Chapter 52 – Shura in Silk Clothes

Chapter 52 – Shura in Silk Clothes

Le…ave?

What did I just hear?

No way, surely. I must have misheard. Un-jo, who was only blinking his eyes, barely managed to spit out a word.

“……Pardon?”

“I ask of you.”

“No, wh… why me? Why?”

“I am old, after all.”

“You, Owner? By any chance, do you not look in a mirror usually?”

You regained your prime through rejuvenation.

“This owner is tired.”

Do Yi-gyeom spoke with a benevolent smile, completely shattering his small hope.

“If it is you, Un-jo, I can trust and leave it to you.”

“………”

While Un-jo could not close his mouth at the disaster he had brought upon himself, Do Yi-gyeom left the place with a satisfied expression. Standing alone with a bewildered face, Un-jo needed a little more time to regain his senses.

Of course, regaining his senses did not change the reality he faced.

A few days later, the two waiters of Drunken Lotus Pavilion left their workplace and set off on a journey to the Yangtze River.

***

The Yangtze River.

The lifeblood of the Central Plains, which was the center of logistics, industry, and movement in name and reality.

Thanks to that, the areas around the Yangtze River were always bustling and lively with people trying to travel by boat and merchants transporting goods.

“I heard the Waterway Forts are causing quite a stir lately?”

“They said it is especially so near Jianli. Everyone told me to avoid that area, so I came here.”

“Don't even start. I heard they even raised the toll in the Jianli area.”

“Still, isn't it a relief compared to the past? They say that after the Waterway Fort leader changed, nothing major happens as long as you pay the toll well.”

“That is true, but… you never know. They say accidents have been frequent lately. Sigh, is there any other choice but to hope we don't run into them by luck? Let's get going.”

There was something merchants always prepared separately when boarding a boat on the Yangtze River. It was none other than a money pouch filled with the toll. Although it was called a toll, there was no one who did not know that it was the price of their lives.

What do you mean, a toll on a naturally flowing river?

That was nonsense. The Yangtze River had an owner.

It was the Eighteen Waterway Forts of the Yangtze River. To put it nicely, they were Waterway Forts; to put it badly, they were river pirates.

Since they were bastards who traveled by boat, there was no telling when or how one would run into them, and once caught, there was nowhere to escape on the water, making them a literal nightmare for those traveling the Yangtze River. It was the daily routine of merchants to cross the river while merely hoping not to run into them.

However…

Upon arriving in Hubei, San-ho and Un-jo encountered a completely different problem from the others.

“Where on earth are they?!”

“According to the rumors, they are running so rampant, but how is it that they are invisible only to our eyes…”

Namely, they could not find where these river pirates were at all.

The Yangtze River was wide.

Unbelievably so, at that.

It was already the seventh day they had wandered the Yangtze River, thinking they should catch the underlings first in order to meet the grand leader of the Waterway Forts, whose location was unknown. Even though they rode boats and crossed the river three or four times a day, they had not seen even a shadow of those river pirates yet.

'Should I call this good luck or bad luck…'

Out of the thousands of people crossing the Yangtze River, they were probably the only ones looking for the Waterway Forts with fire in their eyes. Yet, what kind of trick of fate was this? If they went this way, it happened over there, and if they went that way, it happened over here! Hearing stories of others encountering the Waterway Forts and having their tolls plundered was enough to drive them crazy.

To think it would be this difficult to find those bastards who made boats their homes on this vast Yangtze River first.

“…Ugh… Blegh…”

When Un-jo, who had already disembarked from a boat for the third time today, even started dry heaving, San-ho, unable to watch any longer, made a decision.

“Senior. This won't do.”

The place San-ho dragged Un-jo into was a fabric shop. Moreover, it was a high-end fabric shop that handled everything from imported silk to various gems and accessories.

“Why here?”

“If we searched this much and still couldn't find them, we have to change our method. Before you die of motion sickness…”

“Oh my~ Are you two family… doesn't seem like it, friends… doesn't seem like that either… Perhaps martial brothers~? Ahaha, regardless, you are truly handsome!”

The young female owner of the fabric shop used her social skills to the utmost to deduce their relationship, but none of them was the correct answer.

“We are coworkers.”

Nodding at San-ho's calm words, Un-jo wore a good-natured smile.

“Owner, please bring out the most expensive things you have.”

“Yes, please wait just a moment!”

A bright smile bloomed on the female owner's face. Having caught lucrative customers, her movements quickened.

Had about the time it took to drink a cup of tea passed?

“Is it… a bit too much?”

“Oh my, young one. As expected of a young master, silk clothes suit you very well!”

From exceptionally brilliant colors to subtle patterns and glossy silk.

Relying on the money pouch Do Yi-gyeom had filled to the brim, the faces of the two waiters who dressed up in expensive clothes shone. Un-jo adorned San-ho, who wore light plum-blossom-colored silk clothes, with glittering accessories.

“Oh my~ I've been doing business here for ten years already, but this is truly the first time I've seen such beautiful young masters!”

The female owner of the fabric shop truly thought so.

'The young master over here is noble by birth. He would exude nobility even in cotton clothes. Moreover, even though he is adorned with accessories like that, his face is more brilliant than the gems. Goodness…'

Admiring San-ho's face continuously, the female owner brought out all the other accessories.

San-ho took out a few more silver coins from his money pouch, handed them to the fabric shop owner, and whispered.

“Owner. If I add this much to the price of the clothes we just paid, could you spread a rumor for us?”

A strange smile played on the female owner's face.

“Of course, Young Master. What kind of rumor should I spread?”

“In three days, in front of Zhijiang, two wealthy young masters overflowing with money plan to enjoy a boat ride—just spread that rumor.”

There was no other way to find the Waterway Forts floating on the river. Since they were nowhere in sight, they couldn't even obtain information from the Beggars' Sect. Hence, they decided to change their method.

If we cannot find them, we will make them come to us.

Wearing the mask of the most tempting prey.

At San-ho's words, the female owner tilted her head and asked.

“Young Master, if you spread such a rumor, you might be attacked by the Waterway Forts.”

Even merchants carrying precious cargo and wealthy young masters made it common sense to hide information as much as possible when traveling the Yangtze River. If such information reached the ears of the Waterway Forts, they would search for them with all their might.

In response to the worried words, San-ho smiled broadly and replied.

“That is exactly what I want.”

***

A few days later, in Zhijiang, Hubei.

“Look, they must be the young masters from the rumors.”

“I heard they are the children of a large merchant guild?”

“I heard they run multiple inn businesses.”

The protagonists of the rumors, who were said to wear clothes valuable enough to buy an entire pavilion. The luster of their long robes fluttering in the river breeze proved that the rumor was not false. The money they had spent over the past few days alone would easily equal several years of living expenses for an ordinary family.

However, what captured people's attention right now was something else.

“Beautiful, truly beautiful. It looks like they came for flower viewing rather than a boat ride.”

It was none other than their facial features, which were more brilliant than their attire. Perhaps because the fabric shop owner had spread the rumor well, several blushing women stood near the pier.

“young one, if I am reborn, I will definitely be born as the child of a great family.”

“All of a sudden?”

“To think the gazes would change this much just because we wore expensive clothes… Ha, this waiter has truly made it big.”

The protagonists of the rumors exchanged jokes as they sought the pleasure boat they had rented in advance.

“Oh my, welcome! The boat has been prepared in advance, so you only need to board. However, do you truly not need any crew members?”

“We are fine. The two of us are enough.”

At those words, the renter tilted his head and trailed off.

“The boat you rented is quite large for recreation, so it might be difficult for just the two of you…”

The man, who had been running a pleasure boat rental business in Hubei for several years, had never seen wealthy young masters row a boat themselves.

“Do not worry.”

Smiling brightly, Un-jo stepped onto the boat.

At that moment, San-ho, who was boarding the boat with him, suddenly looked at Un-jo and spoke.

“Senior, it is really fine if only I go.”

“Tsk, would the owner leave me alone then? As a rule, one should not worry about their seniors. Besides…”

Ah, never mind. Un-jo waved his hand as he let his words trail off.

San-ho, who vividly remembered the sight of Un-jo being hit by Gwang-baek and flying away, tried to stop him again, but Un-jo only shrugged his shoulders.

***

One of the piers of the Yangtze River that cut through Hubei. The boat of those who had departed from Zhijiang was already passing through the middle of the Yangtze River.

“I think it is about time they show up.”

As Un-jo's face, looking around the riverbanks, somehow appeared excited, San-ho tilted his head.

'Strange. Senior looks a bit excited. Why?'

At that moment, Un-jo, who was sitting on the railing and rowing, pointed toward a slightly distant spot with his finger. Speak of the devil.

“I see a boat.”

What appeared there was a boat that looked ordinary at a glance. However, San-ho could immediately tell it was a boat from the Waterway Forts. The speed of the boat heading toward them was gradually quickening. Even though their paths overlapped, it was increasing its speed rather than slowing down.

“It's a fast boat.”

“Finally.”

At the appearance of those they had been waiting for, satisfied smiles appeared on both of their faces.

It was at that moment.

Swish! Whoosh!

Arrows flew from the fast boat that approached at a rapid speed.

Thwack! Thwack!

Arrows with ropes attached to them lodged into various parts of the boat, and at the same time, the red sail of the fast boat went up.

The shape of a dragon drawn on the red sail fluttering in the wind. The Red Dragon insignia, which fluttered as if about to soar above the vast Yangtze River, indicated only one thing. An attack by the Eighteen Waterway Forts of the Yangtze River.

“Pull!”

The fast boat, which had slowed down, roughly pulled the ropes to narrow the distance between the vessels.

Thud—!

As the boat shook violently once along with the sound of the bows colliding, the river pirates began to leap onto the deck all at once.

Thud, thud!

The river pirates of the Waterway Fort occupied the boat in an instant.

They presented a threatening appearance, wearing dark red martial robes that would conceal even bloodstains, with the Red Dragon symbol of the Waterway Forts embroidered on them, and holding spears and harpoons in their hands.

“I wonder if we have interrupted the young masters' boat ride.”

A warrior with a spear slung over his shoulder smiled slyly as he approached them.

'Indeed, as the rumors said, they must be rotting in money. Just selling the clothes they are wearing would…'

Thud!

The warrior, who had finished the calculation in his head, drove his spear into the deck.

“My personality isn't that good. If you hand over everything you have, I'll send you away with your bodies intact.”

At that moment, a rough-looking man approached the side of the spear-wielding warrior and whispered.

“Brother Geum-myeong. Those guys have decent faces, so don't you think we could get quite a high price if we sell them?”

“Do you want to cause trouble? Stop talking nonsense and go scrape up all their belongings.”

San-ho figured out their hierarchy from the way he frowned and waved his hand.

'Looking at how things are going… that side must be the leader of this Waterway Fort.'

“It seems so, doesn't it?”

Un-jo asked San-ho in a low voice after watching the situation for a moment.

“Probably, right? Still, just in case, we should verify it.”

“No, no, I'll go.”

“……?”

Holding back San-ho, who had a puzzled expression, Un-jo strode forward. At that sight, Geum-myeong, the warrior holding the spear, furrowed his brows.

“What is it?”

“I have something I want to ask…”

As Geum-myeong jerked his chin as if telling him to speak, Un-jo said with a smile.

“Since you are river pirates, you must be good at swimming, right?”

“……?”

It was the most absurd question Geum-myeong had ever heard in his life.