Chapter 784

“Keep your head down!”

“Anyone who acts foolishly will be cut down!”

The pirates, tied to a strong iron cord, bowed their heads on their knees. And Wudang’s swords warrior surrounded the area and watched with cold eyes.

“Hmm.”

Heo Dojin let out a low groan as he looked around.

‘It is awful.’

His nose almost ached at the smells of blood.

Of course, he himself had lived as a disciple of Wudang, been in many chivalrous fights, and fought many battles. However, fighting with so many people and taking their lives was not a common experience for him.

‘The disciples are not doing as well as I expected.’

Such a small water fortress like this should have been dealt with without a hitch. It wasn’t because he overestimated the power of Wudang Sect. It was expected because the difference in power between Whirlpool Current Water Fortress and Wudang Sect was stark when viewed objectively.

But in reality, it took more than half an hour, not just a moment.

‘I haven’t experienced a real battle for too long.’

He doesn’t think Wudang is weaker than in the past. However, fully applying his skills in actual combat is a separate issue.

“It’s a good thing we start with the small water fortress first.”

If they had fought with the water fortress without realizing this problem, there would certainly have been casualties.

Once you decide to shed blood, it’s inevitable that there will be sacrifices, but it is the natural intention of a Sect Leader to reduce the number to a minimum.

“We have completed the subjugation, Sect Leader.”

Heo Dojin nods at Heo Sanja’s words.

“Hand over all pirates to the officials and distribute the wealth accumulated in the warehouse to the commoners. If you can find the owner of the goods, return it to the owner.”

While speaking, Heo Dojin couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘It’s as if we’re copying Mount Hua.’

Even if they weren’t, the thoughts of the people would be similar to what he just thought.

But it can’t be helped.

It’s better to be talked about as copying than to do nothing at all.

“Sect Leader…. That, there’s a little problem.”

“Problem?”

Heo Dojin frowns at Heo Sanja’s words.

“What’s the problem?”

“We checked the warehouse of the water fortress… They don’t have as much wealth as we expected.”

“…Not as much?”

“Yes.”

Heo Sanja swallowed dry saliva and continued.

“According to the people of Wuhan, recently, the number of pirates has been on the rise, and those who went out to the Yangtze River by boat have been robbed with a large amount of goods and money…. But there isn’t that much wealth in their warehouse.”

“….”

“So we interrogated the pirates, but they said they didn’t do such a thing.”

“They’re not?”

“It seems like it. And these pirates also don’t know who recently attacked the ships.”

“….”

Heo Dojin closed his mouth quietly. After a long thought, he spoke.

“If you think simply, it’s just that another water fortress did it.”

“Yes.”

“If that’s not the case…….”

Heo Dojin did not say the following words.

‘Someone induced this situation.’

It’s not a thought that could easily be spoken out. Depending on how one thinks about it, it could mean that the famous Wudang has been played by someone else’s tricks.

“What should we do, Sect Leader?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes?”

Heo Dojin shook his head briefly when Heo Sanja asked back.

“Whether there was a misunderstanding, or we found the wrong water fortress, or if not, someone plotted, it doesn’t matter at all. What is important is that we did not ignore the suffering of the commoners and came to the Yangtze River to subjugate the pirates.”

“….”

“Gather all the wealth and distribute it to the commoners.”

“I’m worried that unnecessary misunderstandings may arise if the amount of stolen wealth is large and the distributed wealth is small.”

“Just tell them that we will also subdue other water fortresses soon.”

“Understood.”

Heo Sanja bowed deeply and retreated. Heo Dojin’s mind, who was left alone, sank heavily.

‘Plot against Eighteen Water Fortresses of the Yangtze River?’

No matter how vast the Yangtze River is, how many places in the world are capable of impersonating them and carrying out works while avoiding the eyes of those water fortresses?

Heo Dojin, who had thought of several names in his head, soon erased those thoughts.

‘It doesn’t matter either way.’

Whatever they’re after, he only needs to get what he wants. Now he has to walk into it, even if the place in front of him is a burning pit.

It’s just…

“Anyone who has played a trick on us will pay the price.”

Grinding his teeth briefly, he turned his body around to blow the cold air and moved on restlessly.

* * *

“Amitabha!”

A loud mantra rang out.

Uuuuung!

The vibrating noise sounded like thousands of bees buzzing.

“R- Run!”

The pirates’ eyes were filled with fear.

Yellow monks’ robes symbolize absolute power in Kangho. It is a very reassuring sight for those on the same side, but it could not be more terrifying for those who had to face it.

It’s a matter of course. It is because Shaolin is the only one who wears yellow monk robes in Kangho.

Thousand Years Shaolin.

Who can ignore the name!

Even if all the Eighteen Fortresses of the Yangtze River, one of the Five Great Evil Sect, are gathered, there is no guarantee that they can handle Shaolin. However, it was literally absurd that just one water fortress fought the Shaolin.

The pirates who were also too well aware of it doesn’t even bother to fight back in the first place.

As soon as they saw monks in the yellow robe, they completely lost their morale, and started screaming and running away.

Some turned their bodies without looking back and ran with all their might, while those who were smart threw themselves into the blue Yangtze River without hesitation.

“Hmm.”

Bop Kye’s eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

‘I understand the intentions of Bangjang, but…….’

In fact, it would be wasteful for Shaolin to directly step forward in subjugating such a water fortress. Of course, it is very good to maintain the Righteousness. But it must be paid in exchange for time.

Considering that they cannot train during his time to and from the Yangtze River, it’s a journey that comes with considerable losses. There’s no way to improve their skills by dealing with a few scoundrels.

“Amitabha. The head of the water fortress must have a headache, too.”

Shaolin, Wudang, even Qingcheng. Among the Ten Great Sect, three sects are marching into the Yangtze River. And since Anhui’s Namgung Family even brandish their sword, no matter how great Eighteen Water Fortresses of the Yangtze River is dubbed as the Five Great Evil Sect, there’s no way they can withstand this attack.

‘Perhaps with this incident, the Eighteen Water Fortresses of the Yangtze River may disappear from history.’

If only one of the sects had come, they might have finished the suppression at a reasonable level and returned. But here now are four sects that rule the world.

If it’s just the Ten Great Sect, they might just do enough to save face, but now even Namgung Family, one of the Five Great Family, participated in the war. Even for the sake of face, they could not go back with less achievement than the members of Five Great Family.

‘And more than anything…’

The fact that Mount Hua Sect started the suppression of the water fortresses first is quickly spreading everywhere. It’s only natural that the name of the one who started first resonates louder than those who followed.

If they don’t want to hear that Shaolin, Wudang, and Namgung Family were chasing Mount Hua’s tail, they must achieve more than them.

“Amitabha.”

A sense of discomfort was conveyed in the mantra that flowed from Bop Kye’s mouth.

‘However…’

If by any chance this incident results in the destruction of Eighteen Water Fortresses of the Yangtze River, or if they suffer catastrophic damage, the balance of Kangho will inevitably collapse.

The balance is broken from the Yangtze River, which can be said to be the center of Jungwon. In other words, it means that it’s not known how far this incident will spread.

‘Bangjang.’

There’s no way Bop Jeong didn’t know about this…Why then did he order such a hasty suppression?

It is injustice (??(不意)) to turn a blind eye to those who suffer in front of their eyes. But isn’t it also injustice to cause more pain to many others just to save a few right in front of you?

‘I don’t know.’

Bop Kye knows.

Though the people are what make the world, not every single one of those people can affect the world’s flow. Those who move the world and lead the flow are only a few.

Bop Kye, who isn’t one of those few, has no choice but to do his best in his assigned tasks.

“Make sure the fleeing pirates don’t harm the common people, capture them all without missing a single one!”

“Yes!”

The Shaolin monks who responded robustly rushed in with a spirit that didn’t suit their status as monks.

“…Amitabha. There should be no big trouble.”

A small snowball rolled by Mount Hua is growing in size along a slope called the Yangtze River.

Now neither Shaolin nor Wudang has a way to stop this snowball. All they can do is pray and hope that this snowball doesn’t hit the houses at the foot of the mountain.

* * *

The fact that Shaolin and Wudang subjugated the water fortress quickly spread throughout the Yangtze River.

Those who made their living on the Yangtze River were more than happy and cheered at the news.

Until now, they’ve endured it because they thought it was inevitable, but who would like the money taken away by the pirates? Moreover, the viciousness of the pirates has become so severe that everyone suffered.

Amidst all this, how could one not rejoice when neither Shaolin, Wudang, nor the Namgung Family are taking action?

These are such great places that even Qingcheng, one of the Ten Great Sect, looks humble in comparison. Of course, the residents of the Yangtze River had no choice but to hope for a better situation.

“As expected of the Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family. When the situation gets serious, they eventually step in like this!”

“That’s what I’m saying! They should have stepped in sooner.”

“They must have been watching the situation get serious. They’re not violating the principles of Righteousness, are they?”

The people spoke in a friendly tone. If it had been in the past, praise like this would have only continued for a while.

But now the situation has changed a little, and there are those who speak differently.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think those yangban really came forward to help us?”

“Yes? They’re obviously here to help us by subduing the pirates.”

“Then what about until now? Were there no pirates until now? Were there no men who lost their lives to the pirates and were sold to slaves?”

“That’s….”

The man spits out his words nervously, clicking his tongue.

“You have to know where to thank. Thanks Mount Hua, this is all thanks to them.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean this is all thanks to Mount Hua? Of course, Mount Hua has started the subjugation, but can we say that all this is thanks to them?”

“Stop making ignorant comments! Had it not been for Mount Hua stepping forward, neither Ten Great Sect nor the Five Great Family would have even come near the Yangtze River. Isn’t it because Mount Hua, the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, started to subjugate pirates in the Yangtze and win the hearts of the people that they all rushed to the Yangtze River with their stomach twisted with jealousy?”

“…That seems like a convoluted thought.”

“So, are you saying they left the Yangtze River alone for decades because they didn’t know there were pirates there?”

“….”

“I’m telling you not to clap naively! That’s what they’re after. You should be grateful to Mount Hua! Hasn’t Mount Hua come to the Yangtze River without any strings attached to punish the pirates?”

“That’s true. I’m very grateful to Mount Hua.”

“Wait and see. In my opinion, it won’t be long before Heavenly Comrade Alliance, where Mount Hua belongs, surpasses the Ten Great Sect.”

“Again, you’re being delusional again.”

“Because it’s true?!”

Someone was in favor of Mount Hua, and someone still defended the Ten Great Sect with deep-rooted history on its back.

What was certain was that, no matter which side they favored, the scale of the battle unfolding in the Yangtze River was growing.

And….

The results of these sporadic battles began to follow a flow that no one in the world could predict.

A violent torrent that would completely change the flow of Kangho was crossing across the Yangtze River and spreading towards the world.