Chapter 82

He had complete confidence in fighting those guys. But how ridiculous and shabby would he look to others if he fought while retching? He looked around and slowly retreated towards Nam Gang-ryong, who was showing Buddha's compassion to the river bandits.

"Oh, Devotee Baek. Your face looks terrible. Are you alright?"

Nam Gang-ryong asked worriedly while roughly caressing the enemy with his blood-stained fists. The fact that he was dealing with the river bandits using only the most basic Six Harmonies Fist showed that Nam Gang-ryong was also incredibly skilled. At this level, he must have been a promising disciple ranked among the best even at Shaolin Temple. Cheong-ra took a deep breath and answered with difficulty,

"Today, the seasickness is... too severe."

Having observed what Nam Gang-ryong was doing, Cheong-ra sheathed his sword and instead gripped the sheathed sword in his hand as he spoke. Then he began to mercilessly beat the fearlessly charging river bandits. It was much more bearable now that blood wasn't splattering everywhere.

Soon, men with broken bones were crawling on the floor, groaning all around. Before long, they were reduced to fleeing from Nam Gang-ryong and Cheong-ra, but the two easily dealt with them one by one. As Cheong-ra was looking at his dirtied scabbard with a frown, a heart-rending scream rang out. He quickly turned his head and his eyes widened.

The Sea Dragon King was now wailing, clutching his severed right arm. He fled on his knees, begging for mercy. Amidst the blood splattered everywhere, as Dang Ran-yeong swung the short sword in his hand, the other arm was also cut off.

Even for a criminal who had taken countless innocent lives, it was too merciless an act to show to an opponent who had already lost the will to fight. Nam Gang-ryong sighed, chanting Buddha's name.

"Amitabha, Lord Owner Dang has been possessed by an evil spirit again."

Nam Gang-ryong was right. Dang Ran-yeong was exuding a chilling atmosphere just like at the Hengshan Sect last time. The bright smile spread across his face seemed out of place. The trembling of his long, well-defined eyes in pleasure was clearly visible even from here.

"A dragon, you say?"

Dang Ran-yeong mocked his opponent in a pleasant voice. Then the short sword plunged into the Sea Dragon King's throat. The river bandits, seeing their leader brutally murdered, recoiled in shock.

"If you're a dragon, how can it be so easy to cut off your head? How disappointing..."

Soon, with a thud, the Sea Dragon King's massive body fell to the floor. But Dang Ran-yeong didn't stop there. Immediately, agonizing screams filled the pirate ship. As he brutally killed the fleeing river bandits first, the enraged bandits attacked recklessly in desperation. Naturally, no one could inflict even a slight wound on him. It was a one-sided battle.

"Oh, my..."

A guard who had been watching the merchant group owner's brutal slaughter tried to say something but closed his mouth with a shocked expression. The river bandits watching what was happening on their ship swallowed hard with fear-filled faces and began to surrender one by one.

No one could easily stop Dang Ran-yeong, so they either watched or turned away and ignored it. However, seeing Dang Ran-yeong like this, Cheong-ra couldn't just stand by.

'This... is wrong. This shouldn't be happening.'

No matter how much those opponents deserved to die, killing them so brutally like this went against principles. Not ending their lives swiftly but enjoying their fear and pain was excessive cruelty beyond what was necessary.

Cheong-ra looked around and spotted a dagger dropped by one of the river bandits. He picked it up and drew his arm back. Then he threw it with all his might. The dagger flew straight towards Dang Ran-yeong's head. Though he hadn't learned throwing techniques, this much wasn't difficult.

Dang Ran-yeong caught the dagger flying towards his head with his fingers without even looking. Although it wasn't an attack meant to kill in the first place, it was still blocked too easily. Fortunately, it was enough to catch the other's attention. As Dang Ran-yeong slowly turned his head to look, those around gasped.

As an intense gaze was immediately directed at him, chilling goosebumps ran all over Cheong-ra's body.

When Dang Ran-yeong's attack stopped, the few surviving river bandits seized the opportunity and threw themselves into the rough waters of the Yellow River one by one. They thought that was better than staying on the ship. Dang Ran-yeong threw flying daggers at each of them, determined to complete the slaughter to the end, then turned around.

His steps on the iron chain connecting to the enemy ship were as if he were walking on flat ground. As he returned, the guards became very tense. Befitting the well-disciplined members of the merchant group, they didn't retreat, but their fearful faces were evident.

'Perhaps that's why the merchant group's discipline is so well maintained.'

While they were afraid, none of them acted as if this was their first time seeing it, suggesting they had witnessed the merchant group owner's cruelty before.

Cheong-ra was equally scared, but he didn't show it outwardly. Anyway, apart from being afraid, he was certain that Dang Ran-yeong wouldn't kill him. This was different from trust. Separate from his cruel methods, acting without reason and indiscriminately harming friend and foe alike didn't suit this man who exuded such a mountain-like presence.

As Dang Ran-yeong crossed back over, dripping with blood, Head Guard Yang swallowed hard. Only then did he cross over to the enemy ship with the guards to clean up.

"You dare throw a dagger at me?"

Dang Ran-yeong asked with a sneer, looking every bit like a rakshasa. Cheong-ra tried to say something but hesitated and stepped back.

"What, are you scared now?"

Dang Ran-yeong asked, his eyes gleaming as if hoping the other would fear him. But Cheong-ra hadn't stepped back out of fear.

"No, it's dirty and smelly...!"

He cried out involuntarily, shuddering. The seasickness he had momentarily forgotten came rushing back. As he hurriedly retreated far away, Dang Ran-yeong burst into laughter watching him.

"Not getting a single drop of blood on yourself, being so fastidious even when fighting..."

But then he abruptly stopped laughing and looked at the river bandits collapsed on the deck. They were the ones who had their bones broken instead of losing their lives thanks to Nam Gang-ryong and Cheong-ra.

Meeting that gaze, the river bandits trembled violently, holding their breath as if they had seen a tiger, unable even to groan. Some even wet themselves. As Nam Gang-ryong quietly blocked their view, Dang Ran-yeong turned his head with an indifferent expression. Only then did the murderous aura surrounding him disappear.

"Get rid of those guys quickly."

"Yes, Lord Owner!"

The guards who answered swiftly began to gather and tie up the river bandits. Dang Ran-yeong took off his upper garment soaked in blood and threw it away on the spot. He brought a water container filled with water and poured it over himself, washing off the blood on his body.

Cheong-ra, unable to endure any longer, returned to the cabin. Only then could he retch to his heart's content. Fortunately, his stomach was completely empty, so nothing came up.

Though he had faced low-level opponents, a battle was still a battle. After barely suppressing his nausea while cleaning his bloodied scabbard and sword blade, he no longer had the energy to sit up and collapsed straight onto the bed.

Perhaps because the seasickness had lasted too long, now a throbbing headache began to set in. As he was holding his hot, feverish head and groaning, he heard a voice.

"You should be getting used to the seasickness by now."

Cheong-ra, who hadn't sensed any presence, was startled. As always, Dang Ran-yeong had approached silently and was quietly looking down at him.

"Please, make some noise...!"

As he snapped angrily, his headache worsened. Seeing Cheong-ra collapse with his head buried in the blanket, Dang Ran-yeong rummaged in his bosom and tossed over a black pill wrapped in oiled paper. Cheong-ra caught it and looked at the other with a dubious gaze.

"Eat it. It will relieve your headache."

"What kind of poison is this?"

"Do you think I only carry poisons just because I'm from the Tang Clan? I also carry ordinary painkillers and wound medicine. They're even more effective than what's available in the market."

Cheong-ra hesitated, then put the pill in his mouth and chewed. Enduring the bitter taste, he swallowed, and after a moment, his headache began to subside. Feeling sorry for doubting the other's kindness, Cheong-ra expressed his gratitude politely.

"Thank you. It's really effective."

"Don't mention it. I came back in the middle of fighting because of you, Beauty, so you need to take responsibility for what I couldn't finish. It would be troublesome if you're lying sick."

"...What?"

Cheong-ra, dumbfounded, stopped lying down and sat up abruptly. Come to think of it, Dang Ran-yeong still hadn't properly dressed. He seemed to have returned just after roughly washing off the blood with water. Recalling what Dang Ran-yeong had done to him so far, Cheong-ra's face turned pale.

"No, I'm... in really bad shape right now..."

Being whipped, punched in the stomach, choked, suffocated, suffering from unbearable itching... Though it was sadistic, it would be a lie to say he hadn't found pleasure in each of those acts. If it had only been painful, how could he have been so drawn to the other?

However, in his current state of severe seasickness, each of those acts would be unbearable.

"Maybe later, when we get off the ship..."

As he mumbled a response, preparing to flee the cabin at any moment, Dang Ran-yeong casually threw out,

"Shall I make you forget about your seasickness?"

At those words, Cheong-ra couldn't help but be very tempted. Even though it was clear the other would do something severe to him, the seasickness was so terrible that he hesitated and then asked,

"...How?"

His voice came out desperately eager without him realizing it, showing just how much the seasickness had been tormenting him.