Chapter 142
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: The Yangtze Dragon King's Riverside Hut
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Surprisingly, the Yangtze Dragon King's abode was quite a distance from the docks.
"He prefers quiet, you see. His subordinates rarely visit unless it's urgent."
"I see."
Seol Hwa-un replied obediently, though doubt crept into his mind.
'The subordinates like quiet?'
After a long trek, they reached a thatched hut built by the water's edge.
Mae Jong-pyo stopped about twenty paces from it.
"I'll leave you here. The Chief wants a private audience with you."
"Understood."
He glanced at Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi.
"You two wait here with me."
"But..."
As Eom Mu-hwi started to protest, Seol Hwa-un spoke first.
"It's fine. Wait here."
"...Understood."
Seol Hwa-un approached the hut alone.
Watching his retreating figure, Mae Jong-pyo muttered.
"Hmm, no telling how long it'll take."
"...?"
Dong Ho-won gave him a puzzled look, and Mae Jong-pyo explained.
"If he takes a liking to someone, the Chief might keep them for days."
"Ah."
"Of course, the Dragon King Festival is in two days, so he'll move by then."
"So the Little Palace Lord might come around then?"
"Exactly. So!"
Mae Jong-pyo flashed a meaningful smile. Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi felt a chill.
'No way...?'
Sure enough.
Mae Jong-pyo pulled a bottle from his robe.
"Shall we have a drink while we wait?"
"...!"
"Don't worry about the quantity. I've already told my man—he'll bring a cask soon enough."
Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi's faces darkened, recalling their ordeal with drink on the boat.
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un arrived at the hut and tilted his head.
'No presence at all.'
He opened the door just in case, but it was empty, as expected.
"..."
A quick scan revealed only everyday items.
'Where did he go?'
Seol Hwa-un decided to wait.
'To think this is the Yangtze Dragon King's home.'
For the leader of the mighty Yangtze Waterway Stronghold, it was remarkably humble.
Then, a voice called out.
"Over here."
"...!"
Seol Hwa-un couldn't help but startle.
'No presence at all!'
He turned toward the voice and spotted a figure seated in a chair by the riverbank, some distance from the hut, casting a fishing line into the water.
'He's right there, and I didn't notice?'
Presence aside, anyone with eyes should have seen him.
"..."
A closer look revealed why.
'No wonder. Perfect harmony, without a trace of incongruity.'
The figure had blended seamlessly with his surroundings, unnoticed even in plain sight.
He was one with the vast Yangtze's waves, in perfect unity.
'As expected of the Yangtze Dragon King. Impressive.'
The world's opinion of the Yangtze Dragon King wasn't high.
Most figured him slightly stronger than a major sect elder or a minor sect leader.
Little was reliably known of his martial prowess.
But Seol Hwa-un was certain the common view was dead wrong.
'At the very least, no one rivals him on water.'
The figure spoke again.
"You seem lost in thought. Won't you come over?"
"No, sir."
Seol Hwa-un approached. Only now could he see the man clearly.
It was an elderly man with flowing white hair, a straw hat pulled low as he stared at his fishing rod.
His glossy white beard was neatly trimmed, and surprisingly taut skin gave him a youthful vigor.
His patched hemp robes bore signs of heavy wear.
He exuded the air of a worldly hermit, yet his build was robust for his age.
Seol Hwa-un gave a respectful cupped-fist salute.
"Pleasure to meet you. Seol Hwa-un."
The elder furrowed his brow.
"Your energy is fierce. No catching fish like that."
"..."
Finally looking away from the rod, he eyed Seol Hwa-un.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Son Mo-il."
The Yangtze Dragon King, true master of the mighty Yangtze.
"Pleasure."
The Dragon King casually flicked his hand. A small chair behind him flew over.
Thud.
"Have a seat."
"Yes, sir."
Even then, Seol Hwa-un marveled.
Air-snatching wasn't impressive at his level. The real wonder was elsewhere.
'I felt no qi movement at all.'
The Dragon King's internal energy control was precise, utterly efficient.
"..."
Seol Hwa-un sat beside him, gazing at the river. Silence stretched between them.
'Shall I give it a try?'
Seol Hwa-un gradually suppressed his presence. Soon, his own existence faded.
'Easier than I thought?'
He usually restrained his aura, but never erased it entirely.
No need for an assassin.
'Hmm.'
But he couldn't fully merge with the surroundings like the Dragon King.
'Tricky indeed.'
The Dragon King's voice broke in.
"Empty your mind and let go of yourself. It'll come naturally without forcing it."
"...!"
The words strangely resonated.
'Unity of man and nature.'
Seol Hwa-un understood.
In that instant, his presence vanished completely.
"..."
The Dragon King glanced at him with a faint smile.
'Impressive. Excellent.'
How much time passed?
Suddenly, the fishing line went taut.
"...!"
The Dragon King's hand snapped forward.
"Gotcha!"
Splash!
A carp as thick as a man's forearm dangled from the line.
"A beauty!"
A satisfied smile lit his face.
"..."
Seol Hwa-un was stunned not by the fish, but something else.
'He moved like that, yet his presence remains undetectable!'
A level Seol Hwa-un could only imitate.
"Ha ha ha. Perfect with drinks. Care for some?"
"...Yes, sir."
The Dragon King proved adept at cooking. Soon, the steamed carp was ready.
"Here, try it."
"Yes."
Seol Hwa-un took a bite, eyes widening.
"Delicious!"
The Dragon King boasted.
"Ha ha ha, living alone hones the skills. Can't keep help—they're never better than me."
Seol Hwa-un had to agree.
'Better than most chefs.'
The Dragon King produced a gourd.
"This is my fruit wine. Strong stuff, but tasty."
"Yes, sir."
Seol Hwa-un sipped from the cup and nodded. Sweet, yet fiercely potent.
They drank with the steamed carp for a good while.
After emptying two gourds, the Dragon King spoke.
"Thanks for accepting my invitation."
"No trouble at all. After your gracious aid, it's the least I could do."
"Ha ha, is it now."
Seol Hwa-un's expression turned serious.
"Since it came up, may I ask why you helped us?"
"Hm? I merely granted Mae's request. He spoke highly of you."
Seol Hwa-un shook his head firmly.
"But the Yangtze's forces had no need to come to Hebei and borrow ships from other strongholds just to assist."
"..."
"And I heard you paid a hefty sum for those ships."
The Dragon King smiled.
"Sharp one. You even dug that up."
"The Oral River Stronghold couldn't afford it. You funded it, didn't you, Chief?"
The Dragon King nodded readily.
"Correct. Just as you guessed."
"Would you tell me why?"
"Ha ha ha, must you know?"
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
"I wouldn't presume as the beneficiary. If you'd rather not say, so be it."
"..."
"But purely from curiosity. I accepted the help without knowing the reason—leaves questions."
"Fair enough. I'll tell you. The Ice Emperor must not have mentioned it."
Seol Hwa-un's eyes widened.
"Surely... you and my father share a connection?"
"Indeed."
"I vaguely know he ventured to the Central Plains in his youth. But he never spoke much of it, even to me."
The Dragon King smiled faintly.
"Don't you already guess why?"
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
"Yes."
Seol Wi-myeong had long dreamed of expanding the North Sea Ice Palace into the Central Plains.
But opposition within the palace was fierce back then. The current Elder Council were all active then.
Even a meritorious elder was once hauled before them just for harboring such ambitions.
Young Palace Lord Seol Wi-myeong faced the same constraints. Naturally, he couldn't speak freely of Central Plains matters.
Not even to his son.
'Mother seemed to know, though.'
It mattered little now, but his father's reticence had become habit.
Perhaps he dreaded comparison to Seol Hwa-un's own successes.
'I'll ask in detail when I return north.'
Seol Wi-myeong might have more ties here than expected.
The Dragon King began his tale slowly.
"About thirty years ago, I suppose. Just after I became Chief."
His power base was shaky then.
Worse, there was a stronghold leader called the Brutal Slaughter Demon Blade, eyeing his position.
One day, the Demon Blade sent men to assassinate him.
Caught off guard, the Dragon King was in peril when Seol Wi-myeong, passing by chance, intervened.
"Thanks to him, I survived. Later, I asked why a mere water bandit like me merited his aid."
Seol Wi-myeong's reply:
"You seemed far better than that Demon Blade brute."
Empowered, the Dragon King later clashed with the Demon Blade in a decisive battle, slaying him and solidifying his rule.
"The Ice Emperor said forget it, but how could I take a life-saving grace lightly?"
"..."
"No chances to repay the North Sea Ice Palace till now. When the opportunity arose, I lent a hand."
Seol Hwa-un finally understood. Pride swelled in him.
'Father, your Central Plains journey forged such mighty alliances for the Ice Palace. You can boast of it now.'
Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"But it sounds less like chance than deliberate rescue."
"Hm?"
"What business would Father have passing a stronghold? He must have sensed the Demon Blade's plot and acted."
Having high regard for the new Chief, Seol Wi-myeong assessed the situation and stepped in.
'Perhaps Father even foresaw ties between our palace and your stronghold for future expansion?'
Unprovable, but it felt right. Seol Wi-myeong had sown seeds during his own journey.
The Dragon King nodded.
"Hmm, you might be right. ...Tell him I want to see him again someday."
"Yes, sir."
"Now, another round?"
"..."
Truly befitting a Chief, the Dragon King outdrank Mae Jong-pyo with ease.