They were part of the young group who had yielded their meal at the inn before boarding the boat.
The youth wore a sword at his waist, but his slender frame and frail appearance gave off the air of a scholar more than a martial artist.
“Thanks to you, we were able to sate our hunger quickly earlier.”
“No need to mention it.” As Bu Eunseol turned away calmly, the youth spoke cautiously.
“Since this is fate, would you like to join us?” When Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin gave puzzled looks, the youth continued without hesitation. “If it’s alright with you, I’d like to introduce you to my companions.”
Hyeok Sojin furrowed his brow.
Not only was their status as successors of the Ten Demonic Sects a factor, but he found forming connections in the martial world bothersome.
‘I’m here to walk the martial path, not to make friends.’ But Bu Eunseol, who had been listening quietly, nodded readily.
“Let’s do it.”
“Haha, then follow me.” The youth smiled brightly and led the way, while Hyeok Sojin, with an annoyed expression, sent a voice transmission.
“Why bother making connections with such riffraff?”
“They’re not riffraff. They’re masters from the Zhuge Sect.”
“The Zhuge Sect?”
The Zhuge Sect.
Renowned not only for their mastery of scholarship, forbidden texts, and mechanical trap formations but also for their Six Harmonies Fan Technique of thirty-six paths and the peerless martial art Heavenly Foresight.
They were a martial family embodying the ideal of literary and martial perfection, something the Seomun Clan, which focused solely on formations, could only dream of.
“So what?”
“They’ve clearly come to the martial world with a specific purpose. There’s no harm in finding out why.”
“Could it be because of the Mad Soul Physician’s reappearance?”
Bu Eunseol responded with a faint smile instead of words. He suspected their reason for venturing into the martial world was tied to the Mad Soul Physician’s return.
“This is annoying. If you want to go, go alone.”
“Why aren’t you coming?” the youth asked, turning to look at Hyeok Sojin.
Bu Eunseol shrugged and pointed to Hyeok Sojin’s face.
“He’s very shy. And he gets hand tremors when too many people look at him…”
“What are you talking about?!” Hyeok Sojin snapped, indignant.
The youth grinned and extended a hand.
“You’re quite the joker. Come on, join us.” Reluctantly, Hyeok Sojin followed Bu Eunseol, unable to resist the youth’s friendly demeanor. The youth led them to a cabin and clasped his hands together.
“I am Zhuge Seoun,” he said. “This is my younger sister, Zhuge Seorin.”
‘So this is the one called the Sick Zhuge among the Seven Heroes and Three Geniuses…’
Hyeok Sojin swallowed his surprise. He had thought the youth was just a branch member of the Zhuge Sect. To think this frail, scholarly-looking young man was Zhuge Seoun, the eldest son of the Zhuge Sect and one of the outstanding young talents of the Eight Great Clans?
“And these are my close friends, Hwangbo Cheongyeong and Hwangbo Jegyeong. They’re known in the martial world as the Heaven-Collapsing Twin Fists.”
The sturdy twin youths were the third and youngest sons of the Hwangbo Clan. Bu Eunseol calmly clasped his hands.
“I am Bu Eunseol.” The group, including Zhuge Seoun, looked puzzled.
That name was associated with two figures: the winner of the Eastern Martial Conference who killed Yang Myeong, a master of Hell’s Blood Fortress, a mysterious figure; and a fearsome demonic master from Nangyang, one of the Ten Demon Warriors who felled great masters in succession.
‘Neither of them, surely.’
With the Face and Bone Shifting Art, Bu Eunseol’s current appearance looked older. His frame seemed thin, and his temples showed no signs of refined internal energy. Moreover, his sword bore a crude tassel, as if made by a child—hardly the mark of a martial conference champion or a Ten Demon Warriors.
‘Just a namesake, then.’ Having reached the realm of Return to Simplicity, they assumed Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess was ordinary.
“What brings you here?” Hwangbo Cheongyeong asked.
Bu Eunseol replied calmly, “I’m traveling the land with my sworn brother.”
His curt responses made Hwangbo Cheongyeong frown slightly.
Whenever they revealed their status as direct descendants of the Eight Great Clans, young or old, people usually spoke respectfully. But since Bu Eunseol appeared older, he didn’t press the issue.
“And your sworn brother…?” Zhuge Seoun asked, his eyes glinting with expectation.
Bu Eunseol might be ordinary, but Hyeok Sojin’s appearance and attire screamed disciple of a great sect or heir of a noble family.
“I’m Hyeok Sojin.” Another unfamiliar name.
A brief silence fell, and Hwangbo Cheongyeong and Hwangbo Jegyeong nodded halfheartedly, their interest waning.
“Well, we’re tired, so we’ll head in to rest,” the Hwangbo brothers said, turning away.
Glancing at Zhuge Seoun, they sighed, their eyes saying:
‘No need to make friends with such nobodies.’
‘Hmph, so we’re nobodies, are we?’ Hyeok Sojin smirked inwardly.
Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin were legitimate successors of the Ten Demonic Sects, positioned to form ties with the top figures of both orthodox and demonic paths. Yet the Hwangbo brothers, mere direct descendants and not even young masters of the Eight Great Clans, were acting superior, which he found laughable.
“Ahem.” Clearing his throat awkwardly, Zhuge Seoun broke the silence. “My sister and I acquired some fine liquor from Muha on our way here. Would you like to share a drink?”
“Liquor?” Hyeok Sojin’s bored expression lit up, his eyes gleaming. “Sounds great. Let’s drink!”
But Bu Eunseol suddenly narrowed his eyes and frowned. His expression was so grave that Hyeok Sojin looked puzzled.
“Don’t want to drink?”
“Enemies are coming.” Bu Eunseol’s voice transmission made Hyeok Sojin tilt his head.
“What do you mean?”
“You still haven’t sensed it?”
At that, Hyeok Sojin immediately heightened his Enhanced Hearing Technique.
Rustle.
He heard the sound of wind vibrating through the air—the sound of sails swollen with wind.
‘River pirates?’ Hyeok Sojin blinked.
Beyond the fog, he sensed two massive ships rapidly pursuing their vessel.
“Oh no.” Through the fog, a giant sailing ship approached like a predator locking onto its prey.
“They… they’re…” a crewmember shouted, spotting a black sword embroidered on the fluttering flag of the mainmast.
“It’s the Gyoryung Band!”
“The Gyoryung Band? Is there such a river gang?”
“A no-name pirate crew… we’re all doomed!”
The passengers were stunned, having never heard of this river gang. Typically, river pirates maintained clandestine ties with authorities, sharing their profits.
This allowed the Eighteen River Families, which controlled the Yangtze River and demanded tolls from merchant ships, to be recognized as a martial force.
But some river gangs disregarded the code of thieves. The worst among them not only plundered goods but engaged in human trafficking.
The Gyoryung Band was one such group.
“Full speed ahead!”
The merchant ship accelerated, trying to shake off the pursuers.
But the two pursuing ships’ sails, taut with wind, propelled them at breakneck speed.
A cargo-passenger ship laden with goods and passengers could never outrun such swift vessels.
“The Gyoryung Band? Sounds fancy,” Hwangbo Jegyeong remarked, gazing at the approaching ships with a relaxed expression.
Everyone present was a martial master; mere river pirates posed no threat.
“That’s odd,” Zhuge Seoun muttered, tilting his head. “How can a no-name pirate crew operate ships of that scale?”
The approaching vessels could hold three to four hundred combatants each. Such ships were typically operated by the Eighteen River Families or the Twelve Yellow River Alliance.
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol, lost in thought, approached Zhuge Seoun. “By any chance,” he said.
“Do you have something to say to me…?” Zhuge Seoun replied, startled.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes blazed like flames as he drew closer.
***
The pursuing ships, racing at full speed, finally caught up to the merchant vessel. Surrounded on both sides, a fierce battle was imminent.
Whoosh!
Dozens of yellow-clad pirates from the ship on the port side leaped onto the merchant ship’s deck with agile movement techniques. The pirates were robust, dressed in eerie yellow robes, and the one at the forefront had the most menacing aura.
He was likely the leader of this pirate crew.
“Ho, quite a few martial artists here,” the leader said, scanning the armed passengers before raising his left hand skyward.
Clack.
Simultaneously, hundreds of pirates on the flanking ships drew oil-soaked flaming arrows.
It was a threat: any sign of resistance, and they would sink the merchant ship immediately.
“I am Maeng Jungak, leader of the Gyoryung Band.” Surveying the passengers, he chuckled darkly. “Those who want to play hero are welcome to try—if you want innocent civilians to drown in the river.”
At Maeng Jungak’s words, several martial artists clenched their fists, halting their movements. The movement technique he displayed was on par with a peak master. With hundreds of pirates aiming flaming arrows at the ship, any rash attack would lead to the vessel being burned and civilians massacred.
“Good. You’re thinking smart,” Maeng Jungak nodded with satisfaction, seeing no signs of resistance.
But then,
“It’ll only take a moment.” Six figures emerged leisurely from the cabin.
In front were two pale-faced men, followed by a sickly-looking youth, a refined woman, and two burly twin youths.
It was Bu Eunseol, Hyeok Sojin, the Zhuge siblings, and the Hwangbo twins.
“Who are you?” Maeng Jungak demanded.
Ignoring him, Zhuge Seoun spoke in a low voice.
“I wondered if it was worth using this against mere river pirates… but seeing their scale, civilians could indeed get hurt.”
“No civilians will be harmed,” Bu Eunseol replied calmly.
Maeng Jungak, sensing something amiss, narrowed his eyes.
“You lot. Planning to resist?” Meeting Bu Eunseol’s cold gaze, Maeng Jungak felt a chill and raised his hand to signal the archers to fire.
But something was off.
The night sky was tinged with a bluish hue. Yet the pirates aiming arrows beyond the ship maintained relaxed expressions, as if they saw nothing.
“You! What did you do?!” Maeng Jungak shouted.
“It’s the Heavenly Fate Maze Formation,” Zhuge Seoun said, grinning at Maeng Jungak.
“A formation of the Zhuge Sect.”
He recalled the moment from just a quarter-hour ago.
***
“Can you deploy the Heavenly Fate Maze Formation right now?” Bu Eunseol asked, his eyes burning like coals as he stared at Zhuge Seoun.
“Set it up without the passengers noticing, but it must affect the entire ship.”
Zhuge Seoun’s jaw dropped at the sudden request. “What are you…”
Hwangbo Cheongyeong, who had been silent, smirked and stepped forward.
“Brother Zhuge, he’s probably just shocked by the ships’ size.” With a hint of mockery, he continued, “To think you’d use a formation against a no-name pirate crew?”
“No way,” Bu Eunseol said, his smile cold. “They’re not ordinary pirates.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even if they got lucky and acquired such ships, ordinary pirates could never operate them.”
Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
“They’re disguised as pirates.”
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