59 - Murim Login

# Chapter 59 — *Swish, swish, swish, shwick!* The battle between Jin Wi-Kyung, Wi-Peng, and the three elders was akin to a furious storm. Ordinary martial artists could hardly discern the blindingly quick and fierce swordplay clashing from all sides. *Clang!* 'Blocked.' Simultaneously with his realization, Wi-Peng twisted his body. The sword extended by the second elder barely grazed past his hair. The second and third elders pressed on as if they were one entity. “You scoundrels!” Jin Wi-Kyung, charging with a roar of fury, was intercepted by the first elder. “Where do you think you're rushing off to?” Suddenly, a sword aura soared high, aiming right at Jin Wi-Kyung's crown. A crisis of life or death. Jin Wi-Kyung hastily lifted his sword to block. Even his sword was imbued with a faint aura. *Boom!* As the deafening noise echoed, a cloud of dust rose. A silhouette staggered back from within. Jin Wi-Kyung's face turned pale, and he spat out blood. 'What monstrous power...' Though he'd been consuming remarkable martial arts and elixirs since childhood, he was outmatched by his opponent. The first elder was a crafty old monster who had hidden his deep intentions while living beyond a full cycle (an age of sixty years). Alongside the grand elder, he was a living testament to having survived the Great Demon War. “You damned old man.” The first elder laughed heartily in response. “Young master, mind your manners.” However, the first elder's mind was not as free as he let on. His sword trembled, and his wrist ached, attesting to the difficulty. 'To think it would be this challenging.' Even in street brawls, the number of fighters matters, so the prowess of elites ought to be even more significant. However, the skills of Jin Wi-Kyung and Wi-Peng were beyond expectations. Perhaps, the pride of the old man had led him to overestimate himself. 'Cruel fate. How unjust it is.' A full cycle of years. While he had gained profound prowess, he could not stave off the aging of his body. 'If only I were ten years younger.' With a bitter self-mocking smile, the first elder moved towards Jin Wi-Kyung. His sworn brothers, the second and third elders, wielded their swords with even more ferocity. *Swish, swish, swish!* *'Grrrr!'* Jin Wi-Kyung and Wi-Peng began to be pushed back slowly. They were further weakened, having just faced the pinnacle martial artists of Hangsan Sword Sect. Their vision gradually blurred, and the small wounds on their bodies accumulated. Their limbs failed to respond as they wished. 'At this rate, it's difficult.' Just as Jin Wi-Kyung's expression turned grim— *Shaaak!* The relentless sword aura of the first elder suddenly changed direction. In the next instant, a lightning strike cleaved its target. *Slash.* *Splurt.* With a spray of blood, a person stumbled. The sword aiming at the first elder's side shattered beyond recognition, while blood cascaded from the person's chest like a waterfall. Seeing the face of the person, the first elder clicked his tongue. “Law Enforcement Hall Master, you foolish friend. Did you truly wish to die?” “Fi-first elder.” The voice of the Hall Master was on the verge of breaking. Still, he neither collapsed nor ceased speaking. “You... violated the laws of our sect.” “Haha, so what?” “As the Law Enforcement Hall Master of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan, I command you. You who are sinners, relinquish your martial skills and repent in the chamber— *Slash.* The first elder answered with his sword. The Hall Master, whose martial skills were not as high despite his resolute character, could neither see it coming nor evade the single strike that pierced his throat. Flames poured from Jin Wi-Kyung's eyes. “Y-you scoundrel!” At this moment, Jin Wi-Kyung was not the only enraged one. The death of the Law Enforcement Hall Master ignited the hearts of the Jin Clan's seniors. “Law Enforcement Hall Master!” Before being martial artists, they were human. Having lived a fair amount of time, they had much achieved and much to protect. Thus, the fear of a senseless death overruled even their peak martial prowess. However, the gallant end of the Hall Master rekindled forgotten emotions. It was shame, combined with fury. “Strike down these heretics!” “Show them the spirit of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan!” Those who were ashamed of themselves charged forward first. They were the very elders and mid-rank members of the Elder Council faction. They could not forgive themselves for aiding the traitors nor the elders who betrayed their own families. “You fools.” *Slash, slash, slash.* With each gleam of the three elders’ swords, another life was extinguished. Though the disparity in power was clear, the faces of the elders grew rigid. 'These bastards...’ A multitude of first-rate martial artists, resolved to face mutual destruction, charged in without fear of death from all directions. The elders were taken aback not by their martial prowess but by their momentum. And amidst this turmoil, there were two who did not miss a single gap. *Slash.* “Argh!" A scream erupted from the third elder. Unnoticed, Wi-Peng's sword aura had cleaved through his side. “Brother!” The shout from the second elder came as his sworn brother of several decades cried out. In that fleeting moment, his attention was diverted. Yet the result was dire. Three swords extended in a coordinated strike, grazing his entire body, and as he hastily retreated, a bolt of lightning shot towards him. *Shaaak!* The moment he felt something chilling pierce his back, the second elder sensed it was all over. *Thrust!* The blade tore through flesh and cleaved bone. The sword aura rampaged as if alive, ripping and setting aflame his meridians. It had been ages since he felt such pain. The second elder's vision turned stark white. And soon after, all sensation of pain vanished. “I, Jin Wi-Kyung of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan, have slain the second elder!” Drawing his sword from the second elder’s chest, Jin Wi-Kyung roared, while nearby, the third elder's head was severed. Wi-Peng, soaked in blood, held it aloft. “Here is the head of the third elder!” Those who survived cried out in unison. “Sweep away the band of heretics!” “The Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan is no enemy of the Hangsan Sword Sect! Lay down your arms!” The exclaimed shouts echoed, boosting the morale of the Jin Clan's martial artists. Though Hangsan Sword Sect was yet to regain their footing after their leadership was nearly obliterated, they soon turned their weapons towards the irregulars. “What are you standing around for? The members of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan are right before us...” “Stop talking nonsense. The only ones charging at us are those dark-clad guys!” It was as someone remarked. The martial artists of the Jin Clan faithfully adhered to their leaders' commands, allowing the Hangsan Sword Sect to realize one less enemy had surfaced. The unexpected appearance of the black-clad fighters quickly became a common enemy for both sides. "Show the power of the Hangsan Sword Sect!" "Wherever they crawled out from, wipe them all out!" With the two factions joining forces, it was now the black-clad fighters who began to retreat. Despite being elite warriors forged through rigorous training, the death of the two elders had shaken their morale. Seeing an opportunity, swords rained down from all directions, claiming the lives of the black-clad fighters one by one. "Argh!" "Do not retreat! The only outcome of retreat is death!" Even amidst the chaos, the first elder swung his sword with unwavering resolve. To his eyes and hands of a seasoned warrior, everyone before him was an enemy. *Slash.* Twenty? Thirty? He couldn’t tell. Entranced, the first elder cut through everything that blocked his path. Among them were those who once called him their elder and youths who seemed barely past adolescence. 'Age means nothing in matters of life and death when standing on the fine edge of a blade.' A man with a bear-like build, burning with intensity in his eyes, stood before the first elder, who was drenched in the blood of dozens. "Why did you do it?" "For wealth and glory. To seize control of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan and conquer the lands of Shanxi." The reply, given without an ounce of hesitation, made everyone tremble with fury. Yet, only one, Jin Wi-Kyung, shook his head. "That's not the answer I seek." "Then why don't you, young master, provide the answer? Why did I, my brothers, and our lord do this?" "Revenge," Jin Wi-Kyung's low voice continued. "The grand scheme you speak of isn't just for wealth or to become the ruler of a single sect. Too many chances have passed, and you are all aged. And... No more." "The grand elder has no descendants. Neither do the second elder, third elder, nor you." At that moment, a spark of blue flame flew from the first elder's once-calm eyes. It was long-suppressed rage, a sediment that briefly surfaced then sank again. "Why did you do it?" Instead of replying, the first elder pointed his sword at Jin Wi-Kyung. Or more precisely, beyond Jin Wi-Kyung's shoulder, towards a person who would hold the answer. "Hear it directly from him." In the end, the final key lay with the grand elder. Jin Wi-Kyung stepped forward, heading toward the first elder. "Indeed. After I cut you down, first elder." "Heh, do you really have the luxury to act so complacent?" "What is that supposed to mean...?" The previously furrowed brows of Jin Wi-Kyung suddenly froze in realization. 'Tae-Kyung!' His youngest sibling, cherished as though he could do no harm, was confronting the grand elder. The moment he remembered this forgotten fact, a cold chill ran through his entire body. 'If there’s any more delay, an irreversible tragedy could occur.' Understanding the gravity of the situation, Jin Wi-Kyung's voice erupted with a frosty intensity. "Wu Peng, take the first elder!" "As you command." "Everyone else, lend a hand!" "We obey the young master's orders." Wu Peng and a dozen senior members who had survived encircled the first elder widely. "The rest, follow me and cut a path through! We're going for the grand elder!" As Jin Wi-Kyung prepared to move with the escort force, he paused to glance at the first elder. Despite his approaching end, the first elder exhibited no signs of disturbance. In fact, he even seemed relieved. "First elder." "Got something to say?" Jin Wi-Kyung tossed a simple sentence. "By the authority of the young master of the Grand Taiyuan Jin Clan, you are excommunicated." "Hahaha, hahaha!" Leaving the laughter of the first elder behind, Jin Wi-Kyung charged towards the battlefield. Dozens of black-clad fighters tried to impede him, but the tide had long turned. They were cut down and killed by the martial artists coming at them from all directions. "Break through!" "The young master is here! Kill anyone who gets in the way!" Barely a moment had passed. However, for Jin Wi-Kyung, it felt as if an eternity had passed. 'Tae-Kyung, please, please... He couldn’t even bear to think of the word death. Embracing his pounding heart, he ran—how far did he run until he reached his destination, where his eyes widened in shock? 'What is this...?' The scene before him was nothing short of a complete shock. **Raid.** A term that barely existed outside the realm of games until a few decades ago. When the Demon King's advent and the great upheaval began, raids became the hallmark of hunters. The process of reaching that point involved countless real-life battles and sacrifices, which ultimately established today's raiding techniques. 'Tankers, Dealers, Healers.' The tankers block, dealers strike, and healers mend. Though it seems straightforward, becoming a certified hunter requires extensive learning of substantial raiding manuals and validation through real-life experience. 'Hunter Training Camp... truly a hellish time.' But thanks to enduring those times, I emerged as a hunter, and seven years of experience now allows me to adapt to any situation with appropriate tactics. Yet now... "Damn it, pour it on! Keep pouring it on!" I realized everything I learned was utterly useless. Tankers? Healers? Damn... Thinking a raid with ten melee dealers was doable, I was being a fool.