Chapter 788: Live Like a Dog, or Die Like a Wolf (Part 3)

"Ahh! Now this is the life!"

Inside a tavern in Gujiang.

Even before the sun had fully set beyond the western mountains, people had gathered in the tavern, downing their drinks with gusto.

"Those pirate bastards are finally getting what they deserve!"

"That's what I'm saying! Damn, those scoundrels who terrorized everyone have completely disappeared! They can't even show their faces in front of Shaolin and Wudang!"

"Of course! That's why they're from the unorthodox sects! There's a reason they carry that reputation!"

The drunken men, their faces flushed, exchanged words of joy, sharing their cups in celebration.

The disappearance of the pirates' tolls didn’t suddenly make life perfect. But at the very least, the satisfaction of keeping the money they earned and the relief that they wouldn’t encounter armed robbers in the middle of the wide Yangtze River fueled their drinking.

"Tsk. But doesn’t this just mean they could’ve done this ages ago if they had stepped in sooner?"

"Hey now, don’t be so ungrateful! There's a saying—'Help a drowning man, and he’ll ask for your sack.' Isn't that exactly what you're doing? These folks are no ordinary people! They're busy with all sorts of important matters, so be grateful they even came now!"

"True, true!"

At first, there had been a bit of reluctance and hesitation toward the Nine Great Sects and the Namgung Family, who had followed Mount Hua into the Yangtze. But now, most of that reluctance had faded.

Whatever the reason, whether they arrived late or early, it didn’t matter. As long as the pirates were wiped out, it was a good thing.

"Let’s just hope they wipe out all the pirates once and for all."

"Don’t get your hopes too high. How could they possibly get rid of every pirate in this vast Yangtze? Even the authorities can’t manage that."

"Can’t manage? Or don’t want to! They have no need to worry about getting attacked while traveling on their own ships, so they just sit back and do nothing. But if some high-ranking official ever got attacked by pirates, I bet they’d wipe them out in no time!"

"Anyway, that's too much to hope for. Unless these folks decide to permanently stay on the Yangtze, that is."

"Well, we’ll have to wait and see. I heard some of the Mount Hua people are planning to stay stationed on the Yangtze?"

"Really? What’s that about?"

"They say Mount Hua’s people are setting up boats to run regular crossings, traveling back and forth across the river."

"Hasn’t that always been a thing?"

"You don’t get it. Up until now, those regular crossings always got hit by the pirates. Even the irregular crossings weren’t safe. A regularly scheduled boat was basically a set meal for the pirates."

"That’s true."

"But now, do you think those pirate bastards would dare mess with Mount Hua? Sure, they might still be a problem far from Gujiang, but we won’t have to worry about pirates on the way to Jiangnan anymore!"

"That’s a good point."

"And since Mount Hua will likely keep watch, at least in the Gujiang area, we might finally be free of pirates around here."

"If that really happens!"

People started to grow hopeful.

The thought of no longer fearing pirate attacks didn’t just mean they could keep a bit more money. It also meant trade would flourish, leading to more wealth overall.

They raised their cups, dreaming of a future where the Yangtze was bustling with travelers and goods.

But there’s always someone who dampens the mood.

"You never know. Things might not go that smoothly."

"Here we go again... what are you trying to say now?"

"If pirates were so easy to get rid of, would the Yangtze ever have been overrun with them?"

"Ah, here we go…"

"The Eighteen Waterway Factions of the Yangtze. The Five True Lords of the Divine Path. They’re not just going to sit there and take this quietly. And who knows? This might end up being bad for us."

"Why? How could wiping out the pirates be bad news?"

"The reason we could pay their tolls and continue traveling the river was that the pirates planned on bleeding us slowly. But now, they might try to take everything at once. What if they decide to loot all they can before the authorities wipe them out?"

"That’s…"

The man shook his head.

"Mess with a snake, and it’ll only get more venomous. If they decide to cut their losses and run, we’ll be the ones who suffer. Do you think those folks will stick around to protect the Yangtze forever? Will they really risk their lives to fight the Waterway Factions?"

"......"

Everyone fell silent.

As much as they wanted to deny it, there was some truth in his words.

"Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that."

"Stop jinxing it."

"Come on! Let’s just drink and be merry! Drink!"

They tried to lift the mood again, raising their voices and their cups, but the unease had already settled in, lingering in their hearts long after the drinking ended.

 

"The fortress is abandoned?"

"Yes!"

Beopgye let out a low hum.

"Can you track them? Is pursuit possible?"

"It won’t be easy. They didn’t flee on land like mountain bandits, but instead escaped by boat to the middle of the Yangtze…."

"……."

"To attack them in the middle of the river, we would need boats, but fighting them on the water…"

"It would be difficult."

"It seems so."

"I see. In that case, check and secure the empty fortresses."

"Yes, Elder."

Beopgye’s gaze turned dark and heavy.

Outwardly, he maintained a calm demeanor, but inside, he was feeling increasingly anxious.

'This is troublesome.'

If the pirates continued to escape by boat like this, there would be no way for Shaolin to track them down. As his disciple had pointed out earlier, fighting the pirates in the middle of the wide Yangtze River would only result in heavy losses.

Of course, if their goal was to annihilate the pirates completely, they could take the risk. But this wasn’t a do-or-die battle between Shaolin and the Waterway Factions. The goal was to inflict the most damage with the least losses, especially compared to the other sects that had ventured into the Yangtze.

'The chances of this dragging out have increased.'

The Yangtze was vast.

Even if the pirates didn’t flee to the middle of the river, searching every nook and cranny of the long, wide river to root them out would be a daunting task. Even with the combined forces of Shaolin, Wudang, Cheongseong, and the Namgung Family, the challenge remained.

As Beopgye stood, deep in thought, he stared out at the Yangtze.

'For now, we are united in attacking the pirates, but if even one of the four factions starts to feel frustrated and pulls back...'

The others might lose interest as well.

'No, it’s too early to think about that.'

For now, focusing on the immediate task was the right course of action.

But there was one thing that kept nagging at him.

'The resistance is unusually weak.'

The Eighteen Waterway Factions should have responded more strongly by now, especially the Black Dragon King’s faction at the center of it all.

"Perhaps I’m just being overly cautious. Amitabha."

Beopgye shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of his doubts.

 

Hangzhou.

"Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou."

Hangzhou, nestled by the West Lake, was one of the most beautiful cities in all of China. Its breathtaking scenery had long inspired poets throughout history.

But Hangzhou wasn’t just famous for its beauty.

It was also a place where one could indulge in every imaginable pleasure, luxury, and entertainment. A city that never slept—there was no better way to describe modern-day Hangzhou.

It was the third watch of the night. The sky was clouded, hiding the stars, but Hangzhou’s night was brighter than day. The streets were illuminated by countless lanterns, dazzling the eyes.

"Come! We’ve got the finest drinks and the best food ready for you!"

"The best seats on the top floor are open! Perfect for heroes like yourselves!"

"Delicacies brought straight from the West are here for you!"

The streets were filled with the voices of merchants and the laughter of the drunken patrons.

And among all the brightly lit places in Hangzhou, the most prominent was the tallest building in the city: the ten-story pavilion known as Chuihyang Pavilion.

At a window on the highest floor, a man sat alone, leisurely sipping his drink. It was an unusual sight.

The top floor of Chuihyang Pavilion required a small fortune just to secure a seat. Even the drinks served here were ten times more expensive than those on the lower floors.

Yet, the top floor of Chuihyang Pavilion was never empty.

With an open view of Hangzhou’s streets and West Lake, this place was practically a symbol of the city. The wealthy scions of Hangzhou, as well as those who traveled far to visit, considered it a must to at least dine on the top floor once in their lives.

But tonight, the top floor was strangely empty.

In fact, only one man sat in the vast space. To a stranger, it might seem unbelievable.

But to those who knew, it made perfect sense. And to those who knew him well, they would have immediately turned and fled at the sight.

The man sitting alone in the best seat of Chuihyang Pavilion was none other than Jang Ilso, the Patriarch.

"Hmm."

The Patriarch quietly gazed into his cup of golden liquor.

"Shao Xing wine, is it?"

There were countless bottles of wine in the world sold under the name Shao Xing.

But the true Shao Xing wine was brewed with the water from Jian Lake here in Zhejiang. In other words, to taste the real thing, one had to come to Zhejiang.

And the wine in the Patriarch’s cup was none other than Seolhyangju, one of the highest quality Shao Xing wines, served exclusively at Chuihyang Pavilion.

"To be intoxicated by the fragrance, they say…."

With a slight smile, Jang Ilso took a sip.

Indeed.

The aroma was so deep and refined that it was beyond words. With just one sip, it felt as though his entire being was enveloped in fragrance.

"Wonderful."

Of course, the wine of Guangxi and Guizhou could hold their own against Zhejiang’s wines.

But each wine had its own distinct flavor and feel. One couldn’t easily rank them from best to worst.

The world was vast. And across that vast world, many kinds of excellent wines were made, each with its own unique charm.

Most people died without ever tasting even a tenth of the wines produced in the world.

"And I’m no different."

Obtaining Shao Xing wine wasn’t difficult for him.

But to truly appreciate the regional specialties, one had to drink them in the region they came from.

After all, how could the Shao Xing wine served in Guangxi compare to the one enjoyed here in Hangzhou’s Chuihyang Pavilion?

Thinking along those lines, a sense of confinement washed over him. How much of this vast world was left where he could tread freely?

As Jang Ilso downed another cup of Shao Xing wine, he lightly brushed the corner of his lips with his fingertip.

‘But that, too, won’t last long.’

Soon, he would have the world beneath his feet.

He would possess more land than anyone, drink more wine than anyone.

"That’s right. This Jang Ilso will."

At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the floor below.

"Hmph."

Jang Ilso glanced toward the stairs, where a giant figure draped in black clothing appeared.

"That young brat dares summon me?"

"Welcome, Black Dragon King."

Jang Ilso’s smile widened into a triumphant grin.