Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Alliance
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Upon hearing Bu Eun-seol’s words, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong’s expression instantly hardened.
“Men disguised as a band of pirates. What do you mean by that?”
“They’re merely flying the Gyoryong-bang’s flag; they aren't their pirates.”
Bu Eun-seol had undertaken various missions in the Gu-sal-dae.
He possessed detailed knowledge and information about the pirates active in various regions.
“The Gyoryong-bang are a motley crew of pirates who prey on merchant ships, avoiding the eyes of the Hwangha-sibi-maeng. There’s no reason for them to come all the way here to attack a merchant vessel.”
“Hmph, for all we know, they’ve been wandering around like a pack of beggars, don’t you think?”
Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong let out a low laugh and spoke with confidence.
“No matter who they are, we can just beat them down.”
“To ambush a merchant ship of this scale, they must have brought a large force.”
Bu Eun-seol said, gazing up at the fog-covered sky.
“If they see any sign of resistance, they will attack the ship immediately. Should that happen, all the damage will be borne by the common folk who know no martial arts.”
“Hmm.”
As Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong fell silent, Bu Eun-seol spoke to Jegal Seo-un with a solemn expression.
“There’s no time. Can you deploy it or not?”
The Jongmyeong-cheon-geuk-miri-jin was the Jegal clan’s exclusive formation—a barrier that severed the inside from the outside, and a Directional Formation.
In other words, it was a formation that could never be deployed without a genius mind, as one had to control the countless, ever-changing energies that shifted with the flow of time.
“I understand.”
Jegal Seo-un’s eyes glinted as he pushed his gaunt body upright.
“I will set it up at once.”
***
Just as Jegal Seo-un finished his recollection, Bu Eun-seol spoke to the Hwangbo brothers.
“Subdue them.”
*Paaang!*
Then, in a single breath, he unleashed his movement technique and headed for the Gyoryong-bang’s warship attached to the port side.
—Uwaaack!
Outwardly, the pirates seemed to be firing flaming arrows, but faint screams could be heard from all around.
Due to the formation Jegal Seo-un had deployed, the situation outside could not be seen clearly.
“Brother Bu, I’ll help too!”
Hyeok So-jin also used his Eogi-chung-so to leave the formation, landing where Bu Eun-seol was.
“Huh?”
Suspended in mid-air, his jaw dropped. In that short time, one of the warships had already been utterly wrecked.
The mast was broken, and the pirates who had been firing flaming arrows lay beaten to a bloody pulp.
He had used the Cheon-su-gong-pa-sik, a technique of monstrous power from the Gwon-ma-chil-sik, to obliterate the ship and the pirates in one fell swoop.
*Paat.*
Soaring into the sky again, Bu Eun-seol now leaped onto the warship attached to the merchant ship's port side.
“It’s been a while since I got to stretch my legs!”
With a relaxed smile, Hyeok So-jin followed Bu Eun-seol’s shadow, unleashing his own movement technique.
“……”
Landing on the warship at the port side, Hyeok So-jin’s expression turned peculiar.
‘What is this now?’
Unlike the other ship, this one held a massive force of at least five hundred pirates arranged in formation.
Not only that, but behind them stood three masked figures with glinting eyes.
“Who are those people? They don’t look like pirates.”
Bu Eun-seol silently glared at the masked figures standing tall at the stern of the ship.
Until now, he had constantly clashed with unidentified masked assailants.
From those who ambushed Dan So-ok in Akyang to the mysterious masked figure who manipulated the Pae-do-mun from behind the scenes.
Judging by their gazes and auras, they were undoubtedly allied with the masked figures he had encountered before.
“Take care of the pirates. I’ll handle them.”
*Paat!*
Unleashing his movement technique, Bu Eun-seol leaped toward the stern where the masked figures stood, like a hawk that had spotted its prey.
*Papak!*
But as if they had predicted his approach, dozens of powerful arrows rained down from the sky.
*Cha-cha-chaeng!*
Bu Eun-seol immediately drew his Muk-geom and deflected the powerful arrows that blackened the air.
*Krrrrng!*
In that moment, a faint clap of thunder echoed as a tremendous force surged forth. It was a powerful and domineering palm strike that was impossible to block while airborne.
*Kwaang!*
Landing on the ground, Bu Eun-seol used the Gwon-ma-cho-hyeon-sik to strike back at the palm force.
*Pyupyupyu!*
Meanwhile, with a roar, the nearby pirates unleashed a volley of flaming arrows.
“Brother Bu, let’s deal with these guys first!”
Unable to watch any longer, Hyeok So-jin stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bu Eun-seol and unleashed the techniques of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji.
*Peong! Kwaang!*
The power was immense; with every palm strike, dozens of pirates collapsed.
*Kwaang! Peong!*
Explosions erupted one after another.
Though the two were formidable martial artists, the pirates were simply too numerous.
Moreover, their martial skills were incomparably higher than those of the pirates on the starboard ship.
“These bastards! They’re just dressed as pirates; they’re practically martial artists!”
As he dealt with the endless wave of pirates, a violet light burst from Hyeok So-jin’s eyes.
He had unleashed the ultimate technique of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, the Sin-yeol-ma-gi.
“Uwaaack!”
As he deployed the Sin-yeol-ma-gi, a dozen or so charging pirates were sent flying as if struck by a storm.
In that time, Bu Eun-seol had already taken down more than a third of the pirates.
*Saaaat.*
Just then, the blue energy that had enveloped the merchant ship began to fade, slowly returning to its original sky-blue color.
Because the ship was slowly moving, the Jongmyeong-cheon-geuk-miri-jin was gradually deactivating.
The passengers on the merchant ship looked around in a daze.
‘Damn it.’
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol’s brow furrowed deeply.
While he was busy dealing with the flood of pirates, the three masked figures at the stern had vanished without a trace.
‘They escaped on a speedboat.’
Even while fighting the pirates, Bu Eun-seol had not lost sight of the masked men.
Upon witnessing his and Hyeok So-jin’s martial prowess, they seemed to have been in deep discussion about something.
‘So their target from the start wasn't the merchant ship, but Jegal Seo-un's party.’
It was a plausible deduction.
But he couldn’t understand why they had retreated.
Perhaps they had recognized him and Hyeok So-jin, or perhaps it was due to their unexpected level of skill.
‘What’s certain is that even these pirates are just disposable pawns.’
Seeing them leave without a second thought, even as the pirates on their warship were being annihilated, left no room for doubt.
‘There’s no need to be hasty.’
Clenching his fist, Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
As long as those masked figures continued to stir up trouble in the martial world, he would surely face them again.
*Sarararak.*
Just then, with the sound of transparent paper fluttering in the sky, all the blue light surrounding the merchant ship vanished.
The formation had completely dissipated.
‘As expected of the Jegal clan’s eldest son.’
Glancing at the fading formation, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
It was a Directional Formation set up in a moment of crisis.
To have it last this long on a constantly moving ship was a testament to a truly genius-level talent.
“Hmph, where do you think you’re looking!”
Meanwhile, the Hwangbo brothers, the Jegal siblings, and a few other martial artists were dealing with Maeng Jung-ak and the pirates who had boarded the merchant ship.
“You bastards!”
Seeing the formation dissipate, an enraged Maeng Jung-ak stretched out his hand and shouted.
“Fire the arrows now!”
*Paaaaat!*
At his command, the few surviving pirates on the warship fired flaming arrows toward the merchant ship.
*Pyupyupyupyupyu!*
*Tak.*
Just then, Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin simultaneously returned to the merchant ship.
Mu-sang-cheon-ryu, Second Form, Hwan-gwi-bon-ju.
The ultimate technique of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, Sin-yeol-ma-gi.
The two ultimate techniques unleashed by the successors of the Ten Demonic Sects created a massive wall, deflecting the chaotic shower of arrows in an instant.
—Woooow…!
The passengers on the merchant ship gasped in awe.
The martial arts displayed by Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin were mystical, and the sight of them deflecting the flaming arrows was as spectacular as watching fireworks.
“Aaargh!”
At that moment, a desperate scream echoed from the merchant ship.
The Hwangbo brothers had finally struck down Maeng Jung-ak.
“Lay down your weapons!”
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin shouted in unison with solemn expressions.
The pirates standing on the warship gave up their resistance, raising their hands with terrified faces.
***
The merchant ship arrived safely at the dock.
For a while, the martial artists who had saved people from the clutches of the Gyoryong-bang became the talk of the Yuju region.
The passengers on the ship praised Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, who had destroyed both warships.
They also lauded the Hwangbo brothers for capturing Maeng Jung-ak and the Jegal siblings for fighting against dozens of pirates.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
The ship’s owner gave a great deal of money and gifts to the Jegal siblings and the Hwangbo brothers who had defeated the pirates.
In truth, the credit for saving the merchant ship belonged to Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, who had destroyed the warships and blocked the rain of arrows.
However, since they had used their movement techniques to depart as soon as they reached the dock, the gratitude was directed toward the Jegal siblings and the Hwangbo brothers.
After disembarking, the Jegal siblings and Hwangbo brothers had no choice but to find a nearby bank.
They had received so much money and so many gifts that they needed to manage some of it.
“You all take care of your business. In the meantime, Seo-rin and I will stop by the post station to get a carriage.”
At Jegal Seo-un’s words in front of the bank, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong asked with a puzzled look.
“Why go yourself? The servants can arrange for a carriage if you just ask.”
“I’ve been on the ship for too long and want to walk a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t tell me.”
Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong’s brow furrowed as if he had guessed Jegal Seo-un’s intentions.
“Are you looking for those two from before?”
“Was it that obvious?”
As Jegal Seo-un smiled sheepishly, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong sighed.
“Do you really think they can replace the Cheon-ui-seo-saeng?”
“Well…”
“What’s so great about taking care of some pathetic pirates?”
Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong scoffed.
“He was spouting nonsense with a serious face about how they weren't ordinary pirates… but when we fought them, they were just ordinary pirates, weren't they?”
The Jegal siblings and Hwangbo brothers had only dealt with Maeng Jung-ak and the pirates who boarded the merchant ship.
Therefore, they had no idea that the pirates on the warship with the masked men were all skilled martial artists.
“But the way they deflected the flaming arrows at the end was a technique of the highest caliber.”
“Well, that may be true… but we don’t even know which clan they belong to, do we?”
“They prioritized protecting the common people above all else. Even without asking, they must be people of the orthodox faction who walk the Path of Chivalry.”
“Hmm.”
As Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong grunted, Jegal Seo-un spoke in a low voice.
“We failed to recruit the Cheon-ui-seo-saeng anyway. To handle this matter, we absolutely need someone to fill that void.”
Just as Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong was about to say something, his younger brother, Hwangbo Je-gyeong, nodded.
“Since Brother Jegal says so, let’s at least let him talk to them, Brother.”
Although Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong was the older brother, most decisions were made by the clever Hwangbo Je-gyeong.
“Well, they can be considered young rising stars, after all.”
As Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong nodded, Jegal Seo-un did as well.
“Understood.”
Leaving the bank, the Jegal siblings headed straight for the post station.
There, two men were choosing a carriage.
It was Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin.
‘I knew they’d be here.’
Jegal Seo-un nodded inwardly.
He had known they would look for a carriage as soon as they disembarked and had come here for that reason.
“Young Master Bu. Young Master Hyeok.”
As Jegal Seo-un and Jegal Seo-rin clasped their hands in greeting, Bu Eun-seol returned the gesture.
“Are you here to get a carriage?”
“Yes, we are.”
Meanwhile, Hyeok So-jin, who had handed a bill to the clerk, said.
“Brother Bu, I’ve paid. Let’s get on.”
“Alright.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded and clasped his hands toward the Jegal siblings.
“Well then, we’ll see you again.”
“Please wait a moment.”
As Jegal Seo-un urgently blocked their path, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“The credit for defeating the pirates belongs entirely to you two. You should be the ones receiving our thanks. How can we let you leave just like this?”
“There’s no need to worry about it.”
Bu Eun-seol said curtly.
“We just dealt with them because they were a nuisance.”
As Bu Eun-seol turned away nonchalantly, Jegal Seo-un’s eyes sparkled.
“You said you were traveling, but it seems to me that you two are on a journey through the martial world.”
Bu Eun-seol pondered for a moment before replying in a low voice.
“We don’t have a particular destination in mind.”
“I see.”
Jegal Seo-un said in a low voice.
“I have something to discuss with you both for a moment. Could you spare some time? I assure you it will not be a waste.”
For the eldest son of the renowned Jegal clan, his attitude was exceedingly polite and courteous.
Bu Eun-seol thought for a moment before nodding.
“Alright.”
He then spoke to Hyeok So-jin, who was already in the carriage.
“There’s no rush, let’s go.”
*Shake, shake.*
Sitting in the carriage, Hyeok So-jin shook his head with an expression that said he was bored to death.
From his perspective, accompanying figures from an orthodox clan was not only less fun but also offered no particular benefit.
“……”
But when a solemn light appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes,
“I understand.”
he pouted like a duck but reflexively got up from his seat.
So far, every path Bu Eun-seol had chosen had become an opportunity for his growth.
This time, too, would surely be fraught with danger and trials.
But as long as he was with Bu Eun-seol, everything would be an opportunity to advance his martial arts to the next level.
‘This, too… must be part of the journey through the martial world.’
Before he knew it, Hyeok So-jin had become someone who faithfully followed Bu Eun-seol’s words.