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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Chapter 104
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After finishing their discussion, the Namgung party immediately prepared to depart as promised.
They had brought nothing with them, having rushed to follow the trail Seolhwa left, so there was nothing to pack.
Maeng Deungho, as promised, provided a large boat and several river bandits skilled in night navigation.
By the riverbank, preparations for the Namgung party's boat were in full swing.
"Please take good care of Soyak."
Maeng Deungho's gaze fell on Soyak, who stood holding Yugang's hand. In Soyak's arms was a bundle of his cherished treasures.
A battle between the two river strongholds was imminent here. He couldn't leave his ailing child in such a dangerous place, which was why he entrusted his son to the Namgung.
"I'll hear about the treatment when I come to pick up the child."
Maeng Deungho said to Seolhwa.
Seolhwa simply nodded.
Jin Soyak ran forward to Maeng Deungho and grasped his thick hand.
"Please be careful, Dad..."
Though he didn't want to leave, the child understood his situation all too well.
He knew it was better to be separated for a while than to remain here and hinder his father.
"Don't... get hurt..."
"Alright. I'll see you in a few days."
After a brief farewell, the Namgung party headed towards the prepared boat.
Just as the children were about to step onto the gangplank.
"!"
"!!"
Cheongun and Maeng Deungho reacted simultaneously, followed by Seolhwa and Cheongsan, who also sensed it.
"Fall back!"
Cheongun immediately pulled his group back, while Maeng Deungho raised his spear towards one side of the river.
Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa also pulled the children back and stood in front of them.
Soon after, with booming sounds, several boats, brightly lit, emerged from the other side of the river.
Seolhwa's expression darkened as she recognized the dark red flag planted at the stern of the boat and the figure standing beneath the massive banner.
‘Yuk Hyeolju…!’
It was an attack by the Hyeolsachae.
"Everyone, get on the boats! Prepare for engagement!"
Throughout the entire Surochae, the alarm bell announcing an enemy attack rang out once more, and the river bandits prepared for battle.
At Maeng Deungho's shout, the river bandits boarded the boats in perfect order.
"Chaiju!"
Cheongun hastily grabbed Maeng Deungho.
The boat that had been promised to the Namgung was also entering battle formation.
"It's a water battle. The river route is already compromised, so the Namgung should quickly retreat."
"Something's not right."
Cheongun looked at the Hyeolsachae boats.
Whether on land or water, the key to gaining an advantage in combat is a surprise attack.
They are fully prepared to fight, while Gwiyoungchae is not yet ready for battle.
Despite this, the Hyeolsachae boats merely beat their drums loudly and shone their lights, without firing arrows or launching an assault.
As if calling out Gwiyoungchae.
"It's a trap. They are luring Gwiyoungchae out into the river."
Maeng Deungho's reply was unexpected.
"I know."
"!"
"You... know? And yet you're engaging them?"
"We are river bandits. River bandits fight on the water. Whether they are luring us or not, that place will be their grave."
He was right. A river bandit's battlefield is on the water and on a boat.
However, using such an obvious lure might mean they have another trick up their sleeve, wouldn't it?
Cheongun was deeply worried, but Maeng Deungho shook off his hand.
"The Namgung should retreat quickly. Please understand that under the circumstances, it's difficult to look after the Namgung as well."
"But...!"
"This matter concerns the Surochae."
Maeng Deungho then headed straight for the boat.
"Dad."
Seolhwa called out to Namgung Cheongun.
Namgung Cheongun, seemingly sharing the same thought, nodded and said to Cheongsan.
"Cheongsan. You stay with the children. Seolhwa and I will go observe the situation for a moment."
"Why are you taking Seolhwa to such a dangerous place?"
"Even if I told her not to go, she would still try."
At Cheongun's gaze directed at her, Seolhwa nodded as if it were obvious.
‘This is an opportunity to confirm Yuk Hyeolju’s martial prowess.’
She needed to confirm how strong Yuk Hyeolju was now, and if he had mastered 'that Blood Art'.
"Hmph. A child who insists on going to a dangerous place, and an elder brother who lets her go just because she wants to. I don't understand it."
"Don't try to understand it. It's easier that way."
Seolhwa looked at Cheongun.
"I'm grateful, but... is this really okay?"
‘…It’s better than stopping her.’
"I'll be taking Hwarin, and if it gets dangerous, I'll make a run for it, so you know."
"Alright. Stay in a safe place. We'll just observe the situation and be back soon."
Cheongsan and Yeonhwa took the children and headed to the rear of the Surochae, far from the riverbank where the engagement was happening, while Cheongun and Seolhwa ascended a riverside hill from which they could overlook the battle.
Blindly fleeing into unknown mountain paths, not knowing the way, carried a significant risk.
In the mountains, there might be threats from other bandits, not just the Surochae, and there was also the risk of getting lost.
Therefore, it was better to assess the situation before fleeing.
If it turned out to be a battle that Gwiyoungchae would win, it would be more advantageous to remain at the Surochae and lend their strength rather than flee.
Gwiyoungchae and Hyeolsachae boats were facing each other on the river near the Surochae.
For Gwiyoungchae, the Chaiju's boat was at the very front, while for Hyeolsachae, conversely, the Chaiju's boat was at the very rear.
It was a formation that perfectly revealed the personalities of the two Chaijus.
"Maeng Deungho!"
Jeokgwaesu, the Hyeolsachae Chaiju, shouted towards Maeng Deungho, who was emanating a fearsome aura with his spear held upright.
"Your stronghold is in chaos! Did you have a battle just now?"
Maeng Deungho's aura grew even more menacing at the words, which feigned ignorance despite knowing everything.
"You're bringing death upon yourself! Do you think I don't know that you incited me to cause a fight between our Gwiyoungchae and the Namgung?"
"Why is that my fault?! It's your stupidity! You were the one who abducted the Namgung lady, weren't you?!"
Maeng Deungho was speechless. Whatever the reason, he was the one who had abducted the child.
The problem was that he had played along with the Hyeolsachae Chaiju's scheme, even though he knew the man was despicable to begin with.
"Where is my subordinate?!"
The Hyeolsachae Chaiju demanded.
Maeng Deungho snorted, cracking his knuckles.
"That viper-like fellow is already dead by my hand. He ran his mouth too freely, so I pulled out his useless tongue first."
This time, the Hyeolsachae Chaiju's expression stiffened.
Ma Jongui was virtually the Hyeolsachae Chaiju's right-hand man. Ma Jongui's death was a great loss to the Hyeolsachae.
"Heheheh, that fellow's tongue certainly ran wild."
However, the Hyeolsachae Chaiju showed no sadness at Ma Jongui's death.
To Yuk Hyeolju, the Hyeolsachae Chaiju, Ma Jongui was merely that much.
"Well, it doesn't matter. There are plenty of loose-tongued fellows around. Isn't sacrificing the small to gain the great the very essence of being a river bandit?"
His cackling laughter was wicked.
‘Right. Yuk Hyeolju is that kind of person.’
A man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Even if it meant sacrificing a subordinate he once cherished.
The Hyeolsachae Chaiju pointed at Maeng Deungho.
"I've lost a subordinate today, so I'll have to get a new one. The sturdier, the better."
At the declaration that he would make Maeng Deungho his subordinate, Maeng Deungho's face froze coldly.
Maeng Deungho pointed his spear tip towards the Hyeolsachae Chaiju.
"Who do you think you are? You will die right here today. I will personally bury you at the bottom of this river."
At that moment, the wind direction temporarily shifted, and a breeze blew from the direction of the Surochae.
"!"
Seolhwa looked back at the Surochae with surprised eyes.
"What's wrong?"
‘…Is this Baekrihyangsin-tan…?’
Mixed with the wind, a faint scent of Baekrihyangsin-tan permeated the air.
It was the scent of Baekrihyangsin-tan used by the Blood Sect.
‘Does this mean someone used Baekrihyangsin-tan to summon the Hyeolsachae?’
She had already thought something was strange.
Ma Jongui clearly died without being able to detonate the Baekrihyangsin-tan, so how did the Hyeolsachae know to attack?
The fact that the Hyeolsachae, who were a hundred li away, arrived now meant they had already departed when Gwiyoungchae's attention was focused on Ma Jongui.
That could only mean one thing.
‘There was another spy hidden besides Ma Jongui.’
Another spy hidden within Gwiyoungchae had used the chaotic moment to detonate the Baekrihyangsin-tan and summon the Hyeolsachae Chaiju.
Though Seolhwa possessed memories of her previous life, it was impossible for her to remember the faces of all thousands of river bandits commanded by Yuk Hyeolju.
Unless it was someone with considerable influence, like Ma Jongui.
‘…This is trouble.’
The current situation was unfolding contrary to what Yuk Hyeolju had expected.
Far from destroying each other, the Namgung and Gwiyoungchae had joined hands and ceased their conflict, thanks to which Gwiyoungchae's forces had not been significantly weakened.
‘The Hyeolsachae Chaiju must also know that fact.’
Though Yuk Hyeolju was reckless, he wasn't someone who acted without a plan.
The fact that he had attacked Gwiyoungchae so brazenly, knowing his plan had gone awry, meant he had another trick up his sleeve.
‘Moreover, the fact that he attacked knowing the Namgung hadn't left yet meant he intended to capture not just Gwiyoungchae, but the Namgung as well.’
Even if Gwiyoungchae were strong, the Namgung's forces were very weak. If Gwiyoungchae fell, the Namgung's safety could not be guaranteed.
"Dad."
"?"
"We have to run."
Cheongun looked back at the two confronting forces.
"The battle hasn't even begun yet. Wouldn't it be better to observe the situation before acting?"
"No. Gwiyoungchae will lose this fight."
Seolhwa grabbed Cheongun's arm.
"We have to leave the Surochae before the fight ends."
