Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Tidings of Triumph
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"Still no news?"
"Yes, Taoist Priest."
Jingung, standing at the dock, asked worriedly, and Gokuryang, the chief steward of the Ilhae Merchant Group, replied listlessly.
The ship carrying polished rice for transport had lost contact.
It had already been three days since departing Dangang Port.
By the plan, it should have long since arrived at Jeongju.
Several messenger birds had been sent to Jeongju, but only replies came back saying it hadn't arrived yet.
"This is..."
Jingung's face twisted sharply.
He had been knocked unconscious by Jinmu's blow and, upon waking, should have hurried off with the follow-up group.
Though worried, he had clung to a thread of hope and trusted them. That had been a mistake.
If Jinmu and just seven Second Generation Disciples could break through the bandits' threat and complete the merchant voyage, he thought it would greatly elevate Wudang's name.
It would be like pouring oil on a smoldering fire.
Not only to the Dangang merchant houses but to the entire martial world, it would be a signal flare announcing Wudang's enduring strength.
"Ah..."
But too much time had passed. If there was no word by now, they must have fallen to the bandits' ambush.
In the worst case, he might never see Jinmu again.
Jingung clutched his tightening chest and staggered.
'I was a fool. A utter fool. A Taoist who let greed blind him and pushed a promising junior into the jaws of death. How can I face my master and the Sect Leader now?'
"Senior Uncle!"
Cheonggang hurriedly supported Jingung.
"I'm fine."
Jingung waved him off.
The sky seemed to be falling, but he couldn't just lament.
"Cheonggang, we can't wait any longer. Send a messenger bird to the main sect. We must quickly assemble a rescue team."
"Understood."
As Cheonggang ran off with a grim face to send the bird, a group of people entered the dock.
"Well, who might this be?"
At that voice, Jingung's face twisted sharply again.
A man in scholar's robes draped in green.
'Zhuge Gaek.'
He was none other than the eldest young master of the Dangang branch of the Zhuge Family.
"I heard the Blue Cloud Sword Dragon had descended from the sect, but business kept me too busy to greet you properly."
Blue Cloud Sword Dragon was Jingung's famed title in the martial world, for his azure sword qi resembling drifting clouds.
"From the looks of it, the Ilhae Merchant Group's ship still hasn't returned."
"......"
Jingung's face twisted further.
"Oh dear, it really happened. You must be terribly worried."
Zhuge Gaek feigned concern as he glanced at the merchant beside him.
"I heard there was a dispute over waterway usage rights?"
"Ah, yes."
A rotund middle-aged man took up Zhuge Gaek's words.
He was Du Eokgi, the deputy chief steward of the Iseong Merchant Group.
"Why not yield just a little?"
"We're sorry. We only learned later. It was so urgent that we bought up what we requested without realizing it was the Ilhae Group's usage rights. We never imagined they'd venture out on a merchant trip carrying such risk."
Jingung endured his boiling rage at Du Eokgi's apologetic head-scratching.
Urgent?
Lies.
He had come to the dock every day since the Ilhae ship departed. Not a single Iseong ship had left the dock.
"I hear the Heavenly Water Stronghold leader, Du Nakdong, is quite ruthless."
"He's famous for slicing waists clean through, earning the moniker Waist-Cutter Devil."
"Tsk tsk. To send the ship out when the patrol boats aren't running. What were they thinking?"
His tongue-clicking voice held no sympathy at all.
If anything, it felt gleeful.
He had come to scrape at their nerves.
To openly slap Wudang in front of everyone.
'Shameless lot.'
Jingung glared fiercely at Zhuge Gaek.
Didn't know?
Impossible.
It was clearly deliberate.
The Ilhae Group had obtained waterway rights from the authorities long ago, granting them priority.
Even if there were no legal issues, everyone knew the Iseong Group had interfered, backed by the Zhuge branch family's influence.
Even the Dangang merchants were abuzz with talk of it.
The other two houses allied with Wudang were anxious they might suffer the same fate as Ilhae.
But.
Jingung was a stubborn Taoist who valued propriety and righteousness above his life.
The opponent's fault was strongly implied, but not solid proof.
"We thank you for your concern."
Jingung bowed solemnly to Zhuge Gaek.
"Thanks? We're all one family under the Justice Martial Alliance. If you need help, just say the word. How could a righteous man like me not assist?"
Zhuge Gaek returned the bow, but a clear sneer curled his lips.
'Damn bastard.'
Curses rose in Jingung's throat, but he couldn't show them.
A merchant group escorted by Wudang had been ambushed by bandits.
If the Zhuge branch offered to resolve it?
Their intentions were obvious. The bastards planned to openly tarnish Wudang's name.
"We thank you once more for your kind offer. But Wudang still has strength enough, so we'll accept your goodwill in spirit."
His heart already uneasy from worry over Jinmu, Jingung wanted to leave quickly.
"Well, can't be helped. Call anytime. Our Zhuge branch's warriors stand ready."
Zhuge Gaek turned with another smirk.
But such sneers meant nothing to him now.
'Jinmu, please just be alive.'
Jingung's heart was filled only with worry for his junior and the Second Generation Disciples.
As he sighed and gazed wistfully down the river.
"Chief Steward! Taoist Priest Jingung!"
Someone came rushing to the dock.
An Ilhae man.
Jingung's heart sank.
What if it was bad news?
If the merchant ship had sunk and all were dead?
With a stiff face, he watched the man approach Gokuryang and whisper something.
But then.
"Taoist Priest Jingung!"
Gokuryang beamed and held something out.
"It's arrived."
"Pardon?"
"The merchant ship reached Jeongju safely."
"......"
His words left Jingung's mind blank.
"What do you..."
"See? A letter from Jeongju."
Jingung hastily unfolded the received missive.
"Ah!"
As Jingung's face lit up, Zhuge Gaek—who had been smugly departing—scowled fiercely.
"It's good. Everything's good."
Gokuryang rejoiced as if it were his own triumph, but Jingung schooled his expression to gruffness.
His heart was different.
They lived. They survived.
Jinmu and Wudang's disciples had safely escorted the ship to Jeongju.
His pent-up chest loosened, and his held breath finally eased.
"That's not all."
"Pardon?"
"They subjugated the Heavenly Water Stronghold."
At Gokuryang's words, it was Zhuge Gaek—not Jingung—who exploded.
"What? What nonsense is this?"
Too shocked, he slipped into informal speech.
"......Yes. The letter says they captured alive Heavenly Water Stronghold Leader Du Nakdong, the Five Heavenly Water Heroes, and thirty bandits."
Zhuge Gaek felt desolation at the unbelievable news.
But Jingung's heart swelled with pride. How much had he worried?
At first, he feared failing the escort would harm the Ilhae Group and shatter Wudang's credibility in Dangang's merchant circles.
Then, he just prayed his missing disciples were alive.
Yet.
Not only did they escort flawlessly, but they subjugated the stronghold and brought back a victory report.
'Jinmu, you rascal.'
Pride welled up naturally.
How could a mere youth in his twenties raise Wudang's name so high?
He had dismissed his claim to be Wudang's 'sword' as bravado, yet he had truly fulfilled it brilliantly.
'Haha, this kid just needs to fix his speech now.'
As Jingung sighed in joy and relief, Gokuryang continued.
"Haha, per the leader's message, they seized vast wealth from the stronghold and collected a hefty bounty from Jeongju's authorities."
"That can't be."
As Zhuge Gaek gaped in disbelief, Jingung asked coldly.
"Why the sour face, young master of the Zhuge branch?"
"......"
"Does our Wudang's 'proud Jinmu' subjugating the Heavenly Water Stronghold displease you?"
Realizing his slip, Zhuge Gaek apologized.
"No, I mean..."
"Never mind. I wasn't pressing."
"......"
"My junior Jinmu is still young and brash. Couldn't just leave the bandits be, I suppose. Worried other merchants might suffer too. Still, subjugating a stronghold with just seven Second Generation Disciples? Tsk tsk, how reckless can a Taoist be?"
He seemed to scold, but his lengthy words betrayed his good mood.
No, his mood was certainly elated.
Pride beamed from Jingung's eyes and face.
"And these kids. I knew they'd manage without issue, but contacting us so late? When they return, I'll give them a proper scolding!"
Gokuryang glanced sideways at Jingung's words.
The man who moments ago had agonized and even apologized to his junior for his worries.
But Zhuge Gaek was different.
His face wasn't just twisted—his eyes twitched.
Jingung inwardly savored the satisfaction. Zhuge Gaek's crumpled face was so gratifying, like clearing ten years of indigestion in one go.
Of course, mindful of a Wudang Taoist's dignity, he didn't show it.
"I hear the Zhuge Family tried and failed to subjugate that Heavenly Water Stronghold several times. Should have said something earlier; we could have helped."
His calm tone subtly taunted, twisting Zhuge Gaek's face further.
"And it seems the Zhuge Family doesn't worry much about Dangang merchants' hardships. Sending warriors too weak for the job?"
"......"
At Jingung's words, Zhuge Gaek's gaze sharpened.
The tables had turned.
This damned Taoist was mocking him and the entire Zhuge branch—calmly, solemnly.
"I have other business. Farewell."
Bowing lightly and turning, Jingung barely suppressed a hearty laugh.
His chest felt so refreshed, he could feast for days.
Zhuge Gaek ground his teeth audibly at Jingung's back, hands clasped behind as if nothing happened.
The plot to ruin the Ilhae Merchant Group had been his doing.
He had the Iseong Group deliberately snatch the waterway rights and secretly ordered Dangang merchants not to rebuy Ilhae's hoarded rice.
He had pondered it many times, deeming it flawless.
Ilhae was cornered: to avoid massive losses, they had to sail, but without patrols, bandits were certain.
Moreover, their foe was Du Nakdong of Heavenly Water Stronghold.
The Zhuge Family knew his prowess well.
They had long clashed with him while dominating Dangang merchants, and several Zhuge warriors had died by his waist-slicing blade.
Of course, if Wudang sent an elder-level warrior or the famed Blue Cloud Sword Dragon himself, it might differ.
But that wouldn't happen.
Zhuge Gaek knew Wudang would never dispatch an elder against mere bandits.
Fearing river pirates enough to move an elder would succeed in escort perhaps, but make Wudang a laughingstock in the martial world.
As expected, Wudang sent First Generation Disciple Jinmu and seven Second Generation Disciples.
And when he learned the renowned Jingung wasn't among the escorts—for whatever reason—he had inwardly cheered.
Yet not only did they succeed, they subjugated the stronghold.
Unbelievable.
"Ilseong."
"Yes, young master."
"Hurry a letter to Jeongju for confirmation. Verify if it's really Du Nakdong. And learn every detail of what happened."
"Understood."
As Ilseong dashed off, Zhuge Gaek bit his lip.
"Jinmu."
Muttering the name, he turned with a fearsome glare.
"Seizing the public ships and smashing the Qingyang Merchant Group's smuggling weren't flukes after all."