The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 44

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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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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 44
Blood Wind Spear Yang Cheon-jo was a first-rate master.
Yet he was merely a renowned expert in the rural backwater known as Giyang County.
Such a master had a teacher who transcended provincial boundaries, becoming famous across the entire nation.
That name was none other than—
Heaven’s Way Three Absolutes, Chul Mu-geuk.
Chul Mu-geuk was a middle-aged man standing seven feet tall, his thick, solid musculature wrapped around him like armor.
Though he appeared middle-aged on the surface, he was already approaching sixty winters.
The reason Heaven’s Way Three Absolutes Chul Mu-geuk was renowned throughout Kangho was that he had cultivated swordsmanship, spearmanship, and fist techniques to their absolute limits.
He was a genuine master who had reached the pinnacle of mastery in all three martial disciplines.
Blood Wind Spear Yang Cheon-jo glanced sideways at his formidable master.
Then he turned his gaze to the two senior brothers beside him and whispered softly.
“I’ll do my best to create an atmosphere where we can speak calmly, so no matter how young the opponent appears, you absolutely must not let it show, Senior Yong.”
“I’ve heard the same thing several times already. My ears are going to develop calluses, you brat.”
“Haha, Senior. It seems our youngest has grown quite anxious.”
“Senior Ju, I’m not lying—the appearance really does look incredibly young. Around twelve years old. Absolutely! We cannot afford to make a mistake. Do you understand?”
“Right. You keep saying to think of them as a master from Banrowhwandong. I’ve heard that line over ten times now.”
Heaven’s Way Three Absolutes Chul Mu-geuk overheard his youngest disciple earnestly warning his senior brothers, and felt curiosity stirring within him.
His youngest had always been a carefree fool who only knew himself.
Yet from how terrified he was of his opponent,
He could not stop uttering warnings and admonitions.
‘The Little Divine Dragon of the Yangtze River, then…’
Rumors about Ilhyang had already spread throughout this region.
Tales of a black dragon appearing who reshaped the waters of the Yangtze.
Or that he was actually a secret master cultivated by an orthodox sect.
Various rumors swirled about.
Yet none of this mattered much to Chul Mu-geuk.
Only one thing—
‘A high-level sorcerer capable of opening Secret Realms.’
A Secret Realm.
A mysterious place created by the immortals and demon immortals said to have existed in ancient times.
In the current Kangho, one could not find a high-level sorcerer capable of opening and closing a Secret Realm alone, even if one journeyed to the capital.
They took little interest in worldly affairs, making them extraordinarily difficult to encounter.
“But can that child really open a Secret Realm?”
At Chul Mu-geuk’s question, spoken while he quietly surveyed the wharf, Yang Cheon-jo’s head snapped around.
“Of course! If he can’t open it, we probably won’t find a suitable person even after several years pass.”
“…Very well. I understand.”
As the master and disciples waited quietly in a corner of the wharf,
Someone approached from a distance, riding a horse.
Clop—clop—!
A child of roughly ten years old, mounted upon a glossy black steed whose coat shimmered like polished obsidian.
Wearing a hero’s crown embroidered with a golden dragon upon his head, draped in ink-dark silk robes, the boy radiated confidence from every fiber of his being.
“Hmm….”
Chul Mu-geuk watched a troop of mounted riders crest the distant hill and found himself swallowing hard without realizing it.
‘I cannot perceive it.’
The opponent’s realm of cultivation remained hidden from my senses.
I myself stood at the pinnacle of mastery.
Therefore, the other must occupy at least an equal or superior level of attainment.
My mouth went dry of its own accord.
‘Could they be employing some extraordinary technique?’
Whether through raw power or cunning method.
One thing was certain—this was no ordinary adversary.
Chul Mu-geuk tightened the resolve that had grown somewhat lax until now.
And observed the approaching cavalry contingent.
Then.
The youngest disciple at the front waved his hand rapidly and called out.
“Hey! Kid! I’m here!”
Yang Cheon-jo grinned brightly at Ilhyang and waved, causing the expressions of the Water Bandits surrounding him to darken.
They seemed to think he spoke far too casually to their leader.
But.
“What are you staring at? You want to die?”
Yang Cheon-jo paid them no mind and glared at the Water Bandits.
Then one of them.
A middle-aged man with a fierce countenance who had been sitting at the dock sipping tea let out a soft laugh and spoke.
“Let us not overstep our bounds with one another.”
Cheolhyeol Sword Maeng Ryeo.
When this renowned master of Myeong Province fixed him with a cold gaze, Yang Cheon-jo, merely a first-rate expert, faltered visibly.
But he quickly recalled his master standing beside him and stepped forward.
“Don’t you know I’m friends with your leader?”
“Well, I am fully aware that is not quite the nature of your relationship. However, since you have come as a guest today, I shall let it pass. Going forward, I trust you will conduct yourself with proper courtesy.”
“Hmph!”
Yang Cheon-jo snorted dismissively when Cheolhyeol Sword Maeng Ryeo yielded a step, then turned his gaze away.
In that moment.
The distant cavalry arrived in an instant.
Ilhyang dismounted and performed a respectful salute toward Chul Mu-geuk, saying.
“Ilhyang of Murim Mal-hak pays respects to Senior of Heaven’s Way Three Absolutes.”
“Even more impressive than the rumors suggested. I am Chul Mu-geuk.”
Ilhyang sensed the formidable aura flowing from the other’s entire being and nodded in acknowledgment.
‘This level corresponds to that of a supreme knight.’
A master who would have risen to captain of the knight order even in the great empires of old.
An ascetic who had trained his body to its absolute limits.
That was why I respected my opponent.
“I’ve brought Master as promised!”
“Good.”
I turned my head to look at Gong Jeol-gang and asked.
“Will there be any problems if I step away for a moment?”
This was a question with a predetermined answer.
“Your Disciple will manage everything perfectly.”
“Very well. Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”
With that, I nodded and gazed at the Water Bandits lined up at the dock, then asked Cheolhyeol Sword Maeng Ryeo.
“Can we set sail immediately?”
“Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam is already waiting at Nataryongwang, Young Master.”
“Excellent. Senior, let’s depart at once.”
Chul Mu-geuk watched as I boarded the massive ship without any greeting or courtesy.
Then he suddenly came to his senses and followed me aboard.
“Is it alright to go like this?”
“Yes, there should be no problems. Or did you have other business?”
“No, nothing in particular…”
Could he really be going alone without an escort?
What could he possibly be relying on?
But I seemed entirely unconcerned with my own safety.
Looking down at Gong Jeol-gang and Seo Jang-gwe, who had not boarded, I said.
“I’ll be back soon. Please take care of things, Seo Jang-gwe.”
“Understood.”
“Set sail, Captain Ho.”
“Yes! Nataryongwang departing!”
Creeeeak―
Thus the executive’s private sailing ship,
Nataryongwang, raised its anchor and left Sungwha Island’s dock for the first time in ages, beginning to move toward the mainland.
I watched until we had cleared the island’s perimeter, then approached Chul Mu-geuk.
Lifting my sharp black and white eyes, I gazed directly at him and asked.
“Which direction should we head now?”
“That’s the question. Where is it located, Master?”
Only Chul Mu-geuk knew the location of the Secret Realm.
Since Yang Cheon-jo didn’t know its position either, he asked with a curious expression.
Until then, Chul Mu-geuk had been lost in thought while observing something, but he answered with a flustered expression.
“Hmm…? Ah! If possible, please head to Akyu Dock. That would be closest from there.”
Chul Mu-geuk had not been able to tear his gaze away from the red-tailed fox on my shoulder since earlier.
The Red Fox, Geumok, deliberately ignored his stare with her characteristic aloof expression.
“Akyu Dock, you say?”
“I see.”
Ilhyang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Akyu Dock.
It was a wharf located slightly downstream from the territory I had claimed.
Clearly within Ooryong Chae’s domain.
But.
‘If they come at me, all the better.’
If they were to strike first.
There was no reason for me to refuse.
I would simply destroy and absorb them.
So there was no hesitation.
“Steer the ship toward Akyu Dock.”
“Understood, men!”
At Captain Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam’s command, the crew began moving busily.
With favorable winds, it would still take at least two to three days from here.
Of course, that was assuming there were no obstructions.
* * *
And surprisingly, there were none.
‘I could have sworn they were watching us from a distance.’
Ooryong Chae.
It certainly looked like their vessel.
Yet they never approached.
Were they planning an ambush on the return journey?
They had kept watch, but made no move to attack. Striking first in their territory would lack justification.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Keep the ship moored at the dock.”
“Understood.”
“And pick out ten capable men—martial skill doesn’t matter, just sharp ones. We’ll need to purchase a cart and haul supplies.”
“Understood.”
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam swiftly summoned his trusted men and had them disembark with Ilhyang.
Watching the slightly tense Water Bandits, I turned to Chul Mu-geuk and asked.
“How much further from here?”
Akyu Dock was remarkably small in scale.
A large vessel like the Nata Yongwang couldn’t properly dock here.
So we had no choice but to split into smaller boats for the journey.
In short, it was a tiny fishing village on the outskirts of civilization.
“Not far from here. A day’s walk should suffice.”
“Then it would be better to purchase a cart here.”
“That would be wise. The destination lies deep within the Jinan Mountain Range.”
Now I finally knew our ultimate destination.
A Secret Realm in this world.
Even for Ilhyang, who was quite familiar with dungeons, this Secret Realm presented nothing but mysteries about how it might function.
“Understood. Shall we have a meal first?”
After handing money to his subordinates and instructing them to purchase a cart,
Ilhyang entered an Inn near the Dock.
“Welcome!”
As the Inn Server approached to take their order,
Ilhyang sat near a window seat and observed Chul Mu-geuk and his disciples.
Then he broached the most important matter.
“Shall we decide on the distribution beforehand before entering?”
“Hmm… I’d prefer to pay a fixed commission fee. Would that be possible?”
At Chul Mu-geuk’s words, Ilhyang tilted his head in confusion.
“I’m afraid that won’t be feasible, Senior. My services come at quite a premium.”
Was he joking?
Or was he testing him?
As Ilhyang watched with an unreadable expression,
Chul Mu-geuk exhaled a faint sigh and replied.
“I see. Very well then. If we clear that place together, I’ll give you half the value of whatever we obtain.”
“M-Master!”
Yong Seol-ak, his first disciple, looked flustered at such favorable terms, but Chul Mu-geuk regarded Ilhyang without wavering.
Ilhyang’s expression became momentarily intrigued, then he nodded.
“That’s reasonable. Let us proceed with that arrangement.”
“Uh… that worked out well, didn’t it, Master?”
Yang Cheon-jo asked with a vacant expression.
Chul Mu-geuk nodded with his characteristic impassive face.
And he replied,
“It’s not a poor trade, since we need not only the ability to open the door but also the capability to clear it.”
This wasn’t merely about opening the Secret Realm’s door—it was a transaction that included assistance in clearing it as well.
Chul Mu-geuk considered such concessions quite reasonable under these conditions.
A Secret Realm discovered by chance.
But since they didn’t know what dangers lurked within, adding reliable insurance was a sensible approach.
Moreover,
‘The rumors seem to have understated things.’
Though Chul Mu-geuk didn’t express it outwardly, he held Ilhyang in high regard internally.
The composure unique to the strong.
That was what he sensed in Ilhyang’s eyes and demeanor.
And Chul Mu-geuk favored such individuals.
‘This will be valuable experience for my disciples.’
Chul Mu-geuk of Heaven’s Way Three Absolutes was a renowned and capable wandering knight in Kangho, and being someone without great material desires, he made no further demands.
And Chul Mu-geuk did not know.
At this moment, I would come to understand just how wise a choice this transaction truly was.

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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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