The Pirate King's Gruesome Reveal
Water pirates. 'We're fucked.' That was the conclusion I'd reached after careful deliberation. Who could've predicted a wild Hwagyeong expert would pop out right in the middle of the river—not the path, but smack in the water? And not just any; there was a Super Peak ahead and a Hwagyeong master behind, with galleons encircling them from all sides. Below, the Yangtze's muddy waters churned and sloshed with fierce rapids. It was a natural net woven from man and nature alike.
Water Pirate King. At that ridiculous yet utterly unignorable title, everyone's bodies went rigid.
"Huh? Why'd you all go mute? I said call me Your Majesty! You pampered young masters and ladies never learned proper etiquette for addressing a king?"
The man who'd introduced himself as the Water Pirate King had a utterly carefree attitude. His light, mischievous grin resembled the antics of some old, ugly mutt shaking off fleas. But sometimes a title could speak louder than actions. Seeing his flippant demeanor through the lens of a Hwagyeong master made it look like the leisure of a true powerhouse.
"Why aren't you answering? Huh?!"
Boom!
His foot smashed through the deck planks. An overwhelming aura and pressure erupted simultaneously. The invisible force of an absolute expert crushed down, buckling most people's knees.
"Kuh."
"Kyaa!"
"Huuuuh..."
Only a scant few could withstand the sensation of being flung naked before a savage beast. Those below Peak realm collapsed in cold sweats. They couldn't even pass out if they wanted to, enduring the horrific pressure while sweat poured from them in streams.
"Hoh. So even tiger cubs are born with tiger blood, eh?"
The Pirate King stroked his beard with a mocking chuckle. But something was off about his appearance. Moments later, he started ripping at his own face.
Rip. Tsss.
He peeled off the human-skin mask known in the world as a "face disguise," revealing a cheerful smile underneath.
"Phew. Thought I was gonna suffocate."
Exposed before everyone was Geum Ra-geo, the star of every gossipmonger's tales. But his look was far from the brutal image of the great pirate they described.
I silently dissected his condition piece by piece.
'This guy's in a world of hurt.'
And it was severe. His face was a patchwork of stitches, ragged like a quilt. His lower jaw looked crushed or severed, with nails hammered in for fixation along the massive gash.
'Head's the least of his problems.'
And below the neck? The creaking he'd made stomping the deck earlier screamed prosthetic left leg. My eyes pierced the long robe hiding it. The protrusions under the fabric and the grinding at his arm joints were unmistakable—prosthetics. A martial artist replacing limbs with fake ones? Unless it was a special case, that shaved off at least 20% of their skill. His torso seemed wrecked too, his waist bent forward once and slightly to the left—meaning his spine had twisted right then snapped hard left. No human spine zigzags like a snake's without losing another 20% prowess and agility.
'Human reject, zombie approved.'
Even a god would gawk at this "gliding corpse" getup with fascination. As someone who'd crossed the Jordan once myself, I felt an odd kinship. Not that I had room to talk, but damn, Yongcheong was hanging in there with that mess.
'And his internal energy flow's stuttering—dantian damage too. Knock off another 30%. Best case, he's at 30% of his prime. Even that's maxing variables...'
Min case: 10% of prime. Max: 30%. Not utterly hopeless.
"Hahaha! You lot hold up pretty well!"
Geum Ra-geo laughed. No wonder—watching them grit teeth, swords stabbed like canes, groaning just to resist his aura was comical. Simply unleashing pressure could force foes to kneel and squirm. Once caught, escape was near impossible.
But the belly-laughing Pirate King suddenly staggered, clutching the railing.
"...Krrgh. Wounds are throbbing."
Blood welled from Geum Ra-geo's eyes. He hastily donned a fresh eyepatch; his remaining eye gleamed oily and sharp.
"These eyes gouged by your righteous old fogeys, this mangled body, the hacked-up limbs—they're aching, you bastards."
With that, the Pirate King's form blurred and vanished. In a flash, he seized Yongcheong and Nangong-ryeon's heads—who'd barely endured his aura—and slammed them deckward.
Boom!
No chance to resist; their bodies twitched. Me? I'd flopped early, knowing it was futile. Bonus: shielded the kids' aura quietly so they wouldn't freak. That slave got my hints to drop but stubbornly held. Looked like no kill intent, so I stayed put. Sure enough, Geum Ra-geo smirked contentedly at the forced kneelers.
'Do it or not? Do it or not.'
A Hwagyeong-grade river pirate whose ragdoll body could collapse with a nudge, dead any second. Winnable fight. Problem: no spare attention for slave and the little sisters. Slave maybe, but the kids? Ship shatters, they're river ghosts. Wait, slave could carry both swimming? Since estimating anyway, go blunt.
"Hey, mister over there. One question. See my right hand up? You'll answer, right?"
"What're you? Oh. Fuck, what a pretty bitch. Yeah. Begging for your life?"
"What're you planning to do with us now, sir?"
Think he'd answer? Probably. His type pretends indifference but craves recognition—broadcasts plans like "please notice me." Passengers topped at Peak; spilling a bit wasn't arrogance. Arrogance is overreaching confidence—his leisure wasn't that.
"Heh, curious? This old man's gonna package you bitches and haul to my secret cave."
"Secret cave! Sounds badass just hearing it!"
"Kuhahaha! Right! Then rummage your brains for martial manuals!"
"No way sir suddenly wants arts. Someone paying top coin?"
"Hmph. Debts must be paid."
Figures—group or doc who robotized him. No shock; couldn't self-mod that bad alone. Ha-yeon clapped, genuinely impressed.
"Whoa, checkmate. Vanish on water, no trace. Hide in underwater cave—who'd find kidnappers in this murk?"
"Exactly. Waited ages for righteous brats like you clumped on one ship. And boom—big fish hooked."
Geum Ra-geo eyed Nangong-ryeon. Slave? Meh. Reading that, Ha-yeon's eyes gleamed. Targeting Nangong, huh. Slave and I hopped last-minute; no prior intel. Meant no data or interest in us.
"Well, damn."
"What? Stalling over?"
"Stalling? Harsh. Wanna see something cool?"
No snark back. Blinding sword qi erupted from Ha-yeon's hand, shredding the ship.
Shwick!
Too clean a slice for splitting a massive passenger ship. Rapids dragged the halves tipping and capsizing.
"You bitch!"
Sure enough, harpoon launched post-split. Rock-hard arm, but instinct honed—straight-line flyer.
"Bring it."
Heupseong Daebeop's pull warped trajectory. He poured energy into harpoon and line to correct—futile. His investment got sucked too, amplifying pull.
"Ha!"
Off-course. I planned dense sword qi to sever the line. Snag weapon, drop his combat 10% more.
But.
"No chance!"
"Whoa."
Harpoon veered sharply back at me. Square-traced sans aura, nailing my head—speechless shock. Unintelligible Murim tech.
Ha-yeon wasn't dumb enough to tank unknown move data-poor. Heupseong Daebeop rattled it forcibly; hopped to ship chunk. Geum Ra-geo recalled failed strike, eyeing chance.
Brief standoff. He spoke first.
"What the hell are you?"
"Beats me. But bigger issue: mutual damage if we fight? Part ways?"
"Nah. You blab I'm alive, Murim combs river like lice. Kidnapping Nangong Sword Seal? Don't wanna see Sword Venerable again."
"Hm."
Yet sicced minions meanwhile. While I dueled, other Super Peaks and near-Peaks fished flailing juniors like trout. Lowbies even dove murk—pitiful. Sliced ship for escape, but slave snagged too.
Ha... slave's for chores, not Super Peak scraps. At least O-ryeong and Yuk-ryeong safe. Whew.
"So. Can't let me go?"
"Don't wanna fight this wreck either. But what choice? Let you go, bitches swarm."
"Fair enough."
"Plus, river's my turf despite this. Lemme show what fighting Water Pirate King here means."
On sinking chunk, Geum Ra-geo dunked harpoon. Whipped water off—droplets packed nontrivial power. Fist-sized blob clung to tip—deadly if real. Dodge-counter each? Stance breaks, stamina waste—textbook bad.
"Then I'll freeze 'em."
Somu Magong's chill scattered wide. Ice harder? Nah. Coat drops via my qi—control lost.
Plip. Plop.
Frost shards rained. Harpoon shrugged minor rime.
'Don't fall for same trick twice.'
Drew sword, swung at harpoon. Bounced harmlessly. But he'd vanished in that blink.
"Where'd this bastard slink?"
I'd seen similar: Black Ink Sect Lord's finale—physics-defying Ihyanghwanwi!
'Behind.'
Faked it—actually below. Prosthetic thud gave it away underwater. Nape prickled. Healthy foe? Might've eaten it knowing. Situation sucked. Knew ascent, but no dodge time. World techless vs. evolved Murim arts. Slave's mild; master's... unavoidable even knowing.
"Gotcha!"
Hand burst from murk, smashing my footing. Turtle-neck speed, destructive grip—clear intent: force inescapable close quarters.
Ha-yeon grinned inwardly. 'This Murim hack thinks pure aura skill beats me? Come at me.'
Close brawl vs. Somu Magong + Heupseong Daebeop? Music. Hwagyeong's ace, but outdated aura system beats me? Sure?
Ha-yeon lunged, snatching Geum Ra-geo's wrists. He bared yellow teeth, wrenching to engulf her tiny hands.
Mutual four-hand lock: internal clash.
Chimtogyeong.
Craaaack! Kwagak!
Waves and ice qi raged from gripped hands.