Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Pirates' Toll
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The One-Eyed Dragon's lone eye swept over the Thunder Dragon Squad.
He had spotted the boat entering Dongpyeong Stronghold territory and rushed over thinking it was prime pickings, but when did these other bandits board first and stake their claim?
And they didn't look like your run-of-the-mill riffraff, either.
Every single one of them exuded an extraordinary aura.
Even the One-Eyed Dragon, no stranger to intimidation himself, felt a slight chill.
'...This is gonna get bloody.'
They sure as hell weren't pushovers.
'Damn it all. I've still got to pay tribute to the main stronghold.'
Business was slow in winter—who knew when another ship would come along?
He couldn't just let this one sail away.
But tangling with these early birds for a toll felt too risky, blood and all.
Especially that brute with an axe half his size slung over his shoulder, snorting like a bull. Those bulging muscles and massive frame screamed raw power.
'But where do I know him from? Why does he look so damn familiar?'
The Thunder Dragon Squad looked like a walking trash heap.
If left alone, maybe no one would notice, but Namgung Hyeok had rolled them through the mud so thoroughly their clothes were in tatters.
Even with intact outfits, hardly anyone would peg the Thunder Dragon Squad as Namgung family retainers at a glance.
So it was no surprise that the One-Eyed Dragon, operating in areas beyond the Namgung family's reach, couldn't instantly guess their affiliation.
His eye darted around as he spoke up.
"No need for us to fight. You can have the ship. I'll just take the toll. That's Dongpyeong Stronghold rules!"
It sounded like a concession, but the Dongpyeong Stronghold only collected tolls to begin with.
In their territory, they usually just took passage fees, then headed elsewhere for raids—quick hits before scurrying back.
Getting infamous for pillaging drew heat from the garrison troops or martial clans, which brought no profit to the stronghold.
The crowd murmured.
Namgung Hyeok, watching from a short distance, widened his eyes.
"Huh? Just the toll?"
Since when did these pirates settle for tolls only?
'Why are these guys so nice all of a sudden?'
They used to smash the boats first, clear the deck of warriors, then loot everything.
Namgung Hyeok let out a sigh.
'Man, the world's gotten better.'
They called it a peaceful era, and now even river pirates showed mercy like this!
Back in his day, unthinkable.
'But come to think of it, no harm in it, right?'
Just pay the toll and be done.
Ransacking them would tangle with the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold, meaning headaches the whole way across the Yellow River.
Better to hand over a few taels of silver and call it even.
Geon Cheon-hwi happened to glance his way just then.
Namgung Hyeok nodded with a benevolent smile.
'Yeah, let's do that. Keep it smooth.'
Geon Cheon-hwi caught the signal and turned to the One-Eyed Dragon.
"Fine."
The One-Eyed Dragon, who'd braced for rejection, broke into a hideous grin.
"Ahem! Right you are, little brother! Fellow tradesmen gotta look out for each other to keep the market fair and beautiful!"
Little... brother?
Who the hell are you calling that?
Ah.
Geon Cheon-hwi's gaze subtly shifted to Tak Hyeokdong, who was sharpening his axe nearby.
Tak Hyeokdong blinked wide-eyed at Geon Cheon-hwi.
"What're you staring at? Huh? What?"
"Never mind."
"...No, that was one creepy-ass look."
"I said never mind."
Geon Cheon-hwi shook his head.
Tak Hyeokdong scowled at Geon Cheon-hwi's back, then glared at Jang Ung snickering beside him.
"What're you laughing at?"
"Nothing, sir."
"You little shit!"
*Smack!*
"Eek!"
Jang Ung yelped from the skull-rattling blow to his nape.
The One-Eyed Dragon, seeing the Thunder Dragon Squad's chummy vibe, was convinced they were kin in crime. He signaled his men.
"Ten taels per head. Collect it."
"Yes, boss!"
The Dongpyeong pirates bellowed back and scanned the deck.
Their predatory stares made the crowd shrink.
"Think of it as fare. Cough up ten taels each."
"It's tribute for the Dragon King—no skimping."
"Hurry it up, what're you waiting for!"
The pirates menaced with harpoons and blades, sending folks scrambling for their purses.
Ten taels was a month's wages.
Steep for a toll, sure, but pocket change compared to your life.
Hell, if the pirates took the toll and let everyone walk, that was a blessing.
Geum Cheom-sang tugged Namgung Hyeok's sleeve discreetly.
"Young master. Don't let ten taels twist your guts."
"What're you on about?"
"Just pay it. Tolls are custom, custom. Think of it as bad luck and please, please stay quiet...."
"What? I know that much."
"Huh?"
"You take me for an idiot?"
"...Not an idiot, but. You might snap again."
Namgung Hyeok twitched a brow, and Geum Cheom-sang bowed his head meekly.
"Just in case, I said. In case you piss off the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold."
This guy's got the wrong idea about me.
Namgung Hyeok clucked his tongue dismissively.
"You nuts? Expect me to jump in every time? Fight every little thing and I won't live long."
"R-right."
"Why swing a sword over ten taels? Doesn't add up."
Ah... so that's how he calculates.
Geum Cheom-sang eyed Namgung Hyeok with fresh appreciation.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged indifferently.
"And the kids are sweethearts. Just tolls. Sure, their mouths and attitudes make me wanna dunk 'em, but I'm magnanimous."
"......"
"But I'm holding back, right?"
Where?
"Even the young master's behaving."
Namgung Ryong was glaring daggers at the pirates, but to Namgung Hyeok, he looked like a docile lamb.
Geum Cheom-sang gaped, then shook his head.
The pirates snatched purses from the crowd, piling them in the center.
One glanced toward the Thunder Dragon Squad.
"...Boss, what about them?"
"You idiot! That's not how it works with fellow tradesmen!"
"But we're Yangtze Waterway Stronghold—juniors paying respects to seniors..."
"Shut it!"
The One-Eyed Dragon's bellow carried straight to the Thunder Dragon Squad.
Fellow tradesmen!
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes naturally flicked to Tak Hyeokdong, and the squad stared him down too.
The piercing gazes made Tak Hyeokdong's brows twitch.
"What the hell? Why keep staring at me?!"
Jang Ung cackled.
"'Fellow tradesmen,' he said."
"What?"
"Like this."
Jang Ung waved his hands in front of his face.
Tak Hyeokdong finally got it.
He hoisted his pot-lid hand high.
*Smack!*
"Eek!"
Jang Ung clutched his nape and rolled on the deck.
Tak Hyeokdong snorted furiously.
"Damn punks act like their ugly mugs are jade carvings. Fifty steps to a hundred, the lot of 'em."
As Tak Hyeokdong glowered red-faced at his squad, Namgung Hyeok sidled up.
Their eyes met, and Namgung Hyeok beamed kindly.
"Good job."
"...Pardon?"
Tak Hyeokdong blinked at the thumbs-up.
"I didn't do anything?"
"Nah, you did great."
"......"
"You pulled your weight."
"No, I..."
"Best performance yet."
No, these bastards!
Tak Hyeokdong seethed, face twisting.
The squad snickered at his helpless fury.
Namgung Hyeok munched jerky, wrapped tight in his blanket.
That was when the pirates' collection was proceeding smoothly.
A shout erupted from the deck.
"No money?"
A pirate jabbed a notched blade at a man's throat.
A ragged oldster trembled, clutching his kids.
"M-mercy, mercy! I swear, I got nothing, Dragon King sir!"
"Not even ten taels?!"
"I scraped every last coin for passage fare. Truly nothing left, ugh!"
"Kuhahaha! No tribute at all for the Dragon King?"
The pirate guffawed, raising his blade.
The old man blanched and dropped to his knees.
"P-please, spare me! I got nothing!"
"Then your head's the toll!"
"H-heck! Mercy!"
"Don't worry 'bout the brats. I'll take 'em to the stronghold and raise 'em right!"
"No, no, please!"
The old man clung to his leg, kids wailing and clinging.
The pirate yanked a kid's hair.
"Aaak! Waaaah!"
No way could the old man and kids overpower a martial artist pirate.
*Thud!*
"Ugh!"
The old man hit the deck groaning; the kids dangled helplessly in the pirate's grip.
"Pleeease, mercy! The children at least!"
"Hahaha! The little shits flop like fresh-caught fish!"
Onlookers winced and averted eyes.
They wanted to help, but against these guys?
Yangtze Waterway Stronghold.
One whim from Dongpyeong, and the deck would be water ghosts in seconds.
No one wanted a dog's death.
Shelling out ten taels for a stranger was burden enough; drawing pirate eyes was worse.
The penniless blanched white, souls already fled.
*Shing!*
"Fish feast today!"
The pirate swung his blade sky-high.
Eyes turned away. That sword would sever the old man's neck any second.
The Thunder Dragon Squad tensed to leap; Namgung Ryong had his sword half-drawn.
Namgung Hyeok shook his head.
Martial artists, man.
Righteous or demonic, they drew steel first at any trouble.
Plenty of ways to solve it without fists—why so barbaric?
His past self would've sneered, "You're worse," but whatever?
Namgung Hyeok clucked his tongue and opened his mouth toward the pirates.
"I'll cover those folks' share, so..."
Before he finished.
Faster than Namgung Ryong lunging, Little Sword Mistress So Hye-yeon stepped forward.
*Shing!*
Her sword's sharp ring cleaved the falling blade in two.
*Clang!*
"Arghhh!"
The pirate screamed, clutching his mangled hand from the forceful impact.
Dongpyeong pirates scowled at the sudden intruder.
"Who the hell's this?!"
"Wanna die?"
"This bitch don't value her life!"
"Daring to draw on the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold!"
The pirates surged, blades aimed at So Hye-yeon.
She told the quaking old man,
"Step back."
"O-oh! M-ma'am! H-how can I!"
"Now!"
"Y-yes!"
The old man scooped his kids and bolted to the deck's edge.
Other cashless folk scrambled after him.
The One-Eyed Dragon's eye hardened.
"That bitch! Kill her!"
Pirates charged So Hye-yeon.
She watched them with eyes still as a deep lake.
Her sword traced elegant arcs.
Swordlight bloomed instantly, parrying incoming harpoons and blades.
*Clang! Clang-clang!*
Metal screeched; sparks flew wild.
Soon So Hye-yeon tangled with the pirates in combat.
The One-Eyed Dragon snarled orders.
"Grab that bitch! Defying Dongpyeong Stronghold?!"
Every nearby pirate rushed her.
Namgung Hyeok muttered in exasperation.
"Sheesh, just pay up and we're done..."
*Clang-clang-clang-clang! Clang!*
Thunder Dragon Squad clashed with pirates; metal rang out.
"Pay the money..."
*Clang-clang! Clang-clang!*
The mood heated up.
"Sigh, damn it."
He'd wanted to pass quietly...
The One-Eyed Dragon roared.
"Drag her dead if you must! String her head on the rail!"
Deck civilians shuddered at the erupting melee.
Then, inevitably, one pirate fell screaming to So Hye-yeon's sword.
"Gaaahhh!"
Namgung Hyeok sighed.
'Ah, these martial artist punks.'
The moment he confirmed talks had broken down—again.