67 - Murim Login

Chapter 67 “Ouch, my whole body aches.” Hyeok Mujin groaned, his bare upper body exposed and entirely bruised in dark shades. The sight made the stern-looking old man, the master of the Herbal Pavilion, click his tongue in disapproval. “What on earth did you do to your body, boy?” As he unpacked the bundle he brought, large needles like stakes appeared. Hyeok Mujin, his voice trembling with fear, asked, “You’re going to stick those into my body?” “Scared, are you?” “They look quite painful... Please, just use as few as possible.” “Fine, I'll be gentle.” The Herbal Pavilion Master, answering briskly, pulled out two large needles. “I’ll give you one shot each in Baihui and Huiyin points. If you die, at least you won’t feel pain anymore.” “Okay, I’m ready for treatment now.” With those words, the Herbal Pavilion Master shut Hyeok Mujin up as he swiftly began his work. In the blink of an eye, dozens of needles, both large and small, pierced Hyeok Mujin's skin. “Agh, agh!” “Young man, stop exaggerating. Judging by your voice, you could easily live another fifty years.” The Herbal Pavilion Master then turned away from the now hedgehog-like Hyeok Mujin and looked at me. “Take it off.” “W-what?” “Are you deaf? Take your shirt off.” In front of the elder, Sanseo’s Hidden Dragon or not, there was no choice. Glancing nervously at the gleaming needles, I took off my upper clothing. Swoosh. "Huh?" The Herbal Pavilion Master’s eyes widened as he examined my body. “What’s this? Incredible.” His voice was filled with surprise. Just yesterday, my body had been a mass of bruises, but now it was clean. That kind of reaction was understandable. 'I didn’t expect this myself.' After just one night’s sleep, most of my bruises had vanished, and my sore bones felt completely healed. 'Is this the power of sleep mode?' It seems now, just a good night's sleep is enough to quickly heal minor injuries. Even the Herbal Pavilion Master, with his long experience in medicine, seemed fascinated as he scrutinized me. “Did you take some miraculous medicine last night?” “No. I just practiced Qi Gong all day and slept soundly.” “Is it the effect of the Hundred-year-old Snow Ginseng? No, that’s too far-fetched...” He glared at me suspiciously, wondering if I had raided the medicinal storage again, before shaking his head. “Young Master, you’re free to leave.” Hyeok Mujin, who had been groaning, perked up with excitement. “What about me? What about me?” “If you run off without my permission again, I swear I’ll drive a large needle right through your Huiyin point,” the old man said with a sinister tone, brandishing the needle in the air ominously. The sight was reminiscent of a horror movie. It would indeed be a blood-soaked farewell ceremony. “Young Master, you may leave if you don’t want more acupuncture.” Thank goodness... Just as I leapt up to avoid the gleaming, crazed eyes, a realization struck me. 'Where do I go now?' With the building destroyed, I had nowhere to return to. Left suddenly homeless, I was standing at a loss when a familiar voice called from outside. "Ahem, might the Herbal Pavilion Master be inside?" Opening the door at a hesitant guess, I saw the face I expected. “Brother?” Jin Wigyeong jumped slightly, a beat behind. “What brings you here! I had urgent matters to discuss with the Herbal Pavilion Master, but this is quite a coincidence!” You’re trying too hard. Hearing about my situation, Jin Wigyeong took the lead with a serious expression. “I know a place you can stay for a while. Follow me.” His actions were clearly conscious of the eyes around us. His image as the dedicated and competent heir who distinguishes between work and personal life was well established. The problem is... “Ah, it's the young master.” “Aren’t they with the third young master? What are the two of them doing together in broad daylight?” “Could it be they can’t stand to be apart? The third young master must be quite adored.” It seemed everyone that mattered was already aware. That Jin Wigyeong was an infamous doting brother. ‘Well, it’d be strange not to know.’ Even now, in his mid-thirties, it’s still like this—imagine how it was when we were younger. Right after a battle, he once lifted me onto his shoulders, overjoyed. 'Our youngest! My brother!' With a fuss like that in front of hundreds, ignorance was impossible. As I inwardly sighed, a soft voice reached my ear. - So, how about it? Quite the acting, right? I nodded, thinking his overacting could win an Academy Award for Best Actor. - Is your body alright? Know that Mujin truly meant no harm. I hope you understand. His fists were loaded with malice, though. It was fortunate I healed quickly; otherwise, I would’ve been staring at the Herbal Pavilion ceiling for days. ‘Better avoid that kid if possible.’ Young and with a terrible temper, yet skilled in martial arts, there was no dealing with Jinu Mujin. “You’ll get attached if you see him often.” Not attached, just bruised. Oblivious to my thoughts, Jin Wigyeong chuckled and resumed walking. Passing through the bustling heart of the TaeWon Jin Clan, the crowds gradually dwindled as we continued. 'Where is this place?' The former glory of the clan evident in its vast territory resembled a collection of several soccer fields. It was only natural we couldn’t explore everything. Every step was into uncharted territories. 'Alas, all these are worn out.' Finally, completely devoid of people, the path emptied. The sporadically visible buildings, of indeterminate use, were old and decrepit. An atmosphere perfect for mice during the day and ghostly poker games at night. Noticing my curiosity, Jin Wigyeong hastily explained. “Given the state of the main estate, maintaining this much was a struggle. It's time for renovations on a grand scale, indeed.” “It doesn’t really matter to me.” “Truly?” “Yes.” I meant it wholeheartedly. Five years I endured in a cramped three-pyeong gositel. Mice can be caught, and ghosts—will they really appear? “As long as it's spacious.” “So as long as it’s spacious, nothing else matters?” Despite the slightly ominous prelude, I nodded, and Jin Wigyeong seemed relieved. “That’s good. I was worried you might not like it.” “... Just where exactly is this?” “We’re here. This is the place.” “Oh.” We stopped in front of a large three-story pavilion. Compared to the other buildings we'd passed, this one was noticeably cleaner, with an ambiance of timeless elegance. The tall stone walls surrounding the pavilion also appealed to me. “It’s nice.” There was absolutely no reason to say no to this. Jin Wigyeong smiled brightly, as if pleased by my reaction. “Do you like it?” “Yes, it’s much cleaner than I thought. And it looks really spacious.” “Right? We even built a large training hall inside.” “A training hall!” “And to prepare for bad weather, there’s another one underground.” “Wow. Two training halls!” “If you divide the space, there shouldn’t be any problems.” “That’s perfect for... wait, what do you mean?” Hold on. What did you just say? “Aren’t I using it alone?” “Ah, well…” Jin Wigyeong smiled awkwardly. “Since it’s spacious anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to share? You could strengthen your bond this way.” “…With whom?” A sense of unease began to creep in. And my bad feeling was never wrong. Instead of answering, Jin Wigyeong stepped into the pavilion. “Mujeong! Your brother is here!” Ah, damn it. “So, until your new place is built, I was hoping you could stay together.” Hearing the circumstances, Jin Mujeong nodded agreeably. “Let’s do that.” I didn’t expect him to agree so readily. The unexpected response surprised both me and Jin Wigyeong. “Really, are you serious?” “Yes. But can you send someone to assist me tomorrow?” “Of course. I was already worried about you holing up alone in the training hall. I'll find you a capable, quick-witted servant. Or perhaps… a cook?” “There’s no need for a servant or a cook.” “Then?” Jin Mujeong gave me a meaningful look. “Just call a physician.” There it is. Suddenly, the scenes I saw on the way here flashed before my eyes. Deserted streets. An underground training hall from which no scream could escape. Ideal conditions for committing a crime. ‘So he's planning to beat me up, huh?’ A shiver of fear ran through me as Jin Wigyeong stuttered. “Mu, Mujeong. You don’t mean…? It’s not what I think it is, right?” “It is exactly what you think. It might even be more than you expect.” “If it's more than expected…” “Then we might need an undertaker instead of a physician.” I didn’t hesitate to bolt toward the exit. Whoosh! Snag! Oh, dammit. Jin Wigyeong caught me by the collar and dragged me back as Jin Mujeong smirked. “Your escape skills are pathetic. Even a stray dog in the back alleys could outrun you.” This time, I wasn’t going to back down. “It’s not a dog if it's faster than me, it’s a red hare!” “You haven’t learned your lesson, have you?” “Come on, hit me if you can!” Of course, I had no intention of getting beaten. After all, I had a reliable protector. “Enough!” Jin Wigyeong’s commanding shout echoed through the underground training hall. His face was stern, unlike any time before. “What on earth are you two doing?” It was the first time he’d looked so terrifying. They say it’s scary when kind people get angry, and it perfectly described Jin Wigyeong now. “Instead of getting along as brothers, you’re about to brawl in front of me?” Under his fierce gaze, both Jin Mujeong and I clammed up. “It’s not even half a year or a full year, just a mere fortnight. You’re to live together only until the pavilion is rebuilt. Was that too much to ask?” Jin Mujeong flinched. As the main culprit behind the pavilion’s destruction, he had a reason to feel guilty. “It’s just that he was being so rude—” “And so you demolished the pavilion and beat up your younger brother? Is that supposed to be an excuse?” Jin Mujeong lowered his head. “I’m sorry.” Then the reprimands turned to me. “And you, Taekyung! I’d ask for your ID if I could hold back.” I'm barely twenty years old, and Jin Mujeong is still my older brother by three years. “Answer!” “…I’m sorry.” Jin Wigyeong glared at us with severity. “I made this decision after serious consideration. If you both truly oppose it, then speak up now. I will respect your wishes.” Jin Mujeong and I locked eyes in the air. We both answered simultaneously. “No, I don’t want to.” “I also object.” After a heavy silence, Jin Wigyeong finally spoke. “I’m glad you both agree to adhere to my decision.” Isn’t this just the answer he wanted all along?