Murim Login - Chapter 308
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I will re-publish the earlier chapters to fix those issues with the translation. I apologize in advance if it did not meet your standard. Please comment the chapters you find that is lacking in quality so I can fix them ASAP. Thanks for understanding!
Current re-published chapters (270 - 305)
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“Go to Sichuan. If anyone can find a way, it will be the Divine Doctor.”
The Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang is one of the top ten doctors in the world.
For someone of his stature to speak with such certainty, urging me to find the Divine Doctor, whose medical skills are unrivaled, gave me hope.
‘I see a possibility.’
If I can find the Divine Doctor, I can save Jeok Cheon-Gang.
As I looked at Jeok Cheon-Gang, who was lying there as if in a deep sleep, I bowed deeply to the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang.
“Thank you sincerely.”
The Divine Doctor is a figure shrouded in mystery, with no one knowing his true identity.
Without the token provided by the Eccentric Doctor, I would have felt like I was searching for a needle in a haystack.
“Ahem, is that all?”
“Should I bring you a souvenir?”
The Eccentric Doctor chuckled at my joking response.
“You cheeky brat. Stop wasting time with nonsense and start packing your things.”
“Oh, right.”
The journey from Henan to Sichuan is at least several thousand *li.* Even with the use of martial arts like *Gyeongshinbeop* (Swift Body Technique), it would take nearly a month. [1]
‘And there’s no guarantee I’ll find the Divine Doctor quickly.’
I glanced at the still-open quest window and muttered to myself.
***
*Quest: Finding Mr. Shin in Sichuan*
*You have acquired the only clue left by the Divine Doctor.*
*The Divine Doctor is the greatest physician in the world. As of now, he is the only hope to awaken Jeok Cheon-Gang.*
*Scour the vast land of Sichuan to find him!*
*Grade: Extreme*
*Restriction: Only those who possess the [Trace of the Divine Doctor]*
*Objective: Find the Divine Doctor and receive treatment (Incomplete)*
*Reward: ???*
*Failure: The death of Jeok Cheon-Gang*
***
The quest grade is absurd.
Finding one person is labeled as ‘Extreme.’
Luckily, I was able to identify Sichuan as his location thanks to the clue left long ago, but the sheer size of the area makes it an incredibly difficult task.
‘Sichuan in the modern world is about twice the size of the Korean Peninsula, right?’
Murim and the modern world are completely separate, but from what I’ve experienced so far, the size of the land and the way people live are similar.
Thinking about finding someone whose name and face I don’t even know in such a vast place is overwhelming.
‘It’d be easier to find Mr. Kim in Seoul.’
But there’s no choice. This isn’t a matter of options. I must, by any means necessary, find the Divine Doctor to save Jeok Cheon-Gang.
The time left is six months.
With consistent acupuncture treatment, I could buy one or two more months, but that’s all the time Jeok Cheon-Gang has.
‘I will find him within the deadline.’
To do that, I need to shorten the time required. After quickly thinking it over, I spoke up.
“May I ask for one more favor?”
This task might consume a lot of manpower and resources.
However, Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak offered a solution without hesitation.
“I’ll write letters to the Tang Clan of Sichuan, as well as the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect.”
“Thank you.”
The Tang Clan of Sichuan is one of the Five Great Families. With the additional cooperation of the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect, both prominent members of the Nine Great Sects, this task will become much easier.
But my request didn’t stop there.
“Since you’re already helping, could I ask for a few more things?”
“Hmm, with the recent massacre at Shaolin, the atmosphere is tense. Everyone is wary of Amcheon and the Demonic Sect’s resurgence, so I can’t promise much. For martial artists with sect affiliations, their sect comes first.”
“I don’t need that much help.”
“Tell me what you need. As long as it’s within Mount Hua’s power to help, I’ll do it.”
“Just send a few people with me. That’s all I need.”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and named a few individuals.
* * *
A little later, Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak and the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang were walking slowly, conversing as they left the hall.
“Are you okay with this? Meeting the Divine Doctor has been your lifelong wish.”
“A lifelong wish…”
The Eccentric Doctor’s eyes grew distant as he recalled old memories.
“Yes, it was. I gave up my government post and took up acupuncture because of him.”
The Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang was once a promising scholar.
His grandfather was the head of the highest educational institution, the *Guozijian* (National Academy), and was also a tutor to the emperor during his time as the crown prince.
It was no surprise that his father and two older brothers also entered government service and made names for themselves.
Had the plague not broken out the year the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang passed the state examination, he would have likely followed the same path.
“Countless people lost their lives. I was tasked with sorting the dead from the living and those who were beyond saving.”
As a young man who had just entered government service, the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang had no doubts.
He believed that the emperor, in his great wisdom, would issue orders to distribute relief grain and send royal doctors to quell the plague. He believed that the officials would do their utmost to save the suffering people.
“It was an illusion. While the people were dying from the plague, the emperor was expanding the palace for a new concubine, and the resources meant for the people were divided among the powerful.”
“What did you do?”
“I turned lies into truth. By my hand, tens of thousands of *seok* of grain, wealth, and medicine were recorded as having been distributed to the sick, and the royal doctors who attended the noble families were portrayed as true physicians struggling to quell the plague.” [2]
“That must have been painful.”
“It was agonizing. When I returned home after resigning from my post, I found that the emperor had sent royal doctors to care for my grandfather’s minor cold.”
That’s when I first realized that even life has a price.
The Eccentric Doctor’s hand, which was clutching his acupuncture kit, turned white.
“It was then that I heard about the Divine Doctor. A physician who risked his life to treat the sick at the epicenter of the plague. A man who single-handedly quelled the plague and saved thousands of lives.”
He immediately entered the palace, destroyed all the records he had written, and left the court. He had to sever ties with his family, but that didn’t matter.
He put down his brush and picked up acupuncture needles, studying not the Confucian classics, but medical texts.
“I was often called a quack. There were times when I saved patients from the brink of death, and many times when I couldn’t save them and had to let them go.”
As a physician, he witnessed countless births, deaths, illnesses, and recoveries.
And twenty years later, the once-promising young bureaucrat became known as the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang.
“It was all possible because of the Divine Doctor. Without him, I would have become a puppet of the corrupt court.”
Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak smiled.
“The Divine Doctor gave birth to another Divine Doctor.”
“Please, I’m satisfied being called the Eccentric Doctor. There is only one Divine Doctor in the world.”
The eyes of the Eccentric Doctor of Luoyang, who was notorious for his grumpiness, sparkled like those of a boy.
Seeing this, Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak couldn’t help but chuckle.
“My, my. Should I take back the Divine Doctor’s token, then?”
“Heaven is unreachable because it is heaven. If I truly wanted to find him, I would have gone to Sichuan ten years ago when I received the token. My place is here. And…”
The Eccentric Doctor added with a bitter smile.
“At this age, what face could a quack who can’t even cure one patient show to the Divine Doctor? This is enough.”
“Thank you. With the demonic forces running rampant, if Great Hero Jeok recovers, all of Murim will owe you a great debt.”
“Oh, come now, you don’t have to say that.”
The Eccentric Doctor waved his hand dismissively, but a mischievous expression suddenly appeared on his face.
“Are you practicing in advance?”
“Practicing for what?”
“The weight of being the leader of Murim, haha.”
“Oh, that?”
Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression.
“I have no idea who’s spreading those rumors. I’ve already turned it down several times…”
“Right now, you’re the most suitable person for the position.”
“Don’t say that. People are just anxious and making poor choices.”
The massacre at Shaolin was a wake-up call.
The emergence of Amcheon, a dark force.
With this previously hidden enemy revealing itself, the leaders of the righteous Murim began to cautiously bring up one topic.
The reformation of the Murim Alliance.
“There are others more suited for that position. I’m certainly not one of them.”
“Is that what you really think?”
The Eccentric Doctor pointed to the sky.
It was still early dawn. The sky, just beginning to lighten, still held the moon and stars.
“The Sun God has hidden his face, and the Ten Kings have grown old. From what I’ve seen, you have both the strength and the righteous heart needed to lead the Murim Alliance as its symbol.”
“Good grief. There are so many people in Murim; how could I be chosen as the leader?”
“Then who do you think is suitable?”
Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak paused, deep in thought, before answering.
“Well, there’s Thunderbolt King Paeng right nearby.”
“His temperament is too fiery to be the leader.”
“What’s wrong with Paeng? I like his straightforwardness. He’s manly.”
“And he’ll probably burn down the Murim Alliance as well, manly as it may be.”
“Then there’s Master Zhuge, who once held the position of Chief Strategist for the Murim Alliance. With his unparalleled martial arts and tactical brilliance, he was one of the Ten Kings…”
“He’s already passed away.”
“What? When did that happen?”
“Over ten years ago.”
“Huh…”
It’s been so long since I’ve been out in the world that I don’t even know who’s alive or dead.
Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak, who had been lost in thought, asked.
“Do you know what happened to the other two of the Three Stars?”
“Bow Star has been missing for over twenty years, and the other one… well, he’s not even worth considering.”
“Why not?”
The Eccentric Doctor looked at Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Who would ever suggest that Killing Star should be the leader of the Murim Alliance?”
“What’s wrong with him? His martial arts are unmatched, and his meticulous nature makes him perfect for the job.”
“It’s precisely his unmatched martial arts and meticulous nature that make him a killer. How could the greatest assassin in the world be the leader of the Murim Alliance?”
“I see. When you put it that way, it makes sense.”
As Sword Saint Mae Jong-hak scratched his head in confusion, the Eccentric Doctor thought to himself.
‘Is the righteous Murim really okay like this?’
Meanwhile, Jin Tae-Kyung’s preparations for departure were progressing quickly.
* * *
The first person to rush over when they heard I was leaving was Jin Wi-Kyung.
“Little brother…”
I responded as I stuffed my belongings into my bag.
“Yes?”
“Your big brother just heard some unbelievable news.”
“Believe it. It’s true.”
“W-where are you going?”
“Sichuan.”
“F-for how long?”
“Six months. Maybe a couple more if it takes longer.”
“No!”
Jin Wi-Kyung cried out in distress.
“How can you leave at a time like this, when it’s so dangerous?!”
“Sichuan.”
“I know! That’s why you can’t go!”
“I’m going.”
Jin Wi-Kyung declared with a determination I hadn’t seen before.
“I forbid it.”
“Well, I forbid your forbidding.”
“With Father absent, as the acting head of the family, you cannot defy my orders!”
“What happens if I defy them?”
“I’ll have no choice but to punish you according to family law.”
“Then take me off the family registry.”
“How can you say such a thing!”
From his expression, you’d think the world was going to end in ten minutes.
I ignored the shocked Jin Wi-Kyung and got to my feet.
Jeok Cheon-Gang, still unconscious, was strapped securely to my back with silk.
‘It might be too late if I wait to bring the Divine Doctor back.’
So, I chose to take him with me to Sichuan.
“Up we go.”
Even using martial arts to move quickly won’t be a problem at this point.
I sighed as I looked at Jin Wi-Kyung, who was gazing at me with pleading eyes.
“Don’t worry too much. The things you’re imagining won’t happen.”
“At least take the Jinryongdae (Jin Dragon Squad) with you.”
No matter how elite the Jin Dragon Squad is, they’ll only slow me down now.
I threw my fully packed bag at one particular person and said,
“That’s why the vice-captain of the Jin Dragon Squad is coming with me.”
Hyeok Mu-Jin, who caught the bag, thumped his chest confidently.
“Just leave it to me, young master!”
“…Young master?”
“Oh, I mean, please take care of my little brother.”
Jin Wi-Kyung, clearly unimpressed, patted Hyeok Mu-Jin on the shoulder.
“Benefactor! When do we leave? Huh? Benefactor?”
“We’re leaving now, so please, shut up.”
Was it the right decision to bring him along?
I suddenly felt a pang of regret, but for this mission, which required a small, elite group, Cheongpung was the perfect fit.
‘His skills are no joke.’
If something goes wrong on this journey, Cheongpung will be worth his weight in gold.
“Sichuan! The Divine Doctor! I’m so excited!”
There’s still time to leave him behind…
I stepped out of the hall, conflicted.
At the entrance, the last member of our Sichuan expedition was waiting.
“Long time no see.”
The figure replied with a gloomy expression.
“Calling me was a bad choice.”
“No, you need to come along.”
“I’ve only mastered the *Manlichupung Sinbeop* (Ten Thousand Mile Pursuing Wind Technique) up to the fifth stage…”
“W-what?! How did you know that?”
“…Have you mastered anything beyond the fifth stage?”
The infamous Five Star, One Sound Villain.
No, it’s the last member of the group, the *Hugae* (Afterwind) of the Beggar Clan, Gung Ki-Bang.
With Hyeok Mu-Jin, Cheongpung, and Gung Ki-Bang together, this lineup is something else. I sighed as I spoke.
“Alright, let’s go, you Bermuda Triangle of a group.”
***
Footnotes:
[1] Li (里) is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. Historically, one li is approximately 500 meters or about a third of a mile. However, in ancient contexts, the exact length of a li could vary depending on the period and location.
[2] Seok (石) is a traditional Korean and East Asian unit of volume used primarily for measuring grain. One seok is approximately equivalent to 180 liters or about 5.1 U.S. bushels. In historical contexts, it was a common unit used to quantify large amounts of rice or other grains.