Crossing The River Of Years

Whether it was misfortune or good fortune, Go So-jeong’s wish came true. With Yiseong not far ahead, river bandits who ruled the Han River appeared as if they had been waiting. Using two boats, they blocked the passenger ship fore and aft and drew steadily closer.

“Get the passengers into their cabins!”

The sailors sprang into action, flinging open every cabin door and herding people inside. They moved with near–martial precision. The crowd poured in.

But some remained on deck against the crew’s wishes: Wudang swordsmen, and Neung Je-gang’s group.

Taoist Jinmyeong glanced at Neung Je-gang and Majil, head tilted. He had taken them for riffraff, so their calm refusal to retreat puzzled him.

“Unfurl the sails!”

At the captain’s shout, the sailors loosed the sheets in unison, their movements as crisp as trained martial artists.

“The crew moves like they’ve learned martial arts.”

Majil said, watching their bodies flow.

Go So-jeong edged up beside the two.

〔In a situation like this, can’t we acknowledge each other?〕

〔Heh—sounds like you’re pleased this happened. Not yet. We may not need to act.〕

As Go So-jeong drew near, Neung Je-gang tugged Majil and shifted aside.

Go So-jeong bit her lip.

〔We’ll have to act. Don’t count on Wudang. Except for Taoist Jinmyeong, they’re all first-timers. A mere dozen of them can’t handle Han River bandits. These are men who dare raid with Wudang nearby—meaning they’re stronger than you think.〕

She clearly meant to prod Neung Je-gang into making a move.

〔If they realize Wudang Taoists are aboard, they may back off. Being this near to Wudang makes people cautious.〕

〔We’ll see.〕

The urge to slug Neung Je-gang for never yielding a word tormented her.

In any case, the passenger captain clearly had no intention of surrendering. The ship’s speed surged. The bandit boat astern fell rapidly behind.

But the boat blocking their bow was the problem. At this rate they would collide. Even Neung Je-gang, bold as he was, reflexively squeezed his eyes shut before the looming impact.

“Aaah!”

“Immeasurable Life Buddha!”

Go So-jeong screamed with eyes closed. The Wudang Taoists pressed their palms and chanted “Immeasurable Life Buddha,” ready to launch into the air at the instant of impact.

Shaa—

The two boats did not collide. The bandit craft veered aside at the last moment.

As the passenger ship charged in at great speed, the bandits, in far greater panic, scrambled to swing their bow away.

“Ho—this captain is remarkable.”

Admiration slipped out. Everyone cherished life, but the captain proved bolder and steadier than the bandits.

“Waaah!”

The sailors gathered and roared, jubilant as if they had already defeated the bandits.

But the affair wasn’t over. The two bandit boats, pride stung, bellied their sails and came swooping after them.

On deck, the onlookers clustered at the stern to watch the approach. With sails spread and oars pulling, the bandit boats rapidly overhauled the heavier passenger ship.

“Damn! I thought they’d quit…”

The captain appeared, spitting his words.

Yiseong lay near. If they reached it, they could claim to have shaken pursuit.

But the bandits were not giving up. They might even attack after the ship docked.

“Everyone—prepare for battle!”

At the order, the crew rushed off and returned with weapons and bows. Far off, the bandit boats were nocking fire-arrows.

“Disciples—help the crew block those arrows!”

The Wudang swordsmen surged forward, drew their blades, and set up behind the sailors. The tense crew breathed easier at the sight.

“Can we dock at Yiseong?”

Neung Je-gang went to the captain. If they couldn’t stop there, the boat ride would have been pointless.

“I don’t think so. Nearly ramming them seems to have pricked their pride. If we dock at Yiseong, they may harry not only our ship but the townsfolk. We’ll go on to Zhongxiang. That lies in another bandit faction’s waters; we can avoid trouble there.”

It was exactly the answer Neung Je-gang least wanted. He moved to Majil’s side, thinking hard.

“Majil!”

“Yes?”

“How far did you train throwing skills?”

“When did I have time to train?”

Neung Je-gang nodded. He hadn’t expected much—he had taught him, after all. He would have to act himself.

“Fine. Make two of the biggest fireballs you can.”

“Why?”

“To throw at the bandit boats.”

“They’ll burn up.”

“Why else throw fire—so they won’t burn? Hurry.”

“Yep! Got it.”

Majil drew up True Fire Energy and formed a fireball in each hand.

“When I say throw, lob them one by one.”

“Yes!”

“But… are they big enough to stop that boat?”

He worried—the fireballs looked smaller than he’d hoped.

“Boss, they scatter on impact. More useful than they look.”

Just then, Go So-jeong came up behind them.

“So we’re resorting to force?”

“If we can’t dock at Yiseong, we’ve no choice. We’ll have to take out the bandit boats.”

“How can he make fireballs like that? Is that the Blazing Flame Master’s art?”

“Master, my foot. Majil swallowed a Fire Carp inner core the wrong way and ended up with this trick.”

He couldn’t reveal True Fire Energy; otherwise Majil would be hunted for life.

“Ho, really?”

Go So-jeong watched, fascinated—not the fireballs, but Majil holding them.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, the flames swelled a little.

“Strange things always happen around Secret Shadow. Women turn into men, and now you make fire… What’s next?”

“You already know.”

“Know what?”

“That even a foul-tempered woman has grown meek. Throw it!”

Firing a shot at Go So-jeong, Neung Je-gang barked at Majil. The bandit boat had drawn within bowshot.

Majil promptly hurled one fireball high into the air.

Whooo—

Everyone’s eyes tracked it skyward. It blazed as if it might ignite the passenger ship’s own sail.

“Whoa!”

Sailors groaned—if the sail caught fire, they were finished.

At that moment, Neung Je-gang sprang up; with one hand he caught the man-torso-sized fireball—or rather, it was sucked into his palm. A few on deck saw a fierce glow burst from the flame.

“Go!”

Kwak-kwak-kwak-kwakk!

The fireball shot into the deck of the nearest bandit boat and buried itself.

“Scatter!”

“Don’t panic! It’s nothing!”

Chaos erupted aboard the bandits’ craft. Preparing fire-arrows had left flammables scattered everywhere. Some tried to shoot the fireball down; others grabbed water buckets.

KWA-ANG!

On impact, the fireball did not scatter. It punched through the deck and detonated below.

“Aaagh! We’re sinking!”

In an instant, the boat heeled sharply. Bandits hurled themselves into the water.

Being bandits, they swam and dived like adepts; none thrashed for help. But some, caught in the whirlpool of the sinking hull, waved once and vanished.

“Throw!”

Neung Je-gang shouted again, already streaking back through the air to the ship.

“Ah…!”

Startled from his trance by the spectacle, Majil flung the second fireball skyward. Again it climbed high, menacing the sail.

Whooo—

But this time, it wasn’t Neung Je-gang who leapt after it. For reasons of his own, Taoist Jinmyeong kicked off the deck and soared.

“Waaah!”

The young Wudang swordsmen cheered, thinking their sect elder would mirror Secret Shadow’s marvel.

Jinmyeong stretched his palm toward the flame. As before, the fireball drew into his hand—Wudang’s Cloud-Walking Art blending exquisitely with Taechung Rivers-and-Mountains.

“Aaagh!”

But the fire did not fly at the remaining bandit boat. The scream ripped from Jinmyeong’s throat.

His mistake was taking this for ordinary fire. The flame, born of True Fire, leapt to his robe, racing across his body. He plunged straight into the river.

How fortunate they were over water. Anywhere else, he might have become a handful of ash.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Neung Je-gang clicked his tongue. Serves him right for trying to snatch the credit.

In shameless fashion, the Wudang Taoists on deck swung their blades—not to save a drowning man, but as if Neung Je-gang or Majil had tricked him. Some leveled swords at Majil, others at Neung Je-gang.

“Instead of rescuing the man in the water, you pick a fight with the wrong people.”

At least the remaining bandit boat broke off the chase—whether deciding one boat had no chance, or turning to save their own men.

Jinmyeong was hauled out alive. The hand that had touched True Fire was so mangled he might never hold a sword again.

Half his hair was singed away; one side of his face was lightly seared and warped. Had he been a common man rather than a master, he might have died.

Whatever Jinmyeong said, the Wudang swordsmen sheathed their blades. Since the fault lay with them, they could hardly press the matter.

Had they persisted, they might all have become corpses under Neung Je-gang’s hand—he didn’t think kindly of Wudang to begin with.

Unable to ignore it, Go So-jeong examined Jinmyeong’s condition.

“Lady Go, do you know who those two are?”

He could still talk; that was his first question.

“You mean those two?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t say. For now, I’ll only tell you they’re not the bad sort. If you’re that curious, ask them yourself—though they may not answer… Also, don’t lay hands on other people’s things next time.”

Go So-jeong seemed to be turning into Neung Je-gang; with that jab, she returned to Neung Je-gang and Majil.

“I’m disappointed in Wudang.”

She said frankly what she thought of Jinmyeong’s showboating.

“Wudang has long survived—and prospered—by pleasing the powers that be. It’s a habit now. Today’s mess may have happened because of you.”

“Because of me? What did I do?”

“Who aboard is worth impressing? Only you—the Investigation Unit Chief’s daughter. Don’t you think?”

“Me? Why impress me?”

“Not you; but through you, your father. The Investigation Unit Chief ranks fifth in the Alliance. Some may think currying favor could win them a post.”

“Heh! As if my father would pick people that way. Not a chance.”

She snorted. If he were like that, she wouldn’t respect him.

As planned, the ship docked at Yiseong. Neung Je-gang’s party finally set foot on land; otherwise they might have been swept far past their goal.

Upon arrival, they ran again—this time even Majil on his own feet, because they were now on the well-made official road.

Keeping Majil’s pace, Go So-jeong, at least, could run gracefully and at ease.

After three days of that, they reached Jingzhou, with the Yangtze blocking the way. They ferried across, crossed several more rivers, and reached Ye County in Hunan, where they spent the night.

“From here, we buy a carriage.”

Neung Je-gang decided.

“Oh? What’s this? I thought we were in a hurry.”

Go So-jeong’s eyes widened.

“Not long ago, the Necromancer Cult branches in Hunan were purged.”

“I remember—Xinhua and Shaoyang.”

“My guess is those were decoys to muddy the trail. The real base remains.”

“How can you be sure?”

“From what I heard at Taepyeong Pavilion. In any case, sprinting along the official road is dangerous.”

“Then don’t take the official road.”

“Hunan is riddled with Miao and Hui settlements—especially south and west. Frankly, I’d rather fight the Necromancer Cult than them.”

“Why? Are you afraid of them?”

“I am.”

“……?”

For the great Secret Shadow to fear a few minority clans—Go So-jeong stared. The Hui and Miao hardly practiced proper martial arts.

But his next words made her nod.

“Cultists throw themselves at you madly until they die; those people fight to the death with clear minds—until either we all die or they all do.”

“……!”

Clans that did not stop attacking short of annihilation. She had never faced them, but she had heard the tales.

“So, a carriage along the official road.”

Go So-jeong had no reason to object. Majil, spared from running, had none either.

Still thinking of the poor girl waiting at Kuaiji Mountain for Neung Je-gang—and the crystal—Go So-jeong added,

“Even so, lightness would be faster…”

Grin—

Neung Je-gang flashed her a bright smile. Why he smiled like that, she could not tell.

Thump-thump.

But the aftershock was huge. Go So-jeong’s face flushed. Her heart raced, then faster still—so fast it felt like her chest might burst.

So-jeong, So-jeong! Get a hold of yourself. You know that face isn’t real. Don’t fall for the fake again. Attention!

She hurried to recall the real face she had glimpsed once.

Wait—what did he look like?

Strangely, the true face would not come. Even the one she had seen through the steam at Huaqing Pool would not surface.

“Aaagh!”

She clutched her head and writhed, unaware that Neung Je-gang and Majil were staring wide-eyed.

“Boss, maybe she has epilepsy. Poor thing…”

“Does that look like epilepsy to you? She’s not even foaming at the mouth.”

“Then what—some crazy-lady fit?”

“You like Lady Go and you talk like that?”

“Seeing that, I’m starting to doubt if I should keep liking her.”

“I can see why. Tough luck, Majil.”

“Better to learn now. Boss, let’s go buy a carriage.”

Leaving Go So-jeong behind, Neung Je-gang and Majil went to purchase horses and a carriage.

‘Why did I forget?’

After they were gone, Go So-jeong calmed down and wondered why she had forgotten his true face.

There was only one answer: she had grown used to the mask from seeing it constantly.

The problem was that her heart had raced at the fake smile. It still was.

“This can’t be. Why would I like a jerk like him? I know he doesn’t like me. Am I going to fall apart over one smile? Go So-jeong, is this all you are? Huh? Like Father said, will you just fall for anyone?”

Muttering to herself, she paced circles around the inn room.

She had known he didn’t like her—ever since Huaqing Pool, when, through the steam, he shot her a cold look and ordered her out. She had sworn to kill him then; fondness had turned to hatred.

That look had been terrifying.

Then, on Songshan that day, she abandoned her murderous intent—not because she owed him her life, but because, even as he treated her, he looked at her naked body as one might at a stray puppy to be cared for.

So in the Ice Vault, though his face had changed, she recognized him at once: that gaze without a speck of lust as she trained naked.

He felt nothing for her—beyond liking or hating.

So she had tried to feel nothing in return—or believed she did.

How could one smile make her crumble?

‘Well, that’s my heart.’

She tried to still the pounding and smother the strange feeling, but it was never going to be easy.

In the end, she gave up. She would let her heart go where it pleased.

‘When I see his real face again, this will pass.’

The easiest way. No need to force forgetting; if not, she would just ask him to show it once.

He’s shown it before; he won’t refuse. But where did those two go, leaving me alone?

Unaware that her own outburst had driven them out, she decided she was being shunned again—and felt pointlessly sad.

‘Oh, So-jeong! What are you doing…’

She suddenly felt like crying.