The deeper they went into the valley, the thicker the fog became. So when a figure suddenly appeared from the fog, the only ones who immediately identified it were Cheon Mubaeck and Wang Jeonyu.

Rather, Cheon Mubaeck had felt the presence long before that.

He had wanted to avoid a fight if possible and turn Wang Jeonyu’s mind to choose a detour, but as he hesitated in the middle for a long time, the opponent noticed and drew his sword first.

The figure in the fog slowly revealed itself.

‘Is he trying to negotiate?’

If he had intended to kill, he would not have revealed himself like that in the first place, but would have attacked right away.

But it was also difficult to see it as a negotiation, as the presence of the Green Forest members secretly taking their positions on the cliffs of the valley that soared high on both sides was clearly felt.

It was not a negotiation, but rather an intimidation.

Wang Jeonyu also felt the numerous presences taking their positions on the cliff, and he growled with a hardened face.

“Who dares to block my path?”

A low but dignified voice. The narrow valley was filled with a resounding resonance.

He was indeed a hero who had unified the Yangtze River.

But the man in green who blocked the front was also not to be trifled with. Although a hint of tension flashed across his face at Wang Jeonyu’s command, he revealed his identity with a calm expression.

“A pleasure to meet you. It is an honor to come out to greet a senior of the Unorthodox Alliance like this. I am the Blood Light Fortress Leader of the Green Forest, and I have come under the command of the Great Strength King to escort the hero of the river.”

Cheon Mubaeck recalled the information he had obtained through the Hao Faction.

Blood Light Fortress Leader.

‘He’s the second-in-command of the Green Forest.’

He was a master famous for being on brotherly terms with the Great Strength King. In fact, he was a big shot who held the second rank in the Green Forest.

At his appearance, Wang Jeonyu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“It’s quite a boisterous welcome. Blocking the path ahead, and bringing troops up on the cliff. Do the mountain bandits give such a grand welcome?”

“Hahaha. I hope there is no misunderstanding. It’s just that the Great Dragon Gang leader is such a cunning raccoon-like person, so our Great Strength King wants to join hands with the senior River King and give the Great Dragon Gang leader a proper lesson.”

Wang Jeonyu’s eyebrows twitched.

It was a blatant statement to be hostile to the Great Dragon Gang leader and join hands.

But Cheon Mubaeck sneered inwardly as he watched.

‘Why does he have to say it in such a roundabout way, to come under me?’

Although the words were a proposal for cooperation, it was not a matter to be taken at face value.

Unlike the Green Forest, which could deploy an enormous number of troops on land at any time, wasn’t it difficult for Wang Jeonyu’s river pirate forces to project their power if they were not on the river?

Even if they cooperated, it would be a situation where Wang Jeonyu would bow his head and go under the Great Strength King.

There was no way Wang Jeonyu would not know that.

“Are you planning to attack if things go wrong while proposing cooperation?”

The Blood Light Fortress Leader smiled bitterly.

“It is our wish that you would go with us cooperatively, but our Great Strength King is also a person who likes things to be certain…”

“You insolent brat. Do you think I would bow my head and go under a fool who only pretends to be a king on the mountain?”

The face of the Blood Light Fortress Leader, who had been pretending to be somewhat respectful, hardened. A sneer appeared on his lips.

“The turtles who only splash around in the Yangtze River, our Great Strength King is extending a hand to them, but you seem to think this is the Yangtze River. Senior.”

It was truly a murderous debate.

Of course, it was not a debate that could continue for long in the first place. It was not a debate between scholars, nor was it a debate between martial artists.

The end of the dispute between river pirates and mountain bandits was set.

Wang Jeonyu suddenly drew his greatsword and roared.

“Let’s see if you bastards can escort those turtles! By knocking me down!”

“Tsk. You really seem to think this is the Yangtze River. If so, excuse me, but I will escort you myself! Senior!”

In the end, it was a set conclusion. From the time the Blood Light Fortress Leader appeared with his troops.

Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue.

‘Wang Jeonyu is also quite hot-tempered. Although his appearance and personality are different, it’s not particularly true in this case.’

He was a man who had noticed that there were a lot of troops on the cliff.

Even if he had to swallow his pride, he should have quietly left this place and found a way.

If it was a master of Wang Jeonyu’s level, he would have been able to find a way somehow if he had just avoided the current situation.

But he couldn’t stand it and started a fight like that.

‘A man with few troops as it is. Tsk tsk.’

Wang Jeonyu jumped out like a thunderbolt. Although the Joyangbi was a lightness art that could maximize its effectiveness on the surface of the water, it was not that it was ineffective on land.

Wang Jeonyu’s greatsword, which had closed the distance in an instant and slid, powerfully cut the Blood Light Fortress Leader.

The Blood Light Fortress Leader barely withstood one exchange and stepped back, shouting.

“Attack!”

From both cliffs, the Green Forest members rose with a roar, and arrows and all sorts of blades poured down.

A procession lined up in a single file, a narrow path, a confined space that was not easy to avoid.

Arrows were not a particularly fatal attack for martial artists.

For martial artists who had reached a certain realm, that is. The rain of arrows pouring down in this environment was a fatal threat to most of the river pirates.

There was a limit to blocking them by swinging a sword. Because there was only one sword in hand.

“Ugh!”

Puk, puk, puk.

The river pirates fell one by one.

“Neung-heo, take good care of our kids for now.”

Unlike the river pirates, Neung-heo’s Unorthodox Alliance group immediately took out their shields as soon as the attack began.

Martial artists usually did not use shields well, but the Unorthodox Alliance were different.

Although the Unorthodox Alliance, including Subong, had been taught various Unorthodox Alliance martial arts by Neung-heo, what they had been most intensively educated on was the skill of handling a shield.

‘Is a shield a decoration? Are you the Azure Sky Sword God? Can you block everything with one sword? Do you know how to use protective qi?’

For the Unorthodox Alliance, who had learned miscellaneous martial arts without proper martial arts, a shield was essential.

Pabababak!

Although most were blocked by the shields, there were one or two casualties who fell from the countless pouring arrows.

“You damn bastards! Hold it straight! If you’re not confident in blocking it, just endure it!”

Neung-heo, as if he had grown fond of them, ran around and repeatedly blocked the arrows.

Thanks to Neung-heo’s efforts, the Unorthodox Alliance group was relatively fine, but the river pirates were in a complete mess. Some of the mountain bandits came down from the cliff and engaged in a chaotic battle, and some of the river pirates also stubbornly climbed the cliff and cut down the mountain bandits.

The river pirates and mountain bandits, who were second to none in terms of viciousness, fought with ominous eyes.

“When mountain bandits and river pirates meet, it’s truly a mess.”

Cheon Mubaeck looked over the scene once as if he were just watching.

Glancing over, Wang Jeonyu was being attacked by the Blood Light Fortress Leader and one of the Green Forest members.

Wasn’t it a truly rare sight?

The sight of river pirates and mountain bandits fighting.

Cheon Mubaeck thought.

If the fight intensified and they were mutually destroyed, wouldn’t it only be a good thing for the Great Dragon Gang leader?

But if he meekly went under the Green Forest, the balance would be heavily tilted towards the Green Forest.

‘It’s become troublesome. Either way, it’s beneficial for me if Wang Jeonyu lives. If Wang Jeonyu suddenly dies, what’s the use of having bought his favor by disguising myself?’

For Cheon Mubaeck, who had thought of a plan to divide into three, it was not welcome. Moreover, the goodwill he had steadily built up until now would also be useless.

Only after overcoming this situation could he come up with a plan or make a mess. So Cheon Mubaeck came up with a clever plan to overcome the current situation and called Neung-heo.

“Neung-heo.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s do some work with me.”

“I’m dying trying to protect these kids.”

Neung-heo, who was sweating profusely with a flushed face, let out a blunt remark.

“We have to finish the work quickly.”

“What will happen to these kids if I leave?”

“We have the youngest, don’t we?”

“…”

Neung-heo immediately approached Guk Jihum, who was holding a shield, and whispered something.

“Ugh!”

And not long after, Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue at the sight of Guk Jihum suddenly letting out a battle cry and literally cutting down the Green Forest members.

“What did you do? Why is he like that?”

“I promised not to torment him.”

“You made a promise you have no intention of keeping.”

“That’s how verbal contracts are.”

When Neung-heo laughed, Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue. Although he felt that Guk Jihum’s life was quite pitiful, well, for now, he was a great help, so it would be fine to let him go when the time came.

Cheon Mubaeck said to Neung-heo.

“I’ll make a move, so just assist me from the side.”

“Do you have a clever plan? How are you going to handle this mess?”

“What do you think is the reason the Green Forest is making a reckless move and attacking now?”

“Well, it’s a scheme to capture the River King. Since the River King’s forces are scattered on the Yangtze River, it’s not difficult to block them if they’re holed up in the mountains. If they just get their hands on the River King’s person… in fact, they can draw the river pirates under their command?”

The fact that he was quick-witted meant that his view of the situation was quite broad and deep. Moreover, it meant that his ability to grasp and analyze the situation was also decent.

Neung-heo’s judgment was accurate, and soon, he widened his eyes as if he had realized something.

“Well… that story again?”

“It is an eternal truth on the battlefield. Especially for the Unorthodox Alliance guys.”

Neung-heo smiled bitterly.

Of course. Didn’t he know well?

The thing he had suffered the most, and the thing he had done several times next to Cheon Mubaeck.

“To catch the head first.”

Just as the Green Forest were trying to secure Wang Jeonyu’s person.

This fight might also end anticlimactically if he just subdued the Blood Light Fortress Leader.

It wasn’t like they were going to have an all-out war, and with the Black Assembly ahead, would they fight to the death when their leader was caught?

But Neung-heo made a slightly reluctant expression.

“That Blood Light Fortress Leader is not to be trifled with. He’s fighting on par with Wang Jeonyu.”

Of course, considering that this was on land, and that the Blood Light Fortress Leader was attacking with one of his Green Forest members, he was fighting on par with Wang Jeonyu.

The evidence was Wang Jeonyu’s hardened face and the wounds that were appearing all over his body.

Of course, he was not doubting Cheon Mubaeck’s ability.

“Although he can kill the Blood Light Fortress Leader, if such a person dies, won’t it only be the Great Dragon Gang leader who benefits?”

If it was Cheon Mubaeck, he could kill him. Neung-heo did not dare to doubt it.

But capturing him was several times harder than killing him.

And even more so in a situation where even Wang Jeonyu was complicatedly entangled in the fight.

But at Neung-heo’s concern, Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue.

“Neung-heo, you’ve lost your touch.”

“What?”

“Capturing the Blood Light Fortress Leader is not a difficult thing. And what you should be worried about is not that.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

At the calm face, Neung-heo’s eyes trembled.

Right, lately, Cheon Mubaeck had been pretending to be a guard, so he had been quiet and had forgotten.

This man…

“The Great Strength King is the head. If we catch him, we’ll see a way out, right?”

“…”

Wasn’t his boldness crazy?

Capturing the Blood Light Fortress Leader was not the plan in the first place. That was just one way to overcome the current situation. Cheon Mubaeck was looking further ahead. Not just the current situation, but a plan to hold the entire board in both hands and shake it.

Cheon Mubaeck drew his sword and slowly walked towards the Blood Light Fortress Leader, who was fighting with Wang Jeonyu.

Neung-heo’s role here was simple.

Support.

To open a path to the Blood Light Fortress Leader while blocking the mercilessly pouring arrows and blades, and the swords of the Green Forest members that suddenly appeared from here and there.

“You damn bastard! Support, my ass, he’s making me do the difficult thing so nonchalantly!”

Although Neung-heo said so, he steadily made a path.

Cheon Mubaeck walked that path slowly, as if he were taking a walk.

As if he had come out for a stroll.

Exuding an atmosphere that was detached from the murderous scene around him, Cheon Mubaeck walked.

“Well, it’s hard to pretend to be a guard. I guess I’ll have to change my role.”

Muttering so, a dazzling flash flickered from his sword.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep