The Water Immortal of Dongho
What truly made Jegal Mun-Hyeon’s ears prick up was not the fraudulent Taoist who had been there.
Gathering essence into the spirit. Spirit body into the true.
The contents of the talisman matched the very first process of forming a Spiritual God.
And above all, the immortal who lived beneath the water—the one from whom that fraudulent Taoist claimed to have learned Taoist arts.
Anyone else would have dismissed it with a scoff.
Who would believe such a thing?
They would treat it like the fanciful old tales an elder spins for his young grandchildren.
But Jegal Mun-Hyeon had already lived through the extraordinary experience of reincarnation. Through the Hyeoncheon Secret Records he had also learned of beings beyond the human realm. To him, the story was more than enough to make his ears perk.
Those self-proclaimed half-immortals.
The ones who had used a shaman to pass him the Annihilation Method and tried to kill him…
Grind.
Just thinking of them made the anger surge again.
Who did those bastards think they were, casually trying to snap his will to ascend?
Just wait until I meet them.
I’ll definitely tear them—
Ahem. That wasn’t the point right now.
In this moment, Jegal Mun-Hyeon found himself intensely curious about the immortal who supposedly lived in the water.
Perhaps a half-immortal.
Perhaps one who knew the method of ascension.
Unfortunately, Yang Pung-gae could no longer remember the exact location.
Time. Age…
Memories grow hazy. It was only natural.
“Hmm…”
He understood, yet he could not stop his face from twisting into a frown.
But—!
Dongho, is it?
A smile soon touched the corners of his mouth.
Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.
Dongho lay there.
The lake was so vast it occupied nearly half the city; some even called it the Sea of the City.
No matter how high Taishan rises, it remains a mountain beneath the heavens.
However large it claimed to be, it was still only a lake.
If he searched and searched again, there was no way he would fail to find what he sought.
There was no guarantee the water-dwelling immortal still remained, yet once a target had been set, how could he not go and look?
Of course, the place lay within Hukgangmun’s territory.
“It’s not as if I’m going there to fight.”
Unless he tried to seize their domain by force, they had no reason to block a simple visit.
Besides, how would those bastards even notice two martial artists entering such a massive city? How many people came and went in a single day…
As long as he caused no trouble, it would be fine.
His goal was not to clash with Hukgangmun, but to comb through Dongho.
Still—what if, by some infinitesimal chance, a fight broke out?
Just try to get in my way. I’ll take the chance to wipe out even your main branch.
A vicious killing intent flashed through Jegal Mun-Hyeon’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth twisted into a grotesque curve.
Even if he ran wild, Hukgangmun would find it difficult to declare all-out war against the Jegal Family.
The family’s power had reached that level now.
They held northern Hubei, and even Wudang stood with them.
No one could ignore them any longer.
They could truly be called masters of the province.
So if anyone interfered with his search of Dongho—Hukgangmun or otherwise—he would never forgive them.
It was while he was thinking such things that a voice reached him.
“Y-Young Master. We’ve arrived at Danpung County.”
One of the water bandits limped forward to report that the ship had reached the mouth of Danpung County.
Yet the riverside was crowded with people.
Those in rags were Beggars’ Sect members; those dressed properly would be martial artists from the nearby Jegal Family branch.
As the Mongchung ship—a roofed close-assault vessel designed to deflect flying arrows—drew near the bank, the waiting men tensed. Swords and iron clubs came free of their scabbards and belts as they fell into combat stances.
They could not identify anyone inside the roofed vessel.
Jegal Mun-Hyeon stepped out onto the sunlit prow, raised a hand high, and grinned.
Kids, don’t be tense. It’s me.
Ham Yeong, the Hyogam branch leader whose face Mun-Hyeon had seen only recently, and the martial artist beside him startled so badly they leapt straight into the water.
No, why would they bother…
They were going to board anyway—was there any need to swim? They only ruined their clothes for nothing.
Well, their hearts must have been racing.
Seeing his face on what they had taken for a water-bandit ship would do that.
When the ladder was lowered, Ham Yeong and the Jegal martial artist climbed aboard looking like drowned rats, panting hard yet clearly overjoyed.
“Huff… huff… Young Master. What on earth is going on?”
“Yeom Cheon, deputy branch leader of Mayang, greets Young Master Mun-Hyeon.”
The two offered their greetings the moment they stood on deck.
Yeom Cheon?
“Ah! So it was you. You were stationed at the Yanghyeon branch.”
“I am honored that you remember me. I was recently promoted to deputy branch leader of Mayang.”
“Ah…”
It seemed that when the Danpung County incident erupted, Ham Yeong had requested aid from the Mayang branch.
Well, it was the closest to Hyogam County.
The joy lasted only a moment. As Ham Yeong peered beneath the Mongchung ship’s roof, his expression transformed into pure shock.
Frightened faces.
Not water bandits—common folk.
And injured water bandits still at the tiller, plus prisoners bound tightly with rope…
“Huk! Don’t tell me you succeeded in suppressing the water stronghold?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“W-What? How on earth…?”
“…”
Don’t ask. Explaining would get complicated.
“Hahaha! What did I say? I told you he wasn’t the type to simply vanish, didn’t I?”
It was Yeom Cheon who rescued the awkward moment.
“I said that a man overflowing with chivalrous spirit would surely be inspecting the vicinity on his own, did I not?”
“But how did he locate the water bandits’ stronghold faster than we did…?”
“Ahem! Such words are rather rude. Are you suggesting that our Young Master Mun-Hyeon’s abilities fall short not only of the main family but even of a Beggars’ Sect branch?”
“Th-That’s not what I—”
“Even within the Jegal Family his abilities are peerless, beyond all comparison. Have you forgotten who saved the current Beggars’ Sect leader Ja-gwi and the successor Sayo?”
“…”
“Young Master Mun-Hyeon is the man who alone activated a formation and sent the Namgung Family’s Nine Walls Sword packing, who devised a strategy that shook heaven and earth with the Heavenly Strategy Court Master and crushed three hundred Changcheon Sword Hands of the Namgung Family, and who felled Elder Mok Ja-un in a mere two exchanges. What’s so difficult about finding a mere water stronghold, and what’s so surprising about suppressing it alone…?”
Praise should be kept within reason.
At this rate the man might set out purification water and pray for Mun-Hyeon’s eternal health and longevity. His face was already burning.
Come to think of it, it had been the same in the Demonic Cult days.
Some of those bastards had treated the Heavenly Demon himself like a living god.
Still, thanks to the torrent of praise he managed to dodge Ham Yeong’s awkward questions, so it was fortunate.
“Anyway, this works out well. I needed someone to handle the water bandits we captured. Given the human trafficking, they’re almost certainly classified as serious criminals—hand them over to the nearest authorities. And while you’re at it, I’ll also entrust the villagers’ safety to you.”
He had saved them; the least he could do was take minimal responsibility.
Rescuing people only to abandon them afterward did not sit well with his temperament.
He was now, after all, a descendant of the Orthodox Path.
“The cost of repairing the ruined village should be more than covered by the wealth we secured from the stronghold.”
“To secure even the wealth of the stronghold in that situation—you are truly cold and rational. And then to use it for village repairs? How can you be so free of desire… This subordinate cannot help but stand in awe.”
Yeom Cheon, whose feelings toward Jegal Mun-Hyeon bordered on worship, wore an expression of pure emotion no matter what was said.
Mun-Hyeon half-wondered whether the man might later erect a shrine like a Guandi Temple.
And who said he was free of desire?
He was human too; he had quietly set a portion aside for himself.
A man still had to eat.
And drink from time to time.
“Ah—and please report to the main family that the branch and the Beggars’ Sect cooperated to suppress the water bandits, with me merely lending a hand.”
“Yes?”
“Do it that way.”
“Y-Young Master. But the achievement you established entirely alone—how can we…?”
“What does it matter whose name is attached? It’s all the Jegal’s achievement.”
“Y-Young Master…”
Moved by the sight of a man who refused even to claim credit, Yeom Cheon looked ready to shed thick tears at any moment.
You idiot, I’m not giving you the credit.
I’m doing this so Mother won’t worry if the full truth reaches her ears.
And—
“Then I’ll leave the cleanup to you. I came out for some fresh air for once.”
“Then I shall escort you.”
Escort?
That would not do.
He was about to cross into Wuhan—Hukgangmun’s territory on the far side of the river.
“No need to trouble yourself. Please devote yourself to stabilizing the village, Deputy Branch Leader.”
“But…”
“Deputy Branch Leader.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Although the lands south of Infinite Pass belong to the unorthodox sects, everything else is territory the Jegal Family must look after. As an Orthodox martial artist, caring for the common people is a duty of the highest importance.”
“…!”
“Now then—let’s first get these people ashore.”
“Understood!”
Deeply moved by the image of a young master who worried day and night for the common folk, Yeom Cheon and Ham Yeong answered with expressions of iron resolve.
Thanks to the rather stylish speech, he finally shook off the nuisances.
Only then able to breathe again, Jegal Mun-Hyeon turned his gaze toward the stairs that led down to the cabin.
“By the way—why is there still no word from this guy?”
Mujin, after releasing the third seal, was still refining the demonic energy inside the cabin.
“Looks like I’ll have to leave him behind for the trip to Wuhan.”
Wuhan was unorthodox territory.
Even if he changed clothes to conceal his identity, his aura would inevitably leak out.
Especially the unique immortal fragrance that clung to a disciple of a Taoist sect—if anyone noticed it, annoying complications would follow. Third-rate riffraff might overlook it, but renowned unorthodox experts could grow suspicious from the light in a man’s eyes alone.
“That would be troublesome. I plan to go as quietly as possible.”
To tell Mujin to remain at the branch, Jegal Mun-Hyeon descended the stairs and slowly opened the cabin door.
Swaaah…
“Hup!”
The moment the door swung wide, an ominous energy billowed out. Jegal Mun-Hyeon flinched in surprise.
Then came the voice.
“You’ve come?”
“…”
“Whew. I’ve finally absorbed even the demonic energy of the third seal. So this is what you meant by walking through the darkness. It feels as if I am no longer myself.”
Looking at Mujin clenching a fist tightly in the cabin’s gloom, Jegal Mun-Hyeon nearly threw a punch on pure reflex.
H-His eyes…
The blood-light was gone. The whites of his eyes had vanished completely, leaving only a pure black gleam like polished obsidian. Instead of immortal fragrance, a subtle killing intent now drifted from his body.
Damn it. Something feels wrong here…
Somehow it really did feel as if he had raised a genuine demonic Taoist from the Wudang Sect.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh?”
“You have a rather strange look in your eyes…”
“Ah—no. It’s nothing.”
“Hahaha! And here I thought I had done something wrong. Muryangsubul.”
Seeing him grin and murmur the Taoist phrase, there seemed to be no real problem—yet why on earth were his eyes that color? Had there been such a side effect?
But the process was the opposite of what Mun-Hyeon himself had done—gathering demonic energy into essence and forming a spirit body—so how was he supposed to know?
“The power of Honwon… I needed not to force a distinction, but simply to let it flow naturally. Muryangsubul. Thank you for the precious teaching.”
“R-Right.”
Faced with Mujin bowing his head in sincere gratitude and smiling, Jegal Mun-Hyeon could only manage an awkward smile of his own.
He had accepted it. He was grateful. That was a relief.
But… was it really all right?
“I will stay by your side from now on and learn diligently.”
“…”
Mujin smiled with eyes full of killing intent.
He looked for all the world like an unorthodox martial artist—a fallen Taoist.
Especially those eyes…
With a bitter smile Jegal Mun-Hyeon stepped forward, cut Mujin’s hair tie, and scattered the loose strands.
“Huh? Why are you doing this?”
“Shut up. From now on you go around like this.”
“Yes?”
“Never reveal your eyes in front of others. Got it?”
“No—what is that supposed to mean…?”
“That’s an order!”
“Suddenly an order… You’re being strange. Anyway, understood. Since you say so.”
Even as he grumbled and nodded, Jegal Mun-Hyeon felt his chest tighten.
Damn it. What am I supposed to do about those eyes?
If the Wudang Sect demanded compensation, claiming he had ruined a promising disciple with a bright future ahead of him, that would be troublesome…
But fretting in advance over something that had not even happened yet would yield no answers.
And… if the boy got expelled, he would simply take him in himself.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes? Where to?”
“Dongho.”
Looking at Jegal Mun-Hyeon’s broad grin, Mujin let out a long sigh and shook his head from side to side.
Anyway—so completely out of the blue.
As always…
Yet the steps he had watched all this time had never once strayed from the right path. How could he refuse to follow?