Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Following the Yangtze River's Currents (3)
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I came to my senses and found the stronghold leader standing right in front of me.
I'd created that ice sheet thinking I'd expel the cold qi from my body in one burst, but it looked like I'd been overwhelmed by the cold qi I'd pulled up so hastily.
I never imagined the cold qi wouldn't run dry even after expending such massive power to freeze the Yangtze in an instant.
That Yi Muqi bastard—how much cold qi had he stockpiled, exactly?
I figured periodic releases from my body wouldn't cause any immediate harm. But venting this endless-seeming energy would take a full day and then some.
I need to master the Ice Art or devise some countermeasures—and fast.
"......Where are we?"
I quickly sized up the situation. The stronghold leader was drenched in blood and gasping for breath, while his subordinates stood around unscathed and staring blankly.
He could've bolted to save his own skin, but he'd stood alone to shield his men.
"I see. That's how it is."
Right then, I'd already decided to let the stronghold leader live. In my previous life, I'd written them off as mere bandits and butchered the lot.
I couldn't go back to those days of slaughtering indiscriminately.
Besides, he was worth sparing, at least.
But flipping my attitude on a dime here would ruin the plan. To them, I was just some lunatic who'd lost his mind and gone after their boss.
I needed to play the part and seize the upper hand, even if it was all an act.
"Then now......"
"Let's settle the duel we never finished."
He seemed to reach out with his hand for something, but a handshake? No way. A man of his stature had his pride.
For the moment, I took up a starting stance, figuring I'd trade a few blows to keep things plausible.
"No, no, hold on—why does it have to go like that?!"
The stronghold leader threw up both hands with a panicked look, waving off any fight.
"Whatever you ask, I'll make it happen. If our Waterway Stronghold offended you, I apologize—no, I'll compensate you handsomely. So please, just put that sword away?"
He must've been through hell while I was out of it; the slightest twitch of my blade had him jumping out of his skin. It was almost pitiful.
"Then tell me the exact location and time of the Black Dao Assembly."
"Why do you want to know that?"
He had some sense of loyalty, at least, prying for a reason. I shoved my sword toward him.
"Ah, got it, I understand. I won't ask why."
His startled babble was downright entertaining.
"The spot's Drunken Soul Tower in Jagwi County. Time's seven days from now, You hour."
Seven days. Right on schedule.
With the answer in hand, I moved to sheathe my sword and head out—only for the leader to drop to his knees.
Did he think I'd kill him now that I'd gotten what I wanted?
How much of a monster did he take me for......
"Great hero, spare my life, and I'll serve you as my lord for the rest of my days!"
Bam!
And not just that—the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold's own leader slammed his forehead into the deck.
"Please, just this once—have mercy!"
His men, seeing their boss grovel, all flung themselves flat and begged forgiveness too.
What the hell was this?
I felt like the villain here somehow.
"Fine, fine. That's enough. Get up."
Only then did the Waterway Stronghold crew lift their heads and exhale in relief.
"Now, I've got one favor to ask."
Of course, I wasn't letting them off scot-free.
I slid my sword home and eyed the leader as I went on.
"Make sure the Lower Five Gates can join this Black Dao Assembly."
"Are you with the Lower Five Gates yourself, great hero?"
"Spot on. Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Yi Sowol, leader of the Fifth Gate in the Lower Five Gates."
He knew the name, alright—his face went slack with shock. Fair enough: a kid not even thirty pulling sword aura.
"In that case, I, Jang Seokhyeon of the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold, pledge my lifelong loyalty to you, Great Hero Yi Sowol, for your mercy here. My entire crew will forge brotherly ties with your esteemed sect and join the Lower Five Gates as your juniors."
Huh?
What'd he just say?
"Jang Seokhyeon, leader of the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold, vows here to repay Great Hero Yi Sowol's grace with undying loyalty—serving as your sworn younger brother for life!"
No chance to stop him—he dropped to one knee, hands clasped in salute, and swore fealty on the spot.
His booming voice rolled across the Yangtze, and soon his men on the other boats were kneeling my way too.
"No, hold up. There's some misunderstanding here......"
"The Yangtze Waterway Stronghold pledges eternal loyalty to Great Hero Yi Sowol!"
I rushed to set things straight, but too late—the whole damn stronghold was swearing allegiance already.
"Long live the Great Stronghold Leader!"
"Thank you for your mercy!"
No.
Really.
This wasn't what I wanted at all.
Yangtze Waterway Stronghold Leader Jang Seokhyeon was a Jianghu veteran, sharp not just in martial arts but across the board.
The biggest reason he'd climbed this high? Instinct, plain and simple.
His gut, honed sharper than a blade with every passing year instead of dulling, had screamed from the first glimpse of Yi Sowol:
'Don't let this man slip away.'
He knew the name already. Yi Sowol: the Sword Dragon who'd just clinched the Dragon Phoenix Tournament under the Lower Five Gates banner. Word had spread across all Jianghu.
But none knew he'd hit transcendent realm already.
If a mere youth wielding sword aura got out, Jianghu would erupt. Since it hadn't, Jang was one of the rare few—or maybe the only one—who did.
Before thirty, only the Alliance Leader had touched that level across the Central Plains. And even he hadn't been this young.
So, like the Leader, Yi Sowol was destined to claim the title of world's greatest someday.
Jang Seokhyeon mused inwardly:
'This is my golden chance.'
Under Lower Five Gates for now? Fine. Later, right-hand man to the world's best.
He snatched the lifeline without a second thought.
"To the Great Stronghold Leader!"
"Waaaaaah!"
Minutes ago they'd been quaking in fear of death; now the Waterway crew rolled out a feast like it was nothing.
Calling me Great Stronghold Leader the whole time.
Their boss's sworn brother made me the "Great" one, apparently. Black dao logic: simple as dirt.
Sigh. How'd I end up sparing these clowns?
"Enjoying the feast, brother?"
"Drop the 'brother' bit. You're a good half-century older than me—how could I be the elder?"
"Boss it is, then."
The leader flashed a sly grin and shoved a cup my way. God knows what wheels turned in that head.
"Fine, boss works. Feels like I've turned bandit chief, though it sits wrong."
"More precisely, water bandit boss."
Joke or not, that smirking mug grated on me.
"Think I kicked this off without a plan."
"So this was planned?"
A slip would've been one thing, but acting like it was all calculated had me snatching his collar on reflex.
"C-calm down, hear me out first. Your goal's entering the Black Dao Assembly under Lower Five Gates, right?"
"Right."
"Then with our Waterway Stronghold now under them, Lower Five Gates is basically one of the Four Black Alliances already."
"Meaning Waterway's now Lower Five Gates, so we join scot-free?"
"You got it!"
I itched to call bullshit, but... it wasn't that far-fetched.
Plan A: infiltrate as third party via Waterway, eat any dirty looks.
But Lower Five Gates stepping in direct? That handed us a voice.
Not bad.
But.
"Well? What do you say?"
His cheek dumping the title on me sans consult made me want to deck him.
"Ugh, can't even smack you."
Felt played, but fair's fair—I'd gotten his help.
I let go and headed out.
"Where to?"
"Pissing."
I ditched the rowdy banquet and sat alone by the Yangtze.
Moonlit night. Serene waters cradled a tranquil moon. Each ripple warped my reflection into something awkward.
"Me, their Great Stronghold Leader."
What a laughable joke.
In my past life, I was the butcher.
I remembered it crystal clear: bandits wailing for mercy, me swinging silently.
They coveted, they stole. Bandits didn't deserve to breathe. Killed 'em. End of story.
No deeper reason needed for killing.
"Hell of a joke."
My past self shimmered on the rippling flow. I asked him:
Had I talked to those guys proper, would I have spared them?
Nah. Even sans evil hearts, evil deeds demand justice.
Back then, I was a tree: immutable, immovable. No faith others could change.
But now?
I waded to shallows and dipped my feet. The current caressed my skin, shifting form endlessly. Same river water—yet never the same.
Past me, present me: same shell, different core.
This life, I'd give chances to as many as possible. Evildoers deserved reform's shot.
Like me.
"Ease up that frown, you ugly bastard."
The waters rippled once more. Past me was gone.
There I stood.
Same face. Utterly changed.