Murim Login - Chapter 315
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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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Thud, thud.
Hyuk So-Pyeong’s footsteps were neither fast nor slow.
With every step he took, people’s gazes and murmurs followed.
“Causing such a commotion in broad daylight.”
“If that’s the best the Jongnam Sect’s most promising disciple can do, we can guess the quality of the rest.”
“Why is his cheek so swollen? I heard the Hwasan Sect’s top disciple was here. Maybe…”
Unconsciously, Hyuk So-Pyeong touched his cheek.
The throbbing pain wasn’t just from the stares. It was from the three slaps he had helplessly endured. And a calm voice echoed vividly in his mind.
‘I warned you. Be careful when you swing that sword.’
The successor chosen by the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang, from a small stream in Shanxi Province, known as the Hidden Dragon.
I had heard enough about him to be sick of it.
But.
“How can he be so strong?”
He couldn’t understand. He had entered the Jongnam Sect as a direct disciple of the sect leader and trained under full support.
Numerous ultimate martial arts and elixirs, even the title of the Ten Dragons, were natural to him.
But now, everything surrounding Hyuk So-Pyeong was dangerously shaking.
The cold expression of the head of the Xianan Inn he faced at the entrance was one of the signs.
“I heard you caused another commotion.”
“Commotion? There was a bit of noise, but nothing serious. Let’s move on.”
As Hyuk So-Pyeong tried to pass, the words from the head stopped him in his tracks.
“I warned you last time. If this happens again, I will formally protest to the Jongnam Sect.”
“Protest?”
Hyuk So-Pyeong, with a glint in his eye, glared at the head and opened his mouth.
“Our head seems to have become quite cocky.”
“Hyuk Sohyeop!”
“Don’t be arrogant.”
Hyuk So-Pyeong’s words came out with a growl through gritted teeth.
“Just because you placed the owner’s child in the Hwasan Sect, you think you can look down on the Jongnam Sect?”
“Your words are too much.”
The head’s face hardened, and Hyuk So-Pyeong twisted his lips.
“The ones being excessive are you. How dare you, mere innkeepers, look down on our sect. It seems you’ve overstepped your bounds.”
“Shall I relay those words directly to the owner?”
“Don’t forget to relay them. See you next time.”
Tap, tap.
Patting the head’s shoulder and walking away, Hyuk So-Pyeong had a bitter smile on his face.
‘I never thought I’d be disrespected by such people.’
Of course, the owner of the Xianan Inn had significant influence for a mere merchant. He controlled the entertainment district in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province.
But no matter how powerful he was in the business world, he was nothing more than a small flame in front of the Nine Great Schools.
To think he would be humiliated by an innkeeper, not even the owner himself.
The situation was becoming more absurd by the day.
In just over a year, the Jongnam Sect’s reputation had plummeted continuously.
The catalyst was Jeok Cheon-Gang, the Fire King, who had defeated the Furious Sword Saint in front of countless witnesses. Following that, the names of the Sword Saint Mae Jong-Hak and the Hwasan Dragon echoed.
How could two tigers exist on the same mountain?
Someone had to be the strong one, and someone had to be the weak one. The Jongnam Sect was playing the latter role.
‘It won’t be like this forever.’
Drip.
Blood trickled from his clenched fist.
The intoxication that had built up since last night was long gone. As Hyuk So-Pyeong looked up at the sky with a grim face, someone called out to him.
“Hyuk, gasp. Senior Brother, here you are.”
“Is that… Bong-Soo?”
Hyuk So-Pyeong looked at the familiar face with a surprised expression.
The young man, panting heavily, was a fellow disciple of the Jongnam Sect, though under a different master.
“You should be at the main sect. What brings you here?”
The main sect referred to the Jongnam Mountain, two days away from Xian. Bong-Soo answered.
“I’m on a mission. Not just me, the entire Taeul Sword Squad is here.”
“A mission? And the Taeul Sword Squad?”
The Taeul Sword Squad was a martial group composed of second-generation disciples of the Jongnam Sect. Though they couldn’t compare to the Plum Blossom Sword Squad of the Hwasan Sect, they were a proud force of the Jongnam Sect.
For them to leave the main sect and come all the way here was unusual.
As Hyuk So-Pyeong furrowed his brows in confusion, his fellow disciple spoke.
“We were ordered to escort you, Senior Brother.”
“Ordered? Who’s looking for me?”
“The Fourth Elder is currently in Xian.”
Hiss, Hyuk So-Pyeong’s eyes widened. There were only two people of the same rank that his fellow disciple could refer to as the Fourth Elder.
One was the Furious Sword Saint Song Il, who had been secluded due to internal injuries from the Fire King. The other was only one person.
‘But why is he in Xian…?’
Hyuk So-Pyeong quickly dismissed the thoughts swirling in his head.
If the Fourth Elder was looking for him, there was no time to waste. He feared the Fourth Elder more than his own master, the Sword King Feng Yun-Jian.
In fact, all the disciples of the Jongnam Sect felt the same. The anxious expression on his fellow disciple’s face was proof of that.
“Senior Brother, there is no time.”
“Lead the way to the Fourth Elder.”
Soon after, using his lightness skill, Hyuk So-Pyeong shot forward at high speed, his mind plagued by one question.
‘What could this be about?’
One thing was certain.
If the Fourth Elder, Taeul Mu-Jeong Sword, was involved, it was no trivial matter.
※ ※ ※ True Qi meditation is both dangerous and difficult.
Even when meditating alone, there is always the risk of Qi deviation. True Qi meditation involves guiding another’s Qi, making it even more challenging.
‘Especially when the target is the Fire King.’
The tension was on another level compared to performing True Qi meditation on the Peace Guild members.
I began to move my blazing Qi with the feeling of stepping on thin ice.
“Slowly. Carefully.”
I repeated those two words continuously. Without allowing any distractions, I drew in Jeok Cheon-Gang’s vast Qi.
Soon, the two Qis met.
However, there was no collision or rejection like with the Peace Guild members. They simply blended naturally.
As if they had been one from the beginning, merging seamlessly like long-lost twins reuniting.
We shared the same roots. Yes, Jeok Cheon-Gang and I shared the roots of the Yeolhwa Sect.
If someone untrained in Yeolhwa Divine Art had attempted this True Qi meditation, they would likely have succumbed to Qi deviation, unable to handle Jeok Cheon-Gang’s immense power.
‘It’s a great relief.’
Even though I had done this several times before, it always scared me.
Feeling my heart race, I began the proper True Qi meditation.
Following the principles of Yeolhwa Divine Art, I continuously circulated the extreme yang Qi that had become one.
One hour, maybe two.
I was so absorbed that I lost track of time. The seemingly endless True Qi meditation finally ended when all the energy returned to the dantian.
Ding.
Successfully completed True Qi Meditation!
The target’s condition has slightly improved!
Your blazing Qi has slightly increased!
“Whew…”
With my eyes closed, I regulated my breathing.
It wasn’t over yet. I had briefly merged with the immense Qi of the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang, feeling one with him.
The roots of the Yeolhwa Sect, the great tree trunk, and numerous branches. I clearly witnessed an aspect of an immense realm.
Realization comes in moments like these.
Just like now.
‘I’m finally grasping it.’
I saw it. The steps leading to a higher realm.
It was a small realization that couldn’t be taught.
[Ding.]
[Yeolhwa Divine Art has advanced to 7 stars!]
[Your Qi control and circulation have become freer!]
[You can perform the martial arts of the Yeolhwa Sect more powerfully and effectively!]
[You gained a large amount of experience and bonus points as a reward for your realization!]
[Level Up!]
Yes, this is it.
As the pleasant notification sounded, I opened my eyes. I had only taken one step up, but the difference was immense.
Sharper senses flooded me with information about everything around me.
The sweat-soaked body, the foul smell from the expelled impurities. And the sound of someone silently struggling behind me.
What the heck?
Turning around, I saw Cheong-Pung wrapping himself around Hyuk Mu-Jin like an anaconda, tightly covering his mouth and nose with his hands.
“What are you doing?”
Cheong-Pung answered with a bright smile.
“Hyuk Sohyeop was about to snore, so I stopped him.”
“Good job. That jerk almost caused me to deviate.”
That bastard Hyuk Mu-Jin was supposed to stand guard, but he was dreaming instead.
As I looked at Hyuk Mu-Jin, who was turning blue and struggling, I suddenly asked.
“Why cover his mouth too? Isn’t covering the nose enough?”
“He made noise from his mouth after I covered his nose!”
“So you just covered both?”
“Yeah!”
“Won’t he suffocate?”
“He can use the Ghost Breath Technique!”
“Just what is this Ghost Breath Technique?”
“It’s a technique where you stop breathing, halt your heartbeat, and lower your body temperature!”
“Amazing. Is that possible?”
“Of course. Hyuk Sohyeop is doing it right now!”
“Mu-Jin?”
“Yes! His heartbeat has already stopped.”
Thud. For a moment, I was speechless as I looked at Hyuk Mu-Jin.
While we talked, his struggling had stopped, and his limbs were limp.
“Hyuk, Mu-Jin!”
“He’ll be cold soon!”
“Let go of him, you idiot!”
“Huh? Isn’t it the Ghost Breath Technique? Hyuk Sohyeop? Can you hear me? Hyuk Sohyeop?”
Forget Ghost Breath Technique; this was more like Ghost Technique.
I struck Hyuk Mu-Jin’s chest with a powerful palm strike.
“Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Palm!”
Thud!
With a dull sound, Hyuk Mu-Jin’s gaping mouth spewed out a heavy breath.
“Gasp!”
“Oh, Mu-Jin! My left pinky finger!”
“Cough, cough! Captain?”
“Are you okay? Can you breathe?”
Hyuk Mu-Jin looked around in confusion. Attacked in his sleep, he seemed unable to grasp the situation.
“What happened? I was just on a cloud.”
“A cloud?”
This guy almost crossed over.
As I sighed in relief, Hyuk Mu-Jin continued.
“A man in white clothes came and started saying strange things. He talked about a little lamb or something.”
“A lamb?”
“Yes. He was about to hug me, but there were holes in his palms. I almost cut him down.”
Why did he appear there?
I was momentarily speechless when the door to the private room we were in slid open, and a dirty face peeked in.
Looking at the gloomy Cheong-Pung and the barely revived Hyuk Mu-Jin, Gung Gi-Bang muttered after scanning us one by one.
“What a mess.”
Being treated like a dog by a beggar felt awful.
Barely regaining my composure, I asked Gung Gi-Bang.
“Did you come back from begging?”
Gung Gi-Bang snapped back.
“What are you talking about! I was at the Xian branch of the Beggars’ Sect!”
Last night, I decided to rest at the Xianan Inn to recuperate. I had also asked Gung Gi-Bang to gather information, so he must have visited the Xian branch of the Beggars’ Sect for that.
Since beggars are everywhere in the world, there’s a branch of the Beggars’ Sect everywhere.
In terms of sheer numbers, they’re the largest sect in the world.
“So, did you get any useful information? For instance, about the whereabouts of the Divine Physician.”
“I did. Not about the Divine Physician, though.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Gung Gi-Bang continued.
“This information reeks.”
“Sorry, tell me.”
Only after receiving five silver coins did the sulking Gung Gi-Bang start talking.