Murim Login - Chapter 20

The negotiations were in their final stages after an hour passed.

“Half of the property and goods from Mount Heng Sword Sect. And exclusive rights to the entertainment district. Is that right?”

“Yes. And the contract?”

“From this moment on, the Jin Sect will not sell information to other Sects, and will put all effort into gathering and delivering information.”

It was a decision reached after a lot of negotiation.

Jin Huikyung and Wol Hwa, until the very end, carefully checked the written agreement and exchanged information.

“It looks like we’ve formally become allies. Take care of us well. Clan Leader.”

“Me as well.”

It was at the moment they shook hands.

Ring.

Even this kind of information popped up. Of course, when the war with Mount Heng Sword Sect started, a similar window popped up.

‘Since we’ve joined forces with the Lower Class Sect, I wonder if our chances of winning have gone up?’

The Lower Class Sect was a group that focused on gathering information.

According to Wol Hwa, all information in Shanxi passed through them, so if that was the truth then they would be a huge help.

‘There’s nothing more important than information.’

I wasn’t sure how it was in Murim but I knew. How the situation changed depending on what information you had. It could be a knife, shield or even a bomb that would turn the tides.

If Wol Hwa brought that kind of information, it would be great.

“Then I shall leave now.”

“Pardon us for not seeing you out.”

“Of course.”

It was finally over. Hui Peng, with a stiff face, bowed his head and I, floundering, followed after him.

“Goodbye.”

Wol Hwa’s eyes bent like half-moons after looking at me.

“Master Jin, you should leave with me.”

“Yes?”

“You aren’t going to send me off?”

“… Why should I?”

“Hmm. Because we’ve spent a hot night together?”

I was dazed after she said that to me so straight forwardly. No, she said she was going to bring information but why was she bringing out this R-rated information.

And in front of other people.

“Hoho.”

“A ho-hot night? Together?”

Hui Peng looked at me and Wol Hwa with an interested expression, and Jin Huikyung’s pupils looked like an earthquake.

“Taekyung. Is this the truth? Is that the truth?”

After a brief silence, I answered.

“I will go see her out.”

As I grabbed Wol Hwa’s wrist and hurried out, I could hear Jin Huikyung’s mournful cry from behind me.

“Yoooungeest!”

—

Wol Hwa was a rare beauty. Her thin body and glamorous clothes, it was no wonder she attracted gazes.

“Was there a beauty like that in our Sect?”

“Of course there isn’t. She’s an outsider.”

“An outsider?”

“Yeah. According to my guard friend, she’s from the brothel.”

“Ah, that super expensive brothel. Of course I know. Hold on, but why is someone like that here?”

“She said she was here to receive payment from the Third Master. It looks like she’s here to receive payment before we go into an all-out war.”

“…. huh. The Third Master sure is doing all sorts of things.”

The whispers of the people around us were coming into my ears. Wol Hwa, humming, turned around and looked at me.

“Master Jin. Why are you walking so far away?”

I replied bluntly.

“People will misunderstand if we walk together. Even now they’re saying weird rumors…”

“Ah, the payment?”

Right, that.

“That isn’t a weird rumor though?”

Wol Hwa smiled brightly.

“The guards asked me why I was here, so I just said I was here to get my money. And it isn’t like it’s a complete lie.”

“What?”

“Then were you thinking of saying that we’ve become allies?”

“… It isn’t like that.”

Why was it my name that was being used. My image already was a mess.

If rumors like that spread out during the war, I wouldn’t be able to get out of the trashy image I already had.

“As someone falsely accused at using poison, being seen as a gigolo is fine. And that is the way Master Jin normally behaves, so people are easily convinced.”

She was strangely convincing. Unknowingly, I was already nodding and then suddenly felt a sense of danger from Wol Hwa’s words.

“A false accusation?”

Now that I thought about it, she never once brought up anything related to Lee So Geun. Like a strict businessman and as if it was natural, signed the alliance with us.

‘Believing what?’

Sensing my suspicions, Wol Hwa smiled.

“Master Jin. Did you forget who I am?”

“The Head of the Lower Class Sect…”

My eyes widened.

Information, she had information. Information that I wasn’t the perpetrator!

I hurriedly sped up to Wol Hwa’s side.

“Can you lift the false accusations against me? You really have that kind of information?”

The beginning of the war was because of Lee So Geun’s poisoning. If we revealed that this was all a conspiracy, then the war could be blocked.

But Wol Hwa’s next words shattered my expectations.

“No, I don’t have that.”

What?

“Then why did you form an alliance with us?”

“Because I’m a merchant.”

Wol Hwa continued cheerfully.

“The Lower Class Sect is basically a group of merchants. We move based on the pros and cons.”

“If that’s the truth, then it’s even more unbelievable.”

“Gosh, why?”

“Because Mount Heng Sword Sect is stronger than us. If like your words, you move based on weighing the pros and cons, then shouldn’t you be going to Mount Heng Sword Sect’s side?”

“You’re honest. No, should I say you’re innocent?”

Wol Hwa smiled.

“This is an investment. This is the result after weighing everything neutrally on either side of the scale.”

“Are you saying it doesn’t matter as long as you benefit? Even if I really did poison Lee So Geun?”

“Master Jin. The Shanxi branch of the Lower Class Sect wasn’t able to gain the information even after putting all our effort into it, do you know what that means?”

I paused but Wol Hwa didn’t wait for my response.

“It’s simple. Master Jin is really innocent or you hid it so well that we weren’t able to find out the truth.”

“Ah.”

“I don’t lose anything if it’s either side. If it’s the former, then it’s great and if it’s the latter then it just means that the Jin Sect skill is that impressive.”

I was surprised. That it could be seen in this way. Her thorough understanding of the situation and her calculations. I knew what Wol Hwa meant when she called herself a merchant.

But…

“You forgot something important. If I really was falsely accused, then who is the real perpetrator of Lee So Geun’s poisoning?”

That was the core of the war. It was the biggest piece of the puzzle that Wol Hwa wasn’t able to find.

If the Lower Class Sect knew who really was responsible, then they would have brought that information with them today.

Wol Hwa let out a sigh.

“It’s embarrassing to admit but we don’t know. But we are trying our best. Ah, it looks like we’re nearly here.”

Even though I had a lot of questions, but because of how close we were getting to the guards, I had no choice but to stop.

‘Because our alliance with the Lower Class Sect is still a secret.’

I could see the carriage that Wol Hwa rode and the the guards that stood around it. There was a weird tension that I could sense even from where I stood.

‘I wonder if there’s a problem?’

I used Qi in my eyes and ears. My senses improved and I could hear the guards.

“He’s a master. There’s no doubt. At least a First-rate, he could even be a Peak Master. Do you see how he moves his waist? I’m sure he uses his whip like a ghost.1.”

“To think a master like that is a carriage driver, outstanding people really are different.”

Warriors, who looked like they had a lot of experience stacked up, were talking to each other seriously. Listening to those words, a young warrior hesitantly spoke up.

“But doesn’t he look like he’s lacking a little? Physically he looks a little thin…”

The senior warriors clicked their tongues.

“Hey, between me and this friend, our experience totals 10 years. We know just by looking at his gaze. What does a young bastard like you know to be butting into our conversation?”

“What the hell. Gaps? You see those as gaps? The posture only masters can have, that naturalness. You don’t see any of this?”

“Then what about greater yang?2 They say that a master’s greater yang energy sticks out.”

“That’s a rebuttal…”

Unfortunately, the conversation stopped there. It was because they scattered when they spotted us.

Thanks to them, I was able to make a confirmation.

He was a master of using his whip like a ghost. A romantic Murim-in who wasn’t fazed by Wol Hwa’s beauty.

“Master. Do you remember me?”

“…”

How could I forget.

A heavy voice. A sharp gaze and the air of a master.

He was the driver that brought me to the Jin residence some days ago.

To think I would see his face here. Wol Hwa spoke seeing me speechless.

“He was saying he was close with Master Jin. Because you guys had gone through life and death together, that your friendship transcended age and status…”

No. That wasn’t it. Please, just stop.

I grabbed Wol Hwa’s sleeve but it was too late. The driver with a calm expression, opened his mouth.

“Even now, when I close my eyes, I remember that day as if it was yesterday. Heavenly Power Jang Sam… he really was strong.”

The guards, overhearing, exclaimed.

“Oooh.”

“Jang Sam… you don’t mean that bandit Heavenly Power?”

“He’s a notorious master bandit. To think that kind of person died, that person really…”

“…”

It looks like you guys are misunderstanding something.

I didn’t know where to start in order to correct them. The driver pulled me in, as I stood there blankly.

“If it wasn’t for Master, we would have suffered a lot.”

This ahjussi sure was speaking mysteriously. If it wasn’t for me, then you would be drinking a cup of rice wine right now.3

“If you could let me go first and talk…”

I was just about to remove myself from the driver’s grasp.

“Yeomra’s Whip. A master who disappeared after a decade. Right. It has to be.”

The guards were muttering amongst themselves.

“Yeomra’s Whip? Do you mean the one who beat up the remnants of the magician. It has to be.”

“If it’s that name then I’ve heard of him too. A master whose past is unknown… And they say that the last place they saw him was in Shanxi.”

“Then that Third Master, no I mean our Master, basically means he’s close with the great Yeomra’s Whip.”

“It’s not only that. He played a part in getting rid of the Heavenly Power.”

“Oooh. Ooooh.”

I could feel their hot gazes. Even though it felt weird and even though the driver tried to remove himself from me, I was firmly gripping onto his shoulders.

“Master?”

I smiled brightly.

“To think we would see each other again like this. The Great. Yeom. Ra. Whip!”

My words had the effect of adding fuel to the flames.

Whoa. The guards stamped their feet, and Wol Hwa was struggling to hold back her laughter.

Ring.

In the midst of the beautiful system alarm, I thought of a famous saying.

‘A perfect lie4 is a true story.’

—

A young man was staring up at the ceiling with open eyes. His once bright eyes now looked bleak, and on his face was both fear and pain.

“So Geun. My son.”

A rough and large hand was touching the young man’s face. The poison had penetrated the skin, and the naturally rising Qi was blocked.

“How did you become this way?”

The elder lamented. Born an orphan, and a dozen years in Murim.

He met a lot of people, and saw a lot of people leave. He wasn’t able to count the number of memories in his head.

“Was it painful? Were you unable to close your eyes due to the resentment?”

He looked down at his son’s open eyes. His veins were all popping out, along with his eyes.

It was the infirmary. Tears flowed out of his eyes, as he stared at his poisoned son.

“Son.”

The poison was spreading throughout the body through his hand. His head was spinning and his limbs started to get numb just within a few breaths. To think it was this deadly. The sight of his son, who had struggled so much, stood out.

“I will remember this pain.”

In the next moment, the poison that was spreading throughout his body disappeared by use of his Qi. Like he was bitten a hundred times, the poison disappeared within seconds.

“I will repay this back a hundred, a thousand times.”

The Lord of Mount Heng Sword Sect, the Blood Wave Sword (血浪劍) Lee Chun Baek, turned around and walked forward. He opened the doors and underneath the dark night sky, he could see a fluttering torch.

At least two hundred fully armed men. And leading the men, a young man bowed his head.

“Father.”

Lee Chun Baek nodded his head.

“Go. Today… is the start of our revenge.”

That night, two hundred warriors left Mount Heng Sword Sect.

The next chapter will be delayed as well. Which means another one chapter/week. But after next week, I’ll be back on my two chapters/week schedule. Thanks!