Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 201 - Water Ghost (2)

Chapter 201 – Water Ghost (2)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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-Swaaaaaaa! The rain was still as fierce as ever. The name of the village by the river was Xiaohe Village. Though it was called a village, because it had a ferry crossing, it was quite a large settlement for the surrounding area, with about one hundred and fifty boatmen and fishermen gathered there. Because the village itself operated the ferry, it lay directly adjacent to the river.

“If the river swells any more, a few houses are going to be swept away.” On the road to the village, Seop Chun clicked his tongue as he said this. Just as he said, they had piled up earthen embankments to block the water, but looking at the waves slamming against them, it would have been no surprise if they collapsed at any moment. Unlike Seop Chun, who looked on in concern, Mok Gyeong-un and Mong Mu-yak had no interest at all. In Mong Mu-yak’s mind there was nothing beyond finding the owner of the big boat, and as long as something had nothing to do with him, Mok Gyeong-un had no interest in other people’s affairs. There was, however, one thing that caught Mok Gyeong-un’s attention.

‘Hm.’ It was an old white-haired man wearing a bamboo rain cape and sitting on one side of the unstable embankment. He had looked over because of a vague sense of oddness, and now he felt puzzled. The embankment looked as though it might give way at any moment because of the violent downpour and the fierce current, so what in the world was that old man doing there? Looking more closely, he saw a curved bamboo rod before him. Seeing that, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

‘Fishing?’ Was he seriously fishing in this kind of torrential rain? It was impossible to understand. After a moment of puzzlement, Mok Gyeong-un tried to dismiss the matter and continue toward the village. But just as he was about to move on, he suddenly stopped.

‘…What?’ He had been about to pass by without thinking much of it, but something felt off. No matter how violent the rain was, Mok Gyeong-un was more sensitive to qi than anyone. And yet just now he had not felt the slightest trace of presence from that old man. It was as though the man had blended into the surrounding objects.

-Slide. Mok Gyeong-un turned his head and looked toward the embankment again. But then,

‘!?’ The old man who had been there just moments ago had vanished. He looked around to be sure, but the old man’s form was nowhere to be found, as though he had never been there in the first place. Finding it strange, Mok Gyeong-un asked through voice transmission,

-Blue Spirit. Did you see that old man just now?

-Old man? What old man are you talking about?

-The old man sitting on that embankment, fishing or something like that.

-An old man fishing? What kind of fishing could anyone possibly be doing in weather like this?

-……

-Did you see something?

-…No. I suppose I imagined it. Even Blue Spirit, whose vision was open to the surroundings, had not seen him. Had he truly been seeing things?

“My lord?” Seop Chun, puzzled by the way Mok Gyeong-un had stopped, called out to him.

“What is wrong?”

“It is nothing.” With those words, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and resumed his steps. Thus the three passed the village marker inscribed Xiaohe Village and entered the settlement.

-Swaaaaaaa! Because the rain was so violent and evening had already turned dark, there was no one in the streets. Mong Mu-yak looked around and said,

“If someone owns a ship of that size, then he is likely one of the wealthy men or local gentry of this village.”

“That much is obvious.” Seop Chun mocked him at once. Mong Mu-yak glared back, openly showing his displeasure.

To those two who were already bristling at one another, Mok Gyeong-un nodded toward somewhere and said,

“There is an inn over there.”

“Ah!”

Just as it happened, there was an inn not far from the village entrance.

It seemed it would be faster to go there and ask rather than enter random homes.

So the three of them crossed the rain and entered the inn.

As they stepped inside in leather shoes slick with water and mud, an interior older and shabbier than expected came into view.

Yet unlike the worn interior, the inn itself had a fair number of guests.

That was only natural, because the rain that had continued for several days had likely stranded travelers from outside.

-Step, step.

The moment they entered, the eyes of the guests briefly turned toward Mok Gyeong-un and his party.

That was a natural reaction, since even though they wore bamboo rain capes, they clearly carried blades and weapons at their waists and backs.

But it was not only the guests who reacted this way.

Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak, who had been focused only on identifying the owner of the ship, also found their eyes going toward several people there.

That was because

‘Martial artists.’

The guests at the table farthest inside and those at the far-right table were martial artists.

What was interesting was that the six seated on the right, judging by their clothing and rough looks, seemed to be wandering fighters or perhaps martial men from the unorthodox path.

By contrast, the clothing of the group seated deepest inside was neat and orderly.

Judging by the way their clothing was almost uniform, they looked like escort guards.

Naturally, the one being escorted by them appeared to be the woman sitting at the center with her face veiled.

She wore blue silk robes embroidered with butterfly patterns, and even that alone was enough to suggest refinement and noble status.

“My lord.”

Seop Chun called to Mok Gyeong-un.

The reason was the beardless old man sitting beside the veiled woman.

He wore a smile as he attended to the woman with the utmost care, but unlike the others, his qi was so thoroughly concealed that it was hard to judge his level.

Seop Chun was not the only one who noticed.

‘What exactly is that old man?’

No matter how greatly he focused his qi-sense, he could not grasp the man’s level.

If even he, a master who had reached the mature stage of transcendent peak, could not gauge it, then that meant the old man was on a level beyond him.

Seeing their caution, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,

“Do not bother with them.

We came to procure a boat, did we not?”

Mok Gyeong-un, however, did not mind them in the least.

After all, unless they had some prior connection or reason to clash, there was no cause to concern himself with them.

“Understood.”

At that, Seop Chun went toward the inn’s kitchen side and called for the server.

While that was happening, the veiled woman looked toward Mok Gyeong-un with interest and said quietly,

“Trapped in this rustic place, I had been growing stifled.

And now a treasure has walked in on its own feet.”

At those words, the beardless old man who had been chatting away to please her furrowed his brow faintly.

Then he said cautiously,

“Your…

no, young lady.”

“Yes?”

“Are you saying this because of that handsome young man who just came in?”

At that question, the veiled woman gave a small nod.

For three days now, trapped in this village inn by the unending rain, her eyes had turned toward one of the newly arrived guests.

That was only natural, because the sight of his hair wet with water and his face was simply too beautiful.

Even in ‘that place,’ it would be difficult to see a face like that.

“Sir.

It looks as if the rain will not stop for several more days, so I would like to be entertained by that beautiful fellow.”

“Young lady.

Forgive me, but those men are…”

“Martial artists?”

“Yes.”

“One can tell that much merely by looking at those weapons.”

“Yes, yes.

Your eye is excellent.

But do you recall what I told you in advance?”

“That there should be no needless entanglements with martial artists?”

“Yes, precisely so.

Therefore, please…”

“Sir.

Did you not once say something before you began escorting me?”

“……”

“You said that there were not many masters in the murim at your own level.”

“That is true, but…”

“Then are you saying you cannot grant even a request like this to relieve my boredom and irritation?”

‘Heoh.’

At the veiled woman’s words, the beardless old man could not hide his discomfort.

From the moment they had entered the inn, he had already realized through qi-sense that the guests before him were no ordinary people.

Those men, who looked to be in their late twenties, were masters of transcendent peak.

‘If they have reached such fine realms at that young an age, then there is a high chance they are either children of distinguished martial lineages or disciples of great sects.’

Even that youngest one, who looked about seventeen or eighteen, had not even reached full adulthood, yet he appeared to be at the mature stage of peak realm and clearly possessed extraordinary talent.

The old man cast a troubled look toward them.

‘What should I do?’

One could become seriously ill from eating the wrong thing.

This was exactly that sort of situation.

Those ragged fellows on the other side, who looked like worthless wandering blades, could be meddled with as much as he liked and it would not matter.

But men of this level were different.

If he provoked them carelessly, it could become troublesome, and becoming entangled in rumors while traveling incognito would hardly be favorable.

However,

‘If I simply keep pressing her down, she will definitely burst sooner or later.’

The veiled woman had been raised too nobly, and it was her nature that she could not rest unless she got what she wanted.

How many things had happened already on the journey to and from Gwangju?

He had only just barely coaxed and calmed her all the way here.

‘It has piled up to the limit.’

Trapped for three days now in this damp and shabby inn because of the unending rain, her mood had reached something close to the worst possible state.

If he did nothing but say no, then the anger would inevitably end up falling on him.

And if that happened,

‘The old man’s own future will grow difficult too.’

It was not that the veiled woman’s anger itself was the real issue.

If her displeasure reached “that person’s” ears in the wrong way, then the road ahead might truly become difficult.

For that reason, though bothersome, some sort of compromise now seemed necessary.

The old man carefully said to the veiled woman,

“Then how about this?”

And with that, he explained the plan he had in mind.

The veiled woman did not seem especially pleased, but at last she reluctantly nodded and allowed it.

* * *

-Swaaaaaaa!

Behind the inn.

Mok Gyeong-un and the others, following the old woman who was both the innkeeper and the cook, came out past the kitchen and into the rear of the inn.

Once they emerged, the old woman looked around and said,

“Young fellows, what matter is so urgent that you are looking for that ship?”

At the old woman’s question, Seop Chun politely said,

“Elder, we are in a situation where time is urgent, so we must cross the river immediately.”

“I heard that from you already, but if a boat is put out into those raging waters in weather like this, it could become a great disaster.”

“We know that, but we have our circumstances.”

At Seop Chun’s words, the old woman shook her head and clicked her tongue.

Then she pointed somewhere with her hand.

It was toward the hillside at the northwestern edge of the village.

Because the rain was so heavy, they had not noticed before, but there stood something like a fairly large estate.

As expected, it seemed to belong to one of the village’s wealthy men.

But then,

“If you go over there, the owner of that ship does live there, but it will be no use.”

“Thank you for telling us.”

“I told you it would be no use, and yet you let it go in one ear and out the other?”

“Pardon?”

“That owner over there…

that master of the house, he is dying after receiving heaven’s punishment for doing wicked things.”

At those words, Seop Chun frowned.

What on earth did she mean, that he had received heaven’s punishment?

“What do you mean by that?”

“Did I not say it?

The master of that house is dying.”

“Is that master the boatman of the ship?”

“He is.”

“And yet he is dying?”

“I said he is, did I not?

That man has been possessed by a water ghost and his condition is beyond words.

Even if you go there, you may only catch impurity yourselves, so just wait for the rain to stop.”

At those words, Seop Chun wore an expression that made it clear he understood nothing at all.

He had thought the man might simply be ill, but now she was saying he was possessed by a water ghost.

What sort of nonsense was that?

As he stood there puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,

“Let us go see first.”

At his attitude, which showed he did not care in the least, the old woman shook her head and clicked her tongue.

“I am saying all this because you are outsiders and I worry you may come to harm, and still you do not believe it.

Well, if you truly wish to be tainted by impurity and die, then do as you like.”

With those words, the old woman turned and went back into the inn.

Watching her, Seop Chun muttered in a displeased tone,

“That old hag really is ill-omened.

Honestly.”

Things like heaven’s punishment or water ghosts were nothing but ghost stories, were they not?

He could not understand why she kept saying such things.

Then Mok Gyeong-un said,

“In any case, we now know who the owner of the ship is, so if we go there, we will find out.”

“That is true enough, my lord.”

So the three immediately began heading toward the estate where the ship owner was said to live.

Yet they had barely gone a few steps when someone called to them.

“Good sirs.”

-Flinch!

At that call, the eyes of both Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak sharpened with caution as they turned around.

That was only natural, because even no matter how fierce the rainfall was, if someone were close enough to be heard this clearly, then it was a range where they should certainly have sensed his presence, and yet they had not.

As they turned, something strange entered their eyes.

‘This man?’

The one who had called them was none other than the beardless old man from the inn.

That was troublesome enough already, because from the first moment they had seen him, they had been unable to grasp his realm through qi-sense.

So why exactly had this old man called to them?

As they wondered, the old man, calling himself Beom, clasped both hands in a fist-and-palm salute and said,

“Forgive this old man for calling to you while you are on your way, but this old man is called Beom.”

At those words from the old man, Mong Mu-yak asked in a guarded voice,

“May I ask for what reason Elder has called us?”

“Ah, young sirs, there is no need to be so wary.

This old man did not call you because he means you harm.”

Perhaps noticing their caution, the beardless old man smiled and said so.

At that, Mong Mu-yak asked once more,

“Even so, may I ask why you called us?”

“Hehehe.

It seems the young sir is quite impatient.”

“……”

“Very well, then I shall speak plainly.

This old man unintentionally overheard your circumstances earlier.

It seemed you were searching for a large ship to cross the river, were you not?”

At those words, Mong Mu-yak frowned.

He had said it was unintentional, but in the end it meant he had eavesdropped on their conversation with the old innkeeper.

He was beginning to feel displeased, but then Old Man Beom continued,

“In truth, because of the insistence of the young lady I serve, I too had gone in search of that ship’s owner.”

“You went to find the ship’s owner?”

“Indeed.

But if this old man is now here at the inn waiting for the rain to stop, does that not let you roughly guess what sort of outcome it was?”

At those words, this time Seop Chun asked in puzzlement,

“You could not borrow the ship?”

“That is right.

This old man also met the ship’s owner, but he is already on the verge of death, so he is in no condition to sail a ship.”

On the verge of death.

At Old Man Beom’s words, Seop Chun looked toward Mong Mu-yak with an expression that asked what they were supposed to do now.

If the ferryman who could actually control the ship was in danger of dying, then it did not matter whether they offered money or threats.

But then,

“Thank you for telling us.

But I do not think you called us here merely to say that.”

Mok Gyeong-un said that to Old Man Beom.

Then Old Man Beom smiled faintly and answered,

“That is correct.

And so, while we all wait for the weather to clear, the young lady I serve wishes to form friendly acquaintance with you young sirs.

If it is not too much, would you spare her some time?”

“Friendly acquaintance?”

“Yes.

You are all in a situation where you are forced to wait, and there is little else to do.

And as it happens, the young lady has taken a great interest in you.”

With those words, Old Man Beom performed another fist-and-palm salute.

Because he spoke so politely, Mong Mu-yak and Seop Chun exchanged awkward glances.

In truth, they were in the middle of a secret mission, and were not in a situation where they could be making contact with others.

Even if they did have to wait for the rain to stop.

At this, Seop Chun likewise returned a polite salute and said,

“We thank you for the invitation, Elder, but as our circumstances are truly urgent, please convey to the one you serve our apologies.”

“Heoh.”

At those words from Seop Chun, Old Man Beom clicked his tongue.

Then, wearing a troubled look, he said,

“This is awkward indeed.

Since in any case you cannot cross the river immediately, is there any need to be so stubborn?”

“The circumstances leave us no choice.”

“Heoh.

What a pity.”

“Then Elder, we will now be on our…”

The words had not even finished.

-Flinch!

At that instant, the expressions of Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak hardened at the same time.

That was because of the intense pressure pouring out from Old Man Beom.

Though his hands were clasped behind his back, the pressure he gave off was like a sharp sword bearing down on them.

‘The extreme…

the extreme of transcendent peak.’

He had suspected it to some degree already, but Old Man Beom was an astonishing master.

The gap was so clear that it could already be felt merely from the true qi contained in the force of his presence.

In terms of the Heaven and Earth Society, he was at a level comparable to the executives.

As he deliberately let that murderous pressure show, Old Man Beom smiled and said,

“Young sirs.

This old man is asking you so politely, is he not?

Then out of regard for this old man’s face, I hope you will befriend the young lady.”

His words were polite, but in practice it was little different from a half-threat.

Unable to suppress his displeasure, Seop Chun said,

“Are you threatening us right now?”

“Hehehe.

How could this be called a threat?”

Old Man Beom had no intention of actually harming them.

He merely intended to let them taste the gap in their levels and then give the young lady the position she desired.

At the very least, he meant to show that he had done his utmost to fulfill her command.

“Do not call it a threat, but cooperation.

It is not even such a difficult thing, so could you not agree?”

And with that, Old Man Beom began raising his aura still further to press them down.

That was precisely when it happened.

From behind him, a low voice reached Old Man Beom’s ear.

“Elder.”

-Flinch!

In an instant, Old Man Beom’s eyes widened.

That voice belonged to the youngest of the three young men, the very one the young lady had indicated.

‘When did he…?’

Just moments before, the three had clearly been standing side by side, and yet now he was gone.

Naturally, Old Man Beom could not help but be thrown into confusion.

Then the soft voice rang by his ear once more.

“It seems you do not know what a threat is.

Shall I teach you?”