Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin

Chapter 37: Walking on Two Legs

A wanderer's morning begins earlier than that of a warehouse assistant.

No, not just early—it's from the crack of dawn, when the starlight still twinkles.

All for the training of the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method, which draws energy from the stars.

Rustle.

As I sat up, the creaky cot groaned and the threadbare blanket with holes slipped off.

The cold wind seeped through the room for third-class escorts. Better than the warehouse assistant quarters, but still wretched compared to a modern bed.

For the record, Trading Lord Eun Hwaran offered me better lodging, but I refused—because I hated feeling indebted.

All for the dream of smooth internal energy circulation and life extension.

I'm already staying here rent-free, and if I were to accept an expensive room on top of that, I’d probably develop an odd sense of guilt.

Then if I helped her later, I’d feel like I was repaying a debt, not doing a good deed.

That way, I wouldn’t accumulate any Righteous Energy.

"I'm too damn nice for my own good."

If only I were the type to shamelessly accept others' kindness with a sneer, life would be so much easier.

But I decided to endure the inconvenience now for the sake of the distant future.

Snore—snort—

Leaving behind Yangjo and Yangwi, who were snoring like thunder, I stepped outside into the cold air and moonlight that wrapped my entire body.

Walking alone dressed in full gear while everyone else was asleep made me feel like I was on night patrol.

"Thinking of it that way makes it a bit more bearable."

A clear night sky with not a trace of pollution. The holy energy of the stars poured down transparently.

There was no sign of Hwang Geolgae in the training ground. Must’ve passed out drunk again somewhere.

It happened from time to time, so I quietly sat cross-legged and recited the chant of the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method in my head.

The second daughter of the Tang Clan, whom I had risked my life to save not long ago. In return, the bones of my entire body had been shattered.

"Seongseongillyi... Cheonjicheyeongye..."

With Righteous Energy built up, as I activated the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method, a pure white energy different from the crimson one of the Evil Star began to ripple throughout my body.

A mysterious energy surged from the dantian, passing through the perineum to the Baihui Point without resistance.

Though it had no physical form, its distinct presence appeared in my mind as a battering ram, striking at the Evil Star.

Thud—!

My body jerked up about three inches from the shock.

Before the eerie being within the Evil Star could respond, I quickly absorbed fragments of the star’s energy into the lower dantian, tightly bound with anti-demonic energy.

As I operated the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method at full capacity, the ominous energy of the Evil Star gradually melted into my inner energy, losing its malevolence.

“Whew.”

As the last strand was absorbed into my dantian, I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and let out a deep sigh.

A clearly defined, star-like energy shone within my dantian.

"I now possess ten years’ worth of internal energy…!"

What once was the size of a millet grain had grown to a bean, and now to a walnut.

Energy burned like raging fire, evenly surging throughout my body.

My blood boiled. Throwing myself in front of that monstrous boar had paid off.

"An enemy of ten thousand, courage of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, peerless under heaven—all these titles now apply to me…!"

A roar of triumph, boldly shouted in a world ruled by the strong devouring the weak.

As long as I had this cultivation method and the Evil Star, Righteous Energy equaled power. A logic I'd never felt on Earth thrilled me to the core.

I was deeply drunk on my own strength and virtue—until a voice came from behind me.

"Still talking nonsense, I see."

I turned to find Hwang Geolgae staring at me like I’d gone mad.

This ghost-like man, when did he sneak up behind me again without a sound?

"You misunderstand."

"Misunderstand my ass."

What a prickly old man.

Crossing his arms, Hwang Geolgae gave me a once-over and then wore an expression like he'd figured something out.

"Was wondering how your internal energy grew so fast. Turns out you're more of a narcissist than I thought."

He muttered that I must have felt proud of myself for even the smallest good deed, and that this self-satisfaction might be the key to my energy increase.

"Elder, narcissism? That’s absurd."

"Absurd? You think you got that kind of internal energy just by distracting a giant boar a few times?"

He harshly downplayed the heroics I described last night.

"That wasn’t a boar, it was a spirit beast the size of a bear, thank you very much. And it even dropped a core, which I accepted in exchange for twenty copper coins—clearly a significant sacrifice on my part."

This sturdy body of mine nearly got folded in half from one charge, you know.

The old me would’ve fought tooth and nail to get proper compensation. And twenty copper coins instead of silver?

"You fool, you got the Dong Token from the Sichuan Tang Clan instead."

"I don’t deal in non-liquid assets. That’s my policy."

Some countries on Earth buy fighter jets with chicken meat or whatever, but I don’t play like that.

The Dan Mujin Troubleshooter only takes cash.

"Tsk, what am I going to do with this troublesome brat?"

Seeing how full of self-love I was, and how I kept talking back, Hwang Geolgae clenched his fist as if he wanted to smack me.

I instinctively pulled in my neck like a turtle, wary of a possible strike to the crown.

"From how you act, you’re a greedy swindler through and through… yet in the end, you help people for dirt cheap and perform good deeds. It’s baffling…"

The old man clicked his tongue with a complicated expression.

"Elder, isn’t good just good? No matter the motive, I'm upholding the chivalrous path and saving people."

So what if my intentions were a little worldly?

Even though I'm the Heaven-Slaying Star, destined to bring slaughter, I’m helping people and performing good deeds—albeit thanks to my internal energy—so that’s good enough.

"Hmph… well, wanting a full belly from one spoonful is greedy, I suppose."

Maybe my words made sense, as Hwang Geolgae nodded silently.

But the slanted look in his eyes said, as always, that he’d keep watching me for a while longer.

Damn it, when will I be free of this surveillance?

"Anyway, Elder, I’ve got ten years’ worth of internal energy now. Got anything for me?"

"Of course not, fool. You’re supposed to save up fifteen years’ worth, remember?"

Honestly, I said it because I felt like I’d drop dead before then.

Why are all our assignments so grim and deadly?

Please, let the next one not involve swordplay.

"Tsk tsk, don’t go scheming. It’s already the hour of the dragon. Go wake Ilhong. He still has much to learn."

Now that I looked, the sky had started to brighten. A crimson hue slowly rose over the distant mountain ridge.

I’d been so absorbed in stealing the Evil Star’s energy that I didn’t notice how much time had passed while circulating my qi.

"I’ve still got a lot to learn too. Why are you always favoring him lately?"

One of us is getting beaten half to death during training, and the other shows up and gets Vein Cleansing and Marrow Washing, True Qi Guidance—training fit for a great clan heir.

The most heartbreaking thing in the world is blatant discrimination.

Especially toward kids in their growth period—treat them like that, and I’ll become one of those ‘troubled youth’ types.

"You fool, her family situation’s a bit tragic, isn’t it?"

"Tch, mine’s tragic and pitiful too, you know."

"Unlike that kind and upright kid, you're rude, so I don't really pity you."

"……."

I was left speechless by the brazenly blunt remark.

What an old man, churning out troubled youths like it’s nothing.

"Aren’t you a Taoist? Your character is a bit……."

Thwack–!

A lightning-fast Flick Strike punished me, delivered by Hwang Geolgae.

Stars danced before my eyes, and curses flew from my mouth.

"Ah, fuck!"

"Haha, enough nonsense. Go fetch Ilhong."

My fist trembled, truly. But in the murim, the weak have no choice but to endure.

Muttering complaints, I headed to the small shed-like place where Ilhong slept.

It was awkward to bunk her with the men, and hard to explain putting her in the women’s quarters, so she slept here alone.

Still, it wasn’t drafty, so it looked warmer than my room.

Clatter.

"Ilhong, time to get up now... hm?"

But before I could even wake her, she was already up.

Or perhaps she hadn’t slept at all—her eyes were sunken and dark.

She had disassembled a complicated cylindrical metal device overnight and laid out all the parts in the room.

"…Hey, don’t tell me this is what I think it is?"

It looked familiar. Holes just right for a projectile to fit through. I’d seen this kind of launch mechanism before.

When I stared suspiciously, she flinched in the middle of drawing a blueprint.

"Ah, I didn’t steal it! I-It just kind of ended up in my hands somehow!"

Though Hwang Geolgae had called her a model student, she now shouted in panic like someone caught stealing.

Noon sun blazed hot over my crown.

A new request had come from Chairman Gam Un.

He said this time there’d be absolutely no swordplay involved, so I accepted and headed to meet the client.

"You're misunderstanding, Captain."

Ilhong had been rattling off excuses beside me the whole time.

"Sure, sure, it’s all just a misunderstanding."

I replied like I totally understood, and she beat her chest in frustration.

"I’m telling you, I didn’t steal it!"

So what, Tang Ye-hye just handed over her clan’s secret weapon to an outsider?

Let’s be realistic.

"No no, you did well. The pay was crap anyway. You’ve got to secure your own share."

We saved the Tang Clan’s daughter and even handed over a Poison Pellet, so getting a hidden weapon in return was a cheap deal.

But Ilhong only grimaced more at my compliment.

"Agh, really, I didn’t mean to! I just forgot it was in my pouch and came down the mountain with it…!"

She insisted it wasn’t theft but merely an oversight or lost-and-found situation.

Hmm, thinking back, it was plausible.

Last I saw, Tang Ye-hye and Neungsam were both so enthralled by the Poison Pellet that they didn’t even notice us leaving.

After tossing us the Gratitude Token, they hadn’t cared whether we went or stayed.

"Then why were you dismantling it into parts?"

"Ah, that was just… out of personal curiosity before returning it…"

Apparently, blacksmiths of the Hao Sect who had learned various crafting techniques always considered the Tang Clan the pinnacle of the field.

So, when she saw the real thing, she instinctively started analyzing it.

"…Alright, I believe you."

Judging by those eyes full of curiosity like a true techie, it was probably true.

"Phew."

With a sigh of relief, she tucked the Tang Clan hidden weapon back into her robe.

"But you managed to reassemble it perfectly?"

There were easily dozens of tiny components laid out in the room.

"Assembly is just the reverse of disassembly. If you recall the steps, it’s easy."

Was it really? I struggled even disassembling a gun with far fewer parts.

"But no matter how much I analyzed it, there was one thing I couldn’t figure out."

"What thing?"

"The mechanism that launched the projectile."

She tapped the holes in the hidden weapon as she spoke.

Sniff sniff.

I gave the hidden weapon a few sniffs.

If it wasn’t spring tension or elasticity, then there was only one method left.

"Looks like black powder was used."

There were traces of sooty residue inside the holes.

"Black powder, as in… the black stuff used in thunder bombs?"

She knew quite a bit about gunpowder. In an age where such info was hidden, that alone was impressive.

"You’re surprisingly knowledgeable, Ilhong."

"…Hehe."

She scratched her head shyly.

"But I’m surprised the Tang Clan used black powder. In murim, it’s illegal unless sanctioned by the Royal Guards."

"If no one finds out, it’s fine. And anyone who gets hit by these hidden weapons probably ends up dead, so the secret keeps itself."

"…I guess you’re right."

Seriously, with their personalities and methods, the Sichuan Tang Clan is a fearsome bunch.

As we talked and walked, the rendezvous point came into view.

Under a big tree, a young man was waiting, radiating the smell of ink.

When we approached and said we were the wanderers hired for the request, his eyes widened.

"What? Kids like you? Really?"

I was sick of hearing that by now.

Here, when people think of wanderers, they imagine burly bandit types with patchy beards.

So I always had to pull out my official Wanderers' Guild token to prove myself.

"Whoa, it's real. I've seen a few female wanderers, but a boy wanderer…"

Now that the formalities were done, it was time to get down to business.

"So I heard you're heading deep into the mountains. May I ask why?"

It was supposed to be a completely safe assignment.

Just this once, I trusted you, Chairman Gam Un.

"Why climb the mountain? For these."

He pulled out the drawings he had made and showed them to us.

Rats, oxen, tigers, rabbits—your typical Chinese zodiac animals—and even pandas, rarely drawn around here, both in black and white fur, all illustrated with care.

They were well-drawn, but instead of landscapes, portraits, or scenes, they were all animals.

And something felt… oddly off in the art style.

"I… really love these creatures. So I asked Chairman Gam Un to let me see them with my own eyes and draw them."

"…Ah, I see."

Chairman Gam Un, you bastard.

He’d dumped another weird commission on us.

The deeper into the mountain you go, the deeper the valleys get.

Especially in untouched primeval forests, even taking a hundred steps is a struggle.

And the client’s obsession with beasts was intense—so much so that the task showed no sign of ending.

So I came up with a trick.

"Sir, you said you love beasts, right?"

"Yes. Dumb animals are more endearing than people who only ever hurt me."

"……."

This guy’s pretty deep in it too.

Anyway, the request is basically to gain new perspectives and inspiration, right?

"Then have you ever tried drawing a four-legged beast that walks on two legs?"

"……!?"