Chapter 70
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Water Dragon King's Ship
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“Uncle……?”
“What?”
“You’re not telling us to board this boat, are you?”
“What’s the problem?”
“…….”
At Yu Hyun’s response, Nangong Seong and Ge Du-sin blinked in utter bewilderment.
Problem? Of course there was one. A gravely serious one, at that.
To begin with, it had already been odd to abandon the ship prepared by the Justice Alliance midway to Haenam Island and switch to this small vessel.
Wasn’t it strange? Why discard the perfectly good ship they’d provided?
They’d held their tongues, figuring there must be some grand purpose behind it……
But the familiar ship that suddenly emerged from the darkness at night was hard to comprehend, no matter how profound his intentions.
“Come on, everyone, hop aboard.”
“…….”
The one courteously extending a hand was a bronze-skinned man with his chest bared wide open…… unmistakably a water bandit.
Moreover, the ship he was guiding them to wasn’t the typical black dragon combat vessel used by Yangtze water bandits, but undoubtedly the great black ship ridden by the Water Dragon King himself.
What in the world…… This was absurd……
“You getting on or not?”
“…….”
Nangong Seong and Ge Du-sin stared blankly at Yu Hyun, who asked with a perfectly calm expression.
No, was this really a time to just tilt one’s head?
How could the starting point for the Justice Alliance’s representative Latent Dragon Corps be a ship from the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold!
“I’ve arranged passage all the way to the market. Hop on quick—it’s free.”
“…….”
The Justice Alliance ship earlier had been free too, you know?
But as Yu Hyun grinned and hopped aboard, Ge Du-sin and Nangong Seong exchanged dazed glances before bowing their heads and climbing on as well.
How on earth was this uncle figure so utterly unpredictable?
Yet the astonishment didn’t end there.
What greeted the two as they reached the railing were water bandits scampering about half-naked……
“Wa, wa, wa…….”
“Wa, wa, wa…….”
The moment they boarded and spotted the figure sitting across from Yu Hyun with a table between them, Nangong Seong and Ge Du-sin’s eyes bulged wide as they repeated “wa” over and over.
“Oh, you boys meet again.”
“…….”
Would you mind not greeting us like some neighborhood grandpa you bumped into at the market, Your Excellency Water Dragon King?
The eyes of the two, plunged into chaos side by side, trembled fiercely.
What should they do?
Draw their swords first?
“You little punks, we met before—why act so shocked? You should greet your elders properly.”
“…….”
As Yu Hyun narrowed his eyes and scolded them, Ge Du-sin and Nangong Seong snapped to their senses.
Ah, right. Greet him first.
“Nangong Clan’s Seong greets Senior.”
“Beggars’ Sect’s Ge Du-sin…….”
After clasping their fists and bowing politely as instructed, the two suddenly felt something off and glanced around.
Yu Hyun, the Water Dragon King, and his guard Zhongshan.
……Why do they look so chummy?
“Sorry about that. These kids weren’t raised right—they’re bad at greetings.”
“Hmm, that can happen. I’m fine.”
“…….”
As magnanimous as his title of Water Dragon King suggested…… No, that wasn’t the point.
Why! How!
Did these two look like they’d been buddies for ten years?!
Ge Du-sin and Nangong Seong, unaware of their relationship, could only find the situation utterly baffling.
“Zhongshan.”
“…….”
“The guests have all arrived. Let’s set off.”
At Zhongshan’s signal upon receiving the order,
Creak, splash!
Creak, spaaash!
Oars extended from both sides of the ship, vigorously slicing through the water to set course.
Flutter!
A massive sail unfurled next, catching the tailwind as the vessel surged forward swiftly.
“Oh, by the way—I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I’ve started a little hobby as the Latent Dragon Corps leader.”
“Oh ho? Quite the modest pastime.”
“Yeah. It’s a group I put together with kids like these—feels like it’ll be fun raising them up.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’re heading to Haenam Island?”
“Right. See him here? Haenam Island branch leader Gok Ja-heon. Gotta recruit him.”
“Hmm…… Haenam Island, eh. Won’t be easy.”
“Why not?”
“I went there long ago and gave up. It’s inherently closed-off. The people there think quite differently from the Central Plains…… Anyway, you’ve got some pretty well-known names here.”
As Yu Hyun pulled out the Latent Dragon Corps roster from his bosom and showed it, the old man peered at it with keen interest.
“Un, Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“That list hasn’t been fully disclosed to the orthodox sects yet.”
Ge Du-sin hurried over, glancing warily at the old man as he whispered.
“So?”
“Pardon?”
“…….”
Ge Du-sin was the one left bewildered by Yu Hyun’s reaction.
So……?
Yu Hyun snorted derisively at the dazed Ge Du-sin.
“What’s so secretive about this……? Quit wasting time on nonsense and go train.”
“…….”
“Go on.”
“……Yes.”
At the curt scolding, Ge Du-sin slumped his shoulders and trudged to a corner of the ship without another word.
Damn it—what power did he have? If the leader said train, he trained.
The only one patting his back and consoling the helplessly dismissed man was Nangong Seong, in the same boat…… but it was no consolation at all.
It was because of the smirk-like smile playing on his lips.
“Quit smirking, you bastard…….”
“Uncle ordered training—what can I do? Haha.”
“…….”
Hahaha, damn you.
Ge Du-sin had no choice but to hop around the deck like a fool.
* * *
Mount Heng in Hunan, boasting terrain so rugged it ranked among the Five Peaks.
Rivers large and small crisscrossed the area, leaving it shrouded in fog almost constantly, save for a couple hours a day.
Rattle, rattle.
The sound of wagons shattered the misty silence.
Soon, reddish light spilling from lanterns diffused hazily through the fog.
“Young branch leader, the fog’s too thick. Wouldn’t it be better to rest and wait for it to clear?”
“Rest? What rest? Don’t you know time is money?”
At the irritation-laced rebuke from Mountain-Sea Escort Bureau’s young branch leader Du So-yang, the old wagon master Man Hyeong-ju, veteran of countless escort runs, let out a deep sigh.
How could he not know?
Time is money.
It was an ironclad principle between escort bureaus and their clients.
Arrive on schedule for full pay.
Arrive early for a bonus; arrive late and pay penalties for the delay.
Thus, escort bureaus plotted the shortest routes for every run and poured all efforts into arriving as fast as possible.
That was why they chose paths held by bandits or water pirates.
Paying tolls was still cheaper.
Despite knowing this full well, Man Hyeong-ju couldn’t shake a growing unease.
A gut feeling born of long experience.
This thick fog felt ominously chilling. As if something were about to happen……
He tried persuading Du So-yang once more.
“But if we rush and something happens in this fog…….”
“Worrying’s a luxury. I’ve never heard of bandits on Mount Heng. Even if there were…….”
Du So-yang glanced at the flag planted on the wagon.
Soaring spirits high (意氣充天).
A banner received while taking on the Justice Alliance’s commission.
“With that flying, who in the world would threaten us?”
“But there are beast packs too…….”
“Hey! Quit scaring folks with nonsense and light the path properly.”
“……Yes.”
At Du So-yang’s repeated scolding, Man Hyeong-ju clamped his mouth shut.
Pushing aside the dawdling Man Hyeong-ju, Du So-yang rallied the group.
“Everyone, hurry! Hengyang’s just ahead—we’ll rest there. Mind your step in the fog, but pick up the pace!”
“Yes!”
Crack!
Rattle, rattle.
The group quickened, whips and wagons resounding louder as they plunged deeper into the fog.
“Young branch leader! Exit ahead—the canyon mouth’s in sight.”
“…….”
The cries came from those leading with lanterns.
Of course.
Du So-yang shot Man Hyeong-ju a glare and shook his head.
What a worrywart old man.
He’d kept him on for his experience guiding routes since his father’s days, but he was always a letdown.
Once this run ended, he’d replace him with some sharp-eyed young talent.
Rest aside, Du So-yang planned to vent his frustrations about the man’s constant nitpicking delays the moment they reached Hengyang.
See? What danger was there?
The foggy path was nearly done, wasn’t it?
Just past that pillar-like final canyon point……
“Huh?”
An odd look crossed Du So-yang’s face as he stared at the canyon’s end.
Strange. Something metallic had glinted there.
Where’d the guides’ lanterns go?
Signal them……
Swoosh!
His thoughts cut short.
Thud, roll roll roll.
In a flash of sharp blade aura slicing the humid air, Du So-yang’s head tumbled to the ground before his eyes could even register.
Splurt!
Thump.
Blood gushed from the severed neck like rain, and Du So-yang’s headless body crumpled.
“Young, young branch leader!”
The lead man screamed upon seeing Du So-yang collapse.
Was that the signal?
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Shrieks erupted simultaneously from points along the long caravan.
Neighhh!
Startled horses reared up, front hooves high.
“A, ambush…… Argh!”
The fog-shrouded space turned to pandemonium in an instant.
How much time passed.
As the fog thinned, glints of metal flashed through, revealing the gruesome scene of corpses strewn everywhere.
Drip…… drip…… drip……
The chilling sound of blood dripping from a sword tip echoed eerily.
No more screams.
“……Confirm.”
With the fog fully lifted, exposing the blood-soaked vista in stark clarity, a masked man holding his blade at an angle spoke lowly.
How much time passed.
One of the masked men checking the bodies approached him.
“They’re not here.”
“……What?”
The eyes visible through the mask twisted viciously.
“Did you mistake them?”
“No way. The flag was definitely the Justice Alliance’s, and these are the Mountain-Sea Escort Bureau that left Wunan with the Latent Dragon Corps.”
“…….”
Then they’d split paths?
Impossible……
Deep furrows creased the masked leader’s brow.
“Find survivors! We need their location!”
“Yes!”
At his command, the masked men rummaging through bodies soon dragged forth one man.
“Urgh…….”
Wagon master Man Hyeong-ju.
The seasoned veteran had feigned death the instant the attack hit, prioritizing survival.
But he couldn’t evade the masked men’s thorough eyes.
“Where’s the Latent Dragon Corps?”
“P, please spare me.”
“That depends on your answers.”
“I don’t know the location. We split at Wunan…….”
“What?”
Man Hyeong-ju’s words made the masked leader’s eyes blaze.
Damn—recon was sloppy. Things were going wrong from the start.
This assassination couldn’t fail……
“Hengyang. We’re to meet at Zhenglu Inn in Hengyang.”
“Hengyang…….”
“Please spare me.”
“…….”
The masked man curved his eyes in a smile at the pleading Man Hyeong-ju amid his wound’s agony.
Crack.
With a gruesome snap, Man Hyeong-ju’s neck twisted backward, his body hitting the ground.
“Clear the bodies and erase traces. We head to Hengyang. Set the trap there to catch them.”
“Yes.”
Their traces vanished as swiftly as the ambush, and the refilling fog soon blanketed the canyon once more.