Chapter 102

Chapter 102
## Chapter: 102

### Chapter Title: Flying Bear Stronghold (2)

—

“Trading vessel off the bow!”

The sentry stationed atop the jagged precipice bellowed with all his might. Instantly, the raiders of the Flying Bear Stronghold, who had been lingering in a secluded cove off the Yangtze for a moment’s rest, roared into motion.

“Get word to the chief immediately,” Deputy Leader Deng Ja-geol commanded, signaling to one of his lackeys.

“Save your breath.”

Deng Ja-gon, who had been catchng some shut-eye in the lower decks, stepped out while letting out a massive, teeth-baring yawn.

“What kind of craft are we looking at?”

“Identification isn’t confirmed yet, sir.”

“Then we’ll just have to see for ourselves.”

Deng Ja-geol gave a curt nod and began barking directions at the crew.

“Raise the anchor!”

The heavy iron rose from the depths with speed, and the wooden hull began its slow glide forward.

“What was with the long nap anyway?”

“Haha! My apologies. That liquor we had earlier packed more of a punch than I bargained for. I didn’t even have that much, but it went straight to my head.”

Deng Ja-gon draped a heavy arm over Deng Ja-geol’s shoulder, laughing heartily.

“By the way, did you get a hold of Hall Leader Gwang?”

“He should be pulling up any second. Speak of the devil—there he is.”

Deng Ja-geol gestured toward the upper river where a new vessel was cutting through the mist. It was smaller than their own flagship but built with a narrower frame, built for sheer velocity.

“Chief, word reached me that a merchant vessel was in our sights.”

Vanguard Wolf Hall Leader Gwang Hae brought his ship alongside theirs, shouting his greeting while hefting a wicked wolf-fang mace.

It had been a long stretch since he had last participated in a stronghold raid, and the river’s currents remained too treacherous for casual sailing. After a string of empty-handed patrols, they had finally cornered actual prey, and Gwang Hae’s blood was clearly up.

“They’re braving these white waters, so no matter where that trader hails from, they must be in a desperate rush.”

“Haha! That only suggests the cargo is worth the risk.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Well, shall we begin the hunt?”

“I’ll take the point.”

The moment the words escaped him, Gwang Hae signaled to his crew at the stern. Within seconds, the gap between the two allied ships began to stretch as his vessel lunged forward.

Deng Ja-gon licked his lips, watching the ship skip across the surface like a hawk on the breeze.

“Still as fast as ever. I’ve been on that deck since I was a boy; there isn’t a ship on the whole Yangtze that can outrun Wind and Snow.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? The Azure Heaven is a masterpiece of a ship too.”

“I’m not disputing that. She’s just a bit of a tortoise. You know, it might be time to let Wind and Snow take the lead as the flagship again.”

Having been the master of Wind and Snow before taking over his father’s mantle as chief, Deng Ja-geol held a deep, sentimental bond with the craft.

“I’m begging you. Make the switch.”

Deng Ja-geol pressed his palms together in a mocking plea, though he secretly envied the sheer power of the Azure Heaven.

Deng Ja-gon let out a thunderous laugh at his brother’s antics, then marched to the very edge of the bow and screamed,

“Can’t you see the merchantmen waiting to be plucked? How long do you plan to crawl like snails? Find some speed!”

—

“Pirates! River pirates!”

“They’re closing in!”

The frantic shouts of the crew sent the deck into a spiral of panic.

The captain, sprinting toward the railing at the first alarm, looked like he had seen a ghost. The merchants looked sickly with worry, while their hired guards checked their blades with a grim, practiced silence. They were professionals, used to the dangers of the water. However, the ordinary passengers, experiencing their first pirate encounter, shrieked in desperation, certain their end was at hand.

“Ah, river pirates. Fancy that.”

Sima Geon wore a cold, predatory smirk as he watched the two hostile ships close the distance.

“Soldiers of the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance, perhaps?”

Cheol Woo leaned in close, taking a long pull from his leather flask.

“Hard to say. But that would be a winning bet.”

“Heh heh heh! Whether they’re here for the silk or they’ve come specifically for us, this is going to be entertaining.”

Cheol Woo finished his drink, his eyes gleaming with a dark joy.

“What’s the play, boss? Do we paint the deck red?”

“Of course.”

Sima Geon nodded as if the answer were etched in stone, but Manchu stepped forward, shaking his head with a serious air.

“Wait just a moment.”

“What kind of talk is that?”

Brain Lightning poked him in the side, his expression warning him not to ruin the mood.

“It would be wiser to observe first.”

“You have a reason for this?”

Sima Geon could tell Manchu wasn’t just being timid; the man rarely stood his ground so firmly.

“I’ve been listening to the crew’s chatter. Vessels that navigate the Yangtze have established protocols with the pirate clans.”

“Protocols?”

“Indeed. Particularly the major merchant syndicates—they have unspoken pacts with the marauders.”

“What a load of trash. What’s the arrangement then?”

Cheol Woo scoffed, unimpressed.

“You pay a protection fee, and they leave the vessel, the sailors, and the boxes alone. A ship that has paid its dues is granted safe passage by other pirates in the network as well.”

“And these cutthroats actually play by the rules?”

“The ones belonging to the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance do.”

“And if they decide to break them?”

“If you were the head of the alliance, would you let a subordinate tarnish your reputation like that?”

Cheol Woo considered this for a second, then gave a wicked grin.

“I’d crush their skull into the deck.”

“Precisely.”

“How do they even know who’s paid?”

“The alliance issues a physical token. And from what I’ve gathered—this specific ship has already settled its debt.”

“So by their own laws, we should pass through without a scratch. No reason to start a war.”

“Isn’t the fact that they’re pirates reason enough to kill them?”

Cheol Woo was still itching for a bloodbath. Codes of honor among thieves meant nothing to him.

“Alright, say we slaughter them all. Then what?”

“A peaceful river, no more thieves… Oh, wait. No, it would just be crawling with more of them seeking revenge.”

“Exactly. It won’t affect us much, but this merchant ship? They’ll be marked. They need this river for their livelihood. Even if the pirates know we are the ones who did it, they’ll take their frustrations out on the next merchant they see.”

“You make a decent point, but…”

Unsatisfied but listening, Cheol Woo looked toward Sima Geon.

“What do you think, boss?”

Sima Geon turned the question back to Manchu.

“What if the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance simply ceased to exist? Would you still fear their retaliation?”

Manchu stared at him, stunned. Even Cheol Woo’s enthusiastic nodding at the suggestion was beyond the realm of normal logic. But having witnessed their sheer capability, Manchu knew he couldn’t apply “normal” logic to these men.

“Probably. Even if the alliance falls, you won’t kill every pirate on the water. Their remaining friends would still be out there.”

“So it’s not a simple matter.”

“Unless your goal is to hunt down every single pirate to extinction—which isn’t our mission—since they’ve paid, it’s better to let the scene play out.”

“Very well. We will take your lead. Provided they aren’t here for our heads.”

Sima Geon gave a subtle nod just as the ship groaned to a halt, the anchor splashing into the water.

The pirate vessels pulled up on both sides with perfect synchronization.

“Look at this. Pirates everywhere. They’re like a pack of stray dogs.”

Cheol Woo laughed dryly at the mass of men waiting at the railings—easily seventy or eighty of them, howling like wolves.

“It doesn’t look like they have a specific target in mind.”

“Deputy.”

Brain Lightning gave Cheol Woo a nudge.

“What?”

“Maybe you should head down to the cabin?”

“What are you talking about?”

“With a face like yours out here, trouble is a certainty.”

“Are you deaf? We just agreed to stay out of it.”

“Some people just have a look that invites a punch. You have that look, even when you’re just standing there.”

“I do?”

Cheol Woo’s expression turned foul, his hand twitching as if to seize the man by the throat.

Brain Lightning wisely stepped back without another word.

As Cheol Woo reached out, Sima Geon’s voice cut through the tension.

“That’s enough. Cheol Woo, do as he says.”

“Boss!”

Cheol Woo looked genuinely betrayed.

Sima Geon looked away and muttered,

“We’re letting this go by quietly. Don’t go looking for a reason to start a fire.”

“So I’m the one starting fires now?”

Cheol Woo looked like he had been deeply wronged.

“That’s just the nature of these thugs. They pick fights with anyone who looks tough if they have the numbers. Just go inside. It’s not about being afraid—it’s about not stepping in the filth.”

Manchu grabbed Cheol Woo’s arm with a smirk, then glanced at Brain Lightning.

“You aren’t exactly a monk yourself. You coming?”

“Me? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Do I look like I’m joking? Stop talking and get moving.”

Cheol Woo grabbed Brain Lightning’s arm as the man tried to slip away and hauled him toward the cabin.

Shortly after they disappeared, grappling hooks whistled through the air and bit into the wood on both sides. Gangplanks were quickly thrown across, bridging the ships.

Despite the bridges being set, the pirates—who had looked ready to swarm the deck—actually held their positions.

The reason for their restraint was clear a moment later.

The Flying Bear Stronghold crew waited until Chief Deng Ja-gon walked across at a leisurely pace, his hands tucked behind his back. Only then did they storm across like a tidal wave, taking control of the deck in a matter of seconds.

They immediately turned their attention to the living quarters.

“I’m counting to ten! Come out on your own! If I find anyone hiding, I’ll send you to King Yama myself!”

Waving their blades and laughing amongst themselves, they were a terrifying sight for the average civilian.

—

“Why did we even bother coming down here?”

Cheol Woo grumbled from the shadows of the cabin, and Manchu lowered his head apologetically.

“My mistake.”

“It’s not your fault. I just missed the obvious. Pacts or no pacts—I’d search the rooms first too. Fine, let’s go. I don’t feel like meeting King Yama today because I was a few seconds late. Ugh, who could actually be scared of these clowns?”

Cheol Woo made a grand, dramatic exit, followed by a snickering Brain Lightning and a weary Manchu who was sighing under his breath.

Under the weight of the pirates’ threats, everyone from the cabins gathered on the main deck, shivering in terror—everyone except Cheol Woo and Brain Lightning, who walked out casually, still arguing with one another.

“Every one of you, shut your traps!”

Gwang Hae brought his mace down hard against the deck, the boom silencing the crowd instantly.

“That’s better.”

He smirked with self-satisfaction, nodding slowly.

He clearly took pleasure in the knowledge that he held the power of life and death over everyone present.

“There’s no need for such fear. We aren’t fond of blood. But don’t think for a second we’re afraid to draw it. If you play along, you’ll all get home in one piece… What’s this?”

Gwang Hae’s brow furrowed as a middle-aged man stepped forward before he could finish his speech.

“I am Captain Gwan Ji-heung. We have already settled our toll for this passage.”

“What kind of nonsense are you spewing?”

“Check the token yourself. We paid the heroes of the Yangtze quite recently.”

Gwan Ji-heung held out a piece of fabric.

The red cloth, roughly a foot in width, featured a crude black skull biting down on a blade.

“Give me that.”

It wasn’t Gwang Hae, but Deng Ja-gon who snatched the fabric away.

“Whose symbol is that?” Cheol Woo whispered to Manchu.

“I’m not sure. But if they have a token, they’ve paid. Look at his face, though.”

Just as Manchu noted, Deng Ja-gon’s face twisted into a scowl as he examined the cloth.

“Black Bone Stronghold. Those vultures beat us to the punch…”

He ground his teeth together.

Since the toll was paid, they were obligated to let the ship pass. That was the law of the river, and he didn’t mind following it—except for the fact that the payment had gone to the Black Bone Stronghold, rivals he absolutely loathed.

Clutching the fabric, Deng Ja-gon hesitated. But as a man who dreamed of one day ruling the Yangtze River Waterway Alliance, he couldn’t afford to be a lawbreaker.

“We have no choice. Fall back—”

“Wait a minute.”

Deng Ja-geol reached out and snatched the token, cutting his brother off.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Deng Ja-gon’s gaze turned sharp.

No matter the bond between brothers, such a public display of defiance was a blow to his leadership.

“Brother, there is something wrong with this.”

Deng Ja-geol leaned in and whispered into his ear.

“What is it?”

“This is the token from the previous cycle. This period’s color is supposed to be yellow, not red.”

Deng Ja-gon’s eyes narrowed into thin slits.

Every New Year at Gunsan, the various stronghold leaders met to decide the colors for the toll tokens. To stop merchants from forging their own, the colors were changed every two weeks and varied by river sector, creating a complex web of security. Every stronghold even maintained a detailed ledger.

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely. The fools at Black Bone Stronghold must have forgotten to hand out the new colors.”

“Haha! That’s perfect. Mistakes like that always come with a price.”

Wearing a wide, malicious grin, Deng Ja-gon turned back toward Gwan Ji-heung. The captain already looked like he knew what was coming. With one violent motion, Deng Ja-gon ripped the token into tiny pieces.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Gwan Ji-heung’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but this is a forgery.”

Deng Ja-gon tossed the shredded remains into the wind, laughing like a demon as they scattered over the water.