Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Pear Blossom (3)
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Man Chu's expression darkened as he read the letter.
"What's wrong?"
Lightning, who had been watching the messenger pigeon soaring into the sky, asked.
"The leader of the Yangtze Waterway Alliance is personally leading his elite forces out. They say Gunsan has been left completely empty."
Cheol Woo asked, chewing on a piece of dried meat.
"Gunsan? Oh, the pirates' main base?"
"Yes."
"Roughly how many are coming?"
"It doesn't specify an exact number, but with more than five ships on the move, there must be at least two or three hundred."
Cheol Woo's brow furrowed slightly at the unexpectedly large enemy force.
"What the hell? Why so many pirates?"
"That's just the number moving from their main base. If they've mobilized from the scattered water strongholds too, the total will be much higher."
"Hmph! Swarms of flies are still just flies."
Cheol Woo snorted dismissively.
"They're coming after us, right?"
Sima Geon asked.
"Probably."
"What about Hongik Hall? Where are those bastards?"
"They've joined up with the main force, apparently."
"Good. Any word on how far they've come?"
Man Chu checked the letter again.
"They say there's a high chance we'll encounter them near Wuhan's outskirts."
"Wuhan, huh."
Sima Geon fell deep into thought, and after waiting a moment, Cheol Woo asked,
"What're you thinking?"
"This ship. And the people on it."
Sima Geon glanced around as he continued.
"We're prepared for this anyway, but I hate dragging these folks into it. The pirates won't just target us."
"True. With them all swarming like this, they mean business."
"What's the nearest water stronghold from our position?"
"Water stronghold? Hold on."
At Sima Geon's question, Man Chu pulled a large sheet of paper from his robes. It was something they'd obtained from the Gwanggu branch office—a crude map centered on the Yangtze, depicting the major terrain around it. It was too rough to call a proper map, but it had the essential information.
"Before reaching Wuhan, there's a major tributary leading to a fairly large lake..."
Man Chu leaned in close to the smudged text and read haltingly.
"Wu... Wu Si Lake and Red Lotus Lake. There are a couple of water strongholds there. And beyond that, more lakes connect, with a few more strongholds if they go that far."
Lightning, peering over his shoulder at the map, wore an incredulous expression.
"What is it with all these damn lakes? And they're huge too. Why's it so damn complicated?"
"The Jiangnan region is famous for its waterways. This area especially."
"Ugh, look at this mess of channels. No wonder the pirates run wild. Even the authorities can't catch them."
Sima Geon slowly stepped away as the group counted the lakes with their fingers on the map.
"Where to?"
"The captain."
In response to Cheol Woo's question, Sima Geon headed toward the captain, who was inspecting the sails.
As Sima Geon approached, the captain visibly tensed.
It was only natural—the leader of the suspicious group that included veiled women was coming his way.
"What is it?"
The captain asked, his face stiff.
"I need to discuss something."
"Discuss?"
"I'd like to talk with the representative from the Nanjing Merchant Guild as well."
At the mention of the Nanjing Merchant Guild, the captain hesitated before signaling a nearby sailor.
The sailor went below deck, and soon after, Dam Po—the guild's representative—emerged with a man who looked like his bodyguard.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Sima Geon bowed lightly and got straight to the point.
"The leader of the Yangtze Waterway Alliance is heading this way with his men right now."
At those words, Dam Po, the captain, and even the sailors who had been eavesdropping discreetly all went pale.
"Wh-why would they...?"
Unlike Dam Po, who was half out of his mind, the captain—who had sailed the Yangtze through countless perils—kept his composure.
"Is this about Biwoong Stronghold?"
"No. Their target isn't the ship—it's us."
Sima Geon glanced back at his companions, still huddled over the map.
The revelation that the Yangtze Waterway Alliance leader was after Sima Geon and his group shocked everyone anew. They had known from the Biwoong Stronghold incident that these people were no ordinary folk, but they hadn't imagined they were big enough to draw out the alliance leader himself.
"M-may I ask what happened?"
The captain asked cautiously, but Sima Geon replied nonchalantly.
"We had a little run-in with Hongik Hall. Like shaking the grass and stirring up snakes."
The captain flinched at the mention of Hongik Hall.
The rumor that Hongik Hall had been smashed by mysterious figures had already spread like wildfire along the Yangtze waterways—a legless rumor that had traveled a thousand li.
'That wasn't just a little shake!'
Swallowing the words that rose to his throat, the captain couldn't hide his doubt at Sima Geon's casual attitude toward the matter.
The alliance leader was coming for revenge—how could he be so relaxed?
"Is that why you called us?"
Dam Po's voice carried a note of resentment, as if he thought they were doomed.
"Not the only reason."
Sima Geon smiled lightly and turned to the captain.
"What's the nearest port from here?"
The captain frowned in thought before shaking his head.
"No proper ports nearby that I recall. We'd have to go near Wuhan for anything decent."
"That might be too late."
There was a real risk of running into the Yangtze Waterway Alliance before reaching port.
"Do you know Wu Si Lake?"
"Of course. About thirty li upstream, there's a channel branching left."
"Drop us there, then."
"No port there."
"Get as close to the shore as you can. We'll handle getting to land."
"Agreed. That's doable."
Worried the captain might object, Dam Po raised his voice.
"Right, Captain?"
"Possible."
The captain nodded readily.
It wasn't anchoring awkwardly—just pulling near shore, nothing difficult.
"Once we're off, if you run into the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, tell them we went to attack the strongholds at Wu Si Lake. Or better yet, turn the ship around and lie low for a bit. They're after us, so they won't stick around long. Given the Biwoong business, I'd recommend the latter."
The captain glanced at Dam Po.
Dam Po pondered gravely.
They'd already suffered heavy losses from being stuck at Gwanggu for so long—he couldn't decide immediately.
"Take your time. We've got some distance yet. To Wu Si Lake's tributary, Captain. As fast as possible, for everyone's sake."
"Understood. We'll go full speed."
The captain nodded and turned to call his crew.
Sima Geon glanced at the still-hesitant Dam Po and headed toward the stern.
As he approached, the women enjoying the breeze went on alert.
"What is it...?"
Jin Lim, about to snap, caught Sima Geon's gaze and softened her tone.
Sima Geon ignored her and smiled at Neung Sohwa.
"You've probably heard the gist."
He'd felt her watching during his talk with the captain and was sure she'd overheard.
"Yes. I did."
"What do you plan to do?"
Neung Sohwa frowned at his question.
"What do you mean? This has nothing to do with us."
"You really think so?"
"What are you getting at?"
Edge crept into her voice.
"They're after us, true. But by now, word of Biwoong Stronghold has reached them too. What would you do? Let the ones who smashed your subordinates go free, or seek revenge?"
"That's..."
Neung Sohwa had no retort.
"How about getting off with us? If they turn the ship, you could stay aboard, no issue."
"Sounds like you're saying we have to get off if they don't."
"That'd be best."
"Do we really need to?"
Sima Geon chuckled at her almost arrogant tone.
"I can guess how strong you are. The Yangtze Waterway Alliance probably doesn't impress you. But what do you think happens to this ship and everyone on it in the process?"
"..."
"You think we're dodging them out of fear? Our destination was the alliance to begin with. Well, not exactly—as you heard, we're chasing Hongik Hall's leader, so if they've gone to the alliance... Anyway, point is, we don't want to cause trouble for others."
Neung Sohwa fell silent, pride keeping her quiet, then turned to Jin Lim.
"Pack our things."
"Got it."
Jin Lim, ears perked, replied instantly.
"Wise choice."
"Not because I'm scared of the Yangtze Waterway Alliance. Just don't want to be a burden, like you said."
As Neung Sohwa turned away curtly, her cherry-red lips flashed behind the fluttering veil. But more striking were the pear blossom embroidery on the veil and her sleeve.
Three pear blossoms—their meaning tugged at his memory, but he couldn't recall.
Sima Geon didn't force it.
"Haha! Thanks for the right call anyway."
"Don't mention it. It wasn't for your gratitude, so save it. Now, if you'd excuse..."
Neung Sohwa's words cut off abruptly.
Sima Geon spun around at the tremor in her eyes.
"Chief!"
Cheol Woo's shout came at the same time.
Far upstream, dots approached. No explanation needed.
Cheol Woo hurled his wine bottle and rushed over.
"Chief, looks like Yangtze Waterway Alliance bastards. Hey, why's the Beggar Clan intel so off? Weren't we meeting near Wuhan? Is this Wuhan?"
Man Chu flushed, unable to retort to Cheol Woo's gripe.
"Shut it. Kid's got no fault—why blame the innocent? And after all the Beggar Clan's helped."
"Still, this is too much. Sailor said it's half a day to Wuhan. Gap's way too big."
"Means they're moving fast. Drop it. Not important now."
Sima Geon silenced Cheol Woo's complaints and approached the panicking captain.
"Can you reach shore before they arrive?"
"N-no, impossible."
"Even at full effort?"
The captain shook his head grimly.
"Understood. Then do this: Focus on hugging the shore as close as possible. Evacuate everyone to the cabins, crew included."
"Y-you're going to fight? We'll surrender."
Dam Po, who had hurried over, stammered, face ashen with fear.
"Surrender if you want. Just don't order us to."
Despite the smile, Dam Po shuddered involuntarily.
"Doubt they'll accept it meekly, though."
"They will. We've never crossed them."
Feeling his life threatened, Dam Po tried to distance himself completely from Sima Geon's group.
Cheol Woo scowled at Dam Po's panic.
"Funny guy. Oi, scared of them but not us?"
Only then recalling Cheol Woo smashing the Biwoong pirates, Dam Po trembled.
"Th-that's not..."
"Forget it. Do as you want. We'll withdraw. Everyone, come on."
Sima Geon grabbed Cheol Woo's arm before he could explode, calling Lightning and Man Chu to the stern.
"Pardon the intrusion."
As Sima Geon asked Neung Sohwa's permission, Cheol Woo snorted.
"Who'd think this ship's theirs."
"Shut your mouth!"
Jin Lim bristled, and Cheol Woo rubbed his ear like a mosquito was buzzing.
"Haha! Tried to avoid it, but looks like we're troubling them after all."
"What's the plan?"
Sima Geon leaned on the railing, replying to Neung Sohwa,
"Play it by ear."