Chapter 166 - Bukgung Cheon's Narrow Escape
A sharp whistling pierced the air, snapping the mast of the boat the giant was riding.
Boom!
Arrows followed, sending several men screaming into the river with splashes.
Splash! Splash!
"Make way to the side, please!"
This time, a clear voice rang out from midair. Everyone reflexively looked up, catching sight of a young man slicing through the sky as he descended. His two escorts quickly stepped aside.
Thud!
The one who landed in the cramped space was Seobaek. The boat was so small that it rocked violently upon his arrival, even veering off course.
"By my lord's command, I've come to aid the Geomga's young master."
"Your lord...?"
"This place is no longer the Northwest—it's now territory of our North."
Seobaek's words revealed the identity of the lord he mentioned. Bukgung Cheon asked in astonishment,
"Has he... come as well?"
"Yes. Over there."
Seobaek turned his gaze to the forest on the left. As everyone's heads swiveled that way, agonized screams erupted from beyond the trees.
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
"Let's head that way first."
Seobaek pointed upstream, where the pirates were.
Maeng Ho shouted,
"There are Hwangha Suryeon bastards lying in wait up there too—shouldn't we go somewhere else?!"
"Ah, they're on our side. They were disguised as Hwangha Suryeon for certain reasons, so no need to worry."
"Oh!"
Maeng Ho and the escorts trembled with excitement. For the first time, Maeng Ho broke into a bright smile.
"Young master! Let's go at once!"
But Bukgung Cheon shook his head.
"They've come to help us—we should fight alongside them."
"You should retreat to safety first..."
Maeng Ho trailed off, his eyes widening. Bukgung Cheon had kicked off the deck and was soaring toward the nearest approaching Hwangha Suryeon boat at the prow.
"Damn it..."
Boom!
Maeng Ho and the escorts hurriedly chased after Bukgung Cheon. Left alone, Seobaek tilted his head.
"Rumors called him a weakling and a bookworm, but that doesn't seem right."
Seobaek slung his bow over his shoulder and drew his sword.
Shing!
"If they've invaded our territory, they have to pay the price."
Boom!
"Sea King! They're allies!"
"Bullshit! How can those bastards holding my son hostage be allies?!"
"But..."
Namgon glared with axe-like eyes.
"Still, we have to fight together."
"Of course."
"It's time to show these scum our true power! Everyone, advance!"
"Advance!"
Whoosh!
Several pirate ships surged forward in unison. Then—
Whir!
A gust whistled over Namgon's head. A figure landed right in front of him: Blood King Sinhwi and Red Wolf Corps leader Gwan Baek.
Recognizing Gwan Baek, Namgon's face twisted like he'd chewed a raw persimmon. The two, longtime rivals over Northern seas, had no reason to be pleased.
Sinhwi said calmly,
"We need to pick up speed."
"And who the hell are you?"
Namgon bristled immediately. Sinhwi was dressed as a Red Wolf Corps member, so Namgon naturally assumed he ranked below Gwan Baek.
Gwan Baek smirked.
"Calling the Blood King 'you'? Tsk tsk tsk."
"Gasp!"
Stunned, Namgon fell flat on his ass. The surrounding pirates paled and bowed their heads hastily.
Sinhwi continued impassively,
"I'll let it slide this once since you didn't know."
"Why is the Blood King in Red Wolf Corps garb...?"
"Curiosity like that shortens lives. Do as you're told."
"...Hey! Speed up!"
At Namgon's lightning-quick attitude shift, Sinhwi and Gwan Baek exchanged wry smiles.
Gwan Baek added to Namgon,
"Be careful. Those guys are called tyrants of the water. They're on a whole different level from the pirates you've faced."
"Hmph! Don't worry! I'll show you who the real tyrants of the water are."
"Looking forward to it. Heh heh heh."
Then Sinhwi let out an admiring sound.
"Oh ho."
Gwan Baek agreed.
"Looks like the rumors of the Northern young master being a weakling and bookworm were all nonsense."
The one who astonished them was Bukgung Cheon. Having boarded a Hwangha Suryeon ship, he danced like a raging tiger, his blade scattering azure light. No man or sword could withstand it.
Shring.
Sinhwi slowly drew his sword.
"To make a powerhouse like Geomga our ally, we should help more decisively, no?"
"Of course."
Gwan Baek drew his too. They then shot into the air with phenomenal lightness skill, leaving the pirates' jaws dropping.
Except Namgon.
"Fucking hell. If you're gonna do that, why the rush on speed?"
[Second time, pirate.]
"...!"
Sinhwi's transmission voice froze Namgon like stone.
"Sea King! Should we slow down since you're upset?"
Smack!
"Gah!"
The Hwangha Suryeon forces pursuing Bukgung Cheon plunged into chaos at the sudden appearance of the Red Wolf Corps. As if lying in wait, the Corps struck, felling dozens in an instant.
The problem was their numbers—they outnumbered the enemy.
"Why are the Red Wolf Corps here...?"
"Why? To lop off your ugly heads. Heh heh heh."
"We're Hwangha Suryeon! Fear retaliation and stop now!"
"Heh heh heh. What do we have to fear from seals?"
"We're wolves that eat seals when we're hungry, you bastards!"
Clang! Boom boom!
"Urk!"
"Argh!"
At the center was Yeon-hoo. Like Sinhwi, he wore Red Wolf Corps garb, complete with a face mask.
Not just him—Cheol-u, Songyeong, Jo Yeong, and others looked every bit the part.
After slaying a few strong-looking foes, Yeon-hoo glanced toward the river. Spotting Bukgung Cheon rampaging on a Hwangha Suryeon ship, he narrowed his eyes.
When they'd first met, Bukgung Cheon had concealed his extraordinary talent. But Yeon-hoo hadn't sensed this level of prowess.
I misjudged him.
At the same time, it puzzled him. With such skill, how had Bukgung Cheon ended up in this mess?
Then—
Boom!
A pillar of fire erupted from one Hwangha Suryeon ship amid an explosion—someone had detonated a wall lightning bomb. Yeon-hoo's already narrowed eyes thinned further.
Destroying the ships would be a problem.
He turned to Cheol-u.
"Don't pursue if they flee."
"Understood."
Whoosh!
Kicking off, Yeon-hoo skimmed the river with flat-foot technique, lightly landing on the ship where Bukgung Cheon and Seobaek raged.
No sooner had he arrived than a greatsword swung at him—Maeng Ho, mistaking him for Hwangha Suryeon.
Yeon-hoo parried with his sword.
Bang!
"Urk!"
A groan escaped Maeng Ho. Seobaek shouted belatedly,
"He's one of us!"
Yeon-hoo tapped Maeng Ho's head and approached Bukgung Cheon, who had paused and turned.
The face mask hid Yeon-hoo's identity.
[Yeon-hoo here. I'll explain later—let's escape this first.]
"Thank you."
Even with enemies at his nose, Bukgung Cheon clasped his sword hand in salute and bowed. Such courtesy in battle drew a wry smile from Yeon-hoo.
But he soon turned to Seobaek.
"We'll take the ship. Change your attack plan."
"Pardon? Ah! Got it!"
Then—
Dong dong dong!
Drums boomed from behind, and the pursuing Hwangha Suryeon ships swiftly turned their prows. A retreat order.
Splash! Splash!
The survivors on Yeon-hoo's ship, realizing they'd be slaughtered if they held, jumped into the river one after another. The same happened on Sinhwi and Gwan Baek's ship.
Yeon-hoo glanced at the riverbank, where Hwangha Suryeon troops were fleeing south.
Seobaek asked,
"Pursue?"
"Return as is."
"Yes, sir!"
Seobaek pulled a massive horn from his bosom and blew.
Bwoooong! Bwoooong!
No-chase signal. The engaged forces swarmed to the shore.
Yeon-hoo turned to Bukgung Cheon. His flushed face and heaving breaths showed he'd given his all.
Finally, Yeon-hoo removed his face mask. Maeng Ho's eyes bulged as he pointed.
"Wha? Huh?"
"Still as hot-headed as ever."
"No, how did you recognize me with the mask...?"
Clap!
Bukgung Cheon placed a hand on Maeng Ho's shoulder, tone solemn.
"Mind your manners, Maeng Ho."
"...Maeng Ho greets the North's lord."
Whoosh whoosh!
The other escorts bowed in unison. Yeon-hoo met Bukgung Cheon's gaze.
"You alright?"
"I've received a great debt. How shall I repay...?"
"I'll bill you slowly."
"It was a life forfeit anyway. If you demand it, I'll give it anytime."
Snort.
"Joking. But let me ask one thing. With that skill, how'd you end up like this?"
"Well..."
"Hiding your power while your men died?"
"I'll explain later."
Bukgung Cheon's face flushed with embarrassment. Yeon-hoo asked no more and turned to Seobaek.
"We need pirates to tow the ship."
"Understood."
Flames shot from Namgon's eyes. His face burned redder than fire.
He'd been eager to showcase his honed sea skills against Hwangha Suryeon—to salvage his crushed pride, even a little.
But their sudden flight ended it without a single swing.
"What kind of bullshit is this...?"