Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 760

The ship loomed, a dark shape that could weigh a person down with just a glance. This was especially true with the fierce dragon’s head at the front, instead of a gentle figure.

“A Dragon Ship.”

This ship was a symbol of power, allowed only to the masters who controlled the main waterways of the Yangtze River. These waterways were like watery roads, and controlling them meant power and riches.

In other words, the master of a stronghold was on that ship.

“…It’s not just one or two ships.”

“It looks like all the river pirates from the waterways have gathered.”

The Mount Hua disciples started to look worried.

‘Were there this many pirates in one waterway?’

Of course, that ship wouldn’t be as full of pirates as the fast ship they had faced earlier.

But even if it was only half full, there would still be hundreds of pirates.

“Captain!”

Baek Cheon quickly turned to the captain.

“Can we get to the shore?”

“I- Impossible.”

The captain shook his head, looking scared.

“Pirate ships are faster than normal ships. Even if they are the same type, the speed is different depending on if they are carrying cargo or not… This ship is loaded with cargo and can’t go that fast.”

“Hmm.”

“Also, the ship has holes from the attack. Everyone is trying to bail out the water, but if we go faster, more water will come in, and the ship will sink. Then we will all die.”

Baek Cheon looked towards the shore.

The land was very far away.

‘It’s at least five ‘li’ to the shore,’ he thought. A ‘li’ is a very long distance, almost two miles.

The Yangtze River is a very wide river. This place was where a smaller river flowed into Dongting Lake. The water moved slowly, and because it was connected to the lake, the river was even wider than usual.

The river was very wide, and they had to swim far from the center to reach the shore. The Mount Hua disciples could do it, but it was almost impossible for the common people on the ship to swim that far.

‘Even if they could swim, the pirates are good at fighting in the water. They would attack them,’ he thought.

They could escape if they left the common people behind. But the Mount Hua disciples would never do that. It was against everything they believed in.

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

‘Was I too hasty?’

He hadn’t taken the river pirates seriously enough. He thought they would only face one ship, but he didn’t expect the entire waterway force to come out.

“Sasuk.”

Someone was asking what to do. Baek Cheon bit his lip and thought hard. He looked thoughtful and calm.

‘What would Chung Myung do?’

He knew what Chung Myung would say.

– No, it doesn’t matter how many of them there are! They can’t do anything if you smash their heads in. Don’t worry about the others, just take down the boss!

‘Alright! I got it!’

Baek Cheon said firmly.

“Listen carefully.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

“When the Dragon Ship gets close, we’ll board it. Baek Sang and Soso will stay here to protect the commoners. The rest of us will rush onto the Dragon Ship and capture the waterway master.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The Mount Hua disciples had looked confused, but now they were determined, as if they had never been worried.

The Dragon Ship was large, so there would be many pirates. They knew it would be hard to jump onto the ship and find the waterway master.

But once they had an order, they didn’t hesitate.

“Then, prepare… Huh?”

Jo Gul tilted his head.

“Sasuk.”

“Yes?”

“Those guys are slowing down?”

“…”

“They’re going to stop?”

The Mount Hua disciples looked at the ships, confused.

“Ptooey!”

Bang Chung climbed the rope ladder hanging from the Dragon Ship.

“Ugh. What a sight.”

He climbed the ladder, followed by his men.

“Ahem.”

Bang Chung stepped onto the deck, wiped his face, and took a deep breath. He saw the pirates on both sides and a large wooden chair in the center. He ran to the chair and bowed down.

“P-Please kill me, Master of the Waterway!”

“Kill you?”

A middle-aged man in a blue cloak looked at Bang Chung and sneered.

“You should die. A hero of the Yangtze River lost his ship and ran away. You should die.”

“M-Master of the Waterway…”

“Jo Seung.”

“Yes! Master of the Waterway!”

“Chop him up and throw him to the fish.”

Bang Chung’s face turned white.

“M-Master of the Waterway!”

“If you say another word, I will tear your mouth myself.”

Bang Chung was too scared to speak and just sweated.

“Master of the Waterway.”

Jo Seung spoke quietly.

“Commander Bang was disgraceful. But we can’t blame him alone.”

“Why?”

“Someone sank that fast ship with one blow. We couldn’t have avoided that.”

“Hmm.”

Yeo Gwang-gye, the Ravenous Black Fish, nodded.

“An irresistible force.”

But the Ravenous Black Fish clicked his tongue, looking unhappy.

“Even so, he lost the ship. Demote him to a soldier and lock him up for fifteen days. Don’t give him any water.”

“Yes!”

“T-Thank you, Master of the Waterway!”

Bang Chung bowed repeatedly, happy to be alive.

“…A power strong enough to sink a fast ship with one blow… Why are such people here?”

“They, they said they were from Mount Hua.”

The Ravenous Black Fish’s eyes lit up.

“Mount Hua?”

“Yes! The one who punched was a monk, but he said he was from Mount Hua.”

“Mount Hua…”

The Ravenous Black Fish looked at Jo Seung.

“It’s because of the special transport. Mount Hua is behind the Eunha Transport Agency.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Jo Seung looked at Bang Chung and asked.

“Were they young?”

“Yes! They were young. There are seven of them.”

The Ravenous Black Fish’s face twisted.

“You lost the ship to seven guys! You shrimp!”

“Eek!”

Jo Seung quickly calmed the Ravenous Black Fish.

“If they are young men from Mount Hua, they are probably the Mount Hua Five Swords.”

“…Mount Hua Five Swords?”

“Yes. They defeated the first disciples of Wudang in the martial arts competition. They are not to be taken lightly. And if the Mount Hua Divine Dragon is on that ship, Commander Bang couldn’t have faced them.”

“Ugh.”

The Ravenous Black Fish glared at Bang Chung and looked at the merchant ship.

“If they are the Mount Hua Five Swords, they must be the ones I keep hearing about, right?”

“Yes, Master of the Waterway.”

“Hmm.”

The Ravenous Black Fish’s eyes flickered.

“They have a reputation. They must be skilled and confident to face us. We must make them pay for daring to face us. Drag them away.”

“Yes! As you command!”

The pirates began to move.

The Ravenous Black Fish gripped the chair handle and muttered.

“Mount Hua…”

He smiled cruelly.

“They’re not coming?”

“What are they doing?”

The Mount Hua disciples looked at the Dragon Ship, confused.

They had been ready to attack, but now the ship was just stopped.

“Are they scared?”

“Scared?”

“Yes. We have a reputation now, don’t we? They are just pirates. How dare they face the Mount Hua Five Swords! Haha!”

“Geol-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut your mouth?”

“…”

Yoon Jong glared at Jo Gul and looked back at the Dragon Ship.

Then…

“It’s moving!”

“…But it’s not coming this way?”

The Dragon Ship began to turn.

“Is that possible?”

“There are oars. They can row in opposite directions.”

The Dragon Ship turned completely around. The Mount Hua disciples tilted their heads.

“Are they leaving?”

“I wonder. Why are they turning away…”

Then…

Creak!

The door at the back of the Dragon Ship opened, and something black came out.

“Is that what they shot earlier?”

“No!”

The Mount Hua disciples widened their eyes.

It was a harpoon, but it was huge.

It was twice the size of the harpoon from the fast ship, and it was very fast.

“Chains?”

There was a long chain attached to the harpoon.

Crack!

Wham!

The harpoons hit the ship. The ship shook, as if hit by a wave.

Rattle!

The chain was pulled tight.

“These bastards!”

“What are they doing?”

“Could it be…?”

The Dragon Ship began to move.

Zzzzzing!

The chains sounded like a whale crying. The merchant ship tilted towards the Dragon Ship.

“W-What is this!”

“Damn it, we’re being dragged away!”

The Five Swords were confused.

They had never expected this.

The fast ships surrounded the merchant ship, like they were escorting it. They wouldn’t miss a single ant.

The ships kept a safe distance, showing how careful they were.

“Where are they dragging us to?”

“It’s obviously their lair!”

Jo Gul gritted his teeth.

It was hard to fight on the ship. But there were some advantages. Only a few people could board a ship.

But if they were dragged ashore, the seven of them would have to face all the pirates.

‘If that were possible, I wouldn’t be going through this!’ he thought.

“We’re done for if we get dragged away!”

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean?”

Jo Gul shouted.

“Nothing has changed! They’re giving us a path, so we should cut their throats! I’m going first!”

“Geol-ah!”

“Hey, you bastard! Stop!”

Jo Gul jumped over the railing.

Thump!

He ran out on the chain, moving very fast.

“I was feeling bored, but you’re giving me a bridge! How kind!”

Jo Gul held a plum blossom sword and ran like lightning. Then…

A man poked his head out of the Dragon Ship and gestured. Archers appeared on the Dragon Ship and the fast ships.

Jo Gul’s mouth hung open.

“Huh?”

He didn’t expect this.

“Fire!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The arrows flew, darkening the sky.

“Wow… What a sight.”

They fell on Jo Gul like black rain.

“…I shouldn’t have been so reckless.”

Regret is always too late.