Chapter 219: 18 Yangtze River Families (2)

I had kept my mask inside this sheath in preparation for such an event.

I also took off the robe that I was wearing and turned it around, displaying the red color of the inside part of the jacket.

When worn backward, it looked like a completely different outfit.

It was prepared in advance so I could use it to present myself as the Blood Demon when needed. Well then, shall I head off to pursue my original purpose?

Shh!

I took out the Blood Demon Sword.

On the ship’s upper deck that was being targeted stood a bearded, muscular man who shouted as he pointed his sword.

“Yah, old beggar. When we do you a favor, just accept it.”

The old beggar went stiff at those words. It was Hong Gu-ga, leader of the Beggars Union.

‘How could our family suffer such humiliation!’

He was the leader of the Beggars Union, one of the Nine Great Sects, and an elder of the alliance.

He wouldn’t have cared about those words if it were an average warrior. However, this man was of the waterways and a pirate. The numbers were also against them.

In such a place, the pirates would surround them and destroy them anytime. Since lives were at stake, the pirates told them to abandon the ship and run.

Clench!

His teeth broke.

[Grandfather, I think it would be better to act as if we are doing them a favor.]

His grandson, Hong Geol-gae, sent him a message.

‘A fool.’

Looking at his actions, the old beggar clicked his tongue. Even though he was his own grandson, the boy was truly pathetic.

‘He knows one but doesn’t know the other.’

The situation was completely different from when he had jumped off the ship earlier. There had been no answer then.

Even Hyuk Cheon-man was now in a sea of enemies, and it was unknown if he was dead or alive. The enemy also showed no mercy and would massacre everyone aboard the ship.

In the first place, there was no hope, let alone a chance for victory.

That was why they were able to jump off to save their lives.Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

But not now.

Behind him stood Ho Jin-gak, one of the three leaders of the Golden Peace Services. He was the third son of the leader, Ho Jin-ong.

When the pirate ships appeared, the third son had asked them to protect the goods.

They would be ridiculed if they chose to run in this situation without even trying to negotiate, much less confront, with the enemy.

Hong Gu-ga spoke to the bearded man.

“Did you say that you were pirates?”

“Yes, old man.”

His words were harsh since he feared an Evil Faction that did not limit itself to robberies.

That was because they couldn’t even find the slightest bit of it.

The Beggars Union Leader, Hong Gu-ga, maintained his composure and said,

“As far as we know, I heard that the people of these waterways would let a ship pass if a certain toll is paid to you. Yet you are now asking me to give up the entire ship?”

“That is none of your business, old man.”

Words didn’t seem effective at all. In the end, Hong Gu-ga tried to push slightly.

“This ship is protected by the Beggars Union. It means that it is also related to the Murim Alliance. If you really want to take everything from the ship, you will have to deal with the repercussions.”

This was a form of intimidation.

Hearing his words, the pirate suddenly laughed out loud.

“Kuahahahaha.”

All of them laughed out loud. It was obviously a laugh of derision.

The pirate leader, who laughed, then returned to a straight face and said,

“If you can, then try it. I am going to make you into fish food this time.”

There was no way such a threat would work in the first place. They were already at a level that would allow them to overcome the power of the Murim Alliance that had once subdued them.

They were confident of winning against anyone from the River Families.

‘But they aren’t afraid at all.’

There was no way out of this.

Then Hong Gu-ga suddenly remembered their words when they attacked the ship.

[Pirate leader. Doesn’t that seem like a ship?]

[Damned beings, just where are they hiding!]

It seemed that they were aiming for a particular ship.

If one thought about it, only ships with the black sails of pirates were here. However, there were those who aimed for different ships.

It occurred to them that the pirates might have had another need.

‘Then... nice.’

He decided to try out his luck.

“How about if we give you some useful information?”

“Information?”

“Such as who took your ship?”

“What!”

The other side looked unexpectedly shocked. It was only a hunch, but it seemed to work out fine.

Judging from their interest, it seemed like negotiations could work.

Hong Gu-ga shouted.

“I swear on the honor of my position. There are no lies in my words....”

At that moment.

Before the beggar could finish, a voice echoed all around them.

[Leader Gal, the ships you are looking for have already been destroyed.]

Everyone looked for the source of the voice, but none could be seen.

“What now?”

“Where did that sound come from?”

“It rang around us!”

Everyone, including the pirates and the soldiers, was shocked.

‘Six Harmonies?’

The Six Harmonies Tone.

It was a technique that was used to hide any traces of a sound as it resonated the sound everywhere.

The Beggars Union leader frowned.

While the Six Harmonies was shocking, another thing shocked him even more.

“It is all nothing but lies. The ship you are looking for....”

[Has been destroyed.]

Hong Gu-ga’s face became red as the voice interrupted him again. He wasn’t sure who this man was, but he was interfering.

“Who are you! How dare you interrupt the talk between two leaders!?”

Hong Gu-ga yelled out loud, but the voice’s owner did not appear.

Hong Gu-ga bit his lip and told Gal Yong.

“Now then, Leader Gak, listen to me. I have seen firsthand what happened on the other ship. The ship you are looking for is...”

[Has been destroyed.]

“AHHHHH!”

Hong Gu-ga yelled with uncontrolled anger.

“Appear in front of me right now! How dare you hide and plot against other people!”

Unlike the beggar, Gal Yong had other thoughts. He focused his qi and looked around to identify the source of the voice.

But he couldn’t sense anything.

[Do you see them?]

[I don’t see anyone, hyung.]

None of his brothers could find any traces.

‘... a great warrior. Who could hide in the tumult of this river while performing the Six Harmonies Tone?’

There was no way the man was on this boat.

Gal Yong glared at Hong Gu-ga sharply and said,

“What kind of person did you bring?”

Hong Gu-ga felt that this question was unfair.

“What do you mean, Leader? Can you not see? I don’t know who this person is.”

It frustrated him to even answer.

Just as the negotiations were about to work, someone he didn’t know appeared and created this mess.

“If it wasn’t for the ship, who would be able to stop the fight?”

“No, didn’t I tell you? Even I don’t know... Ah!”

“What is it?”

“I think I know. This ship has encountered the ship you are looking for. Unlike the other ships, we managed to escape safely. However, the unknown person who attacked us on that ship is...”

Before he could finish talking, the voice spoke up again.

[The leader of the beggars and the Murim Alliance planned to destroy the River Families by sneaking in warriors inside the boxes of the escort service. I don’t know if that one realizes it.]

‘...!!’

Hong Gu-ga scowled as he heard this. This was a top-secret mission, and now everyone knew about it.

He was also in a place where he was against enemies who were trying to kill them.

‘Damn it.’

This could not be used as an excuse, either.

[Geol-gae! Jump!]

Hong Gu-ga sent a message to his grandson and turned to use light footwork to jump into the river.

But then,

Puak!

“Kuak!”

As he released his footwork, something sharp fell in front of him and pierced the deck.

‘W-what is this.... Uh?’

It was a sword. But the problem was that this wasn’t just any sword

“B-Blood Demon Sword!”

Hong Gu-ga yelled as he looked at the sword before him.