Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: River Pirates in Disguise
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He was one of the young men to whom they had offered food at the inn before boarding the ship.
He was a young man with a sword at his waist, but his slender build and delicate features gave him more the air of a scholar.
“Thanks to you, we were able to satisfy our hunger quickly earlier.”
“It was nothing.”
As Bu Eun-seol impassively turned to leave, the young man spoke cautiously.
“Since fate has brought us together, would you care to join us?”
When Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin looked puzzled, the young man spoke freely.
“If you don't mind, I'd like to introduce you to my companions.”
Hyeok So-jin frowned.
It wasn't just his status as an heir to one of the Ten Demonic Sects; more than anything, he found the very idea of forging connections in the martial world a bother.
*I'm traveling the world, not trying to expand my social circle.*
But Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening quietly, readily nodded.
“Let's.”
“Haha, then please follow me.”
As the young man smiled brightly and led the way, Hyeok So-jin sent a telepathic message, his expression one of annoyance.
「Why are you trying to associate with riffraff like them?」
「He's no riffraff. He's a master from the Zhuge Clan.」
「The Zhuge Clan?」
The Zhuge Clan.
They were not only masters of scholarly pursuits, the four arts, and mechanics, but also of the Thirty-Six Stances of the Six Harmonies Fan Technique.
They were a martial family that possessed the Cheon-gi-mi-ri-bo, a unique skill in the martial world.
The Zhuge Clan was the very embodiment of what the Seomun Clan, who focused solely on formations, yearned to be: a family unsurpassed in both literary and martial arts.
「And what of it?」
「They've clearly come to the martial world with a specific purpose. There's no harm in finding out what it is.」
「Don't tell me it's because of the Soul-Stealing Madman?」
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
He had guessed their appearance in the martial world was not unrelated to the Soul-Stealing Madman's.
「It's a hassle. If you want to go, Brother Bu, you go alone.」
“Why aren't you coming?”
Just then, the young man turned and looked at Hyeok So-jin.
Bu Eun-seol shrugged and gestured toward Hyeok So-jin's face.
“He's very shy. Plus, he has a tremor in his hands that acts up when he's the center of attention...”
“What are you...!”
As Hyeok So-jin flared up, the young man smiled warmly and extended a hand.
“You have a good sense of humor. Come now, please join us.”
Unable to refuse the good-natured young man, Hyeok So-jin reluctantly followed Bu Eun-seol.
After leading Bu Eun-seol's party to a cabin, the young man clasped his hands.
“My name is Zhuge Seo-un. This is my younger sister, Zhuge Seo-rin.”
*So this is the one they call 'Sickly Zhuge,' one of the Seven Heroes and Three Prodigies...*
Hyeok So-jin swallowed his surprise.
He had assumed the man was just a member of a branch family of the Zhuge Clan.
To think this gaunt, frail-looking young man was the eldest son of the Zhuge Clan,
and Zhuge Seo-un, one of the Seven Heroes and Three Prodigies who represented the outstanding next generation of the Eight Great Clans?
“And these are my dear friends, Huangbo Cheon-gyeong and Huangbo Je-gyeong. In the martial world, they're known as the Heaven-Shattering Twin Fists.”
The sturdily built twin youths were the third and youngest sons of the Huangbo Clan.
Bu Eun-seol calmly clasped his hands.
“I am Bu Eun-seol.”
For a moment, Zhuge Seo-un and his companions wore puzzled expressions.
Two men were known by that name. The winner of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang Martial Arts Tournament and the mysterious figure who killed Yang Myeong, the Lord of the Hell Blood Castle.
And the fearsome demonic master, the Sip-ma-jeon-in of Nang-ya-gak, who had cut down one righteous master after another.
—*He must be neither of them.*
Bu Eun-seol, using the Art of Face and Bone Alteration, currently appeared somewhat older.
He also looked thin, and even his temples were flat. There was no sign that he had cultivated powerful internal energy.
Besides, wasn't there a crudely made tassel on his sword, as if fashioned by a child?
Based on that alone, they couldn't possibly think he was the tournament winner or the Sip-ma-jeon-in.
—*He must just be someone with the same name.*
Because he had reached the state of Returning to the Origin, they assumed Bu Eun-seol's martial skill was unremarkable.
“What brings you here?”
Bu Eun-seol answered Huangbo Cheon-gyeong's question impassively.
“I'm traveling the country with my sworn brother.”
As the stiff replies continued, Huangbo Cheon-gyeong frowned slightly.
Usually, when they revealed they were from one of the Eight Great Clans, everyone, young or old, would speak to them respectfully...
But since Bu Eun-seol appeared older than them, they didn't say anything.
“Then your sworn brother...”
A flicker of anticipation flashed in Zhuge Seo-un's eyes.
Bu Eun-seol was one thing, but Hyeok So-jin's appearance and attire made him look like a disciple of a major sect or the scion of a noble family.
“I am Hyeok So-jin.”
Another name they'd never heard before.
A brief silence fell. Huangbo Cheon-gyeong and Huangbo Je-gyeong, their interest clearly faded, gave a half-hearted nod.
“Well, we're tired, so we brothers will go and rest.”
Turning away, the Huangbo brothers glanced at Zhuge Seo-un and sighed.
Though they said nothing, their eyes spoke volumes.
—*There's no need to associate with such nobodies.*
*Hmph, so they think we're nothing special.*
Seeing this, Hyeok So-jin sneered inwardly.
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin were the legitimate heirs of the Ten Demonic Sects. They were in a position to associate with the highest echelons of both the righteous and unorthodox factions.
So it was laughable that the Huangbo brothers, who were merely direct descendants and not even young lords of one of the Eight Great Clans, were putting on such airs.
“Ahem.”
Zhuge Seo-un broke the awkward silence with a cough.
“My sister and I acquired some fine liquor in Wuha on our way here. Would you care to have a drink with us?”
“Liquor?”
Hyeok So-jin, who had been looking bored, suddenly had a gleam in his eyes.
“Excellent. Let's have a drink right away.”
But Bu Eun-seol suddenly narrowed his eyes and frowned.
His expression was so grim that Hyeok So-jin looked at him in confusion.
“You don't want to drink?”
「Enemies are coming.」
When Bu Eun-seol sent the sudden telepathic message, Hyeok So-jin tilted his head.
「What do you...」
「You still can't feel it?」
At those words, Hyeok So-jin immediately activated his Spatial Perception Technique.
*Fwoosh.*
He could hear the sound of something cutting through the air, carried on the wind. It was the sound of sails swollen with a great gust.
*River pirates?*
Hyeok So-jin blinked.
He sensed two enormous warships beyond the fog, rapidly pursuing their merchant vessel.
“Well, now.”
In that time, a massive sailing ship burst through the fog, closing in ferociously like a predator that had spotted its prey.
“Th-those are...”
A sailor, spotting the black sword emblazoned on the flag fluttering from the mainmast, shouted.
“It's the Jiaolong Gang!”
—Jiaolong Gang? Is there such a pirate group?
—A band of unknown pirates... We're all going to die!
Hearing this, the people were aghast. It was the name of a pirate group they had never heard of in their lives.
Typically, river pirates maintain a close relationship with government officials, sharing their profits.
That was how the Eighteen Fortresses of the Yangtze River, who controlled the area and demanded tolls from merchant ships, were able to be recognized as a martial arts faction.
However, among the pirates, there were also groups who cared nothing for the 'Way of the Thief'.
These were the worst kind of pirates, who not only stole goods from the ships they attacked but also engaged in human trafficking.
And the Jiaolong Gang was one such group.
“Increase speed!”
The merchant ship tried to shake off the warship by going as fast as it could.
But the sails of the two pursuing warships were taut and swollen, catching the wind perfectly.
A passenger-cargo ship, laden with goods and people, could never outrun warships that cut through the waves with such speed.
“Jiaolong Gang? The name sounds impressive enough.”
Huangbo Je-gyeong remarked with a relaxed expression as he watched the approaching warships.
Everyone here was a martial arts master. A band of river pirates was nothing to be afraid of.
“This is strange.”
But Zhuge Seo-un tilted his head and muttered.
“How can an unknown band of pirates be operating warships of that size?”
The approaching ships were large enough to hold three to four hundred combatants.
Warships of that caliber were typically only operated by the likes of the Eighteen Fortresses of the Yangtze River or the Twelve Alliances of the Yellow River.
“Hmm.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol, who had been deep in thought, approached Zhuge Seo-un.
“By any chance.”
“Do you have something to say to me...”
Zhuge Seo-un looked flustered.
Because Bu Eun-seol had moved right up to him, his eyes blazing like fire.
* * *
The warships, moving at full speed, finally caught up to the passenger-cargo ship.
Now flanked on both sides, a desperate battle was imminent.
*Thump!*
Just then, from the warship on the port side, dozens of sallow-faced pirates used their movement techniques to land on the merchant ship's deck.
The pirates were sturdily built and wore strange-looking yellow robes. The man standing at the very front had the most menacing appearance.
He seemed to be the leader of these pirates.
“Ho, so there are quite a few martial artists here.”
The apparent leader looked at the armed passengers scattered across the ship and raised his left hand to the sky.
*Shuk.*
Simultaneously, on the flanking warships, hundreds of pirates drew fire arrows soaked in oil.
It was a clear threat: any sign of resistance, and they would immediately sink the merchant ship.
“I am Maeng Jung-ak, leader of the Jiaolong Gang.”
He scanned the people on the ship, then spoke with a low laugh.
“Any of you who want to be heroes are welcome to step forward. That is, if you want to see these innocent people buried in the river.”
At Maeng Jung-ak's words, several martial artists froze, clenching their fists.
The level of the movement technique that pirate, Maeng Jung-ak, had displayed was easily that of a peak master.
On top of that, hundreds of pirates had fire arrows aimed at their ship.
If they attacked rashly, the ship would be instantly set ablaze, and the common folk would be massacred.
“Good. A very wise decision.”
Seeing no sign of resistance from the martial artists, Maeng Jung-ak nodded in satisfaction.
But just then,
“This will only take a moment.”
six figures emerged from a cabin at a leisurely pace.
At the front were two pale-faced men. Behind them, a young man with an extremely poor complexion and a mysterious woman. And behind them, a pair of twin youths with massive frames.
It was Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, along with the Zhuge siblings and the Huangbo twins.
“Who are you?”
Zhuge Seo-un, lightly ignoring Maeng Jung-ak's question, spoke in a low voice.
“I wondered if we really needed to use this on a mere band of pirates... but seeing their numbers, the common folk could truly be harmed.”
“The common folk will not be harmed.”
As Bu Eun-seol answered impassively, Maeng Jung-ak, who was watching them, sensed that something was wrong.
“You bastards. Are you planning to resist?”
Meeting Bu Eun-seol's cold gaze, Maeng Jung-ak felt a sense of foreboding and immediately raised his hand.
It was the signal to fire the arrows.
But something was strange.
The night sky had suddenly turned a deep azure.
But beyond the ship, the expressions of his men drawing their arrows remained relaxed, as if they had seen nothing at all.
“You! What have you done?!”
“This is the Jongmyeong-cheon-geuk-miri-jin.”
Zhuge Seo-un grinned at Maeng Jung-ak.
“A formation of the Zhuge Clan.”
And he briefly recalled the situation from a moment ago.
* * *
“Can you deploy the Jongmyeong-cheon-geuk-miri-jin right now?”
Bu Eun-seol stared at Zhuge Seo-un, his eyes burning like charcoal.
“You must set it up without the other passengers noticing, but its effects must cover the entire ship.”
Zhuge Seo-un's mouth fell open at the completely unexpected words.
“What is this all of a sudden...”
Just then, Huangbo Cheon-gyeong, who had been silent, stepped forward with a smirk.
“Brother Zhuge. I believe this gentleman was startled by the size of the warships.”
He continued, a hint of mockery in his tone.
“Why would you need to deploy a formation... against a nameless band of pirates known only to merchant sailors?”
“You're mistaken.”
Bu Eun-seol replied with a cold smile of his own.
“They are no ordinary river pirates.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Even if they were lucky enough to acquire such warships, ordinary pirates could never operate them.”
Bu Eun-seol said firmly.
“They are men disguised as river pirates.”