Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Swimmers in the Yellow River
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People climbed up onto the deck and gazed at the river.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!
The crowd tilted their heads at the dark shapes poking their heads above the water as they cleaved through the current.
"Huh, those are some hefty fish."
"Flopping around like that—whew, gotta be at least six feet long, easy."
"Pitch black with eyes, nose, and mouth. Haha, looks just like people."
"Uhahaha! Bet they've got arms and legs too. Look, there's an arm sticking out... Huh?"
The roaring laughter vanished in an instant.
Eyes bulged from their sockets.
A hand shot up from the swift current, flailing at the water, followed by dark hair surging above the surface before sinking back down.
"What kind of lunatics are swimming the Yellow River in a pack like that?!"
"Oh no! They'll turn into river ghosts at this rate!"
"Swimming the Yellow River? You call that a current a human can handle?"
"That's no fish!"
The crowd recoiled in disbelief at the impossible sight.
The Yellow River's rapids were no joke.
Drop an iron boat in there, and it'd be swept miles downstream in the blink of an eye.
Even fish would struggle against that torrent.
Yet over twenty heads bobbed frantically, gasping for air as they fought upstream.
As people crowded the railing to gawk at the heads,
Those heads thrashed their limbs wildly in the water.
"Gaaasp! Gasp! Gaaasp!"
"Arrrgh! Haaack!"
"Gaaasp! Gaaasp!"
Tak Hyukdong led the way, his massive muscles rippling, with the rest of the Thunder Dragon Squad close behind.
The Thunder Dragon Squad desperately cleaved through the current, chasing the stern.
But they kept their distance, never closing in too far. The reason was simple.
Namgung Hyeok hadn't given permission to come aboard yet.
"Don't come up until the next stop."
The next stop?
That was still half a day away!
Tak Hyukdong and the Thunder Dragon Squad ground their teeth and flailed their limbs.
One slip into the current meant death—they couldn't afford to rest.
"Gaaasp!"
"Haaah!"
"Gasp-gasp!"
"Huuuwaah!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad began stroking in rhythm.
That's when Jang Woong, at the rear, started rolling his eyes.
'...Maybe I should just stop here.'
Did he really need to climb aboard where Namgung Hyeok was waiting?
Falling behind and straggling seemed safer.
He could drop back now, link up with the others who fell off, climb ashore, stroll through the scenery, head to Hebei, and rejoin later.
Sure, he'd get beaten half to death on reunion, but until then, he could enjoy the trip. Totally worth it.
The moment Jang Woong relaxed his body,
"You trying to become a river ghost right there?"
Gah!
How did he know?
Jang Woong snapped to attention at Namgung Hyeok's sinister voice ringing clear in his ear.
He had no idea how he'd been spotted from up there, but his thoughts were exposed—no escaping now.
Jang Woong clenched his teeth and thrashed his arms.
The crowd gasped again at the Thunder Dragon Squad's tenacity.
And so, they swam after the ship right up until the next docking.
* * *
The Thunder Dragon Squad staggered onto the deck and collapsed.
Twitch twitch.
They flopped like freshly caught fish, while Tak Hyukdong and Jang Woong patted each other's backs and dry-heaved.
"Kuueeeck!"
"Ueeeck!"
They spewed water and flopped down.
"Ugh, ugh!"
"So cooold! Krrk!"
Shiver shiver.
The water grew brutally colder the farther north they went toward Hebei, leaving the squad trembling.
Coldest water any of them had ever felt.
Namgung Hyeok munched on dried persimmons and said,
"No time for training once we hit Hebei, so do it here."
Tak Hyukdong, mid-heave, lifted his head.
What did he just say?
Wasn't it usually the opposite?
Like, "Relax on the way to Hebei."
Even for Namgung Hyeok, ordering training in this state was unimaginable.
"Cold, huh?"
"...Haha, no, not cold."
"Let's warm up."
"I-I'm fi... "
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly and nodded toward the load.
Tak Hyukdong dragged his shaking legs onto the deck and stood before the massive two-wheeled cart, half-resigned.
Fwoosh!
The enormous two-wheeled cart slammed onto his shoulders.
Then he squatted and stood, over and over.
The onlookers gasped at the sight of him bearing a load nearing five hundred catties, repeating squats on the rocking deck.
Starting with Tak Hyukdong, Jang Woong grimaced and stepped up to the pillar.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
He hammered it at speeds too fast to follow.
Next, the other Thunder Dragon Squad members shouldered carts for push-ups or climbed the mast using only their arms.
The crowd gawked at the sudden spectacle on deck.
"What strength!"
"Wow, training even in that state!"
"No joke!"
"Is that what inner energy is? Amazing every time!"
Tak Hyukdong glared at the gawkers, grinding his teeth.
'You bastards, can't you see the foam at my mouth?!'
But his silent roar went unheard, and as night fell, their training showed no sign of stopping.
Namgung Hyeok beamed with satisfaction.
"Haa! Feels good."
Geum Cheomsang muttered as he stuck a pipe into a bowl of medicine.
"...He'll kill them before they reach Hebei Province."
Seemed like he'd already killed them dozens of times.
No, he was still at it.
Namgung Hyeok was kindly tossing exhausted Thunder Dragon Squad warriors overboard.
Splash! Splash!
"Gaaasp! Gaaasp!"
"Krraaack! S-save...!"
"Huuuek!"
Geum Cheomsang shook his head, then locked eyes with Namgung Ryong.
Trembling pupils.
Choppy breaths from his gaping mouth.
Ah, the young master was quite shaken.
"...That's normal for him."
"......"
"Don't mind it."
"......"
"...Better if you don't."
At Geum Cheomsang's words, Namgung Ryong quietly looked away.
Then his eyes met Geon Cheon-hwi's, who was clutching his chest while watching the Thunder Dragon Squad's harsh lesson.
In the awkward silence, Geon Cheon-hwi subtly resumed demonstrating Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes.
"......"
And so the day faded.
* * *
Namgung Hyeok climbed onto the deck with a bottle of huaju in hand.
It was pitch black night.
Moonlight shattered finely on the water's surface, gently pushing back the darkness to create a decent ambiance.
Namgung Hyeok chugged the huaju.
His bundled clothes made the night air bearable.
"Huu, Hebei's just a bit farther."
Once in Hebei Province, he'd uncover the great clan's secret technique, restore his innate essence, and gain inner energy.
He sipped happily, musing on his bright future,
When a gaze made him turn from the rippling waves—to meet the eyes of a veiled woman.
His eyes quickly scanned her.
Light attire despite the winter chill.
'Damn, lucky her.'
Who'd have thought he'd envy someone immune to cold?
Namgung Hyeok chuckled dryly, then something sparked in his eyes.
'A Sword Pavilion disciple?'
The sword at her waist had a lotus-shaped pommel—unique to Sword Pavilion.
That lotus design became famous as Sword Pavilion's prodigies wandered the land challenging duels.
Upon returning from meaningful duels, they inherited the sect leadership. The murim world called Sword Pavilion's leader the Sword Queen.
So the woman before him was a prospective Sword Queen—a Little Sword Queen.
'Thought they were done for, but they're still kicking.'
To run into one of their prodigies, who he'd assumed were crushed by the Demon Lord.
'Nothing good comes from tangling with them.'
He had no good memories of Sword Pavilion.
Recalling bad times, Namgung Hyeok quietly turned away and chugged his huaju.
"Kuh! Good stuff!"
His mood was soaring when,
Rustle rustle.
Light, quiet footsteps approached.
Namgung Hyeok's sharp ears perked up.
The steps drew closer.
Huh?
Why are they getting closer?
Not to me, right?
No reason she'd have business with me.
Just in case, Namgung Hyeok glanced around the deck.
Late night—no one else around.
Just him on deck.
Yet the footsteps grew nearer.
Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.
'...Shit, stay away.'
Namgung Hyeok gulped his liquor and casually shifted position.
Rustle rustle.
But the steps changed direction, following him.
Quiet and slow, like leaves in the breeze.
Namgung Hyeok scowled.
...Why are they all like this?
Sect trait?
As he waddled away, the steps stopped right beside him.
He turned, frowning.
The veiled woman stared right at him, inches away.
"......"
"......"
A brief silence.
Namgung Hyeok's mind raced through possibilities.
Sword Pavilion experts took interest in others for two reasons:
They wanted to fight, or they had to.
Either way, a hassle.
A voice came from behind the veil.
"Are you the previous prodigy of the Imperial Sword Clan?"
A lofty name for the Namgung Family.
Namgung Hyeok answered without hesitation.
"Nope."
Caught off guard, she stared blankly for a moment.
She blinked, then asked again.
"You're not the Namgung Family's previous prodigy?"
"Nope."
"......"
"No."
She blinked again at his firm denial.
After a pause,
She politely cupped her fists.
"My mistake. Sorry."
"Whatever."
"Excuse me!"
She bowed and returned to her spot.
Namgung Hyeok cleared his throat and went back to the railing, chugging his liquor.
He wobbled to his cabin only when the bottle ran dry.
The Little Sword Queen's gaze followed him from the deck before returning to her seat.
Moonlight poured down onto the deck.
* * *
Recalling last night's encounter, Namgung Hyeok muttered,
"Maybe I should call off the training."
Geum Cheomsang turned at his mumble.
"Why?"
"Sword Pavilion kid's on board."
"What's Sword Pavilion?"
"...Annoying bunch."
"A sect?"
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue.
"You live in Namgung Family and don't know Sword Pavilion?"
"Righteous Heaven Alliance, Five Great Families, Nine Great Sects and below are trivia..."
"Unbelievable."
"Ahem, kidding. But why annoying?"
Geum Cheomsang handed him some jerky.
Nom nom.
Namgung Hyeok chewed and said,
"They come at you for spars."
"So? Thunder Dragon Squad spars daily."
"You know what their spars are?"
"What?"
Namgung Hyeok sighed deeply.
"Hundred Battles Spar. Fight a hundred times to end it."
"So why's that bad?"
"Get it? A hundred times?"
"Yeah, a hundred people, a hundred times..."
"No, one person, a hundred fights. Until it's settled!"
Geum Cheomsang blinked, then gaped.
"Wait, not a hundred people?"
"They stack it up like that."
What kind of nonsense?
Fight one person a hundred times, then do it for a hundred people?
That's not sparring; that's obsession...
"If they win within a hundred, fine. But if they go a full hundred without victory? Three years later, they come back for rematches with losers. That's Hundred Battles—more like Hundred Victories Hunt."
"...Anyone endured that?"
Yeah.
Me, Sword King, Demon Lord just smashed them flat.
"Once they start, no end. Hopeless."
"...Ruthless."
Better not to fight unless wiping them out.
'I'm no slaughter demon.'
In the past, he had set reasons to fight.
One was curiosity about their arts—like Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship.
Once he'd dissected their entire style, interest faded. But they got heated, demanding endless spars.
Ad nauseam.
'Three years of that crap?'
One thing he thanked the Demon Lord for: smashing Sword Pavilion to end the spars.
"Anyway, nothing good from getting involved."
"But the Sword Pavilion woman—was she in black light robes with a white veil?"
"Yeah. You saw her?"
"Yes."
"At night?"
"No."
"Then when?"
"Now."
Geum Cheomsang nodded ahead.
Namgung Hyeok sipped tea, rolled his eyes sideways—and saw the black-robed, white-veiled woman staring right at them.
He scratched his cheek.
Reasons for Sword Pavilion interest flashed back.
'Haha, damn it.'
Why dredge up old bad memories?
Looked like his luck was turning sour starting today.