Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Flying Bear Stronghold (1)
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"We've got their tail."
Wang Chuk leaped up from his seat with a cheer. Chunks of food from his mouth sprayed everywhere.
Unlike Noe Jeon, who quickly covered his bowl, a piece of Wang Chuk's spewed food slyly landed in Cheol Woo's rice bowl.
"Damn it!"
After days of crossing mountains and smashing the Hongik Group, he hadn't eaten properly. Cheol Woo's face crumpled as he inhaled the feast like a storm.
"What the hell are you doing in front of sacred food...?"
Before his anger could erupt, Sima Geon's question came first.
"Where are they? Still hanging around Poyang Lake?"
"No. As expected, they've left Poyang Lake. Their ships were spotted at Jiujiang."
"Heading that way, as we thought?"
"Yes. Reports say they're moving upstream toward Dongting Lake, where the Yangtze Waterway Alliance is based."
"Perfect. No need to poke around useless spots."
Cheol Woo brushed off the debris from Wang Chuk's mouth with a scowl and resumed shoveling food with his chopsticks.
After letting the Hongik Group's chief escape, Sima Geon and his crew had agonized over how to track him. If he headed straight for the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, great—but scouring vast Poyang Lake or hiding in nearby water strongholds would drag things out and leave them in a bind.
Just as they brainstormed angles with Wang Chuk's advice, the Black Dragon Ship slipped out of Poyang Lake and snagged on the Beggars' Sect's info network.
"The Yangtze may be vast, but the Beggars' Sect's eyes cover the four seas. Once it's in sight, no escaping."
Wang Chuk brimmed with pride in his sect's intelligence.
"Thanks. This is all thanks to you, Brother Wang."
Sima Geon offered a sincere toast.
"Hahaha! No big deal. We help each other out."
Though orders from above and Manchu's request played a part, Wang Chuk had taken a huge liking to Sima Geon and his group since they wrecked the Hongik Group. He was helping them to the best of his ability.
"Oh, and Chuya. When we hit Jiujiang, ask the local branch for extra help. It's already arranged, but a personal request from you carries weight."
"Got it."
Manchu replied without pausing as he poured booze down his throat.
"And for heaven's sake, ease up on the drinking. You were bad enough before, but this is ridiculous..."
Wang Chuk trailed off, staring at the empty booze jar Manchu had drained.
"By the way, Division Leader."
Noe Jeon called to Sima Geon.
"Thanks to the Beggars' Sect, we won't lose them. But how do we travel? Overland along the river, or by boat?"
"Why bother with the hard overland route? It'd take way longer. Let's just take a boat."
Sima Geon glanced at Manchu, who shrugged it off.
"Boat all the way. Overland would be much slower."
"Agreed. Sure, lightfoot or horses might close the gap, but no need for the hassle. Slower to react in a pinch, too. From Jiujiang by boat, three days tops. Best option."
With Wang Chuk backing Manchu, Sima Geon decided on the spot.
"Done. Head to Jiujiang ASAP, then boat it."
As the impatient Sima Geon moved to stand, Cheol Woo grabbed his wrist.
"Eat first!"
Fifty li upstream from Jiujiang toward the Yangtze's upper reaches lay Wu Xue Valley, flanked by sheer cliffs.
The Flying Bear Stronghold, under the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, perched on one of the river's tributaries leading there. In scale and strength, it ranked among the alliance's top five water gangs.
Its chief, Deung Ja Gon, barely in his mid-thirties, wielded top-tier martial arts and leadership that earned him fame. Alliance elders even eyed him as the next alliance leader.
As the blazing sun dipped westward, sweat pouring like rain, Gyu Pyeong staggered to the Flying Bear Stronghold's main gate.
A regular courier for the Chueo Party, he passed inside without hassle and was ushered to the inner quarters. There, he met Deung Cheol—the former chief and the stronghold's elder statesman.
"W-what did you just say?"
Gyu Pyeong's voice trembled involuntarily.
"He went out foraging."
"Damn it! When?"
Deung Cheol's eyes twitched at Gyu Pyeong's tone, but he kept smiling.
"This morning. Stuck indoors during the bad weather, then bolted like an angry buffalo the moment it cleared."
"Ah!"
Gyu Pyeong clawed at his hair in agony.
He'd drunk all night at the brothel, then spent days in passion with a courtesan he'd groomed with care—oversleeping as a result. He missed checking the urgent pigeon message that arrived at dawn. Marked utmost urgency.
'Booze—no, women are my curse.'
No excuses held up; it was his fault. Given the stakes, he couldn't fathom the punishment. His head might roll.
Deung Cheol eyed Gyu Pyeong calmly, then probed.
"What's the issue? Urgent message for the chief?"
"Uh? Well..."
Gyu Pyeong hesitated, and Deung Cheol's gaze sharpened.
"Gyu Pyeong, right?"
"Yes."
"I want to race to Gunsan right now and snap that incompetent Ga Hyu's neck for botching his men's training. What do you think?"
Chills raced over Gyu Pyeong's skin.
It sounded like a joke, but he knew it wasn't.
Deung Cheol, the Yangtze Butcher, had lost an arm to legendary escort Yi Mu Jin of Yongseung Agency but was still the type to follow through.
"S-sorry!"
Gyu Pyeong dropped to his knees, kowtowing desperately.
"Sorry for what?"
"Pardon?"
"What are you sorry for?"
Already failing orders from HQ, Gyu Pyeong's mind blanked white under the veiled threat. He just kept bowing.
"Sorry. So sorry, sir."
"Tsk tsk. Then don't do things worth apologizing for."
Deung Cheol placed his foot gently on Gyu Pyeong's head and coaxed.
"What message for the chief? Seeing you like this, it must be big. I'll check later, so no lies."
Under the subtle menace, Gyu Pyeong spilled the pigeon orders without a second thought.
"...That's why I rushed here."
Deung Cheol listened silently, then lifted his foot.
"So, this Sima Geon wrecked the Hongik Group and is chasing their fleeing chief. Overland or river unknown, but he's a monster—don't engage, just hunker down."
"Y-yes."
"But you boozed and whored all night, delaying a message you should've delivered ages ago. Putting my son in danger."
"K-kill me."
"Fine."
Deung Cheol stomped down. Gyu Pyeong's skull burst with a gruesome crack.
Blood and brains soaked his instep, but Deung Cheol didn't blink.
"Someone outside? Prep for march—now!"
Roaring like thunder, Deung Cheol bolted out, his mind filled only with his two sons' bright smiles as they left for foraging.
Sima Geon's crew blew into Jiujiang like the wind and lucked into a boat right away. A merchant ship from Nanjing to Yiyang, grounded by recent storms.
Not just cargo—it took passengers for a fee, practically a passenger liner.
"Weather's great, breeze is cool, all good—but this boat's slow as hell. Why's it rocking so much?"
Perched at the bow, Cheol Woo sipped Manchu's booze and hummed, griping at the sluggish vessel.
"Tailwind, but the current's fierce. Crew said they usually don't sail in this."
"Really? Why bother?"
"Merchant ship. Money on the line. Already way past deadline—big losses."
"Their problem. Heh heh! We get a comfy ride to Dongting Lake."
Cheol Woo and Manchu clinked bottles and chugged competitively.
"Ahh! Hits the spot!"
"Heh, good stuff."
Unlike the giggling duo sharing drinks, Noe Jeon had gone quiet awhile back.
Cheol Woo nudged him with his foot. Noe Jeon stared blankly at one spot.
"What're you gawking at?"
"Huh?"
Noe Jeon startled, head whipping around. Cheol Woo narrowed his eyes.
"What spooked you?"
Cheol Woo matched Noe Jeon's gaze and slowly turned.
Opposite them: ladies enjoying the breeze casually.
Clad head-to-toe in snow-white robes, faces half-veiled in pinkish silk—they seemed surrounded by falling petals.
Cheol Woo ogled blankly, then smacked Noe Jeon's head.
"You punk! Hogging this view?"
"Ow! I just noticed too."
Noe Jeon rubbed his head, protesting, but Cheol Woo ignored him.
"Bull. Who'd believe that? Pervert."
"Not just Brother Noe Jeon. Look—everyone's losing it."
Manchu was right. Helmsmen, merchants hauling cargo, even their escorts—all stealing glances.
"Pretty, sure, but there's this aura. Untouchable vibe."
"Yeah. They peek, but no one approaches."
Cheol Woo grabbed their napes roughly.
"Ack!"
"What?"
Cheol Woo shoved his face in Noe Jeon's.
"How long you gonna leer like that? Manchu's one thing—you should know better. Can't tell? They're martial artists. High-level ones."
"Ow, duh! Not just that—something else... Right, halo! Like a halo."
"Halo? Buddha now?"
Cheol Woo shook Noe Jeon's neck in disbelief.
"Maybe it is a halo."
Sima Geon, leaning at the bow silent till now, murmured poetically.
"What? Boss spouting nonsense too?"
Cheol Woo scowled.
Sima Geon just smiled faintly, his eyes drifting not to the bubbly ladies, but the serene one seated calmly. Coincidentally—or not—her gaze met his too.