Year Spiders had killed about a hundred of them on the spot, sated their hunger adequately, and dragged the survivors to the Poison Blood Land—this much was certain.
Those who would have become meals in due course were now being rescued by us.
“These wretched creatures deserve to be torn to shreds!”
I calmed Beast King Miao Wang, whose eyes had reddened with fury.
“My lord, forgive my interruption, but you’ve already slain them.”
“Even tearing them apart wouldn’t satisfy my rage!”
“Well….”
Then I had nothing more to say. But for now, we needed to focus on managing the current situation rather than indulging in anger.
After a moment, Beast King Miao Wang’s fury subsided, and he surveyed the surroundings with a grim expression.
“To think they dared commit such atrocities.”
“Now that you mention it, didn’t you say there had been no major incidents until now?”
“That’s the truth. At least, nothing went wrong during my tenure as palace lord.”
“That’s rather peculiar. Five Thousand Year Spiders suddenly appearing at this particular moment to assault the warriors?”
At my deliberately suggestive words, Beast King Miao Wang, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly spoke.
“…Dark Heaven. Do you think this is their doing?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Whether they had direct involvement or merely whispered in the shadows, I cannot say. It’s not unusual for venomous Thousand Year Spiders to assault humans, but given the timing, one can only draw that conclusion.”
“However, if this truly were Dark Heaven’s work, they could have waited until after you departed. Acting on the final day of the tribal gathering would actually be disadvantageous for them.”
“That’s….”
My words trailed off unbidden. Beast King Miao Wang’s counterargument was unexpectedly sharp, and it possessed grounds that were difficult to refute.
‘He’s not wrong. If I were the Nantian Demon Empress, that wretched woman, I wouldn’t have orchestrated something like this.’
The Southern Beast Palace’s alliance was already as good as forfeit regardless of inaction. Dark Heaven had no reason to stir up the Southern Wilderness.
‘Then why?’
Everything was shrouded in mystery.
The Spirit of Mount Aenoe, appearing abruptly and remaining hidden ever since. Five Thousand Year Spiders committing slaughter without warning, and their connection to Dark Heaven.
It was Beast King Miao Wang’s voice that pulled me from my furrowed contemplation.
“More pressing is the matter of relocating them. It’s a blessing that some still draw breath, but escaping the Poison Blood Land again presents an entirely different problem.”
I stopped my thoughts and answered.
“If I may share my thoughts, I believe it would be best to leave the others as they are.”
“As they are? You mean keep them here?”
“…No, what kind of madman do you take me for? Of course we need to bring them to the Southern Beast Palace. I told Baek Ho to bring people, so I think we should wait. Though I’m not entirely sure if he understood.”
“You’re talking about Mu Ya-ho. He’s sharper than most, so he should have understood well enough.”
“….”
“Why does your expression look like that?”
“Ah. No, it’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
I nearly failed to hold back my laughter.
Mu Ya-ho. No matter how many times I hear that name, I can’t seem to get used to it. I barely managed to compose my crumbling expression before continuing.
“And regarding the spider web—I think it’s best to leave it as is, without disturbing it.”
“Because of the poison.”
“Yes.”
The journey here had been difficult, but the return journey would be far more grueling.
I would have to traverse the poison mist alongside roughly two hundred patients who had only just awakened after spending the past several hours in a state of total paralysis and unconsciousness.
‘I’m uncertain how far the Thousand Year Spider’s protective ability can extend.’
The Thousand Year Spider’s venom was certainly a mystical force possessed by a divine creature, but I couldn’t stake the lives of two hundred people on a single gamble with fifty-fifty odds.
Rather, remaining wrapped in the spider web was the safer option.
“While they’re inside, it seems they’re at least protected from the poison mist’s effects. If that weren’t the case, they would have all died on the way here.”
“True enough. The Thousand Year Spider’s venom woven into the web might be blocking out other toxins.”
In a sense, it was similar to the principle of using poison to counter poison.
On the way here, it had been a coffin made of spider silk, but now it would serve as a cryogenic capsule protecting them from the poison mist.
Even if I were to extract each person one by one and attempt detoxification, my capabilities had clear limits.
At best, this was the extent of what I could manage.
‘Now then, patient. Open your eyes slowly. Do you see my finger moving in front of your eyes? If you can see it, tell me how many there are.’
‘Uhhh. One, I think.’
‘Which finger is it?’
‘The middle finger.’
‘Yes. That means you can go to hell.’
‘Eh? What do you suddenly mean by that….’
‘It was a simple test. Anyway, good. Now you’re seeing and hearing clearly. Both your vision and hearing have recovered.’
‘Sob, sob. Thank you. Thank you so much, Doctor.’
‘Heh heh. Don’t mention it. Now that I’ve detoxified you, the paralysis should be gone. Tell me, can you move your fingers?’
‘Of course. I can move them just fine now.’
‘Then I have a task for your fingers. But first, may I ask your name?’
‘Me? It’s Jang Sam.’
‘Good. I’ll give you this short blade, so write on this wooden board as I call out the characters.’
‘Yes, yes.’
‘Now, write as I call them out. Jang Sam.’
‘Jang. Sam.’
‘Sleep here.’
‘Sleep here. What?’
‘Truth be told, I hesitated to mention it for fear of startling you, but we’ll need to retrace our steps soon. The problem is, there’s no more Poison Blood Antidote left. Well, of course I have the Ten Thousand Poison Antidote, so I’m fine.’
‘…!’
‘I am “Invincible”. The Ten Thousand Poison Antidote is “Divine”.’
Hmm.
A two-hundred-to-one bloodbath would unfold over possession of the Ten Thousand Poison Antidote.
Perhaps it would be two-hundred-to-two. Beast King Miao Wang also possessed a grand and magnificent supreme-grade Poison Blood Antidote.
“…Why are you looking at me with that expression?”
“It’s nothing of consequence.”
“Is it Dark Heaven?”
“No. The character for sky.”
At my answer, Beast King Miao Wang’s expression grew serious.
“Are you truly insane…?”
Had he been my department head, he would have laughed, but as the Palace Lord, it seems my jest doesn’t land.
Beast King Miao Wang, regarding me with the expression one might wear upon seeing a Thousand Year Spider walking on two legs, began gathering the warriors ensnared in webbing into one place.
Scrape. Scrape.
Each time his straightened hand-blade moved, those suspended in the void stacked neatly atop one another.
The number reached two hundred—nearly identical to the count of warriors who’d vanished from Ai-nao Mountain, as I’d suspected.
‘Wait. The beasts?’
As I assisted Beast King Miao Wang in relocating the survivors, my head snapped up at a thought I’d momentarily forgotten.
One of the mysteries I’d felt while first searching Ai-nao Mountain: the missing beasts were nowhere to be seen in this place.
Beast King Miao Wang, noticing this fact as well, wore a puzzled expression.
“This is strange. I see no sign of the beasts.”
“Perhaps the beasts are rather timid? When they encounter people they’ve never seen before, they flee with their tails between their legs?”
“I’m curious—do you perhaps not know the meaning of the word ‘beast’?”
I know it. Fierce beasts.
Which makes it all the more strange. So many fierce beasts wouldn’t have abandoned their master and fled somewhere.
‘And it’s not as though the Thousand Year Spider practices selective eating.’
I know this well. In the Hope Gosiwon where I’d lived for nearly seven years, there were far more spiders than hope.
Eventually I’d grown so fond of them that I even shared my instant noodles with them.
‘So where on earth did they go?’
I’d need to search the Poison Blood Land more thoroughly to know for certain, but the Thousand Year Spider didn’t seem the meticulous sort to store food by category.
And in that very moment, as Beast King Miao Wang and I surveyed our surroundings with questioning gazes.
Rustle.
A faint presence was felt beyond a dozen zhang, accompanied by a small sound.

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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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