The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 38

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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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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 38
Sungwha Island was renowned for its strategic position among the Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Gangs.
Gyolyong Chae-ju Sun Tae-go, now deceased.
Though he was ordinarily miserly and tight-fisted by nature, his mastery of political maneuvering was nothing short of extraordinary.
He had maintained exclusive control over Sungwha Island for an exceptionally long period, deftly navigating the treacherous waters between the various water sects.
Sungwha Island was situated in the middle-to-lower reaches of the Liu Chang River.
The island’s expanse rivaled that of a modest county town, making it the largest in the Liu Chang River.
Naturally, it had become a strategic outpost that numerous water sects coveted with keen interest.
Sungwha Island, which possessed considerable scale and was equipped with adequate living facilities, now lay engulfed in crimson flames.
“P-please, save me!”
“Kekekeke, hey! That one’s escaping—grab them!”
“Kyaaaah!”
“That’s right! Scream even louder for us~”
Burly water bandits swarmed in groups throughout the island, frantically loading cargo and countless people onto the ships docked at the wharf as though they were mere cargo.
Ilhyang watched the spectacle unfold, a cold smile playing across his lips.
“What are those fools doing right now?”
“…Based on their flags, it appears the Yan Wang Faction and Blood Wolf Faction have launched an assault. As you can see, they’re plundering the Jiao Long Faction’s wealth and… people…”
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam answered, his lips trembling visibly.
His family was stationed at this outpost, after all.
Regardless of being water bandits, family remained precious.
“Their movements are faster than I anticipated.”
“Young Master, please…”
“Don’t worry.”
The Yan Wang Faction and Blood Wolf Faction.
During the Jinseong Transport Company assault, these water sects had received payment from the Jiao Long Faction’s leader in exchange for providing peak-realm masters.
Now they were attacking the vacant Jiao Long Faction territory?
This was undoubtedly proof they had obtained at least rough information about the Jiao Long Faction’s circumstances.
After all, some of the water bandits had sensed something amiss and fled immediately.
Those who had attacked the escort bureau numbered well over a thousand.
It had been impossible to apprehend them all.
“Seeing them commit such despicable acts as expected makes disposal convenient. Except for Nataryongwang, have the rest surrounded.”
“…I shall issue those orders immediately.”
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam hurried away to relay the command to the flag bearer.
The flag bearer on the deck waved flags in various directions in rhythm with the drum beats.
Boom—! Boom-boom—! Boom-boom—!
The thunderous sound of the great drum reverberated across the water.
All ships except Nataryongwang began to spread out widely along the downstream current.
Meanwhile, Ilhyang rested his arms on the deck railing, smiling coldly.
‘I’ll need considerable labor to construct the Magic Tower anyway.’
The seven hundred water bandits he had captured were insufficient, but this development was most fortuitous.
Free labor, and ones specialized in physical work at that, crawled in on their own.
‘But the island is larger than I expected.’
Ilhyang swept his gaze across Sungwha Island, where flames were rising in various places.
Indeed, as he had heard, the island was so vast it couldn’t be taken in at a single glance.
‘The size is roughly comparable to a baron’s fiefdom in the borderlands.’
It was perfect.
If this place was truly suitable.
It would require considerable resources, certainly.
But it seemed optimal for constructing a Magic Tower and establishing defensive fortifications.
“Shall we increase our speed, Young Master?”
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam, now wearing an expression of barely contained restlessness.
When he asked with a respectful demeanor that belied his menacing appearance, Ilhyang answered without hesitation.
“Bring the ship to maximum speed.”
“Understood!”
The Yan Wang Faction and the Blood Wolf Faction.
The attacking force appeared to number at least three times more than their own at first glance.
Yet Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam felt no fear whatsoever.
The reason was simple.
“They’re just water bandits after all. Even if we capture and work them hard, they won’t complain to anyone, will they?”
“Hehe, we’re already grateful just to be spared, Young Master.”
“Excellent labor indeed.”
At Ilhyang’s remarkably composed expression and tone, rather than fear.
Anticipation thrummed through him at what would befall those men.
‘My family must be safe….’
The one fortunate thing for Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam was.
That water bandits, when raiding even the same Water Sect and taking captives, at least didn’t kill them immediately.
Meanwhile.
The enemies had long since noticed Ilhyang’s approach, and each faction was clustering together with expressions of curiosity.
“What are those bastards?”
“Are they coming alone?”
“Are they insane?”
They chuckled as they watched Nataryongwang, but paid it little mind.
The reason was simple.
The disparity in military strength was overwhelmingly in their favor.
“Um… Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“The Blood Wolf Tavern keeper and the Flame King Tavern keeper are here in person.”
Ho Sam offered his counsel cautiously.
Ilhyang pointed with his chin at the resplendent tent set to one side of the dock and spoke.
“That bald fellow sitting in front there must be a tavern keeper, then?”
“Yes. The bald one is Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su. And the portly middle-aged man in the red robe sitting across from him at the Tae Sa-ui is Flame King Tavern master Seol Bun.”
The bald Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su.
The rotund Flame King Tavern master Seol Bun.
Easy enough to distinguish.
Though Ilhyang didn’t know it yet.
These two had emptied out all the peak-realm masters who remained in their respective Water Sects to launch this assault on the Jiao Long Faction.
Three masters each, including their faction leaders.
A total of six peak-realm masters prepared for this operation.
They intended to exploit the collapse of the Jiao Long Faction.
Absorbing the core territories the Jiao Long Faction once controlled, and while they were at it, plundering the Jiao Long Faction’s treasure vault to seize as many resources as possible.
With the Gyorong Chaejoo absent, the timing was perfect.
For both the Flame King Faction and Blood Wolf Faction, this situation was like picking up blind money that had fallen to the ground.
In any case, the two water bandit leaders.
Had spotted the rapidly approaching Nataryongwang.
“Tsk, those bastards arrived faster than expected, didn’t they?”
“Kekeke, they sure did. We haven’t even decided how to divide the waterways yet.”
The Flame King Faction upstream.
The Blood Wolf Faction downstream.
They had tentatively agreed to completely swallow the Jiao Long Faction’s territory this time.
The problem was that for nearly half a day now, they hadn’t been able to divide the specific territories.
Their positions were too evenly matched against each other.
“Sigh, I’ll even concede an additional thirty percent of the spoils I’ve gained this time. Just hand over the waterways from here to there to us. It’s barely even reaching Pyeong-an Village, is it?”
“Hehe… what an unsatisfying thing to say. The waterways connecting to Pyeong-an Village are clearly closer to our Blood Wolf Faction’s territory.”
The bald Hyeolrang Chaejoo.
Gok Su stroked his bare scalp and widened his eyes as if spouting nonsense.
The portly Flame King Tavern master.
Seol Bun wore an exasperated expression.
“Are you really going to be like this? Honestly, we arrived here first, didn’t we?”
“Puhehe, this guy’s hilarious. If we’re dividing by who arrived first? I’ve been a senior in this neighborhood for a long time, so why don’t you listen to me? How many generations are you?”
Flame King Tavern master Seol Bun.
Watching Gok Su suddenly try to pull rank, he jiggled his chubby cheeks before spitting a thick glob of saliva onto the ground.
“Kyaak! Ptui! Damn it, that’s why you’re going bald from being so greedy.”
“What?”
Bald.
This casual word was the phrase Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su hated hearing most in the world.
Naturally, Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su’s eyes transformed into a vicious, hook-like glare.
“You… what did you just say?”
Crunch―
Gok Su’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he ground his teeth.
Regardless, Flame King Tavern master Seol Bun lightly flicked his belly fat with his palm.
“Why? Does it bother you that I called a bald man bald?”
“You damned pig bastard—are you really trying to get yourself killed?”
“Heh heh. If you’re so confident, why don’t you try?”
“Fine. Let’s settle this today.”
CRASH—!
SCREECH—!
Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su.
As he rose from his seat, slamming his palm down hard against the table.
The water bandits surrounding the negotiation chamber instantly drew their weapons.
A powder keg ready to ignite.
Yet Seol Bun, the portly figure in the crimson robe and leader of the Yan Wang Faction, rose leisurely from his seat with a composed expression, licking his lips.
“But are you really confident, baldy?”
“You son of a bitch—I’m going to watch your pig snout get torn to shreds today!”
While the two men engaged in this open display of hostility.
The Nata Yongwang, carrying Ilhyang, had already drawn nearly close to the dock of Songhua Island.
Yet the Blood Wolf Faction and the Yan Wang Faction.
They paid no attention whatsoever to the Nata Yongwang’s approach.
‘If I just eliminate this bastard in front of me, I can take everything!’
Both the Blood Wolf Faction leader and the Yan Wang Faction leader harbored the same thought.
It was a golden opportunity to expand their territory threefold.
From the start, neither man had any intention of letting the other walk away alive.
SCREEEECH—
As the two men, who ranked among the highest echelon even among masters of the absolute realm, began to fully unleash their momentum.
Their tangible auras clashed sharply before their very faces, and the sound of the air being torn apart rang out with chilling ferocity.
Then.
SQUEEEEAK—
THUD—!
Without any particular resistance or attack.
The Nata Yongwang docked safely at the wharf and lowered its gangway.
From it emerged a small-framed boy in a black robe, his delicate features refined and graceful.
He began walking forward at a leisurely pace, as if taking a casual stroll.
Behind this boy in the black robe.
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam and Gong Jeol-gang followed closely, their expressions slightly tense.
“The dock is larger than I expected?”
“Yes. The previous Jiao Long Faction leader invested heavily to facilitate trade with the salt merchants in the surrounding area. He personally dredged the sand from the riverbed to construct this wharf.”
“Ho? Sun Tae-go, was it? That man accomplished much before his death. I should have erected a tomb in his honor, knowing what I know now.”
As I briefly recalled Sun Tae-go, who had devoted himself so selflessly to my cause, and smiled with satisfaction.
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam met my bright smile, swallowed dryly, and continued his explanation of the island.
“If you look over there, you’ll see rice fields stretching along the riverbank. The soil here is quite fertile, so the harvest yields are substantial. The island can achieve complete self-sufficiency.”
“That’s genuinely excellent information. The conditions are even better than I anticipated.”
“Yes, throughout the entire Liu Chang River, Songhua Island is considered the finest outpost. The only drawback is that every few years, massive floods submerge half the island… but I’ve come to accept that as an unavoidable cost.”
“Flooding from the river is merely routine. I can compensate for that level of damage, so there’s no need to worry about it going forward.”
“Excellent! That’s wonderful news. We’ve suffered considerable losses from flooding each time.”
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam.
He explained Songhua Island to Ilhyang methodically, point by point, like a personal steward.
They paid no attention whatsoever to the menacing water bandits surrounding them.
That casual, sightseeing demeanor finally provoked the bald man locked in standoff with them—Blood Wolf Tavern’s proprietor, Gok Su.
He opened his mouth with an absurd expression.
“These bastards are ridiculous.”
“Are they here to scout land?”
Flame King Tavern’s proprietor, Seol Bun, also let killing intent flash across his eyes at Ilhyang’s attitude.
In the meantime.
Ilhyang, who had arrived at the negotiation grounds of the two proprietors, sat lightly on a wooden chair and spoke.
He opened his mouth casually.
“So you’re the masters of the Yan Wang Faction and Blood Wolf Faction? I’ve been wanting to meet you since you’re neighbors of the Jiao Long Faction, and this works out perfectly.”
“Has this crazy brat lost his mind? Hey, Ho Sam. What is this bastard?”
Blood Wolf Tavern’s proprietor, Gok Su.
At his call, Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam didn’t even turn his gaze.
“Listen, Ho Sam.”
When he called again with genuine seriousness, Ho Sam finally turned his head reluctantly.
“Why do you call me, Flame King Tavern’s proprietor?”
“What is this little brat? Don’t tell me that old bastard Gyorong Chaejoo had a hidden grandson somewhere?”
Ho Sam, who was famous even normally for reading the mood and conducting himself well, looked at Ilhyang with a cautious expression.
He was asking permission to answer that question instead.
When Ilhyang nodded lightly.
Ho Sam cleared his throat and composed his voice.
Standing behind Ilhyang with his back perfectly straight, he opened his mouth.
“This person is the new Jiao Long Faction’s proprietor. There is no blood relation whatsoever with the previous proprietor.”
“Does that make any sense to you? A kid like this as Jiao Long Faction’s proprietor? Are you messing with me right now?”
Ho Sam stared blankly at Blood Wolf Tavern’s proprietor Gok Su’s retort for a moment, then spoke flatly.
“Do I look like I’m joking to you?”
“What… what? You? Did you just say ‘you’?”
Gok Su’s mouth fell open in shock.
When Jiao Long Faction’s proprietor Sun Tae-go was alive.
Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam was the one who didn’t even dare meet his eyes properly.
Of course, there were rumors that Gui Yun-gaek Ho Sam handled boats remarkably well among the water bandits, but that was all.
His martial prowess was merely at the first-rate master level, so he normally kept his eyes downcast like a mouse. Yet now this man was looking straight ahead and displaying an attitude that matched his own, leaving Blood Wolf Tavern’s proprietor Gok Su not merely bewildered but utterly astounded.
At that moment.
“First, show proper courtesy to the new Jiao Long Faction’s proprietor. Then I will show you respect.”
“First, show proper respect to the new Gyolyong Chae-ju. Then I will show you respect in return.”
“Ha… Has this bastard truly lost his mind? Listen, Seol Bun. You saw it just now, didn’t you? Even a wretch like that dares to disrespect me so brazenly.”
The pig—Yeom Wang-chae’s master, Seol Bun—was already laughing with his eyes curved like seagulls’ wings, clutching his belly.
“Pfft! Puhaha! Damn bald old geezer. Your appearance has become quite the sight to behold. Krhehe, how does it feel? Receiving the karmic retribution of your past deeds? Does it not warm your heart?”
“….”
In the face of Yeom Wang-chae’s master Seol Bun’s blatant mockery, Gok Su slowly ran his hand across his own bare scalp, forcing his lips upward with great effort.
“Grgh. I know this faction typically has no hierarchy, but… even so, don’t you think this is going a bit too far?”
His dignity had been completely crushed before the eyes of his subordinates.
Hyeolrang Chaejoo Gok Su, his lips trembling as he scratched at his head frantically.
The moment one of his sleeves fluttered, Ilhyang’s right arm moved.

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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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