187 - Murim Login

Chapter 187 Hundreds of martial artists with an aura as sharp as frost stood in formation. Walking down the path they created was a solitary figure. Step, step The onlookers included commonfolk who had come out of curiosity, nameless martial artists in worn-out garb, and the powerful figures who controlled Shanxi Province. Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on one man. That man was Jin Wi-gyeong. "It's like a scene from a movie." Jin Wi-gyeong, clad in martial attire embroidered with a silver dragon, walked with unstoppable confidence. His commanding presence and natural aura of authority overwhelmed the crowd. The silence summoned by Jin Wi-gyeong was shattered by his voice. "Our house rooted itself in Taiyuan three hundred years ago." His resonant declaration carried far and wide. "The beginning was humble, indeed." It was said to be a tumultuous time. Natural disasters followed one after another, and the empire that seemed everlasting lost its power. Many warlords raised flags across the lands, claiming kingship, sparking wars in the process. Blood soaked the dried lands instead of water, and crops meant for harvest were trampled under hooves. At the end of those long wars, a man who had wandered throughout the world halted in what was once the capital of a fallen dynasty, now in ruins. Thus began the Jin family of Taiyuan. "Our ancestor, Master Jin Muryang, took in orphans and cared for widows and the elderly. Though our foundation was in martial prowess, not once did we forget humanity." The tiny seed soon sprouted. Those gathered under the banner of the Jin family of Taiyuan became its branches and trunks, forming a strong and profound root system. The family that had started humbly grew into a great tree encompassing all of Shanxi Province. "However, even our family could not escape the cycles of rise and fall." All things slowly changed with the passage of time. Through various large and small events, the great tree began to wither. Misguided decisions by the leadership, invasions by external forces, betrayal by allies, calamities beyond human control... Before long, many branches snapped, and the once lush leaves fell. "But!" A thunderous roar erupted. The voice that followed was like bubbling lava. "We survived." Though branches and leaves broke and fell, the roots remained intact. "Shaken, perhaps, but never uprooted." If the roots remain, the tree will grow again. As if nothing had happened, it will regain its vitality and sprout lush leaves. Just as it does now. "As the heir of the Jin family of Taiyuan, I make this oath." Thud! Hundreds of martial artists belonging to the Jin family of Taiyuan dropped to one knee, exuding an invisible heat. "We, the Jin family of Taiyuan!" To all those associated with the Jin family and everyone present, as well as enemies yet to reveal their fangs. "Three hundred years ago, three hundred years from now, we will remain unchanging in this place!" Thud! Thud! "I ask you all!" His eyes blazing with fiery resolve swept across the audience. Jin Wi-gyeong, capturing faces filled with excitement, anticipation, fear, and guilt, shouted. "Are you ready to lay a new cornerstone with our house?" A massive roar erupted from the martial artists of the Jin family of Taiyuan. "Loyalty!" Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! At that moment, a clear voice rang out. "May we join in the path the Jin family of Taiyuan wishes to take?" The source of the voice was neither the seat of honor nor the distinguished guests' sections. As the vast crowd encircling the grand martial stage parted, the owner of the voice appeared. 'That person is...' Dressed in comfortable martial attire rather than flowing robes, with a mature appearance for her age, she respectfully saluted Jin Wi-gyeong. "I am Lee So-wol of the Hangsan Sword Sect, arriving in response to your summons." Beside her stood a middle-aged man like a steel tower, who declared in a booming voice. "Elder Cheol Mubak of Hangsan Sword Sect greets the heir of the Jin family of Taiyuan." Following them, the martial artists of Hangsan Sword Sect shouted in unison. "We greet the heir!" A stir and commotion spread throughout the crowd. The appearance of the Hangsan Sword Sect, once on the brink of ruin. The identity of the new sect leader was known as the sole daughter of the deceased Blood Wolf Sword, and beside her stood Cheol Mubak of Hangsan Lake, declaring himself as an elder. Amidst the surprise of all present, Jin Wi-gyeong’s expression remained calm. It was only natural. He was the one who personally sent me the invitation. "This is the first time we meet in person, Lady. Did you receive my invitation well last time?" "Yes. Furthermore..." Lee So-wol, maintaining composure, raised her head to look at me. "I owe a debt of gratitude that I cannot hope to repay." Her piercing gaze made my face tingle. The fact that I and Jin Muwon had saved the Hangsan Sword Sect was well known in Shanxi Province, so her response was expected. With a faint smile directed my way, she turned her gaze to Jin Wi-gyeong. "I would like to hear an answer to my earlier question." Lee So-wol took a deep breath. Her eyelids quivered. "Can we... join the Jin family of Taiyuan?" Jin Wi-gyeong’s reply came without a hint of hesitation. "Of course." "Then let me ask. Are you ready to proceed with our house?" Crumple. Rather than answering, Lee So-wol knelt on one knee. Cheol Mubak and the martial artists under her command followed suit. "I, Lee So-wol, second sect leader of Hangsan Sword Sect, swear before the heavens and earth." Once the dominant force in the martial world of Shanxi, the successor of Hangsan Sword Sect now knelt before Jin Wi-gyeong. No, she knelt before the Jin family of Taiyuan. "This body will dedicate its loyalty to the Jin family of Taiyuan." "Loyalty!" Though their number was small, their cry was powerful. Jin Wi-gyeong helped Lee So-wol to her feet, resting a hand on her shoulder. His tone naturally shifted. "I accept." On the first day of the festival, the Jin family of Taiyuan officially accepted Hangsan Sword Sect as their vassal. "Woahhhh!" "Jin family of Taiyuan! Jin family of Taiyuan!" Cheers erupted wave after wave. The crowd, numbering a thousand strong, chanted the name of the Jin family of Taiyuan with fervor. "That's how incredible it was." Following the blood-stirring speech came the oath of loyalty from Hangsan Sword Sect. "What an amazing ending." Although the true feast had yet to begin, everyone present already understood one thing: the Jin family of Taiyuan was indeed the undisputed overlord of Shanxi Province, their power matched only by their benevolence. Chul-woo, sitting beside me, was no exception. "...Wow." He had always seemed simple-minded and prideful, yet now he looked genuinely impressed. 'The kid knows a thing or two.' It's childish, but I couldn't help but feel a little pride swell within me. After all, I am a member of the Jin family of Taiyuan, and I had played no small part in today's gathering. "Ahem, ahem. It seems you were moved?" "It was truly incredible. My heart was racing the entire time." Chul-woo continued, his voice filled with excitement. "How could it be so beautiful?" "Not to boast, but the Jin family is quite well-regarded in Shanxi Province... Wait, what?" What did I just hear? After a moment's hesitation, I asked in a rather reluctant voice. "You're not talking about my eldest brother, are you?" "What?" "You know, stuff like, 'I envy that man's muscles. I want to bench press and strip each other's Under Armour.' Things like that..." "What nonsense are you talking about?" Chul-woo frowned, and from his expression, it was clear that wasn't the case. "Oh, good. I thought you might swing both ways for a moment there." "Swing both ways? What is that supposed to mean?" "Well, metaphorically speaking, it's like a couple of Diglett becoming a Dugtrio." "I have no idea what you're talking about. Explain it to me simply." I thought of the simplest term possible. "Affection between men." "You little...!" Chul-woo's fist paused in mid-air as he noticed Baek Mu-seong, his senior, sitting right next to us. Hooray for the Hwasan School's influence. I chuckled and asked, "So what did you find beautiful?" "The woman! That woman from the Hangsan Sword Sect!" "Oh, Lady Yi So-wol?" Strictly speaking, she’s a sect leader now, but the title of 'lady' still seems more fitting for her at the moment. Chul-woo's eyes lit up with the familiarity in my words. "Oh, do you know her?" "We have a bit of a connection." "What kind of connection?" It started with a scandal over sexual harassment and ended with a proposal, one might say. "It's a long and complicated story, and frankly, I'm too lazy to go through it all. But, are you... kind of interested in her?" "Interested!" Seeing Chul-woo jump up in a flustered manner, I felt slightly relieved. "Right? I thought you were really interested because you said your heart raced..." "It's not interest! It's love." "Three children would be just right. Two boys and one girl." "...Uh, go on." "We'll have a yellow dog too. I hear raising a pet with children from a young age is great for their emotional development. It'd be a happy family." I was about to mock him, but I paused. 'I feel like I've seen this scene before.' Where could it have been? I suddenly felt a strange, familiar nudge. Why did thoughts of reality bring forth images of Song Yi and Uncle Ggeokjeong? 'How odd.' Putting the confusion aside, I spoke up. "Are you done?" "I'm not finished." "Well, let’s say you're done. Listen to me now. This is important." Chul-woo froze at the serious tone in my voice. "Important?" "Yeah. How old are you?" "Twenty-five." "Do you know how old that lady is?" "No, I don't." "Seventeen. Oh, since it's the New Year, she's eighteen now." "So what?" "So what, you reprehensible fool! Never mind the seven-year difference, she's still in school! She should be deciding between the arts and sciences, thinking about her GPA!" My outburst left Chul-woo bewildered. "What are you talking about? It's the perfect age for marriage." "Ah, sorry. I got too worked up." As an older brother with a younger sister still in school, I can't help but relate emotionally. I keep forgetting this is a martial arts world. "Anyway, think it over. Don't get swept away by fleeting emotions." "No." Chul-woo replied unwaveringly, his face dreamy. "The moment I first saw her, I knew. My heart, which had been dormant, began to beat." "So you were dead for twenty-five years?" "Dead? Yes, you're right. Before meeting her, I was as good as a corpse." "Can't you really just die? Please, just die." "No can do. I'm now someone who can't live or die without her consent." "...Oh, my." Baek Mu-seong and Eun-hyang, who'd been listening to our conversation, shook their heads. "He's at it again." "Brother, didn't he say something similar to one of the pretty third-generation disciples last year?" Is he a repeat offender? 'Not some love-struck serial confessor.' Just as Chul-woo was about to protest Eun-hyang's embarrassing revelation, a voice caught my ear. "Young Master Jin." A pleasant voice reached me. Turning my head, I saw a lady, no, a young girl ascending the steps. 'Yi So-wol.' It was her.