Chapter 448
With a single step crossing dozens of meters, soaring through empty air, and collapsing cliffs with one strike—such feats, once confined to ancient legends, are the domain of the transcendent martial masters. But here and now…
“Hold on tight! Aaaaah!”
Boom!
This was not solid ground but the middle of the mighty Yangtze River, an expanse as vast as the open sea. Against the colossal whirlpool spanning hundreds of meters in radius, the warship we rode felt like a mere leaf.
Crash!
“Ahhhhhh!”
“Nooooo!”
As the immense water pressure slammed into the side of the warship, the vessel tilted precariously, momentarily lifted into the air before pitching to one side.
In the disorienting upside-down world, Jin Wi-gyeong, clutching onto my torso as though it were a life vest, screamed.
“Mother! I’m coming to youuuuu!”
“Go where?! Let go of me!”
“Father! If you’re watching, send me a signnnn!”
Yeah, sure. Not even the heavens have answers for this mess.
But the real problem wasn’t just Jin Wi-gyeong; Gong Gi-bang, Hyeok Mu-jin, and even the disciples of the Zhuge Clan and Wudang Sect seemed half-crazed with fear.
The only ones who still managed to hold their composure were the transcendent masters, including myself.
“Water! Waaater! I hate waaaaater!”
– Correction: everyone except Jeok Cheon-Gang.
Clutching the wildly flailing Fire King, I extended my free hand into the air, summoning all the power I could muster.
*Flame God Palm!*
Boom!
The compressed air around us exploded outward with a burst of fiery energy. The portion of the whirlpool’s swirling chaos directly in our path dissipated, allowing the warship, which had been spiraling downward, to regain its balance.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Second and third whirlpools loomed ominously ahead, ready to consume us.
“I can’t do this alone… In times like these…”
A plan flashed through my mind, and I shouted the name of someone I could rely on.
“Cheongpung!”
“Yes!”
Cheongpung, as if already anticipating my call, raised both arms in excitement.
“Kyaaahoo!”
“Not ‘kyaaahoo,’ you lunatic! Just do what I did!”
“Oh, yes, Shiju!”
Still caught up in his own amusement, Cheongpung adjusted his stance and waved his arms, unleashing a flurry of strikes.
The *Tai’eul Miri Palm*, a signature technique of the Mount Hua Sect, burst into countless energy petals that filled the air.
Boom! Boom!
Although lacking the sheer destructive force of the Flame God Palm, the Tai’eul Miri Palm’s wide area of impact was perfect for the situation. The chaotic whirlpool’s swirling pattern faltered, temporarily buying us a reprieve.
The Zhuge Clan and Wudang Sect disciples, shaken but momentarily regaining their composure, responded to the spectacle with determination.
“Ha-ha-ha! The tiger is unleashed! Disciples, unleash the *Great Celestial Star Palm!*”
At Zhuge Pung’s command, he waved his fan, guiding the technique like a master conductor.
Though not yet a transcendent master, his skill in fan-based martial arts was unparalleled, matching the best.
Boom!
The gentle breeze generated by the fan turned into a formidable gust, halting the whirlpool’s surge toward the ship.
And then, in the critical moment as the water rose like a triangle-shaped tidal wave ready to consume us—
Swish!
A streak of light emerged from Xuan Kong Jin’s side, cutting through the air.
*Tai Chi Enlightened Sword.*
The light, carrying the energy of the legendary sword technique, sliced through space itself, bisecting the watery barrier created by the whirlpool. The tumultuous wall of water collapsed into a cascade of droplets.
Splash!
As the massive spray of water rained down on everyone, a drenched Jeok Cheon-Gang suddenly regained his senses, his fiery eyes glaring at the remnants of the whirlpool.
“Damn you, wet, stinking, filthy mess!”
While technically accurate, the way he phrased it made him sound ridiculous.
But contrary to my thoughts, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s unleashed aura was anything but weak. From his sleeves burst forth an overwhelming wave of power.
“Get lost, all of you!”
Boom!
Dozens of meters worth of blazing energy erupted all at once. The surrounding moisture evaporated in an instant, and the immense rebound sent the warship surging forward like an arrow.
“Kyaaahoo!”
“Cheongpung, stop shouting like that!”
“Apologies, Shiju!”
Amid the relentless chaos, Mu Song barked commands, his veins bulging as he steered with precision.
“Port side! Turn together!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Despite the frenzy, a young healer hidden among the passengers quietly released a burst of energy to stabilize the ship—a secret only Cheongpung, Jeok Cheon-Gang, and I would ever know.
“One, two!”
“Now! Row with every ounce of strength you’ve got!”
Splash!
In the end, hard work bore fruit.
The four warships, carrying hundreds of passengers, tore through the whirlpool and pressed forward, defying the odds.
—
The moment we cleared Cheonryeong Falls, exhaustion overtook everyone. Pride and propriety abandoned, they collapsed haphazardly across the deck.
But exceptions always exist.
As the now-serene waters of the Yangtze glistened in the fading light, Jeok Cheon-Gang stood, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the horizon.
“As the current leader of the Yeolhwa Sect, I declare this: from this day forth, the Zhuge Clan is the sworn enemy of my sect.”
He turned to face me and growled, “Any objections?”
“What if I do?”
“Then you can join them in that damned whirlpool.”
“Ah, then I have no objections.”
“Good. Bring that conniving bastard Zhuge Pung to me at once.”
Following his fiery gaze, I turned to see the Zhuge Clan’s warship trailing behind us. There, at its bow, Zhuge Pung waved his fan with a carefree grin.
“Ha-ha, Elder Jeok! Please don’t be upset!”
“…He’s laughing?”
Even I wanted to throttle him.
If it were cliffs we had to break through, that would’ve been easier. But to think we had to navigate a monstrous whirlpool in the middle of a wide river…
They talk about techniques like *Void Stepping* or *Crossing Water with a Single Step* as if they’re simple. In reality, such feats drain immense energy, and rescuing hundreds of people under such circumstances is a pipe dream.
“Seriously, what kind of river has something like this?!”
It wasn’t called “Cheonryeong Falls” without reason.
If it were just a mildly turbulent waterway, the Zhuge Clan and Wudang Sect would have reached Dongting long ago.
Meanwhile, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s rage was nearing its peak.
“Turn the ship around immediately! Zhuge Pung or Wudang Guest, whoever that bastard is—I’ll break his legs and keep him bedridden for life!”
“Please, calm down.”
“Do I look like I can calm down right now? I hate water as it is, and now I’m suffering through this misery because of some wretched place! And that fool who claimed to have crossed this before can’t even navigate properly! What is he, a ferryman for the afterlife?!”
Startled by Jeok Cheon-Gang’s tirade, Mu Song, who had been lying sprawled on the deck, hastily got up.
“P-please, calm yourself, Great Master. I never imagined Cheonryeong Falls would be this severe.”
“You’ve been here before and didn’t know? Should I end your pirate career here? Or maybe your life?”
“No, no, it’s not that! It’s just that the currents seem unnaturally stronger compared to before…”
“Stronger? What nonsense is that? There hasn’t even been much rain this year! Are you trying to deceive me with such an easily disproven lie?”
“I-I swear it’s true! How could I dare lie to the Fire King?”
Hmm. Mu Song’s explanation held some merit. Who in their right mind would dare lie to Jeok Cheon-Gang?
Getting caught in such a lie wouldn’t end with losing a hand—it would likely end with being charred medium rare.
But still, the idea of reduced rainfall leading to such strong currents didn’t sit well with me.
Not that I’m a meteorologist or ecologist, so thinking about it was pointless.
Clicking my tongue softly, I interrupted Jeok Cheon-Gang, who hadn’t stopped berating Mu Song.
“Elder.”
“Listen here. On the return trip, you’d better perform flawlessly. If I face another ordeal like this, I’ll storm the main base of the Yangtze River Waterway League, set all their ships on fire, and toss the Sea King and that Zhuge bastard into the Cheonryeong Falls… What? What is it now?”
“That’s not it. We’ve arrived.”
“What?!”
With astonishing speed, Jeok Cheon-Gang hurled Mu Song aside and sprinted across the deck, fixing his fierce gaze ahead.
Moments later, an exclamation filled with awe escaped his lips.
“Ooh, ooooh!”
Anyone watching might think he had discovered a treasure island, but what emerged from the mist was a single island.
It wasn’t a small islet like those scattered along the Han River, nor was it an uninhabited island devoid of human presence.
“Could it be…?”
Hyeok Mu-jin squinted, muttering under his breath. Gong Gi-bang, standing beside him, nodded.
“It’s a dock. We’ve found the right place.”
The presence of a dock meant one thing: people lived here, or at least passed through frequently.
And everyone aboard already knew who had made this place their home—those who dared to settle beyond the ferocity of Cheonryeong Falls.
“Dongting Stronghold!”
Cheongpung’s shout broke the heavy silence of the Yangtze River, echoing far and wide. Jin Wi-gyeong, his expression stiff, spoke solemnly.
“They must know we’ve arrived by now. It would be wise to prepare for any unforeseen situations.”
There was no one here who didn’t understand what “unforeseen situations” meant.
If Dongting Stronghold was truly behind the two incidents over the past fortnight, then according to the laws of the martial world, a violent conflict was inevitable.
“Leader, we did not come here to spill blood. I trust you understand my meaning.”
Mu Song, who had been silent, met Jin Wi-gyeong’s gaze and responded.
“My subordinates and I came here to prove the innocence of our league. If they condemn us without hearing our side…”
“I assure you, such a thing won’t happen. Both Wudang and the Zhuge Clan guarantee it, and everyone here will bear witness.”
After a moment of hesitation, Mu Song nodded slightly.
“…I trust you.”
Perhaps Mu Song wanted to avoid bloodshed more than anyone else. No matter how skilled Dongting’s Water Dragon Stronghold and their leader, Huang Zhong, were, they couldn’t possibly withstand our current force.
If, by some unimaginable twist of fate, everyone here was to sink into the Yangtze River, the entire martial world would turn against the Yangtze River Waterway League. If the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans joined forces, they would erase the league from existence.
“Raise the flag high and announce our arrival.”
The Water Dragon Stronghold’s pirates immediately obeyed their leader’s command.
Soon, the flag of the Yangtze River Waterway League fluttered atop the four warships, and seven low drumbeats reverberated through the mist.
And then… nothing happened.
The river, the mist, and the quietly flowing waters remained unchanged.
The only things that shifted were the confusion in Jin Wi-gyeong’s eyes and the unease in Mu Song’s expression.
“Leader, what’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. We’ve sent the signal, so there should’ve been a response…”
At that moment—
“It seems… that won’t be possible,” a voice suddenly cut in.
Heads turned in unison toward the speaker.
In the midst of the stunned crowd stood the young healer, Moon Kyung. His clear and steady voice carried a sense of calm gravitas.
“It seems something has happened.”
“What are you talking about—?”
Mu Song’s shout trailed off as he followed Moon Kyung’s outstretched finger.
Beyond the mist and the scattered debris floating on the water’s surface, something became visible.
It was a corpse.
