Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: The Burning Pirate Ship
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Watching the pirate ship engulfed in roaring flames, Ma Song's mouth fell open in shock.
A torrent of water flowed toward the vast ocean, now blanketed in fire.
The pillars of blazing fire and the pitch-black smoke covering the sky like storm clouds made him question if this was truly the sea route he knew.
Chaos reigned atop the pirate ship wrapped in flames.
Crew members rushed to fetch water from all sides to douse the fire started by the thunder bombs, while those caught in the blaze hurled themselves into the water to escape.
Ma Song stared at the ship they had been pursuing with trembling eyes.
"You mad bastard..."
Amid the inferno, Namgung Hyeok was still clutching a thunder bomb, glaring in all directions.
'He's going to take us all down with him...?'
The sea was right before them now.
Even if they somehow overcame the thunder bombs for the moment, without a ship, they would surely drown before reaching land.
Yet the bastard had thrown a thunder bomb and set the ship ablaze.
It was impossible unless he truly intended mutual destruction.
Martial artists were human in the end.
Swimming upstream against the Hangju River current to reach shore was nearly impossible.
And in these churning waves, fighting the water's flow was even more absurd.
Ma Song gritted his teeth.
"We have to kill that bastard. He's ruining everything right now!"
"Call the Assembly's martial artists! That guy's a master who can match the Sect Leader!"
"If the main force's Ten Strongest strike at once, he won't dare use the thunder bombs recklessly. Use that opening to sweep them all away!"
"......Mm! Yes, Vice Sect Leader!"
The strategist nodded reluctantly.
Ma Song drew his spear.
At that signal, the Black Dragon Sect's Ten Strongest exchanged glances.
Each gripping swords, spears, or blades, the Black Dragon Sect's Ten Strongest stepped forward.
Ma Song kicked off the deck.
Flash!
In a single bound, he leaped onto Namgung Hyeok's ship, spear at the ready.
The Black Dragon Spear's Flying Dragon Cannon blasted toward Namgung Hyeok. The spiraling spear thrust from his grip aimed straight for Namgung Hyeok's throat.
Shiiiing!
The whirlwind spear flew toward Namgung Hyeok's nape—
Clang!
Namgung Ryong burst out from beside Namgung Hyeok and swung his sword.
Boom!
Ma Song's Black Dragon Spear was effortlessly deflected into the water.
"......!"
Ma Song gasped in horror.
He had been focused solely on the monster who killed his master, but out of nowhere, a tall beggar had appeared, blocked his Black Dragon Spear, and now stood in his way.
The man's prowess and aura were anything but ordinary.
In the brief silence, Namgung Ryong mercilessly swung his sword at Ma Song.
"Vice Sect Leader, evade!"
One of the Ten Strongest, Heuk Eung, met Namgung Ryong's sword with his twin claws.
Craaaang!
"Ughhh!"
Heuk Eung was hurled back purely by the sword force.
The other Ten Strongest were stunned. They never imagined Heuk Eung would be repelled so easily.
By then, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung had gathered around.
"I'll block the front!"
"You filthy rats! Come get an axe blade in your skulls if you dare, you bastards!"
"Hah, damn it! I said no provoking! Why provoke them? I told you not to rile them up!"
The three noisily bantered as they intercepted the charging Ten Strongest.
"You bastards!"
"What kind of formation is this?!"
"Urgh!"
Shock spread across the Ten Strongest's faces.
These pinnacle experts of the Black Dragon Sect couldn't breach the space held by just three men.
And even the charcoal-blackened tall beggar seemed to occupy an untouchable realm.
Ma Song ground his teeth, radiating killing intent.
'These guys aren't from some ordinary sect.'
They were leagues above the warriors he'd encountered during Assembly missions.
Their sects weren't pushovers either...
'Doesn't matter! It changes nothing either way!'
"Kill them! Kill them all right now!"
Ma Song shouted as he snatched a spear from a subordinate and charged.
"Chaaa!"
"Die!"
"Hah!"
As the Ten Strongest moved, the Black Dragon Sect disciples on deck ignited their killing intent and resumed the fight.
The Thunder Dragon Squad and Paeng Jung-hyeok banded together to face the oncoming Black Dragon Sect disciples.
The Jiangxi Orthodox Alliance and Blood River Sect disciples also regrouped and fought in unison.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Graaaah!"
"Huff!"
The battle descended into total melee.
Namgung Hyeok scowled, still holding the thunder bomb.
"These fools don't fear thunder bombs?"
"C-Calm down! If you throw another, we're all dead!"
Sogeolgae yelled while toppling Black Dragon Sect disciples with his Dragon Sound Twelve Techniques.
Ignoring him, Namgung Hyeok peered beyond the fierce clash, thunder bomb in hand.
Sensing the intense hostility prickling his skin from Eunyoung and Biyeong, Namgung Hyeok let out a sneer.
"You two again? Damn, can't you stay out of it for once?"
Their distinctive aura and presence matched the 'shadowy force' that always meddled—the ones tied to 'that person.'
Namgung Hyeok narrowed his eyes.
"Birds of a feather, huh? All the scum gathered together."
"Why do you keep mouthing off! You're not really gonna blow it, right? Right?!"
Sogeolgae clung to him, pleading.
Namgung Hyeok lightly kicked his rear, sending him into the enemy ranks, then turned toward the cargo.
'What the hell's in there?'
Something important was definitely inside. Otherwise, those bastards wouldn't show up here.
'And they were hunting for Gongmok's secret vault too.'
Nine times out of ten, one of those crates held the prize.
His instincts screamed it, and anyone with common sense could guess something rarer than the spirit medicine he'd found was mixed in there.
Probably one he hadn't checked yet amid the frantic escape.
That's why they clung so tenaciously.
It reeked.
'Smells like money.'
Namgung Hyeok grinned and drew his sword.
"Then I have to claim it for sure."
He never let go of what was already in his grasp.
A blue glint flickered in Namgung Hyeok's eyes.
The aura from Eunyoung and Biyeong sliced through the air toward him.
Amid the surrounding chaos, the three stood frozen, glaring at each other.
Just as their clashing auras turned to killing intent—
Namgung Hyeok twisted his lips and hurled the thunder bomb without hesitation.
"You think I'm crazy enough to fight?!"
The thunder bomb shot out like a bullet in a straight line.
Eunyoung and Biyeong's faces twisted in shock, expecting him to charge in immediately.
"......!"
"......!"
As the thunder bomb closed the distance in an instant, the two twisted their lower bodies to dodge left and right.
In that moment, Namgung Hyeok slipped between them using Blood Wind God Step.
"You...!"
When?
Their focus on the thunder bomb had blinded them to his presence.
But why would this madman hurl himself into the gap unless he was insane?
In their confusion, their eyes instinctively flicked to the thunder bomb.
Huh?
No fuse lit?
"Bluff, you idiots!"
Now in close range, Namgung Hyeok unleashed Dark Dragon Palm full-force at Eunyoung.
Crunch crunch crunch!
Eunyoung's eyes bulged as the brutal palm shattered his ribs.
Agonizing pain like melting guts filled his ears with thunderous roar.
KABOOM!
"Puaaaak!"
Spewing blood, his body was sucked into the river.
Biyeong, who had leaped back, charged at Namgung Hyeok again.
"You bastard!"
A venomous smirk hung on Namgung Hyeok's lips.
Why...?
Before the question fully formed in Biyeong's mind, cracks spiderwebbed across the thunder bomb struck by Namgung Hyeok's palm.
"Crazy...!"
Biyeong curled to retreat, but his body had already twisted once.
Even a top expert couldn't perfectly reverse such momentum.
KABOOM!
The exploding thunder bomb engulfed Biyeong in flames mid-air.
"Gaaaah!"
Screaming in agony, he plunged into the water.
Splash!
Flailing to extinguish the flames, Biyeong felt excruciating pain from his damaged body, his mind going white—then Namgung Hyeok, submerged silently nearby, thrust his sword into him.
Stab!
"Glug glug!"
Biyeong went limp.
Namgung Hyeok surfaced without a glance at the sinking body.
The deck was still pandemonium.
The thunder bomb's blast had pulverized the bow, tilting the ship forward rapidly.
Those fighting moments ago now panicked indiscriminately, scrambling about.
"The ship's tipping!"
"Damn it! You should've thought about the back before throwing!"
"Huek! Hole in the ship! Transfer, transfer now!"
"Kaaaaak! Save meee!"
Fleeing the fire, people tangled in greater chaos.
In the mayhem, Namgung Ryong, the Thunder Dragon Squad, Paeng Jung-hyeok, and others clashed with the Ten Strongest.
Ma Song exploded in rage.
"Damn it! You filthy bastards! I'll make sure you...!"
"Get lost, you punks!"
Splash!
Water erupted as Namgung Hyeok soared up.
His booming voice drew all eyes skyward involuntarily.
Ma Song's pupils dilated with Namgung Hyeok's sole approaching.
Namgung Hyeok's kick struck Ma Song's jaw like lightning.
Crack!
Ma Song's head snapped back, his body spinning impossibly before slamming into the water.
The stunned Ten Strongest had no time to fully react.
Eyes rolled back, Namgung Hyeok charged like a maniac.
"My cargo's gonna sink, you bastards—!"
Snorting like a bull, Namgung Hyeok barreled toward the Ten Strongest.
"You little...!"
"Kill that one first!"
"Die!"
"Vengeance for the Sect Leader!"
The Ten Strongest unleashed killing intent and charged back.
Namgung Hyeok swatted at the oncoming elites like annoying flies, unleashing his palm technique.
Tyrant Chaos Thousand Hands!
With his cargo crates at risk of sinking, he held nothing back with his signature martial art.
Whoooosh!
The Ten Strongest groaned in horror at the sudden thousand palm shadows filling the air.
"C-Crazy!"
"Hup!"
"Ughhh!"
The palm shadows blanketed the sky like rain, pummeling them.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!
Dull impacts rang out as the Thousand Hands struck, sending the blood-spewing Ten Strongest flying left and right.
Those on deck watched in stunned silence.
Mouths agape, they couldn't close them at the blooming flower of palm shadows overhead.
Namgung Hyeok snapped them out of it.
"You lunatics! What are you gawking at? Move the cargo! Damn, my stuff! My stuff's sinking!"
Consistency, huh.
"If it gets wet, your heads are going under too, you idiots! Hurry and move it!"
Eyes rolled again.
How many times a day did they do that!
But one thing was clear: he meant every word.
Geon Cheon-hwi rushed in.
"Move it quick! Quick!"
"Damn it, why's beggar life like this!"
"Father! I found the Paeng family's cargo, Father!"
"Grab that bastard! The one who charged first!"
"Slay the evil!"
Sogeolgae, Paeng Jung-hyeok, Paeng Yeon-hwa, and So Hye-yeon each reacted wildly.
"Shut up and move it!"
People scrambled to transfer Namgung Hyeok's cargo to the pirate ship.
The dazed Black Dragon Sect disciples dared not approach the radiating madman.
Moments later, Namgung Hyeok cheered.
"All moved! Woo!"
......Shouldn't it be "We survived!"?
Everyone eyed Namgung Hyeok in disbelief, but none stopped him.
Namgung Ryong asked quietly.
"What about them?"
Namgung Hyeok waved dismissively at the shivering Black Dragon Sect disciples on the sinking ship.
"Leave 'em."
He had no hobby of killing the utterly defeated.
During the Demonic Blood Tribulation, maybe—but not now.
'Things have to be different from the past, right.'
"Show a little mercy."
But what?
Why those faces?
Geon Cheon-hwi ventured cautiously.
"......The cargo's safe, but the water's the issue."
"Huh?"
"Leave them like that, and they'll drown."
"No way."
"They will."
"Really?"
"Yes."
......Oh, that's what he meant?
Namgung Hyeok blinked, then scratched his head.
"They'll figure it out."
Damn, our young master's character shines!
Everyone shook their heads.
Yeah, they can grab floating debris around.
A couple fast ships remain, so they'll manage somehow....
"So, straight to the sea now?"
"What're you talking about?"
"Pardon?"
"We're heading to the Black Dragon Sect!"
What madness is that?
"They've still got warehouses left. Let's loot 'em leisurely."
True to his instincts, Namgung Hyeok was.
Seeing him suck every last marrow from what was in his grasp, everyone sighed.