Chapter 33: Wave Market (1)
The footsteps leaving the Tiger Pit Sect.
They were light, yet also weary.
After leaving Anhui Province, Chui went west along the Yangtze River.
It was with the plan to go north by riding the downstream of the Yangtze River that crossed the vast Central Plains.
‘…Since there is also a place to drop by briefly before that.’
Chui took a long detour along the Yangtze River.
A riverside where only silver grass surged all over beyond the horizon.
Beside the muddy mudflat, only roughly flowing turbid streams and sharp reefs rose up.
Qutang Gorge. It was an area where a violent water current flowed between several cliffs standing around like folding screens.
*Gush-gush-gush-gush-gush!*
Because the mountain terrain here was rugged and the water current was fast, ordinary fishermen did not come often.
However, because there were also that many fish, it was also a place where young fishermen who were confident in their skills and possessed some strength occasionally came to barter their lives for their catch.
Following the water current of such Qutang Gorge, Chui continued to walk.
*Rustle-rustle…*
The silver grass lay down in the wind.
There was really nothing here besides the endlessly unfolding silver grass.
As he entered downstream, the wild water current also quieted down a little.
Around that time.
*Rumble-*
Chui clutched his starving intestines.
It had already been three days since he ate anything.
Whenever he was hungry, he hunted and ate wild beasts, but nothing particularly catchable was visible in this silver grass field.
At that moment.
“……!”
Chui discovered something.
There was something on the downstream side of Qutang Gorge.
On the river water where twilight was darkling, a single small island was visible floating.
“……”
Looking closely, it was not an island, but was formed by numerous boats gathered closely together.
The boats tied each other with straw ropes and laid wooden planks on top, creating a small artificial island.
Below where lanterns shone dimly, numerous fishermen were putting out the fish they caught on display stalls to sell.
“There is a six-foot catfish! It must surely be a high official of the Dragon Palace!”
“A full load of Yeonjahong! Bring them quickly!”
“Come, red carp! Red carp! Since it might be a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp, try slicing open its belly after buying!”
“There are many mullets and grass carps! They are thick-grained ones, so brokers, come quickly and see!”
Wave Market.
It was a market temporarily created by boats gathering on the water.
Fishermen put out the fish they caught to sell here, and also bought tools or foodstuffs necessary for future fishing.
“Hey—where did the old man fixing nets here go!?”
“Old woman. Please squeeze some oil with these fish.”
“I want to get some jerky, let us exchange it for the mullet caught today.”
“Damn it, today was a bust. Let us go eat a bowl of hot soup with rice over there before leaving!”
“Heating bathwater! Come and get a hot back-wash—”
“Have a drink here—we accept fish too—”
The sound of young fishermen dreaming of a full load shouting and chatting rowdily.
In addition, those who identify fish for the fishermen, auctioneers, wholesalers, retailers, bathhouse operators, and those selling alcohol and food gathered, forming a bustling crowd.
In a corner of the Wave Market, there was a man who hung a few dirty pots under a tattered tent and was boiling dried radish greens soup.
Chui stepped onto the Wave Market by taking a rope bridge connected to the land.
*Bubble-bubble-bubble…*
The smell of hot soup with rice boiling inside the small pot.
The aroma of watery soybean paste and dried radish greens, heads of nameless miscellaneous fish repeating floating and sinking over the broth, wild beast entrails, and foxtail millet boiling together was quite thick and savory.
Chui sat down on a bundle of dirty nets.
And picking up a chipped bowl rolling on the floor, he washed it once in the flowing river water with a splash.
Watery broth with floating oil; white steam rose up and blocked his vision.
Chui tried to ladle the soup and rice by lifting the wooden ladle hanging on the pot.
At that moment, a man with a bushy beard who seemed to be the owner approached Chui’s side.
He opened his large palm and spoke bluntly.
“It is pay upfront.”
Chui took off the leather wrapped around his waist and threw it in front of the owner.
Marten fur. It is quite a high-quality product.
However, the owner shook his head.
“I only accept money.”
“How much.”
“Three copper coins.”
Chui raised his head and stared at the owner.
Even if valued in silver, the marten fur could fetch one Liang of silver.
It was not something to be compared with a mere three copper coins.
However, the owner of the hot soup shop was stubborn.
“If you have no money, do not eat.”
“……”
Chui shut his mouth.
Right at that moment.
“Here. The price of the soup and rice.”
Someone intervened between Chui and the owner of the hot soup shop.
A girl who looked to be just about six or seven years old.
The girl threw two copper coins to the owner.
Receiving the two copper coins, the hot soup shop owner snorted.
“Ladle and eat only twice. Know that you will be in deep trouble if you ladle a third time.”
He brushed off the salt stuck in his bushy beard and entered the tent.
The girl stuck out her tongue toward the owner.
“Putting on such airs just for ladling some garbage soup that is like toilet water!”
“……”
Chui, who was reaching out toward the pot, hesitated for a moment.
Soon, the girl asked.
“Are you a beggar, oppa?”
“I am not a beggar.”
“My mom said if you have no money, you are a beggar.”
“……”
Chui silently ladled the hot soup and rice three times into his bowl.
And then he gave the marten fur he had thrown on the floor earlier to the girl.
“What is your name?”
“Baekli Yeon. What about you, oppa?”
“Chui.”
“Beggar oppa.”
Wondering why she had even asked for his name if she was going to do this, Chui slurped the dried radish greens and rice grains into his mouth.
Soybean paste that only colored the withered radish greens, and the salty smell of fermented fish sauce pierced the tip of his nose.
Following that, pieces of wild beast entrails and turbidly cooked fish eyeballs were chewed, and well-cooked millet grains were pushed down his throat along with the broth.
To be honest, it was not tasty, but it was a broth eaten for its hot and salty taste.
Chui devoured the dried radish greens soup in his bowl frantically.
Since warm grain entered his starving intestines, he felt like he was finally living now.
Meanwhile, Baekli Yeon stared at Chui and spoke.
“My mom said, begging makes people sick.”
“……”
Chui raised his head and looked beyond Baekli Yeon’s face.
There, women who seemed to be living weary lives were moving around busily.
A woman hanging laundry on a dirty straw rope.
A woman scooping river water to wash off the powder on her face.
A woman casting flirtatious glances toward passing men while revealing her bare legs clearly.
Besides them, numerous thin, gaunt women.
There is also a red-light district in the Wave Market.
Since it was a place where many men doing rough and hard work gathered, naturally alcohol and smiles followed.
Even in such a bubble-like space that gathers on the water and scatters, there are women emitting the smell of powder.
These women are called Wave Lanterns.
Probably, Baekli Yeon was the daughter of one of those Wave Lanterns.
Baekli Yeon chattered while looking at Chui.
“My mom was originally from Hubei Province. She was born as the youngest daughter of a farming house, and because there was nothing to eat, she starved almost every day. But she said a place called the Hegemon Society told her. That if she boarded a boat, she could earn big money and support all her family. That is why she boarded the boat.”
“I see. Did she earn big money?”
“I do not think she earned much. So I must also grow up quickly and work. But before that, I think we must go out to the land at least once. Because my mom is sick. She said we must go to the land to meet a physician and fix her body properly. Only then can she gain strength to work again.”
Children of this age usually like to chatter about things they were not even asked.
Chui chewed the radish greens and nodded appropriately.
Baekli Yeon asked.
“Where are you going, oppa?”
“Henan.”
“Where is Henan?”
“The place where the Martial Alliance is.”
“What is the Martial Alliance?”
“A place where martial artists are gathered.”
“Why are you going there?”
“……”
Chui stroked his chin for a moment.
And then he smiled faintly.
“Because there are many bastards to kill.”
It was a smile that did not suit his youthful face at all, which looked to be just about fifteen or sixteen years old.
However, in the eyes of six-year-old Baekli Yeon, it did not seem particularly strange.
“Heh—are you a martial artist, oppa?”
“Do you even know such things?”
“Yes. My mom told me occasionally. She said the people who sent mom here are also martial artists. I heard martial artists are incredibly strong.”
“I see.”
Chui emptied the bowl of hot soup and rice completely clean.
And then he picked up the marten fur that had fallen on the floor and handed it to Baekli Yeon.
“This is the price of the soup and rice.”
“No thanks. Marten fur is more expensive. Stupid beggar oppa.”
“Still, I must pay for my food.”
“Hmm. Then… instead of that, please do me one favor.”
“?”
At Baekli Yeon’s words, Chui turned his head.
Then Baekli Yeon continued speaking with a clear gaze.
“My mom’s body is very sick. She said to go to the land, we must get permission from the martial artist uncles.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. If you are also a martial artist, oppa, please do a favor when you meet the martial artist uncles later. Tell them to let my mom go to the land.”
“Hmm.”
Chui pondered for a moment.
And then he nodded.
“I do not know if I will meet them, but if I do, I will try to make the request.”
“Yes. Since language might communicate well among fellow martial artists. I said I would try to speak to them, but mom told me not to do so. That they wouldn’t understand even if I spoke anyway. She said martial artists only communicate with other martial artists.”
“Hmm. That is also true.”
Soon, Chui stood up from his seat.
It is time to go now.
Just then, the woman behind was calling Baekli Yeon.
“Yeon-ah! I told you not to talk to strangers!”
A woman with a pale complexion approached and picked up Baekli Yeon.
And then she hastily moved her steps and entered inside the tent on the boat.
“Bye, beggar oppa—”
Right before entering the tent, Baekli Yeon, held in her arms, winked one eye toward Chui.
To that cheeky farewell, Chui responded with a nod.
* * *
Having filled his belly sufficiently, Chui raised his body to leave the Wave Market.
He happened to see a raft abandoned in a corner of the market.
Although it was closer to a buoy rather than a raft, made by layering some buoyant garbage and wooden planks, Chui climbed on top of it with a grateful heart.
Slowly, Chui rowed the staff “Ink Bamboo” like an oar, advancing over the river water.
“…… …… ……”
The front waves of the Yangtze River flow forward, pushing the back waves.
Although everything has front and back, first and last, according to the natural principle of Ruoshui.
Only one, Chui, was not so.
He was a carp that swam backward against the current.
An existence that rejected the natural order and lived life in reverse.
The sun is setting, but the road is far; acting against the natural order.
Since the day is setting and the path to travel is far, was he not a vengeance ghost who could not help but live against the natural order.
While Chui was contemplating what meaning there could be in his past life and regression, the raft moved along the waves helplessly.
Drifting in the current flowing gently downstream, Chui was advancing forward like that.
…If it had not been for the scream heard all of a sudden, he probably would not have looked back.
“Aaaaack!”
Along with a tearing scream, the shouts of terrified fishermen were heard.
“Do, do run away!”
“Pirates! It is a band of water pirates!”
“The Yangtze River Water Bandit Union has appeared!”
They were uninvited guests who visited the Wave Market following Chui.
Unrivaled Spear Ghost