Chapter 143
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: The Dragon King Festival Begins
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Seol Hwa-un spent the next two full days captured by the Yangtze Dragon King, forced to drink heavily.
On the day of the Dragon King Festival.
As they wrapped up the drinking session, the Yangtze Dragon King said this.
“All right, shall we now head out for some serious drinking?”
“…….”
Only then did Seol Hwa-un finally escape the Yangtze Dragon King's quarters.
“Young Palace Lord…….”
The group reunited after two days exchanged glances, words unnecessary.
They hadn’t slept properly, drinking nonstop, their appearances utterly wrecked.
*‘Young Palace Lord, you’ve been through a lot.’*
*‘You guys too.’*
Their eyes conveyed everything they wanted to say.
After barely sending off the Yangtze Dragon King and Ma Jong-pyo first, they circulated their qi to expel the alcohol poisoning.
Only then did Dong Ho-won, his mind finally clearing, grumble.
“Those guys must think alcohol is water! How can they drink like that…….”
“Even water isn’t guzzled so barbarically.”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un added nothing, but he deeply agreed with the two.
Eom Mu-hwi continued with a grim face.
“The problem is the Dragon King Festival about to start. No telling how much more we’ll have to drink.”
“Ugh.”
The Dragon King Festival was a celebration created by the Yangtze Dragon King, held every two years where all the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold’s bandits gathered to revel.
“Don’t worry too much. There are various events, so it won’t be nonstop drinking.”
“That’s a relief, at least.”
They soon washed up by the riverbank and straightened their clothes. In truth, they’d done nothing but drink day and night for days.
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
*‘The biggest growth I’ve had in the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold is my alcohol tolerance, huh.’*
He didn’t hate drinking. In his previous life, he’d enjoyed it as much as anyone.
But this life was different.
Single-mindedly pursuing his goals left no room for leisurely drinking. He’d naturally drifted away from it.
*‘Wonder when I’ll be able to drink at my leisure.’*
Not until he regained his past life’s realm and the North Sea Ice Palace firmly rooted itself in the Central Plains.
But he felt no regret. His current life was plenty joyful and fulfilling.
“All right, let’s head to the Dragon King Festival.”
“Yes, Young Palace Lord.”
* * *
A short distance from Huangshi Port was a vast open field—the site of the Dragon King Festival.
Tents numbering at least in the hundreds had already been set up, with a large platform in the center.
Thousands of bandits bustled about, radiating fervent energy.
“Hyah!”
Thud!
“I win!”
“As expected of Yellow Tiger!”
“Next, me!”
Arm-wrestling was in full swing on one side.
“Haaaa!”
Crack! Crack!
“Woooah!”
“Amazing!”
In another spot, a bare-chested muscular man demonstrated his kicking power.
There were dice games too, and stalls for throwing daggers at targets.
Various snack vendors dotted the area.
Dong Ho-won tilted his head.
“Hm? Come to think of it, no one’s drinking yet?”
Eom Mu-hwi looked surprised as well.
“Yeah.”
Plenty of stalls resembled bars, but no one had sat down yet.
“Probably because the Dragon King Festival hasn’t officially started.”
At Seol Hwa-un’s words, Dong Ho-won asked back.
“They’re already playing so much though?”
“It’s their own way of the cup, I suppose. They’ll likely start serious drinking once the Yangtze Dragon King appears and declares it open.”
Time passed, and as the red sunset fell, the Yangtze Dragon King finally appeared on the central platform.
The bandits who saw him shouted.
“The Supreme Stronghold Leader is here!”
“Everyone gather!”
Hearing the call, the bandits stopped what they were doing and assembled in perfect order. A display of the Yangtze Dragon King’s authority.
Waaaaaah∼!!
The bandits crowding around the vast platform roared in cheers.
The Yangtze Dragon King watched them with a pleased expression before slowly raising his hand.
As if by magic, the cheers cut off. In the dead silence, he spoke.
“Thank you all for coming this year. It’s been a while since the stronghold felt this lively.”
“…….”
“Stuck seeing those stiff Inspection Squad guys every day, it felt like there was no life in the place.”
“Wahahaha!”
To the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold bandits, the one group they absolutely didn’t want to cross was the Inspection Squad.
In some ways, tougher opponents than the Yangtze Dragon King himself.
At that moment, one of the three middle-aged men standing behind the Yangtze Dragon King grimaced.
*‘Starting on the main squad again.’*
Lean build, long sword at his side—he was handsome.
This man was the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold’s second-in-command and Inspection Squad Leader, Oh Sang-baek.
*‘And you’re the one who trained the main squad like that, Supreme Stronghold Leader.’*
Of course, anyone who knew, knew.
In truth, it was a form of politics.
The Yangtze Dragon King granted the Inspection Squad immense authority and backed them, but by saying this, he won the bandits’ favor.
“If I talk too long, it’s no festival. Go on and enjoy yourselves!”
Waaaaaah!
With those words, the Yangtze Dragon King quickly stepped down from the platform.
Thus, the five-day Dragon King Festival officially began.
Soon, over twenty musicians waiting in the wings climbed the platform and played their instruments. Immediately, drinking parties sprang up everywhere as if they’d been waiting.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un’s group quietly watched.
“Here, have a drink.”
“Don’t stop me. I’m going till the end of the Dragon King Festival.”
“I expect so. But you’ll probably pass out before the day’s out?”
“We’ll see!”
“Hahaha!”
Laughter echoed nonstop around them.
*‘Impressive. Everyone looks so carefree.’*
The bandits were truly letting loose and enjoying the festival.
Then, a middle-aged man approached Seol Hwa-un.
“What do you think?”
“……?”
He was one of the three middle-aged men who’d stood behind the Yangtze Dragon King.
“Quite the festival, isn’t it? All the major Yangtze waterway strongholds gathered to revel like this. During this time, most merchant ships on the Yangtze halt operations.”
“Why’s that?”
The middle-aged man smiled at Seol Hwa-un’s question.
“Because they lack our protection. Paradoxically, this festival period is when bandits outside the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold are most active.”
“I see.”
In a way, it might be a festival for all bandits, affiliated or not.
“So some ship owners voice complaints. But the Dragon King Festival has never skipped, held regularly without fail.”
Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Is there a reason for insisting on the Dragon King Festival?”
“Of course. The biggest is to relieve the stress and unease of our affiliated bandits.”
“…….”
“No matter how strictly we enforce rules, they’re bandits at heart. Restricting their activities builds up considerable pressure and discontent. The Dragon King Festival is the outlet for that.”
“I see.”
Seol Hwa-un gazed at the middle-aged man and cupped his fists.
“Pleased to meet you, Dragon King Brigade Leader.”
“Hahaha, as expected of the North Heaven Dragon. You saw right through me.”
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
*‘Impossible not to.’*
The Dragon King Brigade Leader shared the Yangtze Dragon King’s looks, just with black hair and beard. Anyone could tell they were blood-related.
Yangtze River Heroic Blade Son Dang.
The Yangtze Dragon King’s son and leader of the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold’s strongest armed force, the Dragon King Brigade.
*‘As expected of the Yangtze Dragon King’s son.’*
Seol Hwa-un couldn’t help admiring his exceptional presence.
“I’ve long admired the North Heaven Dragon’s reputation. Truly pleased to meet you, Young Palace Lord.”
“You flatter me.”
Son Dang’s demeanor made it hard to think of him as a bandit. His eyes shone with righteous light, exuding refinement.
*‘If I’d met him by chance on the road, I’d have taken him for a righteous faction hero.’*
He stood out oddly among the hordes of bandits.
*‘The rumors were true.’*
Indeed, despite being a bandit, Son Dang’s moniker included “Hero,” making him famous as a gallant figure.
Quite unusual given his Yangtze Waterway Stronghold origins.
The more Seol Hwa-un talked with him, the more he sensed this was no ordinary matter.
Son Dang was the epitome of a hero.
*‘Must be a headache for the Yangtze Dragon King.’*
As they conversed, the Yangtze Dragon King approached. Son Dang flinched and bowed his head.
“You’re here.”
“I was just about to introduce you, but you’ve already met.”
“Yes.”
The Yangtze Dragon King smiled at Seol Hwa-un.
“Now, time to really enjoy ourselves?”
“…….”
He didn’t exclude Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi either.
“Ah, I’d like to drink with you two as well. You won’t refuse during a festival, right?”
“O-of course not.”
Their faces noticeably darkened.
“Come on! I’ll introduce you to the stronghold leaders.”
“Yes.”
As Seol Hwa-un’s group moved to follow the Yangtze Dragon King, surprisingly, Son Dang stayed put.
Curious, Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Won’t Brigade Leader Son join us?”
At his words, the Yangtze Dragon King’s expression flickered oddly before returning to normal.
“Just leave him. He hates drinking parties that much. Plus, with the Dragon King Brigade on guard duty, he says the leader can’t drink.”
“……I see.”
And so, Seol Hwa-un’s group rejoined the drinking party where the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold’s leadership gathered.
The Yangtze Dragon King raised his cup and said.
“Alright! As some of you know, I’ve invited a precious guest. The North Heaven Dragon and North Sea Twin Heroes, shaking the martial world with the most brilliant fame right now!”
“Welcome!”
“Great to see you, North Heaven Dragon!”
“North Sea Twin Heroes, pleased to meet you!”
They welcomed them with bright faces one and all. Seol Hwa-un greeted them on behalf of the group.
“Pleased to meet you all, Seol Hwa-un.”
Waaaaaah!
“Let’s toast to welcoming the North Sea Ice Palace’s heroes!”
At Ma Jong-pyo’s proposal, everyone raised their cups high.
“Welcome!”
Several rounds circulated, warming the mood. Pumped up, Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi downed drinks nonstop as if the earlier gloom never happened.
“Kyaa∼!”
“Hahaha, young men drink well indeed. Another round?”
Dong Ho-won shouted, face flushed.
“Of course!”
“Hahaha!”
“Me too!”
Eom Mu-hwi matched him drink for drink.
The party continued deep into the night, with those unable to handle the alcohol leaving one by one, promising to continue tomorrow.
The last two remaining were the Yangtze Dragon King and Seol Hwa-un. Both faces slightly flushed, but no sign of drunkenness.
“Heh heh heh, you drink much better than yesterday. Impressive.”
“Seems my body adapted over these few days.”
“I see.”
The Yangtze Dragon King’s face suddenly turned serious.
“What do you think of the Dragon King Festival now that you’ve joined?”
“The atmosphere is truly great. They have spirit, and I feel they’re united tightly around the Supreme Stronghold Leader.”
“That’s all?”
The Yangtze Dragon King’s eyes gleamed.