Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Moth to a Flame (3)
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"Looks like it's finally starting."
Cheol Woo scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes as he spoke.
"You're right. The boats' movements have changed since just a bit ago."
Je Gal Su pointed at the boats circling the World's Greatest Cult.
"That one, that one over there, and that one too."
Around the World's Greatest Cult were pleasure cruises, ornate flower boats filled with wealthy men and courtesans, and even much smaller fishing vessels—all tangled together in a chaotic mess. Je Gal Su singled out the ones he deemed suspicious.
"What's your basis?"
Je Gal Geom frowned, unable to spot anything unusual no matter how hard he looked.
"Their movements."
"Movements?"
"Yes. Most of the surrounding boats move in highly irregular patterns. Of course, they avoid colliding with each other. But the ones I pointed out follow a consistent pattern, as if by prior agreement. They're disguising themselves as ordinary boats, but they can't fool my eyes."
Everyone listening, including Je Gal Geom, could only give a wry smile at Je Gal Su's words, which inevitably ended in self-praise.
Still, no one mocked him. Upon closer inspection of the boats he'd indicated, their movements did indeed seem suspicious.
"We have a more pressing issue than those boats."
Sima Geon, seated at the bow, gazed calmly at the waterway where waves were rising due to the surrounding boats' movements.
"No way! Not from the water again?"
Cheol Woo grimaced.
He was recalling the past battle against the Yangtze Water Alliance, where enemies riding dolphins had attacked from beneath the river.
As Sima Geon's gaze turned to him, Cheol Woo shook his head firmly.
"Don't make me do it, Boss. Not this time."
"We have no choice. We don't even know their skill level—how can I send someone else?"
"Still, this isn't right."
Cheol Woo looked aggrieved, but Sima Geon simply stared at him without responding.
Unable to bear the silent pressure any longer, Cheol Woo finally shouted.
"Fine, I'll go! Happy now?!"
"Thanks."
"Whatever!"
Cheol Woo stomped toward the bow in irritation, but his movements suddenly halted.
"Wh-what?"
As Cheol Woo strode toward him menacingly, Je Gal Su backpedaled in alarm.
"I-I can't swim."
Je Gal Su, terrified that Cheol Woo might toss him into the water, looked utterly petrified.
Cheol Woo's menacing aura was so intimidating that even Je Gal Geom stepped forward protectively.
"He's right. The kid may not know much else, but he truly can't swim. Even if he could, his martial arts aren't up to fighting."
"What could a bookworm like him do anyway? Don't worry—I have zero expectations."
Cheol Woo waved dismissively with an incredulous expression, then grabbed the scruff of Black Fang's neck, who was right beside Je Gal Su.
Black Fang, sensing Cheol Woo's intent, braced his hind legs and resisted, but he couldn't withstand the man's immense strength. When Cheol Woo glared and bared his teeth threateningly, all resistance vanished instantly.
"Boss, I found someone who swims better than me. And he's got the chops to chew up most punks without breaking a sweat."
Sima Geon let out a hollow chuckle at the sight of Black Fang being dragged along.
"You admit it?"
"Do what you want."
"Heh heh heh! Perfect."
With Sima Geon's permission, Cheol Woo cackled gleefully and hoisted Black Fang's massive body into his arms.
"Brother! What are you doing?!"
Je Gal Su grabbed Cheol Woo's arm in horror.
"What does it look like? Catching the rat bastards sneaking up from underwater."
"Does that mean throwing Black Fang in?!"
"Yeah. You don't seem to know, but no one here swims better than this guy. Not even close."
"A wolf swimming? It'll barely stay afloat. Absolutely not!"
Je Gal Su clung desperately to Cheol Woo's arm, as if he could never allow Black Fang into the water.
"Drop the prejudice that wolves are weak in water. Not this one—he's a freak of nature. So quit worrying."
Cheol Woo brushed off Je Gal Su like an annoying ant, then grinned at Black Fang, who was growling with bared fangs.
"You've grown a lot since I last saw you, showing your teeth and all. I'll let it slide this once. Save the venting for those bastards."
After patting Black Fang's head lightly, Cheol Woo hurled him off the pleasure boat.
Whether out of rage at Cheol Woo for throwing him or fury at those responsible for the situation, Black Fang let out a mighty howl as he twisted midair.
Regaining his balance with an aerial flip, his enormous body plunged into the water amid a massive splash, vanishing in an instant.
"Ah!"
Unable to stop Cheol Woo's outrageous act(?), Je Gal Su stared at the spot where Black Fang had disappeared, looking like a man who'd lost his country.
"Just like the Deputy Leader said. Black Fang may be huge, but he's nimbler in water than any fish. No need to fret."
Lightning tried to console him in his own way, but it did nothing to soften Je Gal Su's rigid expression.
While Je Gal Su gripped the railing, fretting over Black Fang's fate...
Eo Yong-seo, leader of the Water Ghosts—special forces unit nicknamed the Water Demons—who had stealthily approached Sima Geon and Sword Empress's boat, sensed a bizarre ripple in the water just before ordering his men to attack.
'What is that?'
Eo Yong-seo's brow furrowed.
It wasn't the movements of the countless boats overhead.
He turned at his subordinates' frantic gestures and froze in horror at the sight of a monster hurtling toward them at unbelievable speed.
'A w-wolf? Why the hell is a wolf here...'
As Cheol Woo had boasted, Black Fang's movements were incredibly swift and agile. Not quite fish-level, but far beyond any human—and even specially trained Water Demons—could match.
In a flash, three Water Demons became true water ghosts, sinking to the bottom under Black Fang's assault.
'Why is there a wolf here?!'
Terror-stricken Water Demons scattered without daring to fight back. Among them, Eo Yong-seo's scream faded into the bloody froth.
Soon after Black Fang dove in, red blood began staining the water.
Confirming his choice was spot-on, Cheol Woo flashed a satisfied smile.
"He's doing great."
Cheol Woo clapped Je Gal Su on the shoulder.
"See? Told you. No need to worry."
"How can you be sure that blood isn't Black Fang's?"
Je Gal Su raised his voice, prompting Cheol Woo to smirk.
"That curious? Dive in and check. Want me to toss you right now?"
Cheol Woo reached out as if ready to oblige, sending Je Gal Su scrambling back in panic.
Je Gal Geom couldn't hold back his laughter at his flustered brother, chuckling away until So Su-rin shot him a pitiful look.
"Enjoying your brother getting picked on?"
"N-no, not at all... but..."
Blushing slightly and trailing off, Je Gal Geom sobered up upon seeing Je Gal Su slink away dejectedly.
"He needs experiences like this. To understand how the victim feels. Especially him."
So Su-rin fell silent, unable to argue with Je Gal Geom's newfound cold composure, forged from his own ordeals.
"Enough playtime. Stay alert—they're coming."
At Sima Geon's warning, everyone's attention shifted outward.
The suspicious boats Je Gal Su had pointed out moments ago were now advancing in perfect unison toward the pleasure boat.
"That one's fishy."
Cheol Woo pointed grimly at a boat in the center of the deck, shrouded in black cloth.
"Curious? Go check it out."
With those words, Sima Geon kicked off the bow, slicing through the air.
"We're made! Set it ablaze!"
The black shroud lifted from the deck at someone's shout, revealing oil-soaked straw bales.
"Crazy! Fire attack!"
Je Gal Su cried out in alarm.
The assassins lurking beneath the shroud tried to ignite the blaze upon spotting Sima Geon, but he was several times faster.
Instantly grasping their scheme at the sight of the straw, Sima Geon swung his Heavenly Demon Sword—now drawn—and obliterated the piles without a trace. He followed with Thousand Weight Thrust, cleaving the boat clean in half.
"Don't let them get close!"
Sima Geon shouted as he leaped from the sinking vessel.
"I'm going too!"
Seeing Sima Geon head for another boat, Cheol Woo launched himself skyward. Two vessels already blazed fiercely in his view.
Sima Geon and his group's response was swift, but the enemies—prepared to the hilt—were equally agile. Flames from the oil-drenched straw spread in the blink of an eye, devouring the boats.
No time to hesitate.
Cheol Woo unleashed a full-power punch toward the approaching boat on the left.
Fierce energy erupted from his fist, smashing the bow to splinters.
In that interval, his body landed on the right-side boat.
Even protected by his protective aura, searing heat blasted him. His face twisted in agony, as if his body were cooking.
Cheol Woo swung wildly.
At the frontal flames, the hottest straw piles, the bow, the cabin.
Fists that could pulverize a Thousand Weight Boulder in one blow.
The boat shattered under his unrestrained fury.
Having utterly wrecked it, Cheol Woo hurtled toward another slowed by his prior strike.
He was just about to land on the deck.
Boom boom boom!
A deafening explosion ripped the boat into fragments.
"Deputy Leader!"
"Brother Cheol Woo!"
His comrades on the pleasure boat cried out in shock.
Cheol Woo's body was hurled back—even they knew his protective aura's strength, yet this blast warranted worry.
Sima Geon, having destroyed two boats and returned, grabbed Man-chu by the hand.
"Man-chu."
"Yes."
"Inform Sword Pavilion. This isn't just fire—it's loaded with explosives."
Before the words finished, Sima Geon flung Man-chu away.
Propelled by Sima Geon, Man-chu shot like an arrow. But the pleasure boats, pressed close by enemy attacks, were now too distant. His trajectory began descending before reaching the target.
Man-chu felt no anxiety. Sima Geon wouldn't send him without reason. Hadn't he seen a similar scene before?
As expected, a snapped mast flew in to match his descent. Kicking off it perfectly timed, Man-chu landed on Sword Empress's boat.
"Where's Sword Empress? The boats are packed with explosives."
"We've confirmed it too."
Elder Seo Yo-ryeong, her face still pale from incomplete recovery, pointed aside.
Neung So-hwa was leaping from her pleasure boat like Sima Geon, blocking incoming fire-wrapped vessels.
White Sword Unit Leader Dan Ri-hwa and Sealed Sword Unit Leader Eun Sang followed her lead, desperately trying to halt the boats—but it wasn't easy.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave rocked the pleasure boat.
A fire ship had breached Sword Pavilion's line and exploded at the stern. Fortunately, it detonated before collision, so damage was minimal.
"Lucky."
Seo Yo-ryeong sighed in relief. If it had exploded on impact, the damage would have been incalculable.
"I worry how long that luck will hold."
Man-chu's expression darkened at the ceaseless fire ships swarming like moths to flame.