Chapter 98 Moshan (3)

Chapter 98 Moshan (3)

Zhi Sha Hong was satisfied with that explanation, but Nangong Tian, seemingly burdened by various troubles, earnestly urged Gu Yang Jie to keep several promises.

‘So after arriving, I’m to join the Martial Alliance members near Moshan…’

Gu Yangjie sank into thought as he headed toward Anhui, located between Huoguang and Jiangsu.

Considering Namgung Cheon’s position as Deputy Leader, it was a natural request.

If Gu Yangjie faced danger, the Martial Alliance, having known about it beforehand, would be in a difficult position. Especially since he was a prominent figure from the newly joined Huashan Sect.

It was rather surprising that Namgung Cheon had readily agreed to his request.

On the surface, it seemed like trust in him, but Gu Yangji shook his head lightly.

‘How well could he possibly know me? Nangong Tian wouldn’t trust me so easily.’

He would watch how he behaved.

That was how Gu Yangji understood Nangong Tian just now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such consideration for a young late-stage cultivator like himself.

‘First, I need to observe what kind of people the Wulin Alliance members there are.’

He also needed to reach Moshan as quickly as possible.

Thinking this, Gu Yangji took out the fire-sealing powder from his travel bag.

Sizzle, sizzle.

Igniting a flame about two finger joints long, Gu Yangjie burned patches of his robe.

He carefully singed the grease stains from the Wulin Alliance meal and the particularly strong-smelling armpit area.

The plum blossom emblem proving his affiliation with the Huashan Sect was obscured by the black ash from the burning.

“……”

Even if it was to conceal his presence, any Taoist would deem it an act worthy of scolding.

But Gu Yangjie silently completed everything.

He was as unhesitating as one burning swept-up fallen leaves.

He considered loosening his inner robe and cutting his hair, but quickly shook his head.

He judged it unnecessary to go that far.

“Huff.”

Blowing away the last remnants of ash, Gu Yangjeok looked up toward Mount Mo.

The Man Tongzi should be there.

“Why?”

What could possibly be happening on Mount Mo? Gu Yangjeok muttered in a self-deprecating voice.

His affection and respect for the Huashan Sect were deep, but his past life spent with Mantongzi held an exceptionally special place in Gu Yangjie’s heart.

Not only did he become the beloved sword, Zhenxian, but he also met the ancient sage who taught him the Moon-Defying Sword Technique. Moreover, the talisman given by Mantongzi forged numerous connections.

This became the foundation, allowing the blood-sworn Gu Yangjie to seize his destiny.

Though brief, he had also earned the honorable epithet of ‘Sword Spirit’.

Even if the present-day Man Tong-ja remained unaware, Gu Yang-jeok knew.

‘Therefore… I must repay it.’

Pushing Huashezi into his bag, Gu Yangjie entered the northern border of Anhui.

Whoosh-

True to Anhui’s reputation as the ‘branch of Dongting Lake,’ even without straining to listen, the cool water seemed to tickle his entire body.

But there was also a downside.

‘That…’

Gu Yangjie’s gaze shifted to a vaguely visible vessel on the water.

It bore no merchant insignia, nor the gunports characteristic of military ships. The answer, then, was inevitably pirates.

Gu Yangjie halted his steps and hid behind a tree.

He wasn’t afraid of a fight. But drawing unnecessary attention and giving the pirates time to act was something he wanted to avoid.

‘What should I do?’

Gu Yangjie’s dilemma deepened.

Though not as bustling as Dongjing Lake with its eighteen waterways, Anhui was a region where trade routes and maritime commerce thrived in many ways.

Consequently, those who wielded considerable strength often turned to piracy. Fearing the occasional appearance of military vessels, they frequently formed alliances among themselves.

Even if he tried to avoid them, he’d inevitably be spotted by bandits.

A hollow laugh escaped him without meaning to.

“…Goodness, I’ve become quite the overthinker.”

Unconsciously, he was searching for a way to avoid harming the bandits. This wasn’t something the original Gu Yangjeok would have considered.

“Let’s keep it simple. Just simple.”

Gu Yangji emerged from the tree where he’d been hiding and walked unhesitatingly toward the water’s edge.

Then, with a bright smile, he waved his hand.

* * *

“What’s that?”

“Who knows? Just some clumsy fool, I guess?”

They’d been killing time on deck with simple gambling when, as if it couldn’t have come at a better moment, the pirates suddenly appeared. They watched the Taoist who’d appeared and licked their lips.

“Captain, what shall we do?”

At those words, Jeong Geon, leader of the Ten Thousand Gold Fort and master of the Shadow-Splitting Spear, roared in anger.

“Shut up and wait. I’m assessing the situation.”

“We’re ready whenever you are, sir.”

Jeong Geon smacked the speaker across the back of the head, then scrutinized the Taoist’s appearance with a grave expression.

‘Did he get burned somewhere?’

Black soot stained every corner of his fine silk robes, making them hideous. It wasn’t just ink; the damp air carried a distinct burnt smell.

This meant it hadn’t been long since he was scorched. If even a day more had passed, the smell would have faded.

‘Looks like someone tried to get the jump on us…’

But what thief sets fire to the very person they intend to rob?

While Jeong-geon felt this dissonance, he suddenly noticed the sword the Taoist carried.

Whoa!

Jeong-geon instinctively covered his mouth, afraid he might gasp aloud.

‘Top-grade!’

Unlike the hideous robe, the scabbard the Taoist carried was engraved with an exquisitely antique pattern.

‘Just selling that alone would…!’

And what about the sword inside that scabbard?

Jeong-geon, who had named himself Manggeumchae, was already driven by a fierce greed to extort money.

His notoriety was considerable enough that he wouldn’t hesitate to kidnap and sell people.

‘Right, what does it matter if clothes burn or coins melt? All I need is that sword! Now I understand!’

Jeonggeon summoned his sharpest-eyed man and pointed at the Taoist.

“Hey, how old does that guy look?”

“Sixteen… maybe? Doesn’t even look like he’s got hair between his legs yet?”

“Exactly!”

Jeong-geon snorted, then immediately pointed at the Taoist and commanded.

“Time to welcome our guests!”

“Yes-!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the bandits of Manggeumchae began bustling about.

But here, something Jeong-geon hadn’t anticipated happened.

“…What the hell?!”

He wasn’t the only one eyeing the Taoist.

Sssshhhhh…….

Another bandit crept up beside Manggeumchae.

Seeing this, the Taoist, Gu Yangjeok, murmured lightly.

“What a mess.”

He’d only needed a boat to save himself, but things were escalating.

Gu Yangjeok sat put, pulling out dried food from his bag.

It wouldn’t take long for one of those two thieves to be left standing anyway, and there was no need to expend unnecessary energy before reaching Mount Mo.

So, he might as well watch the spectacle like a circus.

“Ho, not bad.”

Gu Yangji crossed his legs, settled comfortably, and began watching the fight.

“You son of a bitch! Don’t we each have our assigned territories?!”

As Jeonggeon roared in anger, the one-eyed man on the left grinned with a sour smile.

“Territory? Bullshit! You’re the type who’d ask to borrow my balls if we lived together for even a little while!”

“You fucking bastard!”

“If you’re so pissed off, I’ll invite you over to my side. Care to come over, lady?”

Calling Jung-geon, with his sparse beard, a lady? Gu Yang-jeok found it hilarious and burst out laughing.

Their twisted banter suggested they weren’t strangers to bickering. Many immediately flashed murderous glances at the one-eyed man.

The one-eyed man didn’t miss a beat, raising his voice.

“Look over there! Even that scholar who’s eaten his fill of ink calls you a lady. Isn’t that laughable?”

“…Damn it!”

Once this quarrel ended, he’d immediately throw the six-foot-tall man into the river to feed the fish. Jeong-geon gritted his teeth and glared at the one-eyed man.

“If you fall, know that you won’t even save your one remaining eye!”

“Hmph! What a laugh!”

One-Eye drew his sword with a rough jerk.

“Fine! You lot were thorns in my side anyway! This time, I’ll show you who’s boss!”

With that, as if no further words were needed, Jeong-geon and One-Eye placed planks between their chests.

“Waaaaaah!”

The bandits bellowed loudly, each trying to boost their own side’s morale. Some flashed cold, piercing glances, searching for those they held grudges against.

Their skills might be mediocre, but their ferocity in trying to kill each other was more intense than that of any ordinary martial artist.

Values like honor meant nothing to them.

Kill or be killed. That was all.

Gu Yangji watched the bandits’ brawl, chewing dryly. The battlefield fervor he hadn’t witnessed in ages lifted his spirits.

‘As Namgung Cheon mentioned, the demonic cultivator at Mosan has surely reached a realm beyond the peak.’

Therefore, this time, he would abandon the Taoist’s methods. He would sharpen his skills solely for killing.

With this single-minded resolve, Gu Yangjeok gazed at the river turning crimson.

Whoosh—

How long had it been? Before he knew it, the battle ended. Though the blood hadn’t dyed the entire river red, every face was flushed crimson.

“Heh, heh heh.”

The victor who ultimately survived, Jeong Geon, glared with eyes boiling with greed. His body was sticky with blood, but his mind was clear.

His blood-soaked clothes instilled confidence. Thus, seeing Gu Yangjeok sitting cross-legged, a slight misunderstanding arose.

“Looks like you’re scared out of your wits! How dare you do that in front of this lord? Can’t you get up immediately?!”

At those words, Gu Yangjeok chuckled.

“Hmm, is it all over?”

“……What?”

“I can’t be bothered to go myself. Bring the boat over here.”

“You insolent brat!”

Jeong Geon, as if to show off to Gu Yangjeok, swung his spear wildly and flung the impaled flesh into the river.

He had done this deliberately, knowing that an ordinary Taoist would flinch here or lose his cool in pointless anger.

But this time, he had picked the wrong opponent.

Gu Yangji wiped the smile from his face and looked up at Jeong Geon with a cold expression.

No, now even that seemed to annoy him. He drew his sword, Chamhyun, and swung it in a long arc.

Whoosh!

The sword energy bursting from Chamhyun’s blade formed a massive, whirling vortex as it flew forward. Weeds brushed by in its path were sliced clean off, tumbling to the ground.

Even the scent of gunpowder wafting from Gu Yangjeok’s robe seemed to be cut away by the sword energy, leaving a stinging sensation.

A single strike.

The realm Gu Yangjeok had displayed made Jeonggeon feel as if his mind was going blank.

After a moment, Gu Yangjeok’s lips parted.

“Will you come willingly, or shall I come and kill you myself?”

“I, I will come!”

Jeonggeon, groveling, repeatedly bowed his waist and struck the helmsman’s back of the head.

It seemed as if he were trying to show Gu Yangjeok he was making an effort, as if scolding him for not hurrying.

But there was something Jeonggeon didn’t know.

That Gu Yangjeok was a man who didn’t hesitate to kill.

“Ride well, and thank you.”

With those words, Gu Yangjeok never spoke to Man Geumchae again. He merely pointed silently in the direction they were heading.

Earlier, there had been an assassin who tried to strike, and Gu Yangjeok killed him without a moment’s hesitation.

After that, to set an example, he cut off Jeong Geon’s fingers one by one.

To any observer, it was the work of a rogue faction—no, it bordered on the actions of the Black Path.

Gu Yangji’s behavior was utterly cold, so much so that his sudden outburst seemed like a disguise.

Ten days passed like this, and by then, Zheng Jian could no longer hold a spear.

Even the defiance buried beneath his humiliation had been crushed.

The day before arriving in Jiangsu.

Zheng Jian approached Gu Yangji, torch in hand, and asked.

“Sir, why are you treating us so cruelly?”

“……?”

When Gu Yangji seemed unwilling to answer, Zheng Jian began to sob, waving the torch wildly.

“If you won’t answer, I’ll burn the ship!”

“……That’s simple enough.”

Gu Yangji shot Jeong Geon a look of disgust.

“You’re less than human. Handling you poses no great difficulty.”

“You, you!”

“Did you think I’d value the lives of villains like you?”

Gu Yangji shook his head lightly.

Had he pleaded with Yu Zhangming instead, those words might have carried some weight.

But Gu Yangjie didn’t even hesitate.

Swoosh!

In an instant, the slashing sword took Jeong Geon’s right hand. The torch he’d been clutching was already snatched from him by Gu Yangjie.

In that very instant, Jeong Geon’s face froze rigid.

In his gaze, Gu Yangjeok, illuminated by the torch’s red light, looked like a demon.

“Even the petty notoriety you’ve built up is useless now. You’re no longer even a chief. Just a cripple.”

Gu Yang-jeok blew out the flame on the torch with a puff.

“What’s the matter, old guard? Go row.”