Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Yangtze Waterway King
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Do Cheon would seek out the Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds once he had the strength to stand against the world. After a show of force, he'd bring them into the Yangtze business. Not by blocking off every corner of the river and extorting tolls, but by protecting the merchant ships. No matter what anyone said, the Yangtze was their home turf—they could guard it better than anyone. Of course, they'd be compensated fairly for their efforts. An amount the river bandits couldn't even dream of. It was a surefire plan.
This was Yoo Geon's idea for pulling in the Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds.
But the Yangtze Waterway King made it impossible.
"Why?"
"It's a matter of prestige."
"...!"
"We're bandits, not escorts."
What was so prestigious about being bandits? But that was just Do Cheon's own view. If the bandits saw it that way, then it was. Until he could change their minds, it would always be an issue of prestige for them.
"Even if it's about prestige, can you really refuse the hand extended by the benefactor who saved your life without a second thought?"
"Ask for something else. If you tell us not to take tolls, we won't."
"It's not about the money. There are bandits all over the Yangtze who aren't part of the Eighteen Strongholds. Even if you order them not to touch ships flying the Iron Lion Sect's flag, plenty won't obey. Starvation or getting beaten down—it's all the same to them."
"True. But there's nothing we can do about that."
Gratitude was gratitude, but what couldn't be done couldn't be done.
The Yangtze Waterway King was resolute.
"Just as your sect has strict rules, the Yangtze has its own unwritten laws. The Golden Prosperity Clan tried to crush us without forcing us to our knees because they knew we wouldn't follow. Our pride is in not bowing to strength. At least on the Yangtze."
"Pride, right. Pride must be upheld. Pride is... pride, after all."
Do Cheon was at a loss.
With the Waterway King so firm, he thought compromising on reducing tolls might work. They'd said no tolls at all, but that would cause problems down the line anyway, so reduction was the way. And haggling the amount would be Yoo Geon's job.
Do Cheon wanted to end it there.
"My friend will visit later. Handle the tolls reasonably... Ah, whatever. Figure it out yourselves. Anyway, about the Eastern Lake Stronghold."
"I'll apologize for that."
"Pardon?"
"The slash-and-burn folk—that was the Eastern Lake Stronghold leader's doing alone."
"You didn't know?"
"Money kept coming in steadily, so I thought he was handling it well. We don't reach beyond the Yangtze. I've sent orders to all the strongholds—no more incidents like that."
Do Cheon stared blankly for a moment.
Not because it was a brutal, inhuman act, but because it happened outside the Yangtze, he was sorry.
'What is this? Bandits are still just thieves, huh? Should I even be shaking hands with them? Just make them kneel? Or wipe them out?'
As Do Cheon's dilemma dragged on.
"Truth be told, it was too much. Bandits are human too..."
He trailed off awkwardly.
It seemed his identity as a bandit was at play, no matter what.
Bandits plundered on the water. Threatening, coercing, sometimes killing—that was their way. They weren't easy to look kindly on. But by that logic, all unorthodox folk were the same. He'd never seen an unorthodox guy doing good deeds, nor heard of one.
What about the orthodox sects?
If the unorthodox robbed openly, the orthodox schemed in the shadows.
The White Sword Sect was a prime example.
'Damn humans—can't you just fleece them moderately and call it a day?'
It grated on him. But what right did he have to judge them or cry for justice?
He had no interest in that.
"Fine. You talk like it's life or death, so no choice."
Do Cheon conceded.
"Still, you're the benefactor who saved my life—I'm sorry. I'll find a way to repay you later. Right now, my head's full with all-out war against those damn Golden Prosperity Clan."
"All-out war? Against a merchant house like some demonic cult—think you can win?"
"They have their ways; we have ours. They'll regret not killing me today for the rest of their lives."
Killing intent gathered, making his face gleam coldly.
Then Do Cheon blinked, a sudden realization dawning.
"Right. They have their ways."
"Hm?"
As the Waterway King looked puzzled, Do Cheon grinned.
"Fight their way for the battle, and uphold the Yangtze's prestige the Yangtze way."
"...!"
The Waterway King stared blankly, uncomprehending.
Do Cheon began explaining his newfound idea.
A moment later.
Do Cheon departed.
The two had reached some agreement.
"A real gem's appeared. One that'll shock the world."
As the Yangtze Waterway King muttered to himself, dozens of ships converged from up and down the river. Soon, fierce-looking bandits swarmed in, bowing before him.
"Give the order—we'll wipe out the Golden Prosperity Clan right now!"
"Give the order!"
The Yangtze bandits shouted in unison.
Straightening his back, the Waterway King surveyed his men. After a pause, he issued a stern command.
"War with the Golden Prosperity Clan begins now. They shamed me with force, so I'll shame them with the business they love!"
The Waterway King's declaration.
His men stared wide-eyed, confused.
Looking at them, he shouted firmly.
"We'll fully open the Yangtze's waterways! Ally with the Iron Lion Sect to dominate river transport! Make sure not a single 'gold' from the Golden Prosperity Clan sets foot on the Yangtze—humiliate them!"
Hubei Province, Yichang.
Ong Jung-seo, Byeon Ryeo-gun, and Yi Yeol.
Do Cheon had planted his energy in each of them—to block attacks from the Wise King. Tracking it led him straight to them easily.
Munju Inn.
Inside, the inn was deathly quiet, like a tomb.
Utterly unlike a typical inn. Pushing aside his puzzlement, Do Cheon approached the trio by the window. Byeon Ryeo-gun spotted him first and rose. Ong Jung-seo turned at her movement, and Yi Yeol stood too.
"What's with the atmosphere?"
Do Cheon asked Ong Jung-seo.
"Sit first."
Do Cheon sat, and so did Byeon Ryeo-gun and Yi Yeol.
"How'd it go?"
"Swimmingly."
Meaning he'd saved the Waterway King and got what he wanted. No surprise—it was Do Cheon, after all. Ong Jung-seo thought so, then turned to Yi Yeol.
"You tell him, Young Master Yeol."
"Yes."
Yi Yeol bowed to Ong Jung-seo, then spoke to Do Cheon.
"I caused trouble."
"Not trouble, exactly."
Ong Jung-seo corrected him.
"Some creeps were harassing Lady Byeon, so I taught them a lesson, but it got out of hand..."
"Out of hand?"
"I cut off their wrists. Sorry."
Yi Yeol bowed his head.
Do Cheon stared at him steadily before asking.
"If you lost your temper that badly, there must've been reason. How'd they harass her?"
"A dozen or so ganged up, leering and spouting vulgar filth."
The moment Yi Yeol finished, Do Cheon slammed the table and shot up.
"You just cut off their wrists and let them go? Should've sliced off their balls!"
"The ones who got cut weren't them."
"What?"
"I was going to, but some clean-cut guy showed up, beat them off, and chased them away."
"Clean-cut guy?"
Do Cheon scanned the room for anyone fitting the bill.
"I chased him off."
"He helped, didn't he?"
Do Cheon turned.
"Lady Byeon saw right through him—he was the one who'd sent the dozen. When his scheme was exposed, he flipped out, saying we'd insulted a disciple of the Form Sword Sect, and went berserk..."
"You cut off his wrist?"
"No, blew off his head."
"...!"
"Ah, not killed—knocked him out with one to the skull."
"Then whose wrist flew?"
"The guy he brought later."
"So you cut the later guy's wrist?"
"Yes."
"Good job."
Do Cheon sat casually, as if it were nothing.
Ong Jung-seo spoke up.
"The clean-cut one was a Form Sword Sect disciple, and the forty-something he brought later was too."
"The Form Sword Sect will step in?"
"Likely."
"What's the Form Sword Sect like?"
"An unlucky bunch."
"Unlucky?"
"What sect comes to mind for Hubei?"
"Hubei... uh..."
"Wudang."
Do Cheon blanked, and Yi Yeol chimed in.
"Right, Wudang's there."
Do Cheon nodded.
"Wudang's influence is so vast it blankets all of Hubei. They say there's no corner without Wudang branches. So other orthodox sects can't gain any ground."
Ong Jung-seo's explanation made the "unlucky" part clear.
"If they're unlucky, fine—but why stoop to filthy acts?"
"Ah! Bad phrasing. Cancel 'unlucky.' What I meant: Wudang's dominance funnels all the talent there, leaving Hubei with misfits they won't take or bottom-tier hacks. To keep the sect's name alive, they take who they can."
The Form Sword Sect was a notable name in Hubei.
Having such scum as disciples stemmed from that misfortune. That was Ong Jung-seo's point.
Do Cheon got the gist.
"They've got the arts but no talent to bloom them, so they wither?"
"Something like that."
"Then they're incompetent. Or lazy."
"Incompetent, maybe. Lazy?"
"If no talent in Hubei, scout elsewhere."
"Fair point."
"Anyway, their issues aren't our problem. Let them come."
As Do Cheon feigned extra fury for Byeon Ryeo-gun's sake.
Ong Jung-seo nodded at her.
"Let me see your face."
"Why my face?"
"Even I've been traveling with you for days and still get startled sometimes. I end up staring like an idiot without realizing. No ill intent, swear—just blanks out. Like when a pretty flower blooms in the mountains; eyes go to it naturally."
"Flower? I'm not into flowers much."
"Then like seeing a cute baby—you can't stop looking."
"Hm, babies, yeah. No clue why, but you keep glancing, hoping it grows up healthy."
Do Cheon nodded vigorously.
"Exactly. Lady Byeon's beauty does that—too stunning to look away."
"I get what you're saying, but that doesn't mean I have to veil up."
Do Cheon caught on and turned to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"There were reasons for the veil, but people's stares played a part, right?"
"Yes."
"That's running away."
"Running?"
"Hiding your true self from reality. Uncomfortable, isn't it? Even if you're used to it, it's still more hassle than not. Why bother? Why should Lady Byeon?"
Do Cheon turned back to Ong Jung-seo.
"You don't uproot flowers from others' gardens just 'cause they're pretty. You don't steal cute babies. If Lady Byeon looks beautiful, look. Eyes only—no harm. Right?"
The last question was for her. Byeon Ryeo-gun nodded.
"Whether I'm pretty or not, looking isn't an issue."
Ong Jung-seo nodded too, agreeing.
"If I lacked strength, if the sect were weak and couldn't protect you, I'd say veil up. If we couldn't shield from scum, maybe. But we can now. We have the power, and you overflow with it yourself. So why veil? I'm against it."
Do Cheon spoke passionately. His fervor left no room for rebuttal—especially since he was spot on.
"Was the young leader always this eloquent?"
Ong Jung-seo shook his head.
"Really."
Yi Yeol was surprised too. Byeon Ryeo-gun differed slightly—she knew he could be surprisingly silver-tongued at times.
As the three reacted variably to Do Cheon.
The inn buzzed.
Wondering what, they turned. A dozen or so entered—young swordsmen with blades in their left hands. Eyes sharp with righteous light: orthodox disciples. Especially the leader, his gentle smile brimming confidence, drawing eyes.
They scanned the inn, then headed straight for Do Cheon's group.
Do Cheon narrowed his eyes, watching.
From the leader on, all fixed stares on Byeon Ryeo-gun. They just looked with their eyes. Yet rage boiled in his chest. He'd just said looks were harmless. But he couldn't stay still. He was truly pissed.
Do Cheon twisted to face them, fury on his face.
"Form Sword Sect scum?"
He'd blurted whatever came to mind while pondering punishment. The reply was unexpected.
"We're from the Great Wudang secular branch."