Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Laughter and Fury on the River
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“Kuahaha!”
A booming laugh echoed across the river winds in all directions, and each time the sword light, infused with moonlight, swirled about, blood sprayed through the air.
“Don’t scowl! Laugh harder!”
“Ku… kuahaha!”
Yu Hyun roughly prodded Nangong Seong, who was battling the relentlessly pursuing pirates.
“Kuhaha…”
Ah, damn it.
Every time he snapped back to his senses while fighting as Yu Hyun ordered, waves of self-loathing and shame crashed over him.
Wasn’t it obvious? His face was smeared with blood, and he had to keep smiling the whole time.
An hour had passed since the main Black Mirror Village fleet had been sunk.
As they headed toward Wuhan, they faced nonstop attacks from pirates.
Dock at a nearby landing?
As if that were possible.
They were too busy fending off hordes of pirates leaping onto the deck from all sides to think of anything but plowing straight down the river.
Then suddenly, Yu Hyun spoke up in a bright voice.
“Seong! This is perfect. Treat it as live combat training.”
“Yes, Uncle!”
At Yu Hyun’s words, Nangong Seong gritted his teeth and raised his sword toward the pirates.
Right. Live combat training.
He had trained in three of the Seven Emotions so far, but he’d never actually faced an enemy.
Just as Yu Hyun said, this was a golden chance to test how much he had grown.
Come on, you pirates.
I’ll pour everything into this sword.
Wuuung!
As Nangong Seong gathered his energy in preparation for battle, a bluish aura extended like threads from his blade, layering over the edge.
Pseudogan.
Known as false gang qi, it was an exquisite technique achievable only by those who had reached the pinnacle of sword intent.
He had grown stronger.
Since meeting Yu Hyun, his level—barely at the entry to sword intent—had soared to unimaginable heights.
Not only had the density of his sword threads deepened into pseudogan, but it shone so vividly…
Seeing his own growth with his own eyes filled his heart with excitement and surging power.
The enemies before him were countless, but he felt no fear of defeat.
“Seong!”
“Yes, Uncle! I’m ready!”
Nangong Seong raised his sword and shouted vigorously, prompting Yu Hyun to bellow.
“Laugh!”
“…Yes?”
“Laugh, and joy fills you. Joy infuses the emotion of delight into your training!”
“…”
Nangong Seong laughed. While slashing away for dear life…
Damn it, what the hell is this!
Shukagak!
“Kuahahaha!”
Nangong Seong, scattering sword light reflected in the moonlight and bursting into mad laughter, embodied cruelty itself.
And since it was a forced laugh, his expression was downright grotesque.
“Don’t get close! He’s a madman. Must be gripped by sword mania!”
“…”
Now even the pirates were treating him like a lunatic and keeping their distance.
“Seong! Cry!”
“…”
“Didn’t you hear? Cry, you bastard! Wanna die?”
“Kuh… kuheheuk.”
At Yu Hyun’s shout from the opposite side, where he was smashing pirates, Nangong Seong abruptly stopped laughing and began to sob.
“Kaaak! Now he’s crying! He’s completely insane!”
“…”
The pirates’ misunderstandings deepened as he swung his sword, scattering tears.
“Get angry!”
“…”
“Again!”
With each of Yu Hyun’s commands, Nangong Seong alternated joy, sorrow, and love as he swung his blade.
Even the people aboard the Manjang Ho now looked at Nangong Seong like he was a madman.
“You’re too slow! One strike must hold all three emotions at once! Draw with love to relax and strike swiftly, block the enemy’s sword with joy for calm observation, and shatter them in fury on the attack!”
“…”
Sound advice.
Draw swiftly and lightly, move with leisure, concentrate power in an instant. How brilliant?
True insight into the sword lay there.
The problem was…
“Kuahaha, heuk heuk heuk, you fucking bastaaard!”
Having to cycle through three emotions in a split second.
“Demonic cultivator! It’s a demon! Only a Demonic Cult bastard would go that mad! Don’t get close—attack from afar!”
Now they were outright calling him a demon.
Fuck it, fine.
Pirates were scum who lived by stealing from others anyway.
Better to give it his all and carve them up than worry about face and get beaten half to death by that damn uncle later.
“Kuhahat!”
Nangong Seong suddenly erupted in boisterous laughter and charged the pirates.
He swung his sword like a total maniac, spraying sword qi everywhere, making it impossible for the pirates to close in as they hesitated.
A madman’s power was always formidable, and it was best avoided if possible…
With Nangong Seong holding his own, Yu Hyun, now relatively free of pirates, fell back a bit to watch the situation.
“Whew…”
Damn pirate hordes. Filthy numbers. They were holed up all over the Yangtze.
This wouldn’t do.
No one’s inner energy was infinite—Nangong Seong would tire eventually.
Yu Hyun could help, but that risked harming the innocent passengers.
They needed to escape this mess fast.
Damn it, why a slow flatboat? Better to ditch the Manjang Ho and board the Black Dragon Ship they’d towed along…
“Hm?”
Yu Hyun’s gaze, scanning the surroundings, locked onto one spot.
He spotted Gu Deok sneaking toward the gunwale, taking advantage of their distraction with the pirates.
Their eyes met exactly.
“…”
“…”
“You.”
“H-Ha. Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding. I was just thinking of checking the oars for a sec…”
“…”
Bullshit. Talking about oars in this situation.
And look—he’d untied the oar ropes. Afraid the boat might rock and give him away while fleeing?
No wonder it felt too slow for a flatboat.
Should he just burst that coward’s bladder?
“Hey, you punk!”
A chilling smile crept across Yu Hyun’s lips, and Gu Deok hurled himself into the water with all his might.
Just jump in.
No way they’d catch him from this distance…
Pak, shuaaaak!
“…”
But a flea’s jump was still a flea’s, and even on clouds, you’re in Buddha’s palm.
The moment the Heavenly Shadowless Step unfolded, Yu Hyun was already blocking Gu Deok’s path.
“Ah, haha.”
“…”
Gu Deok scratched his head with an awkward laugh at Yu Hyun’s ruthlessly cruel smile.
“G-Gee, I’m not thirsty anymore. Ahaha.”
“Back to your post.”
“T-To my post!”
At Yu Hyun’s curt command, Gu Deok dashed back like lightning and swiftly untied the ropes securing the oars.
Kkiiik, kkiiik.
“Tailwind! Sails are set right! We’re fleeing full speed!”
“Do it right. I’m watching.”
“Yes sir! I’ll give it everything!”
As Gu Deok shifted the oars to catch the current, the boat picked up speed dramatically.
The small boats that had been closing in wobbled and fell back at the sudden acceleration, and attacking pirates plunged into the water one after another.
“Chase them! They’re speeding up!”
The pursuit resumed.
“Haa, haa…”
Not particularly strong foes, but their numbers were the issue?
Nangong Seong, finally catching a breather, steadied his ragged breathing.
No matter how strong you were, numbers won out—cuts covered his body, blood flowing freely.
“You okay?”
“Y-Yeah, fine. Totally fine. Of course!”
“…”
His words, eyes, emotions—all dripping with it.
Irritation flared for a moment… but he’d worked hard, so let it slide.
The real problem was ahead.
Wuhan was still far, and the attacks would only intensify.
Yet suddenly, the surroundings grew eerily quiet.
Even with their speed boost, the enemies’ faster boats should have had small groups boarding by now…
What was going on?
Puzzled, Yu Hyun’s mind flashed on one fact, sharpening his gaze as he urgently focused on the pirates’ small boats.
“Huh? They’re gone?”
Weird.
Only a handful of pirates remained on the pursuing boats.
Where’d the rest go?
Yu Hyun’s half-lidded eyes suddenly widened.
Pirates didn’t always attack from the deck.
When shipboard fights failed… no way!
“Gu Deok!”
“Yes?”
“Veer left!”
“…?”
“Now!”
“Yes!”
At Yu Hyun’s thunderous roar, Gu Deok frantically twisted the oars.
Kkiiiii.
The boat abruptly banked left.
In that instant, Yu Hyun strained his eyes into the water to confirm his hunch.
As the boat turned sharply, something glinted beneath the surface.
Just as he thought…
The silence was because they’d changed tactics.
Realizing shipboard combat was disadvantageous, they’d opted for scuttling—drilling holes in the hull to sink the ship.
Then it’d be a water fight.
Yu Hyun could handle it, but Nangong Seong—exhausted and untrained in aquatic combat—was at risk.
Underwater, pirates were three times tougher.
And the passengers aboard?
“Damn it!”
“Uncle?”
Nangong Seong looked puzzled at Yu Hyun’s sudden outburst.
No time to explain.
They were already clinging to the hull. Had to peel them off fast.
“Seong! Hold the deck!”
“Y-Yes? Yes!”
Yu Hyun dove into the water after the order.
Splash! Chwaaaak!
The moment his body submerged fully, he descended to the hull, anchored himself, and unleashed his spirit energy.
Shuaaaak!
The spirit energy spread outward upon hitting the water.
Underwater.
Unlike the pirates accustomed to this, his visibility was limited.
But pinpointing without precision would disadvantage him, so he closed his eyes and enveloped the area with his energy sense.
One, two…
As the spirit energy expanded, pirates within range began registering.
Damn, they were stuck on like limpets. What were they, barnacles?
Incredulous inwardly, but no time to waste.
Some who’d spotted him were closing in to attack, while others stayed put, likely drilling holes…
Tch, peel ’em off first!
Wuuuung!
Gripping the keel with one hand to hold position, Yu Hyun concentrated spirit energy in the other, then swung it open wide like a tiger’s paw.
Shuaaaak!
Thread-thin spirit energy from his fingertips began carving the hull’s underside.
Like filleting sashimi…
Like ink spreading in water, blood bloomed in spots, and the pirates clinging below sloughed off like fish fillets.
Shuk, shuuuk!
The energy’s range limited, Yu Hyun moved along the keel, stripping every last pirate from the hull.
Kkeuuh.
After the final one dropped, his breath hit its limit.
Time to surface.
Yu Hyun shot straight up.
“Paha!”
Exhaling held breath, he shouted toward the gunwale.
“Seong!”
Whiiik!
Not totally clueless, Nangong Seong had readied a rope the moment Yu Hyun dove and tossed it now.
Kkwak!
He grabbed it, and the rope went taut.
Paak!
Using it, Yu Hyun vaulted high onto the deck in one go.
“Whew, whew…”
Nangong Seong rushed to the soaked, heaving Yu Hyun.
“Any injuries?”
“Nah.”
Relieved at the curt reply, Nangong Seong exclaimed in admiration.
“Uncle, you’re unbeatable. How’d you spot them hiding underwater?”
“Lucky guess. Got fortunate.”
“Still, we nearly had a disaster.”
“Yeah.”
Yu Hyun nodded.
True—damn close call.
If he hadn’t realized the hull attack, they’d have sunk and fed the Yangtze fish.
“What about the enemies?”
“Still tailing us.”
“Persistent bastards.”
Scowling, Yu Hyun eyed Gu Deok.
“Gu Deok!”
“Yes!”
“Nearest docking spot?”
“Th-There, just past that gorge…”
“Good. Land there.”
“Huh? Dock there?”
“Yeah.”
“Dangerous. Could run aground.”
“Don’t care! Ram the gorge if you have to—just dock!”
The surrounding small boats were multiplying.
The longer it dragged, the fiercer the assault, and if they hit from deck and water at once?
No stopping that.
Even if passengers got hurt, they had to fight on favorable land.
As Gu Deok rowed toward the gorge wall, it happened.
Wuuuuwu!
Amidst the clamor, someone leaped from the cliff face.
“What the…?”
Yu Hyun whipped around, glaring at the figure arcing through the air.
Clad in patched-up rags, displaying phenomenal lightness skill, the man landed deftly on the gunwale and bellowed at the pirates.
“Hear me, Yangtze waterways! I am the Beggars’ Sect Little Dragon Beggar, Gye Du-sin! From this moment, the Manjang Ho is under the Murim Alliance’s protection—withdraw now!”
Whoa, pretty bold aura… but who?
Gye Du-sin?
Then this young beggar was, like Nangong Seong, one of his damn future masters from the Beggars’ Sect…
“Seed Bull?”
No mistake—it really was him.
Who could miss those pockmarks from surviving smallpox, the deadliest plague alongside cholera?
But… withdraw?
Unless he already had the skills of the later “Drunken Fire,” why would pirates obey a…
It was real.
The small boats madly chasing the Manjang Ho began slowing, widening the gap.
It worked? Gye Du-sin was the real deal?
As Yu Hyun instinctively gazed approvingly at the sturdy back of the Little Dragon Beggar standing tall at the gunwale,
The pirates’ halted shouts shook the entire gorge.
“Disciples of the Yangtze bow to the Total Chaeju!”