episode_0133

133. Duckweed.

One of the Sword Grandmasters shouted.

“Shaolin!”

The pillar and root of the White Path. And the location of the Murim Alliance!

Even influential Black Path forces wouldn’t dare operate in Henan. That’s how immense Henan’s reputation was.

The Black King surveyed the astonished crowd and chuckled softly.

“Why are you all so surprised? Everyone should have at least one Great Revival Pill before they die, right?”

“······.”

Silence lingered. The Sword Grandmaster who had shouted earlier was gaping. He wanted to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.

When everyone became mute, Sima Han said with a sulky face.

“What’s the problem? We’re bound to clash with Shaolin in an all-out war anyway. Weren’t you prepared for that? How ridiculous.”

It was a valid point. Still, knowing it in your head was different from hearing it directly.

Fear began to creep into their hearts. Hearing the names Shaolin and Alliance Leader, few Black Path men would remain unaffected.

“Hehehe, look here, Black King. It seems you only have cowards among your underlings. Or are Boar and Monkey at least better?”

Some martial artists’ faces turned red. Someone grumbled.

“Even if he is a Sage, he’s too arrogant······.”

It was a very soft voice. Yohan and Sarah didn’t even hear it properly. However, the Black King and the Sage were different.

Without even turning his head, the Sage reached out. Something blue-green flew out.

Crack-

“Kuaaaak!”

The object was a celadon. An object used for drinking tea or water.

The Black King’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Shut your trap. Next time, it’ll be a sword.”

“Heup······.”

The man, bleeding from his forehead, quickly covered his mouth.

Soon, a faint smell of urine wafted through the air. Sima Han playfully pinched his nose. He was already smirking.

“Hey. Someone get that guy some white cloth for his crotch. Still wet behind the ears.”

“······.”

No one laughed. They had witnessed the Sage’s outstanding martial prowess.

Yohan and Sarah were special cases; most martial artists didn’t know the Sage’s level.

‘I didn’t even see it.’

‘As expected, an old monster from the Sima clan······.’

At the same time, a small hope also arose. If they were with someone so powerful, wouldn’t they be able to defeat Shaolin and the Alliance Leader?

The Black King roughly noticed that atmosphere.

‘Not bad. Was it intentional?’

Sima Han was munching on refreshments with a mischievous smile.

Judging by appearances alone, he didn’t seem to have deep schemes. However, he was an old monster who had lived a long time.

What you see isn’t everything. Just like the Alliance Leader.

“Chief Strategist Shim. Explain the plan.”

“Yes.”

When the Black King called, an old man with a long, white beard reaching his chest slowly approached.

Tap, tap. He was walking with a cane. His appearance, wearing plain glasses, was intellectual.

He was the Black King Fortress’s Chief Strategist.

“We are aiming for Gansu, and in order to succeed, one condition must be met beforehand.”

The Chief Strategist cleared his throat once.

“Not getting caught that all forces are aiming for Gansu. That is important.”

“Doesn’t seem like an easy task?”

When Sima Han asked, the Chief Strategist nodded as if it were obvious.

The Chief Strategist’s cane pointed at Yohan.

“······?”

“Originally, we were going to receive help from the Sect Leader······. But this strategy was already used when invading Sichuan. Unfortunately, it’s rejected.”

‘Then what are we supposed to do?’

Everyone except the Black King thought so.

The martial artists here were well aware of the episode where Yohan’s group invaded Sichuan.

They dug tunnels and moved secretly, succeeding in a perfect surprise attack. A method they couldn’t even imagine.

Secretly, they had thought it might happen again this time······. But it seemed not.

“Perhaps, are you aware that the Yellow River passes through Qinghai and then Gansu?”

“The Yellow River?”

There was no way they wouldn’t know. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The two largest rivers in the Central Plains.

It was a bit inferior to the Yangtze River, but still a sufficiently large river.

The Chief Strategist pushed up his glasses with his wrinkled fingers. The old man chuckled softly in an unpleasant voice.

“Sect Leader. I heard you also have expertise in controlling water currents. Is that correct?”

“Yes? Well, if there are enough elixirs, there’s nothing difficult.”

Yohan replied awkwardly. Could it be?

“Hehe, there are plenty. We have prepared enough ships to carry the martial artists.”

“······I also have my limits. Too many people would be difficult.”

“It’s okay. We only need to carry a small elite force. Let’s coordinate opinions later. And, the Black King Fortress doesn’t only have one Necromancer like the Sect Leader.”

Yohan fell into deep thought. There was quite a bit of feasibility. If he were alone, it would be different, but if he received assistance from other magicians, it would be much easier.

Moreover, if they were people who participated in this trial, they would all be figures of considerable skill.

“Indeed······ it seems possible.”

“Hehe, that’s a relief.”

At that moment, someone with a rough voice joined the conversation.

It was Black Boar. A man with the alias of Black Boar.

“Wait a minute, is that guy really that great? To the point of reversing the flow of the Yellow River? Chief Strategist, are you perhaps senile?”

Yohan turned his head to look at Black Boar. Was he picking a fight?

The two’s gazes met in the air. Yohan calmly thought.

‘That’s not it.’

He looked fierce, but he didn’t seem to have any malice. Well, if a completely young guy said he could move the Yellow River, they couldn’t help but not believe it.

The other executives must also be secretly agreeing. In times like this, it’s better to show it once than to say it a hundred times.

“If you don’t believe it, try confirming it once. Don’t just talk about it.”

“What? What did you just say?”

Yohan smiled slyly. He leaned back on the backrest leisurely.

“Come outside. There happens to be a lake nearby, so I’ll show you a small demonstration.”

“······Heo, hehehehe. This is quite something, Black Wolf brought back something interesting.”

Black Boar tilted his head sharply and stood up. Thanks to his enormous physique, Yohan’s entire body was shadowed.

‘Did he even use steroids? Modern bodybuilders are nothing compared to him.’

Yohan chuckled at the pointless thought. Perhaps interpreting it, Black Boar’s face turned slightly red.

“Come out. Young friend. It seems your eyes have become high after following the Sage, but today I will shatter that arrogance.”

‘Still, he’s more polite than he looks.’

At this point, he was reasonably well-mannered. Yohan also stood up from his seat.

“I will teach you a lesson.”

“Hehe, you’re really amusing.”

Sima Han, who was watching the two, looked at the Black King. Sima Han secretly sent a telepathic message.

[Aren’t you going to stop them? You dark thing?]

The Black King replied with an expressionless face. Of course, with telepathy.

[Not bad. A duel is the best way to liven up the atmosphere before a war.]

Sima Han chuckled inwardly.

[That Boar also seems more considerate than he looks. He’s willingly acting as a clown.]

[Black Boar has been tender-hearted since he was young. It’s not a good personality to live in the Black Path.]

The Black King smiled gently. Faint wrinkles formed at the corners of his mouth.

[That’s why everyone likes him.]

As Yohan and Black Boar left the room, the remaining martial artists also stood up.

Watching a fight is always fun.

***

Yohan and Black Boar were standing on land covered with green weeds.

‘The lake is quite big.’

I didn’t know when I saw it from afar, but when I looked at it up close, it was far better than an ordinary swimming pool.

Yohan stood with his back to the lake. He bent his knees and splashed the clear water. It was cool.

Black Boar said in a rough voice.

“When will you start? Necromancer?”

“Just a moment······ Ugh-cha. Okay, all done.”

The martial artists, including the Black King, were watching the scene with great interest.

Some martial artists were gambling with light movements. Who would win? Most predicted Black Boar’s victory.

A nameless Sword Grandmaster, who usually enjoyed pleasure, took the lead in the atmosphere.

“Come on, who will bet! One is a ghost from another world! The other is the Black King Fortress’s big Boar!”

At that time, someone quietly handed over a few gold coins. The Sword Grandmaster was startled and looked at the owner of the hand. Long obsidian-colored hair fluttered.

Tap, tap.

Yohan roughly shook off the water-filled hands. Then he beckoned his fingers.

“Please come in first. I will concede the first move─”

Whooong-!

Before he could finish speaking, Black Boar’s figure was close. In an instant, Yohan’s field of vision was filled with his massive physique.

Yohan let out a hollow laugh. As expected, the Black Path is the Black Path.

‘I was expecting it. Not even surprised.’

Dig.

Deudeudeuk-

Yohan’s figure disappeared into the ground in the blink of an eye. Black Boar’s eyes widened and he quickly stopped.

Squeak!

‘He didn’t disappear. He’s nearby.’

Black Boar didn’t panic at all. After taking a shallow breath, he stretched his fist towards the ground.

If he disappeared underground, all he had to do was scoop up the ground itself!

Kwaaaang!

With a cracking sound, the ground was distorted.

One of the spectators said.

“Heo, Black Boar’s fist technique is amazing every time I see it. It doesn’t feel like a human fist.”

“Hey. Would he be called Black Boar for no reason? Even without circulating internal energy, the power of his fist is better than an average Boar.”

The martial artists who bet on Yohan clicked their tongues. It was over. The first evasion was good, but Black Boar’s reaction was too fast.

“Eing, I should have just bet on Black Boar. What kind of wealth am I going to enjoy······ Huh?”

The man who was speaking rubbed his eyes. Someone was floating in the center of the lake.

The man’s excellent eyesight identified the person on the lake.

“Walking on water using duckweed?”

Like crossing a stream by stepping on duckweed on the surface of the water.

The fight had just begun.