Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Beating Out Answers
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Just to be thorough, Yu Hyun checked that not a single enemy had survived before returning and touching the back of the man's neck.
*Thud.*
The moment a sharp pain hit him, the man realized his pressure points had been released and unleashed the question he'd been holding back.
"W-Who the hell are you!"
"......"
Yu Hyun frowned slightly at the abrupt, rough tone.
Damn, he told him not to call him "you bastard."
Well, he could understand the bad mood after suddenly getting his pressure points sealed...
"Me? Jin Wi-gang."
"Jin Wi-gang?"
Yu Hyun shamelessly gave his name from his previous life.
He hadn't fully grasped the enemy's identity yet, so it wasn't time to carelessly reveal his real name.
From the fact that people from Hefei had chased him, it was clear the minions of the chaos were not individuals but an organization.
It wasn't even certain if Hwang Deok-sam was one of them. So for now, he needed to keep his identity hidden and pry information about the spiritual object.
Now, the key was how to extract it...
As he pondered, the teachings of his master, the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner, floated into his mind.
'When trying to learn what someone needs, hide your emotions and don't put your heart into your actions. Hide a sharp dagger beneath a gentle smile and seduce your opponent.'
'A war where you probe, grasp, and wield the opponent with your three-inch tongue. That's called a battle of words.'
"......"
But why bother?
Why go through that headache-inducing process?
The Heavenly Mechanism Diviner wasn't here anyway, so couldn't he just take the crooked path as long as he got the right answer?
Anyway, this middle-aged monk in front of him was definitely a bad guy.
Despite being able to block it sufficiently, he'd dodged Gu Deok's blast to save his own skin, nearly letting people get hurt.
And hadn't he immediately tried to kill Yu Hyun, who had saved him?
On top of that, he'd even previously informed the minions of chaos about the spiritual object's location.
In other words, Hwang Deok-sam was a potential bad guy highly likely connected to them... and he was supposed to talk it out with a guy like that?
Even the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner, who always emphasized that forcing one's will through strength was something only lowly idiots did, had ended up beating him when he refused to listen to the end.
And he'd tied him up tight first.
His other masters were the same.
They started with fancy words wrapped in pretty packaging, but in the end, it was always fists and feet.
Beat for not listening, beat for sloppy training, beat for backtalk, beat for breathing too loud...
Yeah, it was weird when planting beans yielded red beans.
No reason to circle around when he'd get beaten anyway.
Ask. Beat. Ask again. Beat more.
No answer? Beat until he gives one.
How straightforward and clean a process for reaching a conclusion?
The guy didn't seem trained against interrogation, so that should be enough for answers. Fastest and cleanest too.
As the saying goes, nothing beats a good beating.
Old sayings never lie. Straight from start to finish in one go.
"You're Hwang Deok-sam, right?"
"......What?"
"No use pretending. I figured it all out from your reaction earlier."
"......"
"I'm only going to ask one thing from now on. So answer honestly."
"......"
Yu Hyun's face showed no change even under Hwang Deok-sam's venomous glare.
"Glare all you want; nothing changes. Think carefully. I'm treating you like an ally for now, but one wrong word and we're enemies in a flash."
"You bastard, how dare you..."
"What? I haven't done anything yet."
"......"
Hwang Deok-sam's eyes filled with more poison at Yu Hyun's cheeky grin and swaggering attitude.
"Where's the Millennium Purple Shell?"
"Huh!"
"......"
Looks like you won't be playing the sly villain anywhere else.
The shock on his face was as good as an answer.
"As expected. Knew you knew."
"......"
The man blinked in bewilderment at Yu Hyun, who clapped and beamed brightly.
He was shocked enough that this kid knew his name, but now suddenly asking about the Millennium Purple Shell?
Even the group chasing him didn't know about it. They only knew he had a clue to finding a specific spiritual object.
So how did this guy know?
"......Y-You, who are you exactly."
"Jin Wi-gang."
"......"
"Told you earlier."
As Yu Hyun grinned mischievously, the man—Hwang Deok-sam—whose expressions had shifted by the second, replied in a heavy voice.
"I...... don't know."
"......"
Another smile appeared on Yu Hyun's face, which had momentarily hardened at the answer.
A very cold and eerie smile.
"Heh, you know, don't you?"
"I don't know."
"Don't lie. You know."
"I don't know!"
"Fine? Let's confirm, then. Starting now."
"What?"
With those ominous words, Yu Hyun abruptly stood and slowly rolled up his sleeves.
"What are you do..."
*Crunch!*
"Kwek!"
Before he could finish, a flying kick sent Hwang Deok-sam tumbling backward.
*Thud, thud, crunch, crunch-crunch-crunch!*
"Argh, aaaargh!"
Unable to move due to his sealed pressure points, Yu Hyun trampled him like a man possessed.
Hwang Deok-sam, turned into a rag in a laundry basket in an instant, thought dazedly.
If he was gonna do this, why roll up the sleeves? Should've rolled up the pants...
"Huu......"
After a good while of gleefully stomping— even humming a tune midway— Yu Hyun squatted down with a slightly tired face and smiled gently at the writhing Hwang Deok-sam.
"Gonna talk now?"
"Do......n't...... knoooow...... ugh."
"......"
The smile vanished from Yu Hyun's face again.
Fine, play dumb.
Let's see how long.
*Crunch.*
"Arrrrgh!"
Those who get beat a lot know how to take it best— Yu Hyun ghosted only the unbruised spots and stomped away.
"Why...... is he doing that?"
Nangong Seong, who had awakened Gu Deok to steer, narrowed his eyes and watched Yu Hyun wildly beating Hwang Deok-sam on the riverbank.
That was...... exactly like when he urged him to feel anger toward himself?
"Hey, pirate."
"Y-Yes? Yes!"
"......Slowly."
"Yes?"
"Veeeeery slooooowly. Even a snail would be shocked."
"Sn-Snail? Can't steer that slow..."
"We can."
"......"
As Nangong Seong narrowed his eyes and fiddled with his fist, Gu Deok nodded vigorously and focused solely on moving the boat slowly.
Fidgeting anxiously in case the current pushed them faster.
Damn, what kind of bastard is this?
Until he woke him and kindly smiled while asking him to steer, he'd thought he was a fine young noble from a prestigious house.
But soon after, he got mad for going slow, and now he's bitching for going fast.
Like two people in one body...... a total psycho.
Of all things, to meet such a vicious young punk— what a sight.
The more he thought, the angrier he got, grinding his teeth, but Gu Deok clung to a thread of hope.
Just hold on a bit. His boss would come soon.
The water bandits' communication network was better than outsiders imagined.
Even if it was an old custom among river folk, the bandits' plundering and tolls were definitely illegal.
So they constantly exchanged messages to prepare for patrols or threats from authorities.
He'd already sent a homing pigeon to the main base when he spotted the Manjangho, and since no contact after that, they'd send a scout or move the main fleet to check.
Then......
Heh heh heh, just wait, you little punk. He'd make him regret it for sure.
"Hey! Too fast!"
"S-Sorry, heh heh. I'll do my best to go slower."
His broken ribs ached, bruises throbbed, but Gu Deok could only force a grin with all his might.
Even with his fearsome rep as Black Mirror Stronghold's vice leader, what could he do?
Against someone insanely strong and loose with his fists......
* * *
"Ugh......"
Hwang Deok-sam slowly opened his eyes amid the throbbing pain in every joint.
He blinked slowly, and his blurry vision gradually sharpened.
The dim surroundings meant night had fallen?
This rocking sensation, wooden walls all around...... a boat?
"......!"
Snapping alert, Hwang Deok-sam tried to whip his head left and right.
But it was stiff as a board, so he rolled his eyes downward instead— his body was propped sitting against the mast.
"Ah, you're awake?"
"......"
That youthful voice was definitely...... the vicious bastard who'd mercilessly trampled him.
"Don't overdo it. Pressure points still sealed."
"You bastard......"
Hwang Deok-sam glared venomously at Yu Hyun, who squatted right in front of him with bright, eager eyes.
*Swish.*
But when Yu Hyun casually raised a fist, he instantly averted his gaze.
As expected, nothing beats a good beating.
"There you go, should've done that sooner."
Yu Hyun grinned and reached out sideways, and Nangong Seong— who knew when he'd joined— handed him a bowl.
It held white porridge.
"Hungry? You've been out for over two hours. Figured your mouth's all busted, so I made porridge."
"......Like hell I'd eat that crap."
*Grrrrumble.*
His face flushed hot at the loud growl answering for him.
"Well, if not, nothing I can do. Guess I'll eat it."
"......"
Yu Hyun snickered, scooped a spoonful, and started chowing down, polishing off the bowl in no time.
Even scraping it clean for show.
Seeing Hwang Deok-sam's reluctant, wistful glance, Yu Hyun smirked slyly and handed the empty bowl to Nangong Seong.
Half a day since departing for Wuhuan with the fainted Hwang Deok-sam aboard.
The passengers, terrified of Yu Hyun and Nangong Seong who'd massacred the pirates, huddled at the bow, leaving the stern with its sail—and Gu Deok diligently rowing—untouched.
"If you get hungry later, say so. Better to get beat on a full stomach than an empty one— hurts more hungry, right?"
"......"
Yu Hyun patted his shoulder chummily with a kind smile, then stood.
It was deliberate.
Despite beating and asking and beating more, the guy wouldn't talk, so time to switch tactics a bit.
Do humans only feel pain through pain receptors?
They feel the same agony when basic desires are controlled.
The so-called five desires: wealth, lust, food, fame, sleep.
No one can endure without food or sleep forever.
Any living being must eat and sleep.
Even those cultivating to suppress desires never skip those two.
His past masters had controlled even those to "overcome limits"...... damn humans......
Yu Hyun shot Nangong Seong a side-eye.
"W-Why?"
"Just felt pissed off suddenly."
"......"
As Yu Hyun glared with half-lidded eyes, Nangong Seong sheepishly looked away.
Tch, can't blame him for future sins he hasn't committed yet......
Gotta ramp up the training.
"Alright, ate up. Shall we start again?"
Turning from glaring at Nangong Seong, Yu Hyun cracked his knuckles with a menacing *crack*, and Hwang Deok-sam's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Where is it?"
"Crazy bastard. Like I'd tell y..."
*Thwack!*
"Keurk......"
"Ask again?"
"You...... vicious scum......"
"Told you? Depending on your answer, we could end up enemies."
"......"
"Shall we go again? Where is it?"
"Do......n't......"
"Yeah? No choice then."
*Swish.*
As Yu Hyun raised his fist, Hwang Deok-sam squeezed his eyes shut.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Nangong Seong stared somewhere with a puzzled expression.
"What?"
"Something flashed over there......"
Something was rapidly approaching through the waves in the direction Nangong Seong pointed.
Gradually revealing itself was......
"Black Dragon?"
No.
It was much larger than the boat they'd seen before.
"Kekeke. Get it now, you bastards? That's our Black Mirror Stronghold's main fleet. Our boss is coming!"
"......"
Gu Deok, who had been groveling until now, tossed aside the oar, furled the sail, and declared triumphantly.
"You bastards looked down on us pirates too much. When contact from me cuts off, the main fleet deploys. I even secretly tore my clothes and left traces to slip your eyes, kekeke."
"......"
Ah, so that's it.
He'd wondered why he stripped off his already useless top— clever move on his part.
"Heh heh heh, you're as good as dead now. Our boss will......"
*Crack! Thud.*
Before he finished, Yu Hyun's foot smashed into Gu Deok's jaw.
Annoying prick.
Black Mirror Stronghold's main fleet, huh.
"Seong. Guests have arrived."
"......Sigh, yeah."
Yu Hyun cracked his neck side to side and strode forward; Nangong Seong slowly drew his sword, shook his head, and followed.
He'd held back and waited to avoid trouble earlier, but now that the fight had started, no hesitation.
Passengers could get hurt if it reached them.
Yu Hyun detached the Black Dragon boat with vice leader Gu Deok hanging from the Manjangho and boarded with Nangong Seong.
Let's go, fuckers! Time to smash the guests!