55 - Murim Login

Chapter 55 "This is driving me crazy." Hyeok Moo-jin felt his vision blurring, as if a yellow haze had settled before his eyes. Disguised as disciples of a small sect, the assassins were revealed, coupled with the betrayal of the Grand Elder. Even just considering this would make anyone's head spin, but... "What on earth made this guy collapse?!" Out of the blue, Jin Tae-kyung lost consciousness. The reconnaissance team members took turns slapping his cheeks and shaking him by the collar, but showed no sign of waking up. "He's definitely still breathing, though." It was a situation only a ghost could understand. Eventually, it fell upon Hyeok Moo-jin, the deputy leader, to take responsibility for this massive mess. "You, and you." He pointed at two of the still-dazed reconnaissance team members. "Go back to the main family immediately and report this." The Grand Elder. The elder of their family and a hero of the past Great Demon War—why he orchestrated such a dark scheme, or for what purpose, was unknown. But the worst case scenario had to be prevented. "The rest of you, move with the group. Hurry!" With Jin Tae-kyung slung over his back, unconscious, Hyeok Moo-jin began to run, his vision slowly turning yellow again—for a different reason this time. "I'm going to die." Just days ago, he had suffered internal injuries from a vicious attack by Jo Pil. Though he assured Jin Tae-kyung that he had nearly recovered, truthfully, he needed at least two weeks of rest. "Pant, pant." His whole body was drenched, and his legs wobbled. Even without carrying an unconscious Jin Tae-kyung, keeping up was a struggle, and now he was at the brink of collapse. "Oh, Mother. Father." Now he even started seeing hallucinations of his parents, who were very much alive, beckoning him. Standing beside them was a familiar face from the temple. "Guanyin Bodhisattva?" - Child of the world, you've done well. You may now rest. Warm words and a kind smile brought a wave of relief over Hyeok Moo-jin. Yes, he had done enough, hadn't he? The leader faints when he's most needed, and none of the team members offered to take over carrying the burden. "Screw it, I don't care anymore." Just as Hyeok Moo-jin was about to let go of his consciousness— "Whoo haa," warm breath penetrated his ear. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. Tears of relief welled up in Hyeok Moo-jin's eyes. "Leader!" Jin Tae-kyung whispered with a beaming smile. "There's candy in your ear." Clang! Clink! "Kill! Kill!" "Aaargh!" Blood and screams erupted from everywhere. A martial artist, drenched in blood, crawled among the corpses. His face, still youthful, was marred by pain and fear. "Sob, sob." Crying, despite his efforts to stifle it. He had spent ten years mastering martial arts, but on a blood-soaked battlefield, it was useless. Trusted seniors had died, and peers who were like brothers had fallen. Weapons showered from all directions, slicing open his belly and limbs. "Mother, Mother..." As he endlessly called for his mother, his face hardened. Thud! A spearhead suddenly protruded from his chest. In an instant, the light vanished from his widened eyes. A bandit-like figure, with a scruffy beard, pulled out the rusty spear with a sinister grin. "Where do you think a kid's going?" But even the vagrant who had skirted death countless times couldn't evade the blade that flew in the very next moment. Schlink— With a silver line tracing the air, the vagrant's head soared. The nameless martial artist who killed the vagrant, and the vagrant who killed the martial artist—both fell continuously in the unending cycle of killing. Such was the battlefield. "Yes, that’s how it was." The Grand Elder watched the battlefield with a face deep in thought. Paelcheon Gorge. A battleground that marked a line in the great history of the war between the righteous and the demonic decades ago. How many lives had been lost in that narrow gorge? "I was young then." His body was strong, his heart fervent. Back when the character for chivalry felt unbearably grand. But while experiencing the Great Demon War, the Grand Elder changed. He grew weary of the endless warfare and began to fear death. "What use is a righteous hero's spirit when in death you become nothing but a ghost?" It was a moment of enlightenment. He survived to become a hero, and after a long, trying time, he stood here. Now, it was time to bear fruit. The Grand Elder examined the person next to him with his seasoned eyes. "What a waste, such a waste." Jin Wi-gyeong was an exceptional talent. Young, skilled in martial arts, and above all, he possessed the dignity and discernment needed of a leader. He occasionally showed an inclination towards emotional attachments, but perhaps because of that, he was well-loved within the family. "He is definitely the material to rejuvenate the main family." If Jin Wi-gyeong were to become the head of the Tae-won Jin family, and with his capable younger brothers supporting him... The Grand Elder suddenly caught his own thoughts and chuckled softly. How absurd these thoughts were, given how far things had come. Besides, Jin Tae-kyung was likely already dead and a wandering spirit. "I guess I've aged." His small mumble elicited a response from Jin Wi-gyeong. "What did you say?" "It’s nothing. When you get old, you start talking to yourself more. But on another note, what do you make of our current situation?" "The battle conditions are in our favor, but... Jin Wi-gyeong's expression darkened slightly. Although they held advantages in troop quality and terrain, their casualties were mounting. The continual deaths of family members weighed heavily on his heart. "I understand your feelings, but don't act rashly, Young Master." The Grand Elder cautioned him with a stern tone. "A leader must know when to make a move. Prolonging the battle makes them anxious, and that's when we strike." "Soon, the Hangsang Sword Sect will clash with full force." "They'll send their most skilled fighters first. It’s possible for Yi Cheon-baek himself to come." "Things will be decided then." The Grand Elder nodded. "You and I, as well as Wi Paeng, will block their leaders, and when the arrows rain down from the cliffs, their morale will plummet." "It's a pity we can't use fire attacks. Curse this weather." The narrow terrain of Paelcheon Gorge was perfect for fire attacks, but the recent heavy snowfall left heaps of snow everywhere. Yet, even if the heavens favored them, what Jin Wi-gyeong hoped for would not have come to pass. Those drawing bowstrings from the cliffs would follow the Grand Elder’s orders. “I too am cursed with the heavens’ unfairness.” The Grand Elder's words were genuine. He had waited far too long. Now, when destiny had finally come to him, there was an unexpected bitterness to it. "There's candy in your ear." "Leader!" "Was it as sweet as a dream?" "…Are you out of your mind?" Seeing the ugly face of Hyeok Moo-jin filled him with relief. The other reconnaissance team members, who had gathered upon hearing of his awakening, shared the sentiment. "The leader has woken up!" "What happened? Are you alright?" "Thought you were dead?" The one who made that comment would need a talking-to later. I memorized his face and name and then smiled broadly at everyone. "It's been a while. How have you all been?" "What?" "What do you mean?" "Did you hit your head or something?" "Let's check his head!" Their reactions were predictable, but this was something I’d genuinely wanted to say at least once, even if it got me labeled crazy. "Enough with the greetings. How long was I out?” Hyeok Moo-jin plopped down and answered. "It's definitely been more than half a shichen, but less than a full one." Having spent about two weeks in the real world, the timeline added up. I nodded and moved on to the next question. "Was I breathing?" "Why do you ask that all of a sudden, really?" "We're short on time. Answer quickly." "You were breathing, otherwise, you'd be dead, right?" True enough. It seemed that logging in or out left the remaining body in a comatose state. "If I had logged out without dealing with the assassins, I wouldn't have had a body to return to." I decided to ponder this later. There was a more pressing issue at hand. "What about the main group?" "We were just moving in that direction. We also sent two members back to inform the family." "Good job. How much distance is left?" "It will take at least another full shichen." "A full shichen." "Leader, I’m sorry, but we may need to prepare for the worst." Hyeok Moo-jin and all the reconnaissance members fell silent. Everyone knew what the worst case entailed. ‘I’ve considered it too.’ The betrayal, as implied by Gwajun’s last words, was meticulously planned for a long time. But there was one mistake in that plan. 'Me.' The Grand Elder underestimated me. Or perhaps overestimated me—after all, he sent dozens of top-class masters to kill me. But even that wasn’t enough, and I survived. 'That was his mistake.' Moreover, Gwajun, upon revealing his true colors, had said something about moving quickly to align with the timeline. So... “It’s not too late yet.” Looking firmly at each team member, I spoke confidently. “Don’t think about the worst case. I’ll change that outcome no matter what it takes.” "Leader..." “So, Moo-jin.” I flashed a friendly smile at the teary-eyed Hyeok Moo-jin. “Get up right now.” “It’s exhausting…” “Do you want to get killed?” “This is a time to take one more step forward. Ever heard of marathon spirit?” “No, I haven’t.” Right, this is the martial world. “Anyway, get up. Just half a shichen more to go.” Hyeok Moo-jin, holding onto his wobbling legs, tilted his head in confusion. “Half a shichen?” “Yes, half a shichen.” “I told you, at the fastest, it’ll take a full shichen.” “That’s right. Half a shichen.” “What are you saying now… “Moo-jin.” To Hyeok Moo-jin, blinking innocently like a calf, I smiled even brighter. “Have you ever heard of grit?” Whether it took one shichen or two didn’t matter. We’d make it in half a shichen. “Run like hell. That’s all.” The faces of the reconnaissance team turned pale. * * * “We’re blocked.” “The damage is severe. Sect leader, please take action.” Despite the continuous reports, Hyureon Sword Sect Leader, Lee Cheon-baek, didn’t open his eyes. ‘I was too hasty.’ The war started abruptly, and they hadn’t prepared adequately. Supplies were depleting quickly, morale was low, and deserters were becoming rampant. ‘They’ve predicted everything.’ Fueled by the rage of losing his son and the urgency of the situation, his judgment became clouded. He had ignored his subordinates' advice and sought the quickest route. And so, they ended up clashing with the Tae Won Jin family at the unfamiliar narrow pass of Paelcheon Gorge. “Sect leader!” As a subordinate’s cry reached him, Lee Cheon-baek slowly opened his eyes. His formidable prowess as a top-class master pierced through the battlefield. “Aaaargh!” “Crush them! They're just a rabble!” More than a thousand allies faced obstruction at the narrow entrance. The vagabonds and marauders, placed at the forefront, were numerous but individually less skilled than the common martial artists of the Tae Won Jin family. ‘Mere fodder, at best.’ At that moment, dozens of vagabonds began to withdraw from the frontlines. A middle-aged vagabond at the front shouted with all his might. “It’s a pointless death! Blood Rain Band members, retreat!” Those turned out to be the vagabond’s last words. Swish— A light breeze. The vagabond hadn’t felt anything else. He didn’t realize that Blood Wolf Sword Lee Cheon-baek had passed by him, nor did he know that the followers, stricken with fear, had stopped dead in their tracks. Only a thought crossed his mind, about the sudden warmth in his neck. “Uh...” His severed head fell with a thud. The body, losing its head, staggered a few steps before collapsing like a rotting old tree. “Blood Rain Band, was it?” Lee Cheon-baek pointed his sword at the petrified vagabonds. Not a drop of blood stained his blade. “Go back.” The killing intent of a top-class master shot through like a blade. The vagabonds charged toward the frontline faster than they came. They judged it better to fight at the frontline than to face the menace before them. “Rats of cowards.” Lee Cheon-baek gave chase. His fiery gaze was set on where he believed the leadership of the Tae Won Jin family to be. "The Sect Leader is leading!" "Charge forward and destroy the Tae Won Jin family!" With Lee Cheon-baek taking the lead, the core forces of Hyureon Sword Sect followed in his wake. Three supreme masters, along with dozens of first-class warriors, charged towards the front lines.