Chapter 833

“Take everything!”

Sohong, who had ruthlessly cut off the resisting person, laughed with glee and shouted loudly.

‘This is it! This is how it should be!’

He hadn’t truly gone wild to his heart’s content while doing pirate jobs until now. This is because he knew well that if business goes overboard, it’ll eventually attract the Righteous Faction.

But now the Righteous Faction who should have stopped them cannot come to the Yangtze River. This is what they mean when they say there’s a feast laid out.

Of course, as time goes by, they have no choice but to negotiate properly as before. If you catch all the fish, the lake will die and eventually rot things will be the only ones left.

But for a while, he can let out all the suppressed wildness in him.

“Boss!”

“What is it?”

“A ship is approaching from behind.”

“What? Is it the officials?”

“No, it looks like other water fortresses.”

“Other water fortresses?”

Sohong frowned.

“It seems they’ve come to taste some of the spoils. Just leave them be.”

“Yes.”

Even as he said to leave them alone, he clicked his tongue in his mind.

‘Still, shouldn’t we follow the territory rules?’

The law of pirates is very simple. The first to eat is the owner. It may be different if it is their area, but the area around this river is unclaimed as the Great Whale Water Fortress collapsed.

So, the right to rob this ship belongs to those who came first.

“It’s a pity, but we should leave some behind…”

Kwaaaang!

At that moment, there was a huge explosion, and the ship they were on shook violently as if it would capsize.

“Ooot!”

“Aaargh!”

In a sudden shock, the pirates running on the deck were thrown off balance, rolling and screaming.

“Wha- What?”

The startled Sohong rushed forward. A strange ship had crashed into the back of their chained fast ship.

“Tho- Those damned fools!”

He spat out curses, thinking that they approached too fast and couldn’t steer properly. Of course, pirates who spend most of their time on ships are usually proficient at steering, so this doesn’t happen much…. but he had no choice but to judge as such for now.

However, he soon realized he was wrong.

“Let’s go!”

A group of martial artists rose from the ship that hit them.

‘What?’

Seeing that they were perfectly dressed in black uniforms that were clearly different from the clothes worn by pirates, they were definitely not ordinary pirates.

The moment he saw the swords in their hands and the plum blossom pattern engraved on their chests, the name of a sect flashed in Sohong’s mind.

“Mo- Mount Hua? Why is Mount Hua Sect here!”

His face turned pale with shock.

A year ago, or even just a month ago, his reaction would have been completely different. However, the status of the name Mount Hua in the Yangtze River has changed drastically compared to a month ago.

Rumor has it that Mount Hua obliterated Great Whale Water Fortress with only a few people, and even played a key role in the showdown with Black Dragon Water Fortress that were all known near the Yangtze River.

In other words, the name of Mount Hua in the Yangtze River was no different from that of the Grim Reaper.

“Aaaaaaakh!”

“Sa- Save me… Aaaaaargh!”

Sure enough, Mount Hua’s warriors who jumped onto the ship quickly began to cut down the pirates in no time. The fast ship was mainly empty as most were out looting, but considering that, it was still incredibly fast.

“Da- Damn it!”

It was a time when Sohong, caught off guard by the unexpected situation, was at a loss for what to do.

“Eutcha.”

A man dressed in black martial arts attire lightly leaped onto the ship. Almost at the same time, five young martial artists jumped behind him as if to support the lead.

“Hummmm.”

Upon boarding the ship, the man slowly looked around and his face contorted in frustration.

“Have these pirate bastards lost their sense of fear? They dare do this in my river?”

“….”

“Who’s the head?”

Sohong looked sternly at the man before opening his mouth.

“It’s me. You from Mount Hua then?”

“Mount Hua? Mount Huaaaaaaaaaaa? Your words are quite short, isn’t it? How dare this little bastard speak informally? Do you want me to pull out all my teeth and let you live on porridge?”

“….”

Sohong’s face was stunned by the sudden barrage of insults.

“Who are you?”

“Me? I’m Chung Myung, you bastard. Why would you need my name? You wouldn’t know me anyway.”

But to his surprise, Sohong’s face turned even paler.

“Chu- Chu- Chung Myung?”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung, who tilted his head at the response, glanced behind curiously.

“I think he knows me?”

“…It makes sense.”

“It’d be weird if he didn’t.”

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong shook their heads. Sometimes, this guy underestimated his own reputation.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

A cold sweat poured down on Sohong’s face as if standing before the gates of hell.

He wanted to deny it, but the man squatting in front looked exactly like the rumors described. In addition, the bandages wrapped around his wrists, exposed under his open front and sleeves, proved that this man had just been involved in a fierce battle not long ago.

Mount Hua Divine Dragon Chung Myung.

A man from Mount Hua Sect who killed the Barbarous Black Fish, the Chaeju of the Great Whale Water Fortress, and destroyed them.

“That… the one who fought equally against Paegun?”

Sohong’s murmuring distorted Chung Myung’s face.

“Hey this shit, equally? If that bastard hadn’t interfered, I would have won!”

Baek Cheon, who was standing behind, interjected hesitantly.

“…No, that’s a bit…”

“What?”

“You should have a conscience.”

“No, I’m telling you I would have won! If I fight to the end, I’ll win no matter what! To anyone! Whoever the bastard is!”

“Aah, yes, yes. Let’s face the front, the front.”

“I’m telling you seriously!”

“Yes, yes. Face the front.”

Sohong’s fingertips were trembling like the leaves of an aspen tree.

Even in the face of ruthless pirates, they did not appear to be nervous at all. It’s humiliating to think of it, but in fact, Sohong couldn’t even afford to feel humiliated.

It’s a matter of course.

Would such a common pirate even register in the eyes of the man who killed Barbarous Black Fish, devastated the water fortress, and fought a fierce battle with the Evil Tyrant Ryeonju in the middle of a war between the Evil Tyrant Alliance and the Righteous Sects?

Resist?

He can’t even think of that. Especially when up against Mount Hua Divine Dragon. To douse oneself in oil and jump into a fiery pit might have higher survival chances instead.

But even if he won’t fight back with his sword, he still has something to say.

“Ri- Righteous Factions are not allowed to enter the Yangtze River! Why, why are you guys here?”

“Why can’t the Righteous Factions come here, you son of a beast! It’s the Ten Great Sects who can’t. We aren’t one of the Ten Great Sects. We were kicked out way back in the past, you know.”

“No, you are talking too much. Why do you talk like that! How can you say kicked out!”

“It’s the truth, though?”

“You can say the same thing a little differently, like ‘The rule doesn’t apply because we’re from Heavenly Comrade Alliance’.”

“Eii. If we hadn’t been kicked out, we wouldn’t have been able to come either.”

“Uuugh.”

Baek Cheon clearly showed his dissatisfaction and covered his face with the hand that was not holding sword.

Chung Myung gestured at Sohong with his chin.

“Didn’t you hear that if you’re caught operating around the Kugang, you’ll lose your head?” (Kugang is the area name of the Yangtze river part where they’re in.)

“Wha- What do you mean…”

“You don’t seem to know? Then it can’t be helped. Go complain to your leader if you die.”

As if there was nothing more to say, Chung Myung shouted.

“Hahahaha! Take everything they have! If anyone resists, cut them down and feed them to the fishes!”

“Don’t talk like a pirate, you bastard!”

“What you’re saying isn’t wrong, but it feels strange.”

Five Swords kicked off the floor like a beam of light even as they grumbled. At the same time, the second and third-class disciples waiting from the bottom jumped onto the ship and began to drive out the pirates.

The deck was quickly cleared.

The number of people who can board a ship is limited in the first place. When faced with similar numbers, these pirates are no more than a post-meal exercise for the disciples of Mount Hua.

Mount Hua’s disciples, having defeated the resisting pirates and subdued those who surrendered, surrounded and trapped Sohong who remained until the end.

Clung tightly to the railing, Sohong, dripping with cold sweat, stared at them.

“Bla- Black Dragon King will never sit idle on this! If, if you kill me….”

Baek Cheon replied with a soft smile.

“Thanks for the advice, but I don’t think it’s anything you should worry about.”

“….”

Sohong gritted his teeth and glared at Mount Hua Sect with spiteful eyes.

“How long can you hold out in the Yangtze River…”

“Ah, shit!”

Just then, Cheongmyeong, who was behind him, flew in like a falcon and kicked Sohong in the jaw.

Ppaaaaak!

Everyone tightly shut their eyes.

Sohong, with his head jerked back as high as possible, twitched and helplessly fell behind the railing.

Splash!

“Augh! You talk too much, prick.”

Chung Myung finally shook off his hand as if he felt refreshed.

“I told you not to overdo it. Your wound hasn’t healed yet.”

“What’s so hard about catching a little fish like that? It’s just light exercise.”

“Ugh.”

Baek Cheon shook his head in exasperation.

Anyway, he never listens.

“Soso-ya, is anyone injured?”

“No casualties, Sahyung. Some have minor injuries, but they aren’t life-threatening.”

“Damn pirates.”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth, glaring at the tied-up pirates. In response, the pirates quickly lowered their pale faces.

“We’ll treat the injured and find the owners of all the stolen items.”

“Understood!”

Mount Hua’s disciples started to move about busily.

The commoners, who were watching from the corner trembling, finally mustered the courage to approach cautiously.

“Thank, thank you. We’re truly grateful.”

“Eii, no prob! Ha. Ha. Ha. It’s a matter of course as a Righteous Sect! A. Matter. Of. Course.”

“Oh….”

The puzzled commoners hesitantly inquired,

“But we heard that due to the pact with the Evil Tyrant Alliance, the Righteous Faction cannot come to the Yangtze…”

“That’s a load of crap. It’s true that those punks from the Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family can’t come, but we can.”

“…R- Really?”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung replied with a sly smile.

“I don’t know if it’s in the other region, but at least in this Kugang, we will protect you fully so you can come this way. I’ll make sure those little pirate bastards can’t even come near you.”

“Aah!”

“Please let people know. This Kugang is under the protection of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. In Kugang, there will never be victims of those pirates.”

Then, Chung Myung discreetly whispered to a merchant standing in the front.

“And we’ve built a bridge to the island in Kugang. If you come there, we’ll give you a discount and also provide transportation.”

“Is- is that for real?”

“Hoo? Have you been scammed all your life! I’m Chung Myung! Chung Myung! Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

The merchants’ faces glowed as Chung Myung thumped his chest.

“R- Right. Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

“You can believe what the famous Mount Hua Divine Dragon says!”

Five Swords, who were listening, closed their eyes tightly.

‘How did it come to this?’

‘When did that alias of scam and evil become a symbol of trust?’

Chung Myung’s reputation in the Yangtze area has never been higher.

And if the story begins to spread today, it will not be surprising if Mount Hua takes the name of the best sect in the world, at least in the Yangtze River.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the merchants grabbed Chung Myung’s hand and continuously bowed their heads.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you very much. How can we ever repay this kindness…”

“Hahaha. How to repay? Just repay with money. You speak as if there is another way to repay the favor. For a person who’s supposedly a merchant… Uep! Eup!”

Baek Cheon naturally covered Chung Myung’s mouth and dragged him to the back. Then, with a broad smile, he said,

“Hahaha. His injury hasn’t fully healed, so his mind is a bit off now.”

“….”

Yoon Jong stealthily blocked the stare of the merchants who were blankly watching the spectacle.

“If you have any questions, just ask me. I’ll explain everything.”

“Ah….Then can I ask you this one thing….”

“Yes, feel free to ask.”

“… This is a question that might come as rude…”

“It’s all right. Speak comfortably.”

“Then, with all due respect…”

The merchant, who hesitated, took a deep breath and opened his mouth as if he had gathered courage.

“Is he really Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”

“….”

Yoon Jong couldn’t bring himself to answer affirmatively.