< Chapter 421 > Suryong River. (2)
Two months had passed since we began the journey to Sichuan.
Starting from Henan, the transport caravan led by the Poison King was crossing the mountains, and there was still more than half the journey left before arriving in Sichuan.
We now stood before a wide river.
It was the largest river I had seen since my previous life.
The so-called Suryong River, the River of the Water Dragon.
The place where this Suryong River flowed had been a vast plain just a few centuries ago, but it was said to be an artificial river created by the rampage of a White-grade demonic beast during the Great Blood Demon War.
When I first heard this, I had wondered what kind of demonic beast could create a river.
If I recalled the misty forest where the Black Night Palace's main palace had once been, it meant that the power of a White-grade demonic beast was enough to change the terrain while simultaneously affecting the ecosystem.
‘Just how did they beat something like this alone?’
Recalling the people who had defeated such demonic beasts alone in that era sent shivers down my spine.
The one who had slain the Fog Dragon, which covered the entire region in hallucinatory mist upon its death, was none other than Sin Noya.
The one who had slain the Water Dragon, turning the plains into a wide river, was Dokjeolcheon.
He was one of the five heroes who stopped the Blood Demon, and the very figure revered by the Tang Clan for transforming them into a righteous sect at that time.
‘Terrifying humans.’
By now, the world had reached a point where the Blood Demon had disappeared and only blue-grade demonic beasts appeared.
Before long, red-grade demonic beasts would begin appearing alongside the advent of the Heavenly Demon.
When that time came, it would basically be the start of utter chaos.
Red-grade demonic beasts were beings that even a martial artist who had reached the consummate Peak could not defeat alone.
If the red grade was like that, then what in the world were the humans who had beaten a higher White-grade one alone?
‘No matter how much I think about it, they must have been at least as strong as the Samjon, if not stronger.’
I had simply thought of him as a foul-tempered old man, but the more I peeled back the layers of Sin Noya, the more astounding a figure he became.
It was said that on Mount Hua, even the current Maehwa Seonjo was second only to Sin Noya in reverence, so one could guess his stature.
‘So you should come out soon…. How long do you plan to keep sleeping?’
Right after the old man had helped me at the Divine Dragon Temple.
He seemed to have fallen asleep again and hadn't so much as shown the tip of his nose until now.
The beast in my body had also decreased in how often it came out. Now it simply kept silent.
‘…Tsk.’
It was the body I had so desperately wished to have to myself, yet for some reason, I felt rather uneasy.
Just as I was organizing my damp thoughts while looking at the river, someone approached and spoke to me.
"Young Master."
It was Moyong Huia.
"W-we... should go aboard now."
"Ah. I'll go now."
Moyong Huia, who had been telling me to go, flinched upon seeing Dang Deok standing behind me and trailed off.
It seemed she still wasn't used to that massive frame.
Or perhaps she was frightened by that ferocious face.
Dang Deok had an ugly impression that rivaled my own, after all.
"By the way."
"Yes?"
"Where is your aunt?"
"Ah... She said she would board the ship first?"
"..."
I had to wipe my forehead at Moyong Huia's words.
What kind of bodyguard asks others where her charge is and boards the ship first while the person she's supposed to protect is still outside? It was truly absurd.
Moyong Huia seemed aware of this too, as her expression was far from good.
She spoke to me.
"I'm sorry... My aunt..."
"It's not something you need to apologize for, so don't worry about it."
"...Yes."
Though I told her it was fine, Moyong Huia's complexion did not improve.
Well, I supposed if I had family acting like that, I'd be too embarrassed to lift my head.
I roughly patted Moyong Huia's hair.
"Go on ahead. I'll be right there."
"...Yes."
At my words, Moyong Huia left a faint smile and headed toward the ship behind us.
Right, a ship.
I had to board a ship.
To cross the Suryong River before us.
‘Hmm.’
When traveling from Shanxi to Sichuan last time, I hadn't taken a ship but gone by another method. Yet this time I had to take one...
‘It can't be helped.’
This was the path set by the Poison King and I knew it was the fastest route, but ships had always felt unsettling to me.
I glanced back at Dang Deok and asked.
"Hey."
"..."
Dang Deok's gaze turned toward me.
There was no answer.
It was because he couldn't make a sound without my permission.
"Where are the men you scattered hiding? That's an order, answer me."
When I called it an order, Dang Deok's lips trembled as he spoke.
"...After the first landmark...."
"So about two hours after departure. Are they still hiding now?"
"...They... are."
"You already hid them? You've prepared thoroughly."
I broke into a grin at Dang Deok's answer.
Dang Deok shuddered at my words.
I had wondered how he planned to attack a transport caravan with the Poison King and the Pae Family Head, but it seemed this guy had known we would cross the Suryong River.
That meant he had sent subordinates to the riverside beforehand to set up camp and intended to attack from all sides.
Seeing that, he seemed quite confident in underwater combat.
‘There are demonic beasts here, yet they're already in position. Do they have some method?’
The Suryong River was a place with an unusually high number of demonic beasts. Especially serpent-dragon-type demonic beasts were so abundant that ordinary people couldn't approach it.
That was also the reason the Poison King insisted on using this river.
It was a place where the chances of a human ambush were significantly low, and it was the fastest route to Sichuan.
For demonic beasts, a figure of the Poison King's level would have countless ways to block them using items or spectral artifacts, so he likely saw it as safer.
Dang Deok had seen this and planned to launch a surprise attack on the river.
Since the Poison King had much to protect, whether blood relatives or the caravan, being on the river would be dangerous.
Thinking that far, questions naturally arose.
‘How in the world did this guy know?’
I had only learned a few days ago that the Poison King would travel via the Suryong River.
How had this guy known and prepared for it in advance?
Furthermore.
‘It's strange that he possessed spectral artifacts too.’
An artifact that his subordinate had possessed. I had recovered it and kept it on me.
When I asked what it was, Dang Deok said it was an artifact that killed one's presence when internal energy was infused.
This was a so-called activated-type artifact.
It was an outstanding item worth whatever price one might name.
It was strange that a bandit like Dang Deok had such a thing.
Both the information and the items were suspect.
Something felt very strangely at work.
"Hey."
"..."
So I decided to ask.
"The ear you planted in the Tang Clan. Who is it?"
"...!"
Dang Deok's eyes widened at my question.
Seeing that, I was certain.
This bastard really had one hidden.
I had wondered how he conceived such an operation, but it seemed he had eyes and ears in the Tang Clan after all.
It seemed he had been hiding it until now because he didn't answer questions I didn't ask.
"Who is it. Tell me."
Now that I had caught on, he had no choice.
"...Kkugh...."
Dang Deok seemed to be trying to resist the restriction with all his might. But the binding was already wrapped deep around his heart.
He wouldn't be able to undo it with willpower alone.
As expected, after waiting a moment, Dang Deok's stiff lips parted.
"Oh."
I had to let out a shallow exclamation upon hearing it.
Because an unexpected name had sprung from Dang Deok's mouth.
Then I wondered how surprised the person in charge of that 'ear' must have been when Dang Deok entered here as my guard.
The Poison King might not have realized what Dang Deok was, but that person certainly must have seen.
I held back a small laugh inwardly as I took a step.
It seemed there would be one more person to kill aboard the ship.
********************
Departure began after roughly half a day of preparation.
Criminals had to be placed below deck, and since the voyage would take anywhere from four days to seven nights, provisions had to be loaded as well, so preparations were lengthy.
However, because of those preparations, once we set sail, we were able to spend our time without much discomfort.
"Wow...."
Wi Seol-a looked at the river from the railing as if fascinated.
Her reaction was so obvious that I couldn't help but ask.
"What are you so amazed by?"
"We're moving on top of the water!"
"Well, of course we move—it's a ship."
"Wow...."
What, was it her first time on a ship?
Come to think of it, I didn't recall ever taking a ship with Wi Seol-a.
So that was why she was so amazed. I thought I should take her on boat rides more often.
Watching her smile brightly and enjoy the scenery made me want to smile too.
Beside the smiling Wi Seol-a, Moyong Huia stood with a blank expression, looking slightly unwell.
"What's wrong with you?"
"...My stomach feels a bit bad."
"Your stomach? Are you seasick?"
"...A little?"
I had to tilt my head at Moyong Huia's words.
No matter how low Moyong Huia's realm was, and no matter how little she had trained, she was still a martial artist who had reached first-class level—seasickness seemed unlikely.
Perhaps noticing my confusion, Moyong Huia cleared her throat a few times and spoke to me.
"Last time... I got quite severely seasick. I've been like this ever since that incident."
"What do you mean you got seasick so badly that you're seasick now when you weren't before?"
"...I don't really want to remember it."
"Ah... I see."
Judging by her expression, she really didn't like it, so I didn't ask further.
After that, I quickly surveyed the surroundings.
Cheol Ji-seon had gone to the bedroom, saying she was dying of seasickness.
Jamnyong had gone to sleep, saying he was sleepy.
Since one couldn't train even on a ship, those who wanted to rest were resting.
As for me, well, if I circulated my mind technique and walked around, it was a form of training in its own right, so I was fine.
Though it was a bit of a shame that I couldn't do physical training.
‘And as for Namgung Bia....’
I couldn't see where she had gone. If she wasn't visible, she was probably sleeping.
There was a high probability that she was sleeping in my cabin.
I had half-given up on that by now, so I decided to let it go.
Since I barely slept because of training anyway, it didn't matter where my cabin was.
It was better that everyone was away right now.
‘It should be soon.’
A bit further and we would reach the location Dang Deok had mentioned.
In other words, it meant there were people gathered to attack this ship.
I hadn't bothered to order Dang Deok to stop the ambush.
It wasn't a bad thing, actually.
If I handled the ambush as is, I would gain the justification of having helped repel the attack.
I planned to use that to ask the Poison King for a favor.
An ambush by greenwood bandits without Dang Deok wouldn't be very threatening anyway.
Ah, of course, since they might not attack if Dang Deok wasn't there, I was keeping that in mind as well.
I could kill the rat mixed in with the Tang Clan during this opportunity too.
Crack—
I loosened up slightly.
‘Hmm....’
Checking my condition, I still felt a few problems.
It meant aftereffects remained from the fight I had with Dang Deok previously.
Normally, I wouldn't do anything in such a physical state.
But the timing was appropriate right now.
The Poison King and the Pae Family Head were aboard, not to mention Baeknyeongeom, and also Patriarch Pae and the Dark King.
In terms of combat strength alone, it was enough to annihilate a single sect or great clan, so the danger level was low, you could say.
It was a good time to pretend to do something.
Thus, while I was organizing my plans, I felt someone approaching from behind.
"Young Master!"
A bright, clear voice rang out.
I turned slightly to see Dang Soyeol standing there with a beaming smile.
She held refreshments in her hands, and seeing them, I slightly furrowed my brow.
"What's that?"
When I asked somewhat warily, Dang Soyeol made a tearful face.
"I brought them with such effort... Why do you react like that the moment you see them...?"
"You didn't put poison in them?"
"I didn't...! Do you think I only eat poison every day!?"
"You don't?"
"I don't!"
Dang Soyeol shouted as if hurt.
Wait, really? I felt like I saw her eating poison tea and poison snacks every day?
Now that she said that, I felt a bit awkward.
"If not, sorry."
"...Hmph...."
I took a piece of refreshment from Dang Soyeol, who turned her head away as if sulking, and put it in my mouth.
Amazingly, this time it really felt like there was no poison in it.
What was with her today?
When I stared curiously, Dang Soyeol made an absurd expression.
The funny thing was that Wi Seol-a, seeing that I ate it and it was safe, hurriedly approached and took some to eat.
No way.
‘...Did she check if it was free of poison?’
Using me? Wow.
Look at her? When did she become so sneaky?
It didn't feel bad; it was just fascinating.
Then.
Dang Soyeol, who had been handing out refreshments here and there, approached Dang Deok this time and offered him refreshments as before.
"You must be having a hard time. Please have this."
"..."
Dang Deok's shoulders trembled at Dang Soyeol's smiling words.
To him, she was the blood kin of the enemy family he wanted to kill, so it must be irritating just to look at her.
Thinking that might be dangerous, I approached to pull Dang Soyeol away from Dang Deok at that moment.
Whoom—!
"...!"
I whipped my head around to survey the river.
I had felt something strange. Then I lightly leaped up onto the railing.
"Young master...?"
At the sudden action, not only Dang Soyeol but everyone around looked at me.
Of course, there was someone who wasn't looking.
That was solely Wi Seol-a.
Wi Seol-a also widened her large eyes and began surveying the river.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt it.
‘What is it?’
I examined the river with trembling pupils.
The ship was still moving, and it was the same river where nothing else was visible, but.
Something clearly felt different.
Thud—! Thump!
Someone appeared behind me as if rushing over.
U Hyeok and Namgung Bia appeared simultaneously, and Cheol Ji-seon followed, panting.
‘Did they feel it too?’
The other martial artists looked this way with eyes that seemed to ask what we were doing, unable to understand.
I looked only at the river.
The presence gradually grew larger.
Around that time, the other martial artists also seemed to feel something, and their movements changed.
At first, I wondered if this was the ambush I had been expecting.
We were gradually approaching that point, and it was a situation where an ambush wouldn't be strange at any moment.
But.
This wasn't that kind of feeling.
It meant this wasn't a presence of a size that mere humans could possess.
‘What is it...?’
As I focused, I began to see it gradually.
Shadows began to appear beneath the ship.
Shadows nearly eight to nine chok in size. The martial artists who confirmed this shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Demonic beasts!"
Soon the martial artists panicked.
Demonic beasts couldn't approach the Tang Clan's ship. It was said that the Tang Clan's spectral artifacts blocked them.
This was why only Tang Clan ships could traverse the Suryong River.
And yet, the shadows gathering around them now were clearly green-grade and blue-grade demonic beasts dwelling in the river.
The people on the ship seemed confused by the unexpected situation, but.
It wasn't that great a crisis.
Since they were only blue-grade demonic beasts, and even though fighting in the river was dangerous, each martial artist's realm was quite high, so they could overcome it easily.
However.
"...Wrong."
I couldn't stop my trembling eyes.
‘This isn't just that.’
I bit my lip.
As I said, the number of blue-grade demonic beasts swarming toward the ship was threatening, but not that dangerous.
The problem was something else.
I gradually felt it.
The real one hiding beneath them, slowly approaching.
Feeling that, I raised my internal energy to the maximum.
Something was wrong.
This couldn't be happening otherwise.
‘Why...?’
It began to appear gradually below the ship.
Beneath the demonic beasts that weren't even small, something far more massive was wriggling.
The atmosphere of those who belatedly confirmed that massive presence changed drastically.
Because they had realized it too.
The martial artists shouted in confusion, as if asking what in the world that was, but.
I knew what it was.
That made it even more unbelievable.
Unlike the demonic beasts that lived on land and sea now, these were the real monsters that had appeared centuries ago.
Their traces had been lost in the present era, and these monstrosities weren't supposed to emerge for another four to five years.
Monsters that one could only dare to face upon reaching the Transformation Realm beyond the Peak.
Red-grade demonic beasts spewed forth from the crimson demonic realm gate.
A massive presence that had not been seen in this land for centuries could be felt beneath the river waters.