Return Operation 3
"It's a relief to have you with us."
Seok Geum-ryong could not help admiring Jang Sam, who was taking the lead as he guided the small fishing boat. It was no grand vessel, merely a modest craft, but Jang Sam handled it with remarkable ease.
"Before I became a coachman, I worked for a long time under a boatman."
Jang Sam, too, looked genuinely pleased that he could be of help to Seok Geum-ryong, the benefactor who had saved his life and spared his family. That was how people ought to live, extending kindness where they could. Seok Geum-ryong had spared Jang Sam and his family; in return, Jang Sam was now helping him immensely by managing the Ferghana horses and steering the boat.
So even my smallest good deed can lead to a much greater result.
Seok Geum-ryong realized that once again. No matter how outstanding a martial master might be, no one could live entirely alone; people had to interact, support one another, and rely on each other.
Swoosh...
Watching the ordinary fishing boat cut smoothly through the current, he recalled the desperate struggle he had gone through just to secure a vessel.
It went without saying that finding a boat to launch onto the river at such short notice had been difficult.
Not only did it need to carry Seok Geum-ryong's entire group, but also some baggage, food, and several Ferghana horses. Even under the most conservative estimate, they needed a vessel large enough for more than ten people.
At first, he had even considered purchasing a proper boat.
-That won't do. If we buy a boat so openly in a place like this, rumors will spread.
That would defeat the whole purpose of choosing the waterways over the road.
Seeking out a boat at this late hour, so suddenly, would have been no different from stirring up a commotion.
In the end, thanks to the objection of Scholar in Blue Gong Sang-pil, they had gone around in circles until they found an old man too weak to take his fishing boat out himself, paid him a generous price, and finally obtained one.
"It's not flashy, but the sail is broad and the boat has been well maintained. He must have learned from seasoned sailors in his younger days and run a decent fishing operation."
Jang Sam, who had plenty of experience not only as a boatman but also as a sailor, praised the vessel and did his part as a captain.
Just in time, they had caught favorable winds, and the boat was making good speed. Its appearance was utterly ordinary, just another common fishing boat, which made it perfect for disguise.
* * *
"My lord, there's no trace here either!"
Among the people of the Scarlet Horse Hall, one expert in hoofprints gave his report.
They had searched many places in an attempt to find signs left by the Ferghana horses, but nothing could be seen.
"Heh. That's odd. Unless they fell into the ground or shot up into the sky... it makes no sense for the trail to stop here."
Even Guild Master Gui Jong-ak of the Scarlet Horse Hall was baffled.
Since Seok Geum-ryong was still the heir of Seokga Manor, he could not be dealt with openly, but Gui Jong-ak very much wanted to watch him get torn apart by the hands of vagrants and villains blinded by the sight of gold.
And yet for the trail to vanish so cleanly near Gwang Village...
In truth, the reason they had been able to track him this far was only because the Scarlet Horse Hall was second to none in matters related to horses and stood at the very pinnacle of the Central Plains in that field.
To an ordinary person, the hoofprints of a pony and those of a Ferghana horse looked no different, but to Scarlet Horse Hall talent, the difference was obvious.
"It was strange that they even came this far. Their final destination should be Seokga Manor in Hebei Province, so isn't this route taking a rather long detour?"
The other members also spoke carefully, wanting to continue pursuing Seok Geum-ryong's group.
Indeed, the route through Gwang Village in Shaanxi Province was not a direct road to Hebei, but a slight detour.
"Did they come this way while avoiding the Luosheng Sword Sect's people, or did they detect other unrighteous factions approaching and lure them here instead?"
Gui Jong-ak and the others sank into thought, unable to find an answer.
Then they saw the villagers of Gwang Village come out and mend their torn nets.
Netting?
As Gui Jong-ak stared blankly at the sight, something suddenly came to him.
"No way...! Those bastards didn't go overland. They went by river, didn't they?"
Gui Jong-ak was not a local, so he had not known. Gwang Village was a tiny fishing village at the edge of a huge river. He had simply followed the Ferghana horse hoofprints and failed to realize it was a fishing village until he saw the nets being repaired.
"Come on, surely not."
"They left the fast and valuable Ferghana horses behind and took the waterway?"
"The river may seem easier than the sea, but unless you're a seasoned boatman or captain, crossing two provinces is impossible."
Even among the Scarlet Horse Hall's people, those with experience on boats shook their heads and voiced their doubts.
"No! Seok Geum-ryong and his people weren't ordinary men. Besides, this place is right beside the river... it's possible, absolutely possible!"
Gui Jong-ak clenched his fist, now fully convinced.
This could mean...
We might not only be able to bury that damned Seok Geum-ryong in the river, but also seize the remaining Ferghana horses and the documents worth four thousand gold coins!
At first, all he had wanted was to see Seok Geum-ryong, who had publicly humiliated him at the Xi'an horse market and dared to provoke him, suffer a brutal defeat. That was why he had even broken the unspoken rules among merchants and deliberately spread the word to the evil men and sinister martial artists of the demonic side.
But looking at how things were unfolding now, they had taken the waterways instead of the roads, and no one could see them or even know they had launched a boat. That meant there might be a chance to commit the perfect crime.
More than that, if they could obtain a Ferghana horse, perhaps they could mass-produce them, even if only a crude imitation.
"Summon the Horse Administrator and our special forces at once!"
Remarkably, the group that raised horses was now heading not for a horse market or an open field, but for a vast river of flowing water.
They were not hunting the horses they usually raised. They were after a great catch.
* * *
"Young Master Seok Geum-ryong, we've left Shaanxi Province and entered Shanxi Province now!"
Two nights later, good news came from Jang Sam, who was steering the boat.
They had left Shaanxi and reached Shanxi.
That meant they were moving a full day faster than expected.
"Excellent!"
Seok Geum-ryong shouted with delight.
Arriving in Shanxi Province meant they were now very close to Hebei Province, where Seokga Manor stood.
The nearer they came to Hebei, the closer returning home in glory drew. It was welcome news indeed.
"I can finally breathe a little easier."
"Choosing the waterway instead of the road really was a masterstroke."
Golden Needle Venerable Yeo Gwang-rae and Shadowless One Shin Dan-woo also smiled and agreed.
On land, they had been on edge, fearing assassins might appear at any moment. By contrast, the river was relatively safe; all they had to do was follow the current and let the wind carry them onward.
"Don't relax yet."
At his companions' praise, Seok Geum-ryong shook his head.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't understand either," Im So-gun said, and Wol-papa also looked puzzled.
Even they could not grasp what he was warning them about. Their speed was better than expected, and there had been no assassins or troublemakers, just as they feared. So what was there to worry about?
"When things go too smoothly, they're going very smoothly. Bad luck tends to strike precisely at times like this."
Seok Geum-ryong's words came from experience in his previous life, but they were already proving unnervingly accurate.
"Huh? W-wait..."
Just as they felt they were drifting along safely with the tailwind, Jang Sam's unsettled voice rang out.
Swoooosh!
When they looked up, they saw a much larger vessel than the fishing boat Seok Geum-ryong was on, barreling straight toward them.
"What's going on?"
Seok Geum-ryong asked in alarm.
"No matter how many signals I send or how many times I tell them to go around, they won't listen!" Jang Sam said, looking troubled.
Normally, a large boat would give way or take a detour when a smaller one was in its path.
But this vessel was charging straight at them like a mad thing, leaving him no time to recover.
"At this rate, we'll either crash into that huge boat and be smashed apart, or be caught in the giant wake it makes and overturn."
Jang Sam looked desperately at Seok Geum-ryong.
This was the moment for a decision.
Jang Sam was the one steering, but all judgment belonged to Seok Geum-ryong, the center around which the group revolved.
"Maybe... they're not pursuers, but reinforcements sent to help us?"
Scholar in Blue Gong Sang-pil offered his opinion, suggesting they not make any rash choice and instead make contact.
It was not an unreasonable idea, but Seok Geum-ryong saw it differently.
What if they came to catch us?
Then they would likely drown in the middle of this river, with no way to flee or evade them.
What was more, aside from Jang Sam and a few martial artists, there were several people who could not swim.
"Jang Sam. How far to the next ferry landing?"
Seok Geum-ryong turned to him and asked.
"We're not far from a place where we can moor the boat."
"Then... which will come first: that big ship catching up to us, or us reaching the landing?"
"That is..."
Jang Sam, steering madly, fell into deep thought.
If he were being honest, the answer was about fifty-fifty.
It was so uncertain that he could not even make a proper guess.
Even in the midst of everyone's confusion and urgency, Seok Geum-ryong did not show the slightest sign of crumbling.
He had already experienced too much, from his previous life through this one, to be shaken by something like this.
I have already died once. I have lost the son I loved more than anything in the world. I have even lost a master who was like a father to me.
Seok Geum-ryong had been through the worst situations life could offer more than once.
What, then, could possibly frighten him now?
"If both outcomes are possible... Jang Sam, use your skill and guide us to the landing no matter what!"
When Jang Sam failed to answer immediately, Seok Geum-ryong trusted him, but at the same time placed a tremendous burden on his shoulders.
"Y-yes?"
Jang Sam was flustered, but only for a moment.
"Yes! Understood!"
Ever since Seok Geum-ryong had saved his life, Jang Sam had decided he would devote everything he had to him.
More than anything, hadn't Seok Geum-ryong treated his family extraordinarily well?
Kwaaaaaah!
So Jang Sam twisted the boat's course with frantic force and headed for the nearest landing in the area.
A small boat was slower and weaker than a large one, but because it was lighter, it could turn far more freely.
"Huh? They've suddenly changed direction!"
Meanwhile, the Scarlet Horse Hall's people had managed to secure a huge vessel and chase after them at insane speed.
After coaxing and persuading the fishing village's old captain to come with them, they had finally made it this far.
But then the fishing boat suddenly veered off course, and they were stunned.
"Old man! What's over there?" Gui Jong-ak barked at the fishing village's elderly captain.
"Well... there's Jenggwang Ferry up ahead."
"A ferry landing? They've noticed! We'll catch them before they reach it and escape!"
With that confident shout, Gui Jong-ak cried out in a hurried voice.
I spent my life handling horses, and yet here I am, renting a boat and coming onto the river just to catch you. You think I could let you slip away now?
By this point, the Scarlet Horse Hall and Gui Jong-ak were also thoroughly riled up.
"As expected, they're enemies."
As the massive vessel drew closer in pursuit, Seok Geum-ryong's group realized who they were.
The ambiguous situation had now made Seok Geum-ryong's decision to head for the landing pay off.
Now that their enemies had pursued them all the way to their throat, so to speak...
"Listen carefully. Just before we reach the landing, our group will split in two. One team will go overland, and the other will continue by water."
Seok Geum-ryong explained their final plan.