Murim Login - Chapter 453

“Hey! You bastards!”

For a moment, it felt like a cold wind had swept through. Or perhaps it was my yell that roared so forcefully it created that sensation.

Most likely, it was the latter.

*Swish.*

The dozens of people scrambling to collect silver coins froze in their tracks. A heavy silence descended on the chaotic main road.

In the next moment, the single word that escaped my lips shattered the stillness.

“Gather.”

“In three counts.”

“One…”

Even a dog at a village school learns the classics after three years, and anyone subjected to enough beatings can memorize the Four Books and Five Classics [1].

This was why Hyeok Mu-jin, who had been trained by a year of my violence and profanity, moved faster than anyone else.

“Reporting in!”

With a scream-like response, Hyeok Mu-jin dashed forward and stopped precisely in front of me. A beat later, Gong Gi-bang, who finally grasped the situation and used his movement technique, arrived nearly at the same time.

As for Cheongpung…

“Wait, wait! Let me just get some pancakes! Benefactor is angry!”

This idiot… He’s still getting snacks?

Looking at Cheongpung sprinting toward me with packaged food in hand, I spoke softly.

“Take your time. I’m not mad.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah. I’m not mad. I’m absolutely furious.”

“Ah, ahh…”

As Cheongpung panicked and the other two awkwardly avoided my gaze, I couldn’t help but think:

*When will these guys ever grow up?*

Instead of running with all their might toward the Zhuge Family, they wasted their martial skills scrambling for silver coins.

And Gong Gi-bang—this guy had even swiped coins from someone else’s hands. At this point, he wasn’t a beggar but a full-blown thief.

Life… what a joke.

Despite my efforts to improve the company culture recently, this is where we ended up.

Looking up at the clear sky, I spat on my palm.

“Hyeok Mu-jin, forehead.”

“What?”

Hyeok Mu-jin jerked his head up, his face filled with disbelief.

“Just me?”

“Yeah. You first.”

“What about Gong Sohyeop?”

“He’s a beggar to the core. Honestly, scolding a beggar for picking up coins feels wrong.”

“A wise and precise judgment.”

As Gong Gi-bang, who’d been watching for a cue, chimed in solemnly, Hyeok Mu-jin glared at him with wide eyes.

“Hey, but when I’m called a beggar, you’re always mad about it!”

“Me? I’ve always been a beggar, head to toe. Born a beggar, and I’ll die one too.”

“…That’s depressing.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Gong Gi-bang, the ultimate beggar.

“Ah, life is sweet.”

As Hyeok Mu-jin glared at Gong Gi-bang like he wanted to kill him, he asked again.

“What about Cheong Sohyeop?”

“Cheongpung is Cheongpung.”

Whether he’s from the Mount Hua Sect or wherever, Cheongpung is just Cheongpung.

With everything summed up in one sentence, Hyeok Mu-jin muttered in disbelief.

“That’s absurd… but it makes sense.”

“Enough eyes are watching. Let’s finish this quickly.”

“How many hits?”

“Say it. How many hits will make you reflect?”

“One?”

“Three.”

“Fine, just hit me ten times and let me die.”

“I’ll give you points for your martial resolve. That makes it one hit. How many?”

“One!”

The moment Hyeok Mu-jin shouted enthusiastically and lowered his forehead, ready for the hit—

“Stop right there.”

I lowered my hand and turned around.

In the dead-quiet main road, the ten men and women perched atop the luxurious sedan chair stared at us with a mix of irritation and curiosity.

Among them, a particularly striking young man stood out. His extravagant demeanor exuded an aura of wealth and arrogance.

The voice I’d heard earlier came from him.

“You stopped. Why?”

When I asked, the young man widened his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. After blinking in disbelief for a moment, he smirked.

“You must not know who I am.”

“Am I supposed to?”

“Such insolence!”

The words didn’t come from the young man. Instead, I watched as a figure leapt from the sedan chair.

*Swish, swish!*

The man executed three aerial flips before landing dramatically. Narrow-eyed, he drew his sword with a fiery glare.

The flashy display drew gasps from the spectators.

“Looking at you, you seem like a wandering martial artist. Not only did you cause a scene in broad daylight, but you dared to spout such insolence toward someone noble…”

“That’s a lot of decorations on your sword. Is that for distraction?”

I focused on the blade’s ornamentation—dozens of jewels glittering in the sunlight.

“What?”

“It’s blinding. Put it away.”

*Thwack!*

The man’s sword slipped from his grasp under the force of my flicked finger, flying through the air before embedding itself deeply in the ground.

“You impudent fool! Drawing a sword in broad daylight like this?”

*What a show-off.* He’s barely first-rate, at best.

While his skills were honed to a degree, his flashy antics screamed amateur.

“This… this insolent…”

“And it wasn’t me making the noise—it was you. I just quieted things down. Let’s not make this messier. Deal?”

I meant it sincerely.

I’ve encountered a few pests before, and if it’s just a passing annoyance, there’s no need to overreact. Better to wave them off and move on.

But no matter how sincere you try to be, there’s always someone who doesn’t get it on the first try.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Dozens of blades gleamed as the Blue Hero Hall martial artists, clad in their blue silk uniforms, surrounded us. The narrow-eyed man’s previously anxious face now shone with confidence.

“Seems you’re somewhat skilled for a vagabond, but if you kneel and beg for forgiveness, perhaps the young master will grant you mercy.”

I glanced over the man’s shoulder. The leader-like young master and his companions stared at us with sparkling eyes, as if watching animals at a zoo.

“Looks to me like they have no intention of showing mercy.”

“What?”

“And I sure don’t plan on asking for any. Based on experience, this method works best. Right?”

I raised my fist slightly, and my usual troublesome trio sprang into action.

“Exactly. A good beating is the cure-all.”

“I was the first to try it. Instant recovery.”

“Benefactor, can I go buy dumplings real quick?”

“No. Stay here. This’ll be over soon anyway.”

*Step.*

“Wait!”

The narrow-eyed man’s eyes flashed with panic as I took a step forward.

If this had been a gang of third-rate thugs, they might have charged blindly. But this man, having trained to a certain level, clearly understood he and the Blue Hero Hall weren’t capable of defeating me.

“We… we are the Blue Hero Hall!”

“And?”

“Haven’t you heard of the mighty Blue Hero Hall?”

“Nope. My hearing’s been a bit off lately.”

*Step.*

“Stop! I said stop!”

*Ahem.*

At this point, it wasn’t just the narrow-eyed man who was flustered. The Zhuge Family servant, who had been clicking his tongue while watching the situation, stepped forward and cleared his throat.

“Allow me to explain the situation. Perhaps it would be better if—”

*Thwack!* *Thud!*

“What did you just say?”

The Zhuge Family servant glanced between me, standing with a clenched fist, and the narrow-eyed man lying unconscious with his nose caved in.

“I-I said it might be better to stop…”

“What?”

“There could be, you know… some complications…”

“Sorry, what was that?”

“Maybe it’s best to avoid unnecessary conflict…”

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

“Ah, I see.”

Wiping the blood off my fist onto my pants, I glanced around.

Gong Gi-bang was muttering that he knew this would happen, while Hyeok Mu-jin, spared for the moment, was visibly relieved.

And Cheongpung?

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“Eek! Benefactor!”

Was that idiot seriously sneaking off to buy dumplings right now?

Watching his figure slink away without a sound made me wonder if he was even human.

“I’ll get him, no matter what.”

With that determination, I took a step forward. The Blue Hero Hall members surrounding us swallowed nervously and stepped aside.

But not all of the Blue Hero Hall’s members were mere decoration.

“Hahaha! Amusing. Truly amusing. Don’t you all agree?” said a young man, laughing as he addressed the others.

The four massive men carrying his sedan chair replied in unison.

“Yes, sir.”

“How could we let someone who brought us such entertainment leave? I am fine. Go and bring him to me.”

“Yes, sir!”

The four men, their voices brimming with energy, set down the sedan chair. In the blink of an eye, they rushed toward me, surrounding me from all directions.

Their transformation from mere bearers to skilled martial artists was sudden and impressive.

*Whoosh!*

Each of their powerful fists, charged with overwhelming energy, struck out in perfect coordination.

*Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!*

Four strikes. Four bodies hit the ground with the same force they had used to charge at me, lying completely motionless.

“Well, what do you know,” I muttered.

*Absolute silence.*

I kicked at the fallen men to make sure they were out cold, then shrugged at the young man who had been laughing just moments ago. His once-confident smirk now trembled slightly.

“Amusing, isn’t it? Don’t you agree?”

The Zhuge Family servant held his head in his hands, while Gong Gi-bang and Hyeok Mu-jin nodded robotically.

“In all my thirty years as a beggar, this is the most entertaining thing I’ve seen.”

“Leader, I laughed so hard I think I’ve lost my belly button. I’m still looking for it.”

“Right. In times like these, we can’t just let someone who provided such entertainment go. So, grab that guy and bring him over here.”

“Understood! On it!”

“I’m done. Whatever happens, it’s on you now.”

Hyeok Mu-jin, desperate to avoid punishment, acted with uncharacteristic zeal, while Gong Gi-bang grumbled but stepped forward.

The situation had completely reversed.

Having lost even their elite guards, the Blue Hero Hall members began yelling in panic.

“Do you know who I am?!”

“Scoundrels! Do you dare defy the laws of this great nation?”

“If you lay a hand on me, do you think my family will stand idly by?”

I only meant to deal with one person, but it seemed like they came as a set.

I turned to the first one who had spoken and asked.

“Who are you?”

“I… I’m the young master of Da Zhushan Escort Agency…”

“Da Zhushan Escort Agency?”

“So you’ve heard of us!”

“Nope. Now get down before I turn your chair into scrap.”

The young master of the Da Zhushan Escort Agency hesitated, then answered with a scowl.

“I’ll get down.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard. Why the scowl?”

“If I don’t scowl, I might cry…”

“Fair enough.”

With the first dealt with, I turned to the haughty woman who had been yelling earlier.

“And you? What family are you from?”

“Hmph! Even if you’re a rogue, surely you’ve heard of the famous Xingwen Sword Clan?”

“Never heard of it. Stop spewing nonsense and get down.”

“And you?” I asked, moving to the next person.

“I… I’m from the Eungseong Merchant Guild…”

“Eungseong or whatever. Get down if you don’t want to get smacked until you cry.”

“Yes, sir.”

After two or three people obediently stepped down, the remaining ones quietly followed suit before I even asked.

All except one.

“And you, who are you?”

The young man’s face, now devoid of any smile, glared coldly.

“You’ve crossed a line you shouldn’t have.”

“And you’ve crossed your lifeline. So, who are you?”

“Hah, what an absurd situation,” he said with a dry laugh, his voice now filled with authority.

“I am Zhu Yuan-gong, a noble of the imperial bloodline, related to the Great Emperor himself. If you know what’s good for you, kneel and beg for mercy!”

“Alright, dragon bloodline. Get down.”

“…”

* * *
Footnotes:

[1] The **Four Books and Five Classics** are foundational Confucian texts central to Chinese philosophy and education. The Four Books include works like the *Analects* and *Mencius*, focusing on ethics and self-cultivation. The Five Classics, such as the *I Ching* and *Book of Rites*, cover history, poetry, rituals, and divination. They were key in ancient China’s educational and examination systems.