Murim Login - Chapter 481

‘Screeech, click.’

Closing the door behind him, Moon Kyung left the ferryman alone in the room and muttered to himself.

“This should suffice.”

The ferryman, despite his age, was sharper than expected.

Though he would now live under the watchful eye of the authorities, it was far better than ending up as a nameless corpse.

The deal with the governor of Hubei had already been sealed. As long as the ferryman kept his mouth shut, he would be allowed to quietly live out his remaining days.

Besides, even if he spoke, people around him would dismiss him as a crazy old man.

“With the compensation included, it’s not a bad deal for him either,” Moon Kyung thought, imagining the ferryman’s reaction upon discovering the pouch of coins left by the brazier.

The words of the one who had handed him the pouch lingered in his mind:

“Well, since he almost died for following us, we should at least give him hazard pay and compensation for workplace injuries.”

Hazard pay?

It was an odd term Moon Kyung had never heard before, but he wasn’t surprised—it was typical of Jin Taekyung.

A reckless, audacious young man, always doing things that left others baffled.

“He’s utterly incomprehensible,” Moon Kyung thought.

The events they had just endured solidified that impression further.

Recalling Jin Taekyung’s fearless, almost crazed demeanor in the face of a massive, monstrous beast, Moon Kyung frowned.

“Is it sheer courage? Perhaps, but… it felt like something more. As if he were a battle-hardened veteran.”

Had Jin Taekyung become accustomed to fighting the strange and supernatural forces of Dark Heaven?

Or was there some secret about him that no one else knew?

Moon Kyung pondered these questions as he walked through the clinic’s courtyard.

“Did you hear, Doctor Song? They’ve caught those scum!”

“Oh, now, now, what kind of language is that for an aspiring healer?”

In the bustling courtyard, a middle-aged doctor chided a young nurse, who couldn’t have been older than her early twenties, for her harsh words.

“Healers are still people, aren’t they? And those people deserved to die!”

“Ahem, mind your words. Even if you’re right, someone could overhear.”

“You’re only saying that because of him, aren’t you? It doesn’t matter; we’re far enough away that he can’t hear us anyway.”

Contrary to the young nurse’s confidence, Moon Kyung heard every word clearly.

The conversation between the doctor and the nurse continued, completely audible to him.

“What do you think, Doctor Song?”

“About what?”

“Oh, stop pretending. You know I’m talking about those black-hearted criminals hired by Dark Heaven who committed atrocities that make even the heavens angry.”

“What can someone like me, a mere doctor, say? I’m just grateful those villains have been caught and will focus on my duties.”

“But doesn’t it all seem strange? The sinking of the Hae Sa Bang ship at Red Cliffs, the massacre at Dongting Lake, and the deaths of the bandits near the Heavenly Ridge Falls—all blamed on the same group.”

“Strange? How so?”

“Well…” The nurse hesitated, glancing around before lowering her voice to a whisper.

It was a whisper that to Moon Kyung sounded as loud as thunder.

“My friend Hwang, you know her, right? She said her patient, a famous wanderer, scoffed at the idea. No matter how many black-hearted thugs there were, they couldn’t possibly match someone like the ‘Sword of the Yangtze’.”

“The Sword of the Yangtze?”

“That’s the title of the bandit chief who died in the incident. Supposedly, his martial prowess was so great that every martial artist knew his name.”

“And?”

“Well, according to the wanderer, the authorities rounded up the black-hearted thugs to cover something up.”

Moon Kyung smirked to himself, while the middle-aged doctor’s face grew rigid.

“Did you tell anyone else this story, Hyang?”

“No. I was just listening to her when you called me over.”

“And Hwang? Did she share it with anyone else?”

“Why are you asking all this, Doctor Song?”

“Answer me.”

The usually kind and approachable doctor pressed her firmly, causing the young nurse to stammer nervously.

“No, it was just the two of us. She only told me.”

“Good. That’s a relief.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No. It was just youthful recklessness on both your parts. But from now on, don’t speak of it again. Understood?”

“Y-yes.”

The older doctor patted her head gently, softening his tone.

“Those black-hearted scoundrels who committed such heinous crimes will be executed tomorrow at noon. Their heads and limbs will roll through the streets of Wuhan, painting them red with blood.”

“What?”

“It’s all thanks to His Majesty’s decree and the governor of Hubei, along with the heroic efforts of the renowned Jin Taekyung of the Taiyuan Jin Clan. He personally eradicated the villains. So, don’t get caught up in baseless rumors and instead praise those who brought justice.”

“Yes, yes…”

“No, not just that. Repeat after me: Long live His Majesty! A thousand years for the Governor! A thousand years for the great hero Jin Taekyung!”

“L-long live His Majesty…”

“Louder!”

Is this man insane?

Watching the middle-aged doctor with disbelief, Moon Kyung clicked his tongue internally.

If even a supposedly educated doctor was acting like this, the reactions of ordinary people were predictable.

‘They’ll praise the Emperor without a shred of doubt. It’s only been two days, so the full report on this incident hasn’t even reached the palace yet.’

Fabricated lies. Hidden truths. The world hasn’t changed, and likely never will.

Shaking his head lightly, Moon Kyung resumed walking.

Leaving the vast clinic of the Hubei Governor’s Office behind, he headed straight for a grand estate reserved for distinguished guests.

There, a master and his disciple were engaged in a rather… intense interaction.

“Say that again? What? ‘Jeok Cheon-Gang’ pooped himself?”

“Elder, please, calm down…”

“I’ll tie you down and poop on your face!”

“Whoa, is that your thing? Should I be worried?”

“You insolent brat…!”

“Dormammu, I’ve come to poop. Oh, sorry! It just slipped out instinctively.”

“I swear on my ancestors, I’ll shove dung into your mouth!”

“Aaaaaah, spare me!”

“Get over here this instant!”

‘Shhhhk! Swoooosh!’

As Moon Kyung watched the chaotic chase unfold, a thought crossed his mind:

‘Truly, what a dirty yet strangely close master-disciple relationship.’

—

Fortunately, Jeok Cheon-Gang didn’t end up pooping on me.

Of course, that didn’t mean things ended peacefully or painlessly.

‘Thwack!’

“Wait! My bones…!”

‘Boom!’

“Ow!”

Seriously? Using ‘Flame God Palm’ on a disciple—or someone who’s basically your disciple—is crossing the line!

Even though he clearly reduced the force, it was still overkill. My insides felt so hot I didn’t even need soup—one dose of that and I was completely warmed up.

“Ugh…”

Clutching my chest and groaning, I heard Jeok Cheon-Gang’s grim voice.

“Stop whining and get up.”

“I-is it over?”

“We’re just getting started. How dare you speak informally to your godlike master—”

“Master?”

“Ahem. I mean, your godlike elder!”

“…But my mom raised me, not you. Why are you acting like you deserve credit?”

“This insolent brat!”

Just as Jeok Cheon-Gang’s face turned red with rage, a lifeline appeared.

“That’s enough.”

A man entered the room without a sound. At Moon Kyung’s words, Jeok Cheon-Gang scowled.

“If you’re here, just watch quietly. Why are you interfering?”

“I stepped in because you were overdoing it. Got a problem with that?”

Wow. The charisma. No wonder his assassination targets didn’t stand a chance.

I looked at Moon Kyung with teary eyes, full of admiration.

“Oh, great Moon Kyung…”

“Look at this. He’s spouting nonsense again. Clearly, he still needs some sense beaten into him.”

As Jeok Cheon-Gang menacingly rolled up his sleeves, Moon Kyung shook his head.

“Enough. That’s excessive.”

“You’re starting to irritate me. Why do you keep meddling in someone else’s business?”

“Because it’s excessive. Besides, shouldn’t I get a turn too?”

“Oh, I’ll give you that.”

Crap. That’s what he meant?

The moment Jeok Cheon-Gang graciously stepped aside, a thin silver blade whipped through the air like a lash.

‘Swish! Slash!’

A chill ran down my spine as cool air seeped through the shredded fabric of my shirt.

Looking at my now perfectly split top, I swallowed hard.

‘What the hell…’

It was that close.

Standing there, my heart pounding, I met Moon Kyung’s gaze.

“You didn’t dodge.”

“There was no killing intent.”

“You still could’ve moved.”

“What’s the point? If I dodged, I’d just end up getting hit twice. Besides, you weren’t going to kill me, right?”

“You’re as strange as ever. It’s unsettling.”

Unsettling? His expression didn’t match his words, though.

Meanwhile, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s face made it clear he was downright annoyed.

“You dare swing a sword at my disciple?”

“Disciple?”

At Moon Kyung’s questioning look, Jeok Cheon-Gang quickly corrected himself.

“A brat who barely qualifies as my disciple?”

“And you, who beat him like a dog just moments ago, are complaining about this?”

“Beating him like a dog is ‘my’ prerogative! And fists are better than swords!”

I appreciated the sentiment, but somehow it still felt oddly sad.

As Moon Kyung furrowed his brows at Jeok Cheon-Gang’s contradictory statements, he sighed.

“Just standing here feels like it’s draining my energy. Enough. I didn’t come here for this nonsense.”

Before Jeok Cheon-Gang could retort, I quickly interjected.

“Were you just at the clinic?”

“Yes. I went to check on Dongting Elder’s condition and spoke with the ferryman.”

“How are they?”

“The ferryman has regained consciousness. He seems fine and coherent. As for Dongting Elder… not so good.”

I nodded grimly.

The ferryman had fainted before being fully exposed to the miasma.

But Dongting Elder was the opposite. My guess was that he had directly confronted the mutated Water Dragon in its lair and suffered significant exposure.

“It must be serious. Of course, it’s only natural that—”

“His injuries are severe.”

“What?”

“His limbs are crushed, and his internal damage is extensive. Being a supreme master and having the governor’s elixirs will help his recovery, but it’s clear the serpent got to him.”

“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

“…I forgot.”

I really had.

There had been plenty of chances over the past two days, but somehow, I just… forgot.

‘To be fair, I wasn’t exactly in the best state of mind.’

And that was for one reason alone.

‘Hong Ran.’

The mastermind behind it all.

She had corrupted the serpent that guarded the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake for centuries, causing countless deaths.

And yet, I hadn’t been able to find her.

‘Where the hell did she go?’

As I absentmindedly stared at the silver hairpin in my hand, my thoughts were interrupted.

‘Bang!’

The door slammed open as someone burst in, panting heavily.

Having run at full speed, Gong Gi-bang struggled to catch his breath as he spoke.

“Haah… haah… We’ve found traces of Hong Ran.”