Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Second Form
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Not only the Flying Stream Pavilion contingent was heading to Hainan Island. All the Hainan warriors who had participated in the decisive battle decided to return to their main headquarters.
It was due to severe exhaustion. Not just the wounded, but even the survivors were complaining of extreme fatigue.
The problem was the ships.
The Qiongzhou Strait separating Guangdong Province from Hainan Island was infamous for its treacherous waves. It wasn't something one could cross in a small boat.
Geyang County was adjacent to the sea, but it was merely a humble fishing village. The harbor was old and small, with nothing but tiny fishing vessels at best.
To board a large ship capable of crossing the strait, they had to head to Guangzhou, the heart of Guangdong Province.
And so, the next day, the group departed from Geyang County.
"Take care."
"We always pray for your success in martial endeavors, young master."
The three generations of the Tang Clinic came out to see the group off.
The Tang girl rescued from the Black Sword Sect offered a bundle to Yuk Jin-yang. When he took it, it felt quite heavy.
"It's called Tang Sansan. Thank you for saving me, big brother."
"What's this?"
"I packed all sorts of snacks. Dried fish, taro, ham.... And also, and also...."
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
Yuk Jin-yang patted the head of Tang Sansan, who was bowing deeply.
Having left the village, the group proceeded along the official road. Nearby unorthodox factions had all been wiped out, so there was no need to worry about ambushes, according to Sa Jong-seop's judgment.
"Though we missed Bae Ji-hak, it wasn't without gains."
Sa Jong-seop explained leisurely while scribbling on a small slip of paper with his brush. It seemed like he was recording details related to the mission.
"The Guangdong Jin Clan's own forces aren't that strong. The headache is the unorthodox groups they've recruited. There are many of them, scattered all over Guangdong, stirring up trouble everywhere. It's like how a pack of rats is more annoying than a beast."
"So Bae Ji-hak and Jin Cha-geon's choice to gather the rat pack in one place ended up being a blunder."
"Even if the world is full of unorthodox ronin, you can't recruit endlessly. It won't be easy for them to recover from this blow."
Finishing his words, Sa Jong-seop looked up at the sky.
Suddenly, a green messenger bird descended from the heavens. It was a spirit bird with emerald feathers and a light green beak. Since it could be tamed by human hands, it was sometimes used in place of carrier pigeons.
Sa Jong-seop familiarly extended his arm. A small slip was tied to the bird's ankle. After checking the contents, he let out a low hum.
Yuk Jin-yang asked.
"Good news?"
"Ambiguous. Bae Ji-hak has vanished, having rallied the few remaining Azure Swallow Division members."
"Probably to avoid responsibility for failing to protect the Jin family head's second son."
"Could be. But now he has nowhere to turn. He'll either throw himself into banditry and live out his days in obscurity, or get caught and hunted down. Either way, he's out of our hands for the time being."
Sa Jong-seop took out a fire starter and burned the missive. There was a subtle bitterness in his tone and demeanor. It didn't seem like disappointment over letting a traitor escape. It felt more like human pity for someone he once considered a comrade.
Watching the bird depart brought a belated thought to mind.
"If you have any spare messenger birds, could I borrow one? I need to send a letter to my family."
"Sorry, this is my only one. But the relay station in Guangzhou should have some. We'll pass through there anyway, so you'll have plenty of time. Might even be stuck there for a few days."
"Aren't we taking a ship straight away?"
"In normal times, yes. Large ships cross the strait several times a day. But with the prolonged dispute between us and the Jin Clan, who do you think suffered the biggest blow?"
Yuk Jin-yang recalled what Jeong Yak-bin had told him. Unorthodox groups rampaging everywhere had emptied the roads.
"The merchants, I suppose. But doesn't the Haenam Sect have its own ships?"
"They're all blockading the seas to keep the Guangdong Jin Clan from sailing out. And merchants with ships have dwindled too. That note mentioned Guangdong's cargo volume as well. It's dropped by about half in just seven days."
"......"
"Logistics within Guangdong are grinding to a halt. The maritime traders must be hurting badly too. They have ships, but they still need to transport goods from inland to the ports."
It was a dilemma for both the Guangdong Jin Clan and the Haenam Sect.
The longer the decisive battle was delayed, the more losses accumulated. If merchant caravans left for good, tribute would dry up. If unrest spread, forest revenues would become unreliable too.
Yet ending it through negotiation was impossible with such deep-seated grudges.
"Will things really drag on indecisively?"
"For the time being."
Sa Jong-seop answered calmly, but his eyes wavered slightly.
Three days later, the group arrived in Guangzhou. Yuk Jin-yang requested a brief stop at the local relay station to write a report on the situation to his family and seek their guidance.
The conflict between Hainan and the Jin Clan was shaping up for a prolonged war. He couldn't stay in Guangdong forever. He had a home to return to.
Beside him, Sa Jong-seop was conversing with the station master. When Sa Jong-seop handed over a small pouch, the master quickly pocketed it and felt its weight.
A clinking sound rang out. The unmistakable clash of hefty metal pieces. No need to check; the contents were obvious.
The master suppressed a grin and pulled out a slip of paper from his robe.
"Always grateful."
"The pleasure's mine."
After this cryptic exchange, the master left the group to themselves.
"Hm."
Sa Jong-seop's eyebrows twitched as he unfolded the missive.
So Yun-un sidled up to Yuk Jin-yang and nodded toward the paper.
"What's that?"
"The official's selling information."
"Even to a major sect like the Haenam Sect? Isn't that risky—could be seen as seditious plotting."
"Worth the risk. Officials have access to info martial artists can't touch."
Few Jianghu groups could gather intelligence beyond their territories. At best, the Beggars' Clan, the Haomen, or the Five Great Families among the ancient clans with their exceptional influence.
Officials were different. Even lowly ninth-rank clerks handled documents and naturally learned of天下 affairs.
"You're right."
Sa Jong-seop crumpled the slip as he spoke.
"It's not uncommon for warriors to buy intel from them. And the lower ranks welcome such side income."
"Anything we need to watch?"
"The Emperor issued an edict rebuking the Prince of Zhou. Troops are being redeployed too."
"......Sounds like the reduction policy is kicking in for real."
The current Emperor deeply distrusted the regional princes with their fiefs. He feared they might usurp the throne.
Court officials fanned the flames of his paranoia. Some princes had abused their power, earning much resentment in the process.
"Especially, all forces under the Front Army Command are being reassigned to the Central Plains."
"Doesn't that include Guangdong? Especially for a regional commander, the caliber of troops they can muster would differ greatly."
"Exactly. Not just the regional commander—even the Guangdong Guard opposed it, but most troops were handed over anyway."
A weakening of official control was no good news.
Even if the authorities ignored Jianghu matters somewhat, they acted as a deterrent against crossing lines. Warriors could wield swords, but not sorcery or cannons.
Yuk Jin-yang warned in a quiet tone.
"The Jin family head might cross that line."
"Possibly."
Sa Jong-seop added.
"But Hainan won't break easily."
The group headed to the docks. They could secure a ship there.
At dawn, Yuk Jin-yang, who had woken early, stepped out of the cabin. The ship was forging ahead powerfully, slicing through the waves.
On the vast misty ocean, a faint shape began to emerge. As the ship advanced, its outline sharpened into the form of an island. Hainan Island.
The group stared blankly at the island's scenery. A massive peak dominated the center of Hainan Island. It was Yeomobong Peak, where the Haenam Sect's headquarters stood.
Yeomobong grew ever more overwhelming the closer they approached.
It pierced the clouds above and cradled serene waters below. The steep, sky-connecting ridges inspired awe. It exuded a majestic presence, as if overseeing the entire island.
The Flying Stream Pavilion warriors, arriving late, buzzed with excitement.
"Impressive."
"They say all the island's dragon veins converge on Yeomobong. Must be the spiritual energy concentrated there. Even a talentless fool gains enlightenment after a decade of training up top."
"Not just Haenam Sect propaganda? If it were that effective, they'd have surpassed Shaolin as the orthodox top sect long ago."
"Well, all the Nine Great Sects claim prime spiritual sites too."
"Makes sense, haha!"
Enraptured by the vista, the group chattered away. Yuk Jin-yang let it flow in one ear and out the other. It was the usual folklore about famed sects' locations.
In his past life, he'd been tempted. He'd even seriously considered joining a sect. Damn constitution of his.
But folklore was just that. A famed sect's strength lay not in mystical sites, but in the founder's greatness and the accumulated efforts of generations.
The ship docked at the pier. After disembarking, the group headed toward Yeomobong. As they neared headquarters, the Hainan warriors' expressions visibly relaxed. Sa Jong-seop was no exception.
Seizing the moment, Yuk Jin-yang casually asked.
"One thing I'd like to ask."
"Speak."
"Has anyone from the Yuk Clan ever come to Hainan Island? Not recently, but any old tales would help."
"Can't say I have."
It was around then, as they approached the Haenam Sect's grand halls atop the peak.
Sa Jong-seop raised his arm and pointed to one side.
"Maybe related to that."
Suddenly, a bizarre rock formation half-hidden by foliage caught their eye. He hadn't noticed it on his first step onto Yeomobong.
The rock towered even over the roofs of nearby halls. Its flat surfaces bore large holes and sharp marks scattered about.
Yuk Jin-yang immediately dismissed his initial impression.
'Not natural patterns. Someone carved those deliberately. Wind and rain weathered them over time.'
A murmur escaped him unwittingly.
"That rock......"
"It's a Scarred Stone."
Sa Jong-seop followed Yuk Jin-yang's gaze and continued.
"Scarred Stone?"
"It's been on Hainan Island since ancient times. Our founder discovered it."
Sa Jong-seop readily shared the rock's legend.
"According to locals, it was left by a hermit who lived here long before the sect's founding—marks on a cliff face. But by the time our founder settled on Yeomobong, the hermit was gone."
"Cliff? Isn't it a rock?"
"The founder detached it from the cliff and brought it here. He glimpsed fragments of peerless divine arts in it. But no one's deciphered the martial art's true nature. Over time, interest faded, and it was forgotten."
Yuk Jin-yang examined the rock intently. Its thickness defied even cannon fire. What must the hermit's realm have been like?
As his admiration lingered, he noticed a detail he'd overlooked.