Murim Login - Chapter 348
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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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The men dressed in black stood in neat rows and columns. The massive assembly area was filled with their heads, numbering in the hundreds.
**Presence**
The suffocating presence emitted from these men, who stood like iron towers with deep-set eyes, engulfed the space.
One towering figure stood out among them all.
“Three Monsters (三怪)”
A deep, resonant voice filled with immense energy echoed, causing the men in black to shudder. Even the three elderly men at the forefront were no exception.
They stepped forward, and without needing any cue, they prostrated themselves at the feet of the middle-aged man, Seocheon Demon Lord.
“Junior disciples of Mount Giryeon greet the Seocheon Demon Lord.”
Their faces, body shapes, and voices were astonishingly similar; they were brothers born from the same womb. Their mother died giving birth to them, and their father abandoned the young children. The three brothers, left in the desolate land of Cheonghae, hid in the vast mountains to escape the disdain of others.
One day, as they were forgotten by everyone, the three brothers returned, known as the Three Monsters of Giryeon (祁連三怪).
“It’s been a long time since I last saw you. You’ve aged a lot. I should call you the Three Elders now.”
“No, no, my lord. How could we, with you still around?”
The Three Monsters of Giryeon had once drenched Cheonghae Castle in blood. However, in front of the Seocheon Demon Lord, they were nothing but meek lambs.
The Three Monsters swallowed hard and, as if they were one person, spoke simultaneously.
“But, my lord, what happened to your arm…?”
The Seocheon Demon Lord, staring at his empty sleeve, answered in a dry voice.
“I paid the price with the lives of two people.”
“Does that mean…”
“The two old men from the Tang clan and Mount Emei are no longer of this world.”
The air inside the assembly quivered with agitation. The Poison King and the Celestial Fiend were renowned figures in martial arts history, giants who dominated their era.
However, they both lost their lives to one man.
The Three Monsters and the men in black gazed at their leader with awe.
“Then…”
“Yes.”
The Seocheon Demon Lord’s eyes gleamed.
“The time has finally come.”
* * *
I am currently sitting with my eyes closed. In the quiet darkness, I focus my mind. A voice echoes in my ears, and a figure emerges from the darkness.
Not too tall, not too short. The young man, hiding claws behind a bright smile, is Cheongpung.
“First, I’ll target your shoulder, chest, and abdomen with the Hidden Tiger Fist.”
In the darkness, the imagined figure of Cheongpung moved.
He was fast. His blurred fist rushed at me in a single step, closing the distance. I could almost hear the sharp, fierce sound slicing through the air.
“I can easily dodge that. Step back diagonally and strike at the side.”
“I’ll deflect the force with the Random Flower Hand and counter with the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swords.”
“What technique?”
“The Ultimate Cut.”
The Ultimate Cut was one of the most powerful moves among the Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swords.
Even during our fierce duels in the past, I chose to evade it rather than block it.
“Aren’t you coming on too strong?”
“I have to give my all, considering my opponent.”
“Didn’t you say I was your benefactor?”
“That’s one thing, and this is another. Hehe. Anyway, it’s the Ultimate Cut.”
The Ultimate Cut. It wasn’t hard to imagine how he would attack.
In the darkness, Cheongpung, deflecting the force with the Random Flower Hand, reaches for his waist, and a flash of light bursts forth.
With a chilling sound, a horizontal sword energy rises before my eyes.
How should I respond? The decision didn’t take long.
“I’ll parry it. Fire Dragon Spear’s first move, Fire Dragon’s Tail.”
“You won’t be able to block it.”
“When was the last time we fought?”
“About a year ago.”
“Short if short, long if long. It felt long to me, as if each day was ten years.”
“Think again. Can I really not block it?”
Cheongpung was silent for a moment before answering. His voice had deepened.
“I was wrong. You, my benefactor, can do it.”
“Then let’s continue.”
Cheongpung and I delved deeply into our martial discussion. Although we hadn’t fought in over a year, from the Great Sacred Assembly until now, we were well aware of each other’s skills and levels, making this possible.
“Three steps to the left. Plum Blossom Five Petal.”
“Plum Blossom Five Petal is a splendid technique, but if I just watch out for vital points, it’s fine. I follow up with Flaming Fist to the chest.”
In our imagined forms, we exchanged blows, advancing and retreating. In no time, we had exchanged over five hundred moves. Suddenly, Cheongpung spoke up.
“I’ll use Dark Fragrance Dart to get close and then the Three-Plum Blossom Sword.”
Suddenly?
Cheongpung was weaker in close combat than I was. Although he had mastered excellent techniques of the Mount Hua Sect, his school’s roots in swordsmanship meant the Honghua Gate was slightly superior in unarmed combat.
Despite this, he dared to engage me closely.
‘Huh, I figured as much.’
I laughed helplessly and opened my eyes. Seeing no response for a while, Cheongpung squinted his eyes and asked.
“Benefactor, why?”
“That’s enough for today.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m reluctant.”
“What?”
“Let’s fight for real next time, not just in this discussion.”
Ending our sparring sessions with just imagined techniques felt too unsatisfying. It was my way of saying we should have a proper, all-out match with real weapons.
Cheongpung, though pure-hearted, wasn’t a fool. He would understand…
“Why clash weapons? Isn’t that for fighting?”
Or maybe he was just a fool.
As I regretted my hasty judgment, Cheongpung kept pestering me.
“I’m bored, benefactor. Can’t we continue?”
“Hey, Cheong, did you hear about that?”
“What?”
I stared at Cheongpung intently and spoke.
“I heard there’s a former royal chef at the Tang clan.”
“A royal chef?”
“They say his cooking is exquisite, especially the sweets.”
“Ugh.”
Cheongpung’s eyes momentarily glazed over, but he soon shook his head vigorously.
“No, I must stay here with you and protect Elder Jeok.”
“It’s fine. I’ll stay here anyway…”
“Then I’ll go!”
“Oh, okay.”
Whoosh.
What the? Was that his bullet-speed technique?
As Cheongpung disappeared at the speed of light, I looked around.
This space, a mix of eerie chill and stench, was the underground dungeon where I had stayed since the treatment began, not leaving even once.
“It’s only been four days.”
My solitary murmur sounded like a sigh.
Time in the underground dungeon passed incredibly slowly. It wasn’t just because there wasn’t a single ray of sunlight but also because of the anxiety and tension felt only by those who waited.
Perhaps that’s why every day felt like my blood was drying up.
“I should’ve just stayed in front of the treatment room.”
I shook my head. Even if I loitered in front of the treatment room, there was nothing I could do.
Already, my senses, sensitive to the extreme, would catch the slightest noise from inside, and unable to bear it, I would end up wandering the underground dungeon, just like now.
‘But it’s too quiet now that I’m alone.’
With Cheongpung, who had stuck to me like glue for the past three days, gone, I felt strangely empty.
Since even the palace elders were forbidden to enter the dungeon by the Poison King’s orders, I was completely alone.
‘Or not alone, if you think about it.’
I wasn’t referring to the Divine Doctor and Mun-kyung, who were focused on treating Jeok Cheon-Gang.
No, my companions were the dozen or so prisoners awaiting their deaths in the dungeon. They were my roommates.
‘Not the best roommates, though.’
They weren’t just roommates who didn’t flush the toilet or constantly brought lovers over; they were all infamous demons of the martial world.
Being in the same space as these people wasn’t pleasant.
The most annoying part was…
Ding, ding, ding.
‘That I have to feed them.’
I frowned at the familiar sound of the bell.
With the palace elders gone, someone had to take care of the prisoners’ lives and meals, and that someone was me.
The bell just now was the signal for mealtime from outside.
‘At least it’s only once a day.’
Still, it was a chore. I sighed and began to move.
In a corner of the dungeon, an old wooden barrel awaited me, filled with a mix of food scraps.
They were sent down through a hole connected to the outside. Calling it a meal was an overstatement; it was more like slop.
‘Seeing no one else around, it’s feeding time.’
Three days ago, the Poison King had specifically used the term “feeding” for a reason.
The Tang clan treated the prisoners like dogs or pigs.
No, dogs and pigs had it better. At least the livestock wouldn’t have the Poison King smiling eerily while brandishing various torture devices for a surprise event.
“Alright.”
I carried the slop around the dungeon like a zookeeper.
Beyond the thick bars sat prisoners bound by iron chains, and all I had to do was open the door, scoop a ladleful, and pour it into the worn bowls in front of them.
Each time, the prisoners, weakened from prolonged imprisonment and torture, would flash their eyes and try to talk to me.
“An unfamiliar face.”
“I’ve been here for three days, what nonsense.”
“Free me. I will teach you martial arts that will rule the world.”
“Judging by where you are, your martial arts must be worthless.”
“You… If I ever get out of here, I’ll rip you to shreds.”
“Oh, impressive. I’ll be sure to pass that on to the palace elders.”
“Please, no!”
The persuasion never ceased. Some offered to teach me their martial arts, while a middle-aged woman, rumored to have sucked the essence of Tang clan members with her skills, tried to seduce me.
“Child, come closer. I’ll show you heaven.”
“Kurra, Asuka, Uehara.”
“Huh?”
“The mainland has a long way to go compared to island countries. Stop babbling and just eat.”
“Hey, hey! You brat!”
Ignoring the angry shouts, I moved to the last cell.
In the most secluded and damp corner was an eccentric old man with disheveled hair.
‘The calmest person in this dungeon.’
He was also the most dangerous. The severed tendons and the much heavier and sturdier restraints than the others were proof of that.
Thunk.
As he stared at the bowl of indeterminate food, he suddenly spoke.
“They were talking about me.”
I paused for a moment.
Not because it was the first time I heard his voice in three days, but because I couldn’t understand what he meant.
“Talking about you? When did I?”
“Three days ago. The palace elder mentioned it.”
Palace elder? The old man?
Thinking back, I looked at the old man with renewed interest.
“Ah, so you’re the one who urinated on the Konlun Sect’s plaque…”
“Yes. I am Heavenly Strength Demon.”
“So, you’re the one who defiled the Konlun Sect.”
The old man’s eyelids trembled slightly.