Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Reversal on the Lake
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A grand large ship, more than three or four times the size of an ordinary vessel, cleaved through the currents of Dongting Lake as it pressed forward.
Amid the crew's frantic movements, Bongchu stared straight ahead and spoke up.
"You said there were no markings on the sails. This intel is solid, right?"
"Of course, sir. I've already got our men tailing it and keeping a close watch."
"Good. Keep pressing on."
Bongchu smiled with satisfaction at the report.
How long had it been since their last decent catch?
Times were already tough. They couldn't let this one slip away.
Susususu―
They were scouring the southern waters of Dongting Lake, not far from the mainland, in search of a pleasure cruiser.
It didn't take long before a prime target came into view.
A luxurious crimson-gold pleasure boat, more focused on ostentation than practicality.
It chugged along slowly without picking up speed, and raucous laughter poured out from within, as if they were holding some kind of banquet.
Not a single guard keeping watch outside.
"They're reveling away, oblivious to the doom approaching."
Guessing it belonged to some wealthy out-of-towner on a joyride, Bongchu ordered the ship to close in as much as possible.
Once they were fairly close, he gripped a rock in his fist, pulled back his arm like drawing a harpoon, and hurled it forward after channeling his internal energy into it.
Boom!
The rock smashed into the water right beside the cruiser, sending waves rippling outward.
The pleasure boat rocked violently, and moments later, several men emerged from inside.
"Who goes there?"
Bongchu fixed them with a piercing stare as they appeared.
They looked like martial artists from their builds and attire, but something felt off about their poised stances.
After a brief hesitation, he probed their presence just to be safe.
But he could barely sense any internal energy from them.
Convinced they were all show and no substance, Bongchu went on the offensive.
"You've been traveling through Hunan Province. Surely you've heard of the Dongting Waterway Gang."
"Ah, yes. The great heroes who maintain order on Dongting Lake."
"So you know who we are."
Bongchu flashed a sinister grin and cut to the chase.
"Out of my mercy, I'll spare your lives. Hand over the ship right now and shove off barefoot."
When the Dongting Waterway Gang issued such threats, reactions typically fell into two categories.
They'd tremble, hand over everything, and flee—or brace for a fight.
But these guys were different. Utterly unlike anyone he'd ever encountered.
"Hand over the ship? And then how exactly are we supposed to leave?"
"That's..."
Caught off guard by their counter-question, Bongchu mulled it over briefly before abandoning the thought and barking roughly.
"That's for you lot to figure out! Do we have to spell it out? If you don't want to die, cough up the ship and get lost!"
Yet even his shout elicited nothing but bored ear-picking and indifference.
Veins bulging on his forehead, Bongchu trembled with rage.
"Fine."
Words won't cut it.
Time to show them with actions.
"Bring us alongside."
The Dongting Waterway Gang's massive ship, dwarfing the cruiser several times over, glided up beside it.
As the vessels bumped together, Bongchu pointed at them and issued orders.
"Search every inch inside. Tie up everyone without exception. The women go to the brothels, the men to the slave markets."
"Yes, sir!"
His men swarmed onto the cruiser.
Bongchu watched their backs for a moment, then slowly made his way to the bow, gazing at the water as he lost himself in thought.
'These fools dropped right into our laps, putting out the immediate fire.'
But the ongoing hardship wasn't going anywhere.
How were they supposed to navigate this mess?
He let out a deep sigh from the depths of his lungs.
'If there's truly no other way...'
He'd gotten angry earlier, but merging with the Yangtze Waterway Gang might have to be considered.
Of course, only as a last resort after every other option failed.
As his mind swirled with complications, he snapped back to reality and realized no one had returned yet.
"Hasn't it been quite a while?"
"It has, sir..."
Even the cruiser his men had boarded was dead silent.
Puzzled, he turned to his deputy.
"You go check it out."
"Yes, sir."
As he sent the deputy off and resumed staring at Dongting Lake, lost in thought...
Crash! Bang! Clatter!
A burst of commotion erupted from the cruiser.
'Damn, they're handling it rough.'
I told them to bring them quietly.
Damaged goods don't sell well.
Imagining his deputy wrapping things up, he clicked his tongue.
And sure enough, footsteps soon approached, just as he'd expected.
Thud. Thud.
Sensing multiple people drawing near, Bongchu nodded faintly to himself.
'Finally back.'
A bit late, but if they'd put up a fight, it was understandable.
Bongchu slowly turned to greet his men.
"Finally back, huh..."
But his words trailed off unfinished.
An unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.
His men, who had boarded the cruiser, were now tightly bound and being dragged back by the enemy.
And among them was the deputy, his eye socket bruised black and lips swollen bloody.
His face battered beyond recognition, the deputy mumbled through puffed lips.
"Just as you ordered... we brought—no, escorted them back."
Bongchu's gaze shifted back to them.
Hah, so they've got some martial arts training.
Binding my men and putting on this show of force?
To me, the ruler of the Dongting Waterway Gang, the King of the Waterways?
Bongchu sneered, one corner of his mouth twitching.
Then he hardened his expression and spoke slowly.
"Welcome. We've been waiting to escort you to finer accommodations."
He clasped his hands warmly, flashing a beaming smile.
'Damn it, we've hooked a monster.'
The reason Bongchu had survived long enough to become the Dongting Waterway Gang's leader, backed by the Yangtze gang, and earn the moniker King of the Waterways?
He only targeted the weak—skipping anyone strong or untouchable.
And this situation rang alarm bells for him.
Boarding their cruiser to lower their guard, only to turn the tables and hunt us.
His men were all on their knees, leaving him alone.
Even the deputy had been beaten without landing a blow.
Against his inner turmoil, he plastered on an even wider grin.
"So... might I ask where you gentlemen hail from...?"
Step. Step.
In response, they parted to the sides, and one man stepped forward.
Hyeok Mulin stood before Bongchu, glancing down briefly before replying curtly.
"Doesn't matter. I've got one request."
As Hyeok Mulin shot him a look, Ji Wolhon immediately withdrew the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad.
Now alone at the bow with Bongchu.
Glancing around nervously, Bongchu stammered.
"What could a mere pirate like me possibly do for you...?"
"The Dongting Waterway Gang must know these waters like the back of your hand."
"Yes! Ask away!"
Questions about Dongting Lake?
That he could handle.
Brightening up, Bongchu raised his voice.
"Then you know how to get into the Thousand-Year Prison Island?"
But the follow-up question made him jump in shock.
"Th-the Thousand-Year Prison Island?! Why would you..."
Walk straight into that hellhole voluntarily?
A place no one ever escaped?
Horror washed over Bongchu's face.
But only for a moment—his mind raced to a new angle.
'Wait. This is an opportunity.'
With his neck already under their boot, sending them into the prison would solve everything neatly.
They'd never come out anyway.
Best to cooperate fully.
A solution emerging faster than expected, Bongchu's lips twitched up and down.
"Any issues?"
"None at all. I was just pondering your question about the Thousand-Year Prison Island."
Composing himself, he continued in a regretful tone.
"We don't know the way in. And the waters around it are so treacherous, we've barely even approached."
"Why's that?"
"The currents form massive whirlpools, making it incredibly hard to get close. Even our lifelong sailors steer clear, shaking their heads."
Tricky local currents, huh.
Matches what the Secret Affairs Hall reported.
No lies there.
Hyeok Mulin pressed on.
"So how does the Murim Alliance get prisoners onto the island?"
"Once a month, when the moon tilts full in the night sky. From the start of the Hai hour to the start of the Zi hour, the eastern waters calm just enough. That's when they transport the prisoners."
"Ho."
Hyeok Mulin thought for a moment before speaking.
"But that's also when the Murim Alliance's watch is tightest. The one time the outer perimeter weakens."
"Spot on. Far more alliance members than usual deploy to the eastern waters and stand guard."
That won't do.
He had no confidence in fighting them off—and it clashed with his immediate goal anyway.
Not just entering the Thousand-Year Prison Island undetected, but staying off the Murim Alliance's radar until it was all over.
So the surest remaining path was...
"When are the lake's currents at their worst?"
"Pardon? If you mean the roughest day... tomorrow, massive whirlpools hit the western waters, halting all traffic for the day. But why..."
"That means the Murim Alliance's defenses will slacken. No one would dream of approaching there."
"True, no alliance navy will patrol it, but breaching those whirlpools is impossible. Please reconsider..."
Bongchu's face darkened sharply.
Sailing into whirlpools was taboo for any waterman.
"I'm not saying go inside. Just bring the ship close."
"Even so..."
Still uneasy, Bongchu hesitated, but Hyeok Mulin pushed forward.
"Die now, or die tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
This guy looks like some refined young master, but he threatens better than any pirate.
Resigned to his fate, Bongchu drooped his head limply.