Chapter 165
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: This Counts as Fame Too (2)
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Having confirmed the Thousand Gold Merchant Group's ship, the hideous face of the East Dragon Stronghold Leader, Yuk Sa-ak, twisted into a satisfied smile. He had heard the rumors that had been stirring up Jiangsu Province lately.
The contents of those rumors only grew more absurd the more he heard them. He'd laughed so hard his stomach hurt for a while. There had even been talk of challenging the Heavenly Fortune Lord if you wanted to test your luck.
"I'll see if that luck holds up against me."
"It won't dare show its face before you, Stronghold Leader."
"They say he's loaded quite the haul, eh?"
"At least fifty thousand nyang, I'd wager."
The rewards from the Wind Sword Sect and the authorities were no small sum. And word was he'd settled with the King of the Bandits by paying him off. That was plenty on its own, but capturing him would make for a tidy profit. This was a chance to test that luck of his, too.
Luck can be a skill in itself, so no room for carelessness.
He'd brought every ship and subordinate from the East Dragon Stronghold. Even if the rumors were exaggerated, they involved the King of the Bandits and shadowy assassins. He didn't buy that the guy had survived on luck alone. And if he lost in any fashion, his reputation would hit rock bottom. He might not be able to show his face anywhere.
Ahem!
As they closed to within about two hundred zhang, Yuk Sa-ak cleared his throat and bellowed. It was the opening shot declaring who ruled these waters.
"I am the master of these Yangtze waterways...?"
...No way.
Before he could finish, an unimaginable surge of energy shot forth, defying all common sense. Every hair on his body stood on end as a chill ran through him. He sensed the danger and tried to react, but the erupting fist aura showed no mercy.
Kwaaaaaang! Puaaaat!
Before he could properly declare himself ruler or lord of the house, a massive formless fist blast swept over the East Dragon Stronghold Leader and his ship. Yuk Sa-ak, who had felt that bone-chilling thrill, made his entrance and exit in the same instant.
Kwaaaaaang! Puaaaang!
Ten formless fists the size of ships fired off simultaneously. As the leader's vessel vanished, the remaining nine ships shattered to pieces. The bandits aboard the waterway strongholds were swept away in one fell swoop.
Shwaaaaa!
Waves surged violently amid the overwhelming aura sweeping every direction. Nothing remained in the path it carved—not even ship debris or bodies. It pulverized everything.
Whoa!
Silence blanketed the space the momentary storm had ravaged. The bandits who had boldly surrounded the ship like smoke had vanished like actual smoke.
"Where do these bloodsuckers get off bothering decent folk."
Even at a thousand zhang away, Mujin's ears were sharp. Yuk Sa-ak had no idea he was dead and had picked the wrong fight. He shouldn't have poked someone so sensitive. And Mujin wasn't the type to sit idly by while someone strutted around showboating.
Namgung Yeonhwa's voice trembled violently as she witnessed the absurd scene.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Exterminating leeches for the sake of good people."
Worried? As if.
Namgung Yeonhwa realized anew that this man wasn't the worrying type. She couldn't say the bandits had it coming, but who could've guessed he'd wipe them out without even a word? Hundreds of them, gone without a trace.
"How are you going to handle making such a scene?!"
"Handle it? Just tell the truth."
"Then your identity will— Oh!"
"People have a habit of believing only what they want to."
Recalling the sequence of events, Namgung Yeonhwa swallowed hard. The circumstances had warped her sense of reality. Even if she spoke the facts, Mujin was the continent's greatest braggart. The lies he'd already spun had twisted the truth.
"Now I can do as I please."
That was the hidden truth of the Heavenly Fortune Lord.
One lie might not stick, but two or three? Different story. People wouldn't believe Mujin if he said he made soybean paste from beans now. Even if he claimed the sun rose in the east.
Still, even so.
Bandits or not, they were people. Could he really kill them so lightly? Hundreds had ended their lives without knowing why.
"You don't even know their intentions."
"Intentions my ass—they came gunning for me. For my honor, I had to teach them a lesson. Right? They say a man dies by his name."
This damn bastard!
With rumors about Mujin spreading like wildfire in Jiangsu, the East Dragon Stronghold surely knew. Of course, the idea of building fame by toppling the Heavenly Fortune Lord didn't add up. In the end, their goal was the rewards Mujin had pocketed.
Daring to eye my money!
They might've lived if they'd taken a moderate cut and left. But the moment they targeted his cash, their fate was sealed.
It ain't yours till I hand it over.
From time immemorial, those who covet another's wealth pay with their lives. It was probably in the Yangtze code of laws. If not, time to engrave it now.
They were gonna die anyway.
Change your title to Money King ()!
Call me whatever. I can't stand anyone eyeing my money.
How did I end up with a guy like this!
The Demon King sighed every time he saw the War King turn petty over money. Could he really trust this guy to topple the Demonic Cult of the Demon God and reclaim his body? Frustration welled up.
Haa!
Yuk Chil finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
That momentary burst of domineering presence was far beyond human limits. The bandits' ships were sturdy river vessels, resistant to ordinary impacts. Yet they'd been obliterated without a trace in one strike. Bandits had the advantage on water, but not like this. No chance to even flail.
The East Dragon Stronghold Leader was known as a decent fighter.
Famous for his viciousness, and more cautious than his looks suggested. Preparing ten ships without verifying the rumors showed that. But no time for what-ifs. He shouldn't have come.
Now it's the Yangtze Waterway Sixteen Strongholds!
One stronghold gone in the blink of an eye. He needed to report this to the Beggars' Sect, but frustration mounted. The Division Head would chew him out for another incident.
"Don't just stand there gawking—open the gate."
"Yes, Hero Kang!"
Yuk Chil hurriedly swung the gates open.
The captain and crew, who'd been on edge in the cabin, stared in bewilderment at the unharmed guests. They'd never passed the East Dragon Stronghold unscathed. They always found some pretext to extort money. But now, no sign of them.
"What happened?"
"Looks like they had other business."
"Phew, what a relief. You're truly lucky, sir."
"Now, to our destination."
"Right away!"
The captain chalked it up to luck. The East Dragon Stronghold passing without demanding coin was rarer than a cat ignoring fish. Heavenly fortune indeed.
Come to think of it, wasn't he the Heavenly Fortune Lord?
This guy's really got the luck!
Unlike the oblivious captain and crew, Namgung Yeonhwa, Yuk Chil, and Taejin knew the full story and couldn't relax.
He'd erased every trace of evidence, too. Bandits would keep falling to Mujin. Fighting on land might buy time, but a ship was confined—no escape.
Doomed as they were...
Was this okay?
Mujin, unconcerned, continued his luxurious cruise.
"Come on, join me for a drink."
"You've got a big heart, sir."
Big heart? Says who?
What about the bandits slaughtered without a word for targeting his money?
We should've at least heard out the East Dragon Stronghold!
The Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds exchanged regular contact each month.
No word from the East Dragon Stronghold after the deadline. They sent men, only to find it abandoned.
No signs of attack or intrusion. But a few insiders had looted the vault and fled. They needed to capture the runaways and get answers.
"What'd you find?"
"Tortured the captives, but nothing useful."
Those left behind and fled were nobodies. Yuk Sa-ak and his elites had vanished like smoke with the ships.
Damn!
Even Surado Nangak, Chief of the Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds, was baffled. Yuk Sa-ak had caused trouble before, but he wasn't one to overstep without cause. Ten ships should've left traces.
"North and West Dragon Strongholds?"
"They didn't pass."
East Dragon sat between North and West. Various tributaries, but ten ships that size would've gone through their waterways.
"Find them. Now."
"Yes, Chief."
The East Dragon wasn't crucial overall, but brushing this off could fracture the strongholds' unity. Retribution if attacked, punishment if they fled.
How the hell?
The latter was nonsense—Yuk Sa-ak had no reason to abandon his post. So the former, but no force came to mind that could erase them tracelessly.
Damn it all.
Negotiations with the bandits were imminent. They'd know about the East Dragon and could make trouble. Needed to resolve this fast and proceed as planned.
Disembarking at Zhenjiang Port, they hired a carriage to Danyang. It took longer than planned—troublemakers along the way, claiming to test the top-rumored Heavenly Fortune Lord of Jiangsu.
"I am No Gang-wi of the Blue Wolf Spear. If you dare, take my spear!"
"Beat my son first."
"Insulting me?! Hiding behind your child—have you no shame as a warrior?!"
Is your skill not shameful?
Fine to try riding his fame. But you needed the chops. This guy was a total fraud playacting.
With rumors spread via the Beggars' Sect, no need to step up personally.
"Son, handle it."
"Yes, Father."
Taejin shot out like a beam, swinging his sword. He'd play nice once or twice, but constant challengers grew annoying. Better to finish quick and train.
Swak! Clang!
Blue Wolf or whatever.
No Gang-wi's fury over his spear arts deflated as the shaft snapped in two.
Chaak!
Taejin's sword tip rested at his throat.
A poke would draw blood. He aimed to end it fast but stayed vigilant. Plenty of sore losers pulled tricks against a young victor. Should've left no openings from the start. Lesson learned.
"Want more?"
"...I yield!"