At Bu Eunseol’s words, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong’s expression instantly stiffened.
“People disguised as water bandits? What do you mean by that?”
“They merely fly the flag of the Flood Dragon Stronghold, but they are not its bandits.”
Having undertaken various missions within the Nine Assassination Squad, Bu Eunseol possessed detailed knowledge and information about water bandits active in various regions.
“The Flood Dragon Stronghold is a group of bandits without lineage that robs merchant ships while avoiding the eyes of the Twelve Alliances of the Yellow River. There is no way such people would come all the way here to raid a ship.”
“Hmph, who knows? Perhaps they wandered aimlessly, like a group of beggars.” Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong chuckled low, exuding confidence. “Regardless of who they are, we simply have to overpower them.”
Gazing at the fog-covered sky, Bu Eunseol spoke, “If they are raiding a merchant ship of this scale, they must have brought a large force. Which means, if they see any sign of resistance, they will attack the ship immediately. If that happens, all the damage will be borne by the civilians who haven’t learned martial arts.”
“Hmm.”
When Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong fell silent, Bu Eunseol spoke to Zhuge Seo-woon with a solemn expression.
“There is no time. Can you unfold it or not?”
The Heaven’s Ultimate Fate-Sealing Array was a unique formation of the Zhuge Clan, a mystifying array that severed the inside from the outside, as well as a directional formation. In other words, because one had to manage energy that changed infinitely with the flow of time, it was a formation that could never be unfolded without a genius intellect.
“I understand.”
Zhuge Seo-woon raised his thin body, his eyes shining.
“I will install it immediately.”
***
As Zhuge Seo-woon finished his recollection, Bu Eunseol spoke to the Hwangbo brothers.
“Subdue them.”
Thud!
And in a single breath, he unfolded his movement technique, heading toward the ship of the Flood Dragon Stronghold attached to the port side.
—Aaaagh!
Outwardly, the water bandits appeared to be drawing fire arrows, but faint screams could be heard from all directions. Due to the influence of the formation Zhuge Seo-woon had unfolded, the situation outside could not be seen properly.
“Brother Bu. I will help too!”
Hyeok So-jin also used the Soaring Qi Technique to escape the formation and land where Bu Eunseol was.
“Huh?”
Floating in mid-air, his mouth fell open. In that short time, one ship had been horribly wrecked. The mast was broken, and the water bandits who had been drawing fire arrows lay collapsed in a bloody mess. Among the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, Bu Eunseol had used the Heaven Hand Void Destruction Form, which possessed terrifying power, to smash the ship and the bandits in a single blow.
Pa-at.
Soaring into the sky again, Bu Eunseol this time jumped onto the ship attached to the merchant ship’s port side.
“I guess I’ll loosen up my body after a while!”
With a relaxed smile, Hyeok So-jin followed Bu Eunseol’s shadow, unfolding his movement technique.
“…”
Landing on the port-side ship, Hyeok So-jin’s expression became subtle.
‘What is this again?’
Unlike before, on the ship attached to the port side, a massive group of water bandits numbering at least five hundred had set up camp. Not only that, but behind them stood three masked figures with flashing eyes.
“What are those guys? They don’t look like a bunch of water bandits.”
Bu Eunseol silently glared at the masked figures standing tall at the stern.
Until now, he had constantly clashed with unidentified masked figures. From those who ambushed Dan So-ok in Yueyang to the mysterious masked figure who manipulated the Tyrant Saber Sect from behind. Judging by their eyes and aura, it was clear that these people were in league with the masked figures who had appeared all along.
“Deal with the water bandits. I will catch them.”
Pa-at!
Unfolding his movement technique, Bu Eunseol leaped toward the rear stern where the masked figures stood, like a hawk that had found its prey.
Thud-thud-thud!
However, as if predicting Bu Eunseol’s approach, dozens of steel arrows poured into the air.
Chae-chae-chaeng!
Bu Eunseol immediately drew his Dark Sword and deflected the steel arrows that blackened the mid-air.
Rumble!
In the meantime, a tremendous force poured down with a faint sound of thunder. It was an intense and domineering palm technique that couldn’t be blocked while floating in the air.
Kwa-ang!
Landing on the ground, Bu Eunseol struck back at the palm force using the Fist Demon Transcending String form.
Pew-pew-pew!
Meanwhile, with an explosive sound, the nearby group of water bandits unleashed a volley of fire arrows.
“Brother Bu. Let’s deal with them first!”
Unable to watch any longer, Hyeok So-jin stood side by side with Bu Eunseol and poured out the supreme arts of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
Bang! Kwa-ang!
The power was immense; every time he extended his palm force, dozens of water bandits fell in heaps.
Kwa-ang! Bang!
Explosive sounds rang out in succession.
Although the martial arts of the two were excellent, the number of water bandits was simply too great. Moreover, their martial arts skills were incomparably higher than the bandits on the starboard side.
“These bastards! They’re just wearing water bandit clothes, but they’re actually martial artists?”
While dealing with the endlessly swarming bandits, a violet light erupted from Hyeok So-jin’s eyes. The ultimate supreme art of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying, the Divine Splitting Demonic Energy, was unleashed.
“Aaaagh!”
As he unfolded the Divine Splitting Demonic Energy, the dozen or so bandits rushing at him began to bounce away as if hit by a storm. In the meantime, Bu Eunseol knocked down more than a third of the bandits.
Saaa-at.
At that moment, the blue energy that had dyed the merchant ship in a circle disappeared, and it began to slowly regain its original sky-blue color. Because the ship was moving slowly, the Heaven’s Ultimate Fate-Sealing Array was gradually being deactivated.
Seeing this, the passengers on the merchant ship looked around with bewildered expressions.
‘Damn.’
In an instant, Bu Eunseol frowned deeply. While he was dealing with the pouring bandits, the three masked figures at the stern had vanished without a trace.
‘They left on a fast boat.’
Even while dealing with the bandits, Bu Eunseol had not lost sight of the masked figures. Having discovered his and Hyeok So-jin’s martial prowess, they seemed to be discussing something deeply.
‘Was their original target not the merchant ship, but Zhuge Seo-woon’s party?’
It was a plausible deduction. However, he couldn’t know why they had retreated. Perhaps they realized Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin’s identities, or maybe it was simply due to their unexpected martial strength.
‘What is certain is that even the water bandits are disposable pawns.’
Seeing that they left without regret even though the bandits on the ship were annihilated, that fact was beyond doubt.
‘No need to be impatient.’
Bu Eunseol clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes. As long as those masked figures were stirring up the Gangho, he would encounter them again someday.
Rustle.
At that moment, with the sound of transparent paper fluttering in the sky, all the blue lights surrounding the merchant ship disappeared. The formation was completely deactivated.
‘As expected of the eldest son of the Zhuge Clan.’
Glancing at the fading formation, Bu Eunseol nodded. It was a defensive formation installed in a hurry. To have lasted this long on a ship moving moment by moment was truly a genius-level feat.
“Hmph, where are you looking!”
In the meantime, the Hwangbo brothers, the Zhuge siblings, and several martial artists were dealing with Maeng Jung-ak and the bandits who had boarded the merchant ship.
“You bastards!”
Maeng Jung-ak, filled with malice, shouted and extended his hand as he saw the formation deactivating.
“Shoot the arrows, quickly!”
Paaaa-at!
At that, some of the surviving bandits on the ship drew fire arrows toward the merchant ship.
Pew-pew-pew-pew!
Tak.
Then, Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin returned to the merchant ship simultaneously.
Supreme Heavenly Flow, Second Form, Returning the Spirit to Origin.
Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Ultimate Art, Divine Splitting Demonic Energy.
The two supreme arts unleashed by the two successors of the Ten Demonic Sects created a massive wall, instantly deflecting the chaotically pouring arrows.
—Wooooow…!
Seeing this, the passengers of the merchant ship exclaimed in admiration. Not only were the martial arts displayed by Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin mysterious, but the sight of them deflecting fire arrows was as spectacular as watching fireworks.
“Aagh!”
At that moment, a desperate scream rang out from the merchant ship. The Hwangbo brothers had finally knocked down Maeng Jung-ak.
“Drop your weapons!”
In the meantime, Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin shouted simultaneously with solemn expressions. At that, the water bandits standing on the ship gave up resistance and raised their hands with terrified expressions.
The merchant ship arrived safely at the dock.
For a while, the martial artists who saved people from the clutches of the Flood Dragon Stronghold became the talk of the town in the Yuju region. The passengers who had been on the ship praised Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin, who had destroyed both enemy ships, as well as the Hwangbo brothers who took down Maeng Jung-ak, and the Zhuge siblings who fought dozens of bandits.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
The ship owner gave a large sum of money and gifts to the Zhuge siblings and the Hwangbo brothers who had defeated the bandits. In truth, saving the merchant ship was the merit of Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin, who had destroyed the ships and blocked the pouring arrows. However, since they had used movement techniques to leave suddenly as soon as they arrived at the pier, the gratitude was expressed to the Zhuge siblings and the Hwangbo brothers.
Getting off the ship, the Zhuge siblings and the Hwangbo brothers had no choice but to visit a nearby money changer. Having received so much money and gifts, they needed to dispose of some of it.
“You guys take care of business. In the meantime, Seo-rin and I will stop by the post station to get a carriage.”
At Zhuge Seo-woon’s words upon arriving in front of the money changer, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Why go yourself? If you tell the servants, they will bring a carriage for you.”
“I want to walk a bit after being on the ship. I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t tell me.”
Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong furrowed his brow as if realizing Zhuge Seo-woon’s intentions.
“Are you looking for those two from earlier?”
“Was it obvious?”
When Zhuge Seo-woon laughed awkwardly, Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong sighed.
“You surely don’t think those people can replace the Scholar of Heavenly Will?”
“Well.”
“What’s so great about dealing with a mere pack of water bandits?” Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong sneered.
“You bluffed with such a serious face about them not being ordinary bandits… but when we faced them directly, weren’t they just ordinary bandits?”
The Zhuge siblings and the Hwangbo brothers had only dealt with Maeng Jung-ak and the bandits who boarded the merchant ship. Therefore, they hadn’t the faintest idea that the bandits on the ship where the masked figures were riding were all martial artists possessing martial arts skills.
“But deflecting the fire arrows at the end was an outstanding, peak-level technique.”
“Well, true… but we don’t even know which sect they belong to, do we?”
“They tried to protect the civilians as their top priority. Even without asking, they must be people of the Orthodox Path walking the way of chivalry and righteousness.”
“Hmm.”
When Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong groaned, Zhuge Seo-woon spoke in a low voice.
“Anyway, we failed to recruit the Scholar of Heavenly Will. To handle this matter, we absolutely need combat power to fill that vacancy.”
As Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong was about to say something, his younger brother Hwangbo Je-gyeong nodded.
“Since Brother Zhuge says so, why don’t you try talking to them at least, Brother?”
Although Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong was the older brother, most decisions were made by the clever Hwangbo Je-gyeong.
“Well. Since they can also be called young rising stars.”
When Hwangbo Cheon-gyeong nodded, Zhuge Seo-woon also nodded.
“Understood.”
Leaving the money changer, the Zhuge siblings went straight to the post station. There stood two men choosing a carriage. They were Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin.
‘I knew they would be here,’ Zhuge Seo-woon nodded inwardly. Knowing they would seek a carriage as soon as they got off the ship, he had come here.
“Young Hero Bu. Young Hero Hyuk.”
When Zhuge Seo-woon and Zhuge Seo-rin gathered their hands and greeted them, Bu Eunseol also gathered his hands.
“Did you come to get a carriage?”
“Yes.”
In the meantime, Hyeok So-jin, handing a bill to the clerk, spoke.
“Brother Bu, I’ve paid. Let’s get on.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol gathered his hands toward the Zhuge siblings.
“Then, see you again next time.”
“Please wait a moment.”
When Zhuge Seo-woon hurriedly blocked their way, Bu Eunseol opened his mouth.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Defeating the water bandits was all thanks to you two. You should be the ones receiving gratitude. How can we let you go like this?”
Bu Eunseol spoke briefly, “Don’t worry about it. We just dealt with them because they were annoying.”
Watching Bu Eunseol turn away nonchalantly, Zhuge Seo-woon’s eyes sparkled. “You said you were sightseeing, but to me, it seems like you two are on a Gangho journey.”
Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice, “We don’t have a specific destination in mind.”
“I see.”
Zhuge Seo-woon spoke in a low voice, “I have something to tell you two briefly. Could you spare us some time? It won’t be a waste of time.”
It was an overly polite and courteous attitude for the eldest son of the Zhuge Clan, which shook the world.
Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Fine.” Then he spoke to Hyeok So-jin, who had boarded the carriage, “We’re not in a rush, so let’s hear him out.”
Shake shake.
Sitting in the carriage, Hyeok So-jin shook his head with an expression that said he was dying of annoyance. From his perspective, accompanying people from Orthodox noble families was not only uninteresting but also offered no particular benefit.
“…”
However, seeing the solemn light in Bu Eunseol’s eyes…
“Understood.”
Pouting like a duck, he reflexively lifted his butt and stood up from his seat.
Every move Bu Eunseol had decided so far had become an opportunity for his growth. Surely, this matter would also be pouring with danger and trials. But as long as he accompanied Bu Eunseol, everything would become an opportunity to advance his martial arts a step further.
‘This, too… must be the Gangho journey.’
Before he knew it, Hyeok So-jin had become someone who faithfully followed Bu Eunseol’s words.