Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Arrival at the Dock
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Upon arriving at the dock, people's gazes stabbed like arrows.
With a group rivaling a merchant caravan pulling up to the cramped wharf, their eyes had no choice but to converge.
Seeing the warriors sauntering around the eight-horse carriage, the crowd froze.
Starting with Park Do and his axe, iron mace, nanga blade—such vicious weapons made even bandits look tame.
"Eek."
"Gasp."
"Hup!"
Ordinary folk flinched in surprise at the warriors, then startled again.
"……I-Isn't that the Nangong Family?"
"Huh?"
"Bandits from the Nangong Family…… Huh?"
People rubbed their disbelieving eyes.
The warriors' attire matched exactly what they knew of the Nangong Family.
Did the Nangong Family have such rough-looking guys?
As the question arose, the eight-horse carriage halted before the ship.
Creak!
The door opened, and Nangong Ryong stepped down.
The crowd let out cries of admiration.
"Whoa!"
"Heavens!"
Six feet tall with a slender build.
Perfectly balanced muscles paired with a sculpted face that naturally drew the eye.
His striking looks went beyond handsome—they gaped mouths wide.
For a moment, it even felt like the surroundings brightened.
"It's the Sword Dragon!"
"Gasp! The eldest young master!"
At the words "Sword Dragon," the crowd erupted in awe once more.
While gazes focused on Nangong Ryong, the carriage door opened again.
"Careful now. I told you you're wearing too much."
"I've got to stay alive. Can't freeze to death on the way."
"Just take the carriage the whole way."
"You do that."
"Ah, seriously…… No, just be careful."
Waddle, waddle.
Something round emerged from the carriage.
Thick leather revealed sheepskin beneath, then more sheepskin inside that, and yet more……
It was a person bundled so heavily they looked perfectly spherical.
Wrapped like a cotton quilt forming a fire dragon formation, the round figure tottered over to stand beside Nangong Ryong.
"……Huh?"
"Huh?"
"……?"
Spotting a pale face atop the bundled quilt, people let out bewildered breaths.
'Is…… that guy from the Nangong Family too?'
'What kind of outfit is that?'
'A walking quilt.'
People shook their heads.
It was an appearance and attire that evoked pity turning to sighs.
Oblivious, Nangong Hyeok scanned the crowd when Tak Hyeok-dong came pounding over from the dock.
"Young master, you can board right away! That's the one, that one! Kahaha, I managed to snag the perfect ship!"
People peeking over the ship's railing jolted in fright.
Some even tumbled backward onto their rears in terror.
Leaving the brief chaos behind, Nangong Hyeok groaned as he boarded the ship.
"There's a ton of them."
The deck teemed with people—enough to pass for a market.
Where did they all come from?
It was winter's chill, but this was a stop for large ships bound for Hebei Province.
With folks pouring in from all regions, of course the ship would be packed.
"Southern ships, northern horses, huh."
It referred to how transportation in the Central Plains favored boats in the south and horses in the north.
In Anhui Province, with its developed waterways, people traveled by ship year-round.
"Won't there be a shortage of cabins?"
"Cabins?"
"I heard they were a bit short earlier."
"Eh, if there's none, we sleep on deck."
"What? In this winter? Who?"
Geum Cheom-sang leaped back at Nangong Hyeok's flat stare.
"N-Not me! I'd freeze!"
"I'm not exactly thrilled either."
That…… was true.
Geum Cheom-sang shook his head vigorously.
"……N-No, I'll stay by your side, young master."
"Loyal retainer arrives."
"I've always been your faithful servant!"
"The view from the deck is killer."
Geum Cheom-sang's stomach churned at Nangong Hyeok's teasing grin.
"That's why I said let's take the carriage! Leaving good carriages behind for this hardship."
"Were you snapping at me just now?"
"……I was just worried you'd suffer, young master, so I threw a little tantrum. Heh, hehe."
"Is that right?"
"Yes, hehehe."
Geum Cheom-sang drooped his head.
He hadn't even broken even in that exchange.
"……At least there's one cabin, right?"
"Who knows."
"You're not really making me sleep on deck, are you? Th-There are sturdy folks for that. Heh, hehe."
As Geum Cheom-sang pleaded with desperate eyes, Nangong Hyeok grinned.
"Ask those sturdy guys over there."
Geon Cheon-hwi emerged on deck hefting a massive brazier, followed by Tak Hyeok-dong carrying the disassembled eight-horse carriage.
Those already on deck gaped wide.
Ordinary folk gawked at the divine strength beyond imagination.
Clack-clack!
The Thunder Dragon Squad bustled back and forth, swiftly moving luggage and carving out space naturally.
Nangong Hyeok stretched and entered a cabin.
"Ahh, freezing! Grab a brazier."
Geum Cheom-sang, sweating bullets, brightened and dashed over.
"Yes, sir!"
* * *
Four days had passed since boarding.
"……Damn."
Nangong Hyeok peered out the cabin window and muttered.
"It's all water."
Water here, water there, water everywhere……
The ship rocked, bile rising with every sway.
Nothing appeared, nothing happened—Nangong Hyeok yawned lazily in the boredom.
Stuck in the cabin worked for a day or two.
He was dying of boredom.
Better if something happened.
This peace felt so unfamiliar.
"……Where'd they all go?"
Nangong Ryong, Geon Cheon-hwi……
Thud thud thud!
Geum Cheom-sang, grinding herbs nearby, spoke up.
"On deck?"
"Who?"
"All of them."
"……All?"
"Yes! I'll head up after finishing this—want to come?"
Nangong Hyeok let out a hollow chuckle.
What was there to do in a place where all you saw was water?
His brows furrowed slightly.
From his poison overlord days, he'd never idled a moment.
As a kid, prowling alleys for food; as a rounin, wielding his blade daily at markets; later, warring with the demonic path.
Even his most peaceful Heavenly Mountain days involved daily devotion to ascension.
'Come to think of it, since waking in this body, I haven't sat still?'
Even elders barging in caused a fuss.
A martial artist must refine ceaselessly.
Nangong Hyeok's eyes narrowed.
"Is that so?"
"……Pardon?"
"They're upstairs, right?"
Nangong Hyeok shot to his feet and sauntered up.
Thud thud thud!
Geum Cheom-sang ground herbs, staring blankly after him.
Geum Cheom-sang's head tilted slightly.
"……What mischief now?"
He shook his head and lost interest.
The sun rose over the horizon, bathing the deck in white light.
Geon Cheon-hwi's gaze turned to Nangong Ryong, who stood drawing his sword.
Half a shichen already.
Motionless for half a shichen in that stance on the endlessly rocking deck.
Incredible focus and strength.
Chilling sword intent emanated, pricking the skin.
Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed dryly.
'Just how strong is he?'
Growing under Nangong Hyeok opened new perspectives.
He could feel Nangong Ryong's power—vague before, tangible now.
'……Even the eldest young master trains daily.'
If someone at such heights trained daily, he couldn't complain of weakness.
Unable to show true arts on the open deck, he repeated early Thunder Dragon Sword forms without qi.
Swoosh! Shing! Swoosh!
Sharp sounds layered over the deck.
"Whoa, the boss is grinding hard."
Tak Hyeok-dong crawled out from one side, spread cloth on the deck, and lay down.
"That guy preaching contentment, swinging a sword all the way out here? Kahaha! Nice!"
Bare-chested, flaunting massive muscles, Tak Hyeok-dong swigged fiery liquor and sunned himself.
Other Thunder Dragon Squad members slunk out to enjoy the Yellow River views, some spreading seats and munching rice balls.
"Isn't second bro enjoying it too openly? What if the young master shows up?"
At Jang Ung's words, Tak Hyeok-dong turned.
"You lunatic. Not the line from a guy fishing."
"Fishing cultivates the mind."
"You're delirious."
"Better than baring your chest."
"You little—!"
Tak Hyeok-dong grabbed his liquor bottle to hurl, then set it down; Jang Ung smirked.
"Caught one—want some sashimi?"
Tak Hyeok-dong's mood lifted with a booming laugh.
"Yeah! Sashimi hits different! Kahahaha!"
"Wait a sec—I'll slice up a plate!"
"Better catch more for soup. Liquor needs broth!"
"Check the cart—spices in there."
At Jang Ung's words, Tak Hyeok-dong's eyes widened.
"Huh? Isn't that the young master's?"
"Just borrowing. Won't notice. And he's got the generosity! Grab some jerky too."
"You madman—when'd you scout that?"
"I moved it!"
"Kahaha! Perfect—this is vacation!"
With Nangong Hyeok holed up in his cabin, spirits soared.
Smooth sailing to Hebei Province.
"The young master's illness is a blessing. Kuhuhuhu!"
"Sashimi'll be tasty."
"You get it! Sashimi with liquor……"
"I do."
Tak Hyeok-dong chuckled mid-reply, then froze at Jang Ung.
'……Why's that punk shaking?'
Tremble tremble.
Fish flapping from the water, or Jang Ung's hands?
Tak Hyeok-dong slowly turned, liquor from his mouth.
Smirk.
Nangong Hyeok loomed, flashing white teeth.
"Living the good life?"
Tak Hyeok-dong's pupils quaked like an earthquake.
When'd he come out?
Why now?
What about his illness?
Splash splash!
The liquor bottle shook, spilling booze.
Nangong Hyeok sighed.
"You're off the hook. Sword twelve shichen a day ain't enough, and you're playing? Sect status blinded you?"
"……Th-That is."
"Oh, excuses? Tongue gotten longer?"
Tak Hyeok-dong and the squad gulped at Nangong Hyeok's words.
His lip curled higher.
"What?"
Tak Hyeok-dong gazed up deferentially.
"……Pardon?"
"Run."
"……The deck?"
Nangong Hyeok shook his head.
Tak Hyeok-dong's pupils shook.
Not the deck?
Staring in shock, Nangong Hyeok nodded.
Tak Hyeok-dong peered over the rail.
Whoa, river's color is killer.
Water or mud?
Jump in there?
"Kahaha, hahaha! Uhahaha!"
Cackling madly, Tak Hyeok-dong dove into the river.
Splash-!
The squad stared blankly, then dove one by one.
Jang Ung, scaling fish, sidled to Geon Cheon-hwi.
Swoosh swoosh!
He peeked at Nangong Hyeok while wielding sashimi knife and flopping fish.
Eyes met.
"What're you doing?"
"……For you, young master."
"Leave it."
"Yes."
Jang Ung set down knife and fish deferentially, then dove.
Splash!
Geon Cheon-hwi shook his head at the sight, then glanced aside.
"……."
Nangong Ryong, statue-still for over half a shichen, slowly opened his mouth.