Chapter: 421
Two months have already passed since I began my journey to Sacheon.
Starting from Hanam, the transport group led by the Poison King was crossing the mountains. There was still half the journey left to reach Sacheon.
Right now, we were facing a wide river.
It’s the largest river I’ve seen since my previous life.
This river is known as the Suryong River.
The area where the Suryong River flows must have been a vast plain until just a few centuries ago, but it is said to be an artificial river created during the chaos of white-tier monsters during the Blood Demon War.
When I first heard this, I thought, “What kind of monster can create a river?”
Recalling the Foggy Forest where the former Black Night Palace sat, it means that the power of a white-tier monster is enough to alter the terrain and even affect the ecosystem.
‘How did they manage to defeat such monsters all by themselves?’
Thinking about the people who single-handedly fought those monsters at that time made me shudder.
It was none other than Shin Noya who killed the Muryong (霧龍), which enveloped a whole region in hallucinatory fog.
It was Dokjeolcheon who slayed the water dragon that transformed the plains into a great river.
He was one of the five heroes who defended against the Blood Demon and was a revered figure in the Tang clan who changed it into a proper sect back then.
‘Scary humans.’
Now, the world has entered a phase where blood demons have vanished, and only blue demons roam about.
A little while later, with the descent of the Celestial Horse, red demons will start appearing as well.
When that time comes, it’ll be complete chaos in one word.
Even if the red monsters are at their peak and skilled warriors, they’re ones that cannot be defeated alone.
Red is like that, but what about the humans who managed to take down even the superior white ones?
‘No matter how I think about it, they must have been stronger than the Three Lords.’
I once thought of them as nothing but grumpy old men, but the more I dig into Shin Noya, the more I realize he truly is an outstanding individual.
Even currently, the Celestial Plum Blossom Line in Hwasan is said to respect him second only to Shin Noya, so you can imagine his standing.
‘So, when are you going to come out… How long do you plan to keep sleeping?’
Right after Noya assisted me at Shinryongwan.
It seemed he had fallen asleep again, as he hasn’t shown up even now.
The beast within me came out less often, and now, it simply remained silent.
‘… Tsk.’
Even though I longed for my own body, I couldn’t shake off a rather unsettling feeling.
As I gazed at the river, trying to sort out my gloomy thoughts, someone approached and spoke to me.
“Confucius.”
It was Moyong Hi-ah.
“Ah… You should go up.”
“Ah. I’ll go now.”
Moyong Hi-ah, who was insisting I should go, flinched and bowed when she saw Dangdeok standing behind me.
That big guy still seems to be having trouble adjusting.
Or maybe it’s more about being startled by that fearsome face.
After all, Dangdeok’s impression is as dirty as mine.
“But…”
“Yes?”
“Where did your aunt go?”
“Ah… I thought she was already on the boat?”
“…”
I had to wipe my forehead at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.
Not only did he hear from others where the escort was, but on top of that, the person they were meant to protect had just hopped onto the ship! What kind of situation is this?
This is downright ridiculous.
Even Moyong Hi-ah seemed to know about it since her expression was quite grim.
She spoke to me.
“I’m sorry… My aunt…”
“You don’t need to worry about it; it’s not something you should apologize for.”
“… Yes.”
Even when I reassured her, Moyong Hi-ah’s complexion didn’t improve.
Well, I suppose I’d feel too embarrassed to look anyone in the eye if my family behaved like that.
I casually patted Moyong Hi-ah’s hair.
“Go ahead and get up first. I’ll be there soon.”
“… Yes.”
At my words, Moyong Hi-ah gave a faint smile and headed towards the ship behind her.
Right, I had to board the boat.
To cross the Suryong River ahead.
‘Hmm.’
When I traveled from Shanxi to Sichuan, I didn’t need a boat; I took another route. Yet this time, it seemed I had to ride the boat…
‘It can’t be helped.’
I understood it was the route designated by the Poison King, and the quickest way, but riding a boat still felt pretty awkward.
I shifted my gaze slightly back and looked at Dangdeok, asking him.
“Hey.”
“…”
Dangdeok’s gaze turned towards me.
No response was given.
That guy can’t speak without my permission, after all.
“Where are the people you scattered hiding? Answer me, Myung-ya.”
When I phrased it as an order, Dangdeok’s lips began to tremble as he tried to speak.
“… The first starting point… And after…”
“Then it must’ve been about an hour since we departed. Are they still hiding?”
“… Yes…”
“You’ve already hidden them? You really have this well organized.”
I cracked a grin at Dangdeok’s response.
At my remark, Dangdeok’s shoulders shuddered.
I had been wondering how they were planning to ambush the transport group with both the Poison King and the Pillager present, and it appears they somehow knew we were crossing the Suryong River.
So, the plan was to send his men to the riverside ahead of time, set up a camp, and attack from all sides.
Looking at that, it seems he’s rather confident in underwater combat.
‘There are monsters, and they’re already lying in wait? What tricks do they have?’
The Suryong River is particularly rich in monsters. In particular, dragon-shaped monsters are abundant, making it a place that ordinary people can’t approach.
The Poison King deliberately chooses this river for the same reason.
It’s a place where the chances of a human ambush are drastically lowered, and it’s the fastest route to Sacheon.
If it were a monster at the level of the Poison King, there were all sorts of ways to stop them, whether using items or magical things, so it would probably seem relatively safe.
I assume Dangdeok intended to launch a surprise attack from the river.
Given that the Poison King has many things to protect, whether it be his bloodline or his transport group, it would make it dangerous on the river.
Having thought this far, a question arose naturally.
‘How did this guy even know?’
The fact that the Poison King planned to go through the Suryong River was something I had found out only a few days ago.
How did Dangdeok know this in advance and prepare for it?
Also.
‘It’s weird he has a ghost.’
The precious item that his subordinate possessed. I had retrieved it and hidden it in my bosom.
When I asked what that item was, Dangdeok said it was a ghost that camouflaged his presence when breathed upon.
This meant it was a so-called triggered ghost.
It was a valuable item worth its weight in gold, truly.
It’s strange for a bandit like Dangdeok to have something like this.
This applied to both information and goods.
I had a feeling that something suspicious was afoot.
“Hey.”
“…”
So, I decided to ask.
“The ‘ear’ you hid in the Tang Gate. Whose is that?”
“…!”
Dangdeok’s eyes widened at my question.
Seeing that, I was certain.
This guy really has an undercover agent hidden.
Wondering how he devised this plan, it looked like the Tang clan had eyes and ears in place for this guy.
He seems to have been hiding it all along since he didn’t answer questions that I hadn’t asked.
“Who is it? Tell me.”
Now that I’ve figured it out, there’s no way out for him.
“… Ugh…”
It seemed Dangdeok was trying to suppress it. It was a power already tightly bound deep within him.
It wouldn’t be something he could unravel just by his will.
Just as I expected, after a brief wait, Dangdeok’s closed lips finally parted.
“Oh.”
Upon hearing that, a shallow exclamation of admiration escaped me.
From Dangdeok’s mouth came the name of an unexpected individual.
I wondered how astonished that “ear” would have been when Dangdeok had come in under my protection.
Even if the Poison King didn’t realize what Dangdeok was, he must have seen something.
Holding back a small chuckle, I advanced my steps.
It seemed like there was one more person on this ship to deal with.
After about half a day of preparation, the departure began.
We had to put the prisoners underground and fully stock food for a four to seven-day voyage, so the preparations took a while.
However, with such preparations, we were able to depart without a hitch and keep a smooth schedule.
“Wow….”
On the railing, Wi Seol-ah gazes at the river in awestruck wonder.
Her reaction was so obvious that I couldn’t refrain from asking.
“What are you so fascinated by?”
“It moves on the water!”
“Well, it’s a boat, so of course, it moves.”
“Wow….”
What’s this? Is it her first time on a boat?
Thinking it over, I couldn’t really recall a time I was on a boat with Wi Seol-ah.
So that’s why she’s so amazed. I should take her on rides more often.
Seeing her beam with delight at the view, I couldn’t help but smile.
Next to the grinning Wi Seol-ah stood Moyong Hi-ah, wearing a blank expression, looking somewhat unwell.
“Why do you look like that?”
“… My stomach’s a bit off.”
“Stomach? Feeling motion sick?”
“… A little?”
Moyong Hi-ah’s response made me tilt my head in confusion.
Despite her low realm and lack of training, she is still a first-class warrior; how could she suffer from motion sickness?
Noticing my puzzled expression, Moyong Hi-ah cleared her throat a few times before addressing me.
“Last time… I got really motion sick, and it’s been like this ever since.”
“How severe could it have been for you to suddenly go from never having motion sickness to experiencing it now?”
“… I’d rather not remember.”
“Ah… right.”
Judging by her face, it seemed it had been quite dreadful, so I decided not to pry further.
While observing her, I took a quick glance around.
Cheol Ji-seon went to the bedroom, claiming he was dying from motion sickness.
The sleeping dragon also mentioned feeling sleepy and went to bed.
It seemed those who needed rest were indeed resting, as they couldn’t even practice while on the boat.
Well, for me, casting Heart Technique and walking around counts as my own form of training, so I’m fine.
Regrettably, not being able to do physical training feels disappointing.
‘Speaking of which, where’s Namgung Bi-ah…?’
I couldn’t see where she had gone. If I can’t spot her, she’s probably sleeping.
Most likely, there’s a high chance she’s sleeping in my bedroom.
I was somewhat halfway through giving up, so I decided to move on.
After all, I had been practicing and hardly sleeping anyway, so it wouldn’t matter where I sneezed.
It was probably better for everyone if they weren’t here right now.
‘It’ll be just a bit longer.’
If we go a little further, we’ll reach the location Dangdeok mentioned.
That means there are people gathered here to ambush this ship.
I hadn’t specifically instructed Dangdeok to stop this attack, mind you.
In fact, it might not be bad at all.
If we handle the ambush, it’ll provide me with a reason to say I helped repel it.
I intended to use that as a favor I’d ask of the Poison King.
In any case, the ambush by the green folks—who lack virtue—wouldn’t be that threatening.
Oh, naturally, I was also considering that they might decide not to attack solely due to their lack of virtue.
In the meantime, I can easily take out any rats hiding within the Tang clan.
Thud-
I loosened my body a bit.
‘Hmm….’
Reviewing my physical condition, I still sensed a few problems lingering.
This indicated the aftereffects from the last fight with Dangdeok were still present.
Normally, I wouldn’t engage in anything with such a condition.
However, right now felt like an opportune moment.
It was the ship with the Poison King, the Faction Leader, plus the White Lotus Sword, along with the Faction Head and the Dark King on board.
In terms of sheer power, it was enough to wipe out an entire sect or clan, so I’d say the risk level was low.
In essence, it’s the perfect time to pretend to do something.
As I was arranging these plans in my mind, I sensed someone approach from behind.
“Confucius!”
A bright and cheerful voice rang out.
I turned slightly to find Dang So-yeol smiling at me.
She held some snacks in her hand, and I frowned slightly at the sight.
“What’s that?”
I asked, a touch apprehensive, and Dang So-yeol, who had been smiling, suddenly looked disheartened.
“I went through the trouble of bringing it… Why do you have to react like that as soon as you see it…?”
“Doesn’t it have poison in it?”
“I didn’t add any poison…! Do you think I eat poison every day!?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not!”
Dang So-yeol shouted in disbelief, sounding genuinely upset.
No, seriously? I could’ve sworn I’d seen her gulp down poison tea and poisoned fruit on a daily basis.
Hearing her protest made me slightly awkward.
“Sorry if that’s not the case.”
“… Hmph….”
I took a snack from the huffy Dang So-yeol and popped it into my mouth.
To my surprise, it genuinely seemed like there wasn’t any poison this time.
What’s going on?
Curiously, I looked at her, and Dang So-yeol wore an expression of incredulity.
The humorous part was that even though I knew it was safe to eat, Wi Seol-ah rushed over to grab a snack from me.
No way.
‘… Did she confirm it wasn’t poisoned?’
Using me? Wow.
Look at her, when did she get so clever?
I wasn’t feeling bad, it was just a tad amusing.
At that moment.
As Dang So-yeol was handing snacks around, she approached Dangdeok this time and offered him a snack just like before.
“You must be tired, so eat this and keep going.”
“…”
At Dang So-yeol’s cheerful words, Dangdeok’s shoulders trembled.
He must be filled with frustration just seeing her since, at heart, she’s a relative of the family he would want to kill.
I thought that might be a bit dangerous and was about to step in and pull Dang So-yeol away from Dangdeok when—
Woof-!
“…!”
I quickly turned towards the river.
I felt an odd sensation. Following that, I jumped slightly and climbed onto the obstacle.
“Confucius…?”
At my sudden movement, everyone around—especially Dang So-yeol—turned their gaze towards me.
Of course, there were some characters who didn’t look at all.
That was only Wi Seol-ah.
With wide eyes, Wi Seol-ah also began to scrutinize the river.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
‘What’s happening?’
I was straining my eyes as I scrutinized the river.
The boat continued moving, but nothing else could be seen along the river.
Yet, there was definitely some difference in the atmosphere.
Boom! Clang!
Someone leapt up behind me as if they were running.
Woohyuk and Namgung Bi-ah appeared simultaneously, followed closely by Cheol Ji-seon, who was panting heavily.
‘Did they feel it too?’
The other warriors looked at me with expressions that seemed confused, as if questioning my behavior.
But I simply continued to stare at the river.
The presence I sensed was growing gradually stronger.
At that point, other warriors seemed to start picking up on something, altering their movements.
Initially, I thought perhaps this strange sensation could’ve been the prelude to the ambush I had anticipated all along.
We were nearing that juncture, and it wouldn’t have surprised me if the attack came at any moment.
However.
This felt different.
It wasn’t the kind of presence a mere human would have.
‘What the…?’
As I concentrated, I began to see more details.
Shadows slowly began to emerge beneath the boat.
In terms of size, they were shadows measuring between eight to nine feet. Upon spotting this, the warriors shouted.
“It’s monsters!”
Soon, the warriors became flustered.
The monsters couldn’t approach the Tang family’s ship as it was said that the Tang clan’s precious items were able to keep them at bay.
This was precisely why only the Tang clan’s ships could navigate the Suryong River.
Now, the shadows gathering around were undeniably green and blue monsters that inhabited the river.
While they looked confused by the unexpected turn of events aboard the ship, it didn’t pose an immense crisis.
Even though they were blue monsters, and engaging them in the river was dangerous, each martial artist was skilled enough to easily overcome them.
But.
“… Hold on.”
I couldn’t stop my eyes from shaking.
‘This isn’t just these monsters.’
I bit my lip.
As noted, the number of blue monsters swimming toward the ship was threatening enough, but they weren’t something to be overly afraid of.
The issue lay elsewhere.
I could feel it more and more.
The true threat was lurking beneath those monsters, inching closer little by little.
Sensing that, I raised my awareness to the maximum.
Something was terribly off.
This couldn’t just be a coincidence.
‘Why…?’
It began to come into view further below the boat.
Beneath the not-so-small monsters, something much larger was writhing.
The atmosphere changed rapidly as those who now realized the massive presence began to panic.
It seemed everyone could notice it as well.
The warriors shouted in bewilderment, as if asking, “What on earth is that?”
I already knew what it was.
That realization made it even harder to believe.
Unlike the creatures that inhabit both land and sea today, these were true monsters that last appeared centuries ago.
For now, they had disappeared from sight, destined to start emerging within at least the next four to five years.
Creatures you could only dare face once you had reached the pinnacle of your abilities.
A red-tier monster that spewed forth a vibrant red magic scripture.
A gigantic presence, unseen on this earth for centuries, was unmistakably felt lurking beneath the river.
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