Book 6 Chapter 20

The rain had not stopped yet.

- A Life-and-Death Struggle in Biaoxian

"As you said, it rained. A rain of red blood!"

Naye-rin said in a voice devoid of emotion, her face expressionless.

The sunlight, as if uninterested in the affairs of the human world, remained warm.

"It hasn't stopped yet,"

Bilyeon replied in a casual tone.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"I see."

Naye-rin nodded as if convinced.

The members of the Vermillion Bird Brigade, who had just experienced the unique and unfamiliar sensation of underwater combat beneath the surface of the Yangtze River, and Yun Jun-ho, who was still standing blankly with a bewildered expression, were drying their bodies in the sun. Apart from Yun Jun-ho, there were no signs of a recent fierce battle on the faces of the Vermillion Bird Brigade members.

There were no issues with Jinnyeong's personage either.

Namgung Sang seemed to have done his job properly. His complexion was normal, except for his body being soaked, suggesting he had gathered himself.

Naye-rin and the others from the Heavenly Sword Association looked on at their composed demeanor with admiration.

"Wh-what on earth is going on? H-how could something like this happen? Even if the treasure on the Biaoxian is important, to attack without any warning or negotiation is unthinkable!"

The most tense, confused, and flustered person here was Jang Gang Gyo-ryong, the leader of the Jiangjiao Branch and the representative of this convoy, Su Jang-hae. He was desperately denying the reality before his eyes, spitting vehemently.

Naturally, people's brows furrowed.

"Now, now… Branch Leader! Calm down. This is not the time to be so agitated. You need to calm yourself and try to understand the situation."

It was Jang Hong who calmed Su Jang-hae, who had been agitated. With his seasoned skill, he pacified Su Jang-hae, who was in a state of confusion.

His words indeed had an effect.

"Hoo! I apologize. I seem to have gotten too excited. But this is the first time in my ten years at the Biaoxian company…"

*Snap!*

Bilyeon raised his hand and cut off Su Jang-hae's words. He looked at Naye-rin with a meaningful smile, and she also nodded. (Bilyeon's smile deepened. She had indeed noticed it too.)

Bilyeon plunged Su Jang-hae, who was just about to calm down, back into chaos in an instant.

"Oh my, oh my! Cutting off people's conversations midway, what ill-mannered fellows!

It's rude to disturb people who were just about to relax. A third party might be coming!"

It was unclear since when Bilyeon had started caring about manners, which were grand, stiff, and not very useful in real life, but the situation was as Bilyeon had said.

"Branch Leader! A fast boat is approaching the Biaoxian at high speed."

A biaoxian guard shouted, flustered. Bilyeon thought it would be nice if he lowered his voice a little, given how loud it was. But was this the time for such things?

The fast boat approached at two to three times the speed. Their intentions seemed obvious without needing to ask.

It was clear that they were refusing to engage in customary dialogue.

Judging by the absence of any markings, they were not from the Water Corps. Besides, since when did pirates care about portrait rights…

The people on the approaching fast boat were all wearing black masks and holding Dragon Claw Hooks (龍髥鉤) in their hands. It was clear that since the ambush had failed, they intended to go all out this time.

"Bastards!"

A string of curses erupted from Su Jang-hae's mouth. He had never encountered pirates who disregarded custom like this before.

So much blood had spilled that the Biaoxian seemed to have been painted red originally. Of course, if the paint was this patchy, one might doubt the painter's skill.

The Biaoxian felt like it was sailing on a river of blood. Such a vicious attack was the most immense thing Su Jang-hae had experienced in his twenty years in the Biaoxian industry.

Even now, on the deck, biaoxian guards were busy disposing of the bodies of the attackers, who were clearly not pirates, lined up in rows.

Among them were those whose bodies had been cleanly split in two, expelling the contents of their stomachs, and others who were so blackened and burnt beyond recognition that not a drop of blood had been spilled. There were also bodies that, despite being dead, showed no wounds anywhere.

Truly, the corpses were diverse, as were the causes of death.

The fast boat that approached at high speed used Dragon Claw Hooks (龍髥鉤: a weighted throwing weapon with a hook) to tie up the Biaoxian, and the martial arts of the attackers were too much for the biaoxian guards of the Namchang Branch to resist. However, compared to the group from the Cheonmu Academy who countered them, it was like a mere drop in the bucket, insignificant. The attackers also showed clear signs of surprise.

Only today did the representative truly understand why the name of the Cheonmu Academy resonated in the martial world. The skills of the young people, not one of whom could not freely wield sword qi (劍氣), were the kind he only dreamed of. It made him feel ashamed of his wasted years.

Among them, the most dynamic and flamboyant fighter who swept through the battlefield was Hongyeom (紅焰), the user of the Flame Blade (焰刀).

Initially, Yeomdo did not join the fray and took a stance similar to an observer next to the young man named Bilyeon. Then, perhaps tired of watching, he exchanged whispers with the young man next to him, whose eyes were hidden by his hair, and drew his sword.

The faces of the representative and the biaoxian guards, who had hesitated to enter the fierce battle of the masters and had only watched, suddenly felt the heat.

At first, they thought the pirates had started a fire attack. But it turned out to be the famous Sword Flame Qi (劍焰氣) emanating from Yeomdo's sword.

True Red Seventeen Flames (眞紅十七炎) Sword Flame Qi (劍焰氣)

Chapter 12

Dragon Flame Thunder (龍炎雷).

It possessed immense power. Truly, it was the divine power of a supreme master who could be ranked among the Five Great Sword Masters of the world.

The heat was so intense it felt like it would boil even the flowing Yangtze River. Facing such heat and unrestrained power of sword qi head-on was an act of an idiot, defying common sense. It was perhaps the wisest way to express recklessness.

Sword qi soared and sword light danced. Having finished dealing with matters on the Biaoxian, Yeomdo did not stop there and flew to the enemy's fast boat. Since it was less than three *jang* away, it wasn't far.

And once again, Yeomdo's sword erupted in flames.

Now that all was over, the fast boat of the ambushers was burning on the Yangtze River. Soon, they would break apart one by one and sink to the bottom. It was all Yeomdo's work.

"Ugh!"

However, none of this could suppress the headache that was now plaguing Su Jang-hae's head.

Last year, how earnestly had the head of the Jungyang Biaoxian, Jang Wu-yang, implored him!

He had warned him never to let his guard down if he got entangled with the young man carrying his letter, as he didn't know what might happen. He had implored him to be careful, careful, and even more careful, to double-check even a burned-out fire, and to step on stepping stones before crossing, to ensure that nothing happened. The plea resurfaced, leaving him with a heavy heart.

No matter how valuable the goods he was transporting were, it was not enough to warrant mobilizing such a force and launching a full-scale assault without regard for reputation.

"Where did things go wrong?"

Su Jang-hae's head throbbed. He felt like there would be no medicine for this headache. He could only pray to heaven and earth, though it was suspicious, for this convoy journey to end quickly.

As there was no purified water, Su Jang-hae, the branch leader, was seen offering earnest bows before the river water he had scooped up.

'When I get to Wuhan, I must make a talisman immediately! Oh, spirits of heaven and earth and celestial maidens, please look upon this humble servant!'

Because of Su Jang-hae's decision then, as soon as he arrived at Musook, he rushed to one place.

There lived a painter renowned for his excellent paintings in Muchang.

The talisman he chose was a painting of a celestial maiden.

It was the commonly called Four Celestial Maidens Painting (四仙女圖), depicting Naye-rin, Lee Jin-seol, Jinnyeong, and Namgung Sansan. This celestial maiden painting was rumored to be efficacious in the Biaoxian industry and became so popular that soon, everyone involved in the Biaoxian industry carried this painting with them.