Murim Login - Chapter 436

*The Yangtze River*.

Just hearing the name evokes the grandeur of this mighty river, renowned as one of the longest in the continent. The river crosses through five major provinces—Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Anhui, and finally Jiangsu—making it a crucial artery for maritime travel and a significant part of our current journey.

“We will first travel along the Yangtze’s tributaries to Hubei, then disembark and proceed to Henan by land,” Jin Wi-gyeong explained, scanning the group, including me, with a calm gaze.

“Any questions?” he asked.

Swoosh!

A hand shot up before he could finish. The speed of the hand was reminiscent of a star pupil brimming with scholarly enthusiasm, but its owner was a master known far and wide in the martial world as an unparalleled force, notorious for his brashness.

“Since earlier, this old man has been curious about something,” Fire King Jeok Cheon-gang said, grimacing.

“I’m all ears, Master Jeok.”

“So, what you’re saying is…”

Jeok Cheon-gang’s face twisted as he continued.

“It sounds like you’re telling us to die of old age on this damned Yangtze. Is that a mistake on my part?”

As expected, Fire King’s bluntness knew no bounds.

Jin Wi-gyeong swallowed hard under the onslaught of Jeok Cheon-gang’s unfiltered speech, reminiscent of an eight-ton truck barreling forward without brakes.

“Of course not, Master Jeok. It’s simply an itinerary decided during the meeting.”

“A meeting? What kind of halfwit made up such an itinerary? Even at the fastest pace, it’ll take seven days and nights just to get to Hubei!”

“At the top sits the Sword Master Ma Jong-hak, followed by the Nine Schools and Five Great Families…”

“Enough. I don’t need to hear more.”

“Pardon?”

“Those fools from the Nine Schools and the Five Great Families have nothing but manure in their heads. Don’t bother with them. I’ll explain to Ma Jong-hak myself, so change the plan now. Just staring at water all day makes me feel like I’ll develop qi deviation.”

To summarize, Jeok Cheon-gang was telling them to change the plan to suit his preferences.

Only someone like Jeok Cheon-gang could make such a demand. And at this moment, nobody dared to challenge his words.

‘Well, there is one exception.’

It seemed Jeok Cheon-gang shared my thought as he turned his head slightly, making eye contact with Moon Kyung. Their gazes collided in the air, and Moon Kyung’s eyes carried a disapproving glint.

“Why are you looking at me like that, brat?” Jeok Cheon-gang snapped.

“A snot-nosed brat who hasn’t dried behind the ears yet. Should I just poke out your eyes and drain the ink?”

Now he was openly provoking him.

Moon Kyung’s fists trembled. Knowing who he truly was, I felt chills run down my spine, but to others, it looked different.

Worried voices rose from Hyeok Mu-jin and Gong Gi-bang, who were still recovering from their Yangtze escapade.

“Why pick on the poor boy? Look, Moon Kyung’s trembling! He’s such a kind-hearted kid…”

“I may eat stray dogs, but Moon Kyung couldn’t hurt a fly.”

If there was ever a time for understatement, this was it.

Over a thousand lives were said to have been claimed by the *Killing Star*—a title Moon Kyung carried unofficially. No amount of ointment slathered on his sword would soften his fearsome reputation.

‘These guys… No, forget it. Live as you please,’ I thought.

Jeok Cheon-gang, who seemed ready to retort, sighed heavily instead. He turned his attention to me.

“Why are you just standing there quietly?”

“About what?”

“What do you mean, about what? Do you want to keep floating around on this infernal water?”

“Oh, that.”

Scratching my chin for a moment, I replied.

“I don’t mind it.”

“What?!”

“Really?” Jin Wi-gyeong looked relieved.

My response wasn’t intended to support him, though—it was simply how I felt.

“The leaders must have had good reasons for their decision. Besides, the scenery is nice.”

In this world free of pollution, the mist that cloaks the river at dawn and the endless expanse of clear water felt refreshing to behold.

When Jeok Cheon-gang was in a coma, such sights left me unmoved… but now, I could appreciate the need to pause and reflect on myself, even briefly.

‘And there’s something else I need to investigate.’

The mysterious symbols and patterns discovered across both worlds.

To verify if my suspicions were correct, I’d need to navigate between this realm and my modern world. Traveling by land would severely limit the time available for this.

I tried to ease Jeok Cheon-gang’s objections with gentle persuasion.

“It’s only a matter of days, after all. Besides, shouldn’t you take care of yourself, Master? You’ve just recovered from a major ordeal.”

“Do you take me for a dying old man?” he retorted.

“…So, what, are you in your prime? Eighteen again?”

“You little…!”

Jeok Cheon-gang’s eyes blazed, and I quickly cut in.

“Training! I need instruction in martial arts!”

The raised hand, poised to strike, froze mid-air. Seizing the moment, I pressed on.

“There’s an insight I’ve gained recently, but if we travel by land, there won’t be enough time for proper guidance.”

“Instruction, you say…”

“Yes. It’s something I can’t understand no matter how hard I ponder. Only you, Master, possess the knowledge to teach me.”

Jeok Cheon-gang’s eyes narrowed.

“If we pushed ourselves to the limit using the movement technique by land, we could reach Henan a few days sooner.”

“What does that have to do with receiving your teachings?”

“It’s related. Didn’t you once say that Sword Master Ma Jong-hak might be stronger than you? If we arrive earlier, I could ask him instead, right?”

I had said it as a jest, but he remembered.

Feigning ignorance, I answered, “You must have misheard. Was I perhaps drunk at that time?”

“You’re quite the performer.”

“To me, you’re always the greatest, Master.”

“Really?”

Jeok Cheon-gang glanced at Moon Kyung.

“Then how do I compare to the *Killing Star*?”

“Huh?”

“I mean the *Killing Star*. Out of the *Three Stars*, nobody surpasses him in taking lives. How do I measure up against him?”

I felt the expectant stares of the crowd. Even a subtle hint of killing intent leaked out from somewhere.

‘Well, here goes nothing.’

Swallowing nervously, I spoke.

“He’s a pushover.”

“Hmph. You know your stuff, don’t you?”

“I am known for my keen eye. I can tell with just a glance.”

“Ha! Oiling your tongue now, are you? Do you think I’d fall for such flattery?”

“…Then why are you smiling?”

Was he Murim’s joker?

Jeok Cheon-gang, his grin reaching his ears, suddenly hardened his expression. Though he couldn’t hide the twitching corners of his mouth as he tried not to laugh.

“When did I smile?”

“Never mind. Let’s just continue on this path.”

Jeok Cheon-gang already knew about my newly opened *middle dantian*. After a moment’s thought, he clicked his tongue.

“Damn it. I’ve always hated the water. Looks like I’ll suffer a bit in my twilight years.”

At this rate, I thought his moniker should change from *Fire King* to Charizard.

“What’s that insolent look?”

“Me? When?”

“Forget it. It’s not the first time. I was wrong to expect proper manners from a brat like you.”

Jeok Cheon-gang clicked his tongue and turned to Jin Wi-gyeong.

“You heard that, right?”

“Yes, sir. We’ll ensure your comfort.”

“So, what’s the point of going to Hubei on this endless river? There must be a reason worth the trouble.”

“There’s an urgent matter.”

“A matter?”

“May I explain it later?”

Jeok Cheon-gang’s eyes narrowed but didn’t press further. Jin Wi-gyeong’s words implied that it was confidential and better discussed with fewer ears listening.

Jeok Cheon-gang was no fool, even if he often acted without a filter.

“Understood. Is that all?”

Jin Wi-gyeong bowed respectfully.

“Thank you for your time.”

However, there was one who wasn’t satisfied with this brief meeting.

“So, just to be clear, you’re planning to use our *Quicksilver Ship* to reach Hubei?” Mu Song, the owner of the ship, asked nervously.

Before Jin Wi-gyeong could respond, Jeok Cheon-gang stepped between them.

“Is there an issue?”

“Master Jeok… Hubei is quite far. Even with favorable winds, it’ll take more than seven days and nights…”

“Can’t leave the stronghold unattended for that long, huh?”

“Yes, exactly that!”

“If the body and limbs are intact but the head is lost, that’s no good. That’d be problematic, right?”

“You mean…”

“Only go as far as Sichuan.”

Mu Song’s face lit up with relief.

“Thank you!”

“Leave the ship behind.”

“…Pardon?”

“You think I’m going to row a dinghy? We’ll find a crew along the way. Leave the *Quicksilver Ship* and go.”

Mu Song, after a long silence, forced himself to respond.

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“On second thought, it seems best if my subordinates and I accompany you in service.”

“Really? No need to trouble yourself. I already feel bad for burning one of your ships, so I wonder if I should impose further.”

“…Please, no more fires.”

“That depends on you.”

Is this what corporate tyranny looks like?

For the first time, I felt sympathy for a river bandit.

As Mu Song retreated with a forlorn expression, Cheong-pung approached and held out a dumpling.

His cheeks were already bulging, stuffed with food.

“Uh, for you.”

“…You’re giving this to me?”

“Yes!”

Mu Song’s eyes, touched by the rare warmth, welled with tears.

“Thank you, young lord Cheong.”

As Mu Song stuffed the cold dumpling into his mouth, Cheong-pung swallowed what was in his and beamed.

“Tasty, right?”

“It’s indeed one of the best I’ve had recently. I should ask for more next time.”

“That was the last one.”

“The last dumpling… for me? Young lord Cheong, just who are you…?”

“My grandfather said, if you have something good, you should share it with others.”

Knowing his eating habits, that sounded like nonsense to me. But Mu Song, unaware of this, was deeply moved.

“Thank you, young lord Cheong. We haven’t even spoken much, yet you’re so considerate…”

Mu Song’s joy was short-lived.

“My grandfather also said, the person who eats the last dumpling has to buy the next batch!”

“…”

“There’s a place called Gwang-an that we’ll reach in about a day. The dumplings from its market are so good, I stayed there for a month once. Oh, and my grandfather said, whoever eats the last must buy a lot!”

What a schemer.

Now he was even using his grandfather as a pretext to get more dumplings.

Gong Gi-bang muttered that Cheong-pung would make a great beggar leader, while Mu Song, having lost all trust in people, answered with a defeated expression.

“Understood.”

“Yay! Grandfather will be pleased!”

Is that even a human?

Just as I marveled at Cheong-pung’s endless cunning, Moon Kyung approached with a solemn expression.

“You don’t look well. Would you like me to examine you?”

He held a needle ready, pressing it to my side.

“Oh, no, I’m fine…”

“You don’t look well. Would you like me to examine you?”

“Seriously, I’m fine…”

“You don’t look well. Would you like me to examine you?”

Embarrassing as it was, I think I might have just peed a little.