Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Because It's Part of the Plan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If there were water fortresses along the Yangtze, then mountain strongholds dotted the highlands everywhere under heaven. Just as bandits infested the rivers, brigands sprouted like poisonous mushrooms in the mountains, forming their own colonies.
The Green Forest Seventy-Two Strongholds.
These were the bandits scattered across the land who banded together to protect themselves from the powerful forces of the righteous and unorthodox sects. They rallied around their Chief Stronghold Leader, whom they called the Green Forest Chief Escort Tyrant, and grew so mighty that people said just as every crowd had a Beggar's Sect disciple, every mountain hid a Green Forest bandit.
Ghost Mountain Stronghold.
A stronghold straddling the border of Huguang and Hunan Provinces, it was mid-tier among the Seventy-Two Strongholds.
At high noon, four figures—a man and three others—appeared before the wooden palisade of Ghost Mountain Stronghold. It was Do Cheon and his group.
"What the hell are you lot?!"
Bandits swarmed out from the wide-open gates. The ones guarding the approach had tried to block Do Cheon's party, only to be sent flying unilaterally. The reserves lying in ambush had panicked at the sight and fled back to report.
A wiry old man, the stronghold chief, bellowed the challenge. Do Cheon, Byeon Ryeo-gun, and Ong Jung-seo halted, but Yi Yeol strode forward alone.
"The ones here to beat your asses."
His words were brash, but tension flickered in his eyes. Hiding it, he glared fiercely and marched ahead.
The bandits cursed at the sight. The chief, eyeing the group's striking appearances, reluctantly ordered them seized. Thirty bandits charged, wielding short but broad, vicious blades, gleaming axes, and other sharp weapons—a sight that could make knees buckle.
Crack!
The lead bandit's skull shattered, hurling him back.
"Control your strength!"
Do Cheon shouted.
Thwack!
The one swinging an axe at Yi Yeol's torso took a blow to the nape and crumpled. Hearing Do Cheon, Yi Yeol had eased up, sparing the man's neck.
Thud! Thump thump!
Dull impacts rang out relentlessly.
Yi Yeol swung his sheathed sword—had he drawn it, a bloody massacre would have unfolded before their eyes.
Thump thump! Thump thump thump!
With each exchange, tension faded from Yi Yeol's face.
His first real combat. These were nobodies compared to the Wise King's corpse puppet, but as mountain folk charging in a mob, they had him on edge at first. After thrashing a few, though, all nerves vanished.
"Fall back!"
The stronghold chief yelled.
The bandits retreated in a rout, more than half battered and groaning.
"Righteous sect folk?"
The chief asked politely.
He had sensed from the start that this group was no ordinary lot.
"We're the ones taking the thing on your shoulders. Does it matter if we're righteous or not? Yeol, what are you waiting for? Get it over with."
Do Cheon's words dismissed the chief like dirt. As Yi Yeol advanced obediently, murder flashed in the chief's eyes.
"You're the arrogant ones. Don't blame me if blood flows."
The chief lunged.
One step closed the gap instantly.
Clang!
A clear metallic ring echoed between them.
Yi Yeol had drawn and parried the lightning thrust.
Whoosh!
A chilling whistle pierced the air, sending chills down spines.
Yi Yeol ducked; a razor edge grazed past. He spun, slashing back while leaping away.
His side stung. His hem was sliced long—skin split too, smarting. But no hindrance to movement; not serious.
Yi Yeol eyed the chief's hands: twin daggers gleamed.
'Fast, and full of feints.'
Grasping the chief's style, Yi Yeol gripped his sword, kicked off, and shot forward. As distance vanished, he swept horizontally—a plain stroke, nothing fancy.
Clang!
The sword blocked, the chief's daggers whipped like gales, carving at Yi Yeol's body. Fast and dazzling, dizzying indeed.
Yi Yeol's feet danced. He unleashed Ong Jung-seo's footwork—the same that escaped the Wise King's storm. Yet dodging the chief's onslaught was no easy feat.
This was his first live foe, unlike the mindless corpse puppet. The chief's attacks twisted unpredictably, adapting with improvised strikes to Yi Yeol's every move.
"He looks in danger."
Byeon Ryeo-gun voiced worry.
"The kid's holding back because we're a threat here. The chief's going all-out from the start to crush him quick."
Ong Jung-seo fretted too.
"True, but watch closely. Yeol's not using Nine Sword Lord's techniques."
"...!"
"...?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun and Ong Jung-seo gaped at the duel. Indeed, Yi Yeol's counters were crude basics. They had chalked it up to the chief's whirlwind feints, but no—gaps existed for a proper Nine Sword Lord form. Yet he stuck to simple sweeps and diagonals.
"Yeol knows this is prime practice."
Do Cheon's words eased their minds.
The chief's daggers nicked Yi Yeol's clothes, drawing blood at times, but they watched calmly now.
The fierce clash hit dozens of bouts in a flash. The chief's face hardened. Despite full power, only minor cuts on his foe. The boy had floundered at first; now, not a bit.
'At least his ghostly footwork's the only standout. Sword's nothing special—lucky.'
As the chief thought so,
"No more tricks? Then take my sword."
Yi Yeol swung wide, retreating, then raised his blade straight.
'He hasn't used proper swordplay yet?!'
As the chief stared in disbelief, Yi Yeol advanced, slashing.
From the first form of Soul-Reaving Nine Swords—Soul Slash, that cleaved demons—to Soul Fury and Soul Wave, forms poured forth. Infused with Soul Sunder's ruinous power, they ravaged like reaping hell's fiends, hungry for Yama's neck.
Snap snap snap!
Air burst where the sword passed, relentlessly hounding the chief. Panicking, he slashed madly with daggers.
Kclang! Kcraaaang!
Ear-grating clashes erupted nonstop as the chief's feet slid back. Soul Sunder's might and the barrage overwhelmed him.
Numb hands chilled the chief to the bone at this transformed swordplay.
'N-not ordinary swordsmanship!'
It wasn't just his skill buckling Yi Yeol's strikes. With Do Cheon, Ong Jung-seo, and Byeon Ryeo-gun watching, his will crumbled, feet retreating instinctively.
"...!"
The chief halted his backpedal.
Yi Yeol had stopped pressing.
Yi Yeol stared a moment, sheathed his sword, and turned away.
The chief's gaze lingered on his back, then shifted to Do Cheon—the one who'd spoken earlier.
"Light Mountain Stronghold's close from here, right?"
"Yes."
"That's our next stop."
"...!"
"Feel free to warn them."
Do Cheon grinned and turned first.
Ong Jung-seo followed. Byeon Ryeo-gun waited for Yi Yeol, who flashed her a satisfied smile. She smiled back and departed after Do Cheon.
The four left.
"It was meant for Iron Mountain. Yeol was for river pirates, Mountain for hill bandits. But Gold Emperor Clan meddled, changing plans."
"The Seventy-Two were in the plan too?"
"Geon said securing just the river lanes isn't enough for Yangtze transport. Land routes too for real profits. To satisfy the main text, Baekri Clan, and Eighteen Yangtze Strongholds, we need massive gains."
"So bandits guard land like river pirates guard water?"
"Exactly. River pirates for water, hill bandits for land. That's why we're sparring Yeol through to Green Forest Main Stronghold."
Do Cheon and Ong Jung-seo's exchange.
Golden Flower Money House.
Baekri Mun-gyeong, younger brother of the Baekri Clan head, had lingered here for days with Elder Sang and Yoo Geon.
Since Gold Emperor Clan's Yangtze meddling.
"Good news?"
Baekri Mun-gyeong asked entering. Elder Sang smiled, offering a seat.
"Sit. We can talk at ease now."
"Your confidence has me hooked. Been frustrated, unable to act or help."
Seated, Elder Sang and Yoo Geon sat opposite.
"Do Cheon's sent word."
"What'd he say?"
"Freed the Yangtze Waterway King from Gold Emperor grasp."
"A fight?"
Baekri Mun-gyeong's face stiffened.
"No full war yet. No need to worry."
"Gold Emperor lets the Waterway King slip without retaliation? How can you be sure?"
"Because it's Gold Emperor."
"...!"
"They face all Eighteen Yangtze Strongholds now. Why bother Iron Lion Sect? Besides, they crave merchant gold wars."
Made sense. Baekri Mun-gyeong relaxed somewhat.
"Even so, they've seized all ships. We're helpless, no?"
"That's what I gathered you for."
"A way?"
"Block the Yangtze waterways."
"...Use river pirates for tolls?"
Disappointment flooded Baekri Mun-gyeong's face.
"If that's all, we'd quit here."
"...!"
"Literally dam the river. Water shallows; big ships grounded."
"...!"
"...?"
Not just Baekri Mun-gyeong—Elder Sang gawked too. First he'd heard.
"Dam the waterways?"
Baekri Mun-gyeong double-checked.
"Yes."
"The Yangtze?"
"Yes."
"Stop its flow?"
"Yes."
"You can't mean...!"
"Do Cheon says he can."
"...!"
"I know little of martial arts. Told Cheon to dam it. He asked if that's all. Said yes; he'll do it."
"Unbelievable. The Yangtze, of all things."
Baekri Mun-gyeong muttered, then exploded.
"How the hell do you dam the Yangtze?!"
Yoo Geon rose, approached the continental map on the wall, and jabbed a Yangtze spot.
"Closest of Three Gorges. Narrow width, high cliffs. Solid martial arts? Doable."
"For real?"
"If he fails, we fold."
"You start this and call that an out?!"
"So it must succeed."
"Hah...!"
As Baekri Mun-gyeong reeled, Elder Sang asked,
"Was damming planned from the start?"
"Only if Gold Emperor moved. Planned cautious, but they jumped first."
"Do Gong-ja thought same initially?"
"Back then? Probably not. No grasp of the feat."
"Now?"
"No big deal, he says."
Elder Sang eyed Baekri Mun-gyeong.
"Do Gong-ja's confident."
"The Yangtze!"
"I know."
"Hah...!"
"Not total block. Enough for small ships. Their big ones stay stuck; ours roam free."
Baekri Mun-gyeong gaped at Yoo Geon's calm explanation.
"These mad bastards...!"
"Agreed."
Elder Sang concurred. As Baekri Mun-gyeong glared, the sheepish elder shifted to Yoo Geon.
"Where's Do Gong-ja now?"
"Green Forest Main Stronghold."
"Why there?"
"Part of the plan."
"Part? Like river pirates for them too?"
"River pirates best for water, hill bandits for land escorts."
Yoo Geon replied confidently. Elder Sang shook his head at the conviction.
"Yeah, what won't dam-builders think of?"