Chapter v15c12

The moon was absent on this moonless night, but the stars shone with dazzling brilliance. Even the sea seemed to shimmer with starlight, its dark surface sparkling like a scattering of pearls.

The *Black Sea Wind* lay at anchor on this shimmering expanse of black silk.

“Hey, Spot, what’s that?”

Do-gok, asked.

“I… I don’t know, Boss.”

Spot, whose real name was Mak-pung, scratched his head.

Smack!

A fist connected with his head, as expected.

“It’s ‘Admiral’!”

Do-gok roared, emphasizing each syllable. Mak-pung’s jaw dropped.

“They’re back already? They’re fast. But why are they back so soon? Don’t tell me Gwang-hae’s slacking off.”

Gwang-hae, the raiding party leader, had begged Do-gok to let him handle this mission, so Do-gok had stayed behind on the main ship. He trusted Gwang-hae, and he wanted to give him a chance to prove himself. He needed to groom his successor, and that meant giving him plenty of experience. If he knew that Gwang-hae had betrayed him without hesitation, he would be furious.

He squinted at the approaching longboat. It was moving incredibly fast.

“They’re really moving! Since when did my men become such good rowers…?”

But he trailed off, his words dying in his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Boom! … Boom! … Boom!

A series of explosions shattered the silence of the night, sending plumes of white water high into the air.

“Wh-What’s that? Cannon fire?”

He ducked instinctively, his eyes darting around frantically. But there were no warships in sight. The lazy navy wouldn’t be patrolling at this hour. And even if they were, they wouldn’t be out here on a moonless night. They didn’t know these waters well enough.

The explosions were coming from the longboat.

“Wh-What is that thing?”

“I… I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure, our brave and valiant pirates don’t move like that. They’re too stealthy.”

“Get Jung-gwang!”

Do-gok shouted.

“Aye-aye, Boss!”

He decided to let this one slide. Mak-pung ran below deck, and Jung-gwang, who had been reading a book, emerged, his face creased with concern.

“What’s going on, Boss?”

‘They’re all doing it on purpose! They’re deliberately disobeying me!’

He emphasized the word “Boss” with extra force. But this wasn’t the time to argue. He pointed at the approaching longboat.

Jung-gwang pulled out a telescope (a souvenir from a previous raid) and peered through it. It was a moonless night, but the starlight was enough to illuminate the scene.

His jaw dropped.

Boom! … Boom! … Boom!

The longboat surged forward with every explosion, its speed incredible. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang’s hand and looked through it himself. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

There was only one person on board. A young boy. He was standing at the stern, his back straight, his arms outstretched. With every push, the boat shot forward like a dolphin. He was even holding an oar, as if to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

“What should we do, Boss?”

Damn it! He would rip his tongue out one day. Do-gok issued his orders.

“All hands battle stations! This ship is going into combat!”

Jung-gwang repeated the order.

“Aye-aye, Boss! This ship is going into combat, Boss! All hands battle stations, Boss!”

‘Can’t they see I’m busy? Grrr!’

The veins on Do-gok’s forehead throbbed. He made no effort to hide his annoyance.

“Hey, Seagull!”

Jung-gwang winced at the use of his old nickname, but he maintained his composure.

“Yes, Boss? Do you need anything else?”

“You’re being deliberately insubordinate.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Boss!”

Jung-gwang said, feigning ignorance.

“Fine! We’ll settle this later!”

He had more important things to worry about right now.

“A wise decision, Boss!”

Jung-gwang agreed. Do-gok shouted,

“Lights on! Full illumination!”

The deck lights had been extinguished to maintain stealth. But darkness, while useful for concealment, was not ideal for combat.

The deck was flooded with light.

“Archers, to the port side! The rest of you, grab whatever bows you can find! Load the crossbows! Prepare the nets! Something’s coming! Shoot it! Sink it! Send it to the bottom of the sea! Fish food!”

Do-gok roared, his voice filled with a primal fear. His instincts were rarely wrong.

The deck erupted in activity. His orders were obeyed swiftly and efficiently. They were a well-oiled machine, a testament to their reputation as one of the most successful pirate crews in the South Sea.

The archers took their positions, the crossbows were loaded, the arrows nocked. There were still over fifty men on board. He hadn’t sent many ashore, because a large force would only attract attention.

“Ready, Boss!”

The reports came in from all over the ship. Do-gok’s blood pressure rose with every report.

“You idiots! It’s ‘Admiral’! ‘Admiral’!”

He couldn’t believe he had entrusted his ship to these fools. He felt a surge of despair.

He resolved to retrain them after this was over.

Jung-gwang ignored his captain’s outburst and issued his own orders.

“Hold your fire! Wait until it’s within range! Don’t waste your arrows! We need to conserve our ammunition! Two ranks, alternating fire!”

He was a capable commander, his orders clear and concise. He raised his right hand, signaling them to hold.

The longboat entered their range. The pirates waited, their mouths dry, their hearts pounding.

The boy pushed off the water twice, and the boat surged forward, closing the distance rapidly.

“Fire!”

Jung-gwang lowered his hand, and a volley of arrows and crossbow bolts arced through the air, their trajectory illuminated by the starlight. They were like a swarm of sharks, drawn to the scent of blood.

Eunmyeong, standing on the longboat, spun his oar like a windmill, deflecting the incoming projectiles. The wind generated by the spinning oar created a vortex that sent the arrows flying in all directions.

“Do you think you can stop a martial artist with ordinary arrows? How amusing.”

He murmured, his face expressionless.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang exchanged glances, their faces grim. Their first attack had failed.

“Damn it, he’s a martial artist! And a strong one! Arrows are useless. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it!”

Jung-gwang was right. Ordinary arrows, without internal energy, were only effective against weaker opponents. Against a master, they were useless.

“Load the Gale Bolts!”

Three massive crossbows were aimed at the longboat. They were loaded with heavy bolts, designed to pierce the hulls of ships. They could sink a small wooden boat like that in one shot. And even a master martial artist wouldn’t be able to block them with his bare hands.

“Fire!”

The bolts shot through the air, their trajectory marked by a trail of smoke. One missed. The second one he deflected with his oar, the impact jarring his arm.

Boom!

The third bolt struck the bow of the longboat, punching a hole through the wood. The impact sent Eunmyeong flying through the air.

“We got him! Yes!”

Do-gok and Jung-gwang cheered, embracing each other. But their celebration was short-lived. They watched in disbelief as the boy, instead of sinking beneath the waves, ran across the surface of the water towards them.

“He’s a demon!”

Some of the pirates shouted, their faces pale with terror. A man running on water! It was beyond their comprehension.

But Do-gok and Jung-gwang knew better. They were both skilled martial artists. But not all martial artists were created equal. There were levels of skill.

And the gap between them and the approaching figure was vast, unbridgeable.

“W-Water Walking Technique! Th-That’s impossible! It’s just a legend!”

Do-gok stammered, his face contorted in disbelief.

“Shoot him! Shoot him! Don’t let him get on board!”

He roared at his men, but he knew it was futile. Gwang-hae and his men were gone. The reaper was coming for them.

The pirates fired their arrows, but it was no use. The boy, running across the water as if it were solid ground, deflected and dodged the incoming projectiles, closing the distance rapidly. He reached the bow of the ship.

Boom!

A geyser of water erupted, thirty feet high, and Eunmyeong landed on the deck.

The spray from the geyser rained down on the deck, but Eunmyeong’s clothes were dry.

“Wh-Who… who are you?”

Do-gok stammered.

“The reaper.”

Eunmyeong replied, his voice flat.

“Resist, and you die. Surrender, and you die. Choose.”

He was death incarnate.

“Let’s surrender! We’re going to die anyway!”

Jung-gwang whispered urgently to Do-gok. It was the only logical choice. But Do-gok had lost his mind.

“Do you think that monster will spare us? Men, attack! Kill him!”

He roared, but his words were met with silence. His men didn’t move.

“What are you waiting for? Attack! Attack!”

But they remained frozen in place, as if paralyzed.

They knew, instinctively, that to attack this boy was to invite death. Their instincts had taken over, their bodies refusing to obey.

Jung-gwang, who had been watching silently, placed a hand on Do-gok’s shoulder. It was an unprecedented act of insubordination.

Do-gok turned to look at him, his face questioning.

“It can’t be helped, Boss. I, Jung-gwang, am humbled by your courage!”

He said solemnly, his voice trembling with emotion.

“What are you talking about?”

Jung-gwang didn’t answer. There was no need.

“I’ll cover your retreat, Boss! Farewell!”

“Grrr! You… you keep calling me Boss… Boss…”

But Do-gok’s angry words were cut short. He watched in disbelief as Jung-gwang turned and leaped overboard.

‘Where did he get that courage?’

Inspired by Jung-gwang’s bravery, the other pirates followed suit, throwing down their weapons and jumping into the sea. Some even had the foresight to grab a barrel or two for flotation.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Water erupted all around the ship. Eunmyeong didn’t stop them.

“Wise men. And brave. But how many of them will survive?”

The water was cold, even in the South Sea. If they didn’t reach land within three hours, they would likely die of hypothermia. Or drown from exhaustion. Most of them would die. Only a few would survive. It was up to fate to decide who lived and who died.

“Th-This can’t be…”

Do-gok stood there, trembling, his face a mask of despair. Eunmyeong tossed a sword at his feet. The blade quivered as it embedded itself in the deck.

“Will you abandon your ship and join them?”

He asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous! A captain never abandons his ship. Only those who are willing to share their fate with their ship are worthy of the title of captain.”

He might be a pirate, but he was a sailor to the core.

“I admire your courage. If you choose to end your own life, I will spare your body.”

His voice was devoid of emotion. The sword was clearly intended for suicide.

“Don’t underestimate me! I won’t die at the hands of a milk-drinker like you!”

Do-gok drew his saber and charged at Eunmyeong, roaring like a wild beast.

“Fool!”

Eunmyeong sidestepped his attack effortlessly. It was as if he were a gentle breeze.

Thwack!

A sliver of silver light flashed through the air.

Their positions reversed in an instant.

“You can’t escape me this time!”

Do-gok shouted, turning to face him. But Eunmyeong didn’t move. He didn’t even turn around.

“Wh-What’s with that arrogant attitude? Are you ignoring me?”

But Eunmyeong didn’t answer. There was no need.

“I have nothing to say to a dead man.”

Do-gok’s remaining eye widened in horror.

Creak!

A grating sound, like rusty hinges, came from behind him.

The main mast, the tallest mast on the ship, was slowly tilting to one side.

Its base had been severed cleanly, as if by a razor-sharp blade. It was collapsing.

Do-gok’s eye stopped twitching. His mouth, which had been half-open, froze. A thin red line appeared on his neck.

Eunmyeong closed his eyes.

A geyser of blood erupted from Do-gok’s neck, staining the white sail crimson. His body slumped to the deck, lifeless.

The captain of the Black Sea Wind, the man who preferred to be called “Admiral,” the One-Eyed King, Do-gok, was dead.

“Fool! It would have been easier to kill yourself…”

Eunmyeong raised his right hand, and a white light emanated from it, like a sword aura. It was a Hand Sword.

He thrust his hand downward.

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the ship. A large hole appeared beneath his feet, extending all the way down to the keel. Seawater poured in. He had punched a hole through the bottom of the ship with a single blow.

“Our… our ship… our Black Sea Wind… is sinking…”

Jung-gwang, who was treading water nearby, said in a daze. The other pirates who had jumped overboard were equally stunned.

They had lost their home.

“The reaper… he was the reaper… the reaper…”

Jung-gwang murmured, his voice filled with awe.

The name “Black Sea Wind” was never heard again in the South Sea.