Chapter 139: Preparation for the Journey
The Changcheon Merchant Group, which spent about a few days in Yuexi due to an unscheduled event, arrived at the ferry dock later than planned.
The sailors belonging to the Namgung Clan, who had come in advance and were waiting, welcomed them warmly.
“You’re a bit late.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s extremely common for schedules to change in inland trade.”
Namgung Tae, a warrior of the Namgung Clan who was waiting with the ship, smiled as if it were no big deal.
Anhui is famous for producing good tea. The problem is that the tea production areas are mountains and hills that are far from the river.
High-quality tea is a high-value-added product. It was a commodity that the Namgung Clan could not miss out on.
That was why they went through the trouble of driving carriages through the inland to conduct trade.
Namgung Jo sighed and glanced back.
“It’s because Han-i ran wild a bit.”
Namgung Han shrank his neck.
“Haha! The Young Master’s personality is indeed a bit lively.”
“It would be nice if it could be passed over like that, but…”
Unlike Namgung Tae who brushed it off easily, Namgung Jo found it hard to let go easily.
“But, has something happened? I don’t think it’s the time to hold a Water God Ritual or anything.”
Then he noticed that the vicinity of the ferry dock was noisier than usual.
Indeed, near the ferry dock, it was crowded with lavishly set sacrificial tables that could be seen from afar and people offering prayers in front of them.
“It seems the Water Dragon Fortress bastards hovered around this area not long ago.”
“Water Dragon Fortress?”
Namgung Jo’s eyebrows twitched.
“So they’re starting to scrape at us, those water bandit bastards.”
Because he presumed that Han’s matter was also the doing of the Eighteen Water Bandit Fortresses of the Yangtze River, Namgung Jo’s gaze sharpened.
“However, interestingly, they said the Dragon King of the Yangtze River manifested and swept away the water bandits.”
“Must be a martial artist.”
“My thoughts are the same. Still, well, hearing what they say, it’s not unreasonable that rumors of the Dragon King manifesting are circulating. They say he ran on water, flipped the pirate ship in one go, and caused a waterspout that reached the sky.”
Even if some exaggeration was mixed in, he is a considerable expert. Just the fact that he is capable of running on water was not something that could be easily conceived.
Certainly, at that level, it would look like something a human cannot do to ordinary people.
“Haha! Indeed, in Martial World, talents are as numerous as grains of sand.”
Namgung Jo suddenly recalled the Beggars’ Sect expert who had saved Namgung Han and vanished without a trace.
“It would be good to keep an eye on an expert of that caliber… Is there no information about his actions or identity?”
“I did look into it, but since he suddenly vanished, there is no gain.”
“Indeed, that’s true. If traces of his actions had remained, stories of the Dragon King wouldn’t have arisen.”
Namgung Jo nodded in agreement.
“But…”
Namgung Tae hesitated for a moment and pulled out a rolled scroll.
“I wonder if I should show you this…”
When the scroll was unfurled, a painting was drawn.
However, that painting was quite peculiar.
“It’s a dragon. And the beauty next to it… is it a shamaness?”
A half-human, half-dragon entity with a dragon’s head was depicted. And next to him, a beautiful girl in a fluttering shamanic robe was serving him.
Namgung Jo let out a dry laugh. He understood why Namgung Tae had hesitated.
Although it was true that it was well-drawn, it was a painting that had undergone considerable dramatization. Presenting such a thing as evidence was rather strange.
“There was a painter among the people on board the boat. It’s a painting drawn by that painter…”
“If he saw their faces, he would also be able to draw portraits?”
“Probably.”
“Then hand over a reasonable amount of money and suggest that he draw a portrait. However, judging from how he drew such a painting, he seems to be a person of deep faith, so he might refuse. In that case, do not force him. Not only will it degrade the Namgung Clan’s prestige, but if rumors spread for no reason, it might give the impression that we are digging into the background of an unknown expert. The Namgung Clan is not a place to fear such things, but it is foolish to suffer damage from useless misunderstandings.”
Namgung Jo gave instructions, precisely defining the scope.
“Understood…”
“Wow! She’s pretty?”
Poking his head out from behind Namgung Jo, Namgung Han blurted out in admiration as he looked at the painting.
“Is that the Dragon King’s shamaness? Then if I just win over that lady, will the Dragon King who rules the Yangtze River also be on our side?”
“…….”
Namgung Jo’s gaze turned cold.
Along with the deeply piled annoyance, Namgung Jo raised his hand.
Whack!!
“A fellow who is a direct descendant of the Family Head brother!”
“Ack!”
The Namgung Clan’s secret technique, the Three Heavenly Thunder Palms, smacked Namgung Han’s back.
“Grow up, you brat!”
“Guys like me don’t live long if they grow up, Uncle.”
Despite Namgung Jo’s repeated scolding, Namgung Han’s gaze did not fall away from the shamaness in the painting.
***
Fortunately, the journey after crossing the Yangtze River was smooth.
Crossing Anhui and reaching southern Jiangsu, the scenery of Suzhou, called the city of water, entered our sight.
“There are many people.”
[Since ancient times, it was a place with excellent resources.]
It was a city where the land was fertile enough to be called the Land of Fish and Rice, and commerce through waterways was developed.
It was also famous for cotton fabrics, and in the case of the highest-grade silk produced in Suzhou, they said it was worth whatever price they asked.
Amidst feeling the active flow of the city, there was something that uniquely caught my eye.
“Public security is certainly solid.”
They say the places that wealthy and powerful individuals most preferred to spend the rest of their lives after retirement were Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Looking at the well-maintained city, the word “indeed” escaped on its own.
“There are more martial artists than I thought.”
Furthermore, not only were there government soldiers patrolling everywhere, but there were also considerably many martial artists.
Both those hovering around near the water where boats floated while watching somewhere, and careful gazes looking around between the streets were felt.
[It is a common thing for those with wealth and power to have many enemies.]
It meant that since there were demanders, there were suppliers.
Since it was natural for retired powerful people and the wealthy to pursue personal safety for a stable retirement, it provided good employment for martial men whose only skill was martial arts.
[When they die, it will all return as their own shackles.]
A hint of disdain was felt in Master Zhang Sanfeng’s voice.
He seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the appearance of the prosperous-looking city.
After all, he was a person who had lived being called the Untidy Taoist even during his lifetime.
“Is it a city that is heaven for those with wealth?”
Somehow, hearing Master Zhang Sanfeng’s words, it felt like the last luxury enjoyed before death.
“Shall we go eat something delicious? Since this vicinity is not far from the sea, there should be many foods we haven’t seen before.”
“……The sea.”
A place where water as vast as the continent is gathered.
Perhaps interested, Yi Hwa’s eyes sparkled and shone.
‘This kind of reaction is easy to read.’
Perhaps because I had not realized it, Yi Hwa seemed to have aspects that were easy to understand, more than I thought.
‘It’s a reaction I’ve rarely seen, so if it’s this kind of anticipation, I must fulfill it.’
How much had Yi Hwa done for me all this time? I could easily spare about half a day.
With the thought that it didn’t matter how much money it took, I went around on foot to find the best restaurant in Suzhou.
***
As expected of a city where retired high officials and nobles had settled down, the food was also excellent.
Because among the pleasures of life that people commonly desired, eating occupied a large proportion.
Perhaps because of that, when I walked around and asked where the place that sold the most delicious dishes was, the names of the restaurants that popped up were not just one or two.
Among them, I visited a place highly reputed for ingredients sourced from the sea.
And that place satisfied my and Yi Hwa’s appetite with an excellent taste worthy of its reputation.
In that process, I also discovered the dark side of Suzhou.
Where there is light, there is shadow. Not everyone living in Suzhou was wealthy and happy.
Come to think of it, it was natural, but while I was chewing over it, a voice was heard in my head.
[Kakaka! Have you arrived in Suzhou?]
He was the scoundrel Buddha, Sun Wukong.
“It seems like you’ve visited after a long time.”
[Kaka! I’m not a babysitter, so I can’t watch you all day long, can I? Kakakaka.]
“That’s true.”
Since we had merely run all the way without any particular incidents or accidents after crossing the Yangtze River, it must have been quite boring from the perspective of the observer.
I felt a renewed sense of gratitude toward the masters who had been with me all this time.
[Kaka! Suzhou, you say. Kakakaka.]
Sun Wukong was very interested as he looked at the scenery of Suzhou.
He seemed to be enjoying it pleasantly, while also feeling nostalgia for the long time that had passed.
‘Is it because I can’t tell whether that bastard’s “Kaka!” is a breathing sound or a laughing sound.’
What was clear was that the Victorious Fighting Buddha was also a celestial entity.
Since he was an existence that had lived for an unimaginably long time, one would not be able to judge him in a piecemeal fashion.
No, even coming up with such thoughts might be arrogance.
[Much… no, most of it has changed. Kakaka.]
“Indeed.”
It would be so. This is a city where humans live, and the city moves like a living creature.
It creates new forms, repeating collapsing and building.
“Shall we walk around a bit until you remember?”
[No. I have already found it. Kakaka. Though it’s a microscopic amount, there is something that hasn’t changed. Kaka!]
What could he be talking about? If it was something Sun Wukong remembered, it must definitely be old.
As I looked around, wondering what could be hundreds of years old, something caught my eye in particular.
I think I know what Sun Wukong was referring to.
[Once, under that tree, I enjoyed falling leaves along with strong alcohol. Kakakaka.]
Between the waterways leading to the huge Lake Tai and where people were boating, there was an old tree stretching its branches as if lying down.
If the stretched branches had blossomed leaves, it would surely have been a grand sight, but perhaps due to the long years, the leaves were not very numerous.
[Try raising your divine power while following the waterway stretching below that tree. Kaka. Then there will definitely be a response. Kakaka.]
Why go into the water to find the heavenly peach blossom?
In the midst of coming up with a minor question, a bothering phrase from that scoundrel Buddha’s words suddenly stuck in my ears.
‘While following?’
“Excuse me?”
[Kaka?]
“By following means…”
[Kaka! It’s literally as it sounds?]
“…….”
Suddenly, one of the dishes that came out today under the guise of a sea delicacy came to mind.
‘…Who do you think I am, a crucian carp capable of underwater breathing!’
However, in the end, I was the one who was desperate, and I was the one who had to break it open.
“I’ll fill my belly with quite a lot of water. Damn it!”
Suddenly, the city of water that looked beautiful felt hideous.
***
Because there were too many people enjoying boating during the day, I couldn’t even dare to do it and waited for night to fall.
Indeed, as night fell, the people’s vitality subsided a step further.
“The problem is that the vitality is showing in a different direction. Sheesh!”
However, as expected of a city famous for entertainment, the night’s vitality was also not to be underestimated.
“Why the hell are they boating in the middle of the night.”
It seemed that if they floated boats with candles lit at night, some interesting event would happen.
[Kaka! If you listen closely, you might hear something.]
“Shut up, please!”
It seemed it would be hard to relax even in the middle of the night.
“Yi Hwa.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll be in trouble if you follow me into the water.”
“…….”
“Answer me.”
“Yeees…”
Since I received a firm answer, she wouldn’t do anything like following me.
Although she possessed a terrifyingly excessive loyalty, she was a child who strictly kept the instructed content anyway.
Just as I detached one burden in that manner and was about to enter the water where I didn’t know what lay in the middle of the night.
“Ugh!”
Someone’s short groan was heard.
Whether they got something harmful on their hand, they approached the water’s edge and hurriedly tried to wash their hand.
Perhaps because it was a moonlit night, what they were trying to wash off was clearly visible to my eyes.
“Black energy?”
It was the one I had seen at the Jungshin Merchant Group.
Moreover, the person carrying that energy on their body was also not a first-time acquaintance.
“Gwan Jung-yeon?”
It was that person who was said to be the squad leader of Team A of the Dragon Scale Squad, with whom I had become acquainted not long ago.