Murim Login - Chapter 462

The old ferryman could hardly believe the reality unfolding before him.

‘What on earth is going on?’

In nearly forty years of working as a ferryman since his youth, he had never encountered anything as bizarre as this.

‘Papapapapapak!’

Two figures swiftly darted along the sheer cliff face. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen such a sight today, but it amazed him every time.

Staring blankly upward with his mouth agape, the ferryman thought to himself.

‘Are those monkeys or humans?’

He had encountered countless martial artists during his years as a ferryman, but witnessing such astounding skills firsthand was a first for him.

The martial artists who typically used his ferry were mostly vagabonds with mediocre skills and shallow pockets, or disciples of minor sects.

‘When the soldiers barged in, demanding that I follow them, I had a hunch…’

He had seen it clearly. Officer Kwak, who was responsible for Dongting Lake and normally arrogant to no end, had been bowing and speaking respectfully. Comparing his usual demeanor to this groveling behavior made it clear that today’s passengers were undoubtedly high-ranking figures in the martial world.

‘Maybe this is my chance to make a fortune?’

Lately, the old ferryman had been contemplating retirement. Hearing about the unending string of atrocities over the past month left a lingering unease in his heart, and his aging body ached more than ever.

The news from the previous night—that hundreds had been slaughtered on Dongting Lake—had nearly solidified his decision.

‘The spirit of Dongting Lake must be enraged. With the heavens in turmoil, wicked ghosts like the Hidden Shadow Ghost are bound to run amok.’

Fishermen were famously superstitious, and old folks like him tended to retell old legends as if they were fact. For someone who had lived his whole life on the water and was now elderly, deciding to retire seemed only natural.

But when esteemed guests make a request, there’s little one can do. When he was dragged out like a criminal to set sail, he had braced himself for death… but now—

‘Papapapapapak!’

Watching the scene before him, hope began to rise within him.

Not only might he survive this ordeal, but he might even make enough money to retire comfortably.

‘They must be incredibly skilled martial artists!’

It was said that martial artists of high caliber could traverse the earth in great leaps and even walk on air.

What these people were displaying wasn’t far from the rumors the old ferryman had overheard in his lifetime.

Even the young man who seemed to be the leader of the group moved through the tumultuous waters of the river as if he were a fish.

‘No, considering this is the fourth time today, he isn’t just ‘like’ a fish—he ‘is’ one.’

What kind of person could dive into the water and remain submerged for an entire hour at a time?

Having repeated this seemingly impossible feat three times already, it was fitting to call these people true martial arts masters.

‘With experts of this level, lowly ghosts like the Hidden Shadow Ghost will be dealt with in no time.’

If he could just survive, he might walk away with enough wealth to retire in peace.

Just as the old ferryman was lost in hopeful thoughts, a voice called out from atop the cliff.

“Cheongpung! Do you see anything?”

“I’ll tell you once I spot something!”

“If you find anything, let us know immediately!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll—oh!”

“What is it? What happened?”

A heavy tension fell over the group.

On the ferry, Hyeok Mu-jin, who was cautiously scanning the surroundings, and Gong Gi-bang, who was observing from the opposite cliff, both held their breath.

Amidst everyone’s gaze, Cheongpung shouted out.

“Wow, it’s a swallow’s nest! I’ve never seen one this big before!”

The air grew cold and still. The ferryman found himself thinking.

‘Spirit of Dongting Lake, please protect me.’

Seeing this absurd sight, even the faint hope he had been clinging to began to crumble.

While the old ferryman was silently praying to the lake spirit, it happened.

‘Splash!’ ‘Thud!’

A shadow emerged from the spray and landed lightly on the ferry.

The figure’s build was massive enough to be described as a giant, with muscles that looked both supple and strong, like tempered steel. His disheveled hair was held in place by an elegant silver hairpin, which somehow suited him perfectly.

“You’re back.”

Hyeok Mu-jin greeted him, and Jin Taekyung gave a silent nod. His furrowed brows prompted the ferryman to ask cautiously.

“Was it the same this time?”

It was a pointless question, really. If they had found anything, his expression wouldn’t be so grim.

After a moment of contemplation, Jin Taekyung spoke.

“This is the fourth time. Correct?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

The ferryman answered nervously, unable to meet his eyes.

These remarkable guests had now searched four locations without success. Being stuck on the same boat with such grim martial artists wasn’t exactly comforting for the ferryman.

One small blessing—or perhaps a curse—was that only one location remained.

‘Whoosh!’ ‘Sizzle!’

Using his internal energy, Jin Taekyung evaporated the water from his clothes and asked, “How long will it take to reach the last spot?”

“If we continue as we have, about half an hour should suffice. But…”

The old ferryman swallowed hard before continuing.

“The winds and currents are getting stronger. By the time we arrive, it will likely be getting dark. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until tomorrow?”

“That’s not an option. It has to be today.”

“But, considering the conditions…”

“We’re going. Right now.”

His voice was sharp and decisive, cutting through the conversation like a blade. The ferryman closed his mouth.

For some reason, the weather today felt ominously bad. The sky, which should have been clear, was instead covered with dark clouds, and the strong winds and currents showed no signs of subsiding.

‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this.’

The ominous sensation the old ferryman felt was akin to the dread he’d experienced in the past during floods and storms. The foreboding pricked at his experienced body.

But the ferryman deliberately pushed aside the unease creeping into his chest.

‘Am I turning into a coward in my old age? That can’t be it.’

Floods or storms out of nowhere? Impossible.

Among those most attuned to changes in the river were ferrymen like him. Though the currents had been unusually rough over the past month, it wasn’t the rainy season, so such disasters seemed implausible.

While contemplating this, the ferryman suddenly realized that a large hand had been placed on his shoulder.

“Ferryman. Aren’t we going?”

“…I’m going.”

The ferryman slowly turned the boat, muttering curses in his mind about the one who seemed the weakest but was the most unreasonable.

“Ferryman. Are you cursing me in your head?”

The ferryman’s oar slipped, causing the boat to wobble.

As the rough current tugged at the small vessel even more than when they first departed, Jin Taekyung stepped forward and released a burst of energy, stabilizing the boat.

‘Boom!’

The ferry regained its balance and sped forward. Jin Taekyung gazed at the sky, now darkening, his expression heavy.

‘Was the lead wrong?’

The information provided by Hong Ran and the Hao Clan pointed to five possible locations. Yet, after thoroughly searching both above and below the water, no trace of the “Hidden Refuge of Dongting Lake Hermit” could be found.

Having come up empty repeatedly, it was natural to question whether the information had been flawed from the start.

Jin Taekyung shook his head after a moment of contemplation.

‘No, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.’

One location remained—a place deeper and more treacherous than the other four combined. It could very well be the most crucial of all.

If it truly turned out to be the hermit’s hidden refuge and they encountered him there…

‘It’ll be a battle of life and death.’

Giving one’s best effort against a martial master of the highest caliber was expected, but capturing him alive without killing him was imperative.

The real objective in finding Dongting Lake Hermit was to aim for the larger target.

Dark Heaven was like a monstrous creature with three heads and six arms. Killing the hermit would be akin to severing one arm, but capturing him alive would allow them to strike the body itself.

“The body… the body…”

He murmured softly, his words scattering into the wind.

Absentmindedly, Jin Taekyung brushed his fingers against the silver hairpin that secured his hair. Memories of a certain someone flickered in his mind—images of the hundreds of corpses that once filled the pristine waters of Dongting Lake, and the anguished cries of those left behind.

“I’ll get you. Every last one of you bastards.”

The subtle fragrance of the silver hairpin lingered at the tip of his nose as the boat sliced through the darkened waters.

—

Dongting Ford.

Once commanded by Huang Chong, a remarkable martial artist of the highest caliber, it was the largest water stronghold in Hubei Province and held immense influence along the Yangtze River. Now, it bustled with unfamiliar faces who had arrived two days prior.

“One, two, pull!”

A group of people tied logs together to create a temporary bridge across the river. Meanwhile, middle-aged scholars in neat robes wrote diligently on bamboo slips at various points.

A young Taoist in martial attire approached one of them and asked politely, “Excuse me, sir. Has the search on the left cliff been completed?”

“We’ve covered about half. So far, I can swear on my family name that we’ve found no traces of any formations. How about the Wudang Sect?”

“It’s progressing smoothly. We’re maintaining strict vigilance for any unforeseen circumstances, so you needn’t worry.”

These men belonged to the Zhuge Clan, renowned for their strategic acumen and known as the “Ingenious Zhuge.” They had joined forces with the Taoists of the Wudang Sect under the guidance of Xuan Kong Jin.

The strangers who had been absent just two days ago now scoured the cliffs in groups, pouring all their efforts into finding traces of Dark Heaven.

Despite the numerous watchful eyes and the brightly burning torches, there was one presence they failed to notice.

‘Swish.’

A silent, undetectable movement.

A small, nimble figure moved stealthily toward the cliff. Even while passing dozens of people, no one perceived his presence.

The Ghostly Phantom Kill Steps, a technique executed by none other than Moon Kyung, the greatest assassin of the era, left no trace.

‘What a nuisance.’

Moon Kyung muttered inwardly as he moved forward. Leaping lightly, he soared like a bird, swiftly traversing the cliffs.

The silent search of the inconspicuous young physician didn’t take long to complete.

‘Nothing. It’s certain.’

The area where Dongting Ford’s base was established was enormous—a large island capable of accommodating over a thousand people. It was surrounded by towering cliffs, with only a narrow, undeveloped path above.

But that was all there was to it.

There were no traces of human activity or remnants of the teleportation formations known as moving arrays.

A conclusion reached after two days of searching by a martial master who had transcended mortal limits and achieved a state of near immortality.

Moon Kyung trusted his judgment but also realized there was still one place left to investigate.

Yes, there was still one location.

The river below the cliff was exceptionally wide and deep.

A place so uninviting that no one would willingly venture into it.

‘…No other choice, huh.’

If it could prevent greater sacrifices, it was worth the effort.

The face of an old disciple, whom he had last seen near an unnamed hill overlooking the Sichuan Tang Clan, flashed before his eyes.

‘I understand, you stubborn fool.’

Moon Kyung silently dove into the air.

His body slid effortlessly into the depths of the river, moving smoothly toward the abyss below.