Chapter 77
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Portside Fugitive
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After parting ways with the Water Dragon King in Hyeongyang County, Yu Hyun and his group quickly procured horses and galloped south.
They had just barely shaken off the Water Dragon King, who had tearfully(?) begged them with a bony fist raised high, asking when they would return and insisting they come find him first once their business was done.
He had seemed so desperate to teach them something that Yu Hyun had casually asked to be taught how to make ice, only for the man to jump around excitedly and explain it with utmost sincerity.
As his provisional disciple, didn't he have to humor him at least that much? After all, he was a provisional master who would fight Yu Hyun's enemies in his place going forward.
Besides, it had been pretty fascinating, and Haenam was notoriously hot anyway...
Still, thanks to the events in Hyeongyang, they had learned a few more facts.
According to what Gae Dusin had told them on the way after parting with the Water Dragon King, the man named Na Ha-chu was no small fry.
He was the master of Cheoljinbang, the largest evil faction in the south.
They said its power rivaled that of one of the Nine Great Sects when compared to the orthodox side?
For a warrior who had mastered true energy—someone there might only be a hundred of in the entire martial world—and his faction to serve him meant the forces of chaos had reached into the martial world far earlier than expected.
It wasn't entirely implausible.
Back then, plenty of Central Plains martial artists had betrayed their own and sided with the forces of chaos, so it wouldn't be strange if some had been bought off in advance.
Hadn't the Yangtze Waterway Fortress served as their vanguard at the time?
Of course, not anymore.
From what Yu Hyun had seen, the Water Dragon King was stubborn and hated to lose, but utterly indifferent to power struggles.
He thought himself the best there was. He had absolute confidence that no one in the world could harm him.
That much was clear just from the fact that his only companion was his grandson.
With that terrifying martial prowess, it was understandable why he'd think that way.
Black Mirror Fortress targeting Guard Huang had just been a commission; they weren't his underlings.
In any case, with the Water Dragon King around, the Yangtze wouldn't have fallen to the forces of chaos yet.
If it did, it would be after his death.
Without that great pillar of a man, the place would be tossed around like a leaf in the wind, and evil sect types had no qualms about scattering and regrouping based on profit—they'd grab any outstretched hand.
But things were different now.
Yu Hyun would be the one to seize control of the Yangtze.
Then, when the forces of chaos invaded the Central Plains in the future, they wouldn't be able to use them.
In any event, it wasn't something to worry about right now—no need to complicate things.
Before leaving Hyeongyang County, Gae Dusin had meticulously compiled a report on the tragedy that befell Sanhae Escort Agency and sent it off to the Justice Alliance via messenger bird.
Soon, Beggars' Sect beggars would swarm Hyongsan Gorge to comb through it, and since they were already digging into the forces of chaos over the Hefei incident, the investigation was bound to pick up steam.
Meanwhile, the Water Dragon King had ground his teeth and headed for Cheoljinbang, which was tied to those bastards.
No matter how strong they thought they were, they were mere insects before a monster.
He'd vowed to dig them out, so he'd probably uproot the foundations and flip the whole place over.
Forces of chaos, whoever you are, go ahead and hide so well not a single hair is seen.
There were plenty of people who'd wring the necks of cuckoos if that's what it took to find you.
Thinking about it was downright satisfying.
If his masters were here, wouldn't they pat him on the back and call him clever?
A smile naturally crept across his lips.
"Kekekeke. Kehehe! Kahahat!"
"......"
When Yu Hyun suddenly started laughing like a madman, Gae Dusin and Nangong Seong, riding alongside him, subtly slowed their pace.
He was laughing, sure, but it sounded terribly sinister, eerie, and unsettling...
"Hey, kid."
"......Y-Yes! Uncle!"
"......"
Gae Dusin snapped to attention and whipped his horse to close the gap in a hurry, while Nangong Seong used the moment to fall back a bit further.
"U-Uncle, did I do something wrong? If I did, it's all my fault, and I swear I won't do it again..."
"What bullshit is that?"
"Pardon?"
"Not that... Hmm."
"......"
Come to think of it, the form of address was a bit off.
Now that he considered it, Yu Hyun was three years younger...
He still had to meet the rest of the Righteous Six Saints, and some of them might outrank him in seniority?
"From now on, call me Alliance Leader."
"......Pardon?"
"You too, Seong... When did you lag so far behind?"
"N-No, this damn horse is slacking! Hya! Hya!"
Yu Hyun glanced back, and Nangong Seong jumped in fright, whipping his horse wildly.
"U-Uncle. I must've done something wrong. You must think I'm not sincere yet, but it's a misunderstanding. I'm truly content being your nephew? It's my heart that makes me your nephew. Really."
Seeing Yu Hyun scowling at Nangong Seong, Gae Dusin fervently professed his familial(?) devotion.
Who said what? Had this guy done something guilty in the meantime?
"Anyway, call me Alliance Leader from now on. I'm the Latent Dragon Alliance Leader, aren't I?"
"That's true, but why all of a sudden...?"
It was such an out-of-left-field remark that Gae Dusin and Nangong Seong exchanged glances and tilted their heads.
"Doesn't look right to others, does it?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm younger... So, no more 'uncle.' Call me Alliance Leader from now on. Got it?"
"......"
"Alright, let's hurry. I asked Donggwan Escort Agency to collect the tribute Sanhae was transporting and send it over, but since we left first, we should get there ahead and wait. Hya!"
Clop clop clop!
The two stared blankly at Yu Hyun's receding figure as he rattled off his piece and sped ahead, kicking up a cloud of dust.
All that talk about seniority, and now suddenly age?
And Alliance Leader? For a provisional position...
"Hey! You coming or not?"
"W-We're coming! Hya! Hya!"
Jolted by Yu Hyun's irritated shout from far ahead, the two snapped out of it and spurred their horses like they were in a race.
To Haenam Island...
* * *
Guangdong Province, stretching long east-west along the coast.
After leaving Hyeongyang County, Yu Hyun and his group rode nonstop nine hundred li south, finally arriving at the port city of Macau on the southern coast.
The western port of Xiguan was much closer to Haenam Island, but it was controlled by evil factions and frequented by pirates, so orthodox faction members used Macau instead.
True to form as the sect leader's disciple, Gae Dusin was remarkably knowledgeable about Macau's history and trivia.
His tales flowed from the Yue tribe said to have lived on Haenam since ancient times, more than enough to pique Yu Hyun's interest.
In truth, it was Yu Hyun's first time seeing the sea.
Having spent his childhood in Huayin County, deep in the inland Shaanxi Province—and then snatched away by his masters to train in martial arts before he was even properly grown—he'd never had the chance.
He'd first tasted fish from the sea at Yu Clan Manor.
He didn't even know if seawater was salty or fresh, so all of it was just wondrous to him.
Just over this ridge...
"Whoa!"
Yu Hyun let out an involuntary exclamation.
A vast blue wave connected to the earth's edge, so immense its end couldn't be fathomed.
The moment he took in the sight touching the sky, his chest felt wide open.
"That's... the sea?"
"Yes!"
The sea... So that's it.
Yu Hyun blinked in stunned awe.
He realized anew that he'd been a frog in a well all his life.
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Riding down the mountain path, Yu Hyun and his group soon unpacked at an inn right by the port.
The Justice Alliance had prepared lodgings, but Yu Hyun had insisted on moving because the sea wasn't visible from there.
The Justice Alliance warriors retrieving Sanhae's tribute hadn't arrived yet, so they had some time to spare...
In any case, settled by the window at the inn, Yu Hyun ordered food and gazed down below.
The port was as fascinating as the sea.
Warships, merchant vessels, fishing boats—ships of shapes unseen on rivers filled the harbor, while the adjacent market bustled with merchants hawking sea-imported goods and haggling customers.
Behind them, fishmongers sold freshly caught fish still flopping about.
It was all unfamiliar scenery from the Central Plains, the kind Yu Hyun loved.
Peaceful sights so different from his own time.
Gazing at them made the coming chaos feel like a lie.
Slowly scanning the novel port scene, Yu Hyun's eyes suddenly stopped on one spot.
About thirteen or fourteen, maybe?
A fresh-faced boy, not a whisker on him, kept nervously glancing around as he slipped furtively through the crowd.
Hmm, from his movements, clearly trained in martial arts...
As Yu Hyun watched the boy with interest, a commotion erupted a short distance away.
"Find him, no matter what!"
A gang of men.
All with sun-bronzed skin and sturdy, well-trained builds.
Their unfamiliar attire aside, the swords at their waists marked them as martial artists too...
Yu Hyun's gaze shifted back to the boy.
Obviously being chased by them... Huh?
The boy suddenly darted straight into the inn where Yu Hyun's group was staying.
Naturally turning his eyes inside, Yu Hyun spotted the boy heading straight up to the second floor.
He climbed quickly, whipping his head around as if searching for something, then locked eyes with Yu Hyun and bolted over.
"You're an orthodox martial artist, right?"
"......"
"Hide me, please!"
"......"
Yu Hyun's eyes widened slightly at the sudden plea.
"Please. I'm begging you. The hunters are after me!"
"......"
"Please. If they catch me..."
What the hell is this?
He's no deer—why pop up out of nowhere babbling about hunters and begging to be hidden?
Hide him, and what, does he reveal a fairy bathing spot or something?
His large eyes pleading desperately, tiny hands clasped together—it was earnest enough, but without context, what could be done?
As Yu Hyun stared silently at the boy, a clamor rose from below.
"This way! He went this way!"
"D-Damn it! Hurry! Don't orthodox warriors help those in need?!"
"......"
The boy freaked out at the shouts from downstairs and urged Yu Hyun on.
"Hurry! Hide me!"
"Hey, what exactly am I hiding..."
Irritated by the boy's insistent demands without any explanation, Yu Hyun opened his mouth—just as one of the warriors reaching the second floor pointed at the boy and yelled.
"He's here!"
At the shout, the sound of people charging up echoed, and the boy's face drained of color as he clutched Yu Hyun's sleeve with piteous eyes.
"Please..."
"......"
"Please, I beg you."
Pitiful, sure, but a hassle.
The day to face the precious millennium spirit toad was drawing near—best not invite bad luck...
While Yu Hyun hesitated, the warriors swarmed onto the second floor and took positions.
Hunters, by the boy's account.
But...
Swoosh.
The burly man who seemed their leader raised the broad blade of his sword, pointing it at Yu Hyun.