Murim Login - Chapter 319
Release schedule is every day except weekends around 5PM MST.
You can also join our Discord here.
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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You can also join our Discord here.
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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“Ju Hwa-ran, the Young Mistress of Yongbong Escort Agency, pays her respects to the great hero, Hwangbo Eom, the Taeeul Mujeong Sword.”
Ju Hwa-ran made a precise and respectful bow.
Hwangbo Eom, known as the Taeeul Mujeong Sword, was indeed worthy of his reputation. Just meeting his gaze made her chest tighten and her breath catch.
“The best swordsman of Jongnam… and one of the pillars supporting the current Murim world alongside the Nine Schools and Five Great Clans.”
The person before her was the foremost master of Jongnam Sect, one of those pillars. The weight of his name alone was enough to crush her spirit.
“But it’s okay.”
She had completed a mission that everyone had deemed impossible.
That was why she could stand tall, even if it was the Wind and Cloud Sword Lord who was here instead of the Taeeul Mujeong Sword.
“So, did you bring the requested item?”
“Of course.”
Ju Hwa-ran answered as she took out a wooden box containing the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng from her bosom. The box was tightly wrapped with twine, and small characters were written on it.
Shandong Province, Sung Soojang Family.
Hwangbo Eom nodded after checking the writing.
“No doubt about it. It’s indeed from the Sung Soojang Family.”
People say that while Sichuan has the Tang Family, Shandong has the Sung Soojang Family.
The Sung Soojang Family was renowned for their medical skills. Unlike the martial family Tang Family, they were a highly esteemed family rooted in medicine.
The Jongnam Sect purchased the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng through the Sung Soojang Family and entrusted its transportation to the Yongbong Escort Agency.
“The current head of the Sung Soojang Family, the Great Physician himself, personally harvested and signed for this Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
“Oh, the Great Physician himself?”
“Yes. Not only that, several notaries, including myself, witnessed it.”
“Quite thorough for someone so young.”
Hwangbo Eom stroked his white beard with his wrinkled fingers.
“I’ve heard that the daughter of the Gentleman Sword is a remarkable woman. Thank you for handling this difficult task so reliably.”
“Our Yongbong Escort Agency does not tolerate even the slightest mistake in our deliveries.”
“That’s why they call you the best in Shaanxi. My own escort agency can’t compare to Yongbong Escort Agency. Hahaha.”
Ju Hwa-ran’s heart was pounding.
Was it because of Hwangbo Eom’s praise?
No, it wasn’t. It was due to a chest-tightening feeling unrelated to his compliment. She knew what this feeling was called.
Anxiety.
“Something’s wrong.”
It was a premonition, almost like foresight. However, before Ju Hwa-ran could pinpoint the source of her anxiety, Hwangbo Eom spoke.
“Well, we only have the final procedure left.”
They needed to verify the item and leave their signatures to confirm the delivery.
A simple procedure that wouldn’t take more than a few minutes, thus concluding the long and arduous journey.
That’s how it should be.
… Or will it?
A chill ran down Ju Hwa-ran’s spine.
As she stood frozen, Hwangbo Eom’s voice pierced through.
“What are you doing? Show us the item.”
Ju Hwa-ran slowly raised her head.
His voice was kind and gentle, but the old man’s dark eyes glistened with a peculiar light.
With a voice squeezed out from her red lips, she spoke.
“…Hwangbo daehyup.”
“Open the box. With your own hands.”
Ju Hwa-ran realized the source of her anxiety; there was no way back for her now.
Ultimately, she had only one choice left.
Her slender fingers began to untie the knot. The wooden box she had kept close to her chest for the past few days now felt unfamiliar, as if she was seeing it for the first time.
“No, it can’t be. There’s no way…”
And then, at that moment.
Click.
The box finally opened, revealing its contents. The fresh fragrance, the straight root, and the frosty white body.
It was unmistakably Snow Ginseng.
However, everyone who saw it gasped and widened their eyes.
In the suffocating silence, Hwangbo Eom’s gentle voice echoed.
“Interesting.”
With a flick of his wrinkled fingers, a powerful energy emanated.
Staring at the Snow Ginseng, which floated mid-air due to his immense power, he continued.
“A Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng… Is this what I’m seeing with my failing eyes?”
Everyone knew who he was addressing.
All eyes turned in one direction. Huh Joon, the chief escort, whose face was pale, and Song Il-seom, who stood there nonchalantly as if it had nothing to do with him, also watched.
At the end of dozens of gazes was Ju Hwa-ran, standing with her eyes closed, pale-faced.
‘It’s over.’
The moment she saw the Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng in the box, she couldn’t face the reality and closed her eyes.
Something that shouldn’t and couldn’t have happened had happened.
‘I saw it myself and kept it close. Where did it go wrong?’
The past flashed before her eyes like a lantern in the darkness.
She had staked the fate of Yongbong Escort Agency on this mission.
The amount Jongnam Sect had paid for this task was a vast sum. However, if they failed, they would have to pay ten times the amount in penalties.
And now, this double-edged sword had pierced the heart of her and the Yongbong Escort Agency.
“I won’t ask how this happened. I’m not interested in the extraordinary circumstances that led to the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng turning into Hundred-Year Snow Ginseng. However…”
Hwangbo Eom looked at the members of the Yongbong Escort Agency, including Ju Hwa-ran, with a gaze filled with feigned pity.
“We must receive compensation for this matter.”
The value of the lost Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and the tenfold penalty for contract breach.
In total, it amounted to an astronomical sum of two hundred thousand nyang. They would have to sell off most of the Yongbong Escort Agency’s assets to cover this amount.
Realizing this, blood trickled from Ju Hwa-ran’s lips, and the face of the chief escort, Huh Joon, turned ashen.
“Hwa, Hwangbo daehyup. This is…”
“Two hundred thousand nyang. No negotiations.”
“A… Aah.”
The escort guards who followed Ju Hwa-ran let out groans of despair.
All except for one, Song Il-seom.
Despite the desperate crisis his escort agency faced, he showed no reaction. He merely twitched his lips once.
Noticing this, Hwangbo Eom offered Ju Hwa-ran a cup of tea.
“Have a cup. There’s nothing better than a warm cup of tea when you’re feeling unsettled.”
Ju Hwa-ran’s long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes and stared at Hwangbo Eom.
“Is this… the way of Jongnam?”
“Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hwangbo Eom laughed and sipped his tea.
Still far off. The young mistress, who had inherited her father’s position, was still inexperienced.
Yet, for some reason, the flavor and aroma of the tea in his mouth were incomparable to before.
“Very good. Feels like thirty years ago.”
He glanced at Ju Hwa-ran.
“Why not drink it before it gets cold?”
Ju Hwa-ran bit her lip silently.
She had been completely outplayed. Despite her utmost caution, she had fallen into this trap.
For two years, she had led the escort agency in place of her father, the Gentleman Sword Ju Ho-gun. Though she faced many trials and errors, never had she felt this desperate.
‘Can we rise again like before?’
Though she had stumbled, she had never fallen. However, two hundred thousand nyang had the power to crush the Yongbong Escort Agency completely.
‘We can pay the penalty.’
It was possible.
If they sold all their lands and properties at a low price, and let go of the hundreds of guards, staff, and escorts.
After that, Yongbong Escort Agency would be left as an empty shell.
‘Is it really over? Just like this?’
Hwangbo Eom watched Ju Hwa-ran with an amused look.
He had heard that the young mistress of Yongbong Escort Agency was quite talented.
But to him, she was still just an inexperienced child.
‘Poor thing.’
Hwangbo Eom was secretly laughing when suddenly, his gaze turned toward the door. He sensed the presence of several people approaching.
‘This…’
Even someone as powerful as Hwangbo Eom couldn’t easily dismiss this aura. It was a force comparable to the elders of the Nine Schools.
The great energy gradually approached and soon stopped right in front of the door.
‘Could it be the Hwasan Sect?’
Hwangbo Eom’s prediction was off.
The door creaked open.
“Oh, I was just craving tea, and here’s a tea house.”
A towering young man entered first. As Hwangbo Eom gazed at Jin Taekyung, his eyes deepened.
At a glance, it was an unusual scene. Numerous swordsmen stood around, creating a heavy atmosphere.
‘Ju Hwa-ran, or rather, Yongbong Escort Agency?’
As the question arose, he noticed. On a table surrounded by people, slender fingers trembling.
Though he had only seen them once, he knew who they belonged to.
‘How curious.’
“Hmm, did you cut your hand?”
As I scratched the back of my head, people’s gazes flew toward me.
A middle-aged man, who seemed to be the owner of the tea house, quickly approached and bowed.
“Sir, I’m sorry, but we’re currently full…”
“There’s a seat right there.”
“That’s not in use.”
“Then I’ll stand and drink.”
At that moment, a martial artist, who seemed to be a disciple of Jongnam Sect, approached me with a firm step.
“Are you a martial artist?”
“No. I’m a regular person.”
The martial artist looked me up and down with eyes that seemed to say, ‘What a weirdo.’
“I don’t know who you are, but a distinguished guest is here, so it’s best you leave.”
“I’m an important person at home too. And there’s plenty of space here.”
“You’re being annoying. I’m a disciple of Jongnam Sect. You must understand now, so leave.”
“Why do you keep telling me to go away? I just want to have some tea.”
From behind, Cheong Pung cheerfully shouted.
“Savior! Let’s have sweets too!”
“Sweets? Do they sell sweets here, Moo-jin?”
“Is that even a question?”
What kind of people are these?
The face of the Jongnam Sect disciple stiffened after spotting someone.
“Hwa, Hwasan Il-hak Baek Mu-seong!”
As expected, it seemed like many people knew Baek Mu-seong’s face since this was the Hwasan Sect’s home ground.
In any case, the disciple’s shout was effective. Unlike before, everyone was now looking at us.
Among those gazes were two particularly intense ones.
I waved to one of them.
“Oh, we meet again.”
“…Jin Taekyung?”
Ju Hwa-ran, with a pale face, looked at me with wide eyes.
Opposite her was an old man with a long white beard.
After smiling slightly at Ju Hwa-ran, I turned to the old man.
“Is there a problem with Miss Ju?”
The old man, Hwangbo Eom, stroked his beard and laughed.
“An interesting fellow has appeared.”