Chapter 77 - The Emergence of Hwangha Suryeon
“Ugh…… spare me.”
“Gaaah……”
The pirates who had targeted the merchant ship only to taste hell itself. Amid the agonized wails of those not yet dead, a group of men suddenly appeared.
They surveyed the gruesome scene, their eyes gleaming sharply.
Whoosh!
Of the three ships, two had sunk without a trace, while the last was engulfed in flames, slowly slipping beneath the waves.
“Find out what happened.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the sharp-featured middle-aged man's command, his men rushed toward the wounded.
Son Geon stared at the corpses swaying in the currents, his eyes flashing.
“What kind of bastards did they tangle with to end up like this?”
“Three ships means at least a hundred men. To be slaughtered so thoroughly…… it must have been a merchant vessel carrying martial artists from Murim.”
“To dare touch Hwangha Suryeon……”
Killing intent settled in the middle-aged man's eyes. An astonishing name slipped from his lips.
Hwangha Suryeon (Yellow River Lily)
One of the White Night Eight Great Families, Hwangha Suryeon dominated the Yellow River and rivers across the Central Plains, forming a massive alliance. Unlike other families ruled by a single lord over vast territories, it had evolved into an independent force through a coalition of factions.
Its forces numbered in the hundreds of thousands, with the widest domain and the strongest military might. Just a few years ago, the Yangtze River Overlords—terror of riverfolk—had been revealed as one of its subordinate groups.
Son Geon, the middle-aged man, was a major figure serving as a protector in this very Hwangha Suryeon.
His investigators returned and reported. Son Geon's expression cycled between shock and rage throughout.
“Beaten by fewer than ten men……”
“Their target ship didn't seem ordinary. Give the order, Protector, and we'll pursue at once.”
“It's been a full day?”
“Yes. But with fast ships and messengers to our downstream kin, we can catch them in less than half a day.”
“Do it immediately.”
“Yes, sir!”
Son Geon watched his men spring into action, then turned his gaze downstream. The river raged on like a massive dragon, its swift current natural and fierce.
Whoever they are, a day's lead means they've gone far. But they won't escape our pursuit.
Just then, messenger pigeons soared over Son Geon's head, heading the same way—downstream.
“You should head back now.”
“No. When the fast ships arrive, I'll board one and chase them myself. Prepare the vessel!”
“Understood!”
“Hm……”
Han-song-i furrowed his brow at the message pigeon. It reported that the pirates sunk by them and the Iron Blood Family belonged to Hwangha Suryeon.
Jeong-ryong asked, “Hwangha Suryeon?”
“So it seems.”
“As expected, they're a group not worth dealing with. Attacking an ordinary merchant ship, of all things.”
“That's how they built their power. A single merchant ship is nothing to them.”
“Why does the Cartel just watch?”
“They've issued warnings multiple times, but they were ignored. Hwangha Suryeon even threatened to withdraw from the Eight Great Families if interfered with again. That's how confident they are in their strength.”
Pop!
The pigeon message crumbled to ash in Han-song-i's hand and scattered.
Jeong-ryong asked again, “Should we inform the Lord of the North as well?”
“We must.”
“Then allow me to go.”
“No. There's much to discuss, so I'll go myself.”
“You could just summon him……”
“He is the rightful Lord of the North. What use is my age if I act superior?”
“But he hasn't formally ascended yet.”
“If I acknowledge him, he is the Lord of the North. Treat him with full respect at every moment, all of you.”
“……Understood.”
Yeon-hoo sat face-to-face with Han-song-i. There, Han-song-i relayed the intel from the subordinate left at the scene.
“The pirates were under Hwangha Suryeon.”
Yeon-hoo remained calm. Unexpectedly so— a glint of admiration flickered in Han-song-i's eyes.
Not even fearing Hwangha Suryeon……
Yeon-hoo spoke. “We must abandon the river route.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Then prepare at once.”
“Agreed.”
Han-song-i stepped out of the cabin with a faint smile. He liked Yeon-hoo's bold attitude. Anyone else would have deferred to his opinion first, but Yeon-hoo had stated his own resolve without hesitation.
That child will suffer more now.
Aboard ship, wounds could be tended in comfort, but overland meant hardship.
With a heavy heart, Han-song-i headed to Han Yu-hwa's cabin. She emerged just as he arrived.
“Your body isn't healed—why come out?”
“I heard everything from the guard captain. If it's Hwangha Suryeon, we have to abandon the river.”
“……”
Now that he looked, Han Yu-hwa was fully geared. She'd anticipated the land route and prepared.
A smile touched Han-song-i's lips. He saw Yeon-hoo in her.
These young ones nowadays……
Wall Thunder elder An-gong's face flushed red with fury. Over Yeon-hoo vanishing without a trace.
He'd risked intel leaks by ordering full pursuit without changing course, yet they hadn't found him.
“Should we consider the river now?”
“……”
An-gong bit his lip at his aide's words. Time-wise, he'd ruled out the river from the start. But now, he'd scour the skies if needed.
Further delay meant entering Cartel territory, dooming the mission. Return was an option, but Wi Yeon Gwang, desperate for Yeon-hoo's head, wouldn't wait.
“Consider every possibility, Elder.”
“Select lightness skill specialists and send them to the river. Report any trace immediately.”
“Understood.”
He sent men to the river but prayed his calculations held. Discovery there meant he'd bear full blame for the misjudgment.
“We must report to the Lord.”
“Say we're pursuing with all forces.”
“Yes.”
An-gong drew a deep breath. Time bred anxiety. Failure would crumble his achievements like sandcastles. Worse, Wi Yeon Gwang's wrath could claim his life.
Damn it……
An-gong finally regretted volunteering for this.
Half a day later.
A message reached Son Geon. They'd found the ship, but the suspects—fierce beasts—had disembarked a double hour prior……
Rip!
Son Geon's face twisted like the crumpled pigeon slip.
A double hour ahead made pursuit impossible. Continuing risked invading White Night Cartel territory. Chaotic or not, it was a tiger not to provoke.
“What now?”
“Withdraw.”
“Just like this?”
“You want to chase into Cartel lands?”
“……”
Son Geon turned. But his aide pressed.
“Better report up and await orders……”
“Gurk!”
The aide couldn't finish. Son Geon's right hand pierced his heart.
“Insolent fool. Who are you to order me?”
“Guh……”
Son Geon glared murderously at the foaming, collapsing man. Silence gripped the rest.
“Back to headquarters,” he barked coldly.
Then—a yellow-robed man flew in from the left.
“Protector! Suspicious figures spotted nearby, per report.”
Flash!
“All to that spot!”
Clang!
“Argh!”
“Aaaack!”
Fierce clashes and dying screams echoed from the riverside reeds. Blood stained the ground everywhere—the fight had raged awhile.
Son Geon arrived two quarters-hour after the report. He charged the black-robed foes entangled with his men.
Scree!
Thud!
“Argh!”
His one sword, one kill prowess felled four black-robes in an instant, blood spraying.
Son Geon's face twisted.
Too weak.
Then—the black-robes fled. Son Geon flashed forward, slashing one's leg.
Thud!
“Arrrgh!”
Stab!
His blade plunged into the writhing man's right arm.
“Reveal your origin, and I'll kill you painlessly.”
“Grrrh……”
Slice!
“Aaaack!”
Severing the right arm, Son Geon laid his sword on the left.
“Speak. Or I'll make you beg for death.”
“Fr-from…… Wall Thunder Family!”
“Wall Thunder? Why prowl here?”
“P-pursuing…… the Lord of the North……”
“Lord of the North? Why hunt him here?!”
“W-we were just…… ordered to search the river……”
The black-robe died mid-sentence. Heart stopped from pain and terror.
“Pursuing the Lord of the North?”
Son Geon frowned. Wall Thunder and Northern Lord—out of nowhere. Ignorant of Wi Yeon Gwang's net for Yeon-hoo, he was baffled.
Could it relate to our sunken ships?
The suspicion dawned on Son Geon.