Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin

Chapter 74: Old Grudges

It felt as if I had stepped into the middle of a battlefield where blades and swords flashed.

Within the clouded dust, martial artists affiliated with the Murim Alliance were doing their utmost to fend off the bloodthirsty members of the Blood Cult charging at them.

“Die!”

I, too, was facing off against a Blood Cultist who was casting a bizarre evil art.

He slashed his arm to draw blood and scattered it like a thrown needle, attacking with it.

“What the hell is that, damn it!”

No matter how many times I saw it, it was a grotesque scene.

Dodging the pouring red droplets, I threw myself aside. By ducking low and sliding with my lower body, I managed to avoid the attack, which instead struck the ground with a violent "papapak!"

Boom!

Seizing the moment the bastard's eyes turned toward me, Ilhong unleashed a barrage of hidden weapons.

“Keok!” Letting out a sound as extreme poison pierced his body, the Blood Cultist collapsed, turning ashen. Ilhong swiftly dashed in and finished him off with the martial arts he had learned from Hwang Geolgae.

“Captain! Got one!”

Roughly at the level of a Second Rate Martial Artist, but with the aid of surprise attacks using hidden weapons, Ilhong was performing at the level of a First Rate Martial Artist.

“Well done!”

Amid the dusty haze, I shouted so while deflecting every incoming trace of killing intent with my bandage.

Dog-Beating Staff Technique that smashed down beasts in human skin. With the monstrous strength of the Heaven-Slaying Star added, the sounds of flesh tearing apart echoed atop the unarmed ones.

“Keok!”

“Ggk!”

They probably hoped for chaos from the explosion, but strangely, the murkier the vision became, the more advantageous it was for the Heaven-Slaying Star, who could read the traces of killing intent.

I picked the dustiest spots to charge into and used this advantage to stir the battlefield like a raging storm.

“They’re using evil arts!”

The frontline was holding steady. Members of the Chivalrous Unit, facing the Blood Cult for the first time, shouted in panic from all directions.

They were struggling against the unfamiliar attack methods, which came flying like hidden weapons instead of swords or fists.

Even so, worthy of being called the pillars of the Orthodox Faction, the Murim Alliance members held their ground without losing morale and continued to block the enemies.

When the enemies showed no sign of retreating, the Blood Cultists exchanged glances and began pulling something out again.

“Ilhong, what did you say they bought last time?”

“Uh, I think Thunderburst Bombs and Poison Pellets...”

“Damn it.”

As expected of Murim terrorists, they only carried the most heinous tools.

Before the Chivalrous Unit could be wiped out, I urgently threw myself forward.

With my figure blurring, I dashed across the battlefield—only for a strange movement technique to suddenly rise before my eyes.

The ones about to throw the Poison Pellets opened their eyes wide in shock.

Puh-puh-puh-puh-pung!

Soaring like a water-soaked swallow, I detonated all the Poison Pellets mid-air. A thick poisonous mist burst forth, like sacks of flour exploding in the air.

“Take it back.”

Just as martial artists at a certain level can unleash sword gusts, I spun my long staff like a windmill, creating a whirlwind.

The poisonous mist, riding the wind, returned in the same direction it had come from.

“W-Wait!”

“What kind of brute force is this...!”

“Kuaaaagh!”

This was the textbook example of reaping what one sows.

Struck by the backdraft, they began coughing up blood from their eyes and mouths, collapsing one by one.

Ssshhhhh.

Though the poisonous mist quickly dispersed into the air, greatly reducing its effect, those already poisoned showed no sign of rising from the ground.

“Ugh, you bastard...”

“...Are you a warrior from the Tang Clan? Ggk.”

The Blood Cult bastards trembled and sent glares filled with original venom my way.

“Captain! Are you okay?!”

When I had recklessly dashed into a storm of Poison Pellets, Ilhong, frozen in shock, belatedly rushed over.

“You think I'm okay? My whole body hurts.”

The Heaven-Slaying Star’s body wasn’t immune to poison—it just healed faster than the poison could destroy it.

I stared quietly at the bright red energy rising from my body. It must’ve been dangerous, for the red light was more intense than ever before.

“You're insane! What made you think to charge into that?!”

As I let a trickle of blood run down the corner of my mouth in response, Ilhong freaked out and scolded me.

“If I didn’t, those people would’ve been poisoned.”

I pointed subtly toward the members of the Chivalrous Unit behind me.

Were they not courageous individuals who stood their ground and fought to the end, even as the situation turned against them?

I couldn’t just let them be swept away in vain.

And judging by the inexplicable energy that tingled in my chest, the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method seemed to agree very strongly with that.

“This is exactly why Tang Yeo-hye keeps getting curious about your body, Captain.”

That was, indeed, quite a reasonable point.

“Ugh.”

The dizziness struck me belatedly. It was likely a side effect of the body’s recovery process.

Feeling my strength drain, I didn’t resist and let myself collapse on the spot.

“Ugh, I’m dying here.”

It was the kind of fatigue that crept up after about an hour of smithy work.

So even the body of the Heaven-Slaying Star couldn’t regenerate indefinitely or provide endless stamina, huh.

“Master! Are you all right?!”

And when I slumped down, some of the members shouted in alarm.

Perhaps realizing I had thrown myself in to save them, members of the Chivalrous Unit and their Captain rushed over in haste.

“I’m fine. Probably won’t die.”

Waving my hand dismissively, I uttered the classic farewell line of men.

The Captain, after glancing at my not-so-bad complexion, let out a baffled chuckle.

“Heh, I was wondering how you defeated the Small Thunder Sword without even emitting any qi, and it seems there’s something extraordinary about you, Master.”

The surrounding members also nodded, as if seeing me in a new light.

Thanks to my use of the Heaven-Slaying Eye and breaking through the Sword Flash of Heaven and Earth, it appeared to others as though Murong Hui had been taken down weakly due to his own poor condition.

Damn that nickname, Woonchil Three Heroes. First impressions really do stick.

“Captain Gwangson! We found this on them!”

One of the members, who had been finishing off the neutralized Blood Cultists, shouted while pointing to a black pellet wrapped in several layers.

“It appears to be an antidote!”

“Then give one to this Master, and keep a few of them alive using that. We’ll need some for interrogation and justice.”

“Yes, sir!”

With that order, the throats of most Blood Cultists were severed.

Even while dying, they muttered ominously about great undertakings and blood arts.

“Was it Dan Mujin? Thank you, Master. Thanks to you, we avoided needless sacrifice.”

The one who offered a disciplined clasped hands greeting in gratitude was a Captain named Gwangson.

“We must help each other to live.”

“Master, do you have an affiliation? What is your sect?”

“My sect is unclear, and as for affiliation, I’m just a wandering ronin.”

Upon hearing my response, Captain Gwangson’s eyes lit up as he continued.

“Then Master, if you ever think about joining the Murim Alliance, come to our Chivalrous Unit. I, Gwangson, will welcome you with open arms.”

Apparently impressed by the spirit I showed when I hurled myself into the Poison Pellets earlier, the Captain praised me earnestly, saying that was exactly what the Chivalrous Unit needed.

“I actually already got that offer from the Demon-Slaying Unit.”

When I mentioned Murong Cheonghye, the Captain grimaced and shook his head.

“That woman obsessed with killing... ahem, anyway, that’s no place to go. This one is much more stable, and advancement is quicker too. Give it some thought.”

Seemed the infamy of the Evil-Slaying Demoness was well-known even among Captains of the Murim Alliance.

“Yes, I’ll consider it for now.”

Just like with Murong Cheonghye, there was no harm in getting closer to someone like him. I responded politely, leaving room without giving a definitive answer.

“Captain Gwangson! A signal fire from headquarters is calling for aid!”

At that moment, members pointed urgently toward the Murim Alliance stronghold.

It looked like the Blood Cult was fully intent on repaying their thirty-year-old grudge.

“Looks like I must go. Master, are you really all right?”

“Yes, just need a short rest.”

Even now, I had regained almost seventy percent of my strength.

As I activated the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method, red and pale auras sparked and clashed across my skin.

“Very well. Recover your strength, and if fate allows, we shall meet again. Farewell!”

Judging by the signal fire, the battle at headquarters must be fierce.

Captain Gwangson took off running with his members, saying his goodbyes.

“Captain, you sure have a lot of admirers among the higher-ups.”

Then came Ilhong’s comment as she watched.

From Trading Lord Eun Hwaran to Princess Peach Blossom, to the Captains of the Demon-Slaying Unit and the Chivalrous Unit—it was all very curious to her.

“I’m just built that way.”

I shrugged and replied. Even back in my Troubleshooter days, those high-ranking folks with gold badges used to visit me often.

Asking me to dig up dirt or scandals on political rivals, that kind of thing.

“Captain, Captain.”

Still seemingly unconvinced, she tapped my arm a few times.

“Just accept it. The charm of this human Dan Mujin.”

“No, that’s not it. They’re coming again.”

She pointed to the Blood Cultists approaching with a grim air.

Apparently, while heading to the Murim Alliance’s main base, they spotted the corpses of their comrades strewn about here and altered their route.

Their red killing intent exploded violently as they seemed to vow revenge.

“Damn it.”

I had just joined the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament to earn some bounty and get my name out there. What was all this chaos?

Persistent bastards. How were there still more of them left?

“Captain, can we win?”

She asked, one hand gripping a hidden weapon and the other raising a Blood Cultist’s sword.

“Who knows. We could fight, at least.”

If it were just me, I might be able to scrape through—getting beaten and stabbed but somehow clawing out a victory.

But in my current state, I wasn’t confident I could protect Ilhong and win the fight.

If only I had just half a quarter hour more, I would’ve fully recovered all my strength.

‘Kill!’

And without knowing the changing situation, the Heaven-Slaying Star shouted to kill them all.

“Captain, don’t worry about me. I don’t want to hold you back.”

She must have read the unease in my gaze. Pressed into a corner, Ilhong gripped her sword with a look of resolve.

“Don’t talk nonsense. If I’m about to go down, just run away like you usually do.”

The professional escape artist now trying to lay down her life—how absurd.

Well, seeing her act like that at the moment was actually kind of admirable.

“Was it you?! The one who struck down our cultists here…?!”

“The blood debt of the fallen cultists! I shall repay it by cutting off your neck!”

They wanted to drain all the blood from my body to comfort the spirits of the fallen.

With faces twisted like demonic fiends, the Blood Cultists charged in all at once.

I summoned all the internal energy coiled in my dantian and steeled my resolve.

Taat!

But at that moment, a figure streaked in from behind the Blood Cultists.

Simultaneously, a lightning-like swift sword gleamed through the air.

Slash—

Three Blood Cultists' heads flew off cleanly. Their expressions didn’t even register being cut—it was that swift a sword.

“A-Akssalshin…! Keok!”

Whoosh! Ping!

Just as he shouted her alias, his throat was slit, spraying blood.

Next, a storm of blue sword qi shredded the remaining Blood Cultists like chunks of meat.

Her lightning-fast movements and gleaming swift sword cut across the battlefield.

“Like I said last time, it’s not Murong Hui—she’s the real treasure of the Murong Clan.”

Ilhong, slightly excited as the female warrior she admired appeared in action, said so.

And after beheading even the last one who tried to flee, the slender martial expert gracefully landed beside me, her ponytail swaying.

“As expected…”

Her eyes, sparkling like black pearls, locked onto me.

That familiar gaze that always held excessive expectations of me.

“I figured someone like you wouldn’t run but would be standing and fighting.”

Deputy Captain of the Demon-Slaying Unit, Murong Cheonghye, glanced around at the corpses of the Blood Cultists scattered around me and nodded in approval.

“I didn’t take them all down myself though.”

Being held in too high regard could be a bit tiring.

So I made sure to mention it was an accomplishment made with the Chivalrous Unit.

Narrowing her eyes, Murong Cheonghye asked me something.

“Don’t tell me that Captain made you some kind of offer?”

She hadn’t heard a thing, yet she already knew. Her intuition was impressive.

“Yes, he told me to join the Chivalrous Unit.”

“Master? You mustn’t go near someone who shows mercy to the wicked… someone that soft.”

When I said I received a scouting offer, Murong Cheonghye’s eyes took on a slightly frightening edge.

“Alright, sure, I won’t go.”

Startled, I answered quickly.

As someone who’d once been stabbed, it was a natural, instinctive response.

“Excellent.”

Hearing my reply, she smiled contentedly.

I had no plans to join either anyway—I intended to open my own office.

“By the way, Master, do you know where Clan Head Murong Cheon is?”

Murong Cheonghye asked as she closely observed the signal fire rising from the Murim Alliance stronghold.

Now that I thought about it, she had come from the same direction as the Blood Cultists. She must have seen the support signal and was heading to the stronghold.

“He shook his head and left when his son started losing.”

He had clearly been displeased that things weren’t going as he wished.

Even though the duel hadn’t ended, he left the venue.

“Master, don’t tell me… you won?”

“Yes, that’s how it went.”

She looked surprised. Even though she had taught me the Murong Clan’s martial arts, she must have been doubtful.

With a slightly shocked face, she continued.

“Then do you know where Murong Hui is?”

“He was taken away by the physicians. Probably at the clinic?”

At that, she turned toward the direction of the clinic, located in the exact opposite direction of the Murim Alliance stronghold.

She looked at it once, then alternated her gaze between the desperate blaze of the signal fire and that place. She bit her red lips hard.

“Master, I’ve found Hyesung, and I’ve figured out what they’re after.”

Oh, so she finally found that bald-headed guy.

It seemed the help from Majungcheon and the Beggars’ Union members made a difference.

“Their target in this raid was the Heavenly Sword and Thunder Sword family who made great contributions in the Blood Purge Tournament.”

Her family had been their target as well.

Even so, she said that as the Deputy Captain of the Demon-Slaying Unit, it was her duty to rush to the stronghold now that a signal fire had been lit.

“So I have a favor to ask.”

The unease slowly began to creep in.

“...What kind of favor?”

She was looking in the direction completely opposite the stronghold.

I asked, half-dreading what she might say.

If it were the Heavenly Sword, maybe, but as for the Thunder Sword who had cast me aside, I honestly wanted no part of it.

“Murong Hui… Please save my foolish little brother.”

The Evil-Slaying Demoness who showed no mercy to villains—

She suddenly grabbed my hand and, with a desperate expression, asked me to save the older brother whom Murong Cheongjin resented deeply.