195 - Murim Login

Chapter 195 The banquet on the first day of the festival was beyond a great success. Jin Wi-gyeong made a daring move by embracing the Hangsan Sword Sect, earning the loyalty of dozens of small to midsized sects. The unexpected involvement of the Jongnam Sect and the reappearance of the presumed-dead Fire King, Jeok Cheongang, shocked everyone. And... 'That includes me.' Eating, drinking, and moving around. Every single action draws the eyes of everyone present. Just half a day ago, the attention was due to my connection with the 'Hidden Dragon of Shanxi,' but now it's different. 'Fire King's disciple. Successor of the Blazing Fire Sect.' Whispers are spreading about the meaning behind Jeok Cheongang, the current master of the Blazing Fire Sect, passing the sect's heirloom to me, and why he protected the Taiyuan Jin family, despite opposing the Jongnam Sect. 'It seems like it's becoming a half-truth.' Truthfully, even I don't fully know Jeok Cheongang's intentions. That's why I'm here. Now's the perfect time to slip away amid the chaos. Hu Wei took a deep breath. I find myself standing in front of the residence where Jeok Cheongang is staying. Close to the large hall, it's been ordered that not even a mouse dares to show its face. "Master Jeok? Are you there?" An answer came from beyond the closed door. "I'm sleeping." "I'm here because I have something to ask." "I said I'm sleeping." "...How are you answering if you're sleeping?" "I'm sleepwalking." Is this a joke or what? Though flabbergasted, if the Fire King says so, then it's so. I gather my thoughts and try again. "There's something that's been on my mind, no matter how much I think about it." "Am I a person who clears up your curiosity?" "Not exactly, but..." "Then go wash your feet and get some sleep if you understand." What a wall. But I can't back down here. Just as I was cautiously creeping closer to the firmly shut door, it happened. "Take one more step and you won't see the sun rise tomorrow." "...How did you know?" "Your presence is as loud as thunder to me." "Can't you just let me in? It's still winter, and it's quite chilly." "Do you want me to warm you up with the Flame God's Palm?" Just hearing it heats up my insides. As I kept silent, a pause followed. Breaking that enduring silence was a single comment from Jeok Cheongang. "I visited Jeongyang." "Oh." Even the smallest bead can have extraordinary meaning for someone. Jeongyang is exactly that. Just another county among the dozens in Shanxi Province, but Jeok Cheongang had a reason to go to a particular mountain path there. 'Cho Pil.' On the snow-heavy day, a man named Changcheon died with the name Cho Pil. "I stayed a while at the spot you told me about. An old man loitering at a mountain base invited questions from passersby." The sunken voice continued. "I answered that it was where my kin died. That I came to gather any remains if possible." "At that moment, I realized. Even if I had met the boy before you, I could never have killed him. I’d have released him again and regretted it." I couldn't easily picture the expression Jeok Cheongang would have beyond the door. I hesitated before speaking. "Did you find the body?" "There was nothing." Months have passed already. A life that walked only the bloodied path. His fallen men would have also perished, either buried by the fickle weather or become prey to starving beasts. "It's the greed of an old man. Pathetic and useless." The sound of liquor being poured seemed unusually loud. "Didn't you say you were drunk earlier?" "You sly brat. Asking when you already know." The flickering candlelight illuminated his silhouette. Jeok Cheongang let out a little laugh as he downed his drink. "Ah. It's good." The voice seemed relieved, as if a single drink cast away his worries. I suddenly thought Jeok Cheongang's visit to Cho Pil's death site was to shake off lingering regrets and attachments still holding him. I spoke with an intentionally cheerful voice. "I learned that good things should be shared." "I learned that since childhood, anyone coveting others' things should be seared by the Flame God's Palm." "What kind of terrifying person said that?" "My master." Of course, it's the Volcano Sect. No mercy at all. Whoever it is, they're searing everyone with the Flame God's Palm. Although I don’t know the full history of the Blazing Fire Sect or its past masters, seeing Jeok Cheongang gives me a pretty good idea. 'A long-standing gangster sect.' They say where you plant beans, beans grow, and where you plant red beans, red beans grow. It's master and disciple to a tee. Except for the case of Cho Pil, of course. 'That wasn't the reason I came to talk.' While I was watching the silent figure just sipping liquor, Jeok Cheongang suddenly spoke. "From now on, the Fire Heaven Sword is yours." "W-what?" "The Fire Heaven Sword. The sword I entrusted to you." Though I learned the true name of the [Nameless Sword], that's not the issue here. I stuttered in astonishment. "But, isn't this the Blazing Fire Sect's heirloom?" "Ah, heirloom." Jeok Cheongang continued after downing what must be his umpteenth drink. "That's a lie." "What?" "It's not an heirloom. About a hundred years ago, it was just something used by a master of the sect, passed down to later generations. It's old, but even then, it was called a divine weapon, so it must still be useful." "...!" What kind of nonsense is this? I was so shocked by the unexpected truth that I gaped at him. "It was all a lie? You're joking with me, right?" "Joke with you? Why would I bother with a little runt like you?" "But you said in front of everyone you'd entrusted me with the Blazing Fire Sect's heirloom!" "I did. Because it was in front of everyone." Jeok Cheongang spoke with a nonchalant tone. "That's the sort of talk that gets people yapping. They'll think, 'Ah, this one's deeply connected to the Fire King. If he entrusted a sacred artifact to him, maybe he's a disciple. We shouldn't mess with the Taiyuan Jin family, lest the fearsome Fire King intervenes.' That's how rumors spread like wildfire." "You really think I would entrust the sect's sacred artifact to a brat like you? Hardly anyone knows about the artifact anyway, so if I say it's sacred, then it's sacred." "So keep the sword. It will keep those Jongnam Sect bastards from daring to act." Is this a dream? The system notification confirming the truth of his words rang in my ears. Ding. - The information about the [Nameless Sword] has been updated. [Fire Heaven Sword] Type: Sword Grade: Supreme Restriction: [Successor of the Blazing Fire Sect's Legacy] Description: A beloved sword used by the 10th sect leader of the Blazing Fire Sect. Crafted from Millennium Cold Steel, it's extremely sharp and durable. It has evolved through countless owners over the years. Only a true successor of the Blazing Fire Sect's legacy can unleash its true power. Effect: Unknown The updated information matched Jeok Cheongang's words. A cherished sword used by the 10th leader, with no mention anywhere of being a sacred artifact. Even the 'true power' hidden within must be accessed by continuing the Blazing Fire Sect's legacy. In short, it's just a relic aside from being forged from Millennium Cold Steel. 'I really thought it was a sacred artifact. I worried about what to do if he made me a disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect...' As I gazed at the holographic window in dismay, Jeok Cheongang, indulgingly, added a suggestion. "Think of it as a long-term loan. If I happen to die without remembering, you can keep it. Oh, and hand over the Flame God's Palm manual right now." "Damn old man... Ugh." What I intended to keep in thought slipped out of my mouth. Startled, I clamped my lips shut at once, but at that moment, the door of the hall burst open. Crash! A pair of fiery eyes glared at me. "You cheeky brat. What did you just say?" "I-it was a slip of the tongue!" "A slip of the tongue? Then I'll have a slip of the hand as well." Whoosh. A blazing hot palm and overwhelming heat. Without a second thought, I turned, not forgetting to throw the Flame God's Palm manual from my inventory in an instant. "Gasp, the manual, the Flame God's Palm manual!" Reaching for it risked turning the manual into ashes. Alarmed, Jeok Cheongang hastily retracted his fist. Seizing the opportunity, I ran with all my might. "I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry! Please spare me!" "You, cursed brat! Don't stop there!" His furious shout echoed behind me. Watching the scrambling form of Jin Taekyung fleeing, Jeok Cheongang chuckled. The rage that had filled his face vanished as though washed away. "Boy, no matter how much you run, you're still in the palm of my hand." He could catch him anytime if he wanted. Yet, Jeok Cheongang put his hands behind his back and turned away. Although responsible for the death of his cherished disciple, Jangcheon, he harbored no hatred toward Jin Taekyung. If anything, Jeok Cheongang owed him a true apology. All of this stemmed from his wrong decision a decade ago. "He called me a damn old man." Despite the young upstart's insult, he didn't feel bad. In fact, he felt relieved. "Yes, I'm indeed a damn old man, a forgetful old fool. Haha." Since his master's passing, no one dared curse Jeok Cheongang to his face. Because he's the Fire King. A legendary martial artist who wrote his own saga. But hearing such words from Jin Taekyung seemed to clear something long clogged. "It feels refreshing. So refreshing." As one grows older, loneliness deepens. Not because there are no people around but because there's nowhere to rest your heart. One might be a pillar for someone, but they become too old to lean on anyone. "A pillar for someone else... Jeok Cheongang was a thorny, rugged shrub. Throughout his years, he brushed past many, yet he allowed no one to lean on him. Except for one: Jangcheon. "Were you ever comforted by this master of yours, even for a moment?" Recalling him, Jeok Cheongang's gaze grew unfocused. But now, there was neither pain in his heart nor heat in his eyes. The departed has returned to dust. Jeok Cheongang drank a bottle and poured another at the site where his disciple had bled out. Along with the tears shed, he released the grudge lingering in his heart over the past ten years. "I'm sorry. This will be the last day I think of you." If there's a next time, it belongs to the afterlife. Though he may occasionally recall his deceased disciple, it would not be out of regret but fond memories. "This is enough. This will have to do." Jeok Cheongang, who had been pacing the yard, halted. The face of Jangcheon flickered away, replaced by the unexpected image of another. 'Why am I thinking of him?' The striking features and confident yet annoyingly smug smile. Always seemingly calculating, yet reciprocating his harsh words. 'Did calling me a damn old man unknowingly rile me up?' As Jeok Cheongang frowned, a faint sizzling sound rose alongside a thin tendril of smoke. Realizing the source, his eyes widened. "The manual, the manual!" Seeing that the manual of the Flame God's Palm was already half-burnt, Jeok Cheongang roared with fury. "Jin Taekyung! You brat I'll kill—!"