The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 107

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

107
Woo Geom-San’s Struggle for Supremacy
“Hongbaek!”
Ha Yeong-ryeong watched Hongbaek perched on the ship’s railing with sparkling eyes.
Fidgeting with both hands, she was dying to touch Hongbaek. However, Hongbaek paid no attention to Ha Yeong-ryeong and sat there loftily.
“Hongbaek, you’re so beautiful!”
Ha Yeong-ryeong’s face was flushed red, looking as though she were suffering from the fever of a first love.
Yet, the gaze of Hongbaek, the actual object of her first love, remained fixed firmly on Woo Geom-san.
One might think she would resent Hongbaek for that, but Ha Yeong-ryeong stamped her feet, wishing to get closer. In fact, she began to carefully step toward Hongbaek.
At that exact moment, Hongbaek spread his wings wide and flew far away.
“Ugh! No!”
Ha Yeong-ryeong’s face fell into a pout.
She resented Hongbaek for not understanding her anxious heart. However, she soon burned with determination.
“You might keep your distance now, but later on, you’ll end up liking me even more. Don’t regret it then.”
Hearing her resolve, Ning Yunxiao shook his head.
Having recovered her health to some extent, Ha Yeong-ryeong exuded an overwhelming energy that was truly unmanageable.
For the introverted Ning Yunxiao, it was simply too much to handle. Spending just one Shijin with her left his energy completely drained, bringing him to the point of exhaustion.
When Ning Yunxiao, unable to bear it any longer, hid away in some secluded corner, she would magically track him down anyway.
In the end, Ning Yunxiao gave up on running away and had to follow her around all day long.
Watching Ha Yeong-ryeong from a distance, Ha Baek-jin spoke with an absurd expression.
“It seems that tomboy has taken a liking to Yunxiao. To think she’s keeping him by her side like that all day.”
“It seems Yunxiao doesn’t dislike Yeong-ryeong either. Seeing how he follows her around despite wearing a bothered look.”
“You said Yunxiao carries the bloodline of the Qingyu Clan, right?”
“Yes, his mother was the only daughter of the Family Head of the Qingyu Clan. Unfortunately, she was kidnapped by the Leader of Red Cloud Sect and suffered terrible things.”
“I wonder if the Family Head of the Qingyu Clan will actually accept that child so easily.”
“Surely he wouldn’t reject his own flesh and blood?”
“Little Brother, that’s only because you don’t know that damn old man.”
Ha Baek-jin scowled, as if merely thinking about it fouled his mood.
Woo Geom-san looked at Ha Baek-jin with a puzzled expression.
“Just how bad is he for you to react like that?”
“He’s terribly strict and completely inflexible. Above all else, he values pure bloodlines.”
With his vast experience and knowledge, Ha Baek-jin knew a great deal about the Qingyu Clan.
The current Family Head of the Qingyu Clan, Liu Yuanhao, was an old man in his mid-sixties.
Usually, at that age, it was customary to pass down the position of Family Head to the successor and retire, but Liu Yuanhao still wielded absolute, unchecked power as the Family Head.
Because of that, his eldest son, Liu Guanglie, remained stuck as the Young Family Head even in his mid-forties.
“You’ll understand once you see his face. It practically has ‘I am a terribly fastidious human being’ written all over it.”
“Is it really that severe?”
“It’s dreadful. He is merciless beyond measure. It’s highly questionable whether such a man will willingly accept his own half-blooded flesh and blood.”
“Yunxiao might end up getting hurt.”
Woo Geom-san let out a soft sigh.
Ning Yunxiao had been used as a tool by his father and had suddenly lost his mother as well. If he were rejected even by his grandfather, he might lose the very will to live in this world.
Ha Baek-jin showed an apologetic expression.
“I spoke unnecessarily.”
“Not at all. It’s better to know in advance so we can prepare ourselves mentally. Thank you for telling me.”
“Still, it’s not entirely hopeless, as they say the wife of the Family Head of the Qingyu Clan has a heart as pure as silk. I haven’t seen her myself, but I know she is widely praised by everyone around.”
“That’s a relief, at least.”
“She would definitely never turn her back on her own bloodline. Let’s pin our hopes on her warmth.”
“Yes!”
Woo Geom-san nodded and looked over at Ning Yunxiao.
Ning Yunxiao was being pulled away somewhere again, led by the hand by Ha Yeong-ryeong. Even while being dragged along like that, a faint smile could be seen on his face, suggesting he didn’t completely hate it.
Woo Geom-san hoped Ning Yunxiao would continue to smile like that.
It was then.
“Slow down.”
Suddenly, the Captain ordered the sailors to reduce the ship’s speed.
Wondering what was happening, Woo Geom-san looked ahead and saw numerous ships brought to a halt right in the middle of the river.
Woo Geom-san approached the Captain.
“Why are they stopped like that?”
“I don’t know either. I’ve traveled this region hundreds of times, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen ships brought to a standstill like this.”
The place where dozens of vessels were halted was a spot where the river’s width was exceptionally narrow. Furthermore, because a large, naturally formed island sat right in the center of the river, the route that could be navigated safely was extremely restricted.
The waters around the island, called Cheongmul Island, were particularly perilous due to an abundance of hidden reefs.
If one navigated recklessly, collisions with other vessels could easily occur, making it a place where people always sailed with extreme caution.
However, this was the first time ships had been completely gridlocked, unable to move back or forth.
Woo Geom-san asked the Captain.
“Is that area also the territory of the Hongjo Bang?”
“It is a zone jointly managed with the Tianjin Escort Agency.”
The territories of the Seven Great Water Sects, which consisted of waterways, could not be neatly carved up and managed as if cut by a knife.
Since they couldn’t exactly put up fences, areas where jurisdictions overlapped were managed jointly.
The spot where the ships were currently stopped was one such zone.
“It looks like something has definitely happened.”
“Do you think we’ll be delayed by much?”
“Under normal circumstances, we should pass through quickly. This isn’t just any regular vessel; it’s an Express Vessel operated directly by the Hongjo Bang.”
The Captain replied in a confident voice.
A guest of the Hongjo Bang’s chief, Bo Hyeon-seung, was aboard this ship.
Blocking such a vessel was no different from declaring enmity against the Hongjo Bang.
At least on the Yangtze River, and especially within the sectors managed by the Hongjo Bang, this ship essentially possessed the right to free navigation.
Having slowed its pace, the Rapid Ship smoothly parted the currents and approached the area where the vessels were congested.
The Captain brought the Rapid Ship close to the largest vessel nearby and shouted.
“Call your captain over here!”
“Please wait a moment.”
Seeing the flag fluttering atop the Rapid Ship, a sailor from the opposing vessel ran off to find his captain.
The Hongjo Bang proved status by the color of the flags flown on their ships, and the flag attached to the Rapid Ship made it clear that someone of higher authority was aboard compared to their own vessel.
After a short while, the captain of the opposing ship poked his head over the railing.
“Subordinate Zhang Qiyu greets the Captain.”
“It’s been a while. But why are all these ships stopped here?”
“The thing is, those bastards from the Tianjin Escort Agency have blocked the waterway.”
Zhang Qiyu replied with a troubled expression.
“Why on earth did those bastards do that?”
“They claim some important meeting is being held on Cheongmul Island and asked for our cooperation.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that? Does Cheongmul Island belong to them? Why are they arbitrarily holding a meeting there and blocking the waterway?”
The Captain flared up in anger.
Cheongmul Island belonged to no one.
Naturally, there were no restrictions on using Cheongmul Island, but that didn’t mean they had the right to go so far as to block the surrounding waterways.
The Captain issued an order to the sailors.
“Steer the ship toward Cheongmul Island.”
“Yes, sir!”
The sailors answered vigorously and steered the Rapid Ship toward Cheongmul Island.
The vessels that had been merely waiting for the Tianjin Escort Agency to open the path cleared out of the way so the Rapid Ship could pass through.
Through the path opened by the other ships, the Rapid Ship drew close to Cheongmul Island.
It was just when Cheongmul Island became so close it felt within arm’s reach.
“Halt!”
An Express Vessel flying the flag of the Tianjin Escort Agency emerged from Cheongmul Island to block their approach.
The Captain shouted at those aboard the opposing ship.
“Why on earth have you blocked the waterway? Open the path right this instant!”
“Ah, if it isn’t Captain Mak. My apologies.”
The captain of the opposing ship recognized Captain Mak.
Because they were adjacent and interacted frequently, experienced captains and sailors knew each other well.
The captain piloting the Tianjin Escort Agency’s Express Vessel was also an acquaintance of the Captain of the ship Woo Geom-san was aboard.
“We have an honored guest aboard our ship, so open the waterway immediately.”
“I’m sorry, but please wait just a little while. The meeting will conclude within one Shijin, and we will open the waterway then.”
“Are you joking with me right now? I told you we have an honored guest aboard our ship!”
“Could you not just explain it well to your Honored Guest? We only ask because we have unavoidable circumstances on our end as well…”
The captain of the opposing ship desperately tried to persuade Captain Mak because he did not want to cause trouble with the Hongjo Bang. However, Captain Mak could not afford to yield either.
This was because Chief Bo Hyeon-seung had commanded him to take Woo Geom-san’s group to their destination as quickly as possible.
As was the case in any sect, the authority of the chief within the Hongjo Bang was absolute. It had to be executed without fail.
Captain Mak shouted.
“Stop talking nonsense and just open the waterway already. Unless you want to cause trouble with the Hongjo Bang…”
“Good grief…”
Just as the captain of the opposing ship was wearing a helpless expression.
“What is all this racket?”
Along with a cold voice, a group of martial artists revealed themselves from Cheongmul Island.
A menacing aura emanated from the martial artists, who were uniformly dressed in blue martial arts uniforms.
At the front stood a young man who exuded an atmosphere as sharp as a blade.
The captain spoke to him cautiously.
“The Hongjo Bang is demanding that we open the waterway immediately.”
“Tell them to wait just a little longer. The meeting is almost over.”
“But…”
When the captain hesitated, the young man leapt through the air toward the ship.
Landing lightly on the vessel, the young man shouted at Captain Mak.
“I am Nam Gi-cheong, the Branch Manager of the Hanyang Branch of the Tianjin Escort Agency. An important meeting is currently taking place on Cheongmul Island, so wait here.”
“We cannot do that. Our ship is also carrying an honored guest and cannot be delayed for even a single moment, so open the waterway right now.”
“For a mere captain to talk back to me, do you wish to die?”
Nam Gi-cheong’s expression turned vicious.
The Tianjin Escort Agency possessed twelve branch offices.
Each individual branch boasted a level of force comparable to an ordinary sect.
The Hanyang Branch was a core branch among them, with power vastly superior to the other offices.
Naturally, the authority of the Hanyang Branch Manager was immense.
However, Captain Mak did not yield to Nam Gi-cheong’s authority.
“Even if you are the Hanyang Branch Manager, you cannot intimidate me. Open the waterway at once. If you do not open it immediately, the Hongjo Bang will not sit idly by.”
“The Hongjo Bang certainly puts on quite airs. For a mere captain to disregard my words, the Hanyang Branch Manager, in this manner.”
“I would like to say the exact same about the grand prestige of the Tianjin Escort Agency. I utterly fail to understand how someone who is a Branch Manager can act so lawlessly. If you do not wish to worsen relations with the Hongjo Bang, open the waterway immediately.”
As Captain Mak took a hardline stance, rage surfaced on Nam Gi-cheong’s face.
“And if I refuse to open it?”
“We will push through by force if we must.”
“Insolent fool! Drag this captain over here. Let’s see if he can keep spouting such words while standing before me.”
Nam Gi-cheong issued an order to the martial artists of the Hanyang Branch.
“Yes, Branch Manager!”
The martial artists of the Hanyang Branch who had been on standby leapt through the air and boarded the Hongjo Bang’s Express Vessel. At that, the sailors blocked the martial artists’ path, wielding gaff hooks, straight swords, and other weapons.
“Protect the Captain!”
“Form a wall!”
Although their martial arts could not compare to those of the Hanyang Branch’s martial artists, they absolutely refused to succumb to their momentum.
Woo Geom-san spoke quietly to Captain Mak.
“If it is because of us, there is no need to force things like this. We can afford to wait for about one Shijin.”
“We are not doing this just because of you all. The pride of our Hongjo Bang and our chief is at stake. If we back down under intimidation, those bastards will look down on us and continue to act this way. For the sake of the other ships of the Hongjo Bang, we must never retreat.”
This kind of psychological warfare between the Seven Great Water Sects was a common occurrence.
The crucial thing was that under no circumstances should one ever show weakness.
Captain Mak knew all too well that once you showed weakness, the opponent would mock you and continuously cross the line.
Only by pushing back strongly like this would the opponent compromise reasonably and back away.
Until now, most situations had been resolved that way.
The problem was that Nam Gi-cheong, the Hanyang Branch Manager, was an equally crazy human being.
He issued a command to the martial artists who had boarded the Express Vessel.
“It doesn’t matter if a few of them die, so make sure to bring the captain to me. I will take care of the aftermath myself.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yaaah!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the martial artists of the Hanyang Branch attacked the sailors on the Express Vessel.
The clashing of weapons and the desperate, resentful screams of the sailors echoed across the ship.
Here and there, sailors bled and collapsed.
The blood they spilled began to spread across the deck.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————