The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 141

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 141

 

“The maritime trade route…”

 

Jihyeon swallowed his saliva and spoke.

 

“I think there’s some misunderstanding, but the maritime trade route doesn’t belong to anyone.”

 

“I know that. But it’s also true that you have great influence over those who go out to sea, isn’t it?”

 

“…”

 

“All we want is to get a foot in there. It wouldn’t be a huge loss for you, would it?”

 

Namgung Hyeok asked with sharp eyes.

 

“Of course, we’ll pay all the additional costs for using the sea route. All we want is the right to operate on the coast without any problems. With just that, we could develop trade routes as much as we want.”

 

“Does the Seonghwa Sect have such capacity? I understand you haven’t even properly developed trade routes through the Yangtze River yet.”

 

“We’ve eliminated the water bandits blocking the way, so now we just need to start trading. In fact, several have already departed.”

 

They would return with enormous profits.

 

And those would become the foundation of the Seonghwa Sect.

 

“If you can’t decide, I’ll give you time. Go and get an answer from the Cheonghae Gate Master.”

 

“…!”

 

“He should be able to give me the answer I’m looking for, shouldn’t he? Above all, he’s called the hegemon of this region.”

 

“That’s certainly true, but…”

 

Jihyeon let out a light sigh and spoke.

 

“I’m the person who received orders from that very Cheonghae Gate Master to finish negotiations with you and return. So I have sufficient authority to decide such things.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“You want the Seonghwa Sect to use the maritime trade route? Fine. However, there’s a condition. Please grant us one favor.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“We want help eliminating the pirates rampaging at sea. If that’s done first, we’ll gladly accept your demands.”

 

“Pirates?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Jihyeon nodded with a serious expression.

 

“Recently, we too have been having difficulties using the maritime trade route. As you’ve heard, it’s because pirates are rampaging. The main sect is thinking of seriously dealing with them.”

 

“I see, you want us to get involved there.”

 

“If you do just that, the main sect will gladly allow you to use the maritime trade route. Of course, we’ll have to discuss other miscellaneous issues later…”

 

“That’s fine for now. So, when and where do these pirates appear?”

 

“It varies each time. However, sometimes they dock their ships at the coast and come down to plunder nearby villages before leaving.”

 

“Usually they attack passing merchant ships?”

 

“Something like that. They’ve surprisingly built up strong forces, so even sending escorts doesn’t make much difference. The ones called great pirates might have forces greater than the Yangtze Water Bandits.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Especially among them, there’s one called Wang Jeok who’s known as a great pirate with thousands of subordinates. He’s nested on a nearby island and engages in piracy, causing tremendous damage.”

 

“Do you know his location?”

 

“We have a rough idea. However, it’s so dangerous that we haven’t been able to think about subjugating him. Don’t tell me…”

 

Jihyeon made a shocked expression as if something had occurred to him.

 

“Are you going to attack Wang Jeok directly?!”

 

“If we know the location, there’s no need to wait unnecessarily.”

 

“It’s too dangerous! If things go wrong, we might have to face all the bastards waiting on their island. Even if we wait a little and target the gap when he comes out hunting…”

 

“We don’t know how much damage will occur in the meantime. It would be better to eliminate them before that happens. If we accumulate that level of merit, there won’t be much complaint from within Cheonghae Sect, right?”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Jihyeon let out a light sigh.

 

It seemed he thought they weren’t getting through to each other.

 

“Then it’s decided. With this, our alliance is as good as established.”

 

Namgung Hyeok said with a bright smile.

 

“All that’s left now is to fulfill our duties as the alliance we just spoke of. Please wait just a moment. I’ll call a meeting right away.”

 

He kept his word.

 

He immediately gathered the executives and held a meeting to discuss methods for subjugating the pirates.

 

The conclusion came surprisingly quickly.

 

The attack on Wang Jeok’s Pirate Island was confirmed.

 

* * *

 

However, Namgung Hyeok didn’t depart immediately with his forces.

 

There was much to do beforehand.

 

He first sent a messenger pigeon to receive a report from Baek Ya, who was guarding the Northern Region.

 

He wanted to check what Gwichang Gate’s movements would be like after driving out Ma Doil.

 

“There’s no movement at all.”

 

“Those guys must be in an awkward position too, right? Currently, geographically speaking, Gwichang Gate is isolated with only the Main Sect and its alliance.”

 

“True, the presence of Shandong Ak Family and other sects would be bothersome for them to touch us.”

 

The place where Gwichang Gate was positioned could be crushed with a single command from Namgung Hyeok if things went wrong.

 

The only reason he wasn’t doing so was his concern that the Northern Four Islands Alliance might attack if he moved forces in that direction.

 

‘But that won’t last much longer either.’

 

Namgung Hyeok planned to make Cheonghae Sect completely his ally, then subjugate Gwichang Gate as well to reduce risk factors.

 

If that happened, the Northern Four Islands Alliance would be completely isolated.

 

‘Of course, if the North and South join hands, the story would be different…’

 

In Namgung Hyeok’s opinion, that possibility was slim.

 

Blood Heaven Cult and Four Directions Divine Cult, which were backing each respectively, didn’t have such a good relationship.

 

Unless things became truly disadvantageous, they wouldn’t join hands.

 

‘Still, just in case, it would be good to maintain some vigilance.’

 

This meant he needed to deploy certain forces to both the South and North to prevent the enemies from getting other ideas.

 

And with the remaining forces, he had to subjugate the pirates.

 

‘Then the number of forces I can deploy would be roughly five hundred.’

 

It wasn’t a small number by any means, but compared to the thousands of pirates, it was a meager level.

 

However, Namgung Hyeok wasn’t worried.

 

Because they weren’t alone.

 

‘I heard that Jiangsu Salt Association is also having headaches because of the pirates.’

 

Since they created and operated salt fields, they also had close ties with the sea.

 

Being such people, they would naturally accept a proposal to subjugate pirates.

 

Adding Cheonghae Sect’s forces to that would gather at least fifteen hundred troops.

 

This would be sufficient to sweep away pirates who hadn’t learned martial arts.

 

“So Yeon.”

 

“Yes, Lord.”

 

“Send a messenger to the Jiangsu Salt Association to convey my intentions. Tell them I’m requesting the alliance’s help to subjugate pirates.”

 

“Understood. I’ll select a child who rides well and send them.”

 

So Yeon faithfully followed the order.

 

And the next day, a reply came back immediately.

 

“Seven hundred elite troops. They’ve shown quite serious intent on their side.”

 

“It’s an opportunity to get rid of their troublemakers after all. What about the Cheonghae Sect side?”

 

“According to what that man Jihyeon said, it seems they can mobilize at least a thousand troops. Of course, whether they’ll use all those personnel is questionable…”

 

“In any case, it’ll exceed two thousand.”

 

“Right. It’s more than I initially thought.”

 

“The problem would be ships that can accommodate those numbers. A few ships would definitely be insufficient, right?”

 

“The Cheonghae Sect side will have to arrange ships. At least twenty or more. And we’ll need people to sail those ships too.”

 

“It’ll be quite a large-scale expedition.”

 

“Right. We’ll need to prepare properly before going.”

 

Namgung Hyeok said this and stood up from his seat.

 

“Contact the Cheonghae Sect, tell them to prepare properly.”

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, the Cheonghae Sect was spending busy days that drove all the disciples nearly insane.

 

The Cheonghae Gate Master slammed the table and shouted what was almost a scream.

 

“Prepare ships that can carry over two thousand people – what kind of nonsense is this!”

 

Honestly, while he wanted to form an alliance with the Seonghwa Sect, he didn’t want to get actively entangled either.

 

So he had thought to set the troublesome condition of pirate subjugation to prevent Namgung Hyeok from taking an active stance.

 

That’s why when Jihyeon first went as a messenger, he had told him to convey that direction.

 

But Namgung Hyeok was seriously preparing for pirate subjugation, completely contrary to expectations.

 

And with the momentum to bring over a thousand troops at that.

 

“If we break this off midway, all those thousand-plus troops will turn into enemy forces…”

 

The Cheonghae Gate Master let out a groan.

 

Honestly, he found Namgung Hyeok troublesome.

 

The master of the Seonghwa Sect who appeared like the wind and showed hegemonic movements, subjugating all surrounding sects.

 

He didn’t know what would happen if he opposed such a person.

 

If things went wrong, the sect might really disappear entirely like the Makri Family.

 

“Sect Master. What shall we do?”

 

“We’ll have to gather as many ships as possible for now. Contact all the surrounding trading companies. Tell them to provide everything from merchant ships to small boats!”

 

“Understood.”

 

Such movements of the Cheonghae Sect spread throughout the Cheonghae Sect’s territory.

 

Trading companies that were already troubled by pirates began lending out ships for extra payment.

 

Meanwhile, such news also reached the pirates who were lurking on the mainland.

 

“What? The Cheonghae Sect dares to try to attack us?”

 

“To be precise, it’s not the Cheonghae Sect but the Seonghwa Sect.”

 

“What are those bastards! Why are they bothering us when we’re staying quiet!”

 

The subordinate who delivered the report flinched at Wang Jeok’s outcry.

 

In fact, there was much he could say, but if he voiced such things, his neck would surely not remain intact.

 

Instead, he diverted Wang Jeok’s attention.

 

“What shall we do? At this rate, a subjugation force will come…”

 

“Hmph. Do you think those who make names for themselves on the mainland could possibly defeat us at sea? Let them come if they want. I’ll send them all to the bottom!”

 

Wang Jeok snorted and sneered.

 

However, his subordinate’s expression remained serious.

 

“You shouldn’t take them so lightly. The Seonghwa Sect is a powerful force that swept away all the Yangtze Water Bandits downstream. If we’re careless, we might be the ones who suffer…”

 

“What? You bastard, are you saying we’re inferior to those mere water bandits?”

 

“Th-that’s not what I meant…”

 

The subordinate realized his slip of tongue.

 

But what had already left his mouth couldn’t be helped. He immediately performed a five-body prostration and shouted.

 

“Chief, I misspoke! I’m truly sorry!”

 

“Hmph. If you make another slip of tongue, I won’t let it slide next time.”

 

Wang Jeok said this and withdrew the killing intent he had been emanating.

 

He looked at the sea chart hanging on the wall and stroked his chin.

 

“Then at least a large fleet of twenty or more ships will come. The problem is how to deal with these bastards…”

 

Fighting on the pirate island, which was on land, wasn’t wise.

 

No matter how superior their total numbers were, if they clashed with a subjugation army composed of murim warriors, they would surely be crushed immediately.

 

Then they would have to fight at sea…

 

“There’s no choice.”

 

Wang Jeok pointed to one corner of the map with cruel eyes.

 

That place was where a rocky area leading to the pirate island stretched out.

 

It was also a place where ships could collide with reefs and sink if one was careless.

 

“Prepare the newly acquired cannons.”

 

He grinned and showed a cruel smile.

 

“If those bastards insist on coming… we’ll just send them all to the bottom in the order they arrive.”

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