The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 93

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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93
The Quest for Supremacy
The Express Vessel cruised down the Yangtze River at high speed, riding the swift current.
The true worth of Zhang Wangchu and his sailors became apparent in the sections where the rapids raged fiercely.
“Furl the main sail, haul the port sail!”
“Aye, Squad Leader!”
Thanks to the sailors who executed Zhang Wangchu’s instructions in perfect order, the violently tossing ship quickly regained its stability.
Though they had passed through the danger zone, the look of tension did not vanish from Zhang Wangchu’s face.
Because the true danger zone was about to appear shortly.
Under normal circumstances, it was not a section perilous enough to cause this much tension.
After all, if a section was dangerous enough to make Zhang Wangchu extremely tense, they shouldn’t have launched the boat in the first place.
The problem was the rain that had fallen last night.
Quite a lot of rain had poured down all through the night.
Upstream, this rain wasn’t a major issue.
It was nothing more than the water level being slightly higher and the current a bit rougher than usual.
The issue lay ahead in Salyonghyeop, which the Express Vessel was currently passing through.
Salyonghyeop was the point where three separate rivers merged with the Yangtze River.
Just as its name implied, it was a place where three small dragons joined a giant dragon called the Yangtze River to become one.
Fitting for a point where four rivers converged, the water was usually rapid and muddy, yet normally it wasn’t as dangerous as one would think.
This was because the great river known as the Yangtze River gently embraced the three smaller streams.
However, when it rained, the story changed completely.
When the downstream water swelled rapidly, the current became absurdly violent.
Not only did the Yangtze River itself swell with water, but the three converging rivers also crashed into it much more violently than usual, creating whirlpools all over Salyonghyeop and turning the current as destructive as an ocean tide.
The boatmen of Punglim Fort considered passing through Salyonghyeop during rainfall to be a taboo. Therefore, whenever it rained, launching a boat anywhere near this area was strictly forbidden.
If Zhang Wangchu had known it was going to rain, he would have anchored at the upstream wharf and waited for the current to calm down.
However, the rain only began to pour down long after they had passed the final wharf. It was far too late to turn back to the wharf.
There was only one option left.
They had to break through Salyonghyeop head-on.
Roar!
The closer they drew to Salyonghyeop, the more violently the Express Vessel rocked.
“Blegh!”
Losing his balance, So Jin-seo let out a bizarre scream and went rolling across the deck.
Not just So Jin-seo, but all the other martial artists of the Huajin Sect were rolling around the deck just like him.
The only ones standing perfectly upright were the experienced sailors and those who possessed highly advanced martial arts, like Leng Tianxiang and her disciple.
Zhang Wangchu shouted toward them.
“Passengers, please go inside the cabin. If you fall into the Yangtze River like this, we won’t even be able to rescue you.”
“Hmph! Do you think we would even blink an eye at a petty current like this? Don’t worry about us and just steer the ship properly!”
Leng Tianxiang stood with her back straight and instead scolded Zhang Wangchu.
Zhang Wangchu shook his head in sheer disbelief.
He had carried countless passengers until now, but he had never seen anyone as self-righteous as Leng Tianxiang.
She was at a level where communication was utterly impossible.
Im So-ryeong, who was standing beside him, quietly whispered.
“Don’t mind them.”
“But…”
“It’s their own lives. We already warned them, so they’ll take care of themselves.”
“Understood.”
In the end, Zhang Wangchu stopped worrying about Leng Tianxiang’s group and focused solely on steering the ship.
Im So-ryeong also closely watched the state of the vessel from right beside Zhang Wangchu.
Though young, Im So-ryeong was also someone who had lived her entire life on a boat. She simply didn’t navigate the vessel herself, but she was more familiar with boats than anyone. That was why she could stand perfectly balanced even within the increasingly fierce waters.
Im So-ryeong’s gaze suddenly turned toward the cabin.
Woo Geom-san and Ning Yunxiao remained holed up inside the cabin and hadn’t come out at all.
In fact, when caught in a torrential current, it was normal to come outside just like Leng Tianxiang’s disciple or So Jin-seo.
Because if the ship were to wreck, one could make a swift escape.
He was only telling them to stay inside the cabin for easy management; if one were to think of personal safety, staying outside like Leng Tianxiang was the correct choice.
‘I have no idea what they’re thinking. Do they trust us that much, or are they confident they can survive no matter what?’
The cabin where Woo Geom-san currently stayed was located in the deepest part of the ship.
It was a position from which one could absolutely never escape if the ship happened to sink.
She couldn’t understand how they could stay in such a place without sticking their heads out even once.
It was at that moment.
Thud!
A powerful impact was felt from the bottom of the ship.
“It’s starting. Hold on tight.”
At Zhang Wangchu’s warning, Im So-ryeong gripped a pillar tightly.
Crash!
The furious current struck the ship mercilessly.
Even though the size of the vessel wasn’t small, it swayed this way and that like a fallen leaf.
It tilted as if it would capsize at any moment, but each time, Zhang Wangchu steered the boat with a skill bordering on the divine to restore its balance.
“Unfurl the main sail.”
“Understood.”
It was an incomprehensible command, but the sailor faithfully followed Zhang Wangchu’s order.
Common sense dictated that since the current was already fierce, catching the wind in the sails would make balancing the ship even more difficult. However, Zhang Wangchu had confidence.
Confidence that he could use the wind to break out of the rapids.
He had already attempted it several times, and he had succeeded every single time.
Salyonghyeop after a heavy rain truly required risking one’s life in an adventure.
Just like right now.
Roar!
The sound of the rushing water, sounding like the roar of a dragon, struck the ears of the people.
It was a sound that made one’s blood run cold just by listening to it.
From behind, a torrent as massive as a house surged toward the ship.
“Everyone, hold on tight!”
The boat lurched violently under the torrent, looking as though it would flip over at any second. Each time, Zhang Wangchu subtly adjusted the rudder to prevent the ship from losing its balance.
It was truly an art of helmsmanship that bordered on the divine.
“Grab this rope.”
“The sail is going to tear, slacken it a little.”
The sailors ran across the violently tossing deck, helping Zhang Wangchu.
Leng Tianxiang expressed her admiration.
“Those boatmen are quite impressive.”
Inwardly, she had dismissed them as ignorant boatmen, but seeing them move in such flawless order atop a ship bucking like a mad dog, she couldn’t help but admire them.
“Indeed.”
Leng Shuiyue also nodded her head.
Rumble!
The dragon-like roar of water echoed from all directions, and waves as large as houses continuously battered the vessel.
It felt as if four dragons were striking the ship with their massive tails.
Even in the midst of that, the sailors faithfully executed their respective assigned duties.
A look of envy suddenly surfaced on Leng Tianxiang’s face.
‘Their discipline is truly well-established. Geangeak used to be like this as well…’
A deep bond that could only be shared by those who had worked together for a long time flowed among the sailors.
Geangeak used to be just like that in the past.
They cared for one another more than anyone else, and a powerful discipline existed where they would discard their lives without hesitation at the Sect Leader’s command.
Paradoxically, because of that, Geangeak was destroyed.
By the wrong will and command of the Sect Leader.
The one who had led Geangeak at that time was none other than Leng Tianxiang.
Because of her own command, hundreds of disciples of Geangeak had been slaughtered.
At the old memory that suddenly surfaced, Leng Tianxiang bit her lip hard.
“I will never live like that again. Justice? A grand cause? It’s all useless. Even if you risk your life to protect it, all that returns is cold neglect. I shall live the remainder of my life thoroughly selfishly.”
Splash!
Water pouring over the railing drenched her entire body, but she didn’t even blink an eye.
Leng Shuiyue likewise stood beside her, taking the water pouring down like rain directly.
Zhang Wangchu shouted.
“This is the final hurdle. Everyone, pull yourselves together!”
Crash!
In the direction the ship was advancing, a massive whirlpool was churning wildly.
If they were swept into that whirlpool, the Express Vessel would be smashed to pieces.
Zhang Wangchu gripped the rudder tightly and sharpened all the senses in his body.
Numerous currents were merging into one, unleashing a tremendous force. One must absolutely never resist this destructive power.
Zhang Wangchu subtly adjusted the rudder to place the ship atop the rapid, and the sailors, grasping Zhang Wangchu’s intention, adjusted the sails.
As a result, they successfully managed to place the ship right into the center of the rapid.
Whoosh!
At a speed incomparable to anything before, the Express Vessel plunged downward.
At that exact moment when it seemed they would plunge into the whirlpool, the ship miraculously changed direction and broke out of the rapids in a single bound.
“We did it.”
“All right!”
“As expected of the Squad Leader. We’re alive!”
Zhang Wangchu and the sailors let out cheers.
They had finally passed through the terrifying Salyonghyeop.
The current was still strong, but compared to Salyonghyeop, it was a mere drop in the bucket.
“Daehong! You take the rudder. I need to rest a bit.”
“Aye! Squad Leader.”
The sailor called Daehong took over the rudder in place of Zhang Wangchu.
Zhang Wangchu leaned against the railing and let out a deep sigh.
He had gripped the rudder so tightly that he couldn’t feel any sensation in his hands. Driven by the thought that losing the rudder meant the end, he had drawn out every ounce of his strength.
Thanks to that, they were able to safely pass through the monstrous Salyonghyeop, but Zhang Wangchu didn’t even have the strength left to move a single finger.
“Great work, Uncle Zhang!”
Im So-ryeong sat down beside Zhang Wangchu and patted his forearm.
Having no strength left to even reply, Zhang Wangchu merely nodded his head.
Just like Zhang Wangchu, Im So-ryeong was also completely drenched. She too had exhausted all her energy from assisting by Zhang Wangchu’s side.
Her entire body felt limp and drained of strength, like seaweed soaked in water.
Suddenly, her gaze turned toward Leng Tianxiang and her disciple.
Unlike the exhausted Im So-ryeong, they were perfectly fine.
Although their entire bodies were soaked from passing through Salyonghyeop, as they circulated their internal energy, they dried up crisp and clean in an instant along with a cloud of white steam.
They looked so pristine that if an outsider saw them, they wouldn’t have believed they had just fought through such treacherous rapids.
Somehow not wanting to lose, Im So-ryeong forced herself up and circulated her internal energy.
Hiss!
Steam rose from her entire body as well, drying her body and clothes completely crisp.
Zhang Wangchu looked up at Im So-ryeong and said.
“You still have energy left in you.”
“Uncle Zhang, just sit and rest a bit.”
“Right! Whew!”
Just as Zhang Wangchu nodded and leaned his back against the railing.
The firmly closed door of the cabin opened, and Woo Geom-san and Ning Yunxiao walked out.
Even though the ship had tossed so violently, Woo Geom-san appeared completely serene, as if nothing had happened.
Not a single strand of hair was out of place, and his tidy appearance made it look as though he alone had not experienced the chaos.
On the other hand, Ning Yunxiao’s face was stark white, devoid of any color.
As soon as he came outside, Ning Yunxiao rushed to the railing and leaned his head over.
“Blegh!”
Opening his mouth wide, Ning Yunxiao vomited out all the contents of his stomach.
That was the normal reaction shown by people experiencing rapid currents for the first time.
It was Woo Geom-san, who was so serene, who was abnormal.
Only after Woo Geom-san patted his back for quite a long time did Ning Yunxiao’s retching finally stop.
Woo Geom-san handed a medicinal pill to Ning Yunxiao, who was wiping the vomit from around his mouth with his sleeve.
“Take this. Your stomach will feel a bit better.”
“Yes!”
Without even asking about the identity of the medicinal pill, Ning Yunxiao swallowed it down.
It was an action born from knowing that Woo Geom-san was highly well-versed in medicine through their time spent together.
The medicinal pill melted the moment it touched his saliva and passed down his esophagus.
What Woo Geom-san had given him was none other than the Yeongbo Vitality Pill.
As soon as he took the Yeongbo Vitality Pill, Ning Yunxiao’s stomach settled immediately, and vitality returned to his body.
Seeing Ning Yunxiao recover his life energy, Im So-ryeong approached Woo Geom-san. It was because she wanted to obtain a pill herself to hand over to Zhang Wangchu.
It was at that moment.
“Dammit!”
Zhang Wangchu, who had been sprawled out helplessly, hurriedly pushed himself up and spat out a curse.
Wondering what was going on, she looked around to find small boats appearing from all directions, closing in on the Express Vessel.
Dozens of boats soon surrounded the Express Vessel, leaving not a single gap for escape.
Im So-ryeong muttered with an absurd expression.
“What? Don’t tell me they’re trying to plunder our boat on the Yangtze River?”
She assumed the people appearing in those small boats were water bandits. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that her judgment was wrong.
Two men riding on the leading boat caught her eye.
The presence of a man clad in a black battle robe that was tattered like rags, and conversely, a man wearing a stark white battle robe, stood out exceptionally well.
Among them, the hand of the man in the black battle robe caught her attention.
The moment she saw his abnormally curved fingernails, which looked like claws, Im So-ryeong instantly recognized the man’s identity.
Because there was only one person under heaven who used claw-like fingernails as weapons.
“Could it be Xuanxuan Xinjun of the Red Cloud Sect?”

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