Chapter 209

Chapter 209

About two gak ago.

“Come this way. Sir.”

“Mm.”

Following Yeongonha’s words, I moved my steps while briefly surveying the surroundings of the island. At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary forest and beach spread out, but iron nets and weapons like harpoons were appropriately placed here and there.

It would have been quite troublesome to break through alone. If I had tried to break in from the sea, it probably would have been impossible.

Making that judgment, I moved my steps inside, and Yeongonha, who had gone ahead, gestured to me. And the words that followed.

“This is the wood that doesn’t sink or break, Bulgwaemok.”

“Bulgwaemok?”

“That’s right. Well, it’s probably not actually a real tree, but that’s what the treasure map said. Wood that can absorb an unimaginable amount of shock.”

Looking at Yeongonha talking as if this were an imaginary tree, I quietly closed my mouth. Unlike Yeongonha’s words, Bulgwaemok was indeed a real tree.

‘A boat made of Bulgwaemok… It certainly won’t sink.’

This tree, named Bulgwaemok because it doesn’t break, doesn’t get cut, and is light, cannot be destroyed even by a Ten Heavens-level master using full force unless it’s processed by applying fire to work on it.

That’s because this tree is a type of yokai tree. A tree that became strangely transformed by absorbing the demonic power overflowing from beyond Xinjiang is a yokai tree.

For that reason, except for its natural enemy, fire, it efficiently absorbs almost all attacks. An unbreakable tree. That’s why it’s called Bulgwaemok.

“Do you know the processing method?”

“It came out when I decoded the treasure map. Ah, you don’t need to know, sir. We’ll handle the processing.”

“You don’t want to tell me?”

“I literally mean you don’t need to know. The timber that comes out is barely enough to make one boat. After making the boat, we can’t make any other boats with this structure.”

“Well, since you said it was first-come-first-served, that makes sense.”

If we just made tiny rowboats, we could make several, but right now we’re making a boat to catch the Water Dragon, aren’t we? An ordinary-sized boat won’t do at all. We need to build at least a medium-sized boat or larger.

“How complete is the boat?”

“Almost finished. We were building the boat to match the Zone Master’s appearance time anyway.”

“Can boats be made that quickly?”

“Normally there are quite a few time-consuming tasks… but here they sell items that can shorten those tasks.”

Yeongonha pulled out a strangely colored paint from his pocket and waved it, grinning.

“If we can shorten the time like this, building a boat isn’t that difficult. Especially if there are several martial artists with thorough ship construction knowledge. It’ll probably be ready in about one more gak.”

“One gak. What work remains?”

“Not much work is left, we’re just applying poisonous paint so barnacles and such can’t easily attach…….”

“I see. That’s fortunate then.”

“Mm?”

“That there’s no need to wait longer.”

Seoseok!

“……Ah?”

As the bracelet was half cut through simultaneously with my words, Yeongonha stared blankly at his wrist and hurriedly grabbed it. The cloth bracelet fluttering as if it would fall off at any moment.

“Wh-what is this……!”

“You knew this would happen, didn’t you? It was the same for both of us.”

“To cause division before even catching the Water Dragon, are you in your right mind!”

“I am in my right mind. Completely.”

What would happen if the boat was completed and I stepped forward to catch the Water Dragon?

I’d probably be exhausted while the Waterway Strongholds would be fresh. I’d have to face all the Waterway Strongholds with an exhausted body. Unless the Water Dragon is an opponent that can be caught with a single strike—looking at that sight, it doesn’t seem like such an opponent.

That’s not all. After catching the Water Dragon, we’d be on the sea. If they disassembled the boat, I’d have to fall into the sea helplessly. After that, I’d resist fiercely, but in the end, I’d lose.

Then what can be done to break through this situation?

What must I do right now?

“To catch a Water Dragon that manipulates wind and rain, we need an unsinkable boat.”

“That means that right now, even if I take the boat, you can’t sink it. Because you also need to catch the Water Dragon. If you sink it, you lose the means to catch the Water Dragon. Isn’t that right?”

Smirking, I took a step forward, and Yeongonha, grinding his teeth, brought forward the harpoon strapped across his back. And the roar that burst forth.

“If you betray us like this, you think you’ll have a good outcome!”

“I heard the story. That you subdued the Sword King. But that was subduing him together with the Sword Sovereign. No matter how much your martial arts have improved, alone……!”

“Alone? Me?”

“You seem to be mistaken about something, so let me tell you. There’s a saying in military strategy.”

Those who have the same enemy can be brought in as allies.

Simply put, it’s this. The enemy of my enemy is my ally.

And I can bring in someone antagonizing the Waterway Strongholds as my ally.

“Don’t tell me……!”

“Exactly that.”

I’ll bring in Daesageom as an ally.

“Is there anything else?”

I smirked and swung my sword. 

That leads to now.

“I came to rescue you.”

Waving my hand on the deck, Daesageom, who had been quietly looking at me while standing on the boat, placed his hand on his sword hilt. An unmistakably clear battle stance.

“Uicheonmun Master. What have you come here to do?”

“My, such a fierce welcome when I said I came to rescue you.”

“Came to rescue?”

“Weren’t you about to go to the island to find this boat? A boat like this is essential to catch the Water Dragon.”

Tung!

Tapping the wall of the medium-sized sailing ship with the back of my hand, Daesageom looked at me for a moment, then drew his sword like a flash of light and swung it. Soon, sword energy embedded itself in the hull.

Kwaaaang!

The hull shook greatly from the collision. With my feet stuck firmly using the Suction Technique on the swaying hull, I smirked. It was a testing method befitting Daesageom.

“How is it?”

“……It certainly doesn’t break. Not even a scratch.”

“That’s because it’s Bulgwaemok.”

“Bulgwaemok?”

“Simply put, it’s yokai wood. In terms of hardness, it’s harder than Cold Iron. But well, that’s not what’s important.”

What’s important is one thing. I have what Daesageom needs.

“Won’t you board? You’ll need this boat.”

“I can just throw you off and board.”

“Let’s stop meaningless psychological warfare. We both know you won’t do that, don’t we?”

At my words, Daesageom glared at me for a moment, then calmed his energy and kicked the raft he had been riding on with a tung. Soon, Daesageom leaping onto the sailing ship in an instant.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m saying let’s join forces.”

“You and I?”

“Don’t we need to catch the Water Dragon?”

“It seems you joined here because there’s something you covet. Then you need to advance to the central zone, don’t you?”

Daesageom is one of the Ten Heavens. And the Ten Heavens rarely get involved in any events unless absolutely necessary.

That’s simply because the position of Ten Heavens is worth that much. The Ten Heavens are beings who have gathered all the wealth and honor of Central Plains.

Ordinary rewards or honors can’t draw in the Ten Heavens. Rather, if they get involved in small affairs, the reputation of the Ten Heavens can fall. That’s why those who have reached the Ten Heavens, with few exceptions, rarely show their faces at external events. Daesageom has that tendency too.

“Participating in an event you didn’t need to participate in means there was a reason you had to participate. I can guess that there’s something you need to obtain. I don’t know what it is though.”

“……Even when I saw you two years ago, I felt it, but you’re quick to notice things.”

“If you think deeply, anyone can know. Well, that’s not what’s important.”

At Daesageom’s words, I shrugged my shoulders and lightly tapped the sailing ship.

“In the end, it’s this. This. This is the problem.”

“What’s the problem?”

“This sailing ship. As large as it is, it’s difficult to move alone. It means we can’t move it by pushing away the sea with palm force like a raft.”

“If Daesageom personally unleashes palm force, moving it right away is possible, but that’s as far as it goes. Moving the sailing ship while simultaneously fighting the Water Dragon. Even for one of the Ten Heavens, it doesn’t seem possible. Isn’t that right?”

“You’re not wrong.”

Looking at Daesageom readily agreeing with my words, I smirked.

“So I’m saying let’s join hands. Because both you and I are inadequate to catch the Water Dragon alone.”

“Are you saying you’ll move the sailing ship?”

“To be precise, it’s a bit different. Just moving the sailing ship alone isn’t enough.”

“What do you mean?”

I told him about the proposal the Waterway Strongholds had made to me. Then Daesageom let out a groan.

“The Waterway Strongholds built this boat?”

“That’s right.”

“They would have prepared a means to discard you after use.”

“Without a doubt. This boat is probably structured to fall apart the moment five or six parts are removed. Of course, that won’t happen until we catch the Water Dragon, but…….”

“If you’re alone, you can’t prevent being discarded after use after catching the Water Dragon?”

“Something like that.”

What’s needed isn’t just one or two people. To move a sailing ship of this size smoothly, we need at least ten rowers, and a helmsman must also exist. Moreover, if we’re going to prevent the Waterway Strongholds from disassembling the boat after the battle with the Water Dragon ends, the number of people needed increases exponentially.

“At minimum, we need twenty people. Considering the Waterway Strongholds will swarm in unison, it would be good to secure at least forty.”

“……You’re saying to gather the rabble and form an alliance.”

“Correct. It’s nice that we don’t need to explain deeply to each other.”

At Daesageom’s appearance, understanding my intent immediately, I smirked and nodded. Because forming an alliance of those excluding the Waterway Strongholds here was the best move.

“I understand what you mean.”

For a moment.

Daesageom, who had been deeply considering my words, nodded. And the answer that followed.

“I’ll accept your proposal. Let’s form an alliance.”

“It will be a choice without regrets.”

“However, there’s one condition.”

“……Mm?”

“Once. I’d like you to give me the right of summary execution.”

“What do you mean by right of summary execution?”

“Whoever the opponent is, I’ll cut down one person I want to cut. You must not stop that.”

What on earth does that mean?

“Why is that necessary? Is there someone you have a grudge against?”

“No.”

Daesageom heavily denied my words and slowly lowered his sword blade downward while harboring killing intent. Blood-colored energy flowing down in a tangible form.

“The reason I participated here is only one thing. Because I obtained certain intelligence.”

“Intelligence?”

“That smooth face…… and that characteristic internal energy can never be imitated, so you’re off the suspect list. But no one else has been cleared from my suspect list yet.”

What on earth is he talking about?

Looking blankly at Daesageom rambling on without explaining, Daesageom let out a deep sigh and sheathed his sword. And the statement that followed the next moment.

“Simply put, it’s this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Here, in the Sado Alliance, a Demonic Cult member has infiltrated.”

What did he say?

“I participated in this opening ceremony to capture and kill that Demonic Cult member.”