A Lucky Day (2)
Yang Ak-gun's eyes darted about like abacus beads bouncing wildly.
Everything—even the light reflecting off the river—looked like money to him.
A faint smile crept across his face as he reviewed his plan once more.
If he seized the Qingming Pill, he had no intention of sharing it with his water bandit crew. He'd vanish into the jianghu with it all.
But now, the Hebei Paeng Family's escort procession had just arrived.
Yang Ak-gun gazed out the window at the endless blue waves stretching before him.
Today felt like the day all the luck in his life had converged on him alone.
How would the spirit elixirs rank among the great sects?
The Shaolin Temple's Great Return Pill would claim the top spot as the supreme treasure. Following that came the spirit pills of the Huashan, Wudang, and Kunlun Sects.
Among the Taoist elixirs, the Kunlun Sect's Qingming Pill—the pinnacle of their pill refinement arts—was considered the finest.
The smallest of all Taoist spirit pills.
That was because it compressed natural essence so efficiently, or so the tales went.
As a result, the Kunlun Qingming Pill was placed right after the Shaolin Great Return Pill in rankings.
Sometimes, it was even mentioned in the same breath.
A spirit medicine comparable to the Great Return Pill?
A true treasure of the murim was wandering right before his eyes, and Yang Ak-gun felt dizzy with excitement.
He rose from his seat, still staring out the window.
Just then, the waiter brought out his tea.
"Here's your tea, sir. But... where are you...?"
The waiter looked flustered.
He'd just refilled the tea, and now the customer was standing up. If things went wrong, he might not get paid at all.
It wasn't his fault, but he'd be the one getting grilled for it.
From the looks of it, the guy was about to bolt without paying even for the tea he'd already drunk.
But contrary to the waiter's fears, Yang Ak-gun flashed a broad grin and patted his shoulder.
"Good work."
Yang Ak-gun placed the remaining silver coins from his pouch on the table.
Clink.
The waiter blinked in surprise.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but that's way more than the tea costs..."
"Just keep it!"
Yang Ak-gun's tone was firm.
The waiter pocketed the coins with a reluctant shrug.
Without a backward glance, Yang Ak-gun strode out of the inn.
His subordinate followed close behind.
The man's name was Geom-o, Yang Ak-gun's right-hand man—but a man destined to be discarded once this job was done.
Geom-o tilted his head in confusion. Their boss had a reputation for stinginess, yet his actions today were bizarre. Still, thinking of the treasure they'd snag, Geom-o couldn't suppress his leaking grin.
Leaving the self-proclaimed lucky man behind, Yang Ak-gun sauntered leisurely toward the ferry landing.
Anyone who saw him would mistake him for a wealthy merchant from a trading caravan.
As he entered the reed beds leading to the landing, Yang Ak-gun flung open his shimmering silk robes.
Whoosh!
Emerging from the reeds, he had transformed into a weathered boatman, his face etched with the hardships of the river life.
A moment later.
Standing at the boat's railing, Yang Ak-gun's eyes gleamed.
His target was approaching from afar.
The plan was simple.
The opponents: Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master and two escorts from the Thousand-Li Escort Agency.
He'd heard the escorts' martial prowess was at the Peak realm.
They'd let their guard down thanks to the prestige of the Hebei Paeng Family and the Thousand-Li Escort Agency.
Strip away that fame, and they'd be easy prey for Yang Ak-gun's water bandits.
Overpower them on the shore, snatch the Qingming Pill, then shove off in the boat. Done.
All his subordinates had agreed with Boss Yang Ak-gun's assessment.
One of them smacked his lips at the sight of the approaching carriage in the distance.
"Those guys look tasty."
"Quiet. Everyone, stay sharp. Don't slack off."
Yang Ak-gun's right-hand man, Geom-o, warned the crew.
Yang Ak-gun smiled unwittingly. He was pleased to see Geom-o keeping the men in line without needing to be told.
But his partnership with Geom-o ended today.
After grabbing the Qingming Pill, Yang Ak-gun would vanish into the middle of the Zhang Ha River.
Now, if he just raised the oar he held, the ferry workers and loitering sailors at the railing would all charge toward the target.
Yang Ak-gun paused just as he was about to lift it.
The rider approaching ahead looked strangely familiar.
Who could it be?
As the figure drew nearer, his features came into sharp focus.
Akbigwang of the Shandong Ak Family?
Why was he here?
The question was fleeting. Yang Ak-gun quickly set down the oar and raised the signal flag on deck.
Flat (flat).
To river folk, the character for "flat" symbolized calm and steadiness.
It seemed like a prayer for safe passage, but it was actually the signal to halt all action and act like normal boatmen.
With Akbigwang of the Shandong Ak Family in the mix, they needed to handle this on the water.
At that moment.
Geom-o came running up, breathless.
Yang Ak-gun asked at the sight of his urgent expression.
"Geom-o, what's wrong?"
"Big trouble, boss. Akbigwang and the eldest daughter of the Mu Family are coming too."
"Hm."
Yang Ak-gun swallowed a grunt and peered at the woman walking beside Akbigwang.
Akbigwang and Musoryul?
Good thing they'd decided against striking on land. Then Geom-o continued.
"That's not the problem. Word is, Akbigwang and Musoryul have already been captured by the Shanxi Three Fiends."
"Shanxi Three Fiends?"
Yang Ak-gun cocked his head and glanced behind Akbigwang and Musoryul.
Enormous figures emerged from the reed beds they were traversing.
"Well, damn. Isn't that Pyeon Yuk-rang-a?"
"Yes. Binghyeol Seosaeng and Heuk Ui Sal-pung are with him too. According to our scouts, the Shanxi Three Fiends subdued the Hebei Paeng Family escort crew and fed everyone the Mountain Air Poison."
"They didn't just take the Qingming Pill—they're hauling around baggage too?"
"Looks like they're after ransom as well."
"Haha! Perfect. Just perfect!"
"Why are you happy, boss? The Shanxi Three Fiends are unpredictable with their dirty tricks."
"Who on the water can stand against us? Even the Three Fiends are just a snack. The key is that they get the blame for plundering the Qingming Pill."
"Ah, I see."
"It's not just 'maybe'—once we pull this off, they'll be enemies of every righteous sect. We have to leave one of the Three Fiends alive."
"Why spare one? Better to wipe them out clean."
"So he can take the heat for us, you fool."
"Oh, right. Smart. Still, their reputation means we should be cautious."
"You're right about that. Go tell the men we're switching to Plan Five for snatching the goods."
"Got it, boss. I'll make sure they're ready."
A short while later.
The carriage carrying Han Bin pulled up before a large merchant ship.
Leading the group was Pyeon Yuk-rang-a, the bulk of the Shanxi Three Fiends.
He brandished his wolf-tooth club and bellowed.
"What are you waiting for? Load the cargo and prisoners onto the ship!"
At his shout, the boatmen approached Han Bin's group.
They separated the carriage and horses, loading them separately, while Han Bin, Seolhwa, and the others boarded surrounded by the Three Fiends.
To any onlooker, it looked exactly like Han Bin had been captured.
As he boarded, Han Bin glanced at a distant boatman.
A meaningful smile crossed his lips—unseen by anyone, but thicker than ever.
There was one reason.
The boatman radiated an unusually dense cluster of formulas.
Anyone could see it: the telltale signs of an Earth-grade formula.
Of course, he wasn't just any boatman—he was Yang Ak-gun.
Yang Ak-gun sneered inwardly at Han Bin, who hurriedly bowed his head upon spotting him.
Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master?
The rumors about him were all over the place lately.
Some said Hebei's biggest coward had become its biggest bully, others that he'd fallen into qi deviation.
But Yang Ak-gun's verdict: still Hebei's top coward.
Han Bin had averted his gaze to hide his expression.
Then Pyeon Yuk-rang-a roared.
"Move it! Get to the corner and stay out of sight!"
Pyeon Yuk-rang-a shoved Han Bin roughly.
Thud!
Han Bin tumbled helplessly to the corner of the deck.
With the Three Fiends claiming the prime spots mid-deck and Han Bin's group shoved to the edge, Yang Ak-gun smiled from the railing.
His subordinate's report checked out.
The righteous sect fools were poisoned with Mountain Air Poison, powerless. Subdue the Three Fiends, and it was over.
Just then, Pyeon Yuk-rang-a glanced toward Yang Ak-gun.
Their eyes met, and Yang Ak-gun quickly looked away.
Pyeon Yuk-rang-a grinned and whispered.
"Brothers, looks like our name's spread even to the Zhang Ha river routes."
Binghyeol Seosaeng eyed him quietly.
"Third brother, keep your voice down."
"Isn't that a good thing, big bro?"
"Even if it is, what changes? And about what you did earlier..."
"What'd I do wrong?"
"When you shoved the fourth young master, I saw real anger in it."
"Well, he ordered us to..."
It was true. Han Bin had instructed them to treat the others like genuine prisoners if spotted.
But something felt off to Pyeon Yuk-rang-a, and he trailed off.
"Look at the fourth young master's eyes now. You think he'll stay quiet?"
Binghyeol Seosaeng nodded subtly toward Han Bin. Pyeon Yuk-rang-a turned.
"Gah."
Pyeon Yuk-rang-a's eyes widened.
Han Bin's gaze was like a wolf spotting prey.
Pyeon Yuk-rang-a quickly looked skyward.
The sky was clearer than ever today, as if heaven itself ignored his plight.
Pyeon Yuk-rang-a's sole dream was escaping that devilish grasp.
The devil in question? Han Bin.
Then Seolhwa poked Han Bin's side and whispered.
"What's with you?"
"It's fun."
"What's so fun? You mean the Three Fiends' act?"
"There are folks on this boat who out-act even them."
"Hm, I felt something off too..."
Seolhwa trailed off, scanning their surroundings.
A few merchants there looked genuinely suspicious.
She'd been on guard, suspecting they might be bandits targeting the ship.
She murmured low.
"Some of them look really shady, young master."
"Some?"
"Why so surprised? Didn't you notice?"
"Hm. It's not 'some'—it's all of them."
"Pardon?"
"Keep your voice down for now. Just play dumb and enjoy the view."
Han Bin chuckled softly and turned to gaze at the riverbank.
The endless flow of the Zhang Ha was like time itself.
He, who had swum against that current from the past.
What had been the intent of the Dragon Scale that sent him back?
Han Bin grinned without a hint of doubt.
It felt like heaven's decree: live this life as you please.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
"Why can't you load our carriage?"
Musoryul raised her voice, and a boatman bowed low.
"My apologies. Our ship can only take one carriage. As you see, any more and she won't hold. And that carriage of yours..."
The boatman pointed at the two massive carriages Musoryul had brought.
They were three or four times larger than the one from the escort.
One was stuffed with provisions; the other was basically Musoryul's bedroom on wheels.
After some back-and-forth, Musoryul alternated glances between her carriages and the ship.
Even she had to admit it was impossible.
Decision made, she signaled her coachman.
He hurried over.
"Your orders, miss?"
"Wait here until I return."