Chapter 186 - Namgon's Valor
Dongbang Ri sliced through the waist of an enemy bursting from the water below. But another leaped toward her in that instant. Having unleashed a barrage of attacks mid-air, she struggled even to regain her balance—a dire crisis.
Then, a streak of sword energy flew in from behind her. It pierced the chest of the foe hidden in the rising water pillar with pinpoint accuracy.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Dongbang Ri turned her head, and there stood Cheol-u, sharp in her vision. He shouted,
“Ignore them and charge straight ahead!”
“Got it!”
Whoosh!
Dongbang Ri summoned all her inner energy and unleashed her lightness skill. Thankfully, she'd conserved her strength until now, allowing her to skim across the water's surface like flat ground.
Swoosh!
A sword thrust up from below. It grazed her leg by a hair's breadth, but Cheol-u countered with a strike toward the blade's origin.
Pierce!
Splash!
Two water pillars erupted. From within, two sinister auras hurtled toward Cheol-u.
Bang!
Cheol-u kicked off the water and soared into the air. The enemies revealed themselves naturally, and Bukgung Pae, leaping down just in time, severed one's waist.
Thud!
“Gah!”
Blood sprayed from the other's crown.
“You bastards dare! Ptooey!”
It was Jo Yeong. Cheol-u shot him a grateful glance, and Jo Yeong grinned, baring his teeth, before dashing after Dongbang Ri across the river.
That was when it happened.
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Two Geomga experts screamed and vanished into the depths. Their comrades reached out, but it was futile. Meanwhile, the speedboat sank, leaving only its prow above water.
The Geomga masters fled upstream with all their might, but several failed to cover even ten zhang before plunging under—lacking the inner energy to endure.
They became prey for the monstrous foes without fail. Bukgung Pae tried to aid them but found himself pinned down by attacks.
“Argh!”
As another vanished with a scream, Bukgung Pae bit his lip in helpless frustration. Blood dripped from the gash.
“Use these as footholds!”
A crisp shout rang from behind. Wide planks slid toward Bukgung Pae and the Geomga experts.
The experts leaped onto the planks and bounded upstream. Two pursuers leaping after them lost their heads to Cheol-u and Bukgung Pae.
Splat!
“Argh!”
“Aaagh!”
Bukgung Pae whipped around reflexively, and Namgon's figure etched itself into his eyes like a dagger. Namgon growled at him,
“No time to gawk—quit dawdling and get up there!”
With that, Namgon vanished into the water. About ten pirates followed suit.
In the chaos, the Geomga experts escaped the danger zone via the planks, but not without heavy losses. Cheol-u stood vigilant on his plank, eyes on the depths. Seobaek rode another down to his side, and Bukgung Pae held position after confirming his men reached Namgon's ship safely.
Bubble bubble.
Bubbles rose repeatedly from below. Blood spread, and Seobaek muttered grimly,
“This is a river, not the sea. Can the pirates really handle them?”
“Let's watch.”
Then—
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Drums boomed thunderously from downstream. The Hwangha Suryeon ships pursuing Cheol-u and the others turned their prows.
Seobaek's tense face brightened.
“They're retreating!”
Cheol-u exhaled softly. Bubbles surged anew from various spots. After a few breaths, Namgon's head broke the surface.
“Pfaw!”
The pirates who'd dived with him surfaced one by one. Seobaek quickly counted.
Damn...
Including Namgon, only five had emerged.
“Hurry up!”
Dongbang Ri's voice called from behind. The warship had closed in. Bukgung Pae leaped aboard first. Cheol-u and Seobaek waited on the plank until Namgon and his men approached.
Moments later, they climbed onto the warship. Only then did Cheol-u and Seobaek launch themselves aboard.
“Damn it all.”
Bam!
Namgon stomped the deck hard. His bloodshot eyes bulged—grief for his lost men, no doubt. Cheol-u approached. Namgon spoke first,
“Don't look at me like that! Sure, we lost five... but we took as many of theirs.”
Namgon's heart ached. His pride stung. He prided himself as the world's best in water, yet five had died—in battle alongside him.
“Well fought.”
“...”
“I'll never forget this debt.”
Namgon's eyes trembled. The ice-cold Cheol-u saying such words... It eased the bitterness a little, dulled the despair.
“We'll escort you to camp.”
Moments later, all turned prows upstream. Jo Yeong and Seobaek stood at the stern, gazing at the Hwangha Suryeon warship still engulfed in flames, burning away.
Jo Yeong muttered, brow furrowed,
“Why'd they pull back?”
Seobaek pointed skyward without a word—precisely, to the Iron Blood Great Banner fluttering from the warship's mast, symbol of Northern Murim.
“They really retreated because of that flag?”
“In the midst of war with Geomga, they can't afford to make enemies of us Northerners too.”
“Ah...”
“Even so, choosing retreat in that moment... That Hwangha Suryeon strategist must be even more cold-blooded than rumored.”
“Cold-blooded my ass—just say they fled 'cause they fear our North. That's the only way it'll sit right with me. Damn bastards!”
Seobaek grinned.
“Obviously. Even the same Iron Blood Great Banner feels different now that we've annexed the Northwest. Before that, they never would've backed off.”
Ga Hoe watched his returning subordinates, his gaze darkening. Though he'd ordered retreat fearing escalation, he hoped those pursuing Bukgung Pae had at least killed him. Capture would've been ideal, but unrealistic.
How much time passed? A monstrous warrior approached and bowed.
“Forgive us. We... lost Bukgung Pae.”
Tremble...
Ga Hoe's eyes quivered faintly. He noted the scant number trailing behind.
“Is that all of you?”
“The one who struck our lead ship was too strong. Our elite squad died chasing him. The speedboat riders were all experts too. And at the end, those freakish foes appeared...”
The warrior trailed off, biting his lip. He recalled the sudden underwater combatants—each shockingly powerful, one in particular wielding aquatic arts he couldn't confidently best.
He continued,
“Northern Murim has ones on par with our underwater prowess.”
“Silence!”
“...”
Killing intent flashed in Ga Hoe's eyes. All swallowed dryly, watching him. An outburst here would doom the warrior.
But it didn't happen. The man was too valuable to kill—Ga Hoe's favorite.
“Raise your head.”
“...”
“I knew you weren't at full strength yet sent you anyway. My fault—no need for apologies.”
“We'll get the whole squad to elite rank ASAP. Nothing like today will repeat.”
“We're heading back.”
Ga Hoe turned. Then, two flaming warships sank with thunderous roars. He forced down his bitterness, thinking of Yeon-hoo who'd wrought such destruction alone—and seethed with murderous resolve.
Bukgung Pae slipped away, but that bastard... I'll kill him no matter what.
The Black Cloaks sent to capture Bukgung Pae first had chased Yeon-hoo instead. Neither Ga Hoe nor they knew their quarry's identity.
Nothing's going right today.
A nonexistent headache throbbed. Things had seemed promising, then unraveled completely. The losses—catastrophic. Capturing Bukgung Pae would've justified it all, but even that failed.
Had he known sooner Bukgung Pae was on the speedboat, he'd have redirected the Black Cloaks. But by then, they'd already vanished after Yeon-hoo.
“Hoo...”
Ga Hoe exhaled long, suppressing his surging rage.
Splash!
The warship surged forward on the westerly wind. Crisis averted, but the mood somber—heavy Geomga casualties.
Dongbang Ri's face at the stern was taut.
“Haa...”
Her flower-petal lips parted, a deep sigh escaping. Eyes fixed on the receding battlefield, she fretted over Yeon-hoo. She trusted his prowess, but until she saw him safe...
“Don't worry, my lady. My lord is unharmed.”
Cheol-u's voice came from behind. Dongbang Ri schooled her expression. He stood beside her and continued,
“He's overcome worse. Rest inside now.”
“Just a bit longer.”
Cheol-u turned silently for the cabin. The wind whipped harshly over Dongbang Ri. She raised a hand to brush hair from her eyes—and froze.
Something sliced through the darkness.
A... person?
Confirming it human, she drew her sword.
Clang!
“It's me.”
“...!”
Whoosh!
Dongbang Ri's eyes trembled as Yeon-hoo landed before her.
“Any injuries?”
“You're... not hurt?”
“I asked first.”
“I'm fine.”
“Me too.”
Then—
“My lord!”
The cabin door flew open; Cheol-u and the rest poured out.
Thud!
Yeon-hoo tossed something from his shoulder onto the deck. Seobaek bent to inspect, eyes widening.
“Isn't this their uniform?”
“Handle it carefully—show Songyeong.”
Cheol-u asked,
“Was this your goal from the start?”
Yeon-hoo nodded silently.
“Seemed useful.”
Namgon approached then, bowing reluctantly. Cheol-u said,
“The Sea King's aid was crucial this time.”
Yeon-hoo met Namgon's gaze. Namgon lifted his head, then averted it shyly at eye contact.
“You know Hwangha Suryeon's underwater arts are claimed the world's best?”
“I won't... accept that!”
Namgon snapped his head up, holding Yeon-hoo's stare this time.
“They're just not used to river play. Get familiar, and we'll peel 'em like fish scales!”
Yeon-hoo stared a moment, then headed for the cabin. At the door, he added,
“Join me for a drink?”