269 - Murim Login

**Chapter 269** It felt like walking on a bed of thorns, no, more like treading a path of thorns. Every step following Mae Jonghak was accompanied by a stinging sensation on my face, as if cut by the sharp glances constantly directed towards us. The emotions embedded in those gazes were awe and curiosity. By now, everyone knew. Just a few days ago, the young man dismissed as a lucky bumpkin was in fact the great warrior known as the Sword Saint. "Isn't that right? The Sword Saint Mae Jonghak." "Wow, to be so youthful-looking. I always thought eternal youth was a ridiculous myth." "As expected of Mae Jonghak. He's turned the entire martial world upside down." The hushed conversations of people reached my ears distinctly. "But who is that next to him?" "That's Jin Taekyung, the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi, isn't it? I heard from someone yesterday that the Hidden Dragon was grabbing Mae Jonghak by the neck, calling him this and that." "Whoa! If that's true, shouldn't he be called the Mad Dragon instead of the Hidden Dragon?" Oh, come on. How could I have known? I wasn't aware at the time. As I glared at the whispering crowd, Mae Jonghak chuckled. "It's alright. Friends can be like that sometimes, can't they?" He's certainly killing me twice over. We moved to a more secluded backyard, away from the crowd. Though it was still early spring, the weather was warm and the flowers were in full bloom. As Mae Jonghak walked, observing the unknown flowers, he began to speak. "First, I must thank you." "For what...?" "I heard you were a great help to Cheongpung." "Help...? It was nothing much." "I don't know the details, but if he calls you a benefactor, you must have helped him a lot." I really don’t know too much of the details. If Mae Jonghak learned that exchanging a few ice cream cones earned me the title of benefactor, I wonder what his expression would be. "I was worried a lot about that boy. But seeing you, I am relieved. I owe you." "Oh, yes." I decided not to mention the ice cream cones. No need to endanger my position when the Sword Saint himself says he owes me. "How is Young Master Cheong?" "He's recovered enough to move around. The moment he woke, he insisted on coming to see you." "Oh dear. So what happened?" "Hmm? Gave him some dumplings and he settled down." Parenting for 20 years isn't wasted. He knows exactly how to handle Cheongpung. "And how is Senior Jeok?" "He has not awakened yet. I wanted to ask you about that..." "Ask away." With difficulty, I opened my mouth. "Is there... a possibility he might never wake up?" "Hmm." Mae Jonghak stroked his smooth chin. "What did the physician I sent say?" "Oh, you mean that person?" I recalled the old doctor who looked like a mouse and felt displeased. "He seemed like a total quack." "A quack? You mean the Mysterious Doctor of Luoyang?" "Whether he's the Mysterious Doctor or not. He merely glanced, said nothing can be done, and left. Isn't that quack behavior?" The old man, with such overwhelming spirit, exclaimed loudly enough to make my ears ring when I tried to stop him. He declared he'd never treat Jeok Cheon-Gang again, so I had no choice but to let him go. Mae Jonghak clicked his tongue after hearing my story. "The Mysterious Doctor of Luoyang is a renowned physician across the central plains. Though his temperament is strange, his skills are beyond doubt." "Then..." With Mae Jonghak's nod, my heart sank. Did my thoughts show on my face? He comfortingly patted my back. "Don't worry too much. If it was life-threatening, the Mysterious Doctor wouldn't have simply walked away." It was a warm consolation, but it didn't completely calm the turmoil in my heart. Jeok Cheon-Gang, who seemed like he'd bounce back in no time. For the past year, he had been my master, imparting everything he had, and was almost like a grandfather to me. 'No, it'll be alright.' I pushed down the anxiety welling up inside me. The martial master and renowned physician, both among the top experts in the realm, had examined Jeok Cheon-Gang. For now, all I could do was trust their judgment. Having concluded my thoughts, I changed the subject. "Is there any more clarity on Amcheon?" "Amcheon..." Mae Jonghak gazed at the flower garden with a peculiar expression. "There are still no clear answers." "In what aspects, specifically?" "In all aspects." "What?" "Let me ask you. During this incident, did anything strike you as odd?" I pondered deeply and spoke up. Things progressed too quickly yesterday for me to notice, but upon reflection, certain aspects were indeed puzzling. "If there's anything strange, there are a few things." "What are they?" "Firstly, I don't understand these bastards' intentions." "Continue." "If Amcheon intended to devastate the martial arts world, they should have prepared a bigger strike." The heads of the Orthodox martial arts were gathered in one place. If Amcheon's goal was to topple the Orthodox sects and control the world, then even placing explosives to annihilate their leadership in one move would have been conceivable. Regardless of the chance of success, it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate the enemy's leadership at once. Yet, the only casualties were the Dharma King Kwangdo and Shaolin Temple. They had a clear target from the start. "To expose themselves like this means they were somewhat prepared for battle... but it feels like they picked up iron coins instead of silver." Mae Jonghak, listening quietly, suddenly spoke. "That analogy is incorrect. Shaolin Temple is a symbol of the Orthodox. By destroying that symbol, Amcheon has stamped their presence." "Was there really a need for that?" "There have been several speculations. The first is that they desire a face-to-face confrontation." "...Can that really be true?" "Do not underestimate the Demonic beings. They are governed solely by blood and power. Even during the Great Demonic War, the Demonic Cult was no different. It's utterly unpredictable." Shaking his head, Mae Jonghak continued. "Secondly, Amcheon may merely be a smokescreen." "A smokescreen?" "Do you know who caused the massacre at Shaolin Temple?" "The Yin-Yang Twin Monsters... Ah." "Yes, during the Great Demonic War, they were a feared force under the banner of the Demonic Cult, the Great Demon Leader." Though many years have passed, it is highly likely they are still aligned with the Demonic Cult. There’s a possibility that Amcheon is merely a branch or a subsidiary of the Demonic Cult. As Mae Jonghak suggested, it’s a plausible scenario. However, there's one thing that's troubling... "Is that leader, Hyeoljoo, also part of the Demonic Cult?" "I'm not sure." Replying without a hint of hesitation, Mae Jonghak scratched his chin. "The internal energy pill you obtained and the Bloody Explosion Martial Arts technique used by those who attacked Shaolin, as well as this individual named Hyeoljoo, certainly carry the scent of the Demonic Cult... but something feels different about it." Darker and more twisted. Mae Jonghak is a living witness to the Great Demonic War. He fought numerous enemies, and experienced their martial arts firsthand. In the world of Orthodox martial arts, he is a leading expert on demonic arts. His words are as good as an academic consensus. "Even the technique I witnessed at the end was something I’ve never experienced." It wasn't a martial art or movement technique, but a magical art. I had heard rumors of bizarre techniques in the Demonic Cult, but I never imagined something of that level was possible. Even someone familiar with magic like myself was left agape in shock. 'That's practically magic, isn’t it?' Despite a thorough search by warriors assuming all scenarios, Hyeoljoo was nowhere to be found. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. "There are also diverse opinions on where such a number of enemies appeared from. If they can use that kind of technique on a large scale..." "Even thinking about it is terrifying." The term "surprise attack" seems almost too mild. If the enemies appeared unpredictably like some mystical vanishing act, it would be akin to a thunderbolt out of the blue. 'The leadership must be in an uproar.' The atmosphere was already tumultuous when I briefly attended yesterday, and I can only imagine it's even more so now. As various thoughts traversed my mind and I clicked my tongue, Mae Jonghak suddenly asked, "Have you ever wondered?" His clear eyes fixed on me. "Why they were so obsessed with Nokyok Buddha?" "I’m not sure. Because it's a sacred relic of Shaolin?" "They could've just broken it." "Could it be that they focused more on taking it? Honestly, I don’t know what they’d use it for." The Nokyok Buddha I recall was merely a slightly special staff. Its grandeur comes from the authority of the Shaolin abbot and the thousand-year history of Shaolin imbued within it. It’s not like they could do much with a fluorescent green staff. "True, that could be the case. Others shared similar opinions." With that mention, Mae Jonghak, who had been deep in thought, spoke up. "Did you know Master Gwangdo left me a letter?" "This is news to me since I first grew a beard." "He seemed to sense his fate, making some arrangements. The letter mentioned you as a Morning Star that will dispel the darkness." "You’re a genius the likes of which I’ve never seen. Look around you. Who else your age has reached such a level?" I paused briefly before replying. "Cheongpung." "Ah. That's right." "Cheongpung broke the barrier of mastery at eighteen. I’d guess you accomplished something similar at that age?” “In a different way, yes. My moniker was the Night King.” "Oh, does that mean you were comparable to the Ten Kings?" "No. I was constantly in and out of brothels." "Ah, I see." A chilly silence ensued. After searching for words while scratching the back of his head, Mae Jonghak laughed gently. "You truly are my grandson." "…I think I’ll take my leave now." As I turned to leave, Mae Jonghak’s voice rang out behind me. "I’ll visit again soon! And with news that will astonish you!" Ah, somehow I feel drained. "Have you returned?" Upon returning to Jeok Cheon-Gang’s room, Hyuk Mujin greeted me with his head lowered. I smiled appreciatively at his sharp demeanor, so different from earlier. "Yes. Stand like that while on duty. Ready to draw your sword at any moment, isn’t it nice?" "Of course. I’ll guard vigilantly." "Alright then, I’ll be off." "Yes, sir!" Just as Hyuk Mujin moved to swiftly exit the room, I intervened. "Put down the gold bar you've tucked in your sleeve." "If you don’t drop it by the count of three, you’re done for today. One, two..." Clatter. Hyuk Mujin lowered the gold bar forged moments ago and hung his head in resignation. "You knew?" "Do I look like an easy target?" "Captain, please, I've even taken out a Yanwang debt for this..." Tapping into a loan on top of an allowance of a hundred thousand silver? Quite the reckless fellow. I clicked my tongue, pocketing the gold. "That depends on you." "Huh, does that mean..." "I’m going to take a break now. Let no one in, not even the eldest brother." "Even the Head of Household?" "Yes. Tell them I'm exhausted and fell asleep." Looking out the window, the sky was gradually being painted a crimson hue. "Until tomorrow morning. Can you handle it?" Hyuk Mujin nodded resolutely. "I’ll lay down my life." "I’m well aware you wouldn't actually do that, so just make sure to keep exactly to what I said." "Yes, sir!" A yes man indeed. With a beaming smile, Hyuk Mujin gladly left his post. I lay down on the adjacent bed, staring blankly at Jeok Cheon-Gang, who appeared peacefully asleep. 'How long has it been?' The past year has been non-stop, racing forward without rest. I deeply long to return to the warmth of my family, to loosen the reins just a bit. 'Logout.' Ding. Accompanied by a familiar notification sound, my vision turned black.