Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Episode 154. Not Even Ghosts Could Have Known

Guga Village.

From the second floor of the restaurant overlooking the harbor, Yang Soran murmured as she watched the ship engulfed in flames.

“As expected of the Viper of the Yangtze River. He tried to get rid of Yeon Jeokha that way.”

“It seemed odd that Yang Tae-ho backed down so easily. He had an ace up his sleeve, just as we suspected,” commented Blood Sword, his expression slightly surprised by the cruelty of the tactic.

Yang Soran stood up from her seat after watching the burning ship for a while.

“Yeon Jeokha isn’t someone who dies so easily. Let’s see how Yang Tae-ho plans to end this.”

Without objection, Blood Sword and Jade Buddha set down their cups and followed Yang Soran.

The other patrons in the restaurant crowded around the windows, curious about the large explosion that had occurred just in front of the harbor.

Splash, splash.

Yeon Jeokha floated in the river, clinging to a large wooden plank.

The waves, crashing over his shoulders, occasionally struck his face, causing him to swallow water.

“Damn it! Now I understand why he agreed to back down so easily!” he thought, frustrated. Just a moment ago, he had been pleased to have resolved everything with words, but now he felt betrayed.

Looking around him, he was relieved to see that no one had died or was seriously injured by the explosion. Everyone, like him, was clinging to the wreckage of the destroyed ship.

He felt responsible for the situation, but the familiar sound of laughter made him glance toward a nearby floating plank.

“Mister! Do you know how to swim?” asked Shim Tong, the Old Dao of Nine Heavens, with a smile.

“No,” Yeon Jeokha replied.

“Then what are you going to do? Those damned pirates will come to check any moment now.”

“The river to the shore seems to be about twenty jang (approximately 60 meters), right?”

“Yes, more or less.”

“Then I’ll give it a try. Are you okay? You seem like you’d sink easily with so little weight.”

“Hehe. No problem. In my younger days, I got pretty close to the Viper of the Yangtze River gang. Swimming is basic.”

Meanwhile, the others began to gather around Yeon Jeokha.

“I’m sorry. This is all my fault,” Yeon Jeokha said, embarrassed.

“It’s not your fault, Young Master Yeon. The ones to blame are those who deceived us,” said Jin Seolha.

“That’s right, Jeokha. Don’t blame yourself. Even the most experienced warriors of Murim can’t always avoid this,” added Namgung Cheon, glancing at Shim Tong for confirmation.

“Yes, what Namgung Cheon says is true. Not even ghosts could have predicted this,” added Shim Tong, glancing toward Namgung Yeon, wondering if she hadn’t known either.

Feeling strange, Shim Tong carefully observed the group. Everyone, from Seolha and the others to the coachman Lee Sa, floated on pieces of wood.

‘Wait, how is Lee Sa okay? He always stayed close to the cart and the horses that have already sunk. Is it just luck?’

At that moment, Namgung Yeon spoke.

“The pirates are approaching. They’ll come underwater to attack us. Those who can’t swim well, stay safe. Lee Sa, stay close to me. Jeokha, don’t think about fighting here. Get to the shore first. Once you’re safe, the pirates will lose interest in us.”

“Understood!” Yeon Jeokha immediately understood. The pirates were after him, so staying would only endanger the others. The best thing he could do to protect them was to reach the shore as quickly as possible.

“I’m going first,” said Yeon Jeokha, beginning to swim clumsily toward the shore.

Splash~.

Shim Tong had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at Yeon Jeokha’s awkward swimming style.

The pirates quickly swimming toward Yeon Jeokha also laughed when they saw him.

It was clear that Yeon Jeokha had no skill in the water.

Fighting in the water is different from fighting on land. No matter how skilled one is, without swimming abilities, they are at a disadvantage.

As the pirates approached, they began to spread out in formation.

Yeon Jeokha continued swimming clumsily toward the shore, paying them no mind.

Finally, the pirates surrounded Yeon Jeokha. Suddenly, the pirate leaders signaled everyone to dive.

Splash~

Yeon Jeokha continued to furiously splash, trying to get closer to the shore.

From the shore, Yang Tae-ho smirked as he watched.

‘He’s finished,’ he thought. Anyone would think the same in that situation.

The pirates would soon tear Yeon Jeokha apart like sharks.

‘I’ll kill that boy and then enjoy the feast I left behind,’ Yang Tae-ho thought, recalling the faces of the women who had come with Yeon Jeokha.

It seemed Shin I-chung thought the same, as he laughed while saying:

“I told them to capture the women alive. I’ll prepare them well and offer them to you tonight, boss.”

“Make sure no one touches them before me,” Yang Tae-ho replied.

“Yes, don’t worry. If anyone dares to touch them before you, I’ll take care of him personally,” promised Shin I-chung, as his words were interrupted by surprise at seeing something unusual.

Yang Tae-ho was also stunned.

As the pirates approached, Yeon Jeokha lightly struck the wooden plank with both palms.

Swoosh.

His submerged body shot out of the water. Then, he tossed his sword into the air and, with a gesture, controlled it to return to his hand.

Shiiing.

Like a bird over the water, Yeon Jeokha flew toward the shore, barely skimming the surface.

The pirates, disbelieving, began to surface one by one.

The pirate leader, Red Haired Demon, was dumbfounded.

“Sword Flight?”

The leader, overwhelmed by what he saw, could barely move as he watched Yeon Jeokha fly away.

The pirates, demoralized, began to retreat slowly.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the river, Shim Tong, Namgung Cheon, Namgung Yeon, and the others fought against the pirates.

The area around Shim Tong, Namgung Cheon, Seolha, and Yu Geunshik was covered in blood and bodies.

In comparison, the area around Namgung Yeon and Jin Seolha was relatively clean.

The pirates focused on the men first, trying to eliminate them before capturing the women.

Despite the pirates’ numerical advantage, many of them quickly fell.

Shim Tong, who had spent time with the Viper of the Yangtze River gang in his youth, was like a fish in water. Namgung Cheon and Yu Geunshik also held their own. In the Justice Alliance, learning to swim was essential due to the frequent clashes with the Yellow River pirates.

With the unexpected casualties, the pirates began to retreat to seek reinforcements.

However, the fight was already over. Other pirates had stopped fighting, frightened by Yeon Jeokha’s abilities.

Yeon Jeokha reached the shore.

Though he managed to land, he couldn’t retrieve his sword due to a lack of internal energy.

“Puuf,” the sword fell to the ground a few meters from him.

Despite being dizzy, Yeon Jeokha straightened up, pretending to be calm while recovering his energy.

Although he was exhausted inside, he remained upright, pretending to be fine.

Yang Tae-ho and Shin I-chung were drenched in sweat, unsure of what to do.

The tense silence lasted for a while.

Finally, Yeon Jeokha’s eyes gleamed intensely.

After several rounds of energy circulation, he had regained his strength.

Yeon Jeokha extended his hand forward.

The sword on the ground returned to his hand like an obedient dog.

Yang Tae-ho’s face contorted.

“Sword Flight and now this... Damn it!”

Sweat trickled down Yang Tae-ho’s forehead. There was no doubt that Yeon Jeokha possessed a legendary-level skill.

However, seeing the despair on Yang Tae-ho’s face, Yeon Jeokha remained firm and extended his hand forward.

“Yang Tae-ho, will you really return to the Yoomyung Cult?”

“Yes, yes. I’m withdrawing immediately,” Yang Tae-ho replied, bowing his head.

“That alone isn’t enough. I need a sign of your repentance.”

Yeon Jeokha looked significantly at Shin I-chung, who paled.

“Understood! Immediately,” Yang Tae-ho drew his sword and, without hesitation, decapitated Shin I-chung, who was too shocked to react.

“I hope this proves my sincerity, sir.”

Yeon Jeokha nodded slowly.

“Good. I hope I never see you again, Yang Tae-ho.”

Yang Tae-ho, relieved, took a step back and shouted to his men to retreat.