Chapter 107

Chapter 107
## Chapter: 107

### Chapter Title: White Porpoise (1)

—

“The signal for surrender has been hoisted.”

Observing the pale cloth snapping in the wind at the top of the mast, Yuaak let out a mocking breath and turned to those nearby.

“What is your assessment of this?”

“I am aware that vessel belongs to the Nanjing Merchant Association,” Gahyu replied. “It is logical they would fear a direct confrontation. However, I do not believe that flag signifies a true capitulation.”

His skepticism was immediately met with dismissive comments from the surrounding crowd.

“A white flag is a white flag. There is no reason to overthink a simple surrender.”

“They have likely realized the hopelessness of their position and lost their will to fight.”

“Who would be foolish enough to challenge the dominance of the Yangtze River Alliance upon these waters?”

While the majority were convinced that the enemy had been cowed by their overwhelming power, a few dissenting opinions emerged.

“Perhaps they wish to negotiate terms.”

“Terms?”

Yuaak shifted his focus toward Chosu, the Poison Dragon Elder.

“Their objective was Hongik Hall from the beginning. It is possible they intend to demand we turn over the hall leader who sought refuge with us.”

“Brother, that is preposterous! Am I merely a piece of property to be traded away?”

Yuhan, who had been brooding after a harsh lashing from Yuaak’s tongue earlier, spoke up with indignation.

Chosu ignored him completely, looking instead at the leader. “And if that is indeed their demand?”

“Why even ask? You already know my stance,” Yuaak replied, his tone making it clear that diplomatic dialogue was not an option.

“Even if they agree to withdraw?”

“Naturally. Had it only been Hongik Hall, I might have considered it—but Biwoong Stronghold was decimated as well. To parley under these circumstances would make us a laughingstock.”

When Chosu offered no further argument, Wihageom, who had been looking for a chance to speak, quickly cut in.

“Then what shall be the fate of that vessel?”

“The ship?”

“It contains more than just their combatants, does it not? While we usually follow the unspoken codes of the river, there are moments when a brutal demonstration is required.”

“A demonstration… I see. You are right; such measures are sometimes necessary.”

“Heh heh heh! The men will be thrilled to hear that.”

Interpreting Yuaak’s comment as a green light, Wihageom laughed out loud as he watched their fleet begin to move into an encircling formation. While collecting peaceful tributes was profitable, the act of raiding was the soul of a pirate.

However, their definitions of a “demonstration” were not quite the same.

“I shall give the command for a full-scale boarding action as we close the distance.”

Yuaak clicked his tongue at Wihageom’s bloodthirsty enthusiasm.

“Have you given any thought to the casualties we would suffer by charging in without a plan?”

“Well…”

“And you hold the rank of an elder.”

“Come now, what is there to deliberate? If we hit them from every direction at once, how long can those weaklings possibly last? We will lose some men, certainly, but that is a debt you agree to pay the moment you unsheathe your sword.”

“The simple-minded truly do have it easier.”

Deciding that further debate was a waste of time, Yuaak turned his back on him.

“Buselgon.”

“At your command, Alliance Leader.”

A man with a slender, almost graceful physique rushed forward and dropped to one knee before Yuaak.

“The White Porpoises are to initiate the strike.”

“It shall be done.”

Buselgon gave a sharp salute and stepped back, signaling to his specialized team.

Approximately twenty men, all possessing the same lean build, were dressed in tight, dark outfits crafted from treated snakeskin—gear specifically made for the White Porpoises, the elite aquatic unit of the alliance.

From a distance, Buselgon turned to offer Yuaak one final formal bow before leaping gracefully from the deck. His subordinates followed in a coordinated sequence, hitting the water at the same time. Despite the significant drop and the churning river, they moved with total fearlessness.

“I have no interest in corpses floating in the water. I want to feel the pulse of the living when I take their heads, Alliance Leader.”

Deungcheol, who had expected to lead the assault, stood nearby with a look of deep resentment. For a man consumed by the need for retribution, watching the White Porpoises take the lead was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Your thirst for vengeance is noted, but as the leader of the Yangtze River Alliance, I must ensure this punishment is dealt with minimal cost to our own lives.”

“A commitment was made, Alliance Leader!”

Deungcheol’s voice grew louder, his body tensing as if he might leap into the fray himself.

“Have you already forgotten the warning from the Deputy Leader of Hongik Hall? There is a chance that no one here could win a direct confrontation—myself included, as humiliating as that is to admit.”

A suffocating, predatory pressure suddenly radiated from Yuaak’s frame.

The aura was so intense that even the revenge-driven Deungcheol was forced to take a step back.

‘The Guanglong of Gun-san!’

The memory of past bitterness resurfaced, and Deungcheol bit his lip to steady himself.

“Allow me to claim their lives with my own hands. I implore you, Alliance Leader.”

Deungcheol lowered his head in a deep, uncharacteristic bow.

Though Yuaak was used to being the superior, the sight of such raw desperation and uncharacteristic politeness from Deungcheol made his expression soften slightly.

“Will their simple deaths not be enough for you?”

“Never.”

Seeing the unwavering fire in Deungcheol’s eyes, Yuaak realized there was no changing his mind.

“It will take some time for the vessel to begin sinking. Wait until the deck starts to tilt—that is when the real chaos will take hold. Regardless of how well a man can swim, the terror of the deep water is a powerful thing. And if some of them cannot swim at all, the terror will be even more exquisite.”

“I am grateful, Alliance Leader. I will wait for that moment with pleasure.”

Deungcheol gave a curt nod and moved away. Yuaak watched him go, sighing as he shook his head.

“Good grief. He is as obstinate as he ever was.”

“There is nothing more dangerous than a predator that has lost its offspring.”

Chosu looked after Deungcheol with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

“I do not doubt his prowess, but if Yuwol’s assessment was accurate, this is a gamble.”

“If he were alone, perhaps.”

Yuaak had overheard Chosu’s quiet remark.

“Do you intend to join him?”

“Despite our complicated history, we have a certain bond. I cannot let him go unaided.”

“Do not look at me. Ever since my encounter with that man, my shoulder aches whenever there is rain in the air.”

Wihageom began to massage his left shoulder.

“I wasn’t going to ask you anyway.”

“What?”

Yuaak let out a short laugh, patting Chosu on the back.

“Both of you cannot leave—someone has to maintain order on the fleet.”

“You are going personally, Alliance Leader?”

Wihageom’s eyes went wide with surprise.

“My connection to that man is deeper than anyone’s. And at our time of life, I have no intention of letting him face the end before me.”

“Is that truly the only motivation?”

Chosu squinted at him suspiciously.

“What else would there be?”

“Sima Geon, isn’t it? You want a real test against him. Just say it.”

Yuaak didn’t confirm or deny the accusation, offering only a cryptic smirk as he watched the ripples where the White Porpoises had disappeared into the current.

—

“Why have they stopped moving?”

Cheol Woo tilted his head in confusion as the surrounding vessels came to a halt, maintaining a predatory distance.

“Is it because of the white flag?”

Mancheu suggested. However, Noejeon shook his head in disagreement.

“I doubt it. If they intended to accept a surrender, they would have sent a party to board us by now. This is suspicious. But there is one thing I am certain of.”

“And what is that?”

“They are staying back because they know exactly what happened to Hongik Hall.”

“Ah, right.”

Mancheu remembered the incredible display of power by Sima Geon: how he had escaped with Cheol Woo’s help only for the enemy ship to be destroyed in a single, devastating blow.

Suddenly, a wave of shouting broke out across the deck.

Since the ships surrounding them weren’t moving, the source of the trouble had to be elsewhere.

Mancheu, always quick to react, moved to the railing to investigate and then hurried back.

“What’s happening? Why is everyone shouting?”

Noejeon asked.

“Men just jumped off their lead ship.”

“Into the Yangtze?”

“Yes.”

“For what reason?”

“I have no clue.”

“Are they insane? We have the white flag up; if they wanted to talk, they’d use a rowboat. They plan to swim all this way?”

Cheol Woo scoffed at the idea. Mancheu just shook his head.

“They didn’t stay on the surface. They vanished underneath.”

“What are you talking about?”

Unable to ignore his curiosity, Cheol Woo and Noejeon shoved their way through the crowd to the front of the ship.

Just as Mancheu had reported, the river’s surface showed no sign of the pirates.

“Ha! Look at these bastards.”

Drawing on his experiences from Black Dragon Valley and his missions with the Divine Demon Division, Cheol Woo understood their strategy instantly.

Noejeon gestured toward the white flag on the mast.

“That flag is a joke to them.”

“Clearly. They never had any intention of negotiating.”

While Cheol Woo remained composed, the merchant crew and the traders were beginning to panic, whispering various frantic theories.

Watching them with a look of pity, Cheol Woo nudged Noejeon’s arm.

“Hey.”

Just from the tone of the call, Noejeon’s face twisted into a scowl.

“I am exhausted. My wounds haven’t even finished healing—especially my shoulder…”

“Are you going to do this willingly? Or do I have to throw you in?”

Noejeon let out a heavy, defeated sigh at the threat.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Be quick about it. They are skilled swimmers, and they’re closing in fast.”

Cheol Woo could sense their rapid underwater approach through the dark depths.

“I’m going, I’m going!”

As Noejeon complained, beginning to pull off his clothes with great reluctance, a voice of reprieve arrived.

“Not you, Noejeon. It seems this task falls to you, Cheol Woo.”

Sima Geon’s command immediately reversed their roles.

“You’re… you’re kidding, right?”

Cheol Woo asked, his face a mask of disbelief.

“As the masters of the Yangtze, they undoubtedly have a team of elite divers. Their numbers are likely high, and their skill specialized. I do not doubt Noejeon’s ability, but we cannot afford a mistake. In the water, an amateur approach could be a death sentence.”

Despite being called an amateur, Noejeon’s face broke into a massive, relieved grin.

“…”

Cheol Woo stood in stunned silence while Sima Geon waited for him to move.

“Dammit! To hell with this.”

Cheol Woo growled in frustration, beginning to tear off his own garments with aggressive motions.

Gasps of awe came from the onlookers as his upper body was revealed: a torso of iron-hard muscle and sun-bronzed skin, crisscrossed with the marks of many battles.

“This is a nightmare.”

Cheol Woo let out one final burst of annoyance and plunged into the river.

“What is he doing now?”

Jinrim watched Cheol Woo’s sudden dive with a look of pity, completely unaware that the White Porpoises were closing in from below. Despite her judgment, a faint blush touched her cheeks.

“He did not jump without a purpose.”

Neung Sohwa stepped forward, her eyes fixed coldly on the distant ships of the Yangtze River Alliance. Hearing her tone, Jinrim fell silent.

Approaching Sima Geon, Neung Sohwa asked in a hushed voice,

“Could you explain the current situation?”

“That flag holds no power here.”

Sima Geon gestured toward the white banner hanging limply above them.

“Then they are going to attack.”

“The assault has already commenced.”

Sima Geon pointed toward the area where Cheol Woo had disappeared beneath the surface.

“There are divers moving against us.”

“Are they aiming for the hull?”

“Most likely. If they sink the ship, they gain every advantage.”

Neung Sohwa noted a strange sense of calm in his voice. Despite the fact that a small army was closing in and the situation seemed dire, he didn’t show a hint of fear. His confidence was a solid wall against the coming storm.

“Do not be concerned. Their strategy is destined to fail.”

“It appears so.”

Recognizing the sheer strength Cheol Woo possessed, Neung Sohwa found herself agreeing.

“It has begun.”

Sensing the first vibrations of conflict traveling through the water, Sima Geon spoke in a low, quiet murmur.