Chapter 126
126th Episode
Why is someone who should be in Wuhan here? How did he find us?
I was momentarily flustered and couldn't control my strength. The Flying Dagger, imbued with excessive force, flew and pierced through a bandit's thigh.
"Kuaaak!"
The bandit screamed and fell backward with a thud. Simultaneously, Song Mun-go's sword, slicing through the air, severed the bandit's Four limbs and meridians.
Was it because of the coldly gleaming blade? Memories of wandering through the mountains with Yeon-ryang on my back surfaced, and my mood sank.
I asked coldly,
"I appreciate the help, but why are you here?"
"Are you injured anywhere?"
"I asked why you're here."
"Beopgong Daesa sent a letter saying you were traveling to Wuhan with So-hye. He told me to join you in Jiujiang, so I was waiting nearby."
"...Beopgong Monk?"
I frowned at the unexpected name.
That guy, I thought he only drank, but he was actually working?
Jin-sung nodded, pulled out the Flying Dagger from the bandit's body, placed it at my feet, and stepped back.
Over him, I saw the image of Jin-sung carefully handing me Wound Remedy sometime ago.
...It seems he didn't come to drag me away by force.
My expression softened as I retrieved the Flying Dagger, and Jin-sung asked politely,
"Where is Beopgong Daesa?"
"Somewhere in that sea of fire."
Jin-sung let out an awkward groan as I pointed to the raging Yangtze River.
"Ah..."
"Beopgong Monk destroyed it all, so it'll be fine. More importantly, we should move."
I gestured with my chin at the approaching bandit group surrounding us, and Jin-sung nodded, readjusting his sword.
One of the bandits, approaching stealthily, threw a dense iron net at us.
"Got it! Attack!"
At that moment, Jin-sung leaped towards the flying net, extending his arms as if dancing.
The pine tree patterned blade was dyed pure white. The trajectory of the pure white light elegantly cut through the net.
The net was torn to shreds in the blink of an eye.
The bandits, frozen by the overwhelming Martial Arts, retreated cautiously like a thousand scattering dogs.
Jin-sung glanced at me and opened his mouth calmly.
"What happened that day was an accident."
"Pardon?"
"I had no intention of harming you or your party. I wanted to apologize all along. I'm sorry."
He looked a little nervous as he apologized with a serious face.
I felt a little awkward.
Emotions were hurt because the situation was twisted, but in fact, Jin-sung wasn't greatly at fault.
It was Peng Zhiyun who wielded the sword at Yeon-ryang, and it was me who caused the problem by pretending to follow and then releasing Poison and running away.
But Jin-sung seemed to have been bothered by what happened that day. I nodded.
"Yes. I accept that apol—"
"Eeek! Die!"
At the same time, my left fist and Jin-sung's right foot struck the abdomen of the rushing bandit.
"Kuaaaak!"
Splash!
We exchanged awkward glances at the sight of the bandit flying three yards high and disappearing into the river.
"...ogy."
"Thank you."
Jin-sung, with a faint smile, pointed his sword at the bandits.
"Don't be afraid! Take down that young Taoist first! We have to deal with the Swordmaster first! Overwhelm him with numbers!"
One of the bandits with a bamboo spear shouted, and everyone began to rush towards Jin-sung. The coordinated movements caused the ship to vibrate heavily.
Despite the pressure, Jin-sung did not waver.
He captured the approaching enemies in his eyes, as deep as a lake.
While the bandits' attention was focused on Jin-sung, the captain was desperately trying to steer the ship to shore. However, the sail that had caught fire did not catch any wind.
The melted canvas clung to the mast, and the fire spread to the wooden pillar.
The mast, thicker than a person's torso, began to burn.
"Pull the ropes! Cut the sail!"
"It's too late! We have to abandon ship!"
"I said pull!"
When no one moved, the captain, letting go of the helm, gritted his teeth and ran towards the center of the ship.
Sparks flew, blistering his face and the back of his hands, but he did not give up and tried to cut the ropes.
"Disciple, can I ask you to take care of what happens next? I'll go over there."
"Yes. I understand."
As soon as he heard the answer, I leaped forward, snatched the captain, and pulled him back.
The captain, his whole body red and festering from burns, screamed and struggled.
"Let go of me! I have to cut the sail, I have to cut it!"
"The mast is on fire! You'll die if you do that!"
"Whether I die this way or that way, I'll die anyway! Let go of me if you don't want to drown! Even if I die, I'll cut that sail before I die!"
The captain's eyes, shouting fiercely, showed a will to die without fear.
"Can I break it?"
"What did you say?"
"I'm asking if I can break that sail! If I just knock it off the ship, right?"
"Wh, what are you...!"
The flustered captain gaped. I let go of him, narrowed my eyes, and estimated where to break it.
The scorching heat made it hard to breathe. I felt like the fire would spread to my body if I made a mistake.
I took a deep breath and jumped into the Yangtze River. I braced myself for the bone-chilling sensation, but the river was lukewarm, as if affected by the surrounding heat.
"Puhak!"
Soaking my whole body and returning to the deck, I quickly ran and kicked the mast with all my might.
Kwajik!
The mast, weakened by being half-burned, could not withstand the impact and broke, tilting to the side.
Thud! Tuduk!
As the mast fell to the left, the connected ropes broke one by one, causing the ship to lurch greatly to port.
"Uwaaa!"
"Save me!"
Both passengers and bandits ran to the right, struggling not to fall into the water.
I also braced myself, putting strength in my legs, and grabbed the broken mast and pulled it out. My palms burned even though I had coated them with Inner Energy.
Biting my lip, I threw the burning mast outside the ship, and the river shook violently with a roar.
Chwaaaaaaak!
The ship, swaying from side to side in the rushing waves, gradually regained its balance.
The captain stared at me with a dumbfounded look, then quickly regained his senses and began to put out the remaining fires.
"Stomp on the embers! We can live! Put out the fire first!"
But putting out the fire was only a temporary measure.
Bandits, rampant like rats from somewhere, were endlessly crawling onto the ship.
I swallowed hard at the unusual number of enemies and clutched the coins.
It seemed like it would be a particularly long night.
\ \ \
Beopgong leisurely walked across the deck engulfed in flames.
Even in the heat reminiscent of hellfire, his body, as hard as a diamond, did not feel even a tickle.
"Amitabha."
Beopgong, with an expressionless face, rolled his prayer beads and roughly examined the cabins with the roofs torn off.
There were no valuables to be seen, only weapons made of scrap iron and a few sacks of salt.
Tilting his head, Beopgong kicked a sack of salt with his toe.
The salt, melted by the heat, seeped slowly into the cracks in the wood.
"Hey, Yeon-ryang! I guess this isn't the flagship. There's nothing here."
"Yeah. That one looks like the real one."
Yeon-ryang, standing on a plank floating on the river to avoid the flames, scratched his head.
In the distance, a huge warship with a two-story pavilion was seen entering the fiery gorge.
The ornately decorated ship was so large that it could be called a citadel on the water.
"Is that guy a pervert? What the hell did he do to the ship..."
Yeon-ryang, muttering sullenly, widened his eyes.
Fire arrows shot from the warship were pouring down on the ship where his sister was.
"So-hye!"
Yeon-ryang, shouting sharply, darted towards the flagship.
"Hey, wait...! He's already gone? Huh."
Beopgong snorted and brushed off the Monk's Robe covered in ashes.
"That sister-obsessed bastard. He's like that with his sister, I can only imagine what he'll be like if he has kids."
He grumbled and stomped his foot, putting all his Inner Energy into it.
Kugugugung!
Jjeok!
The ship, with its hull bursting and the floor submerged, began to sink from the stern.
Beopgong lightly jumped onto a floating mast and turned his gaze to the burning passenger ship.
"This is a disaster."
He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
It seemed he would have to find a new ship to Wuhan.
\ \ \
It hurt my pride, but I had to admit it.
Jin-sung was strong.
I didn't know what had happened over the past three seasons, but the tip of his sword was much sharper than the last time I saw it.
As I stubbornly clung to him, frustrated that I couldn't keep up with his speed, Jin-sung opened his mouth in surprise.
"Your Martial Arts have improved."
"Oh, are you praising me right now?"
"..."
Jin-sung asked as he stabbed Poison Needles into the bandit's severed blood points, and he shut his mouth tightly.
I guess not.
I smacked my lips and deflected the Hidden Weapons flying towards Jin-sung.
Matching moves with another Martial Artist was a different experience.
I wondered if it was normal to feel joy in this situation, but...
Honestly, it was fun.
Throwing Hidden Weapons to match Jin-sung's speed, and taking out the bandits who were aiming for the gaps he left open because he trusted me, was fun.
At the moment when our breathing matched perfectly, I even felt an inexplicable joy.
...Is this what camaraderie is?
Rather than matching moves with Yeon-ryang, I felt more like I was being protected by him.
But Jin-sung was different. He regarded me as an equal Martial Artist and completely entrusted his back to me.
I smirked.
For some reason, I could understand a little, just a little, why Martial Artists were obsessed with swordsmanship.
At that time, someone was seen jumping onto our ship, using debris floating on the river as stepping stones.
I could tell just by the familiar bulk. It was Yeon-ryang.
"Brother! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
As I waved my hand, shouting loudly, Yeon-ryang rushed to me and groped my body all over.
"Who's worrying about who? You're soaking wet. Where's Myeokri gone... So-hye, what's wrong with your hand? Did you get burned? Did you fall? Why is your leg hurt? You've been cut!"
"Ah, that was Jin-sung disciple..."
Before I could finish speaking, Yeon-ryang hid me behind his back, drew his sword, and pointed the tip at Jin-sung.
Yeon-ryang, baring his fangs, growled like a beast.
"We meet again. Little Taoist. I won't let you off easily this time."
