Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Paying for the Meal
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'Huh? It's been a while. System! But why at a moment like this... And a hostage? What hostage?'
Just then, Son Il-gwang shot to his feet, his face stiff.
"Our Black Fiend Waterway Gang has maintained close ties with the Martial Alliance for generations. Things have come to this, so I suppose I must come clean."
He let out a light breath before continuing.
"Truth be told, today's gathering was a welcome party prepared together with the alliance envoy out there. I asked him ahead of time to grease your wheels a bit on your way through."
The Four Little Dragons were utterly shocked.
Meng Gap-son, on friendly terms with these bandits...?
And a surprise party, no less?
That old man's been yapping about information leaks and whatnot, but it was all just a smokescreen. In the end, he was backing these bandit scum and lording it over them! Trying to show off without spending a dime... Ugh. Suddenly reminds me of my old boss. Pissing me off.
Son Il-gwang said,
"I apologize for the rudeness to our guests. But something urgent has come up, and I must step away briefly. Please enjoy some tea and wait just a moment. If it takes too long, I'll let you know ahead of time."
With that, Son Il-gwang and his crew left only one subordinate in the cabin and rushed out en masse.
And shortly after.
Han Ibi turned to the remaining subordinate with an urgent expression.
"This is awkward given the situation, but... I really need to take a massive dump. What should I do? You're not saying I have to do it in the river, right?"
The man pointed out a corner of the ship serving as a makeshift toilet.
It seemed you did your business in a waste bucket and dumped it overboard.
Han Ibi rubbed his belly gingerly, pretending to head that way, then abruptly changed course and slipped out toward the outside of the cabin where Son Il-gwang had gone.
He hunched low, careful not to be seen, and moved quietly.
A crowd from the Black Fiend Waterway Gang had gathered on deck.
Their faces were grim.
And where their gazes were fixed.
Yes.
There, about thirty feet away, loomed another massive ship, grand and imposing.
It didn't look quite as sturdy as the Black Fiend ship, but it seemed sleeker.
Moreover, the lower hull where it met the water was studded with enormous spikes.
Just looking at it, you could tell it was a warship.
And atop the mast fluttered a flag emblazoned with the character for "yellow."
Han Ibi suddenly remembered and scanned for the mid-sized ship he'd arrived on and Meng Gap-son.
Gone.
Sensing trouble, Meng Gap-son had already vanished.
That sly, underhanded old bastard.
A voice rang out then.
It came from a short man with an eight-character mustache aboard the other ship.
"Gang Leader Son. Why do you keep breaking our agreements? You've invaded our Yellow River Waterway Gang's territory."
Son Il-gwang snapped irritably,
"Agreements, my ass. When did we ever agree to anything? Didn't you see us tear it up and send it back?!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. With no flexibility like that, how do you expect to make a living as bandits?"
"Shut up and fetch Gang Leader Pyeong."
But the mustached man smirked and said,
"What, you think I'd drag my big brother into something like this? Deal with me today."
"Don't make me laugh, you fish scum. I have nothing to say to you."
The Yellow River deputy leader called out as "fish family," O Jun-gyun, chuckled.
"You'll be talking to us soon enough, Gang Leader. I promise. Hey!"
"Yes."
"Bring him out."
A Yellow River subordinate ducked into their cabin and soon dragged someone out.
The captive twisted and struggled desperately.
But bound head to toe in thick rope, he had little room to maneuver and was hauled out helplessly.
The most shocked was Son Il-gwang.
He bellowed,
"Seo-hye!"
The woman shouted back,
"Brother!"
Son Il-gwang trembled with rage.
"What is the meaning of this, O Jun-gyun! Have you grown bored of living?!"
O Jun-gyun's face twisted into a grin.
"You're the one losing it over nothing. You think you can strut around because the rotten Martial Alliance has your back? We're not scared of scum like that."
Son Seo-hye cried out,
"Brother! Don't worry about me—just deal with these bastards...!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Slap!
The sharp crack echoed across the Yellow River.
O Jun-gyun had backhanded the woman.
He'd struck without mercy; her cheek was already bright red, and blood smeared her lips.
"You son of a bitch!"
Son Il-gwang, outraged, poised to charge the enemy ship.
O Jun-gyun twirled his blade around Son Seo-hye's neck.
"Go ahead. If you want your one pretty little sister dead, that is. Just give the order."
Son Il-gwang froze in place.
Unable to control his rage-shaking shoulders, he demanded,
"What do you want? The territory agreement?"
O Jun-gyun grinned wider.
"Too late for that. Should've played nice earlier."
"Then what are your demands?"
O Jun-gyun paused dramatically before speaking.
"Back off."
"What?"
"Get out of the Yellow River entirely. And as proof..."
His grin grew even more vile as he continued.
"...sink your ships. Right now."
"...And if we refuse?"
"Then your sister's head rolls, and war begins. No big deal—we're ready. Your choice."
At that moment.
The waters beneath the Yellow River warship suddenly surged.
Black Fiend subordinates who'd潜入ed underwater were attempting to board.
But then—
A vast silver fishing net unfurled, glinting in the sunlight.
The four infiltrators tangled without a fight and tumbled onto the deck.
The more they thrashed to escape, the tighter it bound them.
O Jun-gyun cackled.
"Seriously, do you have a brain or not? Bandits fighting bandits, and you use bandit tactics? Makes it too easy for us."
His face hardened abruptly.
"You broke the agreement first. So now it's war. Which is what I wanted anyway."
He raised his blade high.
Truly aiming to behead Son Il-gwang's sister.
"No!"
Son Il-gwang wailed in despair.
That instant.
A lightning-fast movement.
Han Ibi, who'd pried loose two planks from the Black Fiend ship's side, was sprinting across.
He urgently tossed the two planks onto the river.
Then, stepping on the floating boards, he crossed the water.
An utterly absurd sight.
All eyes turned to Han Ibi in that moment.
Including the Four Little Dragons' quartet, who'd come up on deck drawn by the commotion...
As he leaped off the second plank.
Han Ibi unleashed his flying dagger technique, hurling a dagger.
Target: O Jun-gyun.
But O Jun-gyun was a seasoned bandit deputy warrior.
He swiftly swung his blade to deflect Han Ibi's dagger.
Clang.
Then resumed aiming for Son Seo-hye's neck.
Damn it. At this rate, I'll miss the timing.
Mid-leap across the river, Han Ibi flicked open his status window and activated the "Random Reversal Acceleration" skill.
The world went eerily silent, like mice frozen in fear, accompanied by a slow-tape sound effect.
At the same time, the unfurling net crept open!
It looked like a spiderweb approaching in slow motion.
Without Random Reversal Acceleration, he wouldn't have dodged it—chills ran down his spine at the thought.
Han Ibi twisted effortlessly in midair, evading the net.
Meanwhile, O Jun-gyun's blade crept slowly toward Son Seo-hye's neck!
Han Ibi hurried impatiently.
Until her head might fly—
One foot...
Five inches...
Three inches...
One inch!
That instant.
Clang!
Han Ibi's Hanjo Sword finally struck O Jun-gyun's blade, knocking it aside.
The tip grazed Son Seo-hye's neck, drawing a shallow cut.
The Random Reversal Acceleration abruptly ended.
Noise assaulted Han Ibi's ears once more.
O Jun-gyun yanked his blade back and thrust at Han Ibi's chest.
Han Ibi angled his Hanjo Sword to block.
Clang.
O Jun-gyun's body shook from the impact.
At the same time, Han Ibi executed the Transcendent Garuda Form from the Zhongli Pure Swordsmanship.
The most intricate technique in the art, renowned for its dazzling swordplay.
O Jun-gyun's eyes spun wildly, as expected.
Han Ibi glanced at the charging Yellow River subordinates, then—
Bam!
Fired a Fierce Tiger Palm straight at O Jun-gyun's solar plexus.
O Jun-gyun flew back with a "Gah!"
But Han Ibi, stepping in Eight Trigrams Footwork, overtook him even faster.
He caught O Jun-gyun midair and slammed him down using centrifugal force.
"Urk!"
As O Jun-gyun screamed in agony.
Han Ibi hauled him up again...
"Hey! Anyone confident, come at me."
The Yellow River subordinates hesitated.
But one brave soul crept up behind Han Ibi.
That instant.
"Gaaahhh!"
A hellish scream erupted.
O Jun-gyun.
As eyes turned, Han Ibi's dagger was embedded in the top of O Jun-gyun's left foot.
His foot was now nailed to the deck.
Han Ibi said,
"I'm not very patient, you see. Unlike this clown bluffing, I'll actually kill you. If any of you take one more step."
O Jun-gyun bellowed,
"Don't come! Stay back! Anyone who approaches, I'll kill myself!"
Thud.
A dull sound.
Another horrific scream followed.
Shockingly, Han Ibi's dagger now pierced O Jun-gyun's right instep too.
Foaming at the mouth, O Jun-gyun gasped,
"No one moved... why... why..."
Han Ibi replied,
"Just... you were too noisy."
Han Ibi reached out and yanked one dagger from his instep.
"Gaaah~!"
Another wail shook the Yellow River.
Still aiming his Hanjo Sword at O Jun-gyun, Han Ibi swung his left hand.
Son Seo-hye's ropes snapped instantly.
Son Seo-hye said,
"Thank you."
Han Ibi grinned.
"No big deal. Save that for your brother. I just paid for my meal. Or was it the drinks..."
"Pardon?"
"Anyway, that's that."
"You should head to the other ship now. Let me help you—"
Splash.
Before she finished, Son Seo-hye dove into the river.
Her swimming skills far exceeded average.
Oh right. Forgot she's from a bandit family.
Son Il-gwang personally pulled her from the water.
The siblings embraced tightly.
A touching scene.
But...
Now what?
Han Ibi pondered briefly, then said to O Jun-gyun,
"You mocked the Martial Alliance earlier, didn't you?"
"...Pardon?"
"Said you weren't scared of that rotten bunch."
"What are you—"
"Because we're the Martial Alliance. So..."
Han Ibi bellowed toward the Four Little Dragons,
"Hey! You ate the meal, so pay up! Get over here."
Then to the Yellow River subordinates,
"Anyone who wants to run, do it now. Out of kindness—Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, and Sichuan Tang Clan folks are coming to settle the bill. Oh, right—the Tang Clan that uses poison like water."
(To be continued)