Murim Login - Chapter 364
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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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I had a very long dream. A dream where I walked through a century.
The vagabond who wandered the continent and begged for food met a master, learned martial arts, and became renowned. One day, he saw his younger self in a dirty young beggar who was stuffing a dirt-covered dumpling into his mouth.
“What is your name?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Jang Cheon. From now on, your name is Jang Cheon.”
These are dark and cold memories. On the day the heavy rain poured, his disciple, who was like family, left, and the master was left behind.
It was a very long time before he reappeared in the world.
And then…
“A fascinating guy. Who might you be?”
“Jin Taekyung. I’m Jin Taekyung from the Tae Won Jin family.”
He met a person.
A young guy with a rebellious attitude and defiant eyes that couldn’t be hidden, which he didn’t like.
But why was it? Every time he looked around, that kid was always there, and he kept catching his eye.
Perhaps it started from that moment. When his heart began to stir.
“Old as I am, suffering from senility, can you really learn martial arts from me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll say it once more…”
“I believe in you, Master. That’s enough for me.”
In the dark and cold memories, light and warmth seeped in.
He never regretted his decision on that day for a moment. Even in the final moment when he performed the Fire God’s Ghost Dance (화신귀무).
“How is it? Fire God’s Ghost Dance. Isn’t it amazing?”
“It’s amazing.”
That single statement was enough. There was nothing more he desired. He had avenged his best friend’s death and saved his one and only disciple.
However, the enemy unbelievably rose again, and that’s where his memory ended.
In the darkness where everything vanished, he pondered. Am I dead? Where is this place where there is no Yama (염라) or the dead (망자)? [1]
“Could it be that I am wandering the netherworld?”
The question soon disappeared. At some point, he forgot the passage of time. He even forgot who he was and how he had lived.
No, it was at that very moment when he was about to forget.
“Master, did you know?”
A distant voice echoed. A voice he seemed to have heard somewhere. But a single word from someone he had never heard before.
“I always wanted to call you Master.”
He realized. And at the same time, he remembered the person he had momentarily forgotten. The strong dam of memory collapsed and engulfed him.
“I felt the same way.”
Fwoosh.
A flame arose.
Hands engulfed in fierce fire tore through the void. The darkness surrounding all directions shattered and light seeped in.
As if to tell him that he was not yet ready to awaken, the passage was narrow. However, he stepped toward the light without hesitation.
“That kid is calling me.”
Flash!
With a dazzling light filling his vision, the Fire King (화왕) Jeok Cheon-Gang opened his eyes.
—
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on him.”
A voice, hoarse from disuse, but Seo Cheon-Ma could feel it. The heat radiating from the small-statured old man. The burning eyes.
“Let go of my disciple.”
“Fire King…!”
Seo Cheon-Ma spat. Of all times, the old monster from Guwha Mountain awakened now.
If it were a normal time, it wouldn’t matter, but he had already crushed one of his ankles and expended considerable energy.
On the other hand, his opponent was the most renowned of the Ten Kings (십왕), an unrivaled master.
‘This isn’t good. Not good at all.’
In this state, he might have to brace himself for mutual destruction.
Seo Cheon-Ma had no desire to die here, failing the mission personally commanded by the Heavenly Lord.
‘I have no choice.’
Though it hurt his pride as a warrior, he had to resolve this as easily as possible.
Seo Cheon-Ma bit his lip and reached out. Jin Taekyung, who was barely conscious, was sucked into his grasp like a magnet.
He grabbed Jin Taekyung’s neck and shook him in front of Jeok Cheon-Gang.
“It would be wise to stop right there if you value your disciple’s life.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang, who had been approaching, stopped dead in his tracks. Staring at Seo Cheon-Ma, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I’ve never seen such a filthy son of a bitch…”
“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t touch a hair on him.”
For a moment, the vulgar curse left Seo Cheon-Ma in a daze. Then a sneer crept onto his face.
“Is that so?”
At the same time, a suppressed groan escaped from Jin Taekyung’s lips. Seo Cheon-Ma had applied pressure to his grip.
Crack.
The faint sound of bones dislocating echoed. Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyes darkened.
“You dare…”
“I have many eyes and ears. They all say the same thing. The Fire King treasures his disciple like his own flesh and blood.”
“…What do you want?”
Seo Cheon-Ma replied without hesitation.
“If you don’t want to lose your disciple, take your own life.”
“Suicide?”
Jeok Cheon-Gang chuckled dryly and spoke.
“You’re quite good at barking. Did you learn that from a mutt on the street?”
“They say the disciple resembles the master. He speaks just like you.”
Clicking his tongue, Seo Cheon-Ma tightened his grip.
Crack!
With a clearer and louder tearing sound, Jin Taekyung’s limp feet swayed in the air. Jeok Cheon-Gang’s brow furrowed deeply.
“You…!”
“This is your last chance. If you accept my proposal, you can save your disciple and preserve the legacy of your sect. But if you refuse…”
Seo Cheon-Ma continued in a chilling voice.
“I will snap his neck and fight you to the death. And most likely, you’ll be the first to fall.”
This wasn’t mere bravado. Seo Cheon-Ma knew that Jeok Cheon-Gang was not in perfect condition either.
Having fought the Blood Lord (혈주), he had hovered between life and death for over a month and had only just awakened.
“What will you do?”
Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyelids quivered. The old master looked at his disciple, held captive by his enemy, with an indescribable gaze and opened his mouth.
“Keep your promise… without fail.”
“Of course.”
Naturally, it was a lie. Seo Cheon-Ma had no intention of letting anyone live.
Not the Sa Cheon Dangmun (사천당문), not the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang, not the unconscious divine doctor (신의) behind them. And certainly not…
‘Tae Won Jin’s Jin Taekyung. He’s even more dangerous.’
More dangerous than the successor of the Sword Saint (검성).
If he had fought for even half a shi (an ancient Chinese time unit, approximately 12 minutes), or perhaps just a moment longer, he might have reached enlightenment and broken through to the pinnacle level. It was fortunate that he had been defeated before his enlightenment was complete.
‘The Heavenly Lord is watching over us.’
Seo Cheon-Ma barely restrained his rising smile. Then, as he looked at Jeok Cheon-Gang, who had been watching him silently, the old master suddenly spoke.
“Is that enough?”
The unexpected question made Seo Cheon-Ma frown.
“What are you talking about?”
“You sly bastard. You’ve become more monstrous since I last saw you.”
“What nonsense are you…”
But Seo Cheon-Ma couldn’t finish his sentence. No, he couldn’t continue.
Snap! Crack!
The pain flaring from his wrist…
In the next moment, what Seo Cheon-Ma saw with his wide-open eyes was his twisted wrist, as if wrung out by a giant, and the young man who gripped it like a hook.
“Jin Taekyung—!”
How is this possible?
Pain, confusion, and shock were all contained in his roar that echoed through the underground prison.
But Jin Taekyung neither heard nor could hear him. Moving only by instinct with dazed eyes.
Crunch!
An irresistible force uprooted Seo Cheon-Ma’s wrist like a weed.
Blood sprayed out and pain exploded.
As his vision went white, a flame bloomed in front of Seo Cheon-Ma.
“I told you.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang, his whole body wrapped in blazing flames, spoke through gritted teeth.
“Don’t touch a hair on my disciple.”
Boom!
A massive pillar of fire rose.
—
Everything felt hazy, like I was about to fall asleep. Or as if I had just woken up. Everything seemed distant and blurry.
‘It must be a dream.’
Yes, this is definitely a dream. It’s a dream that I, who should have died long ago, am still alive. That Jeok Cheon-Gang, who needed several more days to wake up, has already risen.
But then…
‘Is this also a dream?’
Ding.
– [Jeok Cheon-Gang] has awakened from his long slumber!
– You have successfully completed all related quests. Your noble dedication and sacrifice will be rewarded!
– Level Up!
– Level Up!
– Level Up!
– Your [Stamina], [Strength], [Agility], and [Qi] have been restored!
– Physical injuries – Physical injuries have been partially healed by leveling up three times!
Ding, ding, ding.
The pleasant chime echoed like a melody, and at the same time, a warm, sunlit energy spread throughout my body.
Broken bones mended, wounds closed. The damaged and torn organs and meridians returned to their proper places.
Slowly but steadily.
Crunch.
My feet touched the ground. I was now in Seo Cheon-Ma’s grip.
My eardrums must have healed, but the conversation between the two felt distant.
‘What is this feeling?’
A strange, indescribable noise buzzed in my head.
And then, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s voice sharply pierced through.
“How long are you planning to stay like that?”
I don’t know, Master. My body just won’t move. I can’t even tell if this is a dream or reality.
I wanted to respond to his familiar face, but my voice wouldn’t come out.
Suddenly, the hand clutching my throat felt oppressive.
‘Then… I should get rid of it.’
As that thought crossed my mind, my hand moved on its own.
So fast I couldn’t even perceive it, my hand grabbed Seo Cheon-Ma’s wrist.
Snap, crunch, the sound of bones shattering, and a scream burst forth.
Without hesitation, I twisted and pulled. The sound of something tearing and a fountain of blood.
Before the blood even hit the ground, a flame streaked through the air.
“Long time no see, you thunder-stricken brat.”
The voice, tinged with laughter, stretched out.
Jeok Cheon-Gang passed by me, his palm engulfed in fierce flames.
The Fire God’s Fist, in its most intense form, struck Seo Cheon-Ma’s chest.
Boom!
A massive pillar of fire shot up, scorching the ceiling. The towering inferno was cut by a dark force from Seo Cheon-Ma’s sword.
Swish!
“Die!”
Seo Cheon-Ma was enveloped in a black cloud.
His blood-soaked lips and bloodshot eyes, looking like a madman, but the power in his sword could cleave the heavens.
With a swing of his sword, the dark force split the pillar of fire.
“Mmm.”
A small groan escaped Jeok Cheon-Gang’s lips as he gathered his fiery energy. The dormant force within his yet-to-recover body wavered.
I watched it all with empty eyes. The oncoming darkness, the staggering form of Jeok Cheon-Gang, all through my hazy vision.
And then, in the next moment.
“Ah.”
A single exclamation slipped out.
I was here and yet not here. I could feel and see everything. Everything around me was vivid and clear.
‘I see. That’s how it is.’
A blinding light pierced through from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
All the obstacles that had been blocking me broke and crumbled. The world that had seemed blurry as if I were drunk, the foggy mind, all cleared up like a summer sky.
At the end of it, there was a light called enlightenment.
Ding.
– Congratulations. You have finally broken through and stepped into a great realm!
– You have reached the level of [Absolute Master]!
Ding, ding, ding.
Listening to the clearest chime I’d ever heard, I took a step forward.
The space erased itself, and the natural energy within it roared. The Azure Dragon’s Spear, pulled by telekinesis, roared with fiery energy.
Roar!
***
Footnotes:
[1] 염라 (Yama): This refers to the deity Yama, who is the ruler of the underworld in various East Asian and Indian traditions. In Korean culture, Yama (or Yeomra) is known as the King of the Underworld, responsible for judging the souls of the deceased and determining their fate in the afterlife.