Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The War Has Not Ended
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“Drag him over.”
At Heuk Do-san’s curt command, Yeom Jin-sang quickly signaled to his subordinates. They entered the collapsed temple hall and dragged out Hyeon-gak.
Hyeon-gak, who had taken a direct hit to the abdomen, lay motionless, covered head to toe in white dust.
Yeom Jin-sang hurriedly dragged Hyeon-gak before Heuk Do-san. He then pressed two fingers to the monk’s nape and reported.
“He’s still alive.”
“Yeom Jin-sang. Head to the Heavenly Demon Palace right now and meet Seop Dae-gang. Tell him we’ll exchange all the Demonic Cult members on Geum-o Island for Jang Bo-do five days from now at the Heavenly Demon Palace.”
“You... have Jang Bo-do?”
“Do as I say.”
“...!”
“What, you don’t like it?”
“No. Got it. I’ll do it. You saved my life and handed me the Blood Sea Gang on a platter. The least I can do is this much.”
“And it’d be best if you kept your mouth shut about anything unnecessary. That includes who I am and everything we talked about here today. You get what I mean, right?”
“I’m not that clueless. But if he asks who sent me, what do I say? Just saying we want to trade for Jang Bo-do won’t fool Seop Dae-gang.”
Yeom Jin-sang seemed to think he was being asked to pull a con on Seop Dae-gang. What a spineless bastard.
“Tell him it’s the Disheveled Fiend of Tong-man Fortress.”
“Now that you mention it, you look the part of a Disheveled Fiend right now, brother Heuk. Understood.”
“And you’ll come find me once a month to buy me drinks.”
Yeom Jin-sang brightened at the unexpected show of goodwill.
In truth, two days earlier, when Heuk Do-san had shown up at the Blood Sea Gang and turned it into a wasteland, not only Bongrae but the entire fist world of the surrounding inland and coastal regions had erupted in chaos.
He’d even earned the moniker Black-Haired Lion King. It meant a lion with jet-black mane. His wild appearance and overwhelming might had left quite the impression.
In any case, the local thugs at the ports were now in a panic over the arrival of this monstrous expert called the Black-Haired Lion King.
If he were seen meeting with Yeom Jin-sang once a month for drinks, what would happen? The thugs would assume the Sea Dragon Gang had the Black-Haired Lion King backing them and wouldn’t dare make a move.
The Sea Dragon Gang’s future was now paved with gold.
‘Hong Gong-tak croaked, leaving all sorts of loose ends, but who knew it’d resolve like this?’
Then, suddenly, Yeom Jin-sang had a strange thought. Why not ‘let’s grab a drink sometime,’ but ‘you have to come buy me drinks once a month’? And this wasn’t even the time for such idle talk.
“What... do you mean by that?”
“Earlier, I spiked your drinks with Corroding Corpse Bone Acid.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s made from rotting corpse fluids. Without the antidote once a month, first your eyeballs melt, then your guts, and finally only your bones remain. A deadly poison.”
Yeom Jin-sang paled in horror and hurriedly circulated his qi to check.
Heuk Do-san said quietly.
“No use. It’s colorless, odorless, and qi circulation won’t detect it. You think a poison from Snow Mountain Old Man would be that sloppy?”
“Why... why me...?”
“Don’t worry. As long as you don’t go blabbing about us—especially to that bastard Seop Dae-gang—nothing will happen.”
Flames shot from Yeom Jin-sang’s eyes. His lips trembled, and blood trickled from between his clenched teeth.
But he couldn’t make a move. He’d seen it at the Blood Sea Gang—Heuk Do-san was an expert far beyond him, one wrong step and he’d be dead.
And now he was poisoned too.
‘This dog of a man...!’
“What’re you waiting for? Get going.”
Yeom Jin-sang ground his teeth without a peep. Instead, he vented his rage on the subordinate nearest to Heuk Do-san.
“You worthless trash. What’re you staring at like an idiot? Hurry up and follow.”
“You go first, then I’ll follow.”
“Shut up!”
Yeom Jin-sang whirled around late and descended the mountain. His subordinates trailed after him, mouths agape.
Once Yeom Jin-sang’s crew was gone, Heuk Do-san looked down at Hyeon-gak sprawled at his feet and said.
“Get up already.”
Only then did Hyeon-gak crack open his eyes and confirm the group was far away. He clutched his lower belly and rose.
“What kind of fist technique was that? Felt like getting pummeled by an iron ingot.”
“You deployed Golden Bell, so quit exaggerating.”
Golden Bell was a Shaolin protective qi technique that hardened the skin like iron plating. When mastered, the torso resembled a bell wrapped in steel armor—hence the name.
‘Good thing he used Golden Bell.’
Even so, the pain lingered as if his organs had been churned. He’d never taken a punch like that before.
‘Did he really mean to kill me?’
He itched to argue, but with his own guilt, he held back. Still, pride demanded he say something. Letting it slide would make him look scared.
“Debt’s settled now.”
“What if I say no?”
Heuk Do-san glared.
Hyeon-gak flinched stiff.
Backing down here might crush his spirit forever. Should he just fight? But the man’s skills were too overwhelming.
They’d never truly clashed before, but he seemed far stronger now. Something had clearly happened in that cave.
Before he could even try, though, Heuk Do-san turned and headed down the mountain. Hyeon-gak hurried after him.
“What’s your plan?”
“You heard everything. Why ask?”
“You’re really meeting Seop Dae-gang?”
“No choice if we want to reach Geum-o Island before that Divine Maiden from Tong-man Fortress. It’s the way to protect everyone and Jang Bo-do.”
“Whew. That was close.”
“Tomorrow night, Yeom Jin-sang meets Seop Dae-gang. Half a day for Seop Dae-gang to send out messenger birds and rally the martial sects. Another half day for them to scour Bongrae and find the hideout in Buk-mang Cave. At most two days before they’re exposed.”
“Got it.”
“Got a place to move to?”
“Gonna have to scout one now.”
“How’d you survive this long with a brain like that? People in hiding should’ve prepared secondary and tertiary safehouses for emergencies. That’s basic strategy.”
“I was just a battle monk good at fighting. Never led anyone. Never studied strategy either.”
“If you have people to protect, you learn it. You had three years.”
“Huh, you’re right. I just trained Autumn Wasp alone and never thought that far. Figures, ink-stained scholar’s perspective is different from ours.”
“You call that an excuse?”
“Don’t worry. World’s big. Bound to be a hiding spot somewhere.”
“How many are in Buk-mang Cave?”
“About fifty.”
“Parading fifty around on a world tour? Yeah, that’ll stay hidden. What do you take the Righteous Alliance for?”
“Disguise as refugees from a lost village, travel only deserted paths at night. Layer the deception two or three times—should work.”
“Why would refugees travel at night? They’re half-beggars, need to beg while moving. Why take deserted paths?”
“Makes sense.”
“It’s not ‘makes sense,’ it is sense. What you’re saying is like wearing a sign: ‘We’re suspicious.’”
“Then what?”
“Tonight, procure the biggest junk ship at Bongrae Port. Load everyone on, with plenty of fresh water and provisions. Grab a seasoned sailor who knows the waters too.”
“No worries there. One of the folks I’m watching over is an old man who’s sailed big ships his whole life.”
“Then head straight out to sea. Best to pick routes big ships avoid and sail south.”
“You mean drift aimlessly?”
“Obviously, someone stays ashore scouting new hideouts meantime. Once secured, move everyone in secret.”
“Didn’t think of that.”
“Load enough water and food for half a month, just in case.”
“Understood. But we’re flat broke. How do we get a junk ship?”
“You’re gonna buy one now?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Why not tell the ship owner the destination too? Then the Righteous Alliance won’t launch ships to chase.”
“Ah, didn’t think of that.”
“Hoo...”
Heuk Do-san sighed.
Hot steam poured out, mirroring his boiling guts.
He’d thought Gong Cheon-ak was the pinnacle of simplemindedness, but here was another. Reading sutras must count as learning—decent sense of front and back, yet a boulder head.
“First, scout the junk ship. Wait till just before dawn, then sneak it to the Buk-mang Cave shore undetected. You know what comes after?”
“Why just before dawn?”
“Darkest time of day.”
“Ah...”
Hyeon-gak nodded unconsciously. Then his eyes widened as something hit him.
“You’re telling me to steal a ship?”
“Yep.”
“Can’t do that!”
“Or let fifty die.”
“I’ll find out who the owner is, sneak a promissory note to his house. Yeah, that’s better.”
“That promissory note from Myeongun Battlefield? Creditor’s Black Night Dream.”
Hyeon-gak wasn’t a total fool. By the time Heuk Do-san said that much, he’d figured it out.
The ship owner getting the note would naturally go to Myeongun Battlefield, where they’d remember Black Night Dream’s name—and the face that deposited the money. A hundred-thousand-nyang note wasn’t common. That info would go straight to the Righteous Alliance, who’d learn he and the Demonic Cult remnants fled by sea on a junk ship.
Cashing it in at Myeongun Battlefield was impossible too. The links—missing junk ship, hundred thousand nyang, Myeongun Battlefield—would form naturally.
“Whew, fine.”
Frustrated, Hyeon-gak sighed deeply enough to cave the ground. A former Shaolin monk turned thief.
“Commit a small sin to save fifty lives. No need for that hellbound face. It’s accruing merit. Buddha’d approve.”
Hyeon-gak’s eyes flashed wide. Wasn’t that spot on?
Why hadn’t he thought of it?
And how did Heuk Do-san calculate and plan so much in moments?
Watching him felt like gazing at someone overlooking the world from on high.
‘Thank goodness he’s back.’
Feeling better, Hyeon-gak changed the subject.
“Poisoning that blabbermouth Yeom Jin-sang was smart. Now that his guts are in check, he won’t spout nonsense to Seop Dae-gang. Otherwise, he’d have sold our info for gold. Bat through and through.”
Just then, Heuk Do-san hopped across a stream, putting some distance between them. Hyeon-gak caught up and asked again.
“But why carry poison around?”
“Why would I carry poison?”
“What did you feed Yeom Jin-sang? You fed him something.”
“Rabbit droppings.”
“Rabbit droppings?”
“Temple was crawling with them.”
“...!”