Chapter 22: The Long River Three Gorges Waterway Gang (2)
The ferryman shouted in a frantic voice.
"The broken pier's tangled the currents! If the boat gets sucked into that whirlpool, we're done for!"
Even without his warning, it was obvious at a glance that the boat was in peril.
A fierce whirlpool spun like a typhoon.
Since it churned in the middle of the river, veering to the edge might let them skirt it.
The problem was their course—straight into its maw.
"Rocks everywhere down there! Once you're in, no way out!"
The ferryman rowed desperately to turn the boat.
But the heading didn't budge.
His strength wasn't enough to redirect it. And with only one oar...
Seo Baek sidled up beside him. "Give me the oar."
"Ain't for just anyone. If you ain't rowed before..."
The ferryman stubbornly clung to it.
No time for arguing.
Thwack. Seo Baek drove his elbow into the man's armpit.
"Gah...!"
The ferryman dropped the oar and staggered back three steps.
Not a full pressure-point strike with inner energy, but precisely placed—it had to paralyze his breathing for a moment.
Seo Baek snatched the oar.
He recalled the ferryman's strokes from the full day aboard.
Sweep once, twist to pivot.
Huuuuh. Deep breath in, then row.
Splash. Pulling with both arms, the oar churned the water fiercely.
Reverse this time.
He extended his arms, twisting the oar to skim the current instead of fighting it head-on.
Push straight against the flow, and the oar snaps.
Like a long-handled fan in gale winds—forcing it would shatter the shaft.
Skirting the rush, he swung back, timing the whirlpool's pull for another stroke.
Splaaaash.
Finally, the boat veered.
No longer barreling into the center, it edged toward the rim.
Success.
Keep rowing like this, and they'd slip past into the downstream flow.
But an unforeseen snag hit.
Thud. The boat rocked violently.
"Rock field!"
the ferryman yelled.
Leaning over the gunwale, Seo Baek frowned.
Beneath the muddy torrent, jagged rocks spiked up like porcupine quills.
But they'd just corrected course.
No dodging them now.
Sure enough, a roar erupted as the bow lifted, then plunged.
Ruuuuumble.
The hull had smashed into a massive rock.
"Hole in the bottom!"
Water gushed in from below.
Yu So Un glanced at Seo Baek. "To shore!"
"Got it."
But rowing did nothing—the boat wouldn't budge. The gaping hole increased drag; it stuck fast against the current.
Oar's useless now.
Seo Baek scanned for alternatives.
His eyes caught the shattered pier's debris.
That'll do.
He seized the anchor on the deck and hurled it at the wreckage. The heavy iron, meant to hold the boat, flew like a catapult stone.
Crash. It hooked into the debris with its fluke like a wedge.
The chain went taut.
"Everyone, this way!"
Seo Baek leaped; Yu So Un followed.
Two figures balanced on the chain like acrobats!
But the two left aboard lacked the lightness skill.
Thud. Another rock collision—the ferryman lost balance and tumbled in.
"Aaaagh!"
A lifetime ferrying the Long River.
Yet the whirlpool's fury overwhelmed even fish-like swimming.
Flailing up once, he sank—and didn't resurface.
Wang Yi Sam launched himself at the quake's instant, grabbing the chain with both hands.
But he'd gripped a slime-coated section submerged during docking.
Moss made it slick; his hands slipped.
"Wh-whoa...!"
Splash.
Wang Yi Sam flailed into the depths.
Seeing it, Yu So Un upended his satchel and tossed a rope.
"This guy's a falling expert."
It had missed at the cliffside trail, but Wang Yi Sam snagged it mid-flail this time.
His weight yanked Yu So Un off the chain; he flipped, wrapping his feet around it, and hauled.
The current raged, but Wang Yi Sam inched closer until he gripped the chain.
"Th-thanks."
"Saved you for those eight silver taels sinking away."
"Tch, should've let me turn water ghost."
Wang Yi Sam bantered with Yu So Un despite the near-death. Seo Baek and Yu So Un were that reliable.
"Not the time for jokes."
Seo Baek's cool voice snapped them to.
The hooked debris sank fast, dragging chain and anchor as the boat submerged.
Plus the weight of three men...
Snap-crash.
The wreckage splintered; the anchor swung free.
The slack chain dropped them into the river.
"Grip tight!"
Splash.
They clung, but the whirlpool loomed.
Seo Baek calculated coldly.
Shika Heart Method to hold breath, dive low-current depths—swim to shore.
Yu So Un's skills promised survival.
Senior Wang's the issue.
Solid broadsword man, but inner arts and lightness barely second-rate. Without help, he'd spin under.
They'd known each other briefly since leaving Shika Manor.
But Wang Yi Sam was his first companion.
Can't abandon Senior Wang.
Yet no easy way out dragging him.
Then, through thick mist—a massive shadow.
...!
Seo Baek halted thought, toed the chain, and kicked up.
Whoosh.
Instinctual gamble.
It paid off. Mist parted on a huge junk ship—house to their sampan's estate.
Seo Baek drew his back-sword and stabbed the hull.
Crunch. Lives on the line—no sparing the ship.
"Rope!"
As he yelled, Yu So Un flung it—like rehearsed.
Thwap. Whirr.
Braced on his embedded sword, Seo Baek looped the rope round his wrist and pulled them up.
* * *
Moments later, helping hands hauled them aboard.
"Thank you for the save."
Seo Baek's group bowed gratitude.
About thirty men crammed the deck—middle-aged to youths, all bronzed from sun and sea. Lifelong rivermen, by looks.
But their leader? A woman in her early twenties.
Her sharp lips and eyes marked her as one of them.
"Who are you?"
"Crossing Three Gorges on an Ami Sect boat for the Central Plains. Whirlpool wrecked us."
"No small boat makes it now. Revenants wrecked the piers—no intact docks left."
"I see."
Her gaze lingered oddly, scrutinizing Seo Baek, Wang Yi Sam, Yu So Un in turn.
Seo Baek caught it.
Eyeing my sword and Senior Wang's broad dao.
His was a rare greatsword, true. But martial artists carried blades—nothing special.
She turned away, ordering a middle-aged man.
"Water, food. Dry their clothes."
"Yes, Chief."
She left after.
"Follow me."
The man led to the hold cabins.
Tight, humid quarters. Bunks so short toes hit bulkhead stretched out. No luxury.
But to the near-drowned trio, a palace inn.
They stripped wet garb, lay drying.
"Lucky break. No ship passing, who knows."
"Hmph. Woulda died anyway."
"Yes. Barely more, barely less—dead men."
"With eight silver taels on me? Couldn't let that sink. Right?"
Wang Yi Sam blustered; Yu So Un parried.
"Hand over the silver, then. Next time, you're on your own."
"Nah. Want it? Save me!"
Wang Yi Sam tilted his head.
"That woman, though. Called her Chief—Waterway Gang boss? Young gal leading roughnecks? Impressive."
"Ami's Jeong Su Sa Tae's a woman too."
Seo Baek deadpanned; Wang Yi Sam crossed arms, shaking head.
"Different. Ami's nuns. Waterway's brute boatmen. Lone woman as chief? Fishy..."
"Everything's fishy to you."
Yu So Un chuckled.
The cabin door creaked; the middle-aged man peeked.
"Chief wants to see you three."
They exchanged looks. Just after Wang Yi Sam's words—eerie timing.
"Wait," they told him, dressing.
Seo Baek donned his half-dry tunic; Wang Yi Sam grinned slyly.
"Young miss summons at night? Junior's becoming a real man!"
"Enough joking."
"Thought you just swung swords good. Blush like a maiden, heh heh."
Seo Baek sighed rebuttal.
"Say she calls a man at night. Why us three together? Mad?"
"W-well... Maybe her tastes run unique..."
Seo Baek ignored, exiting. Yu So Un followed, snubbing him.
"Hey, ignoring me?"
The man led to the stern cabin.
"Chief, the three are here."
"Send them in."
They entered.
Wang Yi Sam's snickering died; he gulped.
Across the table, her eyes pierced like daggers.
"I'm Yang So So, chief of the Long River Three Gorges Waterway Gang."
The self-proclaimed chief declared.
"We save drowning folk for a life fee. Saved yours today—pay up."