Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Flying Bear Stronghold (2)
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"Merchant ship ahead!"
The lookout perched on the cliff shouted at the top of his lungs, and the Flying Bear Stronghold pirates, who had been hiding along the tributary leading to the Yangtze for a brief rest, sprang into action.
"Hurry and inform the chief."
Deputy Leader Deng Ja-geol ordered one of his subordinates.
"No need."
Deng Ja-gon, who had gone below deck for a nap, emerged yawning expansively.
"What ship is it?"
"We haven't confirmed yet."
"Then let's go check it out."
Deng Ja-geol nodded and barked orders to his men.
"Weigh anchor!"
The anchor came up swiftly, and the ship began to move slowly.
"Why'd you nap so long, anyway?"
"Heh heh heh! Sorry about that. The booze from earlier was stronger than it looked. Didn't even drink much, but the buzz hit hard."
Deng Ja-gon slung an arm around Deng Ja-geol's shoulder with a laugh.
"Did you contact Hall Leader Gwang, by the way?"
"He'll catch up soon. Ah, speak of the devil—he's here."
Deng Ja-geol pointed upstream to a ship emerging into view. It was smaller than theirs but sleeker, promising much greater speed.
"Chief, I heard you've spotted a merchant ship."
Vanguard Wolf Hall Leader Gwang Hae, who had pulled up alongside them, shouted while brandishing his wolf-fang mace.
Though it had been ages since he last led a raid from the stronghold, the currents were still too fierce for comfortable sailing. After countless misses, they'd finally found real prey, and Gwang Hae couldn't hide his excitement.
"They're sailing in these rapids, so wherever this merchant ship's from, they must be in a real hurry."
"Heh heh heh! That just means there's more to take."
"Couldn't agree more. Well, shall we?"
"I'll take the lead."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Gwang Hae signaled his men astern. Moments later, the distance between the parallel ships began to widen dramatically.
Deng Ja-gon smacked his lips, watching their ship skim across the water like a bird on the wind.
"Fast as ever. I've been riding her since I was a kid, and no ship on the Yangtze beats Wind and Snow."
"What's that supposed to mean? Azure Heaven's a fine vessel too."
"Who's arguing? She's just slow. You know, maybe it's time to swap her for the flagship spot with Wind and Snow."
Having commanded Wind and Snow before succeeding his father as chief, Deng Ja-geol had a deep attachment to her.
"Please, I'm begging you. Make it happen."
Deng Ja-geol clasped his hands in mock prayer, inwardly coveting Azure Heaven.
Deng Ja-gon burst into booming laughter at his brother's theatrics, then strode to the bow and bellowed,
"Can't you see the merchant ship waiting for us? How long you gonna crawl like slugs? Pick up the pace!"
"River pirates!"
"The pirates are coming!"
The crew's cries threw the deck into chaos.
The captain, rushing over at the report, wore a crestfallen expression. The merchants looked anxious, while the escorts checked their weapons with grim resolve. They kept their composure, accustomed to such encounters. But the travelers, facing pirates for the first time, screamed in terror, convinced their lives were over.
"River pirates, huh."
Sima Geon flashed a sinister grin at the two ships closing in fast.
"Yangtze River Waterway Alliance goons?"
Cheol Woo sidled up, taking a swig from his flask.
"Who knows. But it'd be a safe bet."
"Heh heh heh! Whether they're here to rob the ship or gunning for us, either way, this'll be fun."
Cheol Woo drained his flask, his face alight with glee.
"What now, boss? Wipe 'em all out?"
"Naturally."
Sima Geon nodded as if it were obvious, but Manchu shook his head gravely.
"Not so fast."
"What nonsense is this?"
Brain Lightning jabbed him in the ribs, his face screaming to stay out of it.
"Better to watch and wait."
"Got a reason?"
Sima Geon sensed there was more, given Manchu rarely pushed back so firmly.
"Overheard the crew talking. Ships sailing the Yangtze have their own rules with the pirates."
"Rules?"
"Yeah. Especially big merchant fleets—they've got unwritten agreements with the pirates."
"What bullshit. So what's the deal?"
Cheol Woo snorted derisively.
"Pay the toll, and they leave the ship, crew, and cargo alone. Paid ships get a pass from other pirates too."
"And the pirates actually honor that?"
"The ones under the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance do."
"What if they don't?"
"If you were the alliance leader, you'd just let it slide?"
Cheol Woo paused, then grinned.
"I'd smash their skulls."
"Exactly."
"How do they tell who's paid?"
"They issue a token. Oh, and get this—this ship's already paid up."
"According to the rules, we should pass without issue. No need to pick a fight."
"Isn't being pirates reason enough?"
Cheol Woo still itched to slaughter them. Rules meant nothing to him.
"Fine, say we fight and crush them. What then?"
"Peaceful river, no pirates... Ah, right. Nah, it'd be crawling with them everywhere."
"Precisely. Doesn't matter to us, but this ship? It'll have problems. They need the Yangtze for business. Even knowing we're outsiders, they'll want someone to take out their grief on after losing comrades."
"Fair point, but..."
Half-convinced, Cheol Woo turned to Sima Geon.
"What do you think, boss?"
Sima Geon countered with a question for Manchu.
"What if the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance vanished? Still worry about reprisals?"
Manchu stared at him, startled. Even Cheol Woo nodding along like it was brilliant was beyond normal logic. But having seen their power, he knew he couldn't stay "normal" either.
"Probably. The alliance falling doesn't wipe out every pirate on the Yangtze. Their allies could still be around."
"Not something to take lightly, then."
"Unless you're hunting down every last pirate to exterminate them—which we're not—since they've paid, best to let it slide."
"Got it. We'll follow your advice. Assuming they're not after us."
Sima Geon smiled faintly and nodded just as the ship halted, anchor dropping.
The pirates' ships pulled up on either side, timed perfectly.
"What the hell? Pirates everywhere. Not like they're a pack of dogs."
Cheol Woo chuckled bitterly at the horde waiting for the bridges, easily seventy or eighty strong, howling excitedly.
"Doesn't look like they're targeting us."
"Deputy."
Brain Lightning nudged Cheol Woo.
"Yeah?"
"Maybe head to the cabin?"
"What're you on about?"
"With you here, trouble's bound to brew."
"You got wax in your ears? We agreed to play it cool."
"Some faces just scream 'fight me.' Yours does, even standing still."
"Mine?"
Cheol Woo grinned rottenly, ready to grab him by the collar depending on the answer.
Brain Lightning backed off without replying.
As Cheol Woo reached out, Sima Geon's voice cut in.
"Enough. Cheol Woo, do as Brain Lightning says."
"Boss!"
Cheol Woo gaped at him in disbelief.
Sima Geon averted his eyes and murmured,
"We're letting this slide quietly. No need to stir the pot."
"I'm the pot-stirrer?"
Cheol Woo looked utterly wronged.
"That's how those types are. They pick on anyone tough-looking if numbers are on their side. Just go inside. It's not fear of shit—it's avoiding the filth."
Manchu grabbed Cheol Woo's arm with a grin, then turned to Brain Lightning.
"You're no saint either. Come with?"
"Me? You're joking."
"Does it sound like a joke? Quit yapping and let's go."
Cheol Woo snagged Brain Lightning's arm as he tried to flee and dragged him into the cabin.
Soon after they vanished below, grapnel lines hooked over both sides. Wooden bridges quickly linked the ships.
Despite the bridges, the pirates—who'd seemed ready to swarm—held back oddly.
The reason became clear soon enough.
The Flying Bear Stronghold pirates waited until Chief Deng Ja-gon crossed leisurely, hands behind his back, before charging over like madmen and seizing the deck in seconds.
They immediately headed for the cabins.
"I'm counting to ten. Come out on your own. Get caught hiding, and I'll send you straight to King Yama."
Brandishing weapons and cackling among themselves, they cut an intimidating figure for any ordinary folk.
"Why'd we even come down?"
Cheol Woo grumbled, and Manchu bowed his head sheepishly.
"Sorry."
"Not your fault. Just overlooked the obvious. Rules be damned—I'd search the cabins first too. Anyway, out we go. Don't wanna meet King Yama 'cause we're late. Ugh, who could move from fear?"
Cheol Woo stomped out dramatically, followed by giggling Brain Lightning and a secretly sighing Manchu hurrying after.
Faced with the pirates' threats, everyone from the cabins gathered on deck, trembling in fear—except Cheol Woo and Brain Lightning, who sauntered out bickering.
"Shut your mouths, all of you."
Gwang Hae slammed his mace on the deck, silencing the clamor instantly.
"Good."
He smirked smugly, nodding.
It seemed he relished demonstrating that all their lives were in his hands.
"No need to be so scared. We don't like blood. But we're not afraid of spilling it either. Cooperate properly, and you'll all go home safe... What?"
Gwang Hae scowled at the middle-aged man stepping forward before he finished.
"I'm Captain Gwan Ji-heung. We've already paid the toll."
"What crap is that?"
"Check the token. We paid the Yangtze heroes just recently."
Gwan Ji-heung handed over a scrap of cloth.
The red fabric, about a foot wide, bore a crude black skull gripping a sword.
"Hand it over."
Not Gwang Hae, but Deng Ja-gon snatched it.
"Whose mark is that?"
Cheol Woo whispered to Manchu.
"No idea. But if they've got a token, they paid up. See that guy's face?"
As Manchu said, Deng Ja-gon's expression soured upon inspection.
"Black Bone Stronghold. Those bastards beat us to it..."
He ground his teeth.
With toll paid, they had to let them go. That was the rule, and he had no qualms—except the toll-takers were the Black Bone Stronghold, rivals he despised.
Clutching the token, Deng Ja-gon hesitated. But dreaming of leading the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance one day, he couldn't break the rules.
"No choice. Pull back—"
"Hold on."
Deng Ja-geol snatched the token and cut him off.
"What the hell?"
Deng Ja-gon's eyes sharpened.
No matter how close the brothers, such defiance before everyone undermined his authority.
"Brother, something's off about this."
Deng Ja-geol whispered in his ear.
"What?"
"It's last time's token. This period's supposed to be yellow, not red."
Deng Ja-gon's eyes curved like a bow.
Every New Year at Gunsan, the stronghold leaders set the toll token color. To prevent merchant forgeries, colors changed biweekly and varied by sector, making the system labyrinthine. Even strongholds kept ledgers.
"You sure?"
"Positive. Black Bone Stronghold idiots forgot to update the color."
"Heh heh heh! Perfect. Mistakes come with consequences."
Grinning broadly, Deng Ja-gon whirled toward Gwan Ji-heung, who already sensed doom, and tore the token to shreds in one go.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Gwan Ji-heung's eyes bulged.
"Sorry to say, but it's fake."
Deng Ja-gon scattered the scraps into the air, laughing like a demon.