It’s nothing short of a dogfight. (1)
“It’s… it’s Surochae!”
“Pirates!”
The enormous black ship near Maehwado naturally drew everyone’s gaze. The faces of those who saw the massive ship quickly turned pale with fear.
Of course, pirates, as they were commonly known, didn’t usually go around slaughtering people or causing random harm.
Just as bandits rarely come down from the mountains to raid villages, pirates also generally didn’t bother those who set foot on land. This was a sort of unwritten rule they followed for their own survival.
But still, pirates are pirates!
Seeing the pirates taking over the previously bustling Maehwado was enough to strike fear into everyone’s hearts.
“Is this really okay?”
“Why is Hwasan allowing this? If they retreat like this, Maehwado will really fall into their hands!”
“…Will we still be able to do business?”
There was only one reason why people hadn’t fled despite witnessing this scene.
Most of the people here were merchants. Those who used Maehwado, those who filled the nearby city, were mostly merchants and their households.
And the rest were people who had flocked here to do business with those merchants. If they fled now, they’d have to find a new way to make a living all over again.
Abandoning their livelihood isn’t as simple as it sounds. Thus, they could only anxiously pace back and forth.
“T-They seem to be heading this way!”
“What?”
At someone’s shout, everyone widened their eyes.
Sure enough, the ship that had docked at Maehwado slowly turned its bow towards the pier.
“What should we do? Should we flee now?”
“And go where? If we can’t do business, we’ll all starve to death anyway. Better to stick it out here and die trying.”
“Are you saying our mouths will fill with cobwebs if we stay alive? We’ll find a way to eat, somehow.”
“I’m not going. You all can leave if you want.”
Those who had some foresight had already removed their goods from their warehouses. Yet, they still found it difficult to leave this place so easily.
The merchants that could survive in Gangbuk had little to worry about, but for those whose livelihood depended on trade with Gangnam, everything led to Maehwado.
“Let’s hear what they have to say first. Isn’t it a rule that pirates don’t mess with people on land?”
“Damn it, do you really believe that? Did you forget how that riverside village was destroyed by those pirate bastards?”
“That’s true, but…”
“The so-called rules of the Evil Sects are like jewelry – dangle them from the ear, and they’re earrings; dangle them from the nose, and they’re nose rings. How can anything that changes at their whim be called a rule?”
“Then what should we do?”
As the commoners wavered in indecision, the massive black ship continued to draw closer and closer to the pier.
The ship gradually slowed down and began to dock at the pier.
Gulp.
A momentary silence fell over the crowd. The sound of someone swallowing dryly echoed like thunder.
From the towering ship – so high it seemed doubtful anyone could even set foot on the pier – an overwhelming number of people dressed in the blue uniforms of Surochae leapt down. In an instant, they rushed forward and took control of the area surrounding the dock.
“Step back!”
“Move back now if you don’t want to lose your heads!”
At the pirates’ threats, the merchants recoiled in terror, hastily retreating.
“W-Wait, please. I have something to ask-“
“You fool!”
Despite the chaos, one merchant stood firm, attempting to speak up. But in a flash, one of the pirates, filled with murderous intent, raised his harpoon.
Yet, just before the weapon could pierce the merchant’s throat.
“Noooooo!”
A thunderous roar erupted. The pirate holding the harpoon froze in place, like a statue.
“I-I was just…”
A man slowly emerged onto the deck of the towering ship.
With a long black beard and a massive build, his presence was unmistakable. The black robe embroidered with a golden dragon alone was enough to identify him.
“Th-The Black Dragon King…”
A fierce gleam shot out from the Black Dragon King’s piercing eyes.
He was already an imposing figure, with a towering build and a face that could instill fear in others. Now, as he radiated anger, several onlookers felt their legs give out beneath them, collapsing to the ground.
“I thought I said not to harm the people.”
“B-Black Dragon King, I was just-“
“You worthless worm!”
With a loud thud, the Black Dragon King leapt down from the ship and slowly approached the pirate. In an instant, he grabbed the pirate by the collar.
“S-Spare me…”
“Go cool your head off!”
With one hand, the Black Dragon King hurled the pirate away.
The pirate flew through the air, screaming, before plunging straight into the middle of the Yangtze River. A loud splash followed, and then silence fell over the crowd.
‘He… he threw a person..’
‘Is that the strength of a human?’
The merchants, unable to believe what they had just witnessed, stared at the Black Dragon King with their mouths agape.
“Hmph!”
The Black Dragon King glared around him.
Fortunately, his glare was directed not at the merchants, but at his own pirates.
“I’ll say it once more. Anyone who harms commoners here will pay dearly. Anyone who strikes a person will lose their arm, and anyone who cuts a person will lose their head. And those who kill will be turned into something that can neither live nor die, to fill the bellies of the Yangtze River fish!”
“Yes! We will remember!”
The Black Dragon King nodded in satisfaction.
“From now on, this place will be managed by Surochae. Everything else will operate as it did before!”
One of the merchants, who had been cowering under the overwhelming presence of the Black Dragon King, mustered the courage to timidly raise his hand. His face was drenched in cold sweat.
“What is it?”
“B-Black Dragon King, does that mean… we can use Maehwado as we did before?”
“Exactly!”
The Black Dragon King shouted in a booming voice that everyone could hear.
“In the name of the Black Dragon King, I declare that there will be no plunder on Maehwado! We will protect you!”
“T-Then, the usage fee…?”
“Hmm.”
The Black Dragon King frowned. Unlike Im Sobyeong, who would jump eagerly into any discussion involving money, the Black Dragon King still found it unpleasant to talk about money directly.
Sensing his hesitation, one of the pirates quickly spoke up.
“The Black Dragon King has decreed that the fee will be double the previous rate. The management has changed, so naturally, the price must change too!”
The merchants swallowed dryly and nodded, accepting the terms.
A fee twice as much as before was still reasonable. While some were internally dissatisfied, they knew better than to voice their complaints openly. No one dared to haggle in front of the Black Dragon King. Trying to negotiate a few coins could very well turn into a negotiation over their lives.
“Go.”
The Black Dragon King gestured forward with his chin.
“This city is now under the territory of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze. Anyone who wishes to stay or do business here must pay taxes to Surochae!”
“Yes!”
The pirates surged forward to occupy the city.
Some watching this scene felt relieved that at least the Black Dragon King was promising to ensure their safety. Others lamented the fact that the usage fees for Maehwado had doubled, and still others wondered if they could really trust the words of the Black Dragon King.
However, surprisingly few understood the full implication of this moment: that this marked the first incursion of Sapaeryeon into the northern bank of the Yangtze.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Surochae has occupied Jiujiang.”
The slowly turning prayer beads in his hand came to a sudden stop.
Beop Jong’s half-closed eyes opened slightly.
“…Did you say they occupied it?”
“Yes, Abbot. To be precise, it’s not Jiujiang itself, but a new city that has sprung up next to it. Since the government has yet to assign it an official name…”
“People have been calling it Maehwado.”
“Yes, that’s correct, Abbot.”
As Beop Gye nodded quickly, Beop Jong bit his lip slightly.
“We heard just yesterday that Nokrim was withdrawing from Maehwado. And now, within a day, Surochae has seized it?”
“…Yes.”
“Hwasan… No, was it Nokrim that warned Sapaeryeon? Otherwise…”
“I’m not sure about that. But considering Hwasan’s disposition…”
“…That’s probably right.”
Beop Jong closed his eyes again.
As they say, when suspicion clouds your mind, everything seems doubtful. For a moment, even his reason seemed shaken. Despite knowing that, even if the whole world were to deal with Sapaeryeon, that Hwasan would never do so…
“…How far has Surochae advanced?”
“They’ve crossed the river…”
Beop Gye trailed off at the end of his sentence. Beop Jong’s face turned icy cold.
“So, they’ve crossed to Gangbuk.”
“It appears so, Abbot.”
“…Not just temporarily crossed over, but occupied it and declared it their territory.”
Beop Jong’s eyes darkened for a moment.
“Abbot, doesn’t this mean that Sapaeryeon is declaring its expansion into Gangbuk?”
“No.”
“…Pardon?”
Beop Jong shook his head firmly and replied decisively.
“It’s not Sapaeryeon. This is an independent action by Surochae.”
“But how could you…”
Beop Gye was about to ask why he thought that but then closed his mouth. If Beop Jong, of all people, spoke with such certainty, there had to be a reason for it.
“But won’t it look the same to everyone else?”
Beop Jong didn’t answer that question either, because he knew Beop Gye was right.
As long as Surochae is part of Sapaeryeon, this act will be perceived as Sapaeryeon’s expansion into Gangbuk.
And since that land is in Gangbuk, it has nothing to do with Gangnam Non-Aggression Treaty that has kept Gupailbang in check until now.
“Utter foolishness…”
Beop Jong ground his teeth.
How could they not understand?
Until now, Gupailbang has borne the blame for the Yangtze River Disaster. Those who have been watching Gupailbang will now demand their response to this situation. They will question whether Gupailbang refrained from crossing the Yangtze River out of respect for the treaty or because they were afraid of Sapaeryon.
And Gupailbang and the Five Great Families have no choice but to respond to that demand.
‘This is something we cannot back down from.’
Their resolve doesn’t matter. If they wish to continue to pride themselves on being Just Sects that protect the spirit of Gangho against Sapaeryon, they must punish those who have violated Gangbuk.
‘But will that punishment really end as just punishment?’
If a full-scale war with Surochae breaks out, Sapaeryon will eventually be forced to take action. If that happens, the flames will spread uncontrollably.
“What a complete fool… He brings disaster upon himself for nothing more than trivial greed. This false peace is still better than war.”
After a long time spent in deep contemplation, a name slipped from Beop Jong’s lips.
“…Chung Myung.”
“A-Abbot?”
“Hehheh… Hwasan Geomhyeop… Hwasan!”
Crunch.
The prayer beads clutched in his hand made a sharp cracking sound as they split apart.
Beop Jong knew.
He knew that all of this stemmed from Hwasan’s actions.
However, because of their efforts over the past three years in protecting Maehwado and stabilizing Hubei, Shaolin and Gupailbang could not criticize Cheonumaeng for its actions.
“Abbot…”
“Send word to Gupailbang and the Five Great Families. Tell them to gather at Shaolin immediately.”
“Which sects should we contact…?”
“All of them.”
“But Abbot…”
“Didn’t I say all?”
As Beop Jong’s voice rose, Beop Gye quickly nodded.
“I will do so.”
“Hurry.”
“Yes!”
After Beop Gye swiftly left, Beop Jong looked down at his own hand. His prayer beads, now cracked and damaged beyond repair, lay there.
“Heh.”
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
“It’s nothing short of a dogfight. Ha ha ha. Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!”
His booming laughter echoed chillingly through the darkened halls of Shaolin.
________
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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