Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: The Challenge Letter (1)
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“Hey, let's call it quits already.”
Thunderclap panted heavily as he shouted.
“What bullshit is that?!”
Leading his men to raid the merchant ship, Jang Jin had failed to plunder anything worthwhile and instead lost most of his subordinates. He glared furiously, his fighting spirit unbroken despite his own wounds, true to his role as the chief of the newly rising Water Moon Stronghold under the Yangtze Water Alliance.
“If you've got ears, clean 'em out and listen. The sounds of battle have stopped. It's over.”
Only then did Jang Jin notice the absence of the war cries around him. He glanced around cautiously. Just as Thunderclap said, the fight was completely finished.
“Once the division leader and deputy return, even the few of you left will be wiped out. So take this chance and scram.”
Thunderclap waved him off dismissively, as if continuing the fight was too much hassle.
Jang Jin hesitated, scanning the situation. Then he spotted two men climbing aboard the alliance leader's boat via rope. His eyes widened.
Their safe return could only mean one thing.
'Did the alliance leader lose?'
Jang Jin couldn't believe it.
To him, the alliance leader was like a god. And the elders who advised him? Not one was anything less than exceptional.
Those people had lost? For Jang Jin, who had been striving to catch up to them, it was impossible to accept.
“Ch-Chief.”
Juk Geum approached, clutching his side where Manchu's Crushing Fist had shattered his ribs. He too had heard Thunderclap and knew this was their last chance to escape alive.
“We have to go.”
Juk Geum tugged at Jang Jin's arm.
Still wavering, Jang Jin snapped to attention as Cheol Woo's massive frame disembarked onto the merchant ship. One of his own men, charging blindly, was sent flying across the deck into the railing opposite.
How fortunate that the bandit who tangled with Cheol Woo wasn't one of his remaining men. To save even those few, they had to retreat now.
“R-R-R-Retreat!”
“Fall back! Hurry up and fall back!”
Juk Geum bellowed at the bandits harassing the women.
The Water Moon bandits, who had been attacking without effect and only taking losses, withdrew eagerly. The women tried to stop them, but Jin Rim's intervention—realizing the battle was over—let them escape unharmed.
“I won't say thanks.”
As he turned to leave, Jang Jin mustered one last show of pride toward Thunderclap.
“Idiot, get lost.”
With just two words, Thunderclap crushed Jang Jin's pride and flopped down onto the deck.
The rain had finally stopped, and sunlight peeked through the thick clouds.
Closing his eyes to bask in the warmth, a large shadow suddenly blocked the light.
“What's with the moping?”
“I'm just tired.”
“Hurt that bad? You're not dying on us, are you?”
Cheol Woo fussed with a fake look of concern that fooled no one.
“Don't you think that's too much?”
“What?”
Thunderclap shot up, gesturing around wildly.
“Do you know how many bandits swarmed us? That guy and I holding this place... well, the women helped, but it was still impossible odds.”
Thunderclap pointed at Manchu, who had collapsed spread-eagled like he had moments ago, either from released tension or his injuries.
“That was the plan from the start.”
“Fair enough for the deputy, but I didn't expect the division leader to jump right in. And with that woman following him, causing all that trouble... We nearly died several times.”
Thunderclap raised his voice, pointing at Neung So Hwa, who had boarded last. His tone softened slightly when mentioning her, though Cheol Woo didn't notice.
“Hurt bad?”
Sima Geon asked with a calm smile, listening patiently to Thunderclap's complaints.
“A little banged up, but nothing to worry about. They were just bandits, after all.”
“Fish? Who was just whining about nearly dying?”
Cheol Woo shouted incredulously.
“I was speaking figuratively. I got hurt pretty bad, though. That guy's way worse off. He doesn't have a sturdy build like the deputy...”
Mid-complaint, Thunderclap's eyes widened at the gashes along Cheol Woo's side.
“You got injured? The deputy? By mere bandits?”
Thunderclap gawked, his tone a mix of worry and mockery.
“Oh, this.”
Cheol Woo rubbed his side sheepishly and pointed at a bandit ship.
“See that?”
The vessel he indicated was wrecked beyond recognition as a ship.
“The deputy did that? Impressive it's still afloat.”
“What am I, a monster? How could I wreck a ship that size like that?”
“Then what?”
“Those lunatics set off firecrackers.”
“Pardon?”
Thunderclap blinked, failing to process it.
“Beats me. I took down a few, and they pulled out iron balls, screaming about dying together. Never imagined they were firecrackers.”
Thunderclap didn't realize those few were the band's entire leadership.
“Bandits carrying firecrackers?”
“Who knows? Anyway, that's what trashed the ship. And these wounds happened then.”
Gazing at Cheol Woo, who had escaped the blast unscathed, Thunderclap was speechless. He'd seen it plenty from Black Dragon Valley onward, but the man was monstrous.
While Cheol Woo and Thunderclap bantered about wounds, Sima Geon approached Manchu.
“You okay?”
“I'm fine.”
Manchu forced a smile despite his exhausted face.
Sima Geon took his hand and helped him up.
“You took quite a beating.”
Sima Geon confirmed the fierce battle from Manchu's wounds.
“Fought hard. But there were just too many.”
“So, what's your take on the fight?”
Manchu's weary face lit up.
“I gained confidence.”
Sima Geon grinned at Manchu's proud declaration.
“That's what matters. Good work.”
He supported the fatigued Manchu back to the group.
“By the way, division leader.”
“Yeah?”
Thunderclap glanced at the women chattering around Neung So Hwa and lowered his voice.
“I overheard something earlier.”
“What?”
Cheol Woo asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
“That woman.”
Thunderclap nodded toward Neung So Hwa.
“Before she sent the axe-wielding old guy flying, I heard her say something about 'Sword Empress'.”
“Sword Empress? What's that?”
Cheol Woo tilted his head.
Unlike the impassive Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, Manchu reacted explosively.
“W-What did you say?”
Manchu grabbed Thunderclap's collar.
Stunned by the reaction, Thunderclap didn't even register it and stammered blankly.
“S-Sword Empress.”
“You're sure?”
“Pretty sure. No, definitely. The woman said her master is the Sword Empress.”
“No way!”
Manchu's jaw dropped, his grip loosening.
“Who's the Sword Empress? Someone you know?”
“Never met her, but everyone in the martial world knows the name.”
“Hmm, the title alone gives off a vibe. Sounds like a big deal. Am I right?”
To Cheol Woo's question, Manchu summed it up.
“The supreme under heaven.”
“Hmm.”
Cheol Woo's playful expression vanished.
He turned toward Neung So Hwa. His eyes met Jin Rim's briefly as she looked over, but fixed on Neung So Hwa.
“Supreme under heaven, huh.”
“Yes. If her master is the Sword Empress, she's the current one.”
Manchu's tone grew extremely cautious when mentioning Neung So Hwa.
“The Sword Empress rarely appears in the martial world. For her to venture out like this suggests she's begun her challenge journey.”
“Challenge journey?”
“The current Sword Empress, inheriting the title, must undertake twenty duels to prove her worth. People call it the Sword Empress's Path and revere it. She usually faces masters listed in the Annals of the Powerless, but sometimes opponents are unexpected. Though they always turn out to be remarkable experts.”
“Must be an honor to duel the Sword Empress.”
Manchu nodded vigorously at Sima Geon's words.
“Exactly. That's why many quietly await her challenge letters. Receiving her acknowledgment is like gaining the respect of the entire martial world.”
“Wow, we sailed with a real legend. What an honor.”
Cheol Woo sneered loudly enough for Neung So Hwa to hear. She ignored it, but the surrounding women bristled indignantly—though that was all.
Cheol Woo scowled, gearing up for more provocation, but passengers emerged from the cabins now that the fight was over, and Sima Geon's restraint prevented further commotion.
“Hah!”
Dam Po, who had hidden in the cabin to survive, sighed at the battered ship.
Bandit corpses littered the deck, and damage was everywhere. Repairs would take time, especially with the masts inexplicably gone.
“Captain.”
At Dam Po's call, the captain approached, flushed, after directing sailors to clear bodies. He had stayed at the helm and survived the melee.
“Can we move this ship?”
“We'll try, but it won't be easy.”
“Damn, meeting the deadline's already impossible.”
The captain wanted to say it was too late from the start but held his tongue at Dam Po's distraught face.
“Repairs possible?”
“We'd need to reach Wuhan for that, but even that's doubtful with all the damage.”
“Hah! What now?”
Dam Po clutched his head, on the verge of tears, and slumped. Cheol Woo, unable to watch, beckoned him.
“Stop the whining and come here.”
Who would defy such a command? Dam Po scurried over.
“The ship's unmoving?”
“Y-Yes.”
His tone was unusually polite amid the corpses.
“Tsk tsk. Ships everywhere, and you're worried.”
“Pardon?”
At Dam Po's blank stare, Cheol Woo turned to the captain.
“Have those guys tow us. A couple should do it.”
“That'd work, but will they?”
“Some worries.”
Cheol Woo chuckled.
“If they don't wanna die, they will.”
His confidence became reality.