Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Drawing the Big Picture (2)
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“So, you’re saying this Sima Geon bastard is coming for us?”
Hongik Hall Leader Yu Han asked, his face full of irritation.
His complexion was poor, likely from the all-night drinking binge.
“Yes. We’ve confirmed he’s approaching with Cheol Woo and one other subordinate.”
Yu Wol’s voice carried a note of urgency, having caught a glimpse of Sima Geon’s group’s fearsomeness at Songmyeongdo.
“You want us to run away over just three guys?”
Yu Han, who wielded king-like authority centered around Poyang Lake, couldn’t comprehend Yu Wol’s panic.
“They’re not just any three. Didn’t I report what happened at Songmyeongdo?”
Yu Wol’s attitude was completely different from usual. As he straightened up and raised his voice, even Yu Han grew somewhat serious.
“I thought it was a bit exaggerated.”
“What would I gain from exaggerating? They’re the real deal. And it’s not just Songmyeongdo—think about the recent incidents. The Heavenly Demon Cult attacked them and lost every last one. We don’t know how many they sent, but the fact that even Lord Juyu Geolgoe was swept away and killed means they deployed no small force.”
“I heard about that. The Murim Alliance is in an uproar over it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hm. So they’re the real deal, and they’re targeting us.”
Yu Han pondered for a moment, then flashed cold eyes as he asked,
“If we fought them, what do you think would happen?”
Yu Wol answered without hesitation, as if it didn’t need thought.
“We’d be wiped out.”
Those around them openly showed their dissatisfaction at Yu Wol’s words.
“Isn’t that too extreme, Deputy Leader?”
“Hongik Hall isn’t that weak.”
“Think of our hall’s subordinates, plus the men who’d rush here from nearby water forts if we called for aid. No matter how strong those guys are, they wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Seeing the dismissive reactions toward Sima Geon’s group, Yu Wol couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Pathetic fools.
It had been the same when he’d explained the Songmyeongdo incident before. Some had even gossiped that he was exaggerating to cover up his failure to collect proper tribute.
“It’s tiresome, but I’ll say it once more. When we encountered the Red Dragon Gang’s experts at Songmyeongdo, the shock was enough to stop my heart. Just looking at them made my hair stand on end and cold sweat pour down. Their subordinates seemed highly skilled too. But in front of those guys, they were no better than scarecrows. You call it exaggeration? If you’d seen them unilaterally slaughter the slave traders and Red Dragon Gang men gathered there, you wouldn’t be spouting such confident nonsense now.”
Despite Yu Wol’s fervent outburst, the response was lukewarm. Finally, Chief Steward I Ja Gon spoke up.
“There’s no exaggeration in the Deputy Leader’s words. If anything, there might be parts he couldn’t express. That’s how terrifying they were.”
Even the cool-headed I Ja Gon, of all people, backed Yu Wol, but the reactions remained skeptical.
“I’m not saying I doubt the Deputy Leader. But we can’t just abandon this place and flee.”
“Agreed. If we think of running before even defending our home, who’d call us heroes?”
Hongik Hall’s leadership countered Yu Wol’s claims with every excuse imaginable.
Unable to contain his anger, Yu Wol’s fury showed plainly on his face when Yu Han spoke again.
“What if we get help from the nearby water forts?”
“It’s not just about numbers. We need experts who can stand against them.”
Yu Wol’s tone grew increasingly aggressive.
“Even if we scoured the entire Yangtze Waterway Alliance, how many could truly match them? Probably just a handful. And that’s assuming victory is even possible.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Fighting them means total annihilation.”
There was no room for doubt in Yu Wol’s words.
Yu Han closed his eyes tightly. Then he began tapping the armrest repeatedly with his fingers.
Everyone fell silent, knowing it was his habit when making a grave decision.
After deep thought, Yu Han finally decided.
“We head to Gunsan.”
“Leader!”
“Please reconsider!”
“How could we show our faces if we flee from just three men?”
Strong opposition erupted, but Yu Han, having made up his mind, waved it away dismissively.
“When do you think they’ll arrive?”
Yu Han asked Yu Wol.
“Assuming they take the mountain path, as early as two days, no later than three.”
“And if they detour around the mountains?”
“It’d add two days, but still...”
“They won’t detour when there’s a faster route. It’ll take more effort, but...”
“That’s our assumption.”
“Got it. We leave tomorrow afternoon. Prepare without delay.”
Yu Wol withdrew immediately upon receiving the order, fearing Yu Han might change his mind. I Ja Gon hurried after him with the same worry.
“Haa! Haa!”
Manchu, lagging at the rear while climbing the mountain, panted heavily. The sweat pouring like rain had dried into white salt crystals.
I must be insane. Why the hell did I tag along?
The various reasons he’d joined Sima Geon’s group had long faded from his mind. All that remained was regret upon regret.
“W-Water...”
Parched like fire, he pulled out his waterskin—empty for ages.
Noejeon, leading ahead, turned at Manchu’s cry.
He looked better than Manchu but was clearly exhausted too.
“You okay?”
“I-I can manage. But water...”
“I knew it when you guzzled it without thinking. I told you to just wet your throat lightly.”
Noejeon scolded but tossed over his waterskin anyway.
“Th-Thanks...”
Manchu barely got the words out before burying his face in it.
“Slowly, just wet your thro—hey!”
Noejeon rushed over and snatched it back, but it was already empty.
“Boss, these guys won’t shape up.”
Cheol Woo glanced back with a pitiful expression.
His forehead glistened with sweat, but unlike Manchu and Noejeon, he showed no real fatigue.
“Once we crest this pass, it’s the spot that hunter mentioned earlier. We’re camping overnight anyway, so let’s push to the end.”
“Got it.”
Cheol Woo nodded, then bellowed at Noejeon and Manchu like lightning.
“Move your asses! And Noejeon, stumbling at this? You messing around?”
“No way. Just matching pace for this guy—he looked beat.”
Despite his words, Noejeon caught up in one burst, grimacing.
Leaning toward Cheol Woo, he whispered like an ant crawling.
“He’ll kill me. Even Black Dragon Valley training wasn’t this brutal.”
“It’s training, so shut up and follow. You’ve been off lately too.”
Finishing, Cheol Woo turned toward Sima Geon, already ahead.
“Haa, gonna lose my mind.”
Noejeon shook his head but kept moving.
“N-Now?”
“Yeah. Drunken Immortal Step and Prison Breaking Fist.”
“C-Can’t we rest a bit first?”
Manchu pleaded desperately.
“No.”
Sima Geon shook his head indifferently.
Manchu slumped his shoulders and began staggering forward with trembling steps.
Left to right, one step. Then diagonally, one step.
He moved this way and that according to the basic footwork of Drunken Immortal Step.
Staggering.
Was his body failing to follow his feet, or his feet failing his body? Either way, Manchu’s frame shook far more violently than intended.
“He wasn’t like that before. Upper and lower body completely out of sync.”
Cheol Woo watched wide-eyed, fascinated.
“Yeah. He’s not adapting well. Movements are worse than ever.”
Noejeon blinked and shook his head, dizzy just from watching Manchu’s footwork.
“Too slow. Faster.”
“Direction’s off. Body can sway, but not the footwork.”
“Still too much tension in the upper body.”
“How long you gonna flop around? Gather power at the strike point.”
“Don’t force it. Just let your body follow the feet.”
“Is that really Prison Breaking Fist? Won’t break a prison gate, let alone a stick.”
Sima Geon kept nagging, driving Manchu relentlessly.
One hourglass, two, three.
Already exhausted from the start, Manchu’s mind grew hazy as time passed.
He no longer consciously tracked if he was following Drunken Immortal Step’s footwork properly or executing Prison Breaking Fist—the Beggar Clan’s most basic technique, now second nature even in sleep. He simply moved on instinct, over and over.
Cheol Woo nudged Noejeon’s side.
“Hey, looks like he doesn’t even know what he’s doing.”
“Yeah. He’s deep in no-mind state.”
Noejeon spoke with a hint of envy.
As a martial artist, he knew how rare and valuable it was to enter no-mind during training.
“Noejeon.”
Sima Geon called without taking his eyes off Manchu.
“Attack him. Not too hard.”
“Understood.”
Noejeon moved without pause, as if he’d expected it.
Approaching Manchu, he thrust a fist.
The strike missed—Manchu twisted away on instinct.
“Oh ho!”
Noejeon’s face lit up like a kid with a new toy as he pressed with more attacks.
Noejeon’s strikes were swift and sharp.
Manchu matched them, flailing wildly.
Slow yet fast, fast yet slow—eerie movements.
His swaying arms traced bizarre paths in sync.
Amazingly, most of Noejeon’s attacks couldn’t catch Manchu, blocked repeatedly by what looked like clumsy Prison Breaking Fist.
“Only five days in, and he’s this good? Boss teaches well, or does the kid have insane talent?”
“Teaching? I just drilled him to relax. It’s his talent. Lord Juyu Geolgoe had a good eye.”
Of course, Sima Geon had given pointers on Drunken Immortal Step and Prison Breaking Fist whenever possible. But absorbing them was pure talent—and Manchu had it in spades.
“But he still out of it?”
Cheol Woo asked, amazed by Manchu’s moves.
“Probably. That’s why he can move like that. Conscious, he’d have collapsed already.”
As if hearing Sima Geon, Manchu snapped out of no-mind, floundered against Noejeon’s attacks, and collapsed.
“Hey, you alright?”
Noejeon rushed over apologetically. No response from the fallen Manchu.
“He pass out?”
Checking him, Noejeon looked up incredulously.
“Nah. Just lying there.”