Murim Login - Chapter 479

The world collapsed and then rebuilt itself.

The crimson pupils filled with ferocity, the rippling river, and the elegantly crafted silver hairpin—all of it vanished. What replaced it was the harsh reality outside of memory.

‘Splash.’

I blinked slowly as the watery curtain that had enveloped me dissipated, revealing the surroundings with sharp clarity.

At the same time, time—which had seemingly been paused—began to flow again as if someone had pressed play.

And then, like a dam bursting all at once, a rush of cold air and a barrage of system notifications overwhelmed me.

‘Ding. Ding. Ding.’

– [The Fragment of Memory has been lifted!]
– With the [Mutated Water Dragon] regaining its reason, quest information has been updated!
– Based on the updated quest information, the mission is deemed a success!
– The sudden quest, [Corrupted Spirit Beast], has been successfully completed!
– You have gained an enormous amount of experience points and reputation!
– [Level Up!]
– [Level Up!]

With the level-up notifications, a mysterious force revitalized my exhausted body and restored my depleted energy.

And yet, for some reason, I couldn’t catch my breath.

‘Hong Ran. It was Hong Ran.’

Yes, it was her.

The survivor of the Dongting Lake massacre, alongside Zhu Yuan-gong of Hao Gate. The peerless beauty capable of influencing an entire nation.

The owner of the hairpin now lodged in my hair was the very person who had corrupted the benevolent serpent into a monster, staining Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River with blood.

She was the mastermind behind all the events in Hubei Province.

How did I not realize it sooner? Where did the truth end and the lies begin?

‘The Gate, the mana, Hong Ran, Dark Heaven…’

Countless questions and thoughts raced through my mind in a fleeting moment, threatening to overload my brain.

As I trembled, barely able to process the unbelievable reality, I noticed three figures rushing toward me.

At the forefront was Jeok Cheon-Gang, his face twisted in fury.

“You dare—!”

In hindsight, it was an easily misunderstood scene.

The exchange between the Water Dragon and me, as well as my momentary immersion in the [Fragment of Memory], had only lasted a brief instant. Yet, from an outsider’s perspective, it looked like I had been behaving strangely.

Snapping to attention at Jeok Cheon-Gang’s enraged roar, I shouted as if struck by lightning.

“Elder!”

“!?”

We understood each other without needing further words.

Realizing the emotion behind my cry, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyes widened. At the same time, his outstretched fist veered off course.

‘Whoom! Boom!’

It was a hair’s breadth away.

The forceful strike, brimming with the intense heat of the Scorching Yang Energy, barely missed the Water Dragon and struck the now-calm surface of the water instead.

The heat was so powerful that it instantly evaporated all moisture in a radius of several meters.

The Water Dragon, already on the brink of death, wouldn’t have survived that blow. We would’ve lost our chance for a final conversation.

“You… why would you…!”

– “Were you worried about your disciple? You’re a good teacher.”

“Hah!”

It was clear that the Water Dragon’s thoughts were not conveyed to me alone.

Jeok Cheon-Gang took a short, sharp breath, stepping back. Moon Kyung and Cheongpung, who arrived moments later, stared in shock as though they had seen a ghost.

“What… what was that just now?”

“Not even Mimi could do something like that.”

‘Shhhk.’

The Water Dragon’s clear, deep eyes reflected all of us. Jeok Cheon-Gang, his voice trembling, asked:

“What are you… really?”

– “Some call me a divine spirit, while others name me a monster. You’ll have to find the answer yourself.”

The Water Dragon exhaled laboriously and continued its thoughts.

– “But I must thank you. If not for your intervention, I would have remained a hideous beast until the very end.”

The once-clear resonance of its thoughts began to fade.

By now, the light in its radiant eyes was also dimming.

“Is it dying? Just like this?”

Desperate, I turned to Moon Kyung, clinging to a shred of hope. But the man known as the Divine Healer shook his head with a grim expression.

“It’s too late. Even if the Great Immortal himself descended, it wouldn’t help.”

– “You’re right, healer of life and death.”

Life and death.

The Water Dragon’s words, which pinpointed Moon Kyung’s essence with startling accuracy, caused his neat brows to twitch.

“You… know me?”

– “Though I never ascended to the heavens, my body, refined over countless years of training, has seen all of you before… in a dream.”

What could have occurred in the dream the Water Dragon claimed to have seen?

Even as it neared death, the Water Dragon, having lived for five hundred years, exuded a depth and mystery unfathomable to humans.

As if gazing at something beyond our comprehension, it looked past our shoulders into the void and continued.

– “Sadly, my time ends here. Though I cannot reveal the heavenly secrets… perhaps I can leave one final gift.”

A gift?

Before any of us could ask, something faintly glowing emerged from the blood-soaked lips of the Water Dragon. My eyes widened.

‘Swiiik.’

It was a pearl radiating a soft light.

As if guided by an invisible hand, the pearl floated into the air and trembled gently.

‘Whooom.’

Vibrations rippled through the air.

At the same time, the dark stains covering much of the pearl dissolved, and its size noticeably shrank with each moment.

“This is…”

It wasn’t just a sight to behold.

I could feel the immense energy and depth contained within the pearl, and the word “purification” surfaced in my mind.

When the transformation finally ended, someone couldn’t suppress a gasp.

“Ah…”

‘Hooosh.’

The pearl now shone with incomparable radiance.

Though its size had shrunk to resemble an ordinary marble, the pure, concentrated energy it contained was endlessly clear and profound.

‘Pristine.’

A true crystallization of immense energy.

As we all stared at it in awe, the pearl slowly drifted through the air and stopped in front of me.

At the same time, the Water Dragon’s voice echoed one final time.

– “This is my ‘Original Purity’. In the mortal world, it’s often referred to as an ‘inner pearl.'”

The Water Dragon’s voice, weakened but clear, continued:

– “Though it pales compared to its former glory, it will surely prove useful. Please use it where it’s needed.”

It was an offer impossible to refuse.

With trembling eyes fixed on the radiant essence, I reached out and took hold of it.

‘Ding.’

– You have obtained [The Water Dragon’s Original Purity]!

The system notification echoed in my ears.

Having given everything it had, the Water Dragon blinked slowly. Its eyes, now gazing at the clear sky above, carried a faint smile.

– “So, this is the end…”

A soft rumble escaped its bloodied lips as its thoughts grew faint, and the last breath of the serpent that never became a dragon left its body.

Everything stilled, and a profound silence fell.

I extended a hand to close the Water Dragon’s cold, lifeless eyes.

“You’ve done well.”

Having witnessed the Water Dragon’s life through the [Fragment of Memory], I knew the truth.

It was no ordinary spirit beast but a profoundly mysterious being that sacrificed itself to prevent a greater catastrophe.

At the very least, it deserved to face its end with dignity—a natural death, not as a sacrificial pawn for a level-up.

However, one person—no, one woman—was an exception to all considerations.

‘…Hong Ran.’

I pulled the silver hairpin from my hair, the faint fragrance lingering on it barely perceptible even to my keen senses. Staring at it silently, I turned toward Jeok Cheon-Gang, who was still dazed.

“Shall we go snake hunting?”

“What? Snake hunting? What on earth are you talking about?”

“Yes. A ‘snake’. A flower snake.”

—

A crisp laugh echoed across the deck of the military ship, drawing everyone’s attention.

But the laughter wasn’t the only reason people turned their heads.

Even before stepping on board, every man with eyes had been stealing glances at her. Such was her exceptional beauty.

“Hah, even her laugh is beautiful,” a middle-aged soldier in military garb muttered with a sigh.

His comrade, standing beside him, shot him a scolding look.

“Your wife should hear you right now.”

“Shut up! I’d rather face the King of Hell than let her catch wind of this.”

“Aren’t you a bit too old for this? With five kids at home, no less.”

“And you?”

“I don’t have kids yet.”

“But you’ve got a wife.”

The fellow soldier solemnly declared, “Not for long.”

“You’ve lost your mind. Are you serious?”

“What’s wrong with that? Every man should take a shot at least once.”

“I’ll bet my life it’ll never happen.”

“Why the downer? Scared I’ll succeed?”

“No, because someone younger, more handsome, and much more capable has already made the first move.”

His words rang true.

A strikingly sharp-featured officer was already striding confidently toward the woman.

“My lady, you seem to be in high spirits,” Officer Song remarked with a bright smile, his white teeth gleaming.

Coming from a wealthy family and with a decent appearance, Officer Song was brimming with confidence. While the woman before him was a rare beauty, he believed he still had a chance.

‘She’s not a noble lady, after all—just a mere singer at best,’ he thought.

That thought was shattered the very next moment.

“Yes, I am. Quite a delightful moment,” she replied.

Her voice was pure, like a cleansing breeze, and her smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum in full bloom. Her beauty exuded elegance and allure in equal measure, impossible to resist.

Caught off guard, Officer Song stuttered, “Th-th-that’s wonderful to hear.”

The woman, Hong Ran, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed softly.

Her crescent-shaped eyes captivated not only Officer Song but also the other soldiers sneaking glances, their sighs of longing audible.

‘These fools,’ Officer Song thought, glaring at his subordinates, his heart racing.

“It’s a shame,” he said, “but I would be delighted to share in your happiness.”

Hong Ran smiled gently.

“I’d be careful, Officer Song. Words like that might disturb your heart unnecessarily.”

‘Our’ Officer Song?

There was no mistaking it. That glimmer in her eyes was the kind of charm only found in a relationship sparked by mutual attraction.

Emboldened, Officer Song declared loudly, “I swear on my honor, that won’t happen!”

“Oh my, how brave. Then let me tell you something special, just for you.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Come a bit nearer…”

“Y-yes!”

Heart pounding, Officer Song leaned in. Her sweet, warm breath brushed his ear as she spoke.

“Actually, I used the serpent living in Dongting Lake to kill countless people.”

“What…?”

“And that serpent just died a little while ago. A pity, really. But at the same time, I find it rather amusing.”

Officer Song’s eyes widened as he looked up at Hong Ran, utterly dazed.

He had no idea what she was saying, or what he had just heard.

“My lady, what are you…”

“It’s exactly as you heard. But I’m sure you understand, Officer Song.”

For some reason, her languid voice made his expression grow hazy.

This wasn’t mere infatuation. It was an irresistible pull, a chain binding his emotions and soul.

“Don’t you agree, Officer Song?”

“…Of course. Absolutely.”

“How wonderful.”

Satisfied with the entranced officer, Hong Ran turned her gaze toward the vast river.

Then, to her captive, she issued her first command, framed as a request.

“Shall we change our destination?”