Murim Login - Chapter 69

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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 69
In the depths of night when all slept, Jin Wi-kyung’s eyes snapped open with a scream.
“Gasp!”
His arms thrashed about with violent urgency before he realized, moments later, that he had returned to reality.
The flickering lamplight and the desk buried beneath documents—a familiar sight of his Office.
“Phew.”
Jin Wi-kyung exhaled in relief and rubbed the nape of his neck. Cold sweat clung to his skin from the nightmare.
‘I thought I was dying.’
It was a dream where the earth split and the sky collapsed. His last memory was stumbling as he fled from the deafening roar that shook heaven and earth, gasping for breath.
‘Perhaps I’ve been pushing myself too hard.’
Work piled endlessly while manpower remained critically scarce. Each day drained him as exhaustion accumulated relentlessly.
“Ugh. I need to recruit people soon. At this rate, I won’t live to see my natural lifespan.”
The world was vast and talent abundant. Yet the Taewon Jin Family still lacked even a single capable strategist—a reflection of their limited influence.
Why would anyone bind themselves to the Taewon Jin Family in Shanxi when the great sects of the Central Plains and renowned families welcomed them with open arms?
For them, it was the obvious choice.
‘Until now, that is.’
Everything would change. Once the Taewon Jin Family unified the Shanxi Murim by the coming First Day of the Year and continued expanding their influence, talented individuals from across the realm would soon flock beneath their banner.
‘…Though I’ll likely work myself to death before then.’
It was as Jin Wi-kyung gazed at the mountainous pile of documents with a deep sigh that it happened.
Clang.
A faint sound—so subtle that only a master of Jin Wi-kyung’s caliber could perceive it.
‘What was that?’
His senses sharpened. Channeling his inner force to his ears, the sound became clearer.
Clang. Crash.
Faint but unmistakable—the sound of steel clashing against steel.
Someone was fighting. At this hour of the night, no less.
Jin Wi-kyung’s expression hardened for reasons beyond that fact alone.
‘That direction is…’
Jin Moo-kyung’s Quarters. And as of yesterday, the place where one additional person now resided.
‘Surely Moo-kyung wouldn’t… No, that can’t be.’
He had so earnestly urged them to get along. Would they already be fighting? He trusted his beloved younger brothers implicitly.
Crash. Crash!
“…”
Jin Wi-kyung rose silently from his seat.
* * *
With practiced determination, he deployed his movement technique, and Jin Moo-kyung’s Quarters came into view swiftly.
The problem lay in the increasingly ominous sounds that grew louder as he approached his destination.
‘…He must be training alone in the Training Ground.’
Should he enter the Pavilion or not? After a moment’s hesitation, Jin Wi-kyung peered over the wall.
And he witnessed a shocking scene.
“I told you. The second rule. Did you not hear me?”
Crash! Boom!
Jin Moo-kyung swung his scabbard without pause. And one person fled in panic to escape him.
“L-logout!”
Before Tae-kyung’s desperate cry could even finish, the scabbard flew at him. He barely dodged it, but the weapon shattered the blue stone of the Training Ground.
Crash!
“You brat, demonic possession, dual cultivation!”
“Logouuuut!”
“….”
What was that garbled nonsense, and why were demonic possession and dual cultivation suddenly spilling out?
The flow of conversation made no sense whatsoever, but one thing was certain.
‘At this rate, something terrible will happen.’
If this continued, they might actually need to call either the Physician or an undertaker.
‘I will protect my youngest brother!’
Just as Jin Wi-kyung was about to rush in with determination on his face.
“Why is your flank exposed again? Are you begging to be hit?”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Tae-kyung staggered after taking a blow to his ribs. Jin Moo-kyung seized the moment and pressed forward, swinging his scabbard.
Thwack!
“Ow, ow, ow!”
“Don’t flinch when you’re hit. Especially your lower body!”
Whack!
“Eek!”
“Pathetic.”
Jin Moo-kyung laughed mockingly as his younger brother charged at him with gritted teeth.
“You haven’t mastered the fundamentals. First, break the habit of extending your hands and feet on instinct. Martial arts are learned by humans, not beasts.”
“Shut up!”
“Your memory is terrible too. Sleep well. When you wake up, I’ll explain the rules to you again.”
Whoosh! Thud.
Tae-kyung’s body crumpled after taking a direct hit to the jaw. Jin Moo-kyung stared down at him in silence for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“Come out.”
It was clear who he was addressing. Jin Wi-kyung, looking embarrassed, emerged from behind the wall.
“Did you know?”
“It would be strange not to. Every time that fool got hit, your swallowing sounded like thunder.”
Jin Wi-kyung examined the fallen Tae-kyung with concerned eyes.
“The wounds don’t seem that severe. Thank goodness.”
“Surely he won’t die?”
“Moo-kyung!”
“Don’t worry. That fellow’s bones are remarkably sturdy.”
“Is that so?”
“Even while being beaten like that, he endured for two hours. With this level of stamina and poison resistance, it won’t be long before… Why are you smiling?”
Jin Wi-kyung, who had been gazing at his brother’s face with a subtle smile, answered readily.
“It’s amusing. Isn’t this the first time you’ve praised the youngest?”
At those words, Jin Moo-kyung froze.
‘Praise? Me, praising that bastard?’
It was unthinkable. My younger brother had barely a shred of merit. Whether the family prospered or crumbled, he was the one drowning in wine and chasing women—and I praised him?
Jin Moo-kyung shook his head firmly.
“…That’s never happened.”
“I see.”
“I’m serious.”
“Alright. Who said otherwise?”
“No, you’re still smiling right now!”
“I’m not.”
“Elder Brother!”
Jin Wi-kyung struggled to suppress the laughter threatening to burst forth. It pained him that his youngest brother—the apple of his eye—was injured… but this was something he had to experience eventually.
‘I cannot shelter him in my arms forever.’
The Hidden Dragon of Shanxi. Another prodigy produced by the Taewon Jin Family.
Watching his younger brother grow so suddenly, he felt both joy and anxiety simultaneously. Or perhaps it was fear.
‘Is this even possible?’
It was far too rapid. Even in his eyes, having observed the genius Jin Tae-kyung most closely, his growth rate dwelled in the realm of the incomprehensible.
‘I cannot fathom it myself.’
In his youth, Jin Wi-kyung had been a promising talent, but never a true genius. How could an ordinary man like himself understand and teach a genius?
Just as his worries deepened, Jin Moo-kyung returned.
Jin Wi-kyung seized the moment and brought the two together.
‘I was so concerned about their poor relationship….’
Coming here today, those worries proved needless. The method was crude, but this was clearly not one-sided beating—it was training. Training to make Jin Tae-kyung, whose growth was rapid but still unrefined, more solid and sharp.
Though his body would surely suffer for it.
‘It’s all for you.’
Jin Wi-kyung, gazing at his collapsed youngest brother with endless affection, opened his mouth.
“Let’s go now.”
But Jin Moo-kyung was not one to simply watch and accept this.
“How can he go alone? Take that bastard with you too. I cannot bear to live like this.”
“Ten days. You cannot endure even that much?”
“Today I ended it at this level out of respect for you. If you insist, then call the undertaker tomorrow.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. So it would be better for that bastard to be taken away immediately.”
“If that is truly your wish….”
Jin Wi-kyung nodded and continued.
“Then do so.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Do as you wish.”
Jin Wi-kyung tossed out those words and turned to leave.
Imagining what expression Jin Moo-kyung must be wearing, I let out a stifled chuckle.
‘This will be a good experience for you too.’
This uncomfortable cohabitation wasn’t solely for the youngest’s sake.
Geniuses are always solitary creatures. He had no doubt that two geniuses would become powerful catalysts for each other.
“Get up, you bastard!”
Smack!
“….”
Jin Wi-kyung had to suppress the urge to look back the entire way home.
* * *
“Are you awake?”
“….”
“I know you’re awake. Answer me.”
“….”
“Last chance. If you don’t get up by the time I count to three, the Training Ground will become your grave.”
“….”
“One, two.”
Damn bastard. He counts numbers disgustingly fast.
I quietly got up and stretched.
“Ah, I slept well.”
Glancing sideways, I saw Jin Moo-kyung with his eyes wide open.
Seeing that face brought back yesterday’s memories vividly. A man without blood or tears. Someone worth beating to death.
I spoke to him in a natural tone.
“Oh? Elder Brother. When did you arrive?”
“…Just now.”
Watching Jin Moo-kyung’s disappointed expression as he smacked his lips, I realized using formal speech was a divine move. If he found even one thing to fault me for, he’d beat me like a dog on a sweltering day.
‘Damn… being weak is a sin. A sin.’
I have pride too. But in bare-knuckle fighting, I could never match Jin Moo-kyung even if I died and came back to life.
While he systematically learned martial arts and footwork, I was watching UFC matches. From the start, this wasn’t an opponent I could handle with pride alone.
So the last option I chose was logging out.
Of course, it failed spectacularly.
‘Logging out is impossible during combat? What kind of nonsense is that?’
They should have told me beforehand. Not knowing that, I rushed in and nearly logged out of life itself. I glanced sideways at Jin Moo-kyung.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Why are your eyes so wide?”
“Me?”
At his cold voice, I opened my eyes as innocently as possible. By now I’d learned that innocent eyes meant fewer hits.
“You… Huff. Be careful.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
Jin Moo-kyung’s expression soured at my sudden politeness. But he couldn’t very well strike me for being respectful, could he?
“About what happened yesterday…”
I bowed my head quickly.
“It was my fault. I made a loud noise while you were training. I deserve the beating.”
“No, you—”
“Oh no, your hand must be sore from hitting me yesterday. Would you like me to blow on it for you?”
“This guy is completely insane.”
Jin Moo-kyung looked torn between hitting me and not, but ultimately gave up and lowered his fist.
“That’s enough. Come with me.”
“…Where to?”
“The Training Ground.”
I take back what I said earlier. It seems he plans to hit me at the Training Ground instead. Right, he can’t destroy my room again after all.
Jin Moo-kyung clicked his tongue when he saw my expression tighten.
“That’s not it, so come on. Starting today, you’re training.”
“Training?”
“Yes. I’m going to completely overhaul your pathetic martial arts from the ground up.”
The man who beat me senseless every time he saw me is suddenly going to help me train? And by carving time out of his own schedule at that?
‘I’d sooner believe that Demon King Asmodeus repented.’
Jin Moo-kyung let out a deep sigh, perhaps sensing the doubt in my gaze.
“Your Elder Brother visited yesterday.”
“Ah.”
Despite his difficult personality, he respects hierarchy. If Jin Wi-kyung asked directly, this situation makes sense.
“Why would he send you to me when there are several empty buildings? Damn it. I should have refused from the start.”
…He really doesn’t want to teach me.
But I desperately need his help. Even if I can learn just one decent martial technique, there will surely be a use for it.
“I’m begging you.”
Jin Moo-kyung shook his head.
“Think carefully before you answer. Meeting my standards will be grueling. If you’re going to give up when things get hard, quit cleanly right now.”
If I’d given up every time things got difficult, I wouldn’t have made it this far.
“I want to become stronger.”
Perhaps he sensed the sincerity in my voice. After staring at me intently for a moment, he finally spoke.
“Come to the Training Ground.”
Ding.
– A Quest has been generated.
Quest
[Trial? Training?]
Train under Jin Moo-kyung’s guidance for the designated period. No matter how strong you become, if Jin Moo-kyung is not satisfied, the Quest will fail!
Rank
: Peak
Time Limit
: Jin Tae-kyung
Objective
: Jin Moo-kyung’s Approval (Incomplete)
Reward
: ???
Failure
: ???
Time Remaining
: 9 days 23 hours 51 minutes 10 seconds
‘Jin Moo-kyung’s approval, huh.’
The objective was abstract, but I felt confident enough. If I combined the system’s absurd power with my own efforts, I could grow fast enough to make Jin Moo-kyung’s eyes pop out of his head.
‘I can do this.’
That was the moment I steeled my resolve.
“Oh right. You use a spear, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Bring that along with you.”
Jin Moo-kyung was a swordsman, so I’d naturally assumed he’d teach me martial arts techniques. Bewildered by this unexpected turn, I cautiously asked.
“Why suddenly a spear…?”
“Training should be like real combat. Haven’t you heard that before?”
Jin Moo-kyung added with a bright smile.
“I already got permission from Elder Brother. He said it’s fine even if we call the physician.”
I stared blankly at his retreating figure as he walked away with a cheerful stride, barely managing to open my mouth.
“…Log out.”
Beep.
– Logging out is restricted during this Quest.
Damn it.

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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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