Murim Login - Chapter 481

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

Chapter 481
Squeak, thud.
Moon-kyung closed the door, leaving the Old Boatman alone, and inwardly congratulated himself.
‘This should be sufficient.’
The Old Boatman, having lived through many years, proved far more perceptive than Moon-kyung had anticipated.
Though he would have to live under the watchful eye of the provincial authorities, it was infinitely better than being discovered as a corpse without anyone knowing.
The transaction with the Hubei Provincial Governor was already concluded. If he simply kept his mouth sealed, he could spend his remaining years in peace.
Besides, if he dared speak carelessly, everyone around him would surely treat him as a mad old fool.
‘From now on, he won’t have to worry about money either. It’s quite a favorable arrangement for that fellow.’
Moon-kyung suddenly wondered what expression the Old Boatman would make when he discovered the money pouch left beside the brazier.
And the words of that someone who had asked him to deliver the pouch.
‘After all, he came along and nearly died. I should at least provide hazard pay and workers’ compensation.’
Workers’ compensation?
It was a bizarre term Moon-kyung had never heard before, but thinking about it again, Jin Tae-kyung was always like that.
A youth so green he was practically yellow. And a fellow who never ceased to astound.
‘Utterly incomprehensible.’
There was no end to listing his peculiarities, but having experienced this ordeal, Moon-kyung’s conviction only deepened.
Moon-kyung’s brow furrowed as he recalled Jin Tae-kyung’s figure before that colossal monster—not intimidated in the slightest, but rather raging with even greater ferocity.
‘Natural courage? Perhaps. But something else… yes, he seemed familiar with it. Like a seasoned veteran worn smooth by countless battles.’
Had he grown accustomed to such bizarre creatures called prodigies of strange power through his dealings with Dark Heaven?
Or did Jin Tae-kyung harbor a secret unknown to anyone?
It was at that moment Moon-kyung was lost in thought, moving along his path.
“Physician Song, I hear those wretches have been captured?”
“Ahem, wretches indeed. Hyang, how can you speak so roughly as a physician’s apprentice…”
In the courtyard of the Medical Hall where many people passed, a middle-aged physician of considerable years spoke to a young woman who barely seemed to have reached her twenties, and the apprentice pouted her lips.
“Aren’t apprentices people too? And those fellows deserve to die.”
“Ahem, mind your words. True as it may be, I fear who might hear.”
“You’re worried because of that person, aren’t you? What does it matter? They’re so far away they couldn’t possibly hear anyway.”
Of course, contrary to the apprentice’s carefree thoughts, Moon-kyung was taking in every sound and movement occurring around him without exception.
The ensuing conversation between the two was no different.
“Physician Song, what do you think?”
“Think about what?”
“Come now, don’t pretend not to know. What else could it be but those Black Path villains from the Martial World who acted under Dark Heaven’s orders in deeds worthy of universal condemnation?”
“What could a mere physician like myself possibly say? I’m simply grateful that these villains have finally been captured, and I’ll merely attend to my duties.”
“But isn’t it strange? The ship of the Hae-sa Bang that sank at Red Cliff, the tragedy at Dongting Lake, and the deaths entangled with the Water Thieves beyond Tianling Waterfall—all supposedly committed by those fellows.”
“Strange, you say? What do you mean?”
“Well, that’s just it. Um. You know Physician Hwang, right?”
“Do you mean the Physician Hwang I know?”
“Yes. She told me something. Um.”
The apprentice, pausing mid-sentence, turned her head to glance around before rising on her tiptoes and whispering.
To Moon-kyung’s ears, however, it sounded as loud as thunder.
“The patient he’s currently treating is apparently quite a famous rogue, and when he heard this story, he let out a scoff. He said no matter how many Black Path thugs there are, they couldn’t possibly match the Long River Blade Sect.”
“The Long River Blade Sect?”
“It’s the alias—or rather, the name—of the Water Thieves leader who met with misfortune this time. I’m told his martial prowess is so formidable that there’s hardly anyone in the Murim who doesn’t know of him.”
“…And then?”
“According to that rogue, the reason the authorities rounded up so many Black Path members this time was to conceal something.”
Moon-kyung felt an inward smile slip out, while the middle-aged physician’s face hardened like stone.
“Hyang, did you speak of this matter to anyone besides me?”
“No, sir. I had just heard it when Physician Song called for me, so I came right away.”
“What of Physician Hwang? Did anyone else besides you hear this story?”
“Why are you suddenly asking this, Physician Song?”
“Answer me.”
When the kind-looking middle-aged physician hardened his expression and pressed the question, the young physician assistant answered in a trembling voice.
“It was just between the two of us. Sister Hwang was the first to tell me about it.”
“Phew. Well, that’s a relief at least.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No. Neither Physician Hwang nor you are at fault—you’re both still young and spoke carelessly, that’s all. However, it would be best if you refrained from discussing this matter going forward. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Hyang.”
The middle-aged physician gently stroked the thoroughly intimidated assistant’s head and continued with affection.
“Those wretched Black Path dogs who committed acts worthy of universal condemnation will face beheading and quartering at noon tomorrow. The streets of Wuhan will be littered with their severed limbs and blood.”
“What?”
“This is all thanks to the City Lord acting under the gracious command of the Emperor himself, and thanks to the renowned hero of the Taewon Jin Family, Jin Tae-kyung, who personally eliminated the villains. So you should simply praise those esteemed individuals and not be swayed by rumors.”
“Yes, yes sir.”
“No, not like that. Repeat after me. Long live the Emperor! Long live the City Lord! Long live the great hero Jin Tae-kyung!”
“L-long live the Emperor….”
“Louder!”
Is this man insane?
Moon-kyung, watching the middle-aged physician with bewildered eyes, inwardly clicked his tongue.
If even a physician—someone who could be called educated—was like this, the reactions of ordinary commoners were hardly worth considering.
‘They’ll praise the Emperor without a shred of doubt. Only two days have passed, so reports of this incident likely haven’t even reached the Imperial Palace yet.’
Fabricated lies. Hidden truths. Indeed, the world never changes.
Moon-kyung gave a slight shake of his head and moved forward once more.
Having completely left the Medical Hall belonging to the vast Hubei Provincial Capital, he headed straight for a grand manor house—the kind reserved for distinguished guests among the numerous pavilions.
And there, a master and disciple displayed their deep and abiding affection for one another.
“Say it again—what? The Red Sky River? Are you talking shit?”
“Old Master Noya, please calm yourself….”
“I’ll fix your limbs in place and shit on your face.”
“Uh, uh. Could that be your preference?”
“You bastard….”
“Dormammu, I came to take a shit. Ah, my apologies. Just instinct, nothing more.”
“By the oath I swear to the ancestors of the Main Sect, I shall stuff excrement into that foul mouth of yours!”
“Aaaah, please spare me!”
“Get over here this instant!”
Whoooosh! Kyaaaaaaah!
“….”
Moon-kyung, watching the fierce pursuit unfold, found himself thinking.
What a sticky, filthy master-disciple relationship this was.
* * *
By sheer grace of fortune, Jeok Cheon-gang did not end up defecating into my mouth.
Of course, that hardly meant everything concluded peacefully and without incident.
Crack!
“Ah, wait a moment. I think I broke a rib….”
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Damn it, the Flame Divine Technique was crossing the line, wasn’t it?
He had at least shown some conscience as a human and drastically reduced its power, but even so—using the Flame Divine Technique against a disciple, or rather against someone who was practically my disciple?
‘My insides are completely scorched.’
I didn’t need soup. One serving of the Flame Divine Technique had left my belly thoroughly warm and satisfied.
“Ugh, ah.”
As I clutched my chest and groaned, Jeok Cheon-gang spoke in an ominous voice.
“Stop your whining and get up.”
“Huff, is it over?”
“Not by a long shot. How dare you speak casually to a master as lofty as heaven….”
“Master?”
“Ahem. Speaking informally to one even loftier than a heavenly master—did you think I raised you for such disrespect!”
“…It was my mother who raised me, so why are you taking credit, Old Master Noya?”
“You impudent brat!”
Just as Jeok Cheon-gang was about to ignite his fury, a rope of salvation descended.
“That’s enough.”
A single figure entered without a sound. At Moon-kyung’s words, Jeok Cheon-gang’s brow furrowed.
“If you’re going to watch, watch quietly. Why are you butting in?”
“I was watching, but it seemed excessive, so I stepped in. Any problem with that?”
My god, such overwhelming charisma. No wonder his targets during his Assassin days all ended up dead.
I gazed at Moon-kyung with eyes brimming with admiration.
“Oh, what a magnificent being you are….”
“Look at this fool spouting nonsense again. It seems you’ll need quite a bit more beating before you come to your senses.”
Toward Jeok Cheon-gang, who was ominously rolling up his sleeves, Moon-kyung shook his head.
“Stop it. You’re overdoing it.”
“This has been irritating me for a while now. Why do you keep meddling in other people’s affairs….”
“No matter how I think about it, that’s excessive. Shouldn’t I have my share as well?”
“Ah, I’ll grant you that point.”
“….”
Damn it. So that’s what he meant.
The moment Jeok Cheon-gang graciously stepped back, yielding his turn to the next combatant, a brilliant silver line whipped through the air like a lash.
Whoosh, slash!
My spine went cold, and a cool breeze seeped through the gap where my upper garment had been severed.
I watched my robe split cleanly into two halves, left and right, and swallowed hard.
‘Insane.’
A difference of mere inches.
Moon-kyung stared at me as I stood there, my heart pounding wildly.
“You didn’t dodge.”
“I didn’t sense any killing intent.”
“You could have dodged anyway.”
“What’s the point? I’d just end up taking two hits instead of one. Besides, you had no intention of killing me anyway, right?”
“You really are strange. Irritatingly so.”
Well, for someone who claims to be irritated, his expression is rather ambiguous.
Jeok Cheon-gang’s expression, on the other hand, clearly showed displeasure.
“How dare you draw a blade against the master’s disciple?”
“Disciple?”
At Moon-kyung’s question, Jeok Cheon-gang quickly corrected himself.
“How dare you draw a blade against someone who doesn’t even deserve to be called a disciple?”
“Coming from someone who was just beating me like a dog while using martial techniques?”
“Whether I beat you like a dog or roll you like cattle, only I am permitted to do so! And use your fists instead! Not a blade!”
“….”
I appreciate that he’s thinking of me, but somehow this feels oddly sad.
Moon-kyung’s brow furrowed as he listened to Jeok Cheon-gang’s contradictory words.
“Simply standing here, I feel my innate qi draining away. Enough. This is not why I came for such an exchange.”
I quickly spoke before Jeok Cheon-gang could respond.
“Were you returning from the Medical Hall?”
“Yes. I checked on the Dongjeong Fisherman Elder’s condition and met with the Boatman as well.”
“How are both of them?”
“The Boatman has regained consciousness. No unusual symptoms, and his mind is clear. As for the Dongjeong Fisherman Elder… it’s not good.”
I nodded gravely.
The Boatman lost consciousness from a pressure point strike before being properly exposed to the miasma.
But the Dongjeong Fisherman Elder is the opposite. This is speculation, but he clearly encountered the mutated Water Dragon at the Dongting Pavilion and was severely exposed to the miasma.
“It seems quite serious. Well, it’s natural that he’s not in his right mind….”
“His injuries are severe.”
“Pardon?”
“His limbs are crushed, and his internal injuries are considerable. Though he’s a supreme master with elixirs provided by the Hubei Provincial Governor, allowing for rapid recovery, it’s clear he took a direct hit from that serpent.”
“….”
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. It’s nothing.”
I must have forgotten to mention it.
Truly, I had genuinely forgotten.
Over the past two days, there had been countless opportunities to speak of it, but I had simply let it slip my mind.
‘My thoughts have been scattered, after all.’
Of course, the reason was singular—tracking down one person.
Hong Ran. The source of all these calamities.
The one who had corrupted the Water Dragon that had protected the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake for five hundred years, bringing forth countless sacrifices.
And the woman I had ultimately failed to find.
‘Where on earth could she have fled to?’
I was lost in thought, gazing at the silver hairpin I had unconsciously drawn, when it happened.
Crash!
The main gate burst open as a figure rushed into the hall.
Gung Ki-bang, breathing heavily from having exerted his full speed with his movement technique, opened his mouth.
“Huff. Huff. I’ve found, a trace of Hong Ran.”
“…!”

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