Chapter 66 : Chapter 66

Chapter 66 The Yangtze Flows Endlessly (3)

“Sister.”

Yuk-ryong, looking at the frozen Red Faced Ghost, turned his gaze toward Ice Rakshasa as if bewildered.

“Don't worry. I have no intention of killing him either. I only froze the surface.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Yuk-ryong turned his head back to the Red Faced Ghost.

Indeed, not long after, a cracking sound was heard from the small boat, and soon the ice shattered with a loud Kwa-a-ang noise.

“...What is the meaning of this?”

The Red Faced Ghost, who broke through the ice covering his body and came out, glared at Yuk-ryong with a stiff face.

“That peerless beauty even excels in martial arts? Where on earth did you bring such a person from? She is too... too much my type?”

Toward the Red Faced Ghost, who was staring at her intently with a flushed face and lifting the oar again, Ice Rakshasa stretched out her hand once more as if dumbfounded.

─ Kwadeudeuk.

Ice Rakshasa, having frozen the Red Faced Ghost again, turned her head toward Yuk-ryong with an expression as if she had chewed on a bug.

“Hey. What is he?”

****

“Uheuheu. Had I known the young lady was the renowned Ice Rakshasa, the Law Enforcer of the Sado Alliance, would I have acted in such a manner?”

The Red Faced Ghost, who had boarded the merchant ship, rubbed his hairy hands incessantly.

“Anyway, this is truly... an honor for my family. For me to dare experience Ice Rakshasa's Cold Ice Divine Palm.”

Yuk-ryong looked at the Red Faced Ghost, who was constantly bowing and scraping next to Ice Rakshasa, with a sour expression.

“You weren't this kind of guy, you punk. Aren't you the Red Faced Ghost, the outlaw of the Yangtze, who starts conversations only after breaking an arm or leg first?”

“Ahem. Hey, be quiet. Our Miss Pan is listening, so what kind of vulgar talk is that?”

The Red Faced Ghost slapped Yuk-ryong’s hand.

Yuk-ryong looked at the Red Faced Ghost with eyes full of disbelief.

Ice Rakshasa, who was watching what the two were doing beside her with a frown, sighed.

“Ah, I don't know. Then Red Faced Ghost or whatever, you get on here too. With the two of you here, there won't be any more bastards disturbing us, right?”

“Oh my. Of course. If the two of us are here, not even an ant will be able to approach this way until Hunan Province. If there are any bastards coming while out of their minds, I will take their heads off immediately.”

Yuk-ryong, smacking his lips after hearing the Red Faced Ghost’s words, sighed softly.

“Let's escort them quickly. Neither you nor I have time to be doing this.”

At Yuk-ryong’s words, the Red Faced Ghost nodded with a beaming smile.

“I'll use some strength after a long time, so you just steer well. Ptoo ptoo.”

The Red Faced Ghost, spitting heavily on both hands, grabbed the oar he had brought from the small boat.

“Everyone, hold on tight as there might be some shock. Since strength is all this body has left, haha. Strength is important for a man, you see. Indeed.”

The Red Faced Ghost, speaking loudly to the merchants as if wanting Ice Rakshasa to hear, raised his energy.

In an instant, the Red Faced Ghost’s face turned bright red.

“Hey. You crazy bastard. Gently...!”

Yuk-ryong, shouting at the Red Faced Ghost, widened his eyes at the energy gathering in his hands and hurriedly grabbed the helm.

─ Kwaaaaaang!

As the Red Faced Ghost gathered his Internal Energy into the oar he was holding and struck the river water with all his might, the merchant ship began to shoot forward as if flying.

Although it was quite noisy and swayed severely, as the two combined their strength, the merchant ship began to race on the Yangtze at a tremendous speed.

Ice Rakshasa, looking at the faces of the merchants who had vomited into the river several times and turned pale, chuckled.

“It's a bit rough, but if we do well, we might be able to shorten the trip by about a day? If we arrive a day early, I should go eat something delicious with Young Hero Jaun and Young Hero Ban.”

A smile spread across Ice Rakshasa’s face as she watched Jaun and Ban Cheol-hwi standing side by side at the prow, looking at the passing scenery.

How long had they been running on the Yangtze like that?

Jaun, standing at the prow, suddenly turned his head.

“Wait a moment. That ship.”

Jaun raised his hand and pointed to a ship passing in the distance.

At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa turned her head.

“What about that ship? That's a government ship, isn't it?”

Judging by the style of the ship and the decorations attached, it was clearly a regular transport ship operated by the government.

Jaun, tilting his head, concentrated once more to feel the energy of the government ship.

Even upon re-examination, he could feel faint Demonic Energy flowing from the government ship.

Jaun’s expression slowly stiffened.

“Can we perhaps get closer to that ship?”

At Jaun’s words, the Red Faced Ghost, whose whole body was drenched in sweat, stopped rowing for a moment and wiped the sweat from his face.

“Little brother. That... there's nothing good for us in getting close to a government ship.”

Yuk-ryong nodded at the Red Faced Ghost’s words.

“It's customary for government ships and the Waterway Fortress to pass by pretending not to see each other. Do we absolutely have to go near the government ship?”

At Yuk-ryong’s words, Jaun answered firmly.

“Yes. I think I absolutely must check it. I am sensing an energy that shouldn't be felt.”

“Energy, you say. Just what are you talking about...”

The Red Faced Ghost put strength into his eyes and stared intently at the government ship, which was almost no different from a dot.

“I can't even see it well with my eyes. You sensed some energy from a ship that far away?”

At the Red Faced Ghost’s words, Ice Rakshasa clicked her tongue tsk tsk and slapped the Red Faced Ghost’s back.

“Be quiet and move as Young Hero Jaun orders.”

“Ah, yes. I will do so.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, the Red Faced Ghost hurriedly bowed his head and raised his energy again.

[What's going on?]

[I feel faint Demonic Energy from that ship.]

Ice Rakshasa’s eyes widened at the answer to the question she sent via Telepathic Message.

“Eh? From a government ship? Surely the government isn't involved, right? If the government is involved, it becomes a real headache.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Jaun answered with a dark expression.

“We have to hope they aren't involved. They might be transporting items imbued with energy without knowing anything. Let's approach carefully for now.”

As the distance to the government ship narrowed to some extent, the merchant ship also slowly reduced its speed.

Since the government ship was passing through the Yangtze at a not-so-fast speed, the group was able to approach the rear of the government ship quickly.

“Sister. We are a bit... uncomfortable with the government...”

As the government ship became identifiable with the naked eye, Yuk-ryong spoke carefully to Ice Rakshasa.

Ice Rakshasa nodded and opened her mouth.

“You guys sit quietly in that corner over there. We will check it out.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, the Red Faced Ghost and Yuk-ryong bowed their heads and walked to a corner.

Then, looking around this way and that, the two dug between the merchants' luggage and hid themselves.

In the meantime, the helmsman of the merchant ship, who had taken the helm again, began to steer the ship slowly closer to the government ship.

“Can we perhaps go aboard the government ship?”

At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa frowned.

“It's not easy. The government and the Murim have a non-aggression pact... There is no reason for them to grant our request.”

“Hmm... What should we do? I think we absolutely need to verify it in person.”

At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa, lost in thought for a moment, scratched her head.

“If Young Hero Jaun says it's absolutely necessary, we have to make a way.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Jaun’s eyes sparkled.

“Is there a way?”

“I will stop the ship for a moment. Wouldn't it work if we approach pretending to help then go up?”

“Stop the ship? How?”

At Jaun’s question, Ice Rakshasa slowly turned her head.

“Is there any other way? I have to freeze it.”

“S-Sister?”

The heads of Yuk-ryong and the Red Faced Ghost, who were struggling to hide their large frames between the merchants' luggage, turned toward this direction simultaneously.

At their gazes, Ice Rakshasa chuckled and slowly walked up to the deck.

“First, we need to get a little closer. Please move along the flow of the water channel behind that government ship.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, the ship began to increase its speed, slowly following behind the government ship.

When the distance to the government ship narrowed to some extent, Ice Rakshasa raised her hand.

“Stop here for a moment. If we go any closer, they might notice our approach and find it strange.”

Having finished speaking, Ice Rakshasa threw a small plank placed nearby onto the water and threw herself onto it.

Standing upright on the small plank, she turned her head left and right, looking around.

“I'm going to freeze the river water in a way that isn't noticeable.”

Ice Rakshasa, having examined the surroundings meticulously, nodded.

“From here to here. I'll freeze underwater. It won't last long, so let's go quickly, check, and come out.”

As Jaun nodded slightly, Ice Rakshasa concentrated her mind and extended her hand toward the river.

─ Jjeojeojeojeok.

The chill shot from Ice Rakshasa’s body spread out, and the river water began to freeze white.

Ice Rakshasa, kicking the plank lightly to move slightly to the side, extended her hand once more and spewed out chill.

─ Kwajijik.

Ice Rakshasa, who had been moving left and right releasing energy for a while, wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Between the government ship and the merchant ship, massive walls of ice were erected in rows underwater.

As Ice Rakshasa threw herself onto the merchant ship, Yuk-ryong and the Red Faced Ghost clapped and cheered softly with admiring expressions.

“Hide your heads. We are going to approach closely now.”

Leaving the two who bowed their heads deeply with awkward expressions behind, Ice Rakshasa approached Jaun.

“From here to over there. The ice walls will block the water channel for a moment. As it happens, the wind is also a headwind, so if even the water channel is blocked, it won't be easy for the government ship to move. Let's go quickly before it melts.”

The helmsman, confirming Ice Rakshasa’s gesture, moved to the side where the water channel was still active and steered the ship.

And when it got close enough to the government ship, he turned and slowed down.

“Halt!”

A loud shout rang out from the government ship that discovered the approaching merchant ship.

The government soldiers, who were milling about on the stopped government ship in confusion, took out their set-aside spears and turned their gaze toward the merchant ship.

“Who are you!”

At the soldier's shout, Jaun stepped up to the prow, bowed deeply with clasped hands, and spoke.

“We are passing merchants. Seeing that you seemed to be experiencing difficulties, we came wondering if we might be of help. Is everything alright?”

The soldier, who listened to Jaun and examined the ship slowly with sharp eyes, soon whispered something with his colleagues and then turned around.

“It seems to be a transport ship of the Merchant Association. Are you also merchants?”

“Yes. Is there perhaps anything we can help with?”

Seeing a young child, a young man wearing a scholar’s cap, and a woman waving her hand, the soldiers lowered their guard and put down their spears.

“Crossing the Yangtze for over seven years, this is the first time something like this has happened. It seems the ship is caught somewhere. If it's okay, could you give us some help?”

At the soldier's words, Ice Rakshasa, Jaun, and Ban Cheol-hwi exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

“Of course. We will take a look for you. Is it okay if we come aboard for a moment?”

At Jaun’s words, the soldier pondered for a moment and slowly nodded.

“The three in front. Only you come up.”

Jaun, nodding at the soldier's words, lifted a long plank placed on one side of the merchant ship.

Pretending it was heavy, Jaun brought the plank to the prow and placed it across the railings of each ship so that they could move between the government ship and the merchant ship.

Jaun stepped onto the plank first and sent a Telepathic Message to Ice Rakshasa.

[My lady, please pretend to examine the bottom of the ship. I will check what the item emitting Demonic Energy is.]

Ice Rakshasa nodded and stepped onto the plank following Jaun. When Ban Cheol-hwi also crossed over to the government ship following her, the soldiers blocked the group’s path.

“Stop for a moment. Just in case, may we check the items you are carrying on your persons?”

At the soldier's words, the group took out the items they were carrying and placed them in front.

The soldiers, checking the single dagger Jaun carried, the books Ban Cheol-hwi had, and the liquor bottle Ice Rakshasa took out, nodded.

“Thank you for your cooperation. In principle, no one other than government soldiers can board a government ship, so we needed at least a simple check. Now, would you go down and check for us?”

The group, nodding their heads, slowly descended to the lower part of the government ship via the stairs placed in front.