Chapter 93: Repeated Injunctions (3)
A new Union Master ascended in the Yangtze River Water Bandit Union.
Pig Butcher Jeok-hyang.
The youngest, who had been at the very lowest seat among the twelve disciples of the former Union Master Gong Je-hwan.
However, now that all the disciples of higher ranks had died and vanished, the legitimacy of the Union Master lay solely with the single person of Jeok-hyang.
“Tell them all to gather.”
Jeok-hyang summoned all the water bandits of the twelve fortresses at the same time as she proclaimed her ascension to the Union Master’s seat.
The water bandits of the Hundred-Head class all gathered and stood before Jeok-hyang.
The number was exactly one hundred and eight.
Jeok-hyang spoke while sitting on a high chair.
“Today, twelve among you will ascend to the rank of Thousand-Head.”
Complex glances passed between the Hundred-Heads.
Gazes of distrust, anticipation, curiosity, hope, resentment, absurdity, and so forth intricately intertwined with one another.
Jeok-hyang continued speaking, mixing her internal energy into her voice.
“And those among the Ten-Heads whose martial prowess is outstanding and whose conduct is upright will ascend to become Hundred-Heads.”
At those words, the expressions of the Ten-Heads lined up behind the Hundred-Heads also changed.
Their number reached approximately one thousand.
Jeok-hyang proclaimed.
“The Yangtze River Water Bandit Union is currently in a precarious situation. The Union Master’s seat has changed, and the vacancy of the Thousand-Heads is also very large. In order to continue maintaining the status of the Fifteen Heterodox Pillars, we will have to move diligently.”
At those words, all the water bandits nodded their heads.
Because it was only human nature that when a large group became weak, groups of similar size would pick fights.
Strength entered Jeok-hyang’s voice.
She shouted in a grand voice mixed with internal energy.
“As the new Union Master, I will declare martial law. From now on, the Yangtze River Water Bandit Union is always on a war footing. Since we do not know when or where an external enemy might pick a fight, everyone keep your senses sharp and prepare for resistance!”
To strengthen internal solidarity, it was good to assume an external enemy and then instigate alertness.
Sure enough, several Hundred-Heads who had been standing sloppily began to correct their postures.
The expressions of the Ten-Heads lined up behind also turned resolute.
Jeok-hyang continued speaking exactly as Chui had advised.
“I will say it once again, but from now on, it is a wartime situation. And in times of war, a superior’s command is identical to military discipline.”
Jeok-hyang signaled with her eyes toward the back.
Then, a few water bandits walked out from the inside.
In their arms, numerous silk fabrics were being held.
They were all, without exception, fluttering clothes of courtesans.
“……?”
“……?”
“……?”
The Hundred-Heads standing in attendance before Jeok-hyang tilted their heads upon seeing the courtesan clothes and fans placed in front of each of them.
Soon, all the Hundred-Heads received one set of courtesan clothes and one fan each.
Around that time, Jeok-hyang shouted.
“This is the first command I hand down to you after becoming the Union Master.”
All the Hundred-Heads raised their heads.
It was a look that seemed curious about what command the new Union Master would give.
Eventually, Jeok-hyang’s mouth opened.
“All Hundred-Heads, change into these courtesan clothes and perform a fan dance.”
In an instant, the expressions of the entire gathering turned blank as one.
The atmosphere of the grand assembly hall turned cold, as if doused with icy water.
However, regardless of that, Jeok-hyang continued to hand down instructions.
“The two Hundred-Heads at the very front, listen. I appoint you as temporary Thousand-Heads starting now. Put on the skirts and jackets promptly and direct the fan dance. The movements of the fan dance will be replaced by the first stance of the Three Powers Sword Art.”
Since the Three Powers Sword Art was the most basic of basic sword techniques, there was no one in this place who did not know it.
……The problem was the attire and the tools.
To tell them to put on gisaeng attire and wave fans.
For the bearded, muscular giants, it could only be a thing experienced for the first time in their lives.
Right then.
“Hahaha—”
The Hundred-Head at the very front, or rather, the temporary Thousand-Head, let out a hollow laugh.
The temporary Thousand-Head next to him also raised both hands and placed them on his belt as if it were absurd.
“It is not as if we are courtesans. What kind of command is this right now?”
“Ever since hair grew in my groin, this is indeed the first time I have seen such an absurd stunt.”
The temporary Thousand-Heads, holding their belts and smirking while standing with their weight on one leg.
The other Hundred-Heads behind them also reacted as if it were entirely absurd.
Some among them even giggled openly.
There was also agitation among the Ten-Heads.
Some ridiculed openly, some yawned as if bored, and some spat out curses.
At that, Jeok-hyang tilted her head to the side and glared.
Her gaze turned fierce for a split second, but because it quieted down so quickly, nobody noticed.
“I said it is currently a wartime situation. In a wartime situation, the Union Master’s command is military discipline itself. In the military law of the Yangtze River Water Bandit Union, there is a rule that those who violate military discipline are summarily executed.”
“Good grief. Is that grand military discipline of yours to make grown men wear women’s clothes and flutter fans? This is why they say a country goes to ruin when a hen crows……”
The temporary Thousand-Head swaggered with his arms crossed.
It was also for the purpose of showing off his bravery to the other Hundred-Heads behind him and the Ten-Heads under his command.
However.
The situation began to turn slightly differently from his expectations.
Shring—
Jeok-hyang pulled out two huge axes from behind her chair.
“……!”
All the water bandits flinched.
Those twin axes were what Giant Butcher Gong Je-hwan had always worn at his waist.
How could they forget that divine power that had split a great mountain with a single swing?
They felt anew that Jeok-hyang was indeed a disciple who had inherited Gong Je-hwan’s true legacy.
That was once again clearly engraved in the minds of the water bandits gathered in this place.
Jeok-hyang clearly imprinted the image of herself holding the axes before everyone’s eyes.
And just like her master’s voice had been, she commanded in a husky and low voice.
“I will give you one last opportunity. Put on the courtesan attire and perform the fan dance.”
“…….”
Cold sweat began to flow down the faces of the two temporary Thousand-Heads.
When they were a part of the crowd, it was easy to carelessly ridicule or curse, but once the stage was set and they stood on it in their individual capacity, all the pressure became concentrated on them.
However, they merely uncrossed their arms and still did not lay a hand on the courtesan clothes.
They simply looked around in a half-hearted posture to gauge the mood.
They did not want to bow their backs even for the sake of their pride, yet the atmosphere was gradually flowing strangely if they just kept holding out.
But if they crossdressed and danced with fans in this situation, what would happen to the prestige they had bragged about before their subordinates all this time?
The two temporary Thousand-Heads eventually decided to hold out.
‘We just need to hold out as much as possible and then bow our heads once as if we couldn’t help it at the end.’
‘Would she really kill us?’
……But sometimes, there is.
That very ‘no way’ that gets people killed.
Jeok-hyang shrugged her shoulders and raised the axes.
“It cannot be helped.”
“……?”
“There is no personal grudge. Understand.”
“……!”
The two Hundred-Heads did not even have time to react.
…Thwack!
The twin axes, flying in and kicking up a black wind, split the bodies of the two temporary Thousand-Heads vertically in half.
Splat-plat-plat! Drip— drip— drip— drip— drip—
A dense spray of blood blew fiercely.
Blood and flesh scattered in all directions, falling like a shower.
“……!?”
“……!?”
“……!?”
Before the Hundred-Heads standing behind could even show any reaction, Jeok-hyang spoke.
“For a military command not to be properly conveyed is the sin of the Union Master. But for the soldiers not to follow a properly conveyed order must be the sin of the Thousand-Head.”
“…….”
“The two Hundred-Heads behind them.”
“……!”
“You are the temporary Thousand-Heads from now on.”
Jeok-hyang nodded her chin with a dry voice.
“Put on the courtesan clothes and hold the fans. And command the subordinates below.”
It was before the blood mist scattered in the air had even fully settled.
How could they dare disobey the command?
“As you command!”
The designated two Hundred-Heads, or rather, the temporary Thousand-Heads, hurriedly changed into the courtesan clothes.
Beards, hair growing sparsely on their broad chests, and muscular thighs brushed against the rustling silk fabric.
The two temporary Thousand-Heads had become dressed in gisaeng attire before long.
They hastily turned their heads and glared at the other Hundred-Heads and Ten-Heads behind them.
“What are you doing!? It is the Union Master’s command!”
“Change your clothes quickly, you bastards! Hurry up!”
At that, the other Hundred-Heads and Ten-Heads also moved hurriedly.
Since it was immediately after seeing the two Hundred-Heads with the strongest martial prowess killed in a single bout before their eyes, their hands were busy.
Eventually, all the water bandits, including the two temporary Thousand-Heads, donned the courtesan attire and held the fans.
Only then did Jeok-hyang, who had maintained a expressionless face until then, hand down commands to the two temporary Thousand-Heads.
“First stance. Horizontal slash.”
As the two temporary Thousand-Heads repeated the command in loud voices, the numerous water bandits under their command fluttered their skirts and swung their fans.
“Second stance. Vertical slash.”
Countless fans stretched out in perfect order.
“Third stance. Straight thrust.”
Jeok-hyang’s commands were strictly obeyed like autumn frost to the very end.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
While performing those three movements, the water bandits all wore peculiar expressions without exception.
It was not the fear of having their commander killed before their eyes, nor was it the sense of self-shame arising from wearing women’s clothes which was not in their destiny.
It was a sense of unity from entering into one huge organization.
A sense of belonging from becoming a part of a massive organism that moved in perfect order.
The rabble, who had been fragmented piece by piece under the rule of Tiger Butcher, had experienced being integrated into an order that formed one giant wave.
Seeing the expressions of her subordinates change, Jeok-hyang nodded her head.
‘……Indeed. Chui’s words were right.’
In ruling over the water bandits, what was needed was not just fear and power.
A sense of belonging and a sense of unity.
A group, not an individual.
The logic of the group and the discipline.
That was the driving force that could rally the water bandits, who had been drifting scattered on the river, into a single power.
Giant Butcher Gong Je-hwan had penetrated this point, and his disciple Tiger Butcher had overlooked it.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
After that, the water bandits absolutely obeyed Jeok-hyang’s commands.
If told to wear gisaeng clothes, they wore them, and if told to take them off, they took them off.
If told to unfold the fans, they unfolded them, and if told to wave them, they waved them.
Just as they say, they had become guys who did whatever they were told from above.
And around the time they began to feel a strange pride in doing whatever they were told, and felt like they had become quite cool guys who were loyal to the organization, Jeok-hyang ended the instructions.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The expressions and gazes of the lined-up water bandits had changed considerably.
Knife-like military discipline and clear gazes.
The guys who had been standing with their weight on one leg stood at attention, and the guys who had been crossing their arms clenched both fists tightly and pressed them to their thighs.
Everyone’s chests and waists were stretched straight, and their gazes remained fixed toward Jeok-hyang alone.
Meanwhile.
“…….”
Chui stood in a spot far away from Jeok-hyang’s chair and was reminiscing about the past.
‘There are five things that must be considered important when governing an army.’
It was what the commander who had taught Chui had said during the time he was once in the army.
‘The first is justification (道), the second is the weather (天), the third is the terrain (地), the fourth is the general (將), and the fifth is the military discipline (法).’
The battlefield Chui had been on was the front line where fierce battles with barbarians occurred several times a day.
It was a place where military discipline was observed strictly to a bloody extent.
Chui, who had spent his adolescence in such a place, had thoroughly learned how military discipline could be established.
Making water bandits whose discipline had loosened up alert was not even a chore.
‘……Now, it is time to move on to the next step.’
The real task had not even been commenced yet.
It was from now on that the time would become interesting.
Unrivaled Spear Ghost