192 - Murim Login

Chapter 192 "Oh, damn. This is seriously messed up." …What? Song Il thought he was dreaming. Who was he after all? He was the Fierce Tiger Swordsman, Song Il. Even his master, the Wind Sword Lord, now the head of the sect, showed him utmost respect and courtesy. But what was this? Damn? Messed up? 'Did I hear that wrong?' Jin Taekyung, the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi, the youngest of the insignificant Jin family of Taeyuan. A mere youngling who had just recently come of age. The fact that such a brat had spoken those words to him, one of the great elders of the Mount Zhongnan Sect and a hero of the Great War between Good and Evil, was unbelievable. No, it was unacceptable. "…What did you just say?" His uncertainty vanished in an instant with Jin Taekyung’s next words. "I said it's messed up. Messed up, you morons! You should let up a bit." "......." After a tirade of curses from Jin Taekyung, Jin Wi-gyeong spoke. "I'm sorry. I know it's something I should endure even if it's messed up, but when they act so terribly, it becomes doubly messed up, so I just couldn’t let it go." "Truthfully, I thought it was messed up as well." Jin Wi-gyeong’s words put the final touch on the situation. Light slowly returned to Song Il's eyes after being unable to accept this unbelievable scene. A blazing light. It was an intense rage he hadn't felt in a long time. "You bastards..." A sizzling breath escaped between Song Il's clenched teeth. "You must be dying to end it all." Srrrng. The formidable sword that had claimed numerous foes emerged. It didn’t matter if Jin Taekyung was from a righteous sect, a demonic sect, or an outside sect. If Song Il had thought about the consequences beforehand, he wouldn't have earned the nickname Fierce Tiger Swordsman. 'I'll kill you all.' Song Il was truly filled with murderous intent. Proving this, a powerful sword energy waved like a tide. He had spent his life training in the ultimate techniques of the Mount Zhongnan Sect, the Thirty-Six Sword Techniques of the Celestial River. Though not perfected, it was more than enough to turn those insolent brats into six pieces with one stroke. 'You will be the first to die.' He had already decided the first person to kill. Jin Taekyung, the young brat. He intended to chew and swallow his insolent tongue. Just as Song Il, with bloodshot eyes, was about to unleash his sword energy. "If you kill him, you will die too." A voice from nowhere stopped Song Il in his tracks. It wasn’t the significance of the words. He simply couldn't discern where the voice came from. 'Impossible for me to not know?' Utterly inconceivable. But the continued voice confirmed this situation was indeed reality. "A grown man catching children, what are you doing, tsk, tsk." Front, back, up, down, left, right. Song Il couldn't figure out the origin of the voice. The owner of the voice was nowhere yet everywhere. 'This, this is... Finally understanding the nature of the voice, Song Il's body trembled. 'Liuhai Transmitted Voice Technique!' Transmitting sound wirelessly was the province of absolute masters; the Liu He Transmitted Voice Technique was the domain of those who had reached beyond the pinnacle. Ultimate level. A great realm that only a select few of the chosen could enter. 'Why would such a person...' Why! How dare they interfere with him! Song Il shouted, losing composure. "Who are you! I'm the elder of the Mount Zhongnan Sect, the Fierce Tiger Swordsman, Song Il! Come out at once!" "Elder? Hahaha!" Thunderous laughter echoed from all directions, unfathomably powerful. Civilians not versed in martial arts prostrated, calling on the Jade Emperor, while the martial artists trembled in awe. "Can't you hear me!" "Hahaha! Oh, I'm laughing so hard it hurts." "You vile!" Blinded by fury and fear, Song Il found his gaze resting on Jin Taekyung. Despite the surrounding chaos, a mysterious smile hung on his face as he gazed into the air, seemingly mocking Song Il. 'That cursed brat!' Shooosh! The sword energy, momentarily wavering, soared anew. Song Il aimed his sword at Jin Taekyung and shouted to his surroundings. "Reveal yourself immediately! Or I will kill this brat!" The laughter that had shaken the earth abruptly stopped. "What? Kill that brat?" "I'll count to three." Song Il's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Although he didn't know who or where, the mysterious interferer's weakness was Jin Taekyung. The panic in the voice was evidence. "One!" "Heh, look at this brat. He's become more audacious since I last saw him." Since I last saw him? Song Il’s mind raced. From those words, it was clear they were acquainted... 'Wait, could that voice be...' Realizing who it might be, Song Il flinched but quickly gritted his teeth. It couldn’t be. That old monster couldn’t still be alive. He shouted as though trying to shake off his fear. "Two!" "Whew, okay. I'll come out now, so wait for a moment! But if you harm a hair on his head, you'll pay a price!" Song Il felt his tension release. His gamble had paid off. The mysterious supreme expert wanted to save Jin Taekyung. And he was further away than he first seemed. "Don’t come within fifty zhang. If you get any closer, this brat is as good as dead... Just at that moment. "Three." Song Il doubted his eyes and ears. Just three short meters away, Jin Taekyung, with a serene face, spoke again. "I said three. You deaf, you old coot?" "What, you brat. Have you gone mad wanting to die?" "Try it. If you can kill me." "...... What?" "You know? If you can’t kill me with one strike, you're next." "......!" "Let's see who dies." Jin Taekyung beamed as he spread his arms wide. "He's coming." He’s coming. Those words sent chills down Song Il's spine. When he unconsciously took a step back, Whoosh— A faint breeze whispered past his ear. An incredible presence approached rapidly from behind. ‘This is...’ Every hair on Song Il's body stood on end. His honed instincts, sharpened on countless battlefields, whispered to him. It was already too late. Even now, he should step back. However. 'I am the Fierce Tiger Swordsman, Song Il!' Swooosh! He unleashed the Thirty-Six Sword Techniques of the Celestial River, splitting into twenty-four streams of sword energy. In the slowed-down world, Song Il's wide eyes captured the image of Jin Taekyung. Ssshh ssshh ssshh! Jin Taekyung dodged the incoming twenty-four streams of sword energy, barely managing to evade. Torn clothes and scattered drops of blood—the price he'd paid to dodge the fierce strike of the Fierce Tiger Swordsman. "This is impossible…" Song Il had no chance to express his shock. Because something hard and hot seized his wrist before he could unleash his second technique. Snap! "You insolent bastard. Didn't I tell you not to harm a hair on his head?" A deep voice, eyes ablaze with a red that seemed almost blue. Song Il finally realized. The sound of the wind had vanished. He had meddled with someone untouchable. "You, you are, how did you…" "The kids from Mount Zhongnan have grown up a lot. Can't even recognize their elders." The monstrous elder from his past, who had once humiliated him beyond repair, had resurfaced from his memory to confront him now. Song Il let out a shrill scream. "Fire King-!" A sinister smile crept up the wrinkled lips of Jeok Cheon-Gang. "Yes, it's me." On the first day of the new year, the Fire King descended upon the Taewon Jin family. Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang. The weight of his name pressed down upon everyone present. A god, a star, a king among the martial artists, the closest to the title of the greatest in the world— the ultimate being. Despite his ragged attire and small frame, Jeok Cheon-Gang's presence was that of a giant. And the eyes of this giant were fixed on me. "You madman. Are you that eager to die?" Who would have thought I’d be so glad to hear that voice. My legs gave out, and I slumped down. "Whew, I nearly died there." "If I hadn’t intervened, you would have." "Yes, thank you. I won't forget this favor." Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyes narrowed at my hollow response. "Lost your nerve in just half a day? Do you want to die?" Was it really only half a day? Now that I think about it, I hadn’t parted ways with Jeok Cheon-Gang until this morning. The tumultuous start to the new year made one day feel like a whole month. I replied in an exhausted voice. "If you're going to kill me, please postpone it for later." "I plan to." Jeok Cheon-Gang turned his head and added, "But first, I need to deal with this insolent fool." 'Insolent fool'—how many people in this world could describe an elder of the Mount Zhongnan Sect that way? "A-ah...!" The Fierce Tiger Swordsman, Song Il, was trembling from head to toe. From the words exchanged, it seemed they knew each other in the past, but it obviously wasn’t a warm relationship. "It's been a while. Are those broken bones of yours healed?” "You, y-you, how did you...” "Did you just address me as you?" Jeok Cheon-Gang blinked as if looking at an intriguing creature, then let out a chuckle. "You’ve grown a lot.” Slap. It was an extraordinary sight, one you couldn't buy with money. Jeok Cheon-Gang struck the Fierce Tiger Swordsman's cheek with his wrinkled hand. Though his movement was painfully slow, Song Il didn’t dare evade it. "It reminds me of the first time I saw you. You were just a young brat." Slap. "Arrogant and rude, relying solely on the backing of your sect to wreak havoc, and now you've become an elder of the Mount Zhongnan Sect." Slap. "When I saved you the first time you nearly died, the thanks I got was you accusing me of stealing credit!” Slap. "If it weren’t for your master's pleadings, I would have broken your neck, not just your legs." Slap, slap, slap! The humble slaps devoid of any real force made the middle-aged Fierce Tiger Swordsman cower like a reprimanded child. His once prideful and arrogant glare faded into one of humiliation, anger, and fear. Jeok Cheon-Gang regarded him as if he were a mere insect. "You fool. Did you age in reverse?" What should I do? I think I'm beginning to like this elder more and more. Jin Wi-Gyeong and Heo Mu-Jin were already looking at Jeok Cheon-Gang with hearts in their eyes. "As an elder of one of the Nine Great Clans, you bully civilians and rashly dictate closure of the gates? If your master saw this, he would weep in the afterlife." "Who is the current sect leader?" The Fierce Tiger Swordsman answered in a trembling voice. "My, my disciple. The Wind Sword Lord…" "Wind Sword Lord? Never heard of such nonsense. So that’s why a lowlife like you can parade around as an elder of Mount Zhongnan?" To see him belittle the sect leader of Mount Zhongnan and dismiss Song Il as a bug… well, what audacity. Shamed in front of everyone and instantly branded as a lesser being, the Fierce Tiger Swordsman's face twisted with humiliation. As he lowered his head, probably to hide the combined shame and anger, Jeok Cheon-Gang's eyes shot wide. "Is your mouth just for decoration? Why so silent?" "…Master Jeok. I, I was just…" "Silence that mouth already!" I've decided. I'm forming a fan club. At this moment, the Fire King Jeok Cheon-Gang is the idol of the Taewon Jin family. 'Is this what it's like to soak in an emotional hot spring of satisfaction?' This tingling sensation that felt like even my white blood cells were fizzing with carbonation—like downing an icy cold beer after a raid on a sweltering summer day. Refreshed and renewed, a tidal wave of coolness swept over my body. 'Fire. King. Is. Grand.' Of course, this is from the perspective of an observer. The Fierce Tiger Swordsman's body quivered as he faced utter public humiliation before countless onlookers, civilians and martial artists alike. Perhaps that’s why, in a fleeting instant, the humiliation and anger surpassed his fear of the Fire King. "This, this is a matter between the Taewon Jin family and the main gate." "What?" "Master Jeok… this is not your concern." "It’s not my concern?" Jeok Cheon-Gang gave the trembling Song Il an unwavering stare. His clenched fist trembled slightly, as if he were contemplating the perfect spot to deliver a blow that would earn widespread notoriety. 'Hit him! Please, just hit him once!' As if hearing my silent plea, Jeok Cheon-Gang raised his hand high. And in the next moment, his wrinkled finger was pointing directly at me. "Do you see that guy?" "......?" Wait a minute. Why am I suddenly involved in this? As confusion spread over everyone's faces, including mine, the Fire King continued. "I entrusted the divine artifact of the Flame Sect to him." "......!" "......!" The large martial arts arena fell into a hushed silence. A wave of silent shock rippled endlessly throughout the crowd.