Chapter 50
Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Long River Waterway Stronghold (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"If I go all out, the people around me will be in danger."
Misusing poison could intoxicate everyone on board.
Right before a fight, such waste held no meaning.
"That's a shame. I wanted to see Young Master Tang at full power."
She hadn't gotten a proper look last time.
Seol Ryua didn't hide her disappointment.
"You'll see it soon enough."
He planned to lend his strength when fighting the bandits.
Those bold enough to set up shop right under the army's nose were either fools or the skilled.
"When we fight them, I plan to use my poison properly."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"That said, the real masters will be left to Lady Seol and Immortal Hwan-gyu..."
"Understood. Then I'll look forward to that moment."
As Seol Ryua withdrew, Dang Yu-wol grinned.
As he turned to head back to his room, Yang Uiseok called out to him.
"Young Master Tang. Wouldn't you share your knowledge of pharmacology with me?"
"Share knowledge...?"
"It'll surely be fun."
"Knowledge of pharmacology... That does sound interesting."
"Oh?! Really?! Then let's start right away!!"
He hadn't expected Dang Yu-wol to agree so readily.
Yang Uiseok sat down happily.
"Do you know of the herb called Giwoljincho?!"
"I do. It's one of the plants that grows in the Gangseo region."
"Yes! Exactly!"
"Crush it and extract the juice for its hemostatic effect, then refine that juice into a hemostatic agent."
"Wow! What about making Sangryu Gyeongbun?"
"Yes. Juice from yang fruit, juice boiled from a cow's fourth stomach, and..."
The questions continued after that.
Each time, Yang Uiseok marveled.
Dang Yu-wol never faltered once.
'Not bad.'
Dang Yu-wol was equally surprised.
-Impressive knowledge of poisons.
'At this level, you could say he's mastered poison arts.'
"Impressive."
"Haha..."
"As a disciple of the Healing Immortal Sect, I figured you knew your medicines."
"Thank you."
"But I didn't expect you to know poisons so well too. Are you studying poison arts?"
"Heh. My master said poison and medicine are one and the same."
His expression darkened slightly at the mention of his master.
What had happened?
-Maybe his poisoning is connected to his master?
'I'm thinking the same. I should dig into that.'
"Bad blood with your master?"
"No... The bad blood is with others."
"What do you mean?"
"My master's theories clash with the Healing Immortal Sect's doctrines."
"What..."
"Hahaha. It's not something worth discussing!"
He forced a cheerful tone.
But sorrow and melancholy laced his voice.
-What else could it be?
'Who knows.'
If Yang Uiseok was reluctant to answer, there was no pushing further.
It was another sect's affair, after all.
"I must have said something unnecessary!"
After a moment of gloom, he returned to his usual lively self.
"Young Master Tang! Let's share knowledge again sometime!!"
"Sure."
Yang Uiseok's knowledge was substantial.
Exchanging it was definitely helpful.
No reason to refuse.
"Yes! Then I'll be off!!"
He rose with an awkward smile.
Glancing around, he added,
"I need to check if everyone's okay!"
-The ship just started moving. Where would there be sick or injured?
'It's the awkwardness.'
Dang Yu-wol watched him go, then sat cross-legged.
'Time to cultivate.'
About five days after departing Jigong County.
At the confluence of the Heavenly River and the Long River.
The current quickened and the river narrowed.
"Brother. Doesn't the mood feel off?"
Yi Kyung cautiously asked Dang Yu-wol after their daily spar.
-It does.
The hitherto relaxed crew grew tense.
Not just them.
The soldiers scanned their surroundings, shields, spears, and bows at the ready.
"Perfect terrain for an ambush."
"Even with the warships?"
"From the Long River Waterway Stronghold's view, we're here to subdue them."
"But fighting the imperial army would tire them out, right?"
"True enough."
What could mere bandits do against the imperial army?
In times when the nation shook, maybe.
But the Great Empire faced no major external threats yet.
The government's power couldn't be underestimated.
"No matter how strong the Long River Waterway Stronghold, attacking and repelling the army would bring the imperial guards down on them..."
"Fleeing with tails between their legs bruises their pride."
Nothing mattered more in murim than pride.
Especially for unorthodox factions.
Being looked down on cost them dearly.
"The Long River Waterway Stronghold is a coalition of river bandits operating on the Long River, as the name suggests."
"Oh?"
"Imagine word spreads they fled at the sight of the army."
"Uh..."
"Business would suffer."
Seol Ryua explained gently from the side.
Yi Kyung tilted his head again.
"So you're saying they'll attack?"
"Yes."
Dang Yu-wol recalled tales from a bandit acquaintance in the Blood Cult.
"Some bandits deliberately clash with the authorities."
"Why?"
"To proclaim, 'We're fearless bandits who fear no government.'"
"Wow... Sounds dumb..."
"Many see that dumbness as courage."
As they talked, Seol Ryua drew her sword.
The tension thickened.
And then—
-Screeech!!
Arrows flew from the cliffs.
Not ordinary arrows—infused with inner power.
"Argh!!"
One officer with a thick shield blocked it.
But the force was too great; he was pushed back, tumbling to the deck.
"Ambush!!"
"Hahaha!! Never thought the imperial army would come this far!!"
A booming voice echoed.
Several large ships moved in.
Their sails bore "Yellow Dragon Stronghold" and beside it, "Long River Waterway Stronghold."
'Yellow Dragon Stronghold...'
A sizable bandit group under the Long River Waterway Stronghold.
Odd that their base was in Anhui.
-Why are Anhui bandits in the Jungyeong area?
'Did the Blood Cult hire them?'
Bandits didn't just rob merchants.
They took commissions to plunder specific cargos on the river.
-They might be after the Three-Faced Ghost Armor.
'That too. Doesn't matter.'
The Yellow Dragon Stronghold had sided with the Blood Cult during their invasion of the Central Plains.
They'd ferried cultists across the Long River.
'No point sparing scum like them.'
-Then kill them.
Even Ye-ui's voice held hatred.
Poison materialized in Dang Yu-wol's hand, revealing his intent.
"You fools dare attack the imperial army?!"
The captain bellowed. A man boarded the bow of the large ship.
An eight-foot giant with a massive ghost-head sword slung over his shoulder.
"You...!!"
Seol Ryua's face twisted.
She knew him.
"Yellow Dragon Stronghold Chief Gal Yeong!!"
"Oh? Someone recognizes me."
The brute chuckled and stepped forward.
"Heh. I may have overdone business a bit."
An unexpected big fish appeared personally.
Seol Ryua gripped her sword hilt tightly.
"Master. Who's Gal Yeong?"
At his disciples' question, Immortal Hwan-gyu bit his lip slightly.
Even he was shocked by the heavy hitter.
"Yellow Dragon Stronghold Chief Gal Yeong. An unorthodox heavyweight. Peak mid-superior realm expert..."
"And?"
Seol Ryua ground her teeth to finish.
"A bastard who turned an entire county into a wasteland."
"Ah."
"So many commoners died by his hand... Finally, we meet."
Dang Yu-wol understood her expression now.
Killing intent flickered in her eyes.
"Calm yourself."
"Huu... Yes."
Dang Yu-wol restrained her from charging.
The captain beside him looked flustered too.
But with bandits before them, the army couldn't retreat.
"By authority of the Great Empire! Return to your lair at once!!"
"Hahaha!! I'd love to, but... we're paid for this."
"What? Who the hell commissioned you to block military training?!"
"You don't need to know that."
Grinning slyly, he got to the point.
"Help with a few things, and we'll clear the way."
"What...?"
"Any Piercing Spear Sect folk there?"
At "Piercing Spear Sect," Immortal Hwan-gyu gripped his sword.
Gu Hwan-gae glanced at Dang Yu-wol.
Things unfolded as he'd said.
"Hey. Are the Long River Waterway Stronghold after that armor?"
"They said they got a commission."
"Can't trust thieves."
"True. But I doubt it."
"Immortal Hwan-gyu of the Piercing Spear Sect here. Why seek me?"
He wasn't the only one.
But he stepped forward as if the sole representative.
To save his disciples if needed.
"That cargo you're moving to Henan. The... what was it. Some armor. Hand it over, and you're free to go."
Immortal Hwan-gyu faltered briefly.
The old him would've shown it.
His sect's business exposed.
'What would Little Brother do here?'
Time with Dang Yu-wol wasn't long.
But his actions left a deep impression.
He couldn't help emulating him.
"No such thing."
Gu Hwan-gae was stunned.
'Heavens! That stubborn guy...?!'
Yi Kyung and Yi Yul, who knew their master well, were shocked too.
But Immortal Hwan-gyu's face remained unchanged.
-Not bad. Ink-black near the inkstone, eh?
Ye-ui chuckled teasingly at the reaction.
Dang Yu-wol shrugged.
'Just say I taught him well.'