199 - Murim Login

Chapter 199 "Take your hands off my property," said Jeok Cheon-gang, and the atmosphere became oppressively heavy. The next moment, the hand of Akbulgun, who had been resting on my shoulder, slowly withdrew. "Master Jeok. I was just..." His words were cut off by a sharp voice. "Where did you learn the habit of touching things that belong to others?" Calling me someone’s "property" was bewildering enough, but I was more puzzled by why I was the subject of this conversation. I wasn't Jeok Cheon-gang's disciple or grandson, nor was I even part of Cheonmuhakgwan. At least, that’s what I thought while I was contemplating my options. I didn't expect such complications to arise this way. 'What on earth is this old man thinking?' In contrast to my confusion, Akbulgun remained calm. "I apologize if I've offended you, Master Jeok, but I simply wanted to offer Jin Sohyup here an opportunity." "An opportunity? More like an excuse to lure him away. Do you think I can't see through this ploy?" "I'm not luring him away at all." "Then what is it?" Despite Jeok Cheon-gang's piercing gaze, Akbulgun continued steadily. "I'm here as an instructor from Cheonmuhakgwan, not as a family member of the Shandong Clan. There's no room for personal feelings when conveying the leadership's intentions." "Ah, so the leadership gave those instructions without knowing what kind of relationship this boy and I have?" "May I respectfully inquire about what kind of relationship you two have?" "What?" Jeok Cheon-gang glared at him, his face hardening. "I’ve entrusted him with the sect's sacred item." "I've heard about that." "You must know what that signifies. Are you mocking me?" "I would never dare. I merely..." Akbulgun glanced back and forth between us. "I was careful in my approach because it hardly seemed like a typical master-disciple relationship." ...! "... We both flinched simultaneously. To be fair, I don’t know how affectionate and warm a normal master-disciple relationship should be, but at the very least, they wouldn’t be calling each other "great hero." Moreover, Jeok Cheon-gang's attitude towards me had been just as cold. 'Sharp as ever.' I realized I had underestimated the situation. Glancing sideways, I saw Jeok Cheon-gang biting his lip in frustration. Akbulgun’s eyes deepened at our unintentional reactions. "Jin Sohyup hesitated when hearing the offer. If he were truly Jeok’s disciple, he wouldn't have second-guessed it." I couldn’t refute a word he said—they were all true. Why would the disciple of Hwa Wang, one of the mightiest in the land, join Cheonmuhakgwan? That would be like picking up a pretty stone while ignoring a diamond. 'Seems like everything is out in the open.' We weren't the only ones sitting on the high seats. Others, although appearing to look elsewhere, were clearly listening intently. If today’s events were to spread, my label as Hwa Wang’s disciple, which served as a strong shield, would vanish. And then what? 'I’d be swamped by all sorts of people.' Not long ago, the Jin family of Taewon was like a bare bone without any flesh. But things had changed. We had grown stronger, attracting challengers like a pack of wolves. Everyone was biding their time, ready to pounce when the opportunity arose, and Hwa Wang’s eventual death—he had already surpassed a hundred years—was the signal to begin. 'First in line would undoubtedly be Jongnam-pa.' I needed to strengthen myself before that happened. Which meant Cheonmuhakgwan, as a more stable option, was preferable to the soon-to-disappear label of Hwa Wang’s disciple. 'Alright, let's head to Cheonmuhakgwan.' With my mind made up, I turned to Akbulgun and spoke. "Actually, I don't have any particular relationship with Jeok here. There's just a slight connection. I sincerely wish to join Cheonmuhakgwan. In my case, would I be a scholarship student? Or would I fit under the rural special student category from Shanxi?” However, before I could let those words flow like a waterfall, Jeok Cheon-gang interrupted, cutting through my thoughts. "He is indeed my disciple." "But, Master Jeok, I have no connection... What?" What did he just say? Ignoring my incredulous stare, Jeok Cheon-gang continued nonchalantly. "I had planned to keep it under wraps until everything was in place, but it seems that won't do. People seem to be talking a lot, so let’s set it straight once and for all." "Wait a moment," I managed to voice, but the next moment, his overpowering voice covered mine. "Listen up, martial world!" The formidable wave of his energy shook the ground, imposing an atmosphere over the Jin family’s estate. All noise ceased, and hundreds of eyes fixed on us. Before I could do anything to stop it, it happened. The veins in Jeok Cheon-gang’s neck bulged as he spoke with strong determination. "I, Jeok Cheon-gang, the 18th head of Yeolhwamun, declare that I have taken Jin Taekyung of the Jin family as my disciple and he shall inherit the legitimate tradition of our sect!" After a moment of silence, the audience erupted in astonished exclamations and cheer, as a suspicion—held with reservation—became reality, brought to life by an old man’s perfect bluff. As for me... "I apologize for my grave rudeness," Akbulgun said, turning to me. "I extend my apologies to you as well, Jin Sohyup. I'll convey the outcome to Cheonmuhakgwan. No one there would dare touch the disciple of Master Jeok." All paths to Cheonmuhakgwan—or to becoming another's disciple—had been closed off entirely. Watching me in my stunned silence, Akbulgun chuckled heartily. "Why do you look like that on a day like this?" He laughs because he knows, and I know, that despite the announcement, Jeok Cheon-gang has no intention of genuinely taking me as his disciple. Blocked from all sides with no gain, I clenched my trembling fist. 'That damned old man.' The bleak future appeared vividly before my eyes. He’d teach me nothing but give me all sorts of chores, leaving me to do menial errands while using me as nothing more than an inventory to hold items. 'Damn it.' Congratulations poured in from all directions in the high seats, but none of it reached my ears. Jeok Cheon-gang, with a fake smile, spread his arms wide towards me. "Let your master give you a hug, my disciple." "Oh dear, look at this kid. Getting shy in front of people, aren't we?" Jeok Cheon-gang laughed heartily, subtly gesturing with his fingers. An irresistible force seized my ankles, pulling me toward him step by unavoidable step. '...Hukgong Seobmul?' Is this for real? In the end, he wrapped his small frame tightly around me and mouthed the words. "Come on, smile." "...Yes." "Put your arm around my shoulder and grin from ear to ear." Damn it, whatever. At this point, I'll just go along with it. We stood there arm in arm, grinning like a harmonious master and disciple. Instead of camera flashes, thunderous cheers erupted around us, and that night, Lord Joopyo of Sangsanwang received an ultra-rare limited edition autograph of Hwa Wang & Sanseo Jamryong. * * * Deep in the night, shrouded in darkness. Hidden behind a secluded wall of the Jin family estate in Taewon, I finally spoke. "Why are you doing this to me?" The small shadow gave no reply. "Look, I appreciate your protecting the Jin family and driving away those Jongnam-pa guys, but!" "This is blocking my path! The situation has blown up so much that I can't even join Cheonmuhakgwan or take anyone else as my teacher! Do you know why?" Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been silently downing a bottle of liquor, finally responded. "No one, no matter how insolent, will dare approach my disciple." Yes, but that means you've completely shut off my future opportunities!" "I see." "It's not just 'I see'! For someone who should understand, why are you doing this? I need to make a living too!" Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. With the bottle drained of its last drop, Jeok Cheon-gang let out a hefty belch and looked at me with steady eyes. "And why would someone who ought to know still act the way you do?" "Pardon?" Suddenly, the bottle in his hand slammed against the wall. Whoosh, blast! A smashed bottle should have shattered with a clatter. Instead, the noise accompanying the destruction was from the wall itself that burst apart. Somehow, the rounded bottle transformed into a swirling mass of palpable energy. "Have you forgotten who I am? I could just... end you,” he hissed. "Ack!" "Raising your voice when you should be bowing down, you whelp. You haven't even dried behind the ears." "Wait a moment! Calm down! Calm!" "Calm? Do you want to be 'calm' forever when you’re buried under the ground?" I had momentarily forgotten that the elderly man before me, seeming like a grandfather from an elder care center, was notoriously infamous in the martial world for not only extracting money but lives. As I remembered, my blood turned ice cold. 'I messed with the wrong person.' Already dark outside, my world turned even darker. Then, Jeok Cheon-gang, who had been watching me keenly, suddenly spoke. "Do you dislike it that much?" "What?" "Do you hate the idea of having me as your master that much?" He wasn’t even serious about making me his disciple, but now he asks such questions. Though I had much to say, keeping quiet seemed best for my longevity. However, Jeok Cheon-gang wasn’t going to leave me be when I sequestered my thoughts and averted my gaze. "Speak." "About what?" "Your expression suggests you have a lot on your mind, so voice your thoughts." "I don’t have anything." "Nothing?" Bang! The remaining section of the wall crumpled to dust. Staring blankly at the scene, I quickly opened my mouth. "Now that I think about it, yes, I do have something." "You said you had nothing before." "I didn’t, but now I do." "Alright. Speak." In my desperate throwing of caution to the wind, facing him suddenly caused my heart to shrink. I fidgeted with my fingers and cleared my throat. "It's just that..." "Be candid. I expect a genuine response." "Are you serious?" "I swear by heaven and earth, nothing you say will inconvenience you." "You don’t even believe in heaven and earth." I must have hit a nerve. Jeok Cheon-gang's fierce gaze softened as he reluctantly admitted. "From today, I do. I don’t know which damned saint reigns above us, but having witnessed something myself, I have no choice but to believe." "...?" I had no idea what he had witnessed, but he seemed genuine. After coercing an extra vow in the name of the sect’s honor and Jeok Cheon-gang’s name, I cautiously began to speak. "First of all, there’s your personality..." "It's...?" "A bit unbearable, honestly." "I am aware of that." Though his expression seemed incredulous, the bottle in his hand remained still. Encouraged, I continued. "You have a habit of acting on impulse." "Remember what happened a few days ago? Sure, I was at fault too, but launching a firestorm attack without warning—is that even reasonable?" "…Continue." "I can agree to a certain level of punishment, but who wants to train while getting hit by a firestorm every time? That’s not discipline, it’s deadly. Do you understand? Misfiring and hitting that thing could be fatal." Once started, my grievances flowed like an unstoppable torrent—from our initial meeting to every dissatisfaction I'd felt. Throughout, his face progressively hardened. 'But it feels relieving.' After pouring out my grievances for a good while, Jeok Cheon-gang inquired with a calm voice. "Is that all?" "There’s one more important thing." "Well, go on." Instead of flinging the bottle at me, he merely sighed deeply. "Speak." "My biggest issue is what I mentioned earlier. Why did you declare me your disciple if you’re not planning to teach me martial arts?" "Is that the problem?" "Isn’t it obvious? If I have to learn on my own, entering Cheonmuhakgwan is a hundred times better." "Learning from me is a thousand times better than Cheonmuhakgwan." Not that I haven’t realized this, but his words only puzzled me further. A thought suddenly struck me. "Master Jeok, perhaps..." Jeok Cheon-gang replied curtly. "What?" "Oh, never mind. Just a nonsensical thought." "Speak." “Come on, just let it go. It's meaningless to say it out loud.” “Speak. Unless you want to bite the dust.” Oh. Well, that’s all the convincing I need. If I want to live, I have to speak up. I chuckled nervously and began. “I thought, perhaps, you were considering taking me on as a real disciple or something like that. But it's nonsense, so there's no need to answer. Haha.” “Haha.” “Uh, Master Jeok?” After a long silence following my call, Jeok Cheon-gang casually replied. “Is it not possible?” “What do you mean?” “Is it not possible for me to be your master?” “...Excuse me?” What is this sudden atmosphere? It felt like I had unknowingly logged back into the martial world.