Chapter 460

The weather was bad in more ways than one.

The waters of Dongting Lake, which had swallowed dozens of vessels and claimed lives overnight, were rough, and the wind blowing in from the distance was violent.

Even the old boatman who knew Dongting Lake like the back of his hand seemed to think that setting out in such weather was a terrible idea.

“I—I can’t do it, sirs.”

Those were the first words from the boatman, who had clearly been dragged here against his will. He continued with an anxious look on his face.

“The places you wish to visit are unusually narrow, with treacherous currents even by Dongting Lake’s standards… In weather like this, it’s simply impossible.”

“That is precisely why we are asking for your help. Merchant ships and military vessels may not be able to enter, but a sturdy ferryboat piloted by the finest boatman on Dongting Lake should manage it.”

“No matter how you put it…”

“Boatman?”

“Y-yes?”

“Please.”

A man was still a man, no matter how old he got.

Dazed by Honglan’s gentle voice and dazzling beauty, the old boatman did not come to his senses until after he had climbed aboard the ferryboat.

“I must be mad. Completely mad. I know what happened last night, yet here I am, about to set out on the water. What will I do if we run into the Hidden Shadow Ghost…?”

The Hidden Shadow Ghost?

An unfamiliar name had slipped into his grumbling. I turned and found the terrified boatman staring back at me.

He swallowed hard before answering.

“Just as the name suggests, it’s a ghostly creature. Plenty of boatmen have fallen victim to it lately. One was an old friend of mine. He went out at night hoping to earn a few extra coins, and then…”

The old boatman stared at the rippling waters of Dongting Lake with eyes steeped in fear.

“They call it the Hidden Shadow Ghost because its victims die without ever seeing so much as its shadow. This is only the humble opinion of an old man, but it must be responsible for everything that’s been happening lately. All of it is the work of that evil spirit.”

Gung Gibang clicked his tongue and cut in.

“Evil spirit, my ass. Listen, boatman. Do you think I’ve only heard stories like this once or twice? If all those tales were true, half the fish under heaven would have human faces, and the mountains would be crawling with thousand-year-old white tigers and dragons.”

“I swear there isn’t a word of falsehood in it. With one heaven-defying atrocity after another, the Divine Spirit of Dongting Lake must have been angered.”

“An evil spirit wasn’t enough, so now there’s a divine spirit too? Forget it. Let’s stop talking.”

“But every boatman in Hubei Province has heard the story…”

“Do I look like a boatman to you?”

“N-no, sir. Anyone can see you’re the most beggarly of beggars.”

“Ah, he’s not wrong, but now I’m suddenly pissed off.”

“P-please calm yourself, honored sir. This old man is guilty of nothing more than repeating what he heard.”

The old boatman sounded deeply aggrieved.

He had spent his entire life as a boatman in the Murim, where all sorts of legends and superstitions were treated as fact.

Perhaps that was why he seemed firmly convinced that the recent string of gruesome incidents was the work of the evil spirit known as the Hidden Shadow Ghost.

Come to think of it, it might not be complete nonsense.

Judging by Honglan and Cheongpung’s expressions, they had reached the same conclusion.

The moment our eyes met, they both spoke at once.

“Benefactor, could it be…”

“Benefactor, could the Hidden Shadow Ghost that boatman mentioned be…”

“Wait. I know what both of you are trying to say, so you don’t need to say it. And if you absolutely insist on calling me Benefactor, take turns. It’s confusing.”

One Benefactor parrot had already been more than enough. Now there were two.

At times like this, I almost felt like I had become someone important.

Then again, Honglan had good reason after I saved her life. But was Cheongpung seriously planning to treat me as his Benefactor forever just because I had given him a few sweets when he was hungry?

I sighed and continued.

“Anyway, there’s a good chance the Hidden Shadow Ghost is the Dongting Fisherman. If not, it could be bandits taking advantage of the chaos.”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say, Benefactor.”

Not to be outdone by Cheongpung, Honglan nodded as well.

“This humble woman thinks so too, Benefactor.”

“I said one person at a time.”

Whatever the case, it was unlikely to have been a simple accident of nature.

From what we had heard, more than a few boatmen had died. The old boatman’s next words lent even more weight to our suspicions.

“Come to think of it, all the dead boatmen disappeared in roughly the same area. Hm? Wait a moment. The place you honored guests are heading toward is nearby too…”

The old boatman suddenly froze and slowly raised his head.

He looked us over one by one without a word, then quietly lowered the oar he had been holding to set off and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

At my question, the old boatman gave an awkward smile.

“Well, I seem to have forgotten to relieve myself.”

“Mujin.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“The boatman needs to pee.”

“Does he?”

By now, Hyuk Mujin and I understood each other without needing to say much.

When Mujin—practically a giant beside the old boatman—blocked his path, the boatman’s eyes grew moist like those of a calf being led to the slaughterhouse.

“Do you still need to go?”

At Hyuk Mujin’s low voice, the boatman shook his head.

“…Come to think of it, I don’t.”

“Good. We’ll let you go before whatever you fear comes to pass, so don’t worry too much.”

I felt bad for treating an old boatman this way, but an experienced guide was essential if we wanted to reach the Dongting Fisherman’s refuge.

Our destination lay along a narrow passage that could accommodate only a few ferryboats at a time.

Even if the government mobilized a fleet of a hundred ships and tens of thousands of soldiers, they would never be able to enter. They would only become a burden.

If we end up fighting the Dongting Fisherman, bringing more people will only increase the casualties.

Our best option was for the government to seal off every route between Dongting Lake and the Yangtze in case he tried to flee, while a small elite force—including Cheongpung and me—pursued and either captured or killed him.

And just as important as dealing with the Dongting Fisherman was preventing any more pointless sacrifices.

Having finished thinking it through, I abruptly spoke.

“Hyuk Mujin, Gung Gibang, Young Lady Hong. You three…”

“No.”

“Where’s that dog barking?”

“I will contribute what little strength I have.”

Their answers came before I could finish, leaving me momentarily speechless. Hyuk Mujin and Gung Gibang clicked their tongues at the sight.

“It’s obvious. Completely obvious.”

“I can see exactly what you’re about to say.”

“We came all this way. How could we turn back now? What kind of man would that make me?”

“I feel the same. The Successor Beggar of the mighty Beggars’ Sect cannot be frightened off by something like this.”

“Captain, whenever something looks even slightly dangerous, you always tell us to stay behind. At this point, it’s practically your defining trait. Captain’s special.”

“You’re surprisingly timid.”

“But why have you been copying everything I say, Young Hero Gung? It’s really starting to bother me.”

“You damned bastard. Why pick a fight when things were going so well? Have you lost your mind?”

“Beggars’ Sect special. Not content with picking up discarded food from inns, you pick up other people’s words too.”

“…I’ve never seen such a bastard who’s worse than a dog.”

“Regardless, I’m going with you no matter what you say, Captain. When I was young, a gifted fortune-teller read my fate and told me I would live in wealth and glory, eating well and living comfortably past the age of one hundred. There’s no way I’m dying today.”

Gung Gibang stared incredulously at Hyuk Mujin as he made this bold declaration, then shook his head.

“Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. And I agree with that Hyuk bastard, so don’t even think about leaving me behind. I have inherited the supreme arts of the Beggars’ Sect. Even if I’m not as strong as you or Cheongpung, protecting my own life will be no trouble.”

…

My lips moved, but I could not bring myself to speak.

When it came down to it, neither of them was someone others could afford to underestimate.

Hyuk Mujin had begun learning martial arts relatively late, yet he had grown explosively while passing through countless crises alongside me. Gung Gibang was talented enough to become the Successor Beggar, as well as a Peak master who had entered a mature realm.

But I’m afraid.

I was afraid of losing people close to me. Afraid that what happened that day would happen all over again.

As I hesitated, Cheongpung suddenly spoke.

“Benefactor. If you go, I can follow you to the very depths of hell.”

“Young Hero Cheongpung.”

“Please don’t tell me I can’t. I am a proper man and a martial artist too.”

“Young Hero Cheongpung.”

Cheongpung smiled faintly and shook his head.

“Benefactor, please don’t say anything. All you need to do is trust us as much as I trust you.”

“No, that isn’t what I meant. You’re obviously coming with us, so why did you step forward and…”

“Oh. Ah…”

“Stop saying pointless things and sit down. Don’t ruin the mood.”

“…Yes, Benefactor.”

A quiet laugh escaped me at his crestfallen expression. I nodded to Hyuk Mujin and Gung Gibang.

“Remember one thing. No matter what happens, follow my judgment. Even if I order you to abandon me and run.”

“Captain, that…”

Gung Gibang discreetly jabbed Hyuk Mujin in the side.

“Of course. We’ll remember. The Hyuk bastard will too. Right?”

“Hm? Ah, yes.”

Their intentions were obvious, but I pretended not to notice.

I would do everything in my power to prevent that situation from arising. I was confident I could separate them before they fell into danger.

But the last person posed a problem.

“You already know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

Honglan’s red lips slowly parted.

“You will need someone who knows the exact route.”

“We’ll be fine. According to you, Young Lady Hong, the finest boatman on Dongting Lake is already with us.”

“What if something unexpected happens?”

“We’ll deal with it.”

“I may be insignificant compared to you and the others, but I too have reached the First Rate realm…”

“I know. And I also know that this First Rate master spent several shichen¹ submerged in the river while holding on to a strong man, and has only been conscious for half a shichen.”

“…!”

Honglan bit down softly on her lip, struck where it hurt.

She knew better than anyone.

Being able to move around as she did now and fighting a fierce battle were two entirely different things.

“Once again, it seems all I can do is watch.”

“Once again?”

“Yes. Back then, long ago. Last night. And now.”

Reading the question in my eyes, Honglan smiled. It was more bitter than any smile I had seen from her before.

“A great many things happened before a little girl who lost her clan and her parents overnight could become the woman she is today…”

“Ah.”

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

She looked up at me with shining eyes and quietly reached out a hand.

Her pale, slender fingers brushed through my tangled hair and grazed my neck. I flinched despite myself.

“Young Lady Hong, what are you…”

“All done. Ah, much better. Would you like to see?”

I followed Honglan’s fingers with my gaze and looked down at the clear waters of Dongting Lake.

Someone’s reflection floated on the surface.

My hair had been neatly arranged and secured with a beautiful silver hairpin.

When I raised my head, Honglan was smiling brightly.

“Benefactor—no, Great Hero Jin.”

Her hair, now unbound, swayed gently in the wind. It rippled and shimmered until it seemed almost radiant.

“I wish you good fortune in battle.”

Her quiet voice slowly faded from my ears.

Leaving Honglan behind, the boatman drove his oar powerfully through the water.