1283 — Who Came To Southern Lands Now? (3)

“They’re coming.”

Yeop Wei, deputy leader of the Lower District Sect’s Guangdong branch, murmured meaningfully as he watched the ships approaching the shore.

“Deputy head, so does that mean those Southern Island people are on that ship?”

“It seems so.”

“Heh heh. How ridiculous. All that boasting, and now the ship they took has been hijacked.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What a disgrace.”

Biting laughter spilled out from both sides.

Although it wouldn’t be entirely appropriate to mock those who had been on the same ship, Yeop Wei did not admonish his men. He understood their resentment toward the Ten Thousand People Clan.

‘Just because we’re all under one roof doesn’t mean old resentments vanish overnight.’

Those who had once been called the Shenzhou Five Clans didn’t get along from the very start. But their hostility toward the Ten Thousand People Clan wasn’t born of that alone.

The Lower District Sect is an intelligence organization. Though they run many ventures, they operate primarily on information. That means countless informants move about covertly to gather intelligence.

The Guangdong branch’s original task was to gather intelligence across Guangdong while avoiding the Ten Thousand People Clan’s sharp eye. Many died in that process, and now that they’re on the same side, those grudges don’t just vanish.

Yeop Wei found it easier to tolerate it so long as it didn’t interfere with the mission.

“They barged into Southern Island with such bravado, and now it looks like Guangdong’s been picked clean.”

“Whether Southern Island Sect’s clever or those Ten Thousand People are stupid…”

Of course, neither is true.

Yeop Wei withheld comment and stared intently at the vessels.

It wasn’t Southern Island or the Ten Thousand People Clan who’d caused this situation, but the core figures of the Heavenly Friends Alliance aboard that ship.

Yeop Wei roughly rubbed his lips as if biting them.

The subordinates were blissfully unaware and pleased, but for him it wasn’t something to celebrate. Considering when their trail was last seen on the Yangtze river, the route they must have taken to reach Southern Island was clearly through the Southern lands.

The Lower District Sect, which supposedly controls information across all of Southern lands, had failed to notice the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s key figures crossing the Southern lands. Like sighted blind men.

What if, in this situation, those people were allowed to pass peacefully to the Northern lands?

‘There would surely be calls for someone to take responsibility.’

That’s how blame works. It hardly matters who was more at fault; what matters is whose power among the guilty is weaker.

“If it were the Hegemony Lord, he’d use this as an opportunity.”

As the Pirates and Black Ghost Fort had done, he would surely try to cut off limbs of the Lower District Sect and make them their dogs. That must be stopped at all costs. If they carried this out well, it might even strengthen the Lower District Sect’s standing. Beheading that Mount Hua’s Sword Saint would be a feat unmatched within the Four Sects Alliance.

With a stern face lost in thought, Yeop Wei glanced at the men still cursing the Ten Thousand People Clan.

“If you’ve had your fill of shouting, shut up.”

At his low command, the men fell silent instantly and held their breath.

“Mocking the Ten Thousand People Clan can wait until after the mission. What’s important now isn’t laughing at them but not losing their trail.”

“Don’t worry, deputy leader.”

“Isn’t that our specialty?”

Yeop Wei nodded quietly. Their confidence wasn’t unfounded.

It’s undeniable that the Lower District Sect lags behind the Beggars’ Union in intelligence. How could they possibly match the Beggars’ Union’s reputed hundred-thousand-strong scale?

But that doesn’t make the Lower District Sect inferior as a sect. They have a skill the Beggars’ Union cannot imitate: tracking people and assassination.

‘Assassination, huh.’

If it could be done successfully, it would be ideal. But…

‘It is Impossible.’

Based on the information they’d obtained about Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, an assassination attempt was out of the question. He would never show an opening.

‘But tracking is different.’

No matter how skilled the Heavenly Friends Alliance is, Southern lands is the Evil Sect’s territory. The Lower District Sect wouldn’t lose their trail in here.

Yeop Wei could say with confidence that the failures those men were about to suffer were the price of underestimating the Lower District Sect.

“The incense?”

“Ready.”

The men each drew a small lacquered vial from their robes. Yeop Wei nodded; the vials were red, suggesting they were top-grade.

“Confirm once more.”

“Yes.”

“Following them shouldn’t be hard, but if we let the Heavenly Friends Alliance men mixed among those Southern Island people slip away, it would be an eternal regret.”

“Yes, deputy leader.”

“When they approach the shore, the strike team will risk their lives to get close and apply pursuit incense to their bodies. Once that’s done, even if it’s not Gangnam but hell itself, they won’t shake our pursuit. You understand?”

“Yes!”

A firm reply came. Yeop Wei nodded quietly.

“Good.”

He had no doubt the plan would succeed.

The Guangdong branch he led was essentially the Lower District Sect’s front line. Naturally, his men were the sect’s elite members who’d operated among the Ten Thousand People Clan.

Even if they faced core Heavenly Friends Alliance figures like Mount Hua’s Five Swords, these men weren’t killers of legends; there was no reason they couldn’t accomplish the simple task of applying incense.

And that one incense was enough. The Lower District Sect’s special Thousand Mile Pursuit Incense doesn’t fade for at least ten days once applied.

Agents specially trained can detect its trail from 3 km away. With trained dogs, they can trace the lingering scent for over 15 km.

From here to the Yangtze river is over 850 km. Once the pursuit incense adheres, returning alive would be a dream.

“We’re almost in range.”

“Lower your stance.”

“Yes!”

A sinister chill settled into Yeop Wei’s eyes.

‘If it were a fair, open fight, of course you’d win.’

But this wasn’t that kind of contest. It was a war where any trick that killed the opponent was valid. They were about to learn how vicious the Lower District Sect could be.

Thud!

Rumble!

The ship crashed harshly onto the sandbar.

A faint smile touched Yeop Wei’s lips. They didn’t even have the luxury to dock properly; after all, the Ten Thousand People Clan was right behind them and a cordon lay ahead; there was no time to moor safely.

Yeop Wei clenched and unclenched his fist. Prey that hurried was a good sign. They only needed to track the impatient and close in.

“We wait for them to disembark.”

“Yes!”

Yeop Wei suppressed the rising tension and kept as quiet as possible.

“Come on…”

He stared at the ship without blinking. But…

After a while, someone couldn’t hold back and spoke.

“Uh… they aren’t getting off?”

“That can’t be.”

“No, there’s not even any sign of movement.”

Yeop Wei narrowed his eyes.

‘What’s going on?’

They all held their breath and waited a long time, but no one disembarked from the ship.

“Let’s wait a bit longer. They might have set a trap.”

“…Yes.”

Choosing caution over rash approach, Yeop Wei bit his lip. Still, no trace of people appeared despite watching the ship.

Finally Yeop Wei spoke.

“Gwi Ho.”

“Yes!”

“Check it out.”

“…Understood.”

One of the men rose cautiously and approached the ship as swiftly and quietly as possible, then leapt aboard in an instant.

Yeop Wei watched tensely. After a short while, a loud shout rang out.

“Deputy leader! The ship is empty!”

“…What?”

“There’s no one inside!”

For a moment Yeop Wei was stunned, then he sprang to his feet.

“Empty?”

“Yes!”

He barked out orders quickly.

“Check the other ships! Now!”

“Yes!”

The men behind him ran to the ships in unison. Yeop Wei’s face hardened as he thought.

‘What the hell happened in the ship?’

A plot? No, a scheme presupposes gain. Time was their most valuable asset now; what possible gain could staging this bring?

“No sign!”

“Not here either! All the ships are empty.”

Yeop Wei bit his lip hard.

“So did they fly up into the sky from the ships or what?!”

“B-but they’re really gone! We searched the holds, only traces people were here—no sign of a single soul!”

“This…”

Yeop Wei rushed and leapt onto a deck at full speed. The deck, devoid of any sign of life, exuded a chill. His spine prickled.

‘Damn. This is bad for us.’

This was a mission assigned to the Lower District Sect. They had to make it succeed somehow. No matter how much they protested that Southern Island and the Heavenly Friends Alliance hadn’t been aboard, it would only highlight the sect’s incompetence.

“Search! Find them!”

“Yes?”

“Scatter in all directions! They couldn’t have gotten far.”

“B-but deputy leader!”

“Move instead of talking!”

Yeop Wei snapped loudly.

“They must’ve jumped and dived once they neared the shore. How far could they have gone? They likely landed nearby. Find footprints, look for wet sandbars! Quickly!”

“Ah, okay…”

Pressed by Yeop Wei’s intensity, the man in front went pale. Seeing that, Yeop Wei snapped back to himself and took a deep breath.

“I got too worked up. First, stay calm…”

“Th-that’s not…”

“Hm?”

“Gah!”

Suddenly, blood spurted like a fountain from the man’s parted mouth, dousing Yeop Wei’s face.

Drenched in hot blood, Yeop Wei stared blankly. The man’s once-blue face had turned nearly black.

“…Poison?”

“I-it’s poison!”

“Hold your breath! Damn it, poison has been sprayed on the ship!”

“Get away from here!”

But it was already one step too late.

“Guhk!”

“Ughhhh!”

Those who’d entered the ship vomited blood and collapsed. Their blackened complexions spoke to the grim fate that had befallen them.

“This… ugh!”

Nausea rose in Yeop Wei; he stepped back urgently and drew in his internal energy.

“Bleh!”

The toxin was so potent even Yeop Wei vomited blood for a moment. The outcome for the other men was all too obvious.

Those collapsed on deck convulsed as black foamy blood bubbled out. The horrific sight drained Yeop Wei’s face pale.

“Th-The Heavenly Friends Alliance…”

He who was soaked in blood clenched his teeth.

“Those damn bastards! Aaaaargh!”

A rage-filled scream pierced the sound of the waves, sounding utterly despairing.