Murim Login - Chapter 723

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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 723
One day. Two days. And four days.
The rain christened Sacred Rain continued to drench the entirety of the Southern Wilderness, and beneath the benevolent grace of the Goddess of Earth Mother, nothing could stand against the unified Southern Barbarians.
Crack, thud!
With a single swing of the middle-aged man’s axe, a massive tree toppled, and the lean woman effortlessly hoisted a mountain of firewood as though it weighed nothing.
From the window, I watched the entire spectacle unfold and muttered softly to myself.
“Man, they’re getting buffed to the heavens.”
“Buff? What’s that?”
The question came swiftly. Already aware of the uninvited guest’s presence, I turned and answered.
“Nothing much. But what brings you here? By now, you should be swamped with work.”
“I was passing by. Besides, things aren’t as hectic as they used to be. Everything’s being handled in the blink of an eye.”
“Is that so?”
For an uninvited guest, his face was rather welcome. I looked at Ya-ryul Mok, the Young Palace Master of the Southern Beast Palace, and continued.
“That’s good news. Who do you have to thank for that?”
At my question, Ya-ryul Mok shrugged his shoulders.
“According to Father, it’s thanks to some Han Clan member. He must be mistaken.”
“I don’t think so. From what I know, it’s no mistake.”
“No, it’s a mistake. There’s no way someone as contemptible as the Han Clan would help us.”
“Well, everyone from the Central Plains is like that anyway. Utterly untrustworthy.”
“Now that’s something I can agree with.”
A brief silence fell, and as if by mutual agreement, we both let out quiet chuckles at the same time.
“It’s all thanks to you, Jin Tae-kyung.”
“We all worked hard, but honestly, you’re right. My contribution was substantial.”
At my matter-of-fact reply, the smile playing at the corners of Ya-ryul Mok’s lips deepened.
“Do all Han Clan members lack humility like you?”
“No, just me.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Why?”
“Because I think I might come to like the Han Clan even more.”
“Oh….”
I regarded Ya-ryul Mok with fresh eyes.
I never thought he’d say something like that.
I’d sensed it gradually before, but the hostility toward the Central Plains that once filled him was nowhere to be found now.
“Don’t grow too fond of them. Once you actually go there, you’ll find plenty of madmen.”
“You’re treating me like a child. I already understand that people are much the same wherever they live—whether in the Southern Wilderness or the Central Plains.”
“Really? When we first met, it didn’t seem like you knew that.”
“…That’s because you turned the plains into a sea of fire.”
Recalling his past self, Ya-ryul Mok answered with a somewhat embarrassed expression and approached the window where I stood.
Staring at the scene visible through the half-open window, he suddenly spoke.
“I still can’t believe it. That something like this happened in the place where I was born and raised.”
“Calamity? Or miracle?”
“Both.”
Ya-ryul Mok added a brief remark after his terse reply.
“But this too must be the will of the Divine.”
“…Do you believe in the Goddess of Earth Mother as well?”
“I’m not sure. At least I believe that the Divine exists. I’ve experienced things that cannot be explained otherwise.”
Anyone who has encountered the realm of the incomprehensible inevitably thinks of the Divine.
Even if we don’t know who dwells in that distant sky above, we can only assume they must be someone of great importance.
‘The same goes for me.’
I swallowed the rest of my words and naturally shifted the conversation.
“So, how’s the cleanup progressing?”
“If you’re referring to the restoration work, we’ve already entered the final stages. We should have complete results within a few days at most.”
Considering that the Inner Palace had been completely devastated and hundreds of buildings and pavilions in the Outer Palace had collapsed, it was truly remarkable speed.
Yet instead of expressing surprise, I simply nodded slightly.
‘Well, the buff is just too good.’
The rain falling even now carries the power of life and purification.
It’s an area-wide buff that continuously infuses vitality while also enhancing physical abilities.
‘Of course, once the rain stops, the effect will end as well, but those few days are more than enough.’
The old saying goes that even a hundred sheets of paper are easier to carry when shared, and now tens of thousands of Southern Barbarians are working on restoration day and night without rest.
To rebuild their homeland anew, to reclaim their home.
And their efforts were bearing fruit at an astounding pace.
“What about the other matter?”
Ya-ryul Mok understood the meaning behind my question and answered.
“We abolished the Grand Chieftain system to eliminate any remaining hierarchies and tensions between the tribes. We obtained consent from not only our Miao Clan but all four major tribes.”
“Well done. Ah, so that means Yo-hee as well?”
Ya-ryul Mok nodded.
“She was the first to propose the abolition of the Grand Chieftain position.”
The tribal chiefs who had allied with Baek Sang were executed before countless witnesses, but Yo-hee alone received a pardon.
Because she had belatedly repented of her mistakes, and more crucially, because she had played a vital role in leading the beasts to evacuate the outer palace’s tribespeople to safety, there was no significant objection to her pardon.
“She said that we could not set a precedent like those of Baek Sang, Hyuk-ung, and myself.”
“That’s right. The Grand Chieftains’ power was simply too great before.”
“My father and the other tribal chiefs also agreed. From now on, the Southern Beast Palace will operate under a single Palace Master system, and the Grand Council will continue to exist as a safeguard against unforeseen circumstances. And….”
As I listened to Ya-ryul Mok’s continued explanation, I realized once again that the Southern Beast Palace had been reborn anew.
The authority of the Beast King Miao Wang, who now served as both Palace Master and high priest, had become incomparably stronger than before, the anxious hearts of the people had found stability with the appearance of the Goddess of Earth Mother, and the people had united as one, transcending tribal and religious boundaries.
For the first time since the Southern Beast Palace’s founding hundreds of years ago, this land that had been divided into thirty-two fragments finally achieved true unity.
‘At this point, it’s truly worthy of being called a small kingdom.’
Tens of thousands of tribespeople and ten thousand warriors.
And considering the beasts they command, it’s hardly an exaggeration.
Even accounting for the fact that the Southern Barbarian warriors’ level falls short compared to the martial arts of the Central Plains Murim, it’s an enormous force.
I regarded Ya-ryul Mok with renewed appreciation.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, now that I see you properly, you’ve got quite the noble air about you. You know, like a prince or something.”
“…A prince?”
Ya-ryul Mok let out a soft chuckle, his tone tinged with reluctance.
“Why are you laughing? Looking at the situation, it’s not entirely wrong.”
“I was thinking it’s an honor.”
“What?”
“The apostle of the great Goddess of Earth Mother deigns to call me a prince—how could that be anything but an honor?”
“…?”
What in the world is he talking about?
As I blinked in confusion, unable to grasp his meaning, Ya-ryul Mok produced something from his robes and handed it to me.
“Take it.”
“This is….”
“We’ve taken to calling it the Mother Goddess Records. Father asked me to pass it on to you.”
The moment I accepted the bundle of bamboo slips with a bewildered heart.
Ding.
―
[Mother Goddess Records]
has been obtained.
―
[Mother Goddess Records]
is
[Goddess of Earth Mother]
‘s scripture detailing her records.
― A god can only truly exist when someone believes in them.
―
[Goddess of Earth Mother]
is
[Southern Barbarians]
‘s sole deity!
―
[Goddess of Earth Mother]
‘s countless faithful followers are in rapture!
―
[Mother Goddess Records]
has spread your name anew according to its records!
― You’ve achieved an Achievement that even I didn’t expect—
[Religious Reformation]
has been unlocked!
-Title,
[Apostle of the Goddess of Earth Mother]
You have obtained it!
Holographic windows flooded the empty space alongside the system notification.
I stared blankly at the sight before hastily unrolling the bundle of bamboo slips in my hand.
After reading the minuscule characters etched upon them, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“What is this?”
Ya-ryul Mok shrugged at my reaction.
“It is written exactly as stated. The Goddess of Earth Mother has been the Mother Deity walking alongside this land since ancient times, and whenever the Southern Wilderness faced crisis, she herself sent her apostles to save them….”
“That’s me?”
“Indeed. Three hundred years ago, it was my ancestor who served as the First Palace Master. And two hundred years ago, it was the sect leader of the Yeolhwa Sect to which you belong.”
They actually managed to piece it together like this.
Of course, I did drop a few hints, but I never expected my name—all three characters—to be etched so prominently there.
Or rather, ‘our’ name, to be precise.
A rustling sound.
As I skimmed through the rest, quite familiar names began to appear.
Jeok Cheon-gang, naturally, along with the members of the Fire Dragon Pavilion, and even Nam Ho’s name.
This thing reads like scripture—is this really acceptable?
“No matter how hastily it was put together, this is ridiculous. Who wrote this setting?”
“Father.”
“No wonder it’s so brilliant. How did he manage to weave the setting so intricately?”
“….”
I averted Ya-ryul Mok’s gaze and tucked the bamboo slips into my robes.
‘An apostle of the Goddess of Earth Mother.’
I had become an apostle of a deity that was never written in my destiny, yet the feeling was not entirely unpleasant.
In fact, given the current circumstances, it was quite a significant gain.
‘The resentment the Southern Barbarians harbored toward the Central Plains will surely diminish.’
Just as I was calculating this in my mind, Ya-ryul Mok suddenly asked.
“So, are all the preparations complete?”
“Hm?”
“Your preparations to leave the Southern Wilderness.”
“…!”
I fell silent for a moment, then smacked my lips.
“You’re perceptive.”
“It would be strange not to notice.”
“How did you know?”
“Setting aside the others, that large fellow has been frantically gathering food since yesterday. Like someone preparing for a long journey.”
If it’s the large fellow, there’s no need to guess. Realizing the culprit’s identity, I sighed.
“Tae-san, you crazy bastard. I told you to move quietly.”
“Your master, the great hero Fire King Red Sky River, has smuggled away five jars of fruit wine.”
“….”
Ah, please. Old Master Noya.
Just as I squeezed my eyes shut, Ya-ryul Mok’s voice pierced through my ears.
“You should at least say goodbye before leaving. Everyone is waiting.”
* * *
I only realized that the word “everyone” Ya-ryul Mok had spoken was no exaggeration once I drew near the North Gate.
‘This is.’
Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands.
Beyond the North Gate, among the vast throng of people filling the meadow—lush with verdant grass and blooming flowers thanks to the life-infused downpour—I spotted familiar faces.
Jeok Cheon-gang feigning indifference before the cart laden with fruit wine jars.
Tae-san with a solemn expression gripping meat in both hands, and the members of Hwaryong Pavilion each mounted upon fierce beasts.
And….
“You’ve finally arrived.”
Beast King Miao Wang Ya-ryul Cheok, master of the Southern Beast Palace representing all the Southern Barbarians of this land, opened his mouth with a stern expression.
“Why did you attempt to leave without a word?”
I scratched the back of my head.
“I was planning to inform you.”
“Planning to?”
“Through a letter.”
“Merely through a letter?”
“Well, you seemed so occupied….”
“Do you truly believe that justifies it?”
“….”
Was this what they called a question-mark murderer?
The Beast King, whose head towered even higher than mine, gazed down at me as I fumbled for words.
“Yeolhwa Shinryong Jin Tae-kyung.”
A soft call. The Beast King continued in a grave voice.
“You had a purpose. A reason for seeking our homeland, this land. Is that not so?”
“….”
“Yet today you attempt to depart in silence despite having failed to achieve that purpose. You have narrowly escaped death countless times in this foreign land, saved the lives of countless people—and yet never once demanded fair compensation.”
The Beast King’s penetrating gaze and voice were directed at me, but everyone present was listening. Everyone was watching.
“What is your reason?”
And to the Beast King’s question, I suddenly opened my mouth.
“I simply sought to save one person with another’s hands.”
“…!”
“It was not done to gain compensation, so I cannot demand another’s sacrifice in return. That is why I attempted to leave.”
Silence fell.
A prolonged silence so complete that even breathing could not be heard despite tens of thousands gathered.
Because of this, the rain falling upon my head sounded unusually loud. Beyond it, the towering figure of the Beast King stirred.
A soft rustle.
The sturdy frame—the waist of the Southern Beast Palace Master that should never bend to another—inclined toward me.
And then, before the watchful eyes of all gathered, Beast King Miao Wang performed the most solemn of salutes, the Baoquan ritual, and spoke.
“I am Beast King Miao Wang Ya-ryul Cheok. On behalf of all the people of this land, I humbly request that Hwaryong Pavilion Master Jin Tae-kyung, the Great Hero, accept our entry into the Martial Alliance.”
It was a day when the rain gradually ceased its fall.

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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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