Murim Login - Chapter 15

Hui Peng thought.

‘What am I watching right now?’

He had a hard time believing it, even though it was happening right before his eyes. The Third Master, not even a different person, but to think that the Third Master was actually facing off against Lee So Geun.

‘Is this a hallucination?’

Who was Lee So Geun.

Mount Heng Sword Sect’s son and a First-Rate swordsman.

When they received Lee So Geun’s one-on-one request, Hui Peng had sighed. To someone who barely was Third-Rate, with what guts.

Also what? Follow me out? Let’s fight?

‘Crazy fool, he’s talking crazy.’

But listening to Jin Taekyung, it did seem like something changed. Suddenly he was using formal language, and was practicing Mugong late into night.

Ah right, it was because he was saying something about losing his memory.

At that time Hui Peng thought he was crazy, and as he listened to Mount Heng Sword Sect, he realized something. It seemed like a fable.

‘Of course. A person can’t change overnight.’

He had been in the Jin Sect for 10 years. In Hui Peng’s eyes, Jin Taekyung was someone close to gold.

But what was the big deal. He grew up with a lot of love, the youngest in the direct line of the Jin family. But before Lee So Geun became a half wit, Hui Peng thought he needed to go save him.

But…

Puk, puk, puk!

Now he was beating him up without mercy. Jin Taekyung was. To Lee So Geun.

It was Mugong that Hui Peng was familiar with. The Jin Sect Footwork and the Jin Sect Spear Technique.

His skill in connecting the two techniques was pretty good. It looked like the skills of an old man who had been eating in the back alley for 10 years.

‘What on earth…’

This wasn’t Mugong you could learn in just one or two days.

That was just what Hui Peng believed, and Hui Peng only knew of one person that went outside of those expectations.

‘The Second Master.’

The Jin Sect’s Second Master, Jin Mukyung. He was a genius who already reached the peak.

‘By any chance, is the Third Master…’

But Hui Peng wasn’t able to think any further. It was because of the sounds coming from nearby.

“This battle is void!”

“Stop this battle this instant!”

“The Jin Sect has used dirty tricks!”

“Right! That’s the only reason trash like that…”

Just seconds ago, the warriors from Mount Heng Sword Sect were laughing behind their hands.

‘Have I seen any crazier bastards.’

Even though Mount Heng Sword Sect’s authority was impressive, to think even the lower members would misbehave. It was when Hui Peng was about to intervene.

Sweeek—bak!

The wind blew, and dozens of teeth flew into the air.

Blood was flowing down the faces of the Mount Heng Sword Sect warriors.

“What bullshit?”

Uh buh. Uh buh buh.¹

Jin Huikyung shut up the warriors, who couldn’t even speak properly, with his huge hands.

Jjak! Pitter patter.

The warriors who lost all their teeth, forgot who they were and became guilty.

Leaving behind the frozen warriors from Mount Heng Sword Sect, Jin Huikyung went back to his seat and continued to watch the fight.

Hui Peng let out a sigh.

“A problem could arise…”

“Hui Peng.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t say anything.”

Jin Huikyung was watching the youngest with sparkling eyes.

“This is the best moment in my life.”

—

It was the first time I was using the Mugong I practiced. After becoming more familiar with Mugong, I didn’t have a chance to fight anyone, and it’s not like I wanted to either.

‘But…’

I always thought. If I faced off against someone and a situation arised where I used the Mugong I learned, what the response would be.

In that regard, the time spent in the training facility felt meaningful.

Puk—

“Kuhuk!”

As the spear hit Lee So Geun’s abdomen, his waist bent forward like a shrimp.

The greatsword he had been holding, fell to the ground a while ago. I continued to advance with my spear, and every time I did, Lee So Geun would scream.

Puk, puk, puk!

“Kaaaak!”

To be honest, at first I was taken aback. My attacks were working? Me, who was level 14, to Lee So Geun, who was level 30?

But after attacking him, I realized.

‘I’m stronger.’

Lee So Geun was definitely strong. If this was reality, he would be at least a C rank hunter. But I was stronger. Even though it was a small difference in strength, it was for sure. Strength, stamina, agility.

‘And experience.’

“Kaaaak!”

Lee So Geun screamed and ran forward. He was fast. It looked devastating. Every time he took a step, the floor would cave in.

‘But it was obvious.’

Lee So Geun was young. Because he was young, he didn’t have that much experience. In some cases, you would be able to beat experience with strength but I was different.

I was stronger, and I had more experience.

‘I’ll win. For certain.’

It wasn’t a resolution, it was reality. That was why I threw away my spear without regrets. A fight without weapons. I could see the flames in Lee So Geun’s eyes as he watched me throw away my spear.

“Are you looking down on me! How dare you, how dare you!”

Anger overflowed and his movements became simpler. I aimed at Lee So Geun’s legs, who was running towards me like a bull. And as he was trying to get back up, I stepped on his chest.

“What is this…!”

Looking at his flustered expression, I asked.

“Have you heard of Full Mount?”

I didn’t wait for his response, and instead aimed a fist down at him. Even though Lee So Geun tried to avoid it, there was no use.

Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!

His chin, cheeks, forehead, nose… like a shower of rain I punched at his face. Soon Lee So Geun, who was struggling, became silent.

‘If it’s this much, it should be enough.’

At the beginning, it was Mount Heng Sword Sect who asked for the battle, but with this the war was avoided.

If Lee So Geun was seriously injured, it would be troublesome. I needed to stop at the right time.

With a worried expression, I shook Lee So Geun’s shoulder.

“Hey, are you okay…”

Pak!

For a second, everything in front of me flashed. And I felt slightly dizzy. And from my sore chin, droplets of blood fell down.

It was from Lee So Geun’s fist.

‘Ah, I let my guard down.’

If I hadn’t managed to avoid his punch at the last second, I would have been in trouble. It was a punch that was full of Qi.

“You avoided that?”

I escaped from the Mount and saw that Lee So Geun had a flustered expression on his face. Of course. I’m sure he didn’t expect to be attacked by someone like me, no, someone like Jin Taekyung.

Furthermore, even his attack didn’t work.

“I can’t believe this. There’s no way this could happen.”

I kindly replied to Lee So Geun who was muttering to himself.

“In life anything can happen.”

“Why! How! How can something like this happen. I’m Lee So Geun! I’m Mount Heng Sword Sect’s Lee So Geun!”

Lee So Geun screamed with bloodshot eyes.

“I’ve honed myself for ten years. So why! To someone like you. How can I to someone like you whose lazy trash!”

Even though he was a game character, I understood Lee So Geun perfectly in this moment. The feeling that your hard work betrayed you. The hollowness and emptiness.

‘I was like that.’

I felt that for seven years. It was a feeling that would dull over time but wouldn’t disappear. So in the end, I listened.

It was cruel reality. I said to Lee So Geun.

“Just give up. You’re weaker than me.”

Lee So Geun’s eyes rolled over as he heard those words.

“Shut up!”

In the next moment, the air in the area surrounding us rose. Lee So Geun who mustered up the last of his strength, shot forward like an arrow.

“I told you. You’re making the choice.”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Hooong—

The sound of the air with his fist blew by my face. It was only that but a cut appeared on my face and blood dripped down from it.

Compared to the attacks from before, it was faster and stronger.

‘But I could say the same about me.’

He lowered his right foot. Crunch. Accompanied by the sound of bones breaking, every time Lee So Geun would take a step, his footsteps would sink into the floor.

“Kaaaak!”

I gathered power as he came towards me screaming. His nose broke and teeth scattered. I couldn’t even pull myself out because my legs were buried. One more time. More. More.

Puk. Puk. Puk.

Chest. Side. Stomach. And last.

‘The pit of the stomach.’

Slam!

It went in. And it wasn’t an ordinary fist but a fist full of Qi. Lee So Geun’s eyes became wide.

“Cough.”

His eyes were becoming unfocused. And like slow motion, his strength escaped him and he fell backwards.

I lowered my right foot towards his abdomen.

Pung!

With the sound of a balloon popping, Lee So Geun flew.

Everyone watched. Jin Huikyung, Hui Peng. The people from Jin Sect, as well as everyone from Mount Heng Sword Sect. And me.

Bam.

Lee So Geun who flew dozens of meters, fainted. I let out a breath I was holding. I stood, receiving the attention of everyone who looked at me and Lee So Geun.

“Huu, huu.”²

Ring.

– The [1:1] Quest has been successfully completed! – Providing quest rewards! – You have gained the title, [Winner]! – You have gained experience and fame! – Additional rewards have been provided for your overwhelming results! – [Jin Sect Cultivation Technique] has risen to Stage 4! – [Qi Sense] has risen to Stage 3. You are able to sense opponents below level 50. – Level up! – Level up! – Level up!

Like a celebration, I heard the system alarm.

—

Mount Heng Sword Sect departed. Because they all rode horses, they borrowed carriages from Jin Sect to carry their wounded.

But setting aside Lee So Geun, why were the others injured?

I didn’t know what happened but all their teeth were gone and the cloth between their lips was drenched in blood. Wow, who on earth…

At that moment, Jin Huikyung with a solemn face, patted my shoulders.

“Good job. You’ve overcome my expectations.”

“Ah, yes. Thank…”

“Why did you do it?”

Well, that’s because of the blood on your cheeks.

I didn’t know the reason but in that moment, I was made into a fool.

“So, what do you think?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you being done with confinement. Although you’ve misbehaved in the fast, today you’ve shown an impressive display and shown great success for your family.”

Jin Huikyung spoke after looking around him.

“What does everyone else think?”

Although they looked begrudging, they weren’t saying he was wrong. Actually, if I compared it to the looks I got before in the conference room, it was enough to feel favorable.

‘Maybe it’s because they’re Murim-in?’

In novels, even though jeong was jeong³, this was a place where strength was important. It looked like my fight with Lee So Geun made an impact.

“You guys need to answer. Hahaha.”

… Or maybe it was because of Jin Huikyung.

His mouth was laughing, but his eyes weren’t. It especially looked like a horror movie because of the blood spots on his cheeks.

“I agree.”

As Hui Peng added his agreement, he manipulated everyone else to agree. Watching the rigged votes, Jin Huikyung looked on with satisfaction.

—

‘Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!’

Lee So Geun bit his lips. Jin Taekyung. He wasn’t able to forget that bastard’s face.

‘I lost? To that trash?’

They had enough evidence for the case.

If Mount Heng Sword Sect had gained from this, it would have been great and if they rejected, a war would have been considered a success.

Jin Taekyung. If he made him into an idiot, rumors would have spread throughout Shanxi Providence. Mount Heng Sword Sect would have turned the Jin Sect into a disgrace.

But they failed.

‘How on earth.’

He practiced swordsmanship since he was young. Even though he wasn’t a genius, he wasn’t mediocre.

The Second Son of Mount Heng Sword Sect. A promising warrior. A First-Rate swordsman. Everyone always envied him…

‘Fuck!’

Today. Everything he had was destroyed. For the first time he kneeled and forgot who he was.

When he opened his eyes, he was already inside the carriage. Not only that, but the carriage belonged to the Jin Sect. Lee So Geun’s eyes burned.

‘I’ll kill you. You’ll die by my hands. Jin Taekyung!’

He wasn’t able to control himself and hit the carriage and the carriage stopped. Lee So Geun shouted.

“What are you doing! Stop moseying and hurry up!”

In that moment, his forehead stung.⁴

—Hurry up? You should. But it’ll be troublesome if you keep going to Mount Heng Sword Sect.

‘A sound technique?’

Who is it! Lee So Geun shouted but the sound didn’t escape.

His chest felt stuffy and his throat burned. The carriage started moving again.

—Let’s do this. First, you’ll go to Mount Beimang⁵. And then you’ll proceed to Mount Heng Sword Sect.

‘What is that.’

It was enough time to blink a few times. His limbs became paralyzed and the pain became unbearable. Lee So Geun shook and turned his head.

Someone wearing a mask was staring at him.

“Kuk, gurgle.”

Who was this. But instead of his voice, black blood flowed out. He became unfocused and the sound became farther away.

‘Sa, save me…’

That was his final moment.

In the next moment, he fell into darkness.

“Sleep well. Young Murim.”

The masked man smiled and retrieved the dark blue needle that was embedded in the dead body.

Sooj Notes: There were soooo many onomatopoeias/literal sounds that I didn’t know how to translate. Hopefully they made sense?

1. It’s a sound that people make when people have trouble pronouncing something. I wasn’t sure how to translate the sound in English.
2. Sounds of breathing.
3. ‘Jeong’ is a word that exists only in Korean, so it’s a little hard to translate. In the Korean-English dictionary, it’s described as ‘attachment’ or ‘affection’. For a more in-depth explanation of the word, there’s an interesting article here.
4. Not exactly his forehead, but it’s the space between the eyebrows.
5. A destination you go to die, a final destination.