Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Yangtze Blood Battle (1)
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"Handled it clean."
Even as he drew all the astonished gazes from those gathered on the deck, Cheol Woo showed no hesitation.
He slipped into the clothes handed over by Manchu and pointed at the drifting dolphin carcass with a grin.
"That bastard threw me off for a moment, but as you can see, the end result speaks for itself."
"Good work."
Sima Geon let out a hollow chuckle as he spoke.
Dealing with the enemy was a given, but even he hadn't imagined they'd show up riding a dolphin.
"Those water bandits put up a decent fight. If I'd sent that guy out there, it might've gotten dicey."
At Cheol Woo's words, Noe Jeon bristled.
"No way. Against mere water bandits? Aren't you underestimating me a bit?"
Cheol Woo pointed at the dolphin's corpse.
"Think you could've handled that?"
"Well..."
Noe Jeon trailed off, unable to give a straight answer.
Who would even think to fight a dolphin?
It defied common sense, and even if the chance arose, anyone sane would steer clear.
"One of those water bandit scum was riding that thing around, attacking from it. Honestly, at first I was baffled and caught off guard. I mean, who the hell tames something like that and rides it into battle?"
Everyone listening nodded in unison.
"But who am I? I just..."
"Enough."
Sensing Cheol Woo's tale dragging on, Sima Geon cut him off.
"Everyone, head inside to the cabins. They've seen their first attack fail—they'll come at us in full force soon."
"Come on, everyone, move it. Don't linger out here and get hurt."
As Sima Geon called out, the captain raised his voice too, and the group hurried into the cabins.
"Captain, you should go in too."
"I've got to man the helm. That's the only way we make it to shore."
"Right, of course. We'll leave it to you."
As Sima Geon urged the captain, Cheol Woo shook out his wet hair wildly and asked,
"By the way, Boss, do we really need to move the ship?"
"What're you talking about?"
"Even if we do, it doesn't look like we'll slip their encirclement."
"We have to try. They've got numbers, and there might be more freaks like that last one. If we get close to shore, even if the ship sinks, it won't be a big deal."
"Fair point."
The captain nodded in agreement with Sima Geon's explanation and stepped back.
Sima Geon scanned the surroundings.
Apart from the captain at the helm, the two crew helping him, and Neung So Hwa's group across the way, everyone else on deck had retreated to the cabins.
"Looks like they're sticking around."
At Noe Jeon's comment, Cheol Woo snorted.
"They must be pretty confident. Whatever."
Cheol Woo brushed it off like it was nothing, but Noe Jeon caught the subtle spark of rivalry in his tone.
'Heh heh heh! After hearing she's stronger than the North Heaven Sword Demon, it's no wonder he's itching for a fight.'
The North Heaven Sword Demon had once bested Cheol Woo in the past. With Sima Geon declaring Neung So Hwa superior, it was only natural for Cheol Woo's competitive fire to ignite.
"Looks like it failed."
Gazing at the merchant ship through a crude thousand-li mirror, Ga Hyu reported glumly.
A few leaders like Yoo Ak and Cho Su had anticipated failure after Yu Wol's warning, but the rest couldn't hide their shock.
The White Dolphin Squad's utter defeat in the water—where they were invincible—was unprecedented.
"What now?"
"No question—issue the attack order. Hit them all at once and finish it."
"I'll lead the vanguard."
Deung Cheol, who'd been itching for the moment to strike, brandished his axe and bellowed.
"Make it so."
Yoo Ak readily approved. He worried a bit about Deung Cheol's vengeance clouding his judgment, but few matched his skill.
"They're trying to flee."
At Ga Hyu's shout, Yoo Ak eyed the merchant ship closely. Sure enough, its bow was veering toward shore.
"Heading for land, huh."
"Think they'll make it? With Cheon Rang Do's eyes blazing like that?"
Cho Su shook his head skeptically.
Song Bo of Cheon Rang Do—one of the ten elders practically running the Yangtze Waterway Alliance under the Alliance Leader—was infamous for his savage temper.
"They won't break through easily."
Yoo Ak agreed.
Listening from nearby, Yu Wol thought differently.
'They're underestimating him way too much.'
She recalled the Heavenly Sword Ship cleaved in two with a single strike. She'd have to step forward.
"They might break through. We need to hurry."
Yu Wol's warning drew displeased looks from the leaders around Yoo Ak. But he doted on her and waved it off lightly.
"Speak your piece. I'd chase them anyway, but you wouldn't pipe up without reason, right?"
"Remember what I told you last night?"
"Refresh my memory."
"I said that in escaping Hong Ik Bang, one strike from him sank the ship tailing us. Nothing that terrifying since..."
Yu Wol cut off abruptly as Yoo Ak raised a hand.
"I remember. If you're bringing it up again, it must've been something else. But you're overlooking one thing."
Yoo Ak's gaze shifted to the ship blocking the merchant vessel's path to shore.
"Unlike Hong Ik Bang's ship that got obliterated in one hit, that one's got Cheon Rang Do aboard. They might not stop it perfectly, but they won't lose the ship without a fight. Temperamental as he is, he's not that incompetent."
Yu Wol's stony expression didn't soften, and Yoo Ak burst out laughing.
"Like I said yesterday, I'm dying to see this guy you rate so highly. What're you waiting for? Sound the attack."
At Yoo Ak's command, Ga Hyu signaled a subordinate with a massive drumstick in hand.
Dung! Dung! Dung!
As the drum echoed across the Yangtze, the Waterway Alliance ships surged forward in unison.
"Here they come."
Sima Geon eyed the approaching bandit vessels.
Their own ship had already turned toward shore and was underway.
"What about that one?"
Cheol Woo pointed at the ship blocking the pass.
Despite the attack order, it hadn't budged—like they figured just holding the choke point was enough.
Sima Geon's reply was curt.
"We break through."
The gap between the two ships narrowed rapidly.
Alliance ships pressed in from every side but weren't an immediate threat.
"We'll collide at this rate."
As the distance shrank to under twenty zhang, the captain cried out anxiously.
Arrows rained from the blocking ship like hail. Yet it held position, as if willing to take the hit.
"Captain, don't sweat it—just keep going. Haven't these idiots heard what happened to Hong Ik Bang's ship? No learning curve."
Cheol Woo snapped a intact sail pole and yelled.
The captain started to chew him out but clamped his mouth shut.
Sima Geon, who'd stepped back from the bow, suddenly charged and leaped into the air.
His group had seen it before and barely reacted—though Manchu watched with eager eyes.
The gaping captain, two crew, and women steeling for battle gawked in shock at Sima Geon's move. Even Neung So Hwa stirred.
As Sima Geon arced through the sky, Three Venerables One Heart Technique power erupted from his dantian.
Woooong!
A majestic resonance hummed from the Heavenly Demon Ring—now the Heavenly Demon Sword—as its massive blade surged forth.
"That's—!"
Neung So Hwa's exclamation burst out as Sima Geon, descending in a gentle curve, swung the Heavenly Demon Sword vertically downward.
Blade aura infused with his full power plunged toward the blocking bandit ship.
"Damn it!"
Song Bo of Cheon Rang Do, witnessing the strike, hardened his face gravely.
A slash that could cleave the world in two.
He'd scoffed at Yu Wol's warning to avoid a head-on clash, dismissing it as exaggeration to cover their failure. Now he realized his grave error.
'No exaggeration—she undersold it!'
No dodging it.
To block the pass—or survive—they had to hold.
Song Bo gripped his jet-black wolf-emblazoned sword carefully, then unleashed his ultimate technique against the oncoming blade aura.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
The massive impact flung Song Bo back, vomiting blood, unable to fully withstand it.
He'd saved the ship at the cost of his life. Damage radiated from his spot, but unlike Hong Ik Bang's total ruin, it held.
But it wasn't over.
As Sima Geon descended post-strike, Cheol Woo's severed mast arrived beneath his feet.
Stepping onto it like he'd planned, Sima Geon leaped again, descending like a celestial god and swinging once more.
"Ah!"
Song Bo, slumped in a deck corner, watched in despair before squeezing his eyes shut.
Countless rushed to block in his stead. But none matched the Thunderbolt Fury Blood Sword that destroyed all in its path.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Blade auras hammered the bandit ship relentlessly!
The vessel Song Bo had staked his life on began to crumble.
"Brace for impact! Don't panic!"
Cheol Woo whooped excitedly.
The unrelenting merchant ship rammed the bandit vessel.
Kwaduduk!
With splintering wood, the already battered ship shattered completely and scattered.
As the ships collided, Sima Geon—who'd briefly landed—leaped back to his starting point.
All in mere breaths.
Cheol Woo and Noe Jeon thumbs-upped in sync.
"Incredible, Bro!"
Manchu shouted, face alight with awe.
Even having seen it before, he could hardly believe it.
If Manchu was floored, others were speechless.
"Miss..."
Jin Rim called to Neung So Hwa in a trembling voice.
"I know."
Neung So Hwa nodded solemnly.
She could guess what Jin Rim wanted to say.
Gaze fixed on Sima Geon, she continued.
"I need to take back what I said before."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
"That he was on par with Master. Now I think... he might even be stronger."
They say true power reveals itself.
Neung So Hwa had accurately gauged Sima Geon's genuine might, unseen by others.
'Hm.'
Her eyes drifted down.
Her clenched fist was slick with sweat from tension.
She steadied her pounding heart with deep breaths, then slowly looked at Sima Geon.
A strange fervor rose in her eyes.
Others called it fighting spirit.