Chapter 39

Chapter 39

In the middle of the Yangtze River, there was an island where the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways resided.

The current near this island was extremely swift, so unless one was a fairly skilled boatman, it was a place no one could approach.

Because of that, most of those who came here were fellow Water Bandits.

One of the Water Bandits standing watch asked the companion beside him.

“Hey, isn’t that a ship from Taeryong Stronghold?”

“Huh? You’re right. Shouldn’t we report this to the Chief Stronghold Leader?”

“Damn. Every time a ship from Taeryong Stronghold comes, nothing good ever happens.”

Just as one of the grumbling Water Bandits was about to run and report to the Chief Stronghold Leader—

Thud—!

“Huh?”

A man in black martial robes had appeared before them at some point. He slowly turned his gaze toward the Water Bandits and spoke.

“This is a message from the Alliance Lord. Guide me to the Chief Stronghold Leader.”

The Water Bandits wore bewildered expressions, unable to comprehend the situation.

‘How?’

‘Did he run here from the ship?’

‘Skimming Over the Water?’

If he had truly run from the ship to here using Skimming Over the Water, then even the Chief Stronghold Leader would not compare to him in Movement Techniques.

The ship was far—far too far. There was still a distance of about thirty zhang. And he crossed that with Skimming Over the Water?

‘An absurdly powerful master!’

The moment they realized he was not someone they could handle, they froze. The man in black martial robes spoke again.

“Did you not hear me? It is a message from the Alliance Lord.”

At the voice as cold as icy water, the Water Bandits came to their senses and spoke with pale faces.

“Y-Yes! We will guide you!”

The man before them was strong. Yet he also seemed merciful. Though his tone was commanding, he had repeated himself, as if wondering whether they had not heard.

If it had been the Chief Stronghold Leader, he would have killed anyone who failed to listen the first time without hesitation.

For someone of the Unorthodox Faction, he was remarkably kind.

The man in black martial robes—no, Youngho—pointed at several of the Water Bandits with his finger and spoke.

“You, inform the Chief Stronghold Leader that I have arrived. As the head of a faction, I will grant him time to prepare. And the rest of you will guide us.”

‘Us?’

One of the Water Bandits, having sensed the incongruity in Youngho’s words, crawled forward and asked cautiously.

“Do you perhaps have companions?”

“They are aboard that ship.”

“I-Is that so.”

They could not even afford to be curious as to why this man had been aboard Taeryong Stronghold’s ship, nor why his companions were on it.

“Why are you not moving?”

At Youngho’s urging, the Water Bandits began to move quickly.

Watching one of them dash off urgently toward the Chief Stronghold Leader, Youngho let out a faint chuckle.

‘What foolish fellows.’

Well, he had appeared suddenly from over thirty zhang away. It must have seemed as though they had seen a ghost.

Youngho had not used a technique that consumed excessive Internal Energy like Skimming Over the Water. If he had crossed that distance with such a method, his Internal Energy would have been depleted.

Instead, he had leapt into the air. With a single bound, Youngho had crossed more than thirty zhang.

That was how he had appeared before the Water Bandits.

After a short wait, the ship arrived at the riverbank. Once it docked, the companions disembarked.

“Young Noble Master, please refrain from suddenly darting out like that next time. My heart nearly burst.”

At Horyeung’s words, Hwangbo Nyeong looked at Youngho with a puzzled expression.

‘Young Noble Master? Is he hiding his identity?’

Hwangbo Nyeong believed Youngho to be a master who had undergone Rejuvenation.

Of course, it was not unreasonable for her to think so. Youngho’s Martial Might was far too overwhelming to belong to someone not even of coming-of-age.

While Hwangbo Nyeong was lost in thought, one of the approaching Water Bandits, who had come to tie up the ship, caught the faint Scent of Blood.

Curious as to why he would smell blood, he casually glanced into the ship—then his eyes widened.

Inside lay dozens of corpses, and the head of Manjeok, the Stronghold Leader of Taeryong Stronghold, rolled across the deck.

“What a pity.”

Slash.

Youngho severed the head of the Water Bandit who had looked into the ship and said,

“Now then, let’s go.”

Horyeung asked him,

“Will it be alright without a guide?”

“It’s fine. I know where the Chief Stronghold Leader is. The strongest one there will be him.”

As if familiar with the place, Youngho began walking into the stronghold. Despite having boldly entered the enemy’s lair, there was not the slightest hint of caution in his demeanor. Watching him, Hwangbo Nyeong wondered if he was being too arrogant.

Though the current Chief Stronghold Leader was said to be weaker than the previous one, he was still the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways. He was not someone to be taken lightly.

‘Isn’t he being too careless?’

She hoped this confidence had foundation. If it was mere arrogance…

Hwangbo Nyeong began searching for an escape route in case she needed to flee.

‘That rock would be useful.’

Horyeung, as if seeing straight through Hwangbo Nyeong’s thoughts, let out a quiet chuckle.

That girl did not know. Now that they had entered the enemy’s den, it was not the enemy who was most frightening—but the monster standing right before them.

When a tiger entered a rabbit’s burrow, it was not the tiger who was in danger. That was only natural.

Hwangbo Nyeong’s worry was utterly pointless. Of course, Horyeung prioritized the safety of his disciples over the concerns of a young lady whose name he did not even know.

“Are you nervous?”

Kang Chowon could not answer, and Kang Hosan swallowed nervously before speaking.

“…It would be a lie to say I am not.”

“Good. Still, do not worry. We only need to endure.”

“Pardon?”

“There is such a thing. Have you not practiced coordinated attacks with Chowon countless times?”

“That’s true.”

“For now, that is enough. And the Sect Leader of that single-lineage sect over there also seems quite capable. He should be able to protect you.”

“…Understood.”

As Youngho’s group and Hwangbo Nyeong made their way toward where the Chief Stronghold Leader was, they encountered several Water Bandits. Yet none of them dared to speak to Youngho.

Partly it was because he had come bearing a message from the Alliance Lord and could not be treated carelessly—but it was also because of the Martial Presence Horyeung deliberately exuded.

Most decisively, they had seen it—the deathly pale face of the man who had run desperately to report to the Chief Stronghold Leader.

In the Unorthodox Faction, awareness was directly tied to survival. Without it, death was frequent. To die for lacking awareness—what nonsense was that?

Yet that was precisely the nature of the Unorthodox Faction.

Thus, Youngho arrived at the place where the Chief Stronghold Leader resided, and the Chief Stronghold Leader received him with a slightly stiff expression.

“Have you come from the Unorthodox Alliance?”

“Of course I have. Would the Murim Alliance deliver the Alliance Lord’s message instead?”

The Chief Stronghold Leader, Taemyeong, scowled fiercely as irritation flared across his face when someone who did not even appear to have reached coming-of-age casually spoke to him in informal speech.

“What? Do you have a complaint?”

“…No.”

Since he did not properly know the opponent’s strength, it was forbidden to make a rash judgment. According to his subordinate, the man had crossed a distance of about thirty zhang using Skimming Over the Water…

‘Is that truly possible?’

At first, he had not believed it. Internal Energy was not infinite—how could someone cross thirty zhang using Skimming Over the Water?

So when they had first met face to face, he had dismissed it as nonsense. If his Internal Energy were not infinite, there should have been at least some sign of exhaustion.

But now, he felt he could believe it, even if only slightly.

‘I cannot feel his power.’

Though he might be inferior in Martial Might compared to the former Chief Stronghold Leader, he was still undeniably the master of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways.

Yet he could not read even a trace of Martial Presence from someone who did not appear to have reached coming-of-age…

And what of that old man? The sturdy, muscular body was understandable—he was a Martial Artist, after all.

But the Martial Presence he emitted was no joke. He seemed perhaps one level—no, half a level—below himself.

To kill that old man, he would likely have to be prepared to lose an arm.

And the woman veiling her face with Veil Cloth was also quite skilled. Fortunately, the other two brats were nothing worth noting.

Even so, they were enough to exhaust Taemyeong mentally and physically. To be honest, he had raided too much lately and had expected that the Unorthodox Alliance would send a warning sooner or later.

Not knowing what might occur, he had already gathered his subordinates, yet he still did not feel at ease.

Those who delivered the Alliance Lord’s message were invariably monsters in terms of Martial Might.

“May I ask what position you hold within the Unorthodox Alliance?”

“Hm? Me? I’m the Fifth Young Master.”

“…Pardon?”

“The Fifth Young Master. The Alliance Lord’s fifth disciple.”

At those words, Taemyeong’s expression twisted far more than before.

‘No. I cannot reveal my true nature yet. That old man might hold a high position.’

Suppressing the humiliating fact that he had been intimidated by a mere Fifth Young Master who did not even appear to have reached coming-of-age, Taemyeong turned to Horyeung and asked,

“And what position do you hold, elder?”

“Hoho, quite polite for someone of the Unorthodox Faction. I am the escort of the Fifth Young Master.”

Creeeak.

Like a door turning without oil, Taemyeong stiffly rotated his neck and asked Hwangbo Nyeong one last time.

“And you…?”

“I am Hwang Dal, the Sect Leader of the single-lineage Tyrant Sovereign Sect.”

Even if it was a single-lineage sect, a Sect Leader was still a Sect Leader. Hwangbo Nyeong spoke with the utmost solemnity.

However, since her face was covered by Veil Cloth, Taemyeong could not see her grave expression.

Hearing her words, Youngho openly mocked her.

“Kukuk! The Tyrant Sovereign Sect? Kukuk!”

Horyeung beside him was also suppressing laughter as much as he could.

Twitch. Twitch.

No, he seemed to be enduring it with all his might.

Meanwhile, upon hearing those words, Taemyeong was at a loss between humiliation and fury.

Forcing his trembling body to calm down, Taemyeong spoke in a cold tone.

“Deliver the Alliance Lord’s message.”

At some point, Taemyeong had dropped formalities. He stared at Youngho with frigid eyes, and Youngho shrugged.

“Uh… So… what should I say, Horyeung?”

“How about telling him to moderate the plundering?”

“No, that’s obvious. Still, my master is the Alliance Lord. Shouldn’t we use more refined wording?”

At the ill-timed playful mood, Taemyeong let a trace of Killing Intent seep out as he spoke.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Wait a moment. You summoned your lackeys, so we need to decide what to say. No matter what, with this many people, we need justification.”

“Young Noble Master, may I speak in your stead?”

“You thought of something? Then go ahead.”

Horyeung cleared his throat and declared,

“To the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways: If you continue to extract excessive Toll from the Common People, there will be severe punishment…”

“To put it simply, stop acting up.”

At that moment, Youngho’s sword—having erased all Killing Intent—shot toward Taemyeong’s neck.

By a hair’s breadth, Taemyeong raised his trident and blocked the attack.

It was a Sword Draw worthy of being called Lightning-Like Charge, but from the receiving end, it looked like nothing more than a sudden flash.

As if knowing from the start that he would not be able to sever Taemyeong’s neck in a single stroke, Youngho’s heavy sword pressed forward and drove him back.

Screeeech!

Pushed back roughly three zhang by Youngho’s heavy blade, Taemyeong widened his eyes and shouted,

“You dare ambush me so cowardly!”

“Since when was there cowardice in the Unorthodox Faction?”

Shhk—!

In an instant, Youngho had closed the distance before Taemyeong’s nose and swung his sword.

Youngho’s Sword Qi, flickering like black flames, slashed downward as if to devour him whole.

Seeing this, Taemyeong screamed,

“Kill them all!”

At once, the surrounding Water Bandits roared and charged toward Youngho’s group and Hwangbo Nyeong.