Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 756

“Wait! Just a second!”

A beggar ran as fast as he could towards the docks. His feet pounded on the wooden planks.

“Haa… haa… haa…”

He reached the edge of the docks and bent over, hands on his knees. He was breathing hard, each breath a struggle. He couldn’t rest yet. He looked around quickly, his eyes searching. He grabbed the arm of the first person he saw.

“E-excuse me,” he stammered, “can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“W-wasn’t there a merchant ship supposed to leave this afternoon?”

“Ah, that ship?”

“Yes!”

“What does a beggar want with a merchant ship!”

“W-well… someone I know is on board. What happened to the ship? It doesn’t seem like it’s time to leave yet?”

“People got ready early, so it already set sail.”

“Pardon?”

“It left a while ago. It’s probably already out of Jiujiang. If you’re looking for a ship, you’ll have to wait for the next one.”

At those words, the beggar slumped down, disappointed.

“Oh, dear….”

In his hand, he held a letter in a red envelope.

“No, but the ship’s gone. How am I supposed to deliver this? My boss will kill me….”

His eyes, fixed on the flowing Yangtze River, were filled with despair.

The ship moved smoothly along the Yangtze River.

It wasn’t a special sight. Hundreds of ships traveled the Yangtze every day.

But someone standing at the front of the ship made it seem special.

“He must be the son of a rich family.”

“Why would a young master ride a ship like this? Shouldn’t he be on a fancy boat?”

“He’s probably tired of those.”

“Anyway, he’s quite handsome.”

Baek Cheon frowned as he heard the whispers.

‘I told you not to get attention.’

This wasn’t avoiding attention; it was asking for it. But he didn’t say anything.

“And that must be his servant.”

“Of course, a young master would have a servant with him.”

“It’s obvious he’s a servant, why even ask?”

Baek Cheon looked at Baek Sang with pity. Baek Sang looked like he was thinking deeply, his eyes half-closed. He spoke quietly.

“Please, say nothing.”

“Sang-ah.”

“If you comfort me, I’ll cry.”

“…”

‘These people are cruel.’

They thought they were whispering quietly, but a martial artist could hear everything. So, he couldn’t blame them.

‘Hey, you lot? Why are you whispering over there too?’

Seeing the Mount Hua disciples, including Yoon Jong, pointing at him, Baek Cheon felt nervous.

All Baek Cheon could do was pat Baek Sang on the shoulder.

“Don’t touch me. You’ll get servant on you.”

“…”

‘What a scared guy.’

“By the way, will the pirates really come?”

“Shhh. Keep your voice down.”

“Why are you being so careful? We’re on a ship, and it’s already left. The pirates can’t hear us, can they?”

“There might be pirates on this ship.”

Startled, Baek Sang jumped slightly.

“On the ship?”

“Even if the pirates know the Yangtze well, they don’t know every ship. They might put someone on board to send a signal.”

“I didn’t see anyone who looked like they knew martial arts.”

“Helping the pirates doesn’t mean they know martial arts. They might try to bribe a merchant or a crew member.”

“Ah….”

Baek Sang nodded.

‘He really seems like the old Baek Cheon sometimes.’

“So, do you think the pirates will come?”

“We’ve already set the trap, so they probably will. They usually do.”

“Why?”

“A special transport doesn’t cross the Yangtze often. They wouldn’t want to miss this chance.”

Baek Sang nodded as if he understood.

Whether they wanted the valuables or had another reason, they wouldn’t get many chances to attack the special transport, so they would likely take it.

If they knew what was happening in Jiujiang, they would definitely come if they heard the news.

“What if they don’t come?”

“Then we’re lucky.”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon looked into the distance.

“If they don’t come after we do this a few times, it means they weren’t targeting the special transport. It was just bad luck. Then it will be easier to solve.”

“Ah.”

“But… well.”

If things were that easy, he wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Anyway, there won’t be any trouble for a while. They’ll probably appear where the river is slow and there are few people. But be careful until then.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Baek Sang answered quietly, glancing back. Seeing his fellow disciples chatting with the passengers, he felt strange.

‘It’s nice, but….’

The Mount Hua disciples were now confident experts.

He wasn’t there yet, but the Five Swords were known as experts, wherever they went.

However….

‘Will their skills work on the water?’

It was hard to say. The Five Swords were skilled, but even the big sects didn’t like dealing with pirates, so it wasn’t easy.

‘I hope nothing happens.’

Baek Cheon thought something would happen, but Baek Sang hoped everything would be peaceful.

With those thoughts, the ship moved slowly along the Yangtze.

“There’s nothing to do.”

“Indeed.”

Yoon Jong looked bored. Even the Yangtze River outside the ship was getting boring.

Since Chung Myung came to Mount Hua, this was the first time he had been so relaxed. That guy couldn’t stay still.

“Should we train or something?”

“Don’t. Everyone is watching. We’re just ordinary merchants.”

“Ugh. I’m so bored.”

Jo Gul looked like he was dying of boredom.

Some people liked traveling by ship and enjoying the river, but it wasn’t for them.

If they wanted scenery, they’d rather be in the mountains. They could climb the mountains themselves.

“I wish the pirates would come quickly.”

“Don’t say that….”

“Why? We came here to find pirates.”

“Even so, it’s better to avoid them if we can.”

“Why?”

“Ugh. It’s a long story. It’s better if there are no problems.”

“Is it because Chung Myung isn’t here?”

At Jo Gul’s question, Yoon Jong was silent.

‘Is that it?’

If Chung Myung were here, everyone would be stopping him from running around to catch the pirates.

But at least they wouldn’t be afraid of the pirates.

‘I shouldn’t say that.’

Yoon Jong tried to stay calm. But before he could speak, Jo Gul said.

“Honestly, I’m a little worried, Senior Brother.”

“Huh?”

“Chung Myung.”

Yoon Jong looked surprised. If he had to guess who wouldn’t say that, it would be Yoo Iseol first, and Jo Gul second.

“When he’s around, I just want to punch him….”

“You’re just saying that because he’s not here….”

“Isn’t it true? I want to cause trouble.”

“You mean ‘if you were strong enough,’ right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Anyway, when he’s not around….”

Jo Gul stopped talking.

“I can’t explain it well….”

“That’s okay. I know.”

Yoon Jong waved his hand and smiled.

He was surprised that Jo Gul said that, but he understood. He felt the same way.

He knew it would be bad, but Chung Myung’s absence was worse than he thought.

“But don’t be weak. Or Chung Myung will make fun of you forever.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Jo Gul nodded, looking serious.

“What are you thinking about, Sa-go?”

Yoo Iseol, who was looking at the river, turned her head at Tang Soso’s question and answered.

“Mount Hua.”

“You’re thinking about Mount Hua even here?”

“It’s home.”

Tang Soso looked strange.

‘Home.’

Tang Soso was a proud Mount Hua disciple, but she didn’t think about Mount Hua as much as Yoo Iseol. Maybe none of the Mount Hua disciples did.

“Aren’t you worried about the Senior Brother you left behind?”

“He’s a troublemaker. He’ll be fine.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m worried about the Sect Leader.”

“That’s true.”

Yoo Iseol stared at Tang Soso and asked.

“Are you worried?”

“No. I’m not worried. About what?”

“Not about the junior disciple.”

“…”

When Tang Soso didn’t answer, Yoo Iseol shook her head.

“Don’t worry.”

“Yes, when it’s dangerous, Sa-go will protect….”

“You are also a proud Mount Hua swordsman.”

“…”

“You are not weak. So, it’s okay.”

Tang Soso stared at Yoo Iseol, then bit her lip. After a moment, she smiled.

“Yes, Sa-go! I’ll protect you this time!”

Yoo Iseol smiled slightly.

“Yes.”

Hae Yeon approached Baek Cheon and spoke quietly.

“Baek Cheon.”

“Yes, Monk.”

“The ship coming towards us is strange.”

“Yes?”

Hae Yeon looked serious.

“The other ships turned away before getting this close, but that ship isn’t. It’s far away, so I can’t be sure, but….”

Baek Cheon frowned and looked at the ship.

‘It doesn’t look special.’

But that was normal.

If they knew it was a pirate ship, they would run away. They had to hide until it was too late.

“Baek Sang-ah.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“Call the others.”

“Yes!”

Baek Sang called the disciples. Everyone looked tense as they gathered around Baek Cheon.

“Are they here?”

“I don’t know yet. But….”

Baek Cheon stared at the ship.

‘They still haven’t changed direction.’

It was hard to turn into the wind. So, the ship with the wind at its back should turn. A normal ship would have turned by now.

But even though they were close enough to see each other, that ship didn’t turn. The helmsman turned this ship because the other ship didn’t. Then, a new sail appeared on the other ship.

“Gasp!”

“T-that!”

Everyone gasped. The black dragon looked like it would jump into the Yangtze River. It was the Yangtze River Pirates.

“Pirates!”

“The pirates are coming!”

A shout came from the ship. Baek Cheon took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

“It seems….”

But before he could speak, everyone took out their plum blossom swords. Baek Cheon took out his sword and nodded.

“It seems our trap worked. Get ready, they’re coming!”

“Yes!”

Everyone watched the pirate ship approach.