Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Tradition (3)
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The Divine Strategist, Hwang Bo-se-ryeong.
She later grows into the woman who handles strategy for the Murim Alliance. A master of the art of employing people, thanks to her exceptional insight in gathering talent and deploying it exactly where it's needed. She was the one who helped Yong Mugil go on to play a pivotal role in the Murim Alliance.
Right now, she's just a curious, immature girl, but that's only natural at her age. Her fascination with people undoubtedly laid the foundation for her future mastery of personnel tactics.
'Having fun teasing me?'
-Blame your own ignorance. At the very least, you should know the basics. Otherwise, what's the point of regressing? It's all the same.
'Hey now, "all the same"? There's a huge difference between what I know and what I don't. You know that.
-Ignorance isn't something to brag about.
'The Murim Alliance is what it is anyway. No need to worry about it.'
-Every gale begins with the flutter of a single wing. That tiny lapse in vigilance could return as a typhoon.
Cheon-gyeong's words weren't wrong, but Mujin still didn't trust the Murim Alliance. Their arrogance, their misjudgments, and those filthy schemes they clung to until the bitter end were the worst, no matter how he looked back on them. Why bother carrying those kinds of people?
-The arrogant one is you.
'No one's as humble as me.'
-This world is hell indeed.
With Yong Mugil, who had shone as a strategist in the final battle, already earmarked to become the Chief Steward of the Pine Tiger Sect, the Divine Strategist's role wouldn't stand out much. Not unless they unearthed another tactician on par with him.
'Wiping out the seeds of those filthy bastards this time around wouldn't be a bad idea.'
-Twist history, and things might not unfold as predicted.
Sticking to the original flow of history made it easier to revisit key events and find solutions. No need to flip the board and fight on unfamiliar terrain. For now, his knowledge of history was still working in Mujin's favor.
He was just about to turn away.
Whiiiing!
The fog conveyed a sense of unease.
By the time Mujin noticed the changes around him, the captain had emerged at the bow. He raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"The Little Lake heroes have arrived. As long as you follow the usual custom, there won't be any trouble. Please cooperate as much as possible."
The captain wasn't rushing like usual.
Yet he maintained his tension. The group blocking the way ahead was the Little Lake Stronghold, which dominated the Little Lake region. Don't underestimate them just because they're river pirates. They were numerous, and even with the Nangong family managing the area, they ran rampant around Little Lake.
In truth, it was unavoidable.
The Little Lake Stronghold might not compare to the Nangong family, but geography played a huge role—river versus land. The Nangong family had tried to eradicate the stronghold nested somewhere in Little Lake, but they failed every time.
Those running ships, like ship owners or captains, had no choice but to watch their step around the Little Lake Stronghold. At least if you paid the set toll, they'd let you pass safely.
Still, pirates were pirates. They could turn vicious at any moment and commit atrocities. The captain had to do his utmost not to offend them.
"We'll handle this on our ship, so I ask for your understanding, great hero."
The captain's first move was to seek permission from Hwang Bo-jang-seong. Even if it was custom, handing money to pirates was awkward for a member of the Hwang Bo family, one of the Five Great Families.
But it was unavoidable for the captain.
The Hwang Bo family was based in Shandong. They could just head back there if friction arose, but the captain had to navigate Little Lake today, tomorrow, and every day after.
Of course, it was all formality.
Even prestigious families and sects found it awkward to clash with river pirates on the water. Unless lives were on the line, they acknowledged and accommodated them.
In exchange, famous sects and families didn't pay tribute. The pirates tacitly accepted this. They knew picking a fight could put them in danger too.
"Don't worry—just do what you normally do."
"Thank you, great hero."
Hwang Bo-jang-seong didn't put the captain in a tough spot. He knew not everything could be handled justly, even if it was unreasonable. Reality was full of injustices, and that's what made it reality.
The captain mobilized the crew to collect the agreed amount from the passengers. To hand it over when the pirates arrived. It was the captain's seasoned command, wasting no time.
'Well handled.'
Mujin praised the captain's swift response. It might seem petty as worldly wisdom, but experience couldn't be ignored.
The Hwang Bo family's attitude was appropriate too. If they'd strutted around with empty bravado, the captain and passengers would be in real trouble. Sometimes, so-called heroes lost all sense in their knight-errant fantasies.
'If you can't take responsibility to the end, don't step up in the first place.'
The knight-errant game had long devolved into a tool for gaining fame. Pure chivalry for the greater good was a lamentable relic of the past. They'd cause a scene but skip the aftermath. They never bore the consequences themselves.
"Here you go."
Taejin handed over the money without hesitation.
Mujin smiled contentedly at his son. No need to haggle over pocket change. Besides, it was a consensus custom. As the saying goes, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
-Aren't you in no position to say that? Regressing has made you surprisingly shameless. You're making me regret not coming back alone bit by bit.
'Know when to butt in and when to shut up. Demon King!'
Anyway, his son had read the situation perfectly, even if he was Mujin's own flesh and blood. Good—he should. Taejin hadn't reached the Absolute Realm yet. It was time to stay low and build his strength.
-Which sounds like "go wild once you hit Absolute Realm."
'Stop needling me! Figure it out yourself.'
He didn't deny it.
If you wanted to cause chaos, you needed at least the Absolute Realm. Why? Because you could escape easily. Absolute Realm masters were incredibly hard to catch. Even if hunted with a dragnet of wanted posters, a determined flight let you strike weak points and break out.
That's why Absolute Realm experts were so fearsome. Once they escaped, they came back seething with venom for revenge.
That's also why they always tried to kill those on their hit lists. Letting them flee turned them into lingering threats—no choice but to go all out.
"Why offer money to river pirate scum... Gahk!"
Mujin grabbed Cheol-ho by the collar before anyone could hear his nonsense. Even Taejin, three years younger, had the sense to pay up—yet this fool was playing the arrogant knight-errant!
Absolute Realm might be different.
This guy, who nearly died flailing against the Five Freaks of Jinsang, thought he could take on river pirates? They didn't fight fair either. If they holed the hull, you'd have to swim this vast river. Mujin had basic flotation techniques, but what about the passengers? Carry them on his back?
Wait—worst case, he'd have to.
This punk!
Cheol-ho mumbled, still collared.
"What? Speak up—I can't hear you."
"...Why?"
"Still haven't come to your senses? You think everyone's idiots for paying? Use your brain. Or leave it behind when you go."
Cheol-ho's struggles were futile. Mujin pulled money from his pouch and handed it to a crewman.
"...That's one tael?"
"Includes mine too. Haha."
The pirates weren't far. They'd dock soon. The crewman got it. No blame for Mujin. Cheol-ho rebelling would've been trouble.
"Live smarter from now on. Hey, answer me!"
"...My neck!"
Oh.
Mujin let go.
Cheol-ho's face flushed red—embarrassed after all that thrashing. For a boy starved of parental love, Mujin had bestowed great compassion and lesson in one go. Priceless wisdom you couldn't buy.
"Give me my money back!"
"You won't die without one tael."
"My master, who struggles day to day, worked nights and days for that one tael. It's his lifelong savings, all given to me. For me alone!"
"...Tch."
Why the endless whining?
Mujin considered returning it, then remembered the free dumplings from yesterday. No such thing as a free meal—you pay somehow. Nearly let easy money slip.
-You're skimping on that?
'Gotta pinch pennies to live well.'
Hwang Bo-se-ryeong watched from behind, amused. Probably found the spectacle intriguing. Mujin felt like a clown for a moment, wondering if he should take the money after all.
Thud!
A pirate ship pierced the fog. Three vessels total, repurposed merchant ships into warships. They avoided outright military builds to dodge official scrutiny? Even these pillaging thugs had some brains.
'They'll die if caught anyway.'
Can't overlook that.
One of the three closed in slowly. The other two kept distance, maintaining formation. Routine custom, but well-organized. Experience from piracy well-applied.
'Well, well.'
Mujin didn't take pirates lightly, but an unusual figure lurked among them. Not just one—several, clustered together. Gave him a bad feeling.
'Not my problem.'
Burning with justice made life exhausting. Overlook when plausible, walk the middle path—that's how you live long.
Mujin observed with his son. Even threatening, they were just pirates. The War King of the world paying them mind? Absurd.
Thwuk!
A grappling hook flew over. Scratches marred the bow from long use.
Pirates reeled it in, docking the ships.
Boom!
A burly man leaped aboard. The deck shook. Disheveled hair, bushy beard—textbook pirate look.
'Got guts.'
Or clueless.
A cautious type would've sent underlings first to check, then boarded. Or just sent them. Clearly assumed everything or underestimated the situation.
But his confidence screamed overkill. Arrogance oozed from his face. Sky-high pride as Little Lake's master.
Mujin sensed this guy might cause trouble. Or maybe not—hoped so. Hotheads judged poorly.
Slaughter Axe Makgi.
Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds forming the Little Lake Stronghold. Infamous as a brutal butcher who kills without mercy if crossed.
But don't dismiss him as mere muscle.
His signature Mad Blood Axe was the famed technique of Na Hu-seong, the Brutal Blood Axe dubbed Killing Star two centuries ago. A bloodthirsty fiend who dominated an era with a single axe.
No one knew his exact mastery level, but plenty of warriors became fish food underestimating him.
"Greetings to Great Hero Makgi."
"Right, great hero. Keh keh keh! Without me, could you safely sail these waters?"
Brain rotted from excessive pride, or just brazen as hell.
'First time I've seen such shamelessness in my life.'
-Don't you ever feel sorry for what you say?
'What's wrong with me?'
-Compared to you, he's humble.