“Snatch them!”
There was chaos on the deck as everyone saw the ship coming ahead of us. No one would have expected the 18 River Families of the Yangtze River to appear this quickly.
It was the same for me too.
This place could be said to only be the entrance to the Yangtze River. Even if they came quickly, this was too quick.
-The ship is getting closer. They must be coming from the back.
As Short Sword said, the ships with the black sails were coming closer. It seemed that this was the reason the ship in front of us had tried desperately to stop.
But how could a ship go up against such tremendous currents?
“The ship is coming!”
“Is it going against the water?”
“… they are swift.”
Hyuk Cheon-man said this seriously and puzzled everyone.
But they soon realized what he meant. The ships with the black sails were simply holding their pace.
We were the ones headed into them with the current. I didn’t know what they did, but their ships stood still even in this rough current.
At that moment, Do Wook shouted to everyone on the deck.
“Do not worry about numbers. We have a plan!”
Their plan was to be captured by the river families.
However, contrary to their expectations, the river families had appeared too quickly. If they held their ground here, they would be exposed, and their plans would be ruined.
Hearing Do Wook, Hong Gu-ga then said.
“Hurry back to the warehouse and use martial arts to avoid being identified.”
“I understand!”
“Everyone to the warehouse!”
People of the Southern Edge sect and the Beggars Union ran back to the warehouse. The water canal here made the situation become more urgent.
[What do we do?]
Sima Young asked me this. At this rate, the ship would be captured. If that happened, the plan to meet them as leader of the Blood Sect would change.
-Shall we make a hole in the ship?
‘Ah…’
Short Sword’s words made me even more worried.
These weren’t even calm currents. We were in the middle of the rough, so any hole in the ship would be dangerous.
Even if the people here were warriors, humans could not survive natural disasters.
Doing something stupid would only cause deaths. Hyuk Cheon-man then told me.
“Sajae, too, head into the warehouse.”
“You are talking about me?”
“You and your companions. You are all supposed to be on the first ship.”
Ah… but why now?
If I hid in the warehouse, I could not come out. At that moment…
Kwakwakwakwang!
There was yet another roar as if something was breaking, and it was getting louder.
As soon as I heard that sound, I looked at the ship ahead of us and saw people on the sides waving their lanterns and shouting.
The distance might have seemed small, but I needed to focus my internal qi on my ears to hear.
“Stop the ship! Stop the ship!”
‘…!?’
What were they saying?
How could we stop the ship here?
Hyuk Cheon-man looked at me with a frown.
“You heard them?”
I nodded my head and looked at the ship struggling in front of us. They had let down their anchor. Feeling something odd, I looked around and found the mast.
Pat!
“Young lord!”
“Wait here!”
Ignoring Sima Young’s shout, I climbed up the mast to reach the highest place and saw what was happening.
I arrived at the top of the mast, but Hyuk Cheon-man had appeared before me. It seemed that he had the same thought.
I could see ahead of us from the top of the mast. At that moment, however, Hyuk Cheon-man and I were at a loss for words.
‘…!!’
I doubted my eyes.
A wrecked ship was being swept away by a torrent in front of the third ship that was struggling to stop.
And many people were struggling in the water.
It felt like an abyss.
-All the ships ahead of us seem to be destroyed!
All of them seemed to have been destroyed except for the ship we were on and the third ship ahead. I could tell simply from the pieces of broken ships on the water.
How did they make such a huge ship….
“See that!”
Hyuk Cheon-man pointed his hand elsewhere, and I saw something shining on the river’s dark surface.
“Chains?”
No matter how closely we looked, it was a chain. Chains were connected between the ships with the black sails, presumably belonging to the Eighteen River Families of the Yangtze River.
However, the size and thickness of these chains exceeded normal ones.
It was much bigger than anything used for anchors.
“Ah!”
Now I get it.
Why did the ships break?
The chains connected to the two ships on the water canal were tied together. Our other ships seemed to be caught in them and then destroyed due to the torrents.
“This… enclosing rings.”
Those words came out of his mouth.
Enclosing Rings.
It was a ploy that utilized chains tied between chariots and used to knock down enemies while on the move or to neutralize the opposing chariot.
But this was the first time I’ve seen it used to connect two ships.
-Aren’t we outnumbered? Weren’t they aiming for the goods on the ships?
Short Sword was right. If they were pirates, then their aim should have been for the goods we were transporting.
However, they were destroying the ships instead.
‘So the goods aren’t their purpose.’
Otherwise, there was no reason for them to destroy the ships. The third ship ahead of us was struggling to stop, but it was only a matter of time. The ships were moving closer.
“Sahyung. Something feels wrong.”
“I think so too.”
If their purpose wasn’t to capture us, we would also be smashed to pieces.
“Now isn’t the time for this.”
Hyuk Cheon-man jumped off the top of the mast.
I followed him down. As soon as we reached the deck, the sailors asked us what was happening.
“The unidentified ships in the canal are destroying our ships by using enclosed rings. We must cancel the plan now! Go to the warehouse and tell them to stop what they are doing!”
“Understood!”
As the sailors rushed off, Hyuk Cheon-man asked the captain,
“Captain Bang. Do you have any small boats?”
“They are tied to the side of the ship. Why are you asking about them so suddenly?”
“Please release the boats right away.”
“It would be difficult in this place where the water currents are so rough! Small ones would end up capsizing.”
“They just need to hold out until we reach the ship ahead of us.”
Ah!
I think I knew why he was asking for a small boat.
It seemed like he was trying to cross over to the other ship to stop it before it was crushed by the chains.
This was good.
If he cut the chains and we could escape without fighting, the Murim Alliance’s plan to subjugate the pirates would turn into nothing.
“Sajae, I will jump over to the ship ahead of us and try to break down the chains. You guard this ship.”
“I understand….”
Bang! Grrrr!
At that moment, the ship shook violently, sending most of the sailors on deck falling and rolling.
They were unable to figure out what was happening, but one of the escorts then shouted.
“L-Look there!”
He pointed towards a rope that had flown in and struck the cabin.
It had a hook-like part that latched on, and it seemed the boat was shaking.
I followed where the ropes were connected to see where they came from. I spotted large crossbow carts on the eastern hill and countless figures standing there in the dark.
“No…”
Kwang!
Kwang!
Another round of crossbows then flew in and crashed into the ship. The shock almost caused the whole ship to roll.
It had definitely caused it to shake.
Kiiik!
“Ackkk!”
“T-the ship is tilting!”
“Hold the railing!”
The prow, which had been advancing ahead, cut through the rapid currents and tilted to the side before coming to a halt at an odd angle.
The impact threw quite a few people into the river.
“Are you alright?”
I grabbed Sima Young’s hand and asked her.
She had also almost gotten thrown into the river.
“I-I am fine.”
I stabbed my sword into the ship in an instant and caught her.
“Damn it! Ask me if I am fine too.”
I noted that Song Jwa-baek was hanging from the edge of the ship. He was someone who really wouldn’t fall and managed to hold on. I then looked around.
Fortunately, Song Woo-hyun and Cho Seong-won were also safe,
“Throw the rope!”
“Rescue the fallen people!”
The crew hurriedly threw ropes into the water to rescue those who had fallen overboard. However, the current was so rough that those who had fallen over were quickly swept away too far.
Once they were lost, rescue was impossible.
The captain shouted.
“I-if you don’t cut that line, the ship will be turned over.”
“Cut the line!”
Hearing this, a warrior ran to the crossbow that was attached to the rope to cut it. Another problem then arose.
Out of nowhere, a rain of arrows showered the ship.
Chachachachak!
“Kuak!”
“Ack!”
The sailors who didn’t know martial arts collapsed from the rain of arrows.
“They’re using arrows! Stop them!”
“Protect the crew members!”
The warriors wielded their weapons to block the arrows, but there were too many of them.
They gradually began to resemble hedgehogs with arrows through their bodies.
Shortly after, the swordsmen of the Southern Edge Sect and the Beggars Union appeared from the warehouse side of the ship. However, the arrows continued to rain down and caused further injuries.
“Cut the line!”
“No, wait!”
Hyuk Cheon-man shouted at the men who were trying to cut the chains.
He then looked at me and said.
“You handle the chains! I will go there and stop them!”
The moment he belayed his orders, Hyuk Cheon-man slashed away the arrows with his sword and rushed toward the rope that was stuck in the ship. It seemed that he wanted to head to the hill.
Tatatata!
Such amazing footwork. He was running across a single rope as if walking on flat ground.
Do Wook shouted.
“Warrior Hyuk! I will help too!”
Elder Do Wook also ran to the chain. It was a testament to his kill that he was able to run on such a violently swinging chain.
Some from the Beggars Union and the swordsmen also tried to follow but were unable to make it past a couple of steps.
The only ones who arrived at the end were Hyuk Cheon-man and Elder Do Wook.
‘Kuak!’
First of all, I had to do what I was ordered.
Once he took care of those up there and cut the line, the ship would move again.
If I didn’t deal with the chain, the ship would end up destroyed. I ran over to the tilting boat, grabbed the chain, and put myself in a small boat.
“I am coming too!”
Sima Young followed me.
“No, it is dangerous. Stay here.”
“But….”
“That will help me!”
“Then be careful!”
In this situation, there would be nothing we could do to protect each other, even if the ship turned over. Knowing this, she quickly conceded.
I hurriedly cut the chain with the sword.
Drrrrr!
The rope dropped from its pulley, and the boat fell into the river. It was certainly rocking quite a bit, but the large ship protected me from the waves.
-Ugh. It is shaking so much.
Why are you so anxious?
I held onto the ship and let it flow with the river. If you follow the current of water, you will naturally have to head to the front of the ship.
At that moment, Iron Sword spoke to me.
-Wonhwi. Look to the cliffside.
I looked over and saw that people were trying to cut the chains away. They didn’t want Do Wook and Hyuk Cheon-man to reach them.
Each time a line was cut, the two of them would move to another line. Eventually, however, Do Wook fell into the river.
Plop!
I saw Elder Do Wook fall into the river and struggle.
Fortunately, he was holding onto a broken line so he could pull himself up.
“Ah!”
At that moment, Hyeok Cheon-man also ended up falling from his rope. However, he managed to fling himself with his amazing skills and stuck his sword into the cliff.
The figures on the hills tried to shoot him down to stop him. It didn’t seem easy to climb up while blocking those arrows with his sword.
-Wonhwi! Ahead!
Short Sword’s cry made me look forward. The boat was being swept to the side and was about to crash into the large boat in front of me.
Pat!
I used light footwork and landed on the deck of the ship. The sailors were shocked at my appearance. I ignored them and hurriedly ran to the deck.
“Brace yourself!”
“Prepare for the shock!”
The ship had chains ahead of it.
Everyone seemed to have lost any idea what to do, and all the sailors looked at me.
“W-warrior So! The ship is about to collide!”
“A few people tried to cut it off but were swept away by the water.”
Ah, so they tried to cut it.
The chain seemed difficult to break with just a sword or an axe. Even seasoned warriors would fail to do it.
-What are you going to do now?
What could I do?
I simply needed to cut the chains. I readied myself to run as swiftly as possible, puzzling the sailors around me.
“W-warrior So?”
“Y-You don’t mean…”
Pat!
Ignoring their words, I threw myself on the chains. Having jumped over 10 feet in one go, I was able to climb the chains.
“Uhhh!”
I almost fell over but somehow managed to keep my balance.
The sight of the water flowing under the chain and the larger ships approaching behind them was dizzying.
However, as soon as I focused my attention on my sword…
Wooong!
Iron Sword glowed brightly.
New Sword Union.
I raised my internal qi and slashed at the chain.
Chaaaang!
Blue sparks flew as Iron Sword clashed with the chain. The chain then fell apart with a violent shake.
I leaned over as I almost fell, but I didn’t stop.
Chang!
As the chains broke, both ends of the chain bounced back. At the same time, I heard shouts from behind me.
“The chain is broken!!”
“We can live!!”
But that elation didn’t last long. The chains had broken, and I no longer had any place to stand and fell into the river.
Plop!
“W-warrior So!”
The water current was so fast that I was swept away. I moved around with all my might and managed to rise up from the water.
Shhh!
As Hyuk Cheon-man advised me, I kicked across the river and protected my feet with qi.
‘Once! Just once!’
Because of the rapid currents around me, moving comfortably was impossible. My whole body would be thrown in the direction of the current, but I simply needed to move in the right direction just once.
Pang!
I kicked my foot again and bounced my body back toward where the broken chains had fallen.
Pak!
I grabbed the chain that was about to go down into the river.
-What are you doing! Throw yourself into the ship!
I cannot miss this chance.
I have to hold on to the chains and climb on the pirate ships. If they were the real ones, then I could negotiate.
After protecting my body with qi, I tried to move forward while holding the chain under the water.
Even this thick chain was being bent in the direction of the current.
‘Damn it!’
I moved myself one hand at a time and pulled forward.
Short Sword then shouted.
-Wo-wonhwi! The chains are going down!
‘What?’
I was shocked and looked to see that the front end of the chain was sinking into the water.
Thanks to this, my body and the chains were being caught up in the rapids.
“Uhhhh!”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do anything else now. I let go of the chains and began to swing my arms.
I entertained the very real possibility that I might die. At that moment, Iron Sword then said,
-Wonhwi. Trust me.
Iron Sword came out from his sheath.
He then landed in the middle of my hand.
-Hold me!
As I struggled through the water, I grabbed Iron Sword. My body, which had been swayed by the currents, was then dragged by him.
Swish! Papt!
My body crossed the surface of the water and exited out of it.
It didn’t even end there. I flew into the sky with Iron Sword, and, at that moment, a thunderous roar sounded below me.
“WoAHHHHHH!!”
The sailors on the ship cheered as they saw me flying through the sky. Some could not even close their mouths.
