58 - Murim Login

Chapter 58 The battlefield descended into chaos. At the signal, two hundred warriors suddenly charged like a pack of wolves, engulfing all directions. “Kill them all!” “Aaargh!” Though they weren’t as formidable as Gwak Jun and the assassins faced earlier, the attackers exuded an intense, razor-sharp aura. If the forces of the Taewon Jin family and the Hangsang Sword Sect joined hands, there might be a chance of victory. But at this moment, the situation looked dire. 'This is not good.' In the worst-case scenario, we might need to extract Jin Wikyung and make a hasty retreat. While musing over this, a series of labored breaths and the arrival of the reconnaissance team sounded behind me. “Squad leader, a little help here… Ugh!” Upon witnessing the scene unfolding before their eyes, each of them had their eyes bulging. Even Hyeok Mujin, who had crawled up behind them, was left with his mouth agape. “Ugh!” “…Was it them?” It must have been tough. Hyeok Mujin, having finished a quick bout of vomiting, spoke with a face that looked half-dead. “I think this is it for me.” He looked like someone bravely wounded in battle. I gripped his shoulder firmly. “Mujin, you can do it.” “No, I can't. I’d just be a burden.” “Burden? You're an excellent meat shield…” “What?” “Shield! You're the shield of the Taewon Jin family!” “It sounded like you said meat shield.” Ignoring Hyeok Mujin’s skeptical muttering, I hoisted him to his feet. We were at a point where even a pair of hands was invaluable. Moreover, aside from me, Hyeok Mujin was the most skilled among the recon team—a genuine, if reluctant, human shield. Ah, I keep saying things wrong. I lowered my voice deliberately. "Are you thinking of running when our home is in danger?” “Honestly, if it were up to me, I would’ve run.” “No, sir!” If this were a 21st-century workplace, they would’ve spat in my face and quit, even if I promised labor compensation. Yet, the recon team proved more loyal than expected. Hyeok Mujin even drew his sword with a pale face. “Alright. If I have to die, I'll die fighting as a warrior.” “You've got spirit, but don't die.” “Didn’t you call me a meat shield earlier?” “Don’t you trust me?” “No.” A light laughter circulated among the recon team at Hyeok Mujin's sharp retort. For the first time, my paralyzed body, frozen by the large-scale battle, loosened slightly. I too grabbed my spear with a smile. “Keep your eyes wide open and your ears sharp. Follow my orders, and you’ll come back alive.” That was a promise to myself, determined to save these guys no matter what it takes. 'Please, don’t die. I have no idea how this war will end, who will live or die. All I can do is my best. “Let’s go.” With those words, we charged out like the wind. We were an arrow with me at its tip, and our target was clear. 'The Grand Elder.' Beyond my sharp sight, I spotted the elderly man with white hair. At his feet lay a fallen figure, surrounded by a pool of blood. A fiery blaze surged from my stomach. “From my brother…” I pulled out a spear that seemed to stand like a tombstone on someone’s corpse. And in the next instant. “Hands off, you bastard!” The spear flew in a straight line, compressing the distance of several feet. A suppressed shout emerged from someone among the recon team. “Got it!" The Grand Elder’s sword moved just then. Swish. A streak of light. The spear, split in half, bounced off to the sides. The same outcome as before. But this time, thanks to the considerably reduced distance between us and the Grand Elder, I witnessed it clearly. The blue flash that surged along the blade. 'Aura?' Why is that appearing here? Aura. A crystallization of mana, something only those at least A-grade hunters could manifest. Mana and inner power differ only in name; in terms of energy (Qi), they are identical. In this martial world, in other words, it means sword energy. Sword energy. Ha ha ha. 'Are you kidding me?' I knew the Grand Elder was a master from the start. I was prepared to face a battle, if necessary. The problem was that the ‘sword-energy-using’ Grand Elder wasn’t in my plans. 'This is a real problem.' Looking around, I saw tens of flickering pupils. Among them, Hyeok Mujin’s eyes were trembling almost akin to an earthquake. “Uh, leader.” “Uh-uh?” “That just now… looked like sword energy.” “Seems like it…” “Can you use sword energy too, leader?” “If I could, I would have already. Even Jopyeong wasn’t at that level.” “Right?” “Right. But aren’t you tired?” “I feel like throwing up.” Almost in unison, both of us slowed our pace. It switched from a sprint to a march, but the feeling of walking into the lion’s den was unchanged. “Hey, leader.” Hyeok Mujin spoke, his face as pale as a ghost. His complexion could be mistaken for a Westerner at this point. “Are you sure the Grand Elder betrayed us?” “Positive.” “Couldn’t it be a misunderstanding…” Even before he could finish, several men in black lunged at us, shouting. “Protect the master!” “For the Grand Elder!” Look at those lines, suitable for a New Year’s toast at the Taewon Jin family reunion. After cutting down the incoming men in black, I looked at Hyeok Mujin. “What were you going to say?” “…Nothing important.” Hyeok Mujin, having failed in mental victory, hung his head with a somber expression. But only briefly. With every step closer to the Grand Elder, he desperately began searching for a way out. “Why do people have to fight?” Is he aiming for a Nobel Peace Prize or something? “You said earlier you’d fight to the death like a warrior.” “That was a worst-case scenario. It’d be better if things were resolved through dialogue.” “Dialogue is nice. But they sent assassins first.” “Oh.” “And I threw a spear.” “Ah.” “And I cursed while throwing.” “Oh, great.” As the distance between us and the Grand Elder narrowed to under fifty feet, Hyeok Mujin’s face had turned ashen. While the other recon team members were silent, their visible trembling was noticeable. I was no different. Just thinking about the sword energy made my heart race. 'We're in deep trouble.' But I had no intention to flee. If I did, I wouldn’t have come back in the first place. I would have been content living as I was, satisfied with reality. We had already come too far. Only one path remained. "Stop." At my word, everyone halted as if they'd been waiting for it. Hyeok Mujin looked hopeful, perhaps expecting a dramatic peace treaty, but I gripped my spear and stepped forward. "Uh, where are you going?" "To fight. You all stay here." "Are you crazy? Why not wait until the young lord arrives and attack together…" "Do you see that person lying over there?" "Uh, yes." "That's my brother." With a fallen expression, Hyeok Mujin sighed heavily. "Then I'll go with you." "What?" "Even if I'm just a meat shield, I might still give you a fighting chance." This guy—sometimes he really surprises me. I gave a slight smile and turned back. "You think I'm heading to my death? I'll scout the situation and come back, so wait here." The distance between the Grand Elder and me was now just three paces. This was a distance either of us could cross in an instant. The heavy silence pressed down between us, and my palms felt clammy in seconds. 'Phew.' But I wasn't someone to be trifled with either. At a mere 30th level, I had already defeated a supreme master like Jo Pil. And since returning to reality, I'd continued to improve. At level 40 now, I prided myself on being a formidable master, respected in both reality and this world. No, I am indeed a master. 'If I can maintain distance while fighting...' When life and death are determined by mere centimeters, the reach of a spear is an enormous advantage. I fixed my gaze on the Grand Elder and steadied my breathing. 'I can do it.' I surged forward, gathering my energy in an instant. One pace—spear range to reach the Grand Elder. And still out of reach of his sword. 'Now!' I thrust my spear at the top of the Grand Elder's head. Just then, a system alert chimed. Ding. -The title [Gambler] takes effect. -[Strength] temporarily increases. -[Agility] temporarily increases. -[Stamina] temporarily... The title of Gambler, which enhances combat abilities by 10% during duels, infused my being with power. Adding to it. Swoosh! The boost in ability affected the acceleration of my attack. The spearhead shot down at the Grand Elder's head with lightning speed. ‘This... I got him.’ I was sure of it. Even that monster, Jo Pil, wouldn't be able to avoid this—of that, I was convinced. But the person I was up against wasn’t Jo Pil. It was the Grand Elder. Bang! With a deafening sound, the spear trembled. The Grand Elder blocked it, too fast for the eyes to follow, and smiled slyly. "Not bad at all. More than I expected." I mustered every ounce of my strength to respond. A force that would be overwhelming even for a seasoned master bore down with my spear on his sword. Groan A grating noise indicated the sword was starting to lift… Wait a second. 'Why is it going upwards instead of downwards?' Despite all my effort, it was I who was being driven back. The Grand Elder's laughter grew more pronounced at my incredulous expression. "You've worked hard, but do you really think that's enough?" In the next moment, a chilling sensation ran throughout my body. Crackle. Blue waves arose along the sword's blade—sword energy. Unable to react, my spear, already retreating, was sliced as smoothly as tofu. Swoosh. It was now a staff, not a spear. The Grand Elder's sword flared again as I retreated. Swoosh. The staff became a baton. Swoosh. Damn it, even nunchucks are longer than this. I tossed the nearly useless metal stick at the Grand Elder. Swoosh. "Are you planning to run away?" Run away? That hurts a little. I had already flung my body to the side with the throw. I grabbed Jin Wikiung’s collar as if I were dead. 'Got him!' My goal from the start had been singular—rescue Jin Wikyung. Having achieved it, there was no need to prolong the fight against that monstrous old man. Holding Jin Wikyung tightly, I exerted every ounce of strength to leap away. Whoosh- Bang! The sword energy cleaved the ground late. We narrowly escaped the Grand Elder's attack range, quickly surrounded by Hyeok Mujin and the reconnaissance team. “Protect the leader!” “Are you alright?” I remained silent, forgetting the necessity to flee from the Grand Elder, forgetting even that this was a battlefield. Only one question filled my mind: 'Who is this person?' I was sure I'd rescued Jin Wikyung, but then… who is this macho man in my arms? With a rugged face full of scars and bloodshot eyes, I asked in a shaky voice. “Excuse me, but who… are you?” That’s when an exclamation burst from Hyeok Mujin's lips. “Oh! Lee Cheon-baek!” Lee Cheon-baek? That name rings a bell. “Do you know him?” “Of course!” “Are you close?” “Silly, it's Blood Wolf Sword Lee Cheon-baek!” “Blood Wolf Sword, you say?” “Yes! That Blood Wolf Sword…” "Such a cool nickname. Sounds like a real master." Hyeok Mujin cried out while clutching his head. “He’s the head of the Hangsang Sword Sect! The Blood Wolf Sword Lee Cheon-baek!” .... I hastily stepped back. This guy is Lee Cheon-baek? Cold sweat trickled down my spine. 'He’s Iso-gun’s father.' This was the man who thought I deserted his son, sparking this war as a result. He was also known for indiscriminately killing men, women, children—anyone—in revenge. 'It’s bad enough I saved the wrong person and nearly got stabbed.' Yet, it seemed Lee Cheon-baek no longer had any strength left for such feats. His entire body was drenched in blood, unable to even move a finger—a severe internal injury or acupoint attack, perhaps. 'But it’s a relief. At least it wasn't Jin Wikyung.' As if reading my mind, Hyeok Mujin asked, “Then where is the young master?” "I don't know. And..." I hastily pulled him back as a sword flew into the spot where Hyeok Mujin had just stepped. 'Really, this just got messy.' I sighed deeply, continuing, “You think that old man will let us go?” The Grand Elder let out a hearty laugh. "Ha ha! Look at this shameless young thing!" "If I behave politely, might you just let us go?" "Don't you think it's too late for that now?" Crackling sword energy surged, leaving no room for further words. I pulled a spear from among the fallen bodies. While everyone's eyes were on me, I spoke up. "Form a surround formation." An old hunter's adage goes: "There may be powerful monsters, but none that can't be defeated." And what makes that possible is a raid.