191 - Murim Login

Chapter 191 As Cheol-woo lay unconscious and was carried away, Jin Wi-gyeong stepped forward. “Is there no one else who wishes to challenge?” Having utterly defeated the once formidable Cheol-woo, it was clear that there were no other contenders daring enough to step up. Seeing no one volunteer, Jin Wi-gyeong exclaimed with a face brimming with joy. “Then, the ultimate winner of this martial arts competition is Jin Tae-gyeong, the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi!” Ding. - You have become the ultimate victor of the spontaneous event, [Taiyuan Jin Family Clan Tournament]! - Your reputation has increased! - You gained experience! - Level up! - You received 10 bonus points as an event reward! Alongside the unexpected notification, the grand martial arts stadium descended into a frenzy. "Yaaah!" "Hooray for the Taiyuan Jin Family! Long live the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi!" "The Sleeping Dragon defeated the Deadly Flower Fist!” “Woohoo!” Who even is that "Woohoo"? Must be someone who knows how to have fun. Either way, the atmosphere in the hall was as exhilarating as a rock festival. A child tossed the snack he was holding into the air, while an elderly man shattered his cane over his knee with a whoop of joy. “Waaah!” “Hii-yah!” The martial artists’ reactions were even more exuberant. For so long, the Shanxi martial world had been regarded as the outskirts. Though I had only defeated Cheol-woo, to them, it was akin to achieving a victory in a prideful contest against the Shaanxi martial world. “Owner, bring a bottle of huajiu here!” “Twenty years’ worth of bundled steambuns are finally going down. I’ll cover today’s tab, so order whatever you want!” Don’t call the owner. Don’t order everything. Ultimately, all the expenses were coming out of the Taiyuan Jin family’s pocket, but those intoxicated by the Shanxi fervor were too excited to care. 'They’ve gone completely wild.' Given that a significant number of attendees were martial artists, carrying weapons was the norm. I worried that this intoxication might lead to trouble. And indeed, at that moment, some reckless fellow shouted: “Everyone, draw your swords!” Cha-chang-chang! With a dazzling flash, hundreds of weapons were unsheathed. “Wave them from the front, one by one!” “Wow!” Cha-chang-chang! Cha-chang-chang! Really, a wave here? Watching this avant-garde cheering culture unfold ahead of its time, I muttered in disbelief. “This is completely…" “Chaos.” Though I started the sentence, the words carried on by someone else. A distinctly mature voice pierced through the chaos. I searched my surroundings, but all I could see were the delighted revelers. 'Who is it?' Despite the pandemonium, the voice sounded as if it came from right beside me. It must belong to a master with deep and profound skills. It was as I and a few others were turning our heads to find the source of the voice. “Roar(喝)!” Gooo Was this what I'd read about in martial arts novels, the Lion’s Roar (獅子吼)? The ground shook, and the air quivered. Among the civilians, those of weaker constitution fainted or sat down with cries of surprise. “Ahhh!” “Ugh!” The arena, once a source of festivity, instantly transformed into chaos. Terrified civilians and frozen martial artists. Through the scattered crowd, like a bomb had gone off, a leisurely-walking old man appeared. “It’s a bit calmer now.” He was tall and lanky. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, eventually locking onto me. Being at the center of the arena and sticking out like a sore thumb, it was inevitable that I'd catch his eye. As the old man scrutinized me from head to toe, he spoke. “Is it you?” ''Excuse me?'' “Are you Qingfeng, or Jin Tae-gyeong?” What is this situation? Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind. In that brief moment, I made up my mind and answered. “It’s neither.” “Neither?” “I think you’ve got the wrong guy.” I decided to feign ignorance, given the circumstances. He was clearly someone formidable. Whoever he was, he didn’t seem to have warm intentions towards me. “Is that so?” “I’ve never heard that before in my life.” The old man signaled behind him. “Come here.” “Yes, Elder.” Four individuals, previously obscured by the crowd, came into view. Coincidentally, they were all people I was acquainted with. Especially one person – there was no mistaking him. ‘Hyeok Mu-jin?’ Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be on duty? Still pale with fright, Hyeok Mu-jin stumbled forward, accompanied by three middle-aged men, as if being dragged. Their faces were also familiar to me. What were those nicknames again? 'Ah, yes. The Three Protectors of Zhongnan.' As I finally recalled the extraneous details, the mysterious old man addressed the four. “Find them.” Both Hyeok Mu-jin and a man with splinted arms, Gong Il-hyuk, pointed at me. “Squad leader! Please save me!” “It’s him! He’s Jin Tae-gyeong!” Oh, it’s been discovered. The old man, after a moment of silence, asked me. “Are you really Jin Tae-gyeong?” I bowed my head respectfully and replied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Jin Tae-gyeong.” The old man seemed genuinely surprised by my confession. Just then, with a whistling sound, three figures landed gracefully beside us. Jin Wi-gyeong, Baek Mu-seong, and Qingfeng. “I am Jin Wi-gyeong, the young master of the Taiyuan Jin family. May I know the esteemed senior’s name?” “Ahem. Young master of the Taiyuan Jin family?” Though the question was directed at the old man, it was Gong Il-hyuk who stepped in. Jin Wi-gyeong furrowed his brows at his interruption. “Yes, indeed. And may I ask who you are?” “I am Gong Il-hyuk of the Three Protectors of Zhongnan. My fifth-generation uncle is the great Fengyun Sword Lord, Gong Il-jung, the gatekeeper of the Grand Zhongnan Sect.” He still boasts about that distant uncle, doesn’t he? It makes me want to smack him with a drumstick. Upon recognizing Gong Il-hyuk, Jin Wi-gyeong murmured in a strained voice. “Zhongnan Sect?” Gong Il-hyuk was just a parachuted in-meddler relying on connections, but the name of the Zhongnan Sect is different. The Nine Major Sects and Five Great Families are the pillars that currently sustain the martial world. With his confidence bolstered, Gong Il-hyuk spoke triumphantly. “And the gentleman here is Elder Song Il of our sect.” So, that old man is an elder of the Zhongnan Sect? I had anticipated he was a master, but his status exceeded my expectations. Both Jin Wi-gyeong and Baek Mu-seong’s faces hardened. "The Fierce Tiger Swordsman..." "Mu Rim Scholar Baek Mu-seong greets Elder Song." The two quickly paid their respects, and the old man, the Fierce Tiger Swordsman, observed them calmly. His voice, tinged with the arrogance and leisure of a strong man, drifted out. "Baek Mu-seong? Are you the famed 'First Crane of Mount Hua'?" "Yes, though it's an overly generous title." "So it seems. You're not up to par with your master's younger days." The old man's words were laced with disdain, yet one couldn't help but recognize his formidable presence. Not only had he unabashedly belittled Baek Mu-seong, a respected figure, in front of everyone, he also casually referred to Cheon Geomjin-in, the head of the Mount Hua Sect, as if speaking of an old friend. His martial prowess seemed to be matched by his high standing within the martial world. "I will strive to improve." "Hmph, you speak well enough. If Cheon Geomjin-in sent you, then…." The Fierce Tiger Swordsman's eyes, having scrutinized the silent Baek Mu-seong, suddenly gleamed. His gaze fixed on Qingfeng, standing there cluelessly. "That one there. He is the successor of the Sword Sage." Qingfeng, bewildered, asked, "Do you know my grandfather?" "Of course I do. How could I not know him?" Judging by his expression, it seemed their connection wasn't a pleasant one. As the situation veered into treacherous territory, Jin Wi-gyeong asked with a stern face, "May I inquire the purpose of your visit?" "I've come to collect a debt." "A debt, you say?" "Yes, the debt for daring to mock the Grand Zhongnan Sect and injuring one of its disciples." His sharp gaze was like a blade, pointed at both Qingfeng and me. Gong Il-hyuk stepped forward, waving his splinted arm. "Do you see this? It's the injury inflicted upon me at King Sangsan Manor when I was invited there. The physician said it'll take at least six months to heal." Qingfeng, a bit apologetic, said, "I didn't hit hard… Was it really that painful?" His words cut deep. Gong Il-hyuk, now publicly humiliated, turned red with embarrassment. "You insolent brat! You attacked without warning, and now you have the nerve to..." I mumbled in disbelief. "He calls it a surprise attack? He grabbed my collar first and ended up being humiliated." "Shut it! Just thinking about what you two did, mocking my sect and attacking me, makes my blood boil!" It's typical for childhood squabbles to escalate into adult confrontations. Jin Wi-gyeong and Baek Mu-seong's expressions twisted into anger. "Mocking us? Is that what you just accused us of?" "How dare you! Gong Il-hyuk, mind your words! Even if we belong to different sects, there's an order in the martial world you must respect..." "Keh keh keh." The infuriating laughter of the Fierce Tiger Swordsman silenced Jin Wi-gyeong and Baek Mu-seong. "A hierarchy, you say? Well spoken." "......" "......" "I am the senior brother of the head of the Grand Zhongnan Sect, the Fengyun Sword Lord, and on par with Cheon Geomjin-in of the Mount Hua Sect. There is no issue here." Bringing up hierarchy was a mistake. Apart from his formidable martial arts skills, his status and experience were undeniable. Neither Jin Wi-gyeong, Baek Mu-seong, nor even Qingfeng, the Sword Sage's disciple, could counter him. “Does anyone here disagree with me?” When no one responded, the Fierce Tiger Swordsman addressed Qingfeng. “You injured a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect. Are you prepared for the consequences?” This is where words become dangerous. The circumstances leading up to the event didn't matter, only the outcome did. Baek Mu-seong quickly interjected. “Elder, this situation requires a fair investigation.” Qingfeng mumbled sheepishly, “I honestly just tapped him lightly.” “So, you deny inflicting harm?” “No, I did hit him, but I didn’t expect it to cause such damage.” Gong Il-hyuk seized the moment to attack verbally. “It was an obvious assassination attempt!” “Did you hear that?” “It really wasn’t.” As Qingfeng faltered, unable to refute effectively, the Fierce Tiger Swordsman's cutting words continued. “I’ll formally protest this incident to the Mount Hua Sect, so don’t even think of making excuses.” “Elder, typically the authorities don’t interfere with martial affairs. Additionally, those involved that were from government offices seemed favorable to them, so I worry they might speak deceit.” “Your point is valid. Measures will be taken.” This was all a charade. Faced with the injustice, Baek Mu-seong bit his lip, the next target of blame was clear. "The Taiyuan Jin family must seal its gates until someone from the Grand Zhongnan Sect arrives." “...What did you just say?” Jin Wi-gyeong echoed my thoughts. In fact, everyone who heard the Fierce Tiger Swordsman's words likely shared the same sentiment. ‘Seal our gates.’ What nonsense is that? Sure, I may have embarrassed Gong Il-hyuk a bit, but that was directed solely at him. I hadn't disrespected or mocked the Zhongnan Sect. But to seal our gates over this? Even if they added a condition regarding when someone from their sect arrives, the order itself was utterly disgraceful. “This is unjust!” Jin Wi-gyeong’s outcry made the Fierce Tiger Swordsman glare. “What?” “How can you order us to seal our gates without even ascertaining the facts? Is this the way of the Nine Major Sects, or rather, the Grand Zhongnan Sect?” “You dare!” “Our family does not accept this!” “And if you refuse?” Sssss. A powerful aura emanated from the Fierce Tiger Swordsman like a wildfire. I could feel the prickling sensation of a sword aimed between my brows. “If you refuse, what will you do?” “......!” “This is the martial world. Have you forgotten?” Suddenly, a surge of irritation boiled within me. I already know how the world works, painfully so. You’re looked down upon for lack of money, disrespected for not having strong backing, and ridiculed for being talentless. ‘The martial world is no different.’ Though distinct, the martial world and modern society are strikingly similar. The powerful twist truths and turn them into lies, and vice versa. They oppress and suppress the weak. All of this feels natural and justified to them, like the Fierce Tiger Swordsman standing before me. Drip, drip. I realized blood was seeping from my tightly clenched fist. Watching the blood droplets fall to the ground, I exhaled a hot breath. “Ah, damn it. This is such a damn mess.” My swear words, escaping into the silent air, echoed loud enough for everyone to hear. It felt as though something intangible shattered with a resounding crash. The Fierce Tiger Swordsman, his disbelief evident, asked, "…What did you just say?" Cursing had been a mistake. Since this mess was of my own making, I should have restrained myself no matter what. That would have been the more prudent course to resolve the situation. But... "This is absolute bullshit. It's bullshit, damn it. You bastards need to know your limits." I couldn't hold back any longer. Even if they called me thoughtless or ignorant of how the world worked, so be it. I had no interest in replaying the same exhausting experiences in both life and the martial world due to my distaste for injustice. I turned to Jin Wi-gyeong and apologized. "Sorry. I know I should just endure something as absurd as this, but this shit is so outrageous that it feels doubly unbearable, and I couldn’t just overlook it." Caught off guard, Jin Wi-gyeong's expression was wonderfully dynamic. From twisted to serene, his face went through a range of emotions before he finally let out a smirk. “To be honest, I thought it was bullshit too.” Those words acted as a trigger. The Fierce Tiger Swordsman's gaze flared with a fire hotter than molten lava. "You damn fools... Are you wishing for death?" Ssshing. With those venomous words, he unsheathed his sword, layers of aura enveloping the white blade. The moment that fiercely blazing aura—stronger than any I had seen before—was directed at me, "If you kill him, you'll die as well." A sharp voice rang out, causing the Fierce Tiger Swordsman to freeze in place.