Murim Login - Chapter 448

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 448
A single step erases the distance of several zhang, empty air becomes solid ground beneath my feet, and a single palm strike crumbles a cliff.
Such miracles—feats that belong only to ancient legends and folklore—are made possible by supreme masters. And yet….
“Hold tight, ahhhhhhh!”
Crash!
This was not solid ground, but the heart of the Yangtze River—as vast and treacherous as the open sea.
Before a colossal whirlpool spanning hundreds of zhang in radius, the Fast Ship carrying me was nothing more than a fragile leaf.
Boom!
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Screeeeeech!”
Tremendous water pressure lashed against the Fast Ship’s hull, and the vessel that had been cutting swiftly through the waters suddenly lurched upward, tilting wildly in the air.
As the world slowly inverted around me, Jin Wi-kyung—gripping my upper body as though I were a life preserver—let out a desperate cry.
“Mother! I’m coming to you now, ahhhhhhh!”
“Where are you going?! Let go!”
“Father! If you’re watching, tell me the answer, please, ahhhhhh!”
The answer? Damn it, there is no answer.
But the greater problem was that not only Jin Wi-kyung, but also Gung Ki-bang and Hyuk Moo-jin, along with disciples of the Jeongal Family and Wudang Sect, had all but lost their minds.
The only ones still maintaining composure were the supreme masters—myself included.
“Ugh! Ughhhhhhhh! Water! Waaater!”
….
Correction. One exception.
I gripped Jeok Cheon-gang, who was screaming at the top of his lungs with his eyes squeezed shut, while stretching my remaining hand as far as I could into the empty air.
‘Flame Divine Palm!’
Boom!
Compressed air explodes outward from the surge of powerful inner force.
Part of the whirlpool that had been slashing like a blade scatters, and the hull that had been plummeting toward the water surface barely regains its balance.
But relief came far too early.
A second and third whirlpool were already bearing down on the falling Fast Ship.
‘I alone am not enough. In a moment like this….’
As the thought flashed through my mind like lightning, I called out a name at the top of my voice.
“Chung Poong!”
“Yes!”
Chung Poong nodded as if he understood everything, and raised both arms high.
“Kiyah-hou!”
“No, not kiyah-hou, you madman! Do it the way I showed you!”
“Ah. Yes, benefactor!”
Chung Poong, who had been enjoying his own solo performance, shook out both sleeves.
The Huashan Sect’s pride—the Primordial Confusion Palm—transformed into dozens of flower petals and lashed across the empty air.
Boom!
While it could not match the destructive power of the Flame Divine Palm, in a situation like this, the Primordial Confusion Palm’s far wider striking range made it the perfect choice.
As the Tianling Waterfall, which had been sweeping down like a blade, began to falter, the disciples of the Jeongal Family and the Wudang Sect seemed to regain their senses, which had momentarily scattered.
“Ahahaha! The tiger is raging! Disciples of the Main Residence, unfold the Great Celestial Star Divine Palm!”
Je-gal Poong, the Reclining Dragon Guest who had issued the command, waved the crane feather fan he held in his hand.
Though he had yet to transcend the wall, in the art of fan technique alone, he stood shoulder to shoulder with masters of supreme excellence.
Kwaaaaa!
The gentle breeze that began along the ribs of the crane feather fan transformed into a powerful gust, blocking the vortex.
And just as the water surged upward like a triangular wave, towering high as if to swallow the Fast Ship, the torrent was blocked by the wind and could not advance.
Shwik!
A single flash of light erupted from Xuangong Zhenren’s waist, cutting through the empty air.
The Taiji Wisdom Sword.
As the flash that pierced through everything carved through space and severed the wind, the water barrier raised by the Tianling Waterfall seemed to snap for a moment before crumbling to pieces.
Chwoooaaaack!
Water spray scattering in all directions.
Red Sky River, drenched in an enormous amount of cold water, opened his eyes wide like a person awakening from sleep.
And with eyes pouring forth flames, he glared at the vortex and declared sharply:
“These damp, foul-smelling, filthy things!”
“….”
Well, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but why did it sound so pathetic?
However, contrary to my thoughts, the inner force that burst forth from Red Sky River’s sleeves was formidable beyond measure.
“Vanish, all of you!”
Whoosh, kwaaaaa!
Dozens upon dozens of streams of flame poured forth at once.
The moisture that filled the surroundings evaporated, and with tremendous repulsive force, the Fast Ship shot forward like an arrow.
“Kyaaahooo!”
“Chung Poong, you madman!”
“Oh. My apologies, benefactor!”
Puffbububung!
The tension bursting forth ceaselessly to protect the ship, and the Tianling Waterfall seeking to sink the uninvited intruders.
Moo-song, grinding his teeth until blood seeped out, strained the veins in his neck.
“Port side, turn simultaneously!”
“Uaaaaaaah!”
Pang!
In this chaotic situation, the fact that the young physician’s apprentice, who had been screaming perceptively among the crowd, fired a crossbow bolt without anyone knowing—that was a secret known only to me, Red Sky River, and Chung Poong.
“One, two!”
“Now! Row with every ounce of strength, even the strength you had as a babe!”
Chwoooaaaack!
Effort never betrays results.
Thus, the four Fast Ships carrying hundreds of passengers pushed through the vortex, moving forward, ever forward.
* * *
The moment they passed through the Tianling Waterfall, the exhausted passengers sprawled across various parts of the ship without regard for dignity.
But there are always exceptions to every rule.
Fire King Red Sky River, who had been gazing at the Yangtze River’s waters that had deceptively calmed despite his reddened eyes, suddenly opened his mouth.
“As the current Sect Leader of the Yeolhwa Sect, I declare that as of tomorrow at this hour, the Main Sect’s public enemy is the Jeongal Family.”
“….”
“Every last one of those bastards bearing the Jeongal name shall be captured and thrown into that cursed Tianling Waterfall. Does anyone object?”
“What if we do?”
“Then you’ll be thrown in alongside them.”
“Ah, in that case, we have no objections whatsoever.”
“Good. Immediately seize those two wretched dogs and bring them before me.”
At the end of Fire King Red Sky River’s blazing gaze, dozens of zhang behind, a single Fast Ship followed, and Je-gal Poong sat at the bow waving a feather fan.
“Haha, Senior! Please calm your anger!”
“…You’re laughing?”
Even I wanted to kill him.
It would be easier to collapse a cliff than to imagine being sucked into a whirlpool in the vast middle of the Yangtze River with nowhere to escape.
They speak carelessly of Void Treading and Water-Lily Crossing, but the consumption of inner force is extreme, and rescuing hundreds of people is nothing but a dream.
‘This isn’t even the sea, yet the river has all these things.’
The name Tianling Waterfall was not given without reason.
Had the current been merely somewhat fierce, the Jeongal Family and Wudang Sect would have already stormed the Dongjeong Channel long ago.
And even as we spoke, Fire King Red Sky River’s rage was hurtling toward its climax.
“Turn the ship around immediately. Whether it’s Je-gal Poong or Sleeping Dragon Guest, I shall break that bastard’s legs today and have him bedridden for life!”
“Please calm yourself, calm yourself.”
“Do I look calm to you now! I already hate water, and coming to this wretched place has brought me such suffering! That fool who claims to have come here several times can’t even navigate a single water channel! Aren’t we more like ferrrymen to the underworld than Water Thieves!”
At the sight of Fire King Red Sky River raging wildly, Moo-song, who had been sprawled out, startled and rose to his feet.
“P-please compose yourself, Great Hero. I never dreamed the Tianling Waterfall was this severe.”
“You’ve been here several times and didn’t know? If you don’t know, does your life as a Water Thief end here? Shall I end your entire existence right here?”
“That’s not it—the currents of Tianling Waterfall have become abnormally strong compared to before….”
“Become strong? What nonsense is this? There’s been barely any rain this year, and you dare try to deceive me with such transparent lies?”
“I speak the truth! How could I dare lie to the Fire King!”
Hmm. Moo-song’s words had merit. Who would dare tell lies to Fire King Red Sky River?
If caught fabricating excuses, it wouldn’t end with just losing your hands. Your entire body would be perfectly suited for medium-rare roasting.
‘But if rainfall was low, how could the current become that strong?’
Forget it. I’m neither a meteorologist nor an ecosystem researcher, so thinking about it won’t yield answers.
Clicking my tongue softly, I opened my mouth toward Fire King Red Sky River, who continued to berate Moo-song relentlessly.
“Old Master Noya.”
“Do well on the return journey. If I experience the same situation as before again, then I shall storm the Yangtze River Water Bandit Alliance’s headquarters, set all ships ablaze, and throw that Sea King bastard into the Tianling Waterfall along with those Jeongal Family dogs… What? We’ll talk later.”
“That’s not it—it seems we’ve already arrived.”
“What!”
Thud-thud-thud!
A speed like lightning across flint.
Abandoning Moo-song, Fire King Red Sky River crossed the Fast Ship’s hull in a single stride and fixed his wide eyes on the waters ahead.
And soon, an exclamation filled with emotion flowed from his lips.
“Oh, ohhh!”
Anyone observing would have thought he’d discovered a treasure island, but what revealed itself beyond the thick mist was merely an island.
It was neither as small as the scattered islands dotting the Han River in South Korea, nor was it an uninhabited wilderness devoid of human presence.
“That thing visible over there—could it be….”
At Hyuk Moo-jin’s murmur with narrowed eyes, Gung Ki-bang beside him nodded.
“A ferry dock. It seems we’ve found our way correctly.”
The existence of a ferry dock where boats could be moored meant, in other words, that this was an island where people lived or one frequently visited as a waypoint.
And the identity of those who had established a residence here, beyond that mad Tianling Waterfall, was already known to everyone present.
“Wow, Dongjeong Channel!”
As Chung Poong’s cry shattered the silence of the Yangtze River and echoed into the distance, Jin Wi-kyung opened his mouth with a rigid expression.
“By now, Dongjeong Channel must be aware of our arrival. It would be wise to prepare for any unforeseen contingencies.”
“…!”
No one present was ignorant of what such contingencies might entail.
If Dongjeong Channel were indeed the culprit behind the two incidents that had occurred over the past fortnight, as all evidence thus far suggested… then a violent confrontation could occur in accordance with Murim law.
“Alliance Leader. We have not come to this place to shed blood. I trust you understand the meaning of my words.”
Moo-song, who had remained silent with his mouth closed, responded while fixing his gaze upon Jin Wi-kyung.
“The reason I and my subordinates have taken the lead in coming here is to prove the innocence of our alliance brothers. If you were to persecute us without even hearing the full circumstances….”
“I assure you, such a thing will not occur. This has already been guaranteed by Wudang and the Jeongal Family, and everyone present, myself included, shall serve as witnesses.”
Moo-song, who had been hesitating, gave a small nod.
“…I shall trust you.”
Perhaps among all those present, he was the one most desperate to prevent bloodshed.
No matter how exceptional the Water Thieves of Dongjeong Channel were, and no matter how formidable Huang Chong, the Long River Blade Master who led them, might be, they could not withstand our current military strength.
Even if an incomprehensibly unlikely catastrophe were to occur—one in a million chance—and everyone present were to sink into the Yangtze River, the entire martial world would then rise against them. Should the Nine Major Sects and One Alliance unite their forces, the Yangtze River Water Bandit Alliance would vanish without a trace.
“Raise the flags high and signal our arrival.”
The Water Thieves of Water Dragon Stronghold immediately carried out their leader’s command.
Soon the banner of the Yangtze River Water Bandit Alliance fluttered above the four fast ships, and seven low drum beats echoed beyond the mist.
And… nothing happened.
The Yangtze River, the mist, the quietly flowing waters—all remained unchanged.
The only things that changed were Jin Wi-kyung’s bewilderment and the wavering of Moo-song’s eyes.
“Alliance Leader. What is the matter?”
“I’m not entirely certain myself. We clearly sent a signal, so a response should have returned….”
At that very moment.
“It seems that will be difficult.”
At the sudden voice of someone, people turned their heads.
Where countless gazes converged, the young physician whom no one had paid attention to until now spoke in a clear and composed voice.
“It appears something has gone wrong.”
“What do you mean…!”
Moo-song’s cry could not continue.
Where the young physician Moon-kyung pointed with his finger, something hidden by mist and seaweed rose into view.
It was a corpse.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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