Chapter 545
‘The moment I uttered the three characters for Fire Dragon Pavilion (화룡각).’
Ding. Ding. Ding.
With a series of clear chimes that burst like celebratory fireworks, a wave of new hologram windows poured down before my eyes.
– A new name [Fire Dragon Pavilion] has been registered!
– All quest conditions have been fulfilled!
– You have successfully completed the quest [Be My Comrade!]
– [Fire Dragon Pavilion] has been officially established!
– You have acquired the unique title [Master of Fire Dragon Pavilion]!
– You have achieved the rare accomplishment [Rice-Bowl Public Servant of the Murim Alliance]!
– You have gained a massive amount of fame and experience!
Quest completion, achievement unlocked, and even a unique title, [Master of Fire Dragon Pavilion].
Notifications poured in all at once. But the system’s rewards weren’t over yet.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
– Even now, your name is echoing throughout the entirety of the Murim.
– Your total fame has surpassed 10,000!
– You have achieved the outstanding accomplishment [If You Don’t Know Him, You’re Dark Heaven]!
– As a reward for achievement, some title effects have been enhanced, and your [Charm] and [Command Pressure] have greatly increased!
– You have gained a massive amount of fame and experience!
– Level up!
‘Oh, damn.’ Was it Christmas today or something?
I hadn’t been paying much attention to fame for a while, but with the sudden influx of it pushing my total past 10,000, I received unexpected bonus rewards.
Some titles and stats had been enhanced. And on top of that…
Even a level-up.
Leveling up becomes increasingly difficult the higher you go, even in mediocre online games, but lately it felt like the system had slapped on a forced nerf—like trying to pluck a star from the sky.
Given the numerous battles likely ahead, each bonus point gained through a level-up was a priceless treasure, more valuable than gold.
‘Now that I think about it, I should have quite a few bonus points stacked up. And probably some titles too.’
The last time I checked my status window was right after I defeated the Water God Dragon, wasn’t it?
When I first came to Murim, I used to check the status window dozens of times a day out of anxiety disorder. But over time, I checked it less and less. These days, I barely opened it at all.
After my stats reached a certain threshold, I realized that stats were just luck. The thing that truly decided critical moments was martial arts.
‘Still, I should organize things soon.’
Not long ago, I was considered a nobody at level 10. Now, I had far surpassed level 100, a monster known across all of Murim, a top-class expert recognized nationwide.
As I chuckled fondly at my humble beginnings, Jeok Cheon-Gang spoke in a grumpy voice.
“You’re grinning like an idiot. Is it that great being a pavilion master?”
“Eh, it’s not just because of that.”
“Then are you happy because you’re away from me?”
“Huh?”
Only then did I realize what had caused Jeok Cheon-Gang’s displeased expression. I paused.
“Wait… are you sulking because of that?”
“Sulking? Me, the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang?”
Jeok Cheon-Gang flared his nostrils aggressively.
“Hah! What nonsense!”
“…Don’t flare your nostrils like that, you’re flicking snot. And with that kind of reaction, even a passing mutt would notice.”
“You impudent brat! What do you know?!”
Yup. It was obvious.
I took a step back from the fuming Jeok Cheon-Gang and tried to calm him down.
“It’s not like I had a choice. It’s not my fault you got pulled into the Five Kings Hall.”
The Five Kings Hall was a newly formed group under the New Murim Alliance, replicating the old structure of the Murim Alliance.
It had only five members, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it held the greatest combat power in all of the Murim.
Just looking at the lineup, it was practically Murim’s version of the Avengers.
‘Thunderblade King Paeng Cheolhu. Azure Sky Sword King Namgung Cheon. Sea King Paryun. Fist King Eon Hwapyeong. And… the man before me now, Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang.’
Judging from the titles and names alone, the Five Kings Hall wasn’t called that without reason.
These were five of the Ten Kings who had stood firm through the long passage of time.
‘Living legends, in every sense of the word.’
And the leader of the Five Kings Hall was Jeok Cheon-Gang himself.
Based on martial status and seniority, he was practically a skeleton that drank water from Dharma’s skull. His martial arts had reached [Reversed Aging]—a state few dared to challenge.
‘Even during the Great War of Justice and Evil, he was regarded as the top among the Ten Kings.’
The Blood Lord I faced at the Shaolin massacre also initially tried to recruit Jeok Cheon-Gang rather than fight him.
If the Great War had dragged on any longer, people said the Three Stars might have become Four.
But…
“Five Kings Hall my ass. They shoved a fancy hat on me out of nowhere.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang kept grumbling nonstop.
Despite being seated at the top of a group of living legends, it seemed he wasn’t pleased in the slightest.
Watching him carefully, Hyuk Mu-jin cautiously raised his hand.
“Um, excuse me.”
“What is it?”
“If Senior Jeok were to step down from the Five Kings Hall, could I… take your place?”
“Like a nomination or something…”
‘This guy’s not just crazy. He’s full-on nuts.’
Jeok Cheon-Gang, who had been silent along with me, gazed at Hyuk Mu-jin with a deep, penetrating look.
“Sure. Go ahead—if you’ve got a death wish.”
“Yessir, I’m sorry.”
“If you flap that cheeky mouth one more time, I’ll end up doing something I’ll have to apologize to your parents for.”
With a chilling tone, Jeok Cheon-Gang threw a glare my way.
“And you, brat.”
I quickly waved my hands.
“I’m good without joining the Five Kings Hall.”
“Not that.”
“Then what?”
“What are you planning to do from now on?”
It wasn’t just about my next move—it was a question that carried many meanings.
Before I knew it, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s gaze had grown complex, mixed with pride and concern.
“You’ve done well to come this far. But from now on…”
“Elder.”
I cut off the quiet voice that was about to continue and shrugged my shoulders.
“I’m not as young or naive as you might think.”
“I already know what you’re going to say.”
It wasn’t a lie. I could easily guess what Jeok Cheon-Gang was about to tell me.
This was just the beginning of a full-scale war. Not merely battles, but a war where countless lives would be sacrificed to decide who would become the ruler of the world.
It hadn’t been an easy path so far, but even greater dangers were surely on their way.
But still…
“You told me just a while ago, didn’t you? What are you hesitating for—just move forward.”
That’s right. I’ll simply move forward. Just as I always have. In my own way.
“I’ll hesitate just a little… and then charge ahead without looking back.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang, silently watching my quiet smile, let out a soft laugh.
“If you’re going to move forward, then just move. What’s with the ‘hesitate a little’ part?”
“I can’t help it. Somehow, I’ve ended up with a lot to protect.”
I now had family I treasured like my own life. Comrades and subordinates I could entrust my life to. And even a master with whom I had shared bonds deep enough to sacrifice my life.
I could never again allow myself to lose anything like I had in the past—and I would not.
“I’ll protect it all. Everything I have.”
“Hmph, you’re a greedy bastard.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang let out a short scoff before continuing.
“But that’s the right answer.”
“Huh?”
“Always stay alert and think carefully. Even if an unavoidable crisis comes your way, even if you face an enemy you can’t possibly defeat—come back alive with that same heart.”
‘Elder…’
“And remember.”
His voice was different—calm and warm as it reached my ears.
“To someone out there, you too are someone worth protecting.”
* * *
Under the blazing midday sun—
Step, step.
Dozens of people walked in one direction.
Women and men, elders and middle-aged alike—regardless of age, they marched forward without hesitation until they finally reached their destination.
Creak, boom!
As they approached, the massive doors swung wide open. Above them, three powerful characters written in bold calligraphy looked down upon those entering the hall.
Leader’s Hall.
Located at the heart of the Murim Alliance, it was the place where the weightiest decisions concerning the martial world were made.
Thus, the various individuals now entering the Leader’s Hall could be called the pillars supporting today’s Murim.
And among them, two people stood out clearly above the rest.
“Nom nom. Mmm, nom nom.”
A young man who kept stuffing things into his mouth as he walked. And another young man silently watching him.
Though the two seemed close in age, their auras and builds were entirely different.
Yet no one could deny the two things they had in common—they were both rare geniuses in the long history of Murim and had built an overwhelming amount of fame.
Because of that, not a single gaze wavered from them—not from the moment they appeared, nor after they sat down.
‘Whoa. Those two young men are… the Blazing Fire Dragon Jin Taekyung, and the Fire Dragon of Mount Hua, Cheongpung. This is my first time seeing them up close. Is that what they’re really like?’
‘I can’t believe it! Such perfect physique. To reach such an extreme realm at that age—how could anyone call them mere youngsters?’
Curiosity and admiration as they laid eyes on heroes previously only known through rumors.
‘He may be a pavilion master, but that kind of lazy attitude?’
‘Tsk tsk. He might be strong in martial arts, but he’s still immature.’
‘To entrust heavy responsibilities to brats like them… you’ll regret this, Alliance Leader.’
Envy and jealousy. Disparagement and dismissal.
Their expressions and thoughts were just as varied as their appearances.
But the two youths remained unshaken amidst those gazes. More precisely—they didn’t care at all.
Nom nom nom. Chomp chomp.
Jin Taekyung muttered as he watched Cheongpung devour dumplings and meat with fervor.
“Is this guy even a Murim warrior or some kind of Agumon…”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Keep eating, young master Cheong.”
“Worried I’ll eat it all?”
“Nothing to worry about. I’m scared of you. Just swallow it and speak. You’re spraying dumpling filling everywhere.”
Jin Taekyung, muttering with a tone of resignation, reached toward the flying dumpling bits.
Swish, flick!
His fingers moved so fast that even high-level experts couldn’t catch it—cleanly deflecting the finely chopped meat and vegetables. Gasps and murmurs of awe spread through the hall.
“Gasp!”
“Whoa…”
The world might be vast, and there might be many experts—but not everyone gathered here was a top-tier master.
Still, even with a simple gesture, one could tell the depth of someone’s martial prowess.
Jin Taekyung, who had already opened his middle Dantian, had clearly reached another level.
‘The successor of the Fire King… truly lives up to the reputation. The rumors weren’t exaggerated at all.’
‘Damn. What a monster.’
‘If the Fire Dragon of Mount Hua is at the same level as him… this is incredible.’
As everyone watched the two youths with differing thoughts—
“The Alliance Leader is about to speak.”
A heavy voice echoed through the central conference chamber of the Leader’s Hall.
