“Give me the mask.”

“Are you returning from being Young Master Hyeok to the Black Heart Gang leader now?”

“It’s a pity to have disguised myself, but I’ve used the face as much as I can.”

Cheon Mubaeck said so and washed his face with the river water.

All sorts of powder dissolved in the river water and colored it thickly.

Neung-heo clicked his tongue as if it were strange.

“Guk Jihum, that man is the Hao Faction leader and was born a martial artist, but how is his disguise skill so amazing?”

In front of the pursuit team, Cheon Mubaeck had not shown his true self, which was called the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

Because the majority, including the Yugeom Emperor, were people of the Orthodox Path.

When the power of the Righteous Alliance expanded in the future, wouldn’t the probability of meeting as the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero be high?

“Because he was raised by courtesans when he was young. His makeup is amazing.”

“Well, he looks like a natural-born martial artist. But how is he so delicate when he puts on a disguise?”

“It’s better than a human skin mask.”

In fact, it wasn’t that his face had changed drastically. Guk Jihum’s disguise did not make a big change from his original face. But it delicately changed only the unique points that came to mind when remembering a person’s face, giving the impression of a completely different person.

For example, the distorted scar like a burn mark on Neung-heo’s face now.

“Anyway, seeing that you’re wearing a mask, are you going to be active as the Black Heart Gang leader now?”

“I can take it off at any time. Depending on the situation.”

“When did you call Wang Jeonyu again?”

“He’s the leader, so wouldn’t he know how this matter is progressing?”

“Well.”

Wang Jeonyu was also the leader of the Black Assembly. The request from the Blood Demon Valley that had come through Dokgo Pae had also been delivered. Of course, the fact that the requester was the Blood Demon Valley was thoroughly hidden.

Perhaps Wang Jeonyu did not even know that the person being chased was from the Jongnam Sect. If it were the Jongnam Sect, he would not have even stepped up. Cheon Mubaeck had intentionally hidden it.

He had just offered a huge amount of cash, so Wang Jeonyu had also stepped up.

Although there was also Cheon Mubaeck’s instigation.

“Well, the most important thing for the Unorthodox Alliance is money. You need money to feed my kids, put them to sleep, hold feasts, and even get them married.”

“And Wang Jeonyu is also motivated after becoming the leader, right? He’s trying hard to push away Dokgo Pae’s influence. In that situation, if a huge amount of cash comes in? The Black Assembly can increase its power in one go. The money that the Blood Demon Valley has put out is that much money.”

“You’re saying you’re going to make a big achievement.”

“Right. If it goes as planned.”

Neung-heo sighed as he saw Cheon Mubaeck’s expression.

“Tsk. That man doesn’t even dream that he’s being used, so he’s pitiful.”

“Well, let’s go. Neung-heo. To make a mess.”

“Let’s go. I’m confident in playing in a mess.”

“Row the boat.”

“Me alone? There are two oars? I only have one arm?”

“Row. If you’re late, I’ll make you row with your two legs.”

“……”

Sigh, who was he to worry about whom? His own situation was more tearful.

Neung-heo resigned himself and rowed the boat.

* * *

“It’s a relief. The pursuit team is getting a boat at a relatively downstream dock.”

“That’s a relief.”

At the Tae-eul swordsman’s report, Jongri Hong, who had been looking at the riverbank, sighed as if his strength had drained away.

It was a sigh of relief.

“They chased us well, but I don’t know why they went downstream. It’s a great relief.”

The point where Jongri Hong had boarded the boat was about the middle of the Yangtze River’s tributary.

The pursuit team had boarded a boat downstream.

The simple distance difference was about half a day.

They had to row with all their might to go up the river, but could the distance of half a day be easily narrowed?

It was the opponent’s clear mistake.

The guys who had been tracking him as if they were almost toying with him, as if they were luring him towards the Yangtze River, seemed to have made a mistake at the end.

“Unless the boat gets stuck on a reef and stops, it will take a long time to catch up, so it’s a great relief.”

Jongri Hong barely managed to calm his chest.

Although it was impossible to escape to Anhui Province, which was his original goal, there were several subordinate sects of the Jongnam Sect in Jiangxi Province. If he took refuge there, he would be able to shake off the pursuit.

“Wow! The wind is like water!”

Was it because he was relaxed?

Jongri Hong looked at the child who was walking carefully on the deck.

‘The wind is like water…’

Since it was a river wind, he must be talking about the water droplets that were flying in the wind.

It was a truly natural and innocent statement.

The child’s name was Jeon Soyong. There was a reason why the Yugeom Emperor treated her like a precious gem. Because she was so cheerful that even Jongri Hong would smile without realizing it.

‘It’s a truly sorry thing.’

At first, he had definitely approached with his own greed.

Of course, he had not harbored even the slightest thought of harming the child. It was just that his purpose was clear, and he had been greedy. But now he was regretful.

‘If I had rather told the Yugeom Emperor the truth and had approached him.’

But the reason why he could not do that.

‘The Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero… for some reason, that person is also aiming for the Five Sacred Objects. Does he really know all the secret stories of the Five Sacred Objects?’

It was because of Cheon Mubaeck.

‘At Mount Hua, and even the Divine Spirit Talisman at Wudang.’

When he had heard that Cheon Mubaeck had taken the Divine Spirit Talisman, Jongri Hong had had a hunch. That Cheon Mubaeck, for some reason, was aiming for the Five Sacred Objects, and that the Divine Spirit Talisman was also one of the Five Sacred Objects.

‘That guy has enormous information power.’

If he had approached the Yugeom Emperor formally, there was a high probability that Cheon Mubaeck would have noticed.

Then he would have also come looking for the sacred object.

‘Does he know the power of the Five Sacred Objects?’

If a sacred object existed alone, it was nothing more than a divine item.

But if the Five Sacred Objects were gathered together, they were not just simple objects.

‘Ascension to immortality…’

A blue light was emitted from Jongri Hong’s eyes.

In fact, although ascension to immortality often appeared in various documents and folktales, there were many stories about whether it was actually possible.

Jongri Hong did not doubt it. The deep library of Jongnam.

‘The Sword Immortal…’

The Sword Immortal, Lu Dongbin.

He had gained enlightenment in the sword with the power of the Five Sacred Objects and had ascended to the immortal world.

The record was clearly left. To be precise, it was said that the four sacred objects and the divine maiden had presided over the rites by his side.

‘Of course, I, who am far from enough with just that, will not be able to ascend. But if I can digest that little bit of power, that little bit of enlightenment…’

In any case, the position of the next sect leader was a reserved seat.

Jongri Hong’s pupils burned.

What he wanted was a higher position.

“The number one sword sect in the world! The number one Taoist sect in the world!”

The Northern Revered Shaolin, the Southern Respected Wudang.

A single power that stood tall beyond the two names that represented the martial world.

To become the number one sword sect beyond Mount Hua, and to become the number one Taoist sect beyond Wudang.

The brilliantly shining name of the Jongnam Sect.

If they worked hard and raced hard, and if the Jongnam Sect, the legitimate successor, took the legacy of the Complete Truth.

The Taoism of the Complete Truth Sect, which had represented the Taoist sects of the Central Plains in the past, and the number one sword in the Central Plains that had been passed down from the Sword Immortal, Lu Dongbin.

He did not doubt that all those clues were in the Five Sacred Objects.

‘Starting with the power of this child, step by step, if I just move forward, it will be fine.’

As if to strengthen his will, Jongri Hong clenched his fists.

“Wow! There are a lot of boats! Grandpa, there are a lot of boats over there!”

It was then.

At Soyong’s voice, who was hanging on to the Tae-eul swordsman’s arms and shouting innocently, Jongri Hong’s face hardened.

‘Boats? Have the pursuit team already caught up?’

It was faster than expected.

As Soyong had said. He turned his gaze and saw many boats appearing one after another from beyond the river.

‘How did they get so many boats?’

Moreover, they were not just simple fishing boats or small boats.

Their size was comparable to that of a decent pleasure boat or a merchant ship. Some of the boats were so huge that they looked like warships operated by the government.

Jongri Hong noticed a strange sign.

‘It’s not the pursuit team!’

Was it a large merchant group’s merchant fleet? Then there was no problem. Because there was no reason to pick a fight. The merchant group would just pass by when they saw the warriors with swords.

But that was too optimistic a thought, as was soon revealed.

“E-elder!”

Although he had disguised himself as a master and a doctor’s disciple to hide his identity, the Tae-eul swordsman was so flustered that he had forgotten that and had called him an elder. Jongri Hong could not even scold him for that. Because he had also seen the flag fluttering on the boat, and an earthquake had occurred in his pupils.

The leader of the Black Assembly.

The General Fortress Leader of the Yangtze River Waterway, the River King, Wang Jeonyu.

Jongri Hong knew well about the Black Assembly. That the Unorthodox Alliance members were gathering to form a coalition.

But what caught his eye more than that was the character below.

‘The General Fortress Leader of the Yangtze River Waterway…’

The king of the Yangtze River. The king of the river pirates. Jongri Hong’s face hardened.

* * *

“That seems to be the right boat. Considering the signal that the Black Heart Gang leader sent.”

At the Iron Face Palm’s words, Wang Jeonyu nodded his head and went up on the deck.

“It’s small.”

It was a truly shabby and small boat.

“But it’s bigger than robbing any boat.”

A slight smile appeared on Wang Jeonyu’s lips.

“If we have that much money, not only can we maintain the Yangtze River’s waterway, but it’s also a huge amount of money to release at the Black Assembly.”

“Although the most important value of the Unorthodox Alliance is loyalty, the most necessary thing to create loyalty is money.”

Wang Jeonyu had bet his life on this matter.

“The Black Heart Gang leader is helping me well.”

“In any case, the Black Heart Gang leader’s influence will also grow if the leader does well. He must have realized that from receiving the position of the head of the inspection hall this time.”

“Hehehehe.”

Wang Jeonyu laughed cheerfully. The reason why he had stepped up without a second thought when he had heard about this matter from Cheon Mubaeck was clear.

A huge amount of gold.

There was a saying that the most important value for the Unorthodox Alliance was gold rather than loyalty.

Although he had become the leader, for Wang Jeonyu, whose foundation was the weakest, the enormous wealth that could completely reorganize the Black Assembly would overwhelmingly increase his influence.

He would be able to draw out their loyalty just by releasing money to the members of the Black Assembly.

“But don’t let your guard down. Although they are just doctors, they are the ones who kidnapped the Yugeom Emperor’s daughter. They are guys with something.”

“Even if there is something, it’s different on a boat.”

Not only the Iron Face Palm, but Wang Jeonyu was also confident.

Although he had relied on the Black Heart Gang leader at the Black Assembly, it was different here.

Because the river pirates who had boarded the boat were very accustomed to fighting on the water.

Wang Jeonyu stood on the deck and let out a loud lion’s roar.

“This is the Yangtze River, and the Yangtze River is my, Wang Jeonyu’s, territory! Who is passing through here without permission!”

A voice that resounded throughout the Yangtze River.

It was a kind of preemptive strike. To kill the opponent’s spirit by releasing a powerful internal energy without holding back.

But the opponent was not to be trifled with either.

“What do you want! If you want a toll, I will gladly give it to you!”

As Jongri Hong came out and shouted so, Wang Jeonyu’s expression changed slightly.

‘He’s not to be trifled with.’

Just as he had put his internal energy into his voice, the opponent had also revealed a powerful internal energy without holding back.

Just from that, Wang Jeonyu felt it.

‘This matter will not be resolved as easily as I thought.’

Wang Jeonyu made a calm expression.

“A toll! If you are so cooperative, will you give me the girl you are holding in your arms and go!”

“…”

A silence lingered. But he would have no choice but to choose.

Either give up the child, or sink into the river.

Because in that short time, Wang Jeonyu’s fleet had gotten closer and closer.

It was then. Jongri Hong, who was on the boat, drew his sword in an instant.

Wang Jeonyu flinched and was about to react.

Jongri Hong and the Tae-eul swordsman’s figures had already floated up and had landed on one of the boats of the fleet in one go.

Kwaang!

As soon as they landed, a storm of blades arose. The river pirates’ limbs soared into the air. It was a massacre that happened in an instant.

Wang Jeonyu could not hide his bewilderment at the unexpectedly swift attack.

“You’re openly picking a fight?”

He had never dreamed that they would come out like this.

“They intend to take the boat and escape!”

At the Iron Face Palm’s words, Wang Jeonyu’s eyes widened. That was right. The boat that Jongri Hong had boarded was a long and sleek fast boat. The fastest boat in the current fleet.

Since he could not escape by rowing his small boat, he intended to take the fast boat and escape.

Wang Jeonyu exploded in anger.

“Surround them! Turn the boats and surround them! I will catch him!”

The fleet turned abruptly.

It was then.

“Fortress Leader, over there!”

“What?”

Wang Jeonyu’s eyes widened as he turned his gaze in the direction that the Iron Face Palm was pointing.

Although it could not compare to Wang Jeonyu’s fleet, quite a lot of boats were rushing this way.

The boats, seeing the scene of the fight, flinched and then came closer with a fierce momentum.

“It’s the pursuit team!”

As the pursuit team got closer, they jumped onto the river pirates’ boats without a second thought.

Among them was the Yugeom Emperor.

“So the villains’ identity was river pirates! You bastards! You said the Unorthodox Alliance were gathering, but you dared to aim for the Zhejiang martial world!”

At the Yugeom Emperor’s resounding voice, Wang Jeonyu was dumbfounded.

“What the hell is that nonsense?”

But no one gave an answer. Because the river pirates were also fighting fiercely with the warriors of the pursuit team who were climbing up the boats.

“Damn it, damn it!”

Wang Jeonyu’s face contorted.

The boats were entangled with each other. Jongri Hong, along with the Tae-eul swordsman, was rampaging to take the boat, and the river pirates had surrounded them. But from the outside, the pursuit team was rushing in without hesitation…

At some point, the three forces were entangled in a chaotic mess on the river.

That scene was like.

“Hehe… it’s a mess.”

Wang Jeonyu let out a hollow laugh. In any case, the answer was to quickly take the child and drive the boat away.

As he thought so and was about to throw himself at Jongri Hong.

“…Black Heart Gang leader?”

Cheon Mubaeck, who had appeared at some point, was approaching Jongri Hong.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep