Murim Login - Chapter 483

“Southern… Demon Empress?”

Hong Ran—no, the Southern Demon Empress—spoke in a lively tone through the young officer’s body.

“That title sounds so embarrassing when I hear it from someone else.”

“Embarrassing, my ass. You lunatics are stirring up trouble in all directions. So, is the East ruled by some incel and the North by a Kim from the North?”

“The names are different, but you’re surprisingly close. Smarter than I expected.”

“…Damn it.”

The Western Demon Lord and now the Southern Demon Empress. Even a child could guess that the titles were deliberately designed with the cardinal directions in mind.

The Western Demon Lord alone had been a monstrous opponent, one that nearly cost me my life multiple times. To think there were at least three more like that.

But a bigger question loomed.

I stared at the vacant-eyed officer and spoke.

“How did you do it?”

“Oh my, what could our young hero be so curious about?”

“You know what I mean.”

A strange glimmer flickered in the officer’s otherwise lifeless eyes. Through someone else’s gaze, the Southern Demon Empress studied me briefly before dropping a single remark.

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

“There’s no way you could’ve found out in just two days. I suppose I should’ve expected this from a being as divine as the Imoogi. Truly, it’s a remarkable creature.”

The Southern Demon Empress quickly pieced everything together, her smooth voice adding another layer to the tension.

“Then you must already know… I won’t answer your question.”

The memory was still vivid—fragments of the gate and the corrupted Water Dragon, tainted by the demonic energy that seeped from it.

It was something that shouldn’t, couldn’t, exist in this world. At least, not here in Murim.

Yet the Southern Demon Empress and Dark Heaven had turned the impossible into reality. It was almost enough to make me want to believe it was all a lie.

“What is your goal? What are you after?”

“Our goal?”

A clear laugh, genuinely amused, spilled from the officer’s lips.

After laughing heartily, the Southern Demon Empress spoke again.

“Child, I am nothing more than a lowly servant acting under orders. No one can truly fathom the intentions of ‘His Eminence’.”

His Eminence. Those two words left no doubt in anyone’s mind.

Jeok Cheon-Gang’s voice rumbled like molten lava.

“The Heavenly Lord.”

‘Crack.’

The officer’s head turned toward Jeok Cheon-Gang with an eerie creak, like a poorly made wooden puppet.

“I’ve heard rumors of a mad old monster living on Mount Gu Hua. Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang, you’re correct. It is indeed His Eminence—greater and nobler than anyone else.”

“He’d be a mongrel worthy of burning alive. How dare you spew such drivel before me.”

Jeok Cheon-Gang’s words, laden with a cold, fiery resolve, brought a brief silence.

The officer’s lips parted again, this time emitting a deep, chilling voice.

“You should choose your words more carefully. If you value your long life, that is.”

“My life?”

Jeok Cheon-Gang sneered and turned to me.

“Tell me, boy. What happened to those who tried to cut short my life?”

“None of them lived, without exception.”

“Then perhaps it’s time to add not just men but women to the list. What do you think?”

“Fully support it,” I replied, giving him a thumbs-up. “A true advocate of equality in this era.”

“Equality? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means someone who treats everyone equally—man, woman, young, or old.”

“Is that what young folks say these days? Whatever it is, I like the sound of it.”

Satisfied, Jeok Cheon-Gang nodded and turned back to the Southern Demon Empress, who had possessed the officer’s body.

“You hear that? This advocate of equality will hold you and your Heavenly Lord accountable, so prepare yourself.”

Should I stop him before his Flame God Palm turns into an equality-rights fist?

Oddly enough, the exchange cleared my mind. The chaos in my thoughts settled into sharp focus.

‘Fine. If breaking everything is the solution, so be it.’

After all, that’s the Yeolhwa Sect’s motto—break, burn, and destroy anyone you see as an enemy.

The Southern Demon Empress wasn’t going to answer my questions. In that case, no matter what Dark Heaven’s plans were, I would simply crush them piece by piece as I moved forward.

‘There’s no other option anyway.’

Riding a tiger with no way to dismount, the only path left was to shatter the beast’s skull and end this madness.

No, I had to end it.

“Next time we meet… you will die,” I said, leaning in closer to the officer. My eyes pierced through the lifeless gaze to somewhere far beyond.

The officer’s lips twitched.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to that day as well. But by then, no one here will survive.”

The head turned slowly, the unfocused, cloudy eyes scanning the room.

But no one looked away, not even Moon Kyung.

“It would be wise to end this pointless bloodshed,” Moon Kyung said. “Blades ultimately return to their wielder.”

His polite tone and measured voice masked a hidden edge, one that only a few could detect. It was the mark of a supreme master—a Killing Star who had walked the bloodstained path.

“…An intriguing one, aren’t you? Even I’m curious about this so-called Divine Doctor.”

But the Southern Demon Empress seemed unable to fully grasp Moon Kyung’s true identity. She might know his public role as a healer, but connecting him to the Killing Star who vanished forty years ago? That thread was far too thin.

Before the Southern Demon Empress, or Hong Ran, could deepen her suspicion about Moon Kyung, Jin Wi-gyeong spoke in a grave tone.

“I swear on the name of the Jin Clan of Taewon, you won’t be able to harm even a hair on our youngest.”

“The Jin Clan of Taewon? Do you think your insignificant clan and feeble martial arts can protect that child?”

“Even a sewer rat will fight a tiger to protect its young. If you’re curious, come and see for yourself. We’ll show you.”

Despite the bizarre and incomprehensible phenomenon before him, Jin Wi-gyeong didn’t lose his composure.

As soon as he finished his calm yet resolute declaration, Gong Gi-bang scratched his unkempt head.

“Jin Dae-hyup, it’d be disappointing if you left the Beggars’ Sect out of this.”

“How could I forget the Beggars’ Sect? Will you join us?”

“My master once said, ‘One beggar’s stick can only handle a stray dog, but a hundred can bring down a tiger.’ And with tens of thousands of us gathered, what do you think?”

The true power of the Beggars’ Sect lies in their overwhelming numbers. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them an army of tens of thousands. Grinning widely, Gong Gi-bang bared his yellowed teeth.

“Such a shame. She was a beautiful woman, but it can’t be helped. Don’t hold it against me when I smash that lovely face with my stick.”

“Hold it against you?”

The corners of the officer’s mouth curled up into a grotesque grin.

Through his lips, the Southern Demon Empress spoke to everyone.

“You don’t need to be so anxious. It won’t take long…”

Her voice faded like the dying embers of a fire. As dark blood began to trickle from the officer’s lips, I immediately grabbed his wrist to check his pulse.

‘Whoosh.’

The energy I directed into his body surged from my dantian, but it was too late to reverse the death that had already begun.

When something becomes useless, it is discarded. That was likely why the Southern Demon Empress had kept the officer alive—for temporary possession.

Blood gushed from every orifice—his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth—leaving no doubt that death was inevitable. No amount of internal energy or acupressure could halt the process.

“It’s too late,” Moon Kyung’s voice echoed somberly.

At that moment, the officer’s lips parted one last time, releasing blood and a final, chilling whisper.

“Everything is as His Eminence wills.”

‘Thud.’

And that was the end. The officer’s head slumped forward, lifeless, his vitality completely drained.

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of approaching footsteps that halted outside the door.

“Um… may I come in?”

The voice was familiar.

The door creaked open cautiously, and a young man poked his head in, speaking hesitantly.

“Benefactor, Zhuge Phong is looking for you.”

“It’s Zhuge Pung, not Zhuge Phong.”

“Yes, Zhuge Phong.”

“…I give up.”

Sighing, I rose from my seat. There was no need to ask where Zhuge Pung was or why he wanted to see me. From the start, I had been the one to guide them to ‘that place’.

“So, did you find it?”

“Yes.” Cheongpung’s eyes sparkled as he answered. “It’s exactly the place you described.”

That place—the location within the Water Dragon’s memories. The damned ‘Gate’.

—

Hong Ran, or rather the Southern Demon Empress, opened her eyes.

Drawing back the silk curtain of the gently swaying carriage, she gazed out at the lush greenery beyond the lattice window. The humid and sweltering southern weather made the escort crew sweat profusely.

“Hmm.”

The sight of the Southern Demon Empress leaning against the window with her chin resting on her hand was like a picturesque painting.

But then, above the heads of the escort guards sneaking glances at her, a sharp rebuke rang out.

“Focus on the transport! If you don’t want to meet your end at the hands of the Miao Tribe in a few days, keep your eyes forward!”

The owner of the coarse words was a stunning woman with sharp features and tanned skin, partially obscured beneath a deeply pressed bamboo hat.

‘A female guard captain? That’s rare.’

It didn’t take long for the female captain, who had been scolding the men, to notice the Southern Demon Empress’s gaze.

Reining in her horse, she approached the side of the carriage and spoke through the window.

“Is something wrong?”

“Wrong? Thanks to your efforts, I’m quite comfortable.”

“Then why were you… staring at me like that?”

“Just because.”

“Pardon?”

The Southern Demon Empress smiled faintly and added, “You’re so young and beautiful. I couldn’t help but admire you.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Though flustered, the female guard captain tried to hide her reaction. After all, her complimenter wasn’t just an extraordinary beauty herself but also a passenger who had paid handsomely.

But the next words left the captain unable to mask her surprise.

“I want it. Your face. Enough to place it on mine.”

“…What?”

“Just kidding. Just kidding,” she laughed melodiously, the sound unsettling yet disarming.

“So, how far is it to Yunnan?”

At this moment, the Southern Demon Empress couldn’t be happier. Soon, there would be screams and death in another place. And she relished the thought of meeting someone new.