Murim Login - Chapter 418

Every time I took someone’s life, I often found myself questioning the same thing when I saw the desperate pleas and fearful eyes of those begging for mercy.

Why? How?

Why do they never think of the consequences of their own actions? Why do they always seek to blame others for what happens to them?

‘It’s too late.’

If someone intends to kill, they must consider the possibility of being killed themselves.

The seeds have already been sown, and now it’s time for the harvest.

I whispered as I stared into Wu Haixing’s bloodshot eyes.

“Why should I take that risk?”

「…!」

I hadn’t asked the question to hear his answer.

There was nothing more to say or hear. Without hesitation, I gripped Wu Haixing’s throat and twisted it.

**Crack.**

Flesh tore and bones shattered as my grip crushed him like paper.

The last glint of light faded from his bulging eyes.

As his twitching body went limp, the system alert sounded.

**Ding.**

– You have defeated **[Lv135. Wu Haixing]!**

– You have gained a significant amount of experience!

– You did not gain any reputation points. If it becomes known that you killed this individual, it may cause significant repercussions!

At that very moment, twenty meters away, Lee Jung-ryong, who had risen to his feet, spoke.

“You didn’t hesitate at all.”

I tossed aside Wu Haixing’s lifeless body and responded.

“He deserved to die.”

“Do you know who his father is?”

“I’ve heard. Apparently, decades ago, he was one of those punks smashing the Confucian temple with sledgehammers.”

“And that young Red Guard grew up to become one of the most powerful figures in Chinese politics—the head of the **Taidang** party. Not even Chairman Xiao Yang can control him.”

“Ha, damn. The Great Continent, huh? If we compare that to my country, it’s like the guy who burned down Sungnyemun becoming president. Am I wrong?”

“You don’t need to understand it. The only thing you need to know is that you just killed the only son of the most powerful man in a nation of over a billion people.”

“I did? No, that’s not right.”

I smirked.

“Wu Haixing died after battling the Arc Lich.”

“I already told you, I had his gravestone prepared. **Chakjjangjukjjang** man turned good, rests here after dying in battle.’ And of course, your grave will be right next to his.”

Lee Jung-ryong chuckled as he gave me an inscrutable look.

“You cunning bastard.”

“Your little scenario wasn’t bad. I think I’ll use it.”

“Feel free. But things won’t go according to your plan.”

“Is that so…?”

I gestured to Wu Haixing’s corpse with a nod.

“So far, things seem to be going my way.”

“You’re right, in that regard we’re alike.”

“What?”

As I frowned, Lee Jung-ryong chuckled quietly.

“Wu Haixing was a fool, with thin skin and a loose tongue. Useless for plotting anything serious, but even a fool has his uses.”

“…What the hell are you talking about?”

“In other words, this.”

Lee Jung-ryong pressed something in his hand, and a beam of light pierced through the thick fog, projecting a hologram onto the shattered concrete.

It was a brief ten-second clip, showing Wu Haixing begging for his life, and me, without a hint of hesitation, snapping his neck.

“Heh.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Nice quality. Anyone watching this will definitely misunderstand.”

“Especially a grieving old man who just lost his late-born only son.”

“Any chance you’ll show the unedited version?”

“Unfortunately, it seems that due to the magical interference, the first part of the footage got corrupted.”

“How convenient.”

“Anyone who sees this will be utterly convinced. Not just those who hate you, but even those who’ve stood by your side will turn on you. Even the people you care about the most will slowly crumble under the weight of public outrage.”

**Peace Guild**, and my mom, Ha-yeon.

At the mention of his words, the faces of the people I cared about most flashed before my eyes.

I stepped forward, crushing Wu Haixing’s corpse beneath my feet.

**Step.**

“Was this your plan all along?”

“Wu Haixing was just a tool, nothing more.”

**Step.**

Lee Jung-ryong also stepped toward me.

But now, the aura radiating from him was completely different from before.

That’s why Lee Jung-ryong had remained calm even after Wu Haixing’s death.

The cunning beast had finally revealed his hidden claws after achieving his objective.

“Damn it, no wonder it felt too easy.”

Lee Jung-ryong gave a dry laugh at my grumbling.

“I’ll give you credit for one thing—you far exceeded my expectations.”

“One last question. Why go to these lengths?”

“Do you think a young pup like you could even begin to understand?”

**Step.**

“Are you that scared of Chief Choi—no, Choi Min-woo?”

“Shut your mouth.”

**Wham!**

Suddenly, a massive wave of energy surged forward, pushing the fog aside and filling the space around us.

The sharp killing intent made my skin prickle. Lee Jung-ryong’s calm eyes were now filled with an intense fury I hadn’t seen before.

“I built this empire with my own hands, brick by brick, over a lifetime! It is my kingdom, my legacy!”

The words he spat were filled with long-suppressed rage, emotions he hadn’t expressed in a very long time.

With a fiery glare, he fixed his gaze on me, pronouncing each word deliberately, as if chewing them.

“No one can tear it down. Not you, not Min-woo, not even my **older brother**!”

**Older brother?**

I barely had time to register those two unexpected words.

**Step.**

With an unusually heavy and deep sound, Lee Jung-ryong took another step forward.

At the same time, his form blurred like water.

Leaving behind only an afterimage, the beast had suddenly closed the distance.

**Whoosh!**

A blinding light filled my vision. I twisted my body and swung **Baekyeom** (White Flame).

The moment the light and flame collided, it felt like the sky was splitting apart.

**BOOM!**

—

The explosion was massive.

The skyscrapers that had barely been standing shattered and collapsed, glass and concrete breaking into countless fragments and scattering in all directions.

The shockwave from the impact was powerful enough to be felt dozens of kilometers away.

Amid the endless chain of destruction and booming sounds, I stepped forward.

**Shhhh.**

Beyond the rising dust clouds, a figure stood tall in the air.

His always unreadable, transparent eyes now blazed with fire.

“Jin Tae-kyung—!”

There was no need for hesitation from either of us.

I shot upward, breaking through the ground, and he descended from the sky, stepping down on the air itself.

At the exact moment the paths of our sword and spear crossed, an overwhelming shockwave swept through my entire body.

As if synchronized, we were both thrown back, but immediately launched ourselves again, using the crumbling structures of the ruined city as footholds.

**Swish! Boom!**

With a deafening roar, the tip of Lee Jung-ryong’s sword came rushing straight for my throat.

**Thud!**

I tilted my head, and as I did, a few strands of my hair were severed and scattered into the wind along with the aftershock.

But it wasn’t over.

**Swish, swish, swish!**

Lee Jung-ryong’s sword turned into a blinding white streak, shooting toward me.

A net of sharp energy flowed from his blade.

Surrounded by this spectacle of light, I awakened all the energy stored within my dantian.

The heat of **Yeol Yang Jigi** (Fiery Flame Technique) surged like wildfire, spreading through my limbs. The blue flames rising along my transparent spear flickered like the tail of a dragon.

**Hwayong Ilmi** (Dragon Tail Slash).

**Whoosh!**

With a single swing, the dragon’s tail spread out like a fan, and a portion of the energy net was obliterated.

Now, it was time to shred the loose net with the sharp claws of the dragon.

**Cheongeuk** (Heavenly Strike).

This spear technique, **Hwayong Shinchang** (Fire Dragon Divine Spear), only consisted of two moves.

And yet, the founder of the **Yeolhwa Clan**, who had developed it, earned the title of the world’s greatest spearman. In his dying words, he left a brief comment about his technique:

“I spent my whole life on it, but I could not complete it. However, it is still worthy of being called the greatest spear technique under heaven.”

His words rang true.

**Hwayong Shinchang** is such a martial art. A spear technique that could be hailed as the greatest in the world with only two movements.

And now…

**Roar!**

The full-force **Cheongeuk** shredded through the energy net and swept forward.

Lee Jung-ryong, staring at the flames rushing toward him, gritted his teeth and slashed down with his sword, letting out a powerful shout.

“HAH!”

**Swoosh.**

The flames split at the tip of his sword.

His form shot forward, like an arrow, through the path of flames, unleashing countless sword strikes.

**Sh-sh-sh-sh-shing!**

Chest, neck, shoulders, arms, legs…

In what felt like an instant, a barrage of sword strikes rained down, each faster and sharper than the last.

The blinding flurry of attacks from Lee Jung-ryong was so swift, I could barely track the trajectory of his blade. Yet, as I faced the onslaught, something odd struck me—a feeling of awe.

‘How is this possible?’

I am a Hunter, but also a martial artist.

No, perhaps it’s more fitting to say I’m something more—a Player. The day I picked up that discarded VR capsule from the recycling center, I gained the power of the system, making me a unique existence who straddles both the modern world and the martial arts realm of Murim.

But…

Bang!

His movements, flawless. His power control, near perfect. Even his mastery over energy—it was extraordinary.

As I countered his relentless attacks, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Regardless of who Lee Jung-ryong was as a person, his skill was undeniably formidable.

‘I didn’t expect this level of strength.’

Ever since I reached the peak of my abilities, there haven’t been many who could match me. Especially after facing countless S-rank Hunters, I was convinced that few in the modern world could challenge me.

Most Hunters, after all, have immense power but little understanding of true martial arts. They know how to fight efficiently but are blind when it comes to controlling their energy with precision.

Lee Jung-ryong? Sure, he learned something similar to the mana cultivation techniques of this world, but I didn’t think much of it.

And now, I realized how wrong I’d been.

My arrogance had clouded my judgment.

Slash!

A sharp pain in my thigh brought me back to reality. Hot, searing agony followed as blood gushed from the wound.

But strangely enough, it felt like I’d awakened from a long slumber, my mind suddenly clearer.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

My arms, my calves, even my neck—all were sliced by his sword, each wound sending spurts of blood into the air. My energy flow became disrupted, weakened by the sheer force of his sword aura penetrating my defenses.

Staggering, I watched as Lee Jung-ryong continued his assault, his face slick with sweat, his eyes glinting with the confidence of impending victory.

The smirk on his lips, the gleam in his eyes—they infuriated me.

‘That smug face…’

I hated it. I hated that a man like him possessed such power. I gripped Baekyeom tightly, feeling a rush of raw emotion surging within me, and swung my spear.

BOOM!

One strike.

Blood poured from the wounds inflicted earlier, and the pain shot through me like wildfire, but I didn’t care. I thrust my spear again.

Lee Jung-ryong stepped back with a composed smile, blocking my strike with ease.

BOOM!

Two strikes.

He retreated two steps, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. His thoughts were practically written on his face—you still have this much strength left?

‘Of course.’

I muttered inwardly, ignoring the dull ache of my injuries, gripping my spear even tighter.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three, four, five strikes.

With each clash, a resounding boom echoed through the air, and Lee Jung-ryong’s expression hardened. His earlier smile had vanished without a trace.

“Damn it…”

His voice, usually soft and composed, now held a growling edge. Something about it made me want to laugh.

I had underestimated him at first, drunk on my own power, but it turns out Lee Jung-ryong had made the same mistake. He had misjudged me too.

His claws were sharp, yes, but they weren’t enough to tear me apart.

“Jung-ryong.”

I took a deep breath, inhaling the foul stench of dust and death that filled the air. But strangely, I felt a sense of clarity, a lightness as though my chest had been cleared of a great burden.

Now I understand.

“Let’s cut those claws.”

Today, here and now, Lee Jung-ryong would die.