Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin

Chapter 65: Family Matters

During the long journey toward the Murim Alliance, I’d heard various rumors.

One of them was that the winner of this Gathering of the Dragon and Phoenix was bound to be the Namgung Clan’s Blue Cloud Sword.

A genius of the sword, known as the rightful heir of the Heavenly Sword among the Ten Great Experts of the World, unmatched among his peers.

The Namgung Clan was showered with praise, everyone saying they were continuing their radiant legacy.

Some even said they were pulling far ahead of the other Five Great Clans.

That’s why Murong Cheon, who wanted to shed the stigma of being forever second-place in his generation, used to grit his teeth at the mere mention of the Blue Cloud Sword.

“The Blue Cloud Sword won’t be participating in Gathering of the Dragon and Phoenix due to some undisclosed reason.”

This was the latest info brought back by Ilhong, who frequented the Black Spot.

I’d wondered why that man, who should have been in the Clan Leader’s residence, had suddenly appeared all the way out here in Shaanxi.

It seemed that since his own son, Murong Hui, known to be second only to the Blue Cloud Sword in talent, was looking likely to win, he finally moved his heavy backside.

A man for whom the clan’s honor and survival came before anything else. Thanks to the memories of Murong Cheongjin within me, I could see right through his intentions.

“He’s one of the greatest people I know.”

Trying to show good faith, the Beggars’ Union’s Ma Jungcheon introduced me to one of the leading figures of the orthodox factions.

Indeed, among his connections, this person was the most famous.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Murong Cheon, Clan Leader of the Murong Clan. In my younger days, the warriors of Jianghu called me Thunderbolt Sword.”

He introduced himself and offered a greeting first.

Startled, our group hurriedly stood up and offered a clasped hands greeting.

Murong Cheon’s cold eyes, masked with kindness, swept across us.

“Judging by that massive blade, you must be the so-called Small Scalpel Blade, Jo Hah-rang. And you over there must be Tang Clan’s poison… or rather, the Bloodied Body.”

He had been about to say Poisonous Dog, but quickly changed his words.

Then his gaze turned to me, who was fiddling with the Human-skin Mask.

“And who might this young brother be?”

Seeing me casually mingling with famous figures of the Murim, Murong Cheon now took an interest in me, the unknown one.

“You don’t know him? He’s the guy who finished off the Soul-Stealing Demon Lord, captured the Poison-Hoarding Fiend, and even helped me take down the Blood-Sucking Fiend.”

Tang Yeo-hye offered a blunt explanation of my accomplishments, albeit lacking in etiquette.

“Oh, that Un O Five Heroes, was it?”

“…We’re still the Unchil Samhyeop.”

He really just threw out someone else’s alias at random.

“Is that so? The alias left an impression, so I remembered it. You're quite the striking young man—contrary to what I expected.”

I guess he thought I’d look unimpressive based on the nickname.

Then Jo Hah-rang stepped in to add to the explanation.

“He’s not just striking. He’s got great talent in martial arts and a strong sense of chivalry.”

That guy thinks too highly of me. I wonder what he’ll do when my true identity comes out later.

“Well… He’s someone I think of as a younger brother. Gotta admit, he’s persistent and fiercely determined.”

As both a newly risen expert and a woman of the Tang Clan acknowledged me, Murong Cheon’s previously indifferent gaze now showed a faint glimmer of interest.

Anyone else might’ve been disappointed by such a cold look, but I was used to the stares given to a misfired explosive, so this kind of attention actually felt refreshing.

‘So that’s how it is, huh.’

In life, it had been impossible. Only in death could someone truly see me for who I was.

The feeling was strangely bitter and complicated.

“Well then. Do your best. For the sake of your sect’s prosperity, you must achieve good results.”

We exchanged a few more words afterward, but once Murong Cheon learned that Jo Hah-rang’s sect was the little-known So Moon Sect, he lost interest and walked off.

He always said time was finite and should be treated like gold. Really, he was the epitome of someone who pursued only personal gain.

A man who could even sever ties with his own child if they brought disgrace to the clan.

“Oh, of course. The winner has already been decided to be my second son, Murong Hui, so don’t overexert yourself.”

Even as he walked away, he turned briefly to toss out that statement—claiming victory for his son—and then left again.

Seems he was overflowing with fatherly love.

But did he know? That I too had once been one of his sons?

As a child, I had been the proud third son you boasted of.

“Hoo…”

A deep sigh, full of complexity and frustration.

What an incredibly uncomfortable encounter. I hadn’t even done anything, but just meeting face-to-face had drained me.

I massaged my throbbing temples.

“Haha, seems everyone’s minds were blown by the sudden appearance of a big shot.”

And as Murong Cheon disappeared, Ma Jungcheon quietly approached, looking very pleased with himself.

“So? What do you think? Pretty impressive connection, right?”

I just felt dumbfounded.

That Beggars’ Union guy smugly fishing for compliments was beyond absurd.

They say you can’t curse at a smiling face, but right now, I felt like I might manage it.

“Just get out of here.”

I pointed to the banquet exit with a face full of disgust.

“Huh? But why…?”

Looking completely wronged, Ma Jungcheon seemed utterly clueless about what sort of meeting he had just orchestrated.

Noon, the next day.

We arrived at the Murim Alliance’s Demon-Slaying Unit headquarters carrying a salt-cured head, a tightly bound wanted criminal, and a dignified dagger.

When we presented the dagger to a staff member, he recognized it immediately.

“This is… the dagger of the Evil-Slaying Demoness! You must be the very young master she mentioned!”

“Yes, I’m that guy.”

“Please wait a moment!”

Apparently, they’d been notified in advance. He asked us to wait while he brought the money, suggesting we enjoy some tea.

So we spent some time avoiding the sun and enjoying a tea break in the well-funded Demon-Slaying Unit headquarters of the Murim Alliance.

“Nice and comfy.”

The chairs were plush, likely filled with expensive cotton, and a pleasant floral scent drifted in from somewhere. A gentle tea fragrance hung in the air too.

It felt a bit like waiting at the bank after depositing some cash.

A bit of a mood lift from yesterday.

“Hey, but that Poison-Hoarding Fiend—are we really handing him over here?”

Tang Yeo-hye asked a seemingly random question while watching the half-dead man being dragged away, muffled groans and all.

“Why?”

“If we handed him over to the Evil Alliance instead of the Murim Alliance, we’d probably get paid double.”

Apparently, that guy had caused quite a stir in the unorthodox faction’s territory. So the bounty there was at least twice as high.

Wanderers don’t discriminate between orthodoxy and unorthodoxy. If anything, since they do anything for money, they lean unorthodox.

In short, we’d just made a financially wasteful decision.

“…Why are you only telling me this now?”

“Ehehe, you didn’t ask?”

Seriously, what a troublesome woman. No matter how I looked at her, she had more in common with a mischievous brat than a grown lady.

“Hoo.”

I often got pissed off when I was with this woman. But since she was strong in martial arts, I couldn’t exactly complain.

So I decided to soothe my boiling insides by sipping some tea.

I fanned the steaming teacup for half a beat with wide sweeps.

Once it was at the right temperature when I touched it, I took a satisfied sip.

“…What are you doing?”

“What do you think? Cooling tea before drinking it.”

“You really are a weird one, huh…”

She reacted as sensitively as an Italian watching someone break spaghetti in half.

Ilhong and Jo Hah-rang also wore faces that said they didn’t understand.

“Hey, just respect my preferences, okay?”

Seriously, these Central Plains folks had no appreciation for chilled drinks.

I mean, do they even know about hexagonal water?

“I may be strange, but you’re something else too.”

Tang Yeo-hye propped her chin on her hand and calmly observed me sipping tea.

Unbothered by the stares, I drained the cup.

But as soon as I finished, a strange numbness lingered on the tip of my tongue.

Now that I thought about it, why had she been staring so intently as I drank the tea?

“…Did you put something in the tea?”

“Yeah.”

Oh come on, why the hell was she so confident about that, this crazy woman.

I slammed the cup down with a disgusted expression.

“No matter how weak the poison is, it’s still amazing you don’t even react.”

Thank goodness I had the body of the Heaven-Slaying Star that could withstand poison. If I hadn’t, like she said last time, I’d have spent the whole day running to the outhouse.

I might’ve even earned a nickname related to toilets. Just imagining it was dreadful.

I gave Tang Yeo-hye a sharp look.

“Sigh, Lord Dan, please understand. That’s just her way of showing affection. She tends to mess with the people she likes like that.”

It was Neungsam, the servant, shaking his head with a sigh, saying he’d been through it plenty himself.

“What the hell are you talking about?! When did I ever show interest in him?!”

Apparently a direct hit—her ears turned red as she shot up and shouted in denial.

Seriously, she was like a grade-school boy who bullied the girl he liked. A seriously twisted way of expressing affection.

Any more of this and someone could really die.

No wonder she had no friends even in gatherings like this.

“Damn it! I do have friends!”

Oops, must’ve said that out loud.

Her face went completely red as she denied it with all her might.

“Noona, Mister Neungsam isn’t a friend.”

“I’m telling you, I really do, dammit…! And you, are you looking to die?!”

She lunged at me and shook my collar as if to prove her point.

She must have been really worked up.

People usually reacted like that when you hit a nerve.

“…Dan Mujin, young master? What’s going on here?”

A soft, nostalgic voice tickled my ears.

Today, the woman had let her black hair flow naturally without wearing the bamboo hat.

A refined beauty with the Murong Clan’s sword at her waist—Murong Cheonghye.

“It’s a common thing. You don’t need to worry.”

I waved a hand like it was nothing.

At the same time, our gazes fell on the heavy coin pouch she was carrying.

It was so stuffed with money that gold and silver coins were practically spilling out the top.

“Whoa.”

“Wow.”

So this was what they called financial therapy. A scene so violent it instantly made us forget the petty squabble.

Then Murong Cheonghye casually held it out toward me.

“Oh my, you shouldn’t have.”

I recited the socially agreed-upon line and stuffed the pouch deep into my clothes.

“You jerk, at least split the money.”

Tang Yeo-hye frowned and jabbed my back with her finger.

“Tch.”

When it came to the Blood-Sucking Fiend, her contribution was eighty percent and mine was twenty. Looked like we had some splitting to do.

“Anyway, thank you for this money. I’ll put it to good use.”

I gave a precise clasped hands greeting as I said it.

With a rich sponsor, courteous behavior just came naturally.

“No, we should be the ones thanking you. You’ve rid the world of evil on behalf of the Demon-Slaying Unit. We sincerely hope you’ll continue.”

An incredibly warm smile. It wasn’t forced—she genuinely looked happy that another evil had been erased.

“…”

As the Heaven-Slaying Star hiding his identity, seeing someone speak with such conviction stirred complex emotions.

Without realizing it, I reached up to feel the skin mask on my face again, checking if anything was off.

“But you two—what are you planning to do with all that money?”

Ilhong asked while eyeing our massive earnings with curiosity.

This was the kind of amount that wouldn’t run out even if we stayed at luxury inns and ordered expensive meals for a while.

“Hmm, I might bet it all on the winner of Gathering of the Dragon and Phoenix.”

When Gathering of the Dragon and Phoenix was held, a betting ring was organized alongside it.

A private Murim gambling scene where people wagered on who would win or what rank they’d place.

Well, maybe not entirely private, since it was hosted by the Murim Alliance.

Anyway, it was a place where even participants could bet on themselves, and like a racetrack, you could multiply your money if you played it right.

“Oh, who would you bet on?”

A question asked in hopes of insider info.

“Obviously myself, punk.”

Oh, that confidence.

She beat her chest proudly, as if her victory was a given.

“What about you, Commander?”

“Maybe I’ll place some bets too.”

After all, I’d discovered there was a broken character in the competition who had the Evil Star embedded in their head.

So I planned to split my money—eighty percent on Jo Hah-rang and twenty on Tang Yeo-hye.

“For reference, the highest odds of winning belong to someone named Murong Hui. The payout’s lower, but it’s the safest bet.”

No matter how high the odds, I didn’t want to bet on those Murong Clan bastards.

Even I, who loved money, drew the line there.

“I think I just heard someone say my name.”

Suddenly, Ilhong flinched at the voice.

Turning around, a cold-looking young man stood at the entrance of the Demon-Slaying Unit building. He was staring intently at Ilhong, who had mentioned his name.

Something about his face and demeanor felt familiar.

“What’s your deal? Why are you bringing up my name?”

Ilhong quickly mumbled something and darted behind me.

It really was that season when all the righteous warriors gathered. I was seeing everyone.

Murong Hui. I never imagined I’d meet my second brother—the one who had been the most eager in abandoning me—here of all places.

“Hmph.”

With a scoff, Murong Hui passed us by.

He must not have come for us. Instead, he headed toward Murong Cheonghye, who looked slightly surprised.

Then he said something that instantly screamed complicated family drama.

“Cheonghye noona, leave the Demon-Slaying Unit and come back to the Murong Clan. Slaying evil won’t bring him back, will it?”