Murim Login - Chapter 22

As I stepped into the room, the smell of mold hit me. The team was on standby, so it reminded me of my days in the army.¹

’10 people.’

I used Qi Sense and faced the people in front of me.

As my gaze looked at each unfamiliar person, their levels popped up in front of me.

‘Level 14. Level 15. Level 14…’

Everyone was around the same level. It was when I passed by the ninth person.

The number popped up. And not only that, it was a familiar face.

‘Hyuk Mujin?’

When I first arrived at the Jin residence, Hyuk Mujin was the person to greet me with a fight. As our gazes met, he smiled.

“It looks like we meet again. Third. Master.”

I spoke after looking at his smile of hostility.

“From now on, please call me Captain.”

“… Of course.”

I passed by Hyuk Mujin’s hot gaze and looked at the tenth person. He was the one who smiled the brightest, as soon as I walked into the room.

“Master, no I mean Master-nim. Please look after me well.”

Looking at the situation in front of me, it looks like their positions changed. It seemed like they made the reconnaissance team by gathering warriors from various places within the Sect.

‘Because Hyuk Mujin was originally part of the guard.’

That was probably why the room was a mess.

They had various expressions on their faces as they looked at me. The awkwardness at the unfamiliar faces, their feelings of nervousness at the war, and their expectations.

I opened my mouth for the first time.

“My name is Jin Taekyung and I have been assigned to the White Tiger team. Please look after me.”

Clap clap clap. A single person was clapping and after a few seconds, Han Yeop lowered his hands with an embarrassed expression.

Beyond my expectations, it was a stiff atmosphere.

‘But it isn’t bad like this either.’

We were currently at war. Rather than smiling at each other and acting friendly, it was better to have some tension like now.

Of course if there was too much tension, then it could turn into poison. It was my role as a leader to release some of the tension in the team.

‘Well that’s familiar anyways.’

At the first gate, only beginner hunters were frozen together. Reality was different than practice. The knowledge that hunters learned flew far away and instead they became overwhelmed by death.

That was why in the guild, the veterans helped the beginner hunters, and I was among one of those hunters.

‘Even though I was only a F-rank hunter.’

Their levels were similar too. I felt that in Murim, Second-Rate warriors, were similar to E or F rank hunters.

So it felt like I was in charge of a party of 10 F rank hunters. To think I was a team leader, even though I didn’t have any experience leading a team, I knew what to do because I had seen others do it.

“Who has experience in battle. Show of hands.”

They raised their hands at the sudden question. Everyone had a puzzled face.

“Who has experienced more than five battles. Show of hands.”

About half of them lowered their hands. Among them, Han Yeop was included.

There were five of them who had experience in more than five battles. If it was this much, it wasn’t that bad. No, it was actually beyond my expectations.

But the most important question was still left.

“Who has experience killing someone. Show of hands.”

Four hands who lowered their hands lifelessly. I looked at the only person who still had their hand raised.

“How many have you killed?”

He laughed through his nose.

“Five. It was last year when we were taking care of the bandits. They were really stron…”

I didn’t need to hear anymore so I spoke.

“Good. From now on, I am your team leader.”

Hyuk Mujin who was in the middle of speaking, closed his mouth.

“Team Leader?”

“Yes. If you have problems, speak up now.”

For a team who only had beginners, the most important thing was experience.

The only person who would be able to swing their weapon without hestitation towards the enemy was Hyuk Mujin.

‘Black cat white cat.’

Black cat or white cat, if it can catch mice, it’s a good cat. ²

Hyuk Mujin who had a complicated expression on his face, replied.

“… Hmph. Since it’s an order, there’s nothing I can do.”

He sure was saying he wanted to be Captain in a hard way.

“Then Hyuk Mujin is the Vice Captain. From now on, when you’re called, you will be number one.”

“Number one? What is that?”

“Number order. Instead of names, we’ll call each other by numbers. Hyuk Mujin is one. And you sitting there. Right. You’ll be number two.”

From one to ten. I finished assigning numbers to each of the members.

Hyuk Mujin wrinkled his eyebrows.

“Why are you doing this?”

“This is comfortable. We don’t even know if we’ll be sent out to battle today, you want to spend the rest of the day just memorizing each other’s names?”

“That.”

“Then just do what you’re commanded. It’s an order.”

Hyuk Mujin stared at me with a stiff face, and sat down as if avoiding me.

Actually I wanted him to act like he did when he first met me. We could go into battle any day but if we continued on like now, it would be troublesome.

If he protested, then I would show him the gap in our strengths. So that there wouldn’t be any doubts.

“… I will follow your command.”

“What are you?”

“One, I’m one.”

Hyuk Mujin’s voice shook. He had quicker senses than I thought. Although, I wasn’t sure if it was because of the rumors about me being Shanxi’s Sleeping Dragon.

The important truth was that Hyuk Mujin was following my lead.

I didn’t show any indicitation of how I was feeling and continued.

“From now on, you may hear my words as unfamiliar or weird. But listen first. It’s better than dying by a blade. Isn’t that right?”

Even though no one showed their dissatisfaction as outright as Hyuk Mujin, everyone looked at me with similar expressions.

Except for one person.

“I will follow Captain’s advice!”

Han Yeop shouted like a fan. If there was a difference between a fan holding a cheering stick³, then it would be that he was holding a spear…

‘Ah. Right.’

I looked towards the team members and smiled.

“Those of you who use a sword. Show of hands.”

The heart of a party. Assigning positions.

—

In reality, the method of a raid, had already been decided.

Three tankers. Four dealers. Two magic users and one healer. For a party of 10, it was the most ideal combination.

‘Of course there aren’t any magic users or healers.’

If we had a tanker or a dealer then there would at least be some kind of balance, but…

“… No one here knows how to use a shield?”

My voice shook at the shocking discovery. Wow, to think there would only be 10 dealers. Not only that but 9 of them used swords, while Han Yeop used a spear.

‘What kind of horrible species is this?’

Multiple species would be better. Because at least there was a little of everything.

Hyuk Mujin spoke as if there was nothing wrong.

“If you’re a man, you should hold a sword.”

Seeing everyone nod along at his words, I resisted the urge to pray.

‘Their stomachs sure are full. Their stomachs are full.’⁴

Blade? Spear? There wasn’t anything like that. Throwing stones, spraying dirt or even biting…

In a life or death (死線) situation, whatever you could grab could become your chance to survive.

The men in front of me, who had only ever faced bandits, didn’t know that yet.

‘Maybe I need to have them practice as soon as tomorrow?’

It wasn’t just for their sakes, but in order for me to survive.

If I taught them some tricks, there would probably be some benefits.

‘I suffered like a dog for 7 years, I can’t die because of these beginners.’

It was when I was thinking that. Clang. Clang. Clang. The sound of a large bell rang three times.

In a place where I wasn’t able to accurately tell the time, this place rang a bell at every hour. The meaning of the bell ringing three times, meant it was around 1 to 3 in the afternoon.

Also…

“Get ready. It’s our first mission.”

It was also a signal to start the team’s first mission.

—

“I’m sure he’s doing well.”

At Hui Peng’s sudden words, Jin Huikyung lifted his head. Until now, he had been staring out the window with a blank expression.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the Third Master.”

A day had already passed since Jin Taekyung left with his team.

Their mission was to scope out the nearby prefectures.

“They left yesterday around noon, so they should arrive in about two days.”

“Ah. Taekyung.”

Jin Huikyung smiled. It was a smile full of fatigue.

“I was wondering what you meant. No.”

“No?”

“Until when should I treat him like a young child? He is also a young man now. I’m sure he’ll do well on his own.”

“… I can’t believe my ears.”

“I have watched over him until now. But that was because he was still young.”

“I also agree until a certain point. He seems to have changed.”

”A hero improves when he faces challenges.”

”…”

”Anyways, regarding the youngest I will let go a little. I should be able to focus more on the Sect now.”

”You should rest. You look tired.”

“Hui Peng. The Sect’s family have died.”

Hui Peng closed his mouth as he heard his voice that was full of sadness and resolution and Jin Huikyung looked at his tasks.

But after one hour, the silence broke.

“That…”

A black spot was flying closer to them and landed in the window. It was a messenger bird from the Lower Class Sect.

Jin Huikyung stood up and grabbed the message. They saw the words as he opened the correspondence.

[One Word One Kill—問—殺 Cho Pil and twenty people. They have appeared at Dingyang 定壤.]

“Dingyang…!”

If you pass Dingyang, then you would reach Hengshui. If you passed Hengshui, then you would reach Taiyuan. Even though they were a separate force, to think they would run hundreds of Li.⁵

It wasn’t only that.

There were still members of the Sect who hadn’t returned yet. Those bastards couldn’t be tracking them, could they?

‘We can’t waste a minute.’

It didn’t take long for Jin Huikyung to reach a decision.

“Select fifty warriors and go to Dingyang. Cho Pil is a peak master who is known for using cruel methods. The members of the Sect…”

He thought of the children. Their small arms and legs, their pain-filled faces and their empty eyes. Jin Huikyung gritted his teeth.

“Bring the members safely.”

“Lord.”

Hui Peng’s face became stiff. Jin Huikyung caught on and his face became blank as he opened his mouth.

“Taekyung. Where did Taekyung go again?”

His voice squeezed out.

“… It is Dingyang.”

1. Korean men are required to go to the army for two years.
2. Actual quote from Deng Xiaoping
3. Usually if someone is a fan of a K-Pop idol group, they’ll have a specific cheering/light stick for that group or artist.
4. He’s basically saying they’re privileged.
5. Chinese mile, about 500 meters or 1640 feet.