Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The River Overlord's Fish
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Creaak, creeak.
From a distance, the sound of rowing could be heard.
The boat wasn't fast. It approached by riding the current, propelled solely by the strength of the rower.
Mak Cheong-ju, a monster among monsters said to rule the Yangtze River.
But it was a little unexpected.
When listing the supreme lightness techniques for running on water, one never fails to mention Water-Skimming Flight, Crossing Rivers on Lily Pads, and Weightless Water-Treading.
They were flashy techniques, impossible to perform without reaching an absolute realm. Sometimes, supreme masters would show them off intentionally to intimidate their opponents.
However, Mak Cheong-ju didn't display any of them.
Despite being capable of walking on water or crossing by stepping on floating debris, he leisurely waited for the boat to arrive.
Then again, he probably had no reason to hurry.
The boat had likely been moving at this slow pace the entire time.
“You there, bring it closer. I'll get water on my shoes.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Even though the boat had already touched the riverbed and couldn't go any further, he grumbled to bring it closer to the water's edge. The middle-aged man who came with him answered respectfully and pushed hard against the ground with an oar.
Scraape.
With the sound of the small boat's keel scraping against the earth, the vessel was pulled onto the shore.
Stepping lightly onto the ground, Mak Cheong-ju handed the fishing rod slung over his shoulder to the middle-aged man, Cheon-hyu.
“Huh, what's this one doing here?”
He then noticed Wang Cheon writhing in pain on the ground and tilted his head in confusion.
Neung Un-bi, who had been preoccupied with hiding the Yellow Dragon Fish, had forgotten about Wang Cheon.
“Should I get rid of him?”
“Leave him. If he was left like that, there must be a reason.”
“Understood.”
Mak Cheong-ju and Cheon-hyu walked past Wang Cheon and approached the campfire where Neung Un-bi was.
“Let's see, which one of you is the Demonic Cult's Third Young Master, Neung Un-bi?”
As Mak Cheong-ju clasped his hands behind his back and scanned the gathered people with a smile, Neung Un-bi stepped forward.
“The third son of the Demonic Cult pays his respects to the Hero of the Yangtze, Chief Mak Cheong-ju.”
“Hoh?”
At Neung Un-bi's polite greeting, Mak Cheong-ju nodded, his face breaking into a wide smile.
“In terms of strength, that child over there seems much stronger, but I wasn't told it was a woman... so it must be you.”
“…”
At Mak Cheong-ju's words, Neung Un-bi glanced over at Hyang-i.
Should I have expected this?
Even though they were intentionally suppressing their auras, he had identified him and Hyang-i among the group at a single glance.
Above all, that relaxed demeanor.
He was dressed like an old man who made a living by fishing near the water, but his presence was so heavy that Neung Un-bi couldn't help but swallow dryly.
It was an inscrutable sense of pressure. They say that a veteran warrior possesses the power to intimidate others with just the atmosphere of accumulated years and experience…
Fortunately, however, he didn't feel any animosity from him.
Even though he must have seen that they were holding the bandits of the West River Fortress captive, he didn't fly into a rage like the King of the Green Forest, nor did he show any sign of looking down on Neung Un-bi for his young age.
Although he spoke informally, he was treating him with the respect due to the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult.
Furthermore, he hadn't come with a large fleet, but only with himself and a single escorting warrior.
In other words, it seemed a worrisome situation would not unfold. So, from now on, he just needed to soften the atmosphere with conversation and then discuss the business he had in mind.
If he saw profit in it, he would join hands with him. Even if not, there was a high chance he would let them go safely. No matter who he was, he couldn't ignore the name of the Demonic Cult.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to make a good first impression.
“Hoh, you were grilling fish?”
“Before the elder arrived, we heard rumors that the fish of the Yellow River were a delicacy, so we took the liberty of tasting some while we waited. My apologies.”
“Heh heh, this one… You have a way with words. Does this mean Cult Leader Dam taught you well?”
“You praise me too much. Even without my master's teachings, I have always respected the Chief's name…”
“Respected, you say… Heh heh, even if it's just flattery, it's nice to hear.”
“I mean it sincerely.”
Neung Un-bi emphasized the sincerity of his words with his expression.
“Sincerely? Keh keh, that Gang fellow didn't say so.”
“Pardon? Gang… who might that be?”
“Haven't you already met?”
“…?”
“Jong Ri-gang, I mean. Jong Ri-gang.”
“Ah! You mean the King of the Green Forest?”
“King? What king? He's just a mountain bandit…”
Mak Cheong-ju chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
They said the two were friends… Seeing him diss him so casually, it must be true.
River bandits and mountain bandits. Everyone assumes they are rivals, living separated by mountains and water, but it seems they are actually close.
But if this is the case… does this mean the representatives of the Three Calamities of the World have all gathered?
“But it seems the King of the Green Forest spoke ill of me.”
“Oh yes, he wrote every curse imaginable in his letter.”
“C-Curses?”
“Of course. He said he was dumbfounded by how brazen a young pup you were, and how you treated your elders with such disrespect.”
“Pardon?”
“He said you dodged his blows several times?”
“Ah! That's…”
“Tsk tsk, kids these days don't know how to respect their elders.”
“…”
“You should know how to play along and take a hit or two.”
“…I-Is that so?”
Neung Un-bi laughed awkwardly and mumbled.
Take a hit? If I'd done that, would I be here meeting you now?
I'd have long been debating my earthly sins with King Yama.
But Mak Cheong-ju's face was full of laughter, so it was fine.
That was a genuine laugh, the kind one makes when in a good mood. He didn't think too badly of him.
Alright, now it was time to get to the main point.
And in times like these, it was best to be direct.
If he beat around the bush and ended up spouting nonsense, who knew how Mak Cheong-ju would react?
“Actually, I…”
“Aren't you going to offer me a seat?”
“…Pardon?”
“Do you plan to keep an old man with bad joints standing? Goodness, you're as ill-mannered as I've heard.”
“Ah! My apologies. I was getting ahead of myself. Please, sit here.”
“You should have done so sooner.”
As Neung Un-bi brought over a log to serve as a chair, Mak Cheong-ju wore a pleased expression.
Someone in the position of Third Young Master should be used to ordering people around, yet he brought the chair himself?
This was a meeting between the Demonic Cult and the river bandits, so they could be considered equals, but Neung Un-bi was treating him as an elder.
It was a good meeting.
Perhaps because he had already heard praise about him from the King of the Green Forest, Mak Cheong-ju found Neung Un-bi's actions and words quite agreeable.
“You sit there too. Let's talk slowly.”
“Yes.”
As Neung Un-bi sat down, Mak Cheong-ju glanced to the side and reached out his hand.
Neung Un-bi thought he would use a technique to grab it from afar, but he didn't hesitate to move himself.
“But will this ordinary white liquor be alright?”
“Why? Did you think I'd only drink fine, specially prepared wine?”
“Because you are the Overlord of the Yangtze and a titan representing the Unorthodox factions of the martial world.”
“Keh keh, you punk. Even if that's true, what changes?”
“…”
“It's all just empty formality and pretense. Drinking fine wine or wearing fine clothes doesn't change what's inside.”
“…”
“Besides, things that are deliberately put on always show their true colors eventually, don't they? I like things as they are. So you too, don't focus so much on appearances. When you try too hard to put on a show, you're bound to make mistakes.”
“Those are wise words. I will take them to heart.”
“Even if they're empty words, they're nice to hear.”
Neung Un-bi felt like he finally understood his personality.
He was a man who was always sincere.
His words, his actions, even the clothes he wore.
Looking at him, who would think he was the Overlord of the Yangtze?
Furthermore, despite having power, he didn't use it carelessly.
He was like a water lily floating on the surface.
He was a man who lived according to the flow.
Extremely unpretentious. Without trying to go against it.
Suddenly, he thought that such an appearance suited him even more as a supreme master.
“By the way, there are no snacks?”
“Ah, that's right. I was so surprised by the Chief's sincerity that I didn't think of it.”
“Enough with the nonsense. Bring out the fish you were planning to grill.”
“Pardon?”
“Am I wrong? You've set up racks on both sides of the campfire, and judging by the pool of blood and the large amount of guts, you must have caught a pretty big one.”
“…”
At those words, Neung Un-bi was momentarily flustered, but then he felt relieved.
Fortunately, it seemed he hadn't noticed it was a Yellow Dragon Fish.
Still, if Mak Cheong-ju started going on about it being the Dragon King's son like the others, there was no telling what would happen to this good atmosphere. So, for now, he had to keep the Yellow Dragon Fish out of it…
“Actually, we've already eaten all the fish we caught. There was some meat in the fortress's storeroom, shall I grill that instead?”
“Oh, what a shame. With that many guts, it must have been a rare catch… I've never had a chance to eat one that big myself.”
“Yes, it was quite large.”
As Mak Cheong-ju smacked his lips in disappointment, Neung Un-bi laughed awkwardly and scratched his head.
But for some reason, as Mak Cheong-ju stared at the pile of guts, his face suddenly hardened.
His gaze turned icy cold.
The atmosphere had changed completely. Neung Un-bi, his face tense, turned his head.
What is it? Why the sudden change?
Don't tell me he's reached a state where he can identify a fish just by looking at its guts?
But just then, something glinted from within the pile of guts, announcing its presence.
Is that… a scale?
In that moment, Jeong Hyo-sang's words flashed through Neung Un-bi's mind.
-The scales are quite thick. I'll sort them out and keep them separately.
Damn it all…
Of all things, why was that there?
Mak Cheong-ju's aura was ominous.
His widened eyes were now bloodshot.
Neung Un-bi swallowed hard and asked cautiously.
“Um, Chief? Is something wrong…?”
“…”
Without answering Neung Un-bi's question, Mak Cheong-ju slowly rose to his feet.
And walked closer.
His fingers trembling…
Damn it. It seems he recognized it after all.
What am I supposed to do if he actually believes the superstition about it being the Dragon King's son?
Don't sailors deify them to avoid disaster during their voyages, holding annual rites and even offering tributes?
Just in case, Neung Un-bi cautiously stepped back to create some distance. Just then, Mak Cheong-ju picked up the scale.
“The one you caught… did it have yellow eyes and jet-black pupils?”
“Ah, well… I didn't get a close look at its eyes…”
“Did it, perhaps, have two long whiskers next to its mouth?”
“D-Do fish grow whiskers?”
“Wasn't it about five feet long and weighed around sixty catties?”
“…”
He trembled as he asked the questions…
Neung Un-bi could no longer answer.
It was all correct. The fact that he knew its length and even its weight meant he was already certain.
“It's the one they call the Yellow Dragon Fish.”
“…”
“I gave it that name myself.”
“Y-You did? I had no idea… Perhaps you've mistaken it for another fish…?”
“How long do you think I've lived on this Yellow River?”
“…”
“There is only one Yellow Dragon Fish.”
Neung Un-bi realized he was truly screwed.
Of all things, he had caught and was about to grill the Dragon King's son that this man had personally named and cherished…
What was he to do?
Neung Un-bi's eyes darted left and right, searching for an escape route.
“I was planning to catch that bastard and have a grand feast with it!”
“…Pardon?”
In that moment of absurdity, his tension vanished, and he felt the strength drain from his entire body.
He was planning to do what?
If he wanted to catch it for a feast… that meant it wasn't the Dragon King's son, just a fish he wanted to catch!
Then why the hell did he build up all that tension!? My heart almost shriveled up!
Still, what a relief. It wasn't something like the Dragon King's son. If he apologized quickly, he might be able to defuse the situation.
“My apologies. I caught it first without realizing. What's done is done, so why don't we take this opportunity to have that grand feast you wanted… together.”
What's this? This cold gaze?
And what's with this immense aura growing from his body?
Feeling the thick killing intent in Mak Cheong-ju's eyes as he stared at him, Neung Un-bi clamped his mouth shut and blinked.
“Since you caught my target, the Yellow Dragon Fish… I'll catch you and gut you instead!”
“Ah…? You crazy bastard!”
What kind of logic is that!
But whether it made sense or not was a problem for later.
Before Neung Un-bi's eyes now, the unpretentious and sincere old river bandit was gone.
One of the Three Calamities of the Murim.
He wasn't called that for nothing. He was just crazy in a slightly different way than others…