Murim Login - Chapter 463

A faint light seeped into the deep, dark cave. An elderly man with a small frame sat cross-legged, contemplating himself.

As an energy akin to the sun coursed through hundreds of blood points and rushed into the Gigeongpalmaek (Eight Extraordinary Meridians), tangible energy began to rise and envelop the old man’s entire body.

And soon, the transformation began.

‘Shwaaah.’

Above the old man’s white hair, three flower buds bloomed and quickly disappeared.

The scattered energy from the blooming buds took on a new form. Five spheres radiating a rainbow of colors.

This was a phenomenon visible only to those who had reached the pinnacle—Ogi Jowon (Five Qi Converging to the Origin), an achievement attained by only a select few among the absolute martial masters.

But the changes surrounding the old man did not end there.

‘Fwoosh!’

The five spheres symbolizing Ogi Jowon turned red. From the rings of immense fiery energy brimming with Yeoryangjiqi (Scorching Yang Energy), intense heat erupted and wrapped around the old man, turning into a blue light.

‘Nohwasuncheong (Furnace Flame Turns Blue)’.

Just as a furnace’s fire burns hot enough to turn blue, the martial art the old man had cultivated had also reached such a state.

The power and enlightenment accumulated over a century were, without a doubt, at the very peak.

However…

‘Is this the end?’

The old man, Jeok Cheon-Gang, withdrew his energy. As his body, which had been floating mid-air in the lotus position, touched the ground, the strange phenomena surrounding him vanished completely.

The only sound remaining in the stillness was Jeok Cheon-Gang’s wry chuckle.

“Hoho.”

Why could he not go beyond the wall before him?

Though he understood it better than anyone, the unmoving wall left him feeling regretful and frustrated. At times, it even made him resent the heavens.

But instead of furrowing his brow, Jeok Cheon-Gang consoled his bitter heart with a laugh.

‘What is there to resent? It is merely the result of my own doing.’

Martial arts are strengthened through endless training, and enlightenment only arrives when the mind is emptied.

But for decades, Jeok Cheon-Gang had been unable to empty the debris that had accumulated in his heart.

What piles up and stagnates eventually rots. A rotten heart filled with anguish invites Simma (Heart Demon), and once Simma takes hold, old age cannot be warded off.

“If I hadn’t met that brat… I would have already been smearing dirt on walls by now. Hoho.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang let out a hearty laugh.

With a single moment of enlightenment, he could attain the state of Banro Hwandon (Return to Youth).

But he knew. That, too, was greed—proof that his heart was not yet truly empty.

He lifted his gaze, catching a glimpse of the sky through a small opening. Jeok Cheon-Gang asked the unseen presence beyond.

“Is this your way of telling me to be satisfied? Is that it?”

No answer came. Or perhaps, he had already heard the answer.

Taking in a natural-born Sal-gwi (Killing Ghost) as a disciple had led him to cause the deaths of innocent people, yet thanks to his second disciple, he had managed to retain his sanity. Perhaps this was the answer: to let go of all lingering attachments.

Though no divine presence replied, Jeok Cheon-Gang heard the answer resounding from his own heart.

“Truly ridiculous. After all the Madu (Demonic Heads) I’ve taken care of, this is the reward I get.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang sighed and muttered bitterly.

“Don’t you think so?”

At the end of Jeok Cheon-Gang’s gaze stood a man—Zhuge Pung, the Reclining Dragon Guest. Waving a folded fan, he responded.

“My grandfather once sat me down when I was nine years old and told me this: ‘‘Whoever’s up there, I don’t know who they are, but they must have a ridiculous temper.’’ You’re saying the same thing, senior.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang nodded.

“Zhuge Gonghu… That brat did occasionally say something sensible.”

“He was a wise man.”

“And far smarter than you. At least he had the decency not to wave a fan in front of his elder. Fold that fan before I break it.”

“This fan isn’t so easily broken. It has two nyang of ‘Mannyeon Hancheol’ (Ten Thousand-Year Cold Iron) in it.”

“Is your skull also made of Mannyeon Hancheol?”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for the lesson.”

Zhuge Pung hastily folded his fan and glanced around the cave before speaking.

“But what brings you to this place? No one comes here anymore since the search ended.”

“Which is precisely why I came. I may be ignorant about mechanisms, but I need to make my own preparations.”

At the word “preparations,” Zhuge Pung’s eyebrow rose slightly.

“You’re expecting a battle, then.”

“Preparing for a fight is the way of a martial artist. Especially when dealing with those Dark Heaven people—they’re brutal and relentless. This won’t be the end.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang’s voice was heavy.

He had lost his close friend, Beopwang Gwangdo, at the hands of Dark Heaven.

The countless deaths born from the bloodshed in Hunan and Sichuan were enough to recall the horrors of the past Jeongma Daejeon (Great War of Justice and Demons).

“You’ve heard about the Cheonryeokma (Heavenly Force Demon) being imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the Sichuan Tang Clan, haven’t you?”

“Of course. And that he referred to Dark Heaven as the successor of the Demonic Sect through Jin So-Hyeop before meeting his end.” (T/N: So-Hyeop is just a term they use to refer to someone young who is a heroic figure)

The war for supremacy between the factions had ended with the orthodox sect’s victory, but it was a victory won at great cost—an outcome stained by wounds rather than glory.

Had the orthodox sects possessed the strength to pursue the retreating forces of the Demonic Sect, they would have eradicated their roots entirely.

But the Heavenly Demon Cult and the orthodox sects—both dragons and tigers—had been left crippled by the war. The fifty years of silence that followed was ample time for the defeated to rise once more.

Under a new name: Dark Heaven.

“Time has flown so quickly.”

“After turning and turning, the chaotic era has returned once again.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang’s low voice made Zhuge Pung suddenly lift his head.

Through a crack in the ceiling, the sky appeared dark and chaotic. Even if the clouds cleared tomorrow and the heavens turned blue, the disrupted Cheongi (Heavenly Energy) could not be read by any Bokja (Diviner) in the world.

‘A chaotic era.’

Indeed, after turning and turning, the chaotic era had returned, and the age of disaster was now upon them.

Blood would form rivers, and corpses would pile like mountains.

Death and destruction would rage everywhere, leaving orphans wandering across the land. Rotting corpses left unattended would spread plagues, and famine would take hold.

‘What is happening now is just the beginning.’

Realizing this once more, Zhuge Pung felt chills run down his spine. Yet, it was not solely because of the presence of Dark Heaven.

“There’s a guest, I see.”

A voice pierced his ears. Zhuge Pung froze as if doused in ice-cold water.

‘How…?’

Although he had not reached the pinnacle, Zhuge Pung was a master hovering at the peak of martial excellence.

Yet he sensed no presence, no sound.

Even with three shadow guards standing watch outside the cave entrance, he had not noticed any sign of intrusion. This meant the owner of the voice was at least an Absolute Master.

‘If they’re of that caliber…’

Aside from the man before him, Jeok Cheon-Gang, the only other master of such skill would be Hyeon Gong-Jinin of the Wudang Sect.

However, the voice that echoed was far too young and clear, like that of a boy.

‘Ah.’

With a flash of understanding, Zhuge Pung turned.

At the sight of the boyish physician he had crossed paths with several times, the fog clouding his thoughts lifted, and a nickname escaped his lips.

“Salsung (Killing Star).”

The boy, Moon Kyung, raised an eyebrow.

“You knew already?”

“I didn’t. Not until now.”

Zhuge Pung spoke with an excited voice.

“But there was always doubt about the disappearance of the greatest assassin in history. And why the prodigious physician Shinui (Divine Doctor) only emerged after the Jeongma Daejeon (Great War of Justice and Demons) ended.”

“Well observed.”

“I have watched you closely, but I never imagined you had attained the state of Banro Hwandon (Return to Youth).”

The Killing Star was a figure shrouded in mystery.

Zhuge Pung’s sparkling gaze as he observed Moon Kyung suddenly faltered.

“But why reveal yourself to me…? Could it be?”

“You’re sharp, fitting for the Zhuge family bloodline.”

“As they say, blood doesn’t lie. Strange as you are, you are quite clever. Zhuge Gonghu did a fine job raising his grandson. Now, that aside…”

Jeok Cheon-Gang shrugged his shoulders and looked at Moon Kyung, speaking.

“What brings you here? An old man playing at being a child now comes in such a rush—why?”

“To put it simply, you need to leave this place immediately.”

“What?”

As Moon Kyung had said, his words were far too brief.

And for Jeok Cheon-Gang, it wasn’t nearly enough reason to cross the damned Cheonryeongpok (Heavenly Ridge).

“What kind of nonsense…”

“I’ll make it shorter for you.”

Moon Kyung continued in a deep, steady voice.

“Your disciple is in danger. No, perhaps everyone is.”

The moment those words struck him, Jeok Cheon-Gang needed no further reason.

Turning to Zhuge Pung, his aged eyes were already filled with blue flames.

“Prepare the boat. Right now.”

—

By the time we reached the final location, the waters of Dongting Lake were dyed in shades of purple.

I gazed at the sunset shining between cliffs and jagged rocks and spoke.

“From here on, don’t move recklessly. Secure the boat in a safe spot and move on land to prepare for any eventuality.”

Although Dongting Lake is called a lake, its size is so vast that it hardly feels like one.

There isn’t just water everywhere; flatlands made from accumulated soil and sand brought in from streams or branches of the Yangtze River are easily found.

‘If a battle starts, fighting on land is far more advantageous.’

No one here is adept in aquatic combat.

Although I can freely move underwater thanks to the [Lifesaver] title effect, it still reduces martial power by 20%—a debuff I can’t avoid.

‘If things go south… we must at least be able to respond on land.’

The others surely understood my reasoning.

Gong Gi-bang spoke with a resolute expression.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Can you swim?”

“I can doggy paddle a little.”

“Before you start doggy paddling into a beating, get to the land.”

“Hmm. That might be better.”

As Gong Gi-bang stepped back, Hyeok Mu-jin stepped forward.

“Captain.”

“You’re better off hiding on land, too. You’d just get in the way.”

“I know. I just wanted to wish you luck.”

That useless bastard. Even the bit of strength I had drained out of me.

With a sigh, I gave Cheongpung one final instruction.

“Dongting Fisherman might not be here. But if I drag him out…”

Cheongpung nodded firmly.

“I won’t miss the opportunity.”

“That’s all I need.”

I don’t know how strong Dongting Fisherman is, but Cheongpung’s help would make things much easier.

‘Of course, he might not be here.’

But somehow, this time felt different. It wasn’t logic—it was instinct. Looking at everyone in turn, I leaped into the purple waters without hesitation.

‘Swoosh.’

As the familiar sensation hit me, a system alert chimed. Thanks to the title effect, transparent webbing formed between my hands and feet, and my breathing became steady.

‘Deeper. Go deeper.’

I swam forward without stopping. Passing through cold currents and countless fish, I spotted it.

‘There it is…’

In the distance, a dark cave appeared.