Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 72: The Purpose of the Escort (2)

The pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place.

The masters were hidden inside the large crates disguised as cargo, holding their breath using the Turtle Breathing Technique.

The Wolf King’s public declaration at the pier’s bidding ceremony—that he would stand at the bow of the lead ship—was a ploy to deceive the eyes and ears of any potential pirates.

Even the late-night departure was a maneuver to facilitate switching the order of the ships.

I hadn't noticed it before, but while the entire fleet should have been brightly lit, only the rear of our ship had a faint light—just enough to ensure the vessels following wouldn't collide.

I turned to the Wolf King, Hyeok Cheon-man, and asked, "Then what is the true purpose of this escort?"

"It wouldn't hurt to tell you, Junior Brother."

I had a suspicion. I just needed to confirm if I was right.

"This ship is meant to be captured by the Waterway Stronghold."

So, they were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting caught on purpose?

"...Even if the order of the ships was changed, they know you are at the lead. Will they really act so recklessly?"

The Wolf King had crossed the wall and reached the Realm of Superhumans. Moreover, based on our brief clash, he might have even reached the Extreme Realm—the so-called 'wall beyond the wall.'

For a master of his caliber, performing the Water-Skimming Lightness Skill was child's play. The river was no obstacle to him.

"You're underestimating them."

"Underestimating them? What do you mean?"

"They are pirates. If there's something worth taking, they will move, one way or another."

"Even with the information that the Wolf King is present?"

"Why do you think the Martial Alliance or the authorities haven't been able to wipe them out all this time?" he asked back.

Come to think of it, he had a point. Even if they were pirates, there was no reason the authorities or the Martial Alliance couldn't have eradicated them if they truly set their minds to it.

"There are many canyons along the Yangtze River's waterways. Some have beautiful scenery and slow currents, while others are dangerous, filled with rapids and whirlpools."

"...That's true."

"Among them, there are twenty-five canyons known as the most treacherous paths of the Yangtze. If an accident occurs and someone falls into the water there, even martial artists cannot easily escape."

"Are you saying they take advantage of the geographical terrain?"

Hyeok Cheon-man smirked at my words.

"Smart as always. It's exactly as you say. They may be mere pirates, but they are people who have lived on the Yangtze for hundreds of years. Their navigation and ship-handling skills have developed to an extraordinary degree."

"And?"

"About ten years ago, Taoist Master Zhongxian, the Taiji Sword Emperor of the Wudang Sect, led members of the Martial Alliance to strike the Waterway Stronghold."

Ah, I think I've heard of that. The scale was so large that over a dozen ships were mobilized. However, more than half of those ships sank, and the subjugation ended in failure.

"Do you know why it failed?"

Thinking back, one of the Eight Great Masters was present. I was curious why they couldn't even achieve their basic objective.

"Have you ever performed a lightness skill on water?"

"...Not yet."

After crossing the wall, my understanding and sense of Qi had completely changed. I felt like I could perform a lightness skill on water if I put my mind to it.

The Wolf King pointed toward the river.

"In conditions like this, performing the Water-Skimming Lightness Skill isn't difficult. You could easily do it too, Junior Brother, if you knew the trick."

I wanted to try it later. I wondered what it would feel like to run across the water.

"But listen. If you encounter a torrent, never attempt the Water-Skimming Lightness Skill."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The trick to the Water-Skimming Lightness Skill is the opposite of the Thousand-Pound Press. You lighten your body with True Qi and create a rebounding force every time your feet touch the water."

Oh. I just learned something valuable. So that's why he called it a trick.

"But in places where the current is rough and torrential, that becomes impossible. Instead of using the rebounding force, you'll be flung in the direction the torrent is flowing. I once fell into the water myself, acting out of ignorance."

"Ah..."

"Forget any idea of using lightness skills in a torrent."

So, it was that difficult to perform the skill in such heavy currents. That was why even peerless masters couldn't easily subjugate the Waterway Stronghold. Knowing the reason made it all make sense.

The Waterway Stronghold was banking on that very advantage.

"Once you reach the rapids, it's hard for a ship to change direction. The Waterway Stronghold always uses that to launch their ambushes. Fighting them on the water is disadvantageous in every way."

"Is that why you came up with this method?"

"Exactly. The strategy of 'Secretly Crossing to Chencang.'"

In military strategy, there is a tactic called 'Secretly Crossing to Chencang' (Amdo Jinchang). It originated when Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, crossed through Chencang to conquer the Three Qins without Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, knowing.

The essence of the strategy is to feign an attack from the front while actually targeting the rear.

By deceiving the enemy into thinking all the strength is in the first ship while the real force is hidden inside the cargo of the very last ship, it could be called the pinnacle of the 'Secretly Crossing to Chencang' strategy. It was a method to strike the enemy's blind spot.

If this plan succeeded, it truly could deal a devastating blow to the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds.

However...

"...This means you've deceived not just the enemy, but the escort agencies as well, doesn't it?"

The original purpose of an escort is to protect the goods from enemies. But to deceive the pirates, they had deceived all the escort agencies, who were supposed to be their allies. The Jewon Escort Agency, another agency on this ship, likely had no idea either.

"There is a saying: to deceive your enemy, you must first deceive your allies."

"Those 'allies' are escort guards. They aren't ronin; they are guards whose job is to protect the cargo. You've deceived them."

"Well, I admit that."

"This goes beyond just admitting it."

I voiced my opinion strongly. If this plan truly succeeded, it would become impossible to join hands with the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds.

Hyeok Cheon-man patted my shoulder.

"Junior Brother, I understand why you're angry. But we aren't completely deceiving them. The other ships really do contain Elder Ho's wealth."

"What?"

"Do you think the pirates are fools? If we only acted like an escort, they would surely smell a rat."

So it wasn't a completely fake escort. Still, that didn't change the core issue.

"What about the escort agencies on this ship? The fact remains that they were deceived."

At my question, the Wolf King spoke in a serious tone.

"Listen carefully. If this mission fails, the Central Plains will once again be engulfed in the flames of the Great Orthodox-Evil War from twenty years ago."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"I also agonized over this request. The Blood Cult and the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds are going to join forces. If that happens, the region south of the Yangtze will be stained with blood."

'......'

Ah. So this plan was orchestrated by them after all?

"Is this a request from the Martial Alliance?"

"It is."

"...Senior Brother, you don't usually get involved in the affairs between the Orthodox and Evil factions, do you?"

From what I knew, the Wolf King was a figure close to neutral. I knew he had rejected all missions from both the Martial Alliance and the Evil Faction that would deal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a blow to the opposing side. He was even someone who hadn't participated in the Great Orthodox-Evil War.

I couldn't understand why he would suddenly take on such a request from the Martial Alliance.

Hyeok Cheon-man clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the dark river.

"After Master disappeared, I lived the life of a wanderer. To a ronin like me, the distinction between Orthodox and Evil meant nothing. But after you appeared, Junior Brother, I thought about it a lot."

"Me? After I appeared?"

"You haven't experienced the Great Orthodox-Evil War, have you?"

"That's..."

"Though I didn't participate in it myself, I lived through that era, so I saw and know how much blood was spilled in the Central Plains."

"......"

"If the Blood Cult and the Waterway Stronghold join hands and block the Yangtze waterways as the Martial Alliance says, the same thing will happen again. I don't want you, a member of the new generation, to experience that catastrophe."

I was speechless. It was hard to find an answer to his words. His actions were based on his own convictions and sense of justice.

"I will speak to the people from the escort agencies on this ship as well, but I plan to increase their escort fee tenfold. It's a high-risk job, after all."

The base amount an agency received for this escort was a thousand taels of gold. On top of that, an additional amount was added per participating guard. If that was increased tenfold, it would swell into a truly staggering sum.

Probably. If they succeeded, they could carve their names into martial history as the agencies that helped dismantle the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds.

Hyeok Cheon-man pressed down firmly on my shoulder.

"As a disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest, don't you also want to prevent the coming bloodshed?"

...I have no intention of causing bloodshed, though.

This was incredibly frustrating; I couldn't explain myself. For now, I had to act.

I cupped my fists and spoke as if I were moved. "I didn't know you had such deep intentions, Senior Brother. As a member of the Orthodox Faction, it is only natural to help for the sake of justice, regardless of money."

"Hahahaha! As expected of his disciple, you have great spirit!"

Satisfied with my answer, the Wolf King laughed heartily. I liked this side of him, but our paths were just too different.

"Then I will go speak to the other escort agencies. Junior Brother, please persuade the Hwangyeong Escort Agency and your companions."

"Of course."

With that, the Wolf King departed. As soon as he was gone, a sigh escaped my lips.

"Whew."

It was more than just 'for nothing.' If the Eighteen Strongholds were wiped out, the power of the Evil Faction would be further weakened. If that happened, the balance of power would inevitably shift.

That's what I wanted to say. But the Martial Alliance was no joke either. I thought they wouldn't be able to see the big picture after Chief Strategist Zhuge Won-myeong died, but I was completely wrong. To stab me in the back like this...

At this rate, I was about to strike my own allies with my own hands.

'My identity?'

The risk was too high.

Setting aside our brotherhood, Hyeok Cheon-man is a ronin. Even if they seem to live as they please, they have their own code. And that code is to value the request they've accepted. If he helped me, he would be breaking the code of the ronin and, furthermore, he would be making an enemy of the Martial Alliance. Would he really be willing to take that risk?

And if that doesn't work?

Then my identity would be revealed to the whole world. If that happened, setting aside the Wolf King, the Martial Alliance would mobilize all its strength and cast a Heaven's Net to capture me. It could become a situation far worse than the current one. If the circumstances were different, it might be worth a shot, but not now.

I can't let that happen.

No. I'm not Zhuge Liang; do you think a strategy just pops out of thin air the moment a situation arises? This is driving me crazy. If only the Wolf King weren't here, I could try something.

I have to make it so this ship can't enter the stronghold. That's the most ideal way. But as I just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said, the Wolf King is the biggest obstacle.

That's a good idea, but how? I have to do it without leaving evidence, but the bottom of the ship is the cargo hold. Right now, the hold is crawling with Martial Alliance masters who have awakened from their Turtle Breathing. If there were only a few of them, I could use the Illusion Eye to hypnotize someone into doing it, but...

And if I went into the water, the splashing sound would be immediately noticed by the guards on deck or the Wolf King. Sinking the ship is impossible unless I'm prepared to openly announce that I'm the culprit.

...I suppose so. It would be great if you could move on your own. Thanks for the thought, anyway.

It was at that very moment.

'This is?'

It was the voice of the Sword Immortal. Startled, I looked at my right hand, and a blue flame was flickering there.

Along with a searing sound, the dots on the back of my hand began to change. Among the seven dots in the shape of the Big Dipper, the fifth star, Okhyeong, was turning blue.

Soon, it became a completely blue dot, and the flame subsided.

What? The dots of the Big Dipper hadn't opened for a while, and then this suddenly happened. I had no idea why.

But then, something strange occurred.

A bizarre vision appeared in my mind. It was as if I were seeing through someone else's eyes. I looked at that 'someone,' and it was me.

Wait a minute. I needed to figure out why I was seeing myself in my head first. This seemed to be an ability related to the Big Dipper dots.

No, why are you—!?

In an instant, I was struck speechless.

The Sodamgeom, which should have been in its scabbard, was floating in the air right in front of my nose.

'!!!'