novelraw Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Episode 17: Back to the Thousand Mile Gorge
The Ink Ghost Ship pierced the dusk and soared into the sky, slipping stealthily into the cover of the clouds.
Inside the clouds, Gwak Mu-jin spoke to Jang So-cheon.
“I truly didn’t expect Master to tell us to take the Pill Furnace.”
“He said that since we’re at war, we must be prepared for anything. He also told us to bring some basic herbs from the Law Enforcement Hall, just in case.”
Master had even handed them a Single Method Manuscript passed down in the Extreme Heaven Sect, but Jang So-cheon didn’t mention that. Master had strictly warned him not to show it to anyone.
“Basic herbs?”
“Yes. So I made sure to pack plenty.”
“Hahaha! Well done. Just as Master said, having them on hand will surely come in useful. Hm? Enemy incoming! Everyone, battle formation!”
Gwak Mu-jin shouted, tense with anticipation.
Their so-called battle formation wasn’t anything elaborate. Sanggwan Cheonse had to pilot the Flying Magic Device, so he couldn’t join the fight. No matter what happened, the remaining four had to defend the ship against the enemy.
By agreement, Gwak Mu-jin would guard the bow, Han Yeo-ok the stern. The other two would cover the center left and right. But if the enemy came from a single direction or there was only one, there was no need to spread out. They’d simply gather and throw everything they had at the threat.
But this time, things were tricky. The enemy’s target wasn’t the people—it was the ship itself. They were cleverly infiltrating from blind spots, trying to destroy the Ink Ghost Ship. Once the ship was down, killing the people would be child’s play.
Unlike the seasoned aerial fighters they faced, the members of the Herb Gathering Hall’s One Group were unaccustomed to this kind of battle. Worse, they had no long-range weapons to deal with distant threats.
A single member of the Chang-eung Tribe, wielding a massive axe, slipped under the ship, evading the humans’ attacks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He began hacking at the ship’s underbelly with his axe.
The Ink Ghost Ship, as a Flying Magic Device, had reinforced iron plating on its underside for extra defense. But the Chang-eung warrior’s savage blows began to split the hull.
The ship started to tilt. Sanggwan Cheonse barely managed to keep it upright, pulling the controls to flip the Ink Ghost Ship upside down, hoping to bring the attacker into view.
But it wasn’t so simple. Their attackers were from the Chang-eung Tribe—one of the Nine Ancient Kingdoms’ nine clans, and the best fliers among the demonic tribes. As a scouting party, their flying skills were even more exceptional.
No matter how deftly Sanggwan Cheonse maneuvered, he couldn’t bring the enemy into sight.
Just then—
“Vice-captain! Why don’t you hand me the controls and face the enemy directly?”
Jang So-cheon rushed over, suggesting they switch roles.
“Can you fly it?”
“I’ll just hold the controls steady.”
“All right. I’m counting on you.”
Sanggwan Cheonse handed over the controls but didn’t run to the others. Instead, he headed straight for the spot where the Chang-eung warrior was clinging to the hull, hacking away.
From recent experience, he knew the enemy’s flying skills were so superior that fancy piloting was pointless. Since he had no long-range attack abilities, it made sense for Jang So-cheon to handle the controls while he, skilled in spellcraft, joined the fight.
Timely judgment and tactical adaptation. Remembering how Jang So-cheon had boldly come to switch roles, Sanggwan Cheonse realized there was nothing left for the young man to learn from him.
Fwoosh!
Spotting a gaping hole in the hull, Sanggwan Cheonse knew he couldn’t delay. The moment he located the enemy with Divine Sight, he sent a massive Fire Serpent through the hole.
Boom!
The Chang-eung warrior, thinking this would be his final blow, swung his axe at the ship’s keel. But before the axe even landed, a giant Fire Serpent appeared and attacked.
Slash!
Startled, the Chang-eung warrior decapitated the serpent with his axe. But even the severed head turned into another serpent, and now two attacked at once.
Barely dodging, the warrior slipped through the hole he’d made and into the heart of the Ink Ghost Ship, aiming to cripple it from within.
Zzzap!
He grinned triumphantly as he broke in—but his smile didn’t last.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning struck his face.
Boom!
Next came a Flame Talisman. With his face blasted by lightning, the Chang-eung warrior was engulfed in blue flames, thrashing wildly.
Slash!
Finally, Sanggwan Cheonse’s sword stroke took his head.
After killing the warrior, Sanggwan Cheonse retrieved his Heaven and Earth Pouch, then leapt up to attack the remaining two Chang-eung fighters.
The ship tilted again, and Jang So-cheon’s grip on the controls tightened. Veins bulged on his forearms, sweat beaded on his brow. Yet a smile played on his lips. Until now, they’d been on the defensive—but now, the tide was turning.
Among the group, Gwak Mu-jin was by far the strongest. But as captain, he had a critical weakness: he excelled at close combat but had no means to attack distant enemies. Han Yeo-ok was similar—she had plenty of hidden weapons, but few could pierce the thick feathers of the Chang-eung warriors.
Her best option was to distract the enemy and keep them from getting close. Makjang was in the same boat—most of his talismans were for close range. Maybe with greater cultivation he could send them farther, but for now, it was impossible.
That’s why the fight had been so one-sided—until Sanggwan Cheonse, with his long-range abilities, joined in and began to shift the balance.
The Chang-eung warriors, enraged by the loss of their leader, charged in. The most reckless among them wielded a Throwing Spear.
Whiz!
Strangely, his spear would return to his hand after each throw.
Sensing the spear was a magic weapon, Gwak Mu-jin focused on keeping him in check, preventing any casualties so far. Frustrated, the Chang-eung warrior drew ever closer to the ship, hoping to increase the spear’s power.
But that was a mistake.
Sanggwan Cheonse, waiting for his chance, sent a Fire Serpent at the spear-wielding enemy. Terrified, the Chang-eung warrior hurled his spear at the serpent’s head.
Screee!
The spear pierced the serpent’s head—but the Fire Serpent, unfazed, continued to fly at the warrior, wrapping its massive body around him and pinning him in place.
Surrounded by hellish blue flames, the Chang-eung expert tried to retrieve his spear and escape, but Sanggwan Cheonse manipulated the serpent to drag him closer to the ship. Jang So-cheon steered the Flying Magic Device right up to the enemy.
As soon as the Chang-eung warrior was within range, Han Yeo-ok’s hidden weapon pierced his feathers. Lightning flashed several times, and finally, a massive saber—resembling the Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber—impaled his heart.
With their elites falling one after another, the remaining Chang-eung warrior lost his nerve and fled in panic.
Gwak Mu-jin collected the fallen warriors’ Heaven and Earth Pouches and Throwing Spear, then asked Sanggwan Cheonse, who had taken back the controls from Jang So-cheon,
“Vice-captain! Are we far from Ghost Blood Valley?”
“We’re almost there. That waterfall ahead is the one you mentioned, Priest Jang.”
“Then let’s descend.”
“Understood. The Flying Magic Device is in bad shape, so the landing might be rough. Please brace yourselves. Descending now.”
As soon as he finished, the Ink Ghost Ship plummeted toward the ground. This was less a rough landing and more a crash.
Fortunately, the ship didn’t smash into the earth—it landed on water instead.
Splash!
Just before the ship hit Dragon Swamp, five figures leapt into the sky in unison. Thanks to that, everyone was safe, but the Ink Ghost Ship was a wreck—beyond repair.
“At least no one was hurt. We can always buy another Flying Magic Device, so don’t worry too much.”
Though he said that, the captain looked a bit forlorn. He’d spent many years with that ship.
“So-cheon! From here, you lead the way!”
“Yes, sir. Everyone, follow me.”
Following orders, Jang So-cheon led the group into the water, guiding them to a clearing behind the waterfall. They climbed a steep cliff and entered a small cave.
The cramped tunnel soon opened up, revealing the skeleton of a massive Demonic Monster. It had been dead a long time—only bones remained.
Passing the corpse, Jang So-cheon led them into the Eastern Region, where he’d previously gathered Spirit Herbs. Thankfully, nothing had changed.
“Wait!”
Gwak Mu-jin signaled the group to stop, tense. He hefted a massive saber resembling the Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber and crept deeper into the cave.
Jang So-cheon whispered to Makjang,
[Makjang!]
[What?]
[Do you know the name of the weapon the captain’s holding?]
[You mean the Wuji Blade of the Crimson Heaven?]
[Yeah, that’s it… Thanks.]
[No problem…]
While the two exchanged silent messages, the group pressed deeper into the Eastern Region. There, they finally encountered someone.
A Chang-eung warrior.
Ssssh!
Gwak Mu-jin wasted no time, swinging the Wuji Blade of the Crimson Heaven at the warrior’s neck.
“It’s Soso! Stop!”
Jang So-cheon’s voice rang out, desperate. He’d just realized the girl Gwak Mu-jin was attacking was Soso—the one who’d given him the Dragon Flying Peak Martial Art.
But the Wuji Blade of the Crimson Heaven was a massive weapon, and once swung, it was like an arrow loosed from a bow—impossible to stop. Gwak Mu-jin managed to pull back some of its force, but at that moment, a familiar sound rang out.
Clang!
The sound of weapons clashing. A tremendous shock traveled up Gwak Mu-jin’s arm.
The seemingly delicate Chang-eung girl, Soso, was in fact a formidable expert. She spun through the air seven times, deflecting the Wuji Blade with her Spirit Sword, then used the momentum to aim for a human’s throat.
“Soso. Stop.”
A low, commanding voice rang out from somewhere. At that, Soso flitted away like a dragonfly, returning to her master’s side.
“So-cheon! Do you know them?”
“Yes. I once received help from a Chang-eung, and… that’s her.”
Jang So-cheon pointed to Eun Dan-bi, who stood with hands behind her back, radiating an air of elegance.
“Investigator Eun! It’s been a while.”
“Indeed. But what brings you here?”
“These are my companions from the herb gathering team. We were ambushed nearby while flying, so we came here to hide.”
“Will you be staying long?”
“I can’t say for sure. We’ll move according to the situation.”
“Understood. But this isn’t a place to linger. The Tamrang Tribe will be invading soon.”
“…Thank you for the warning.”
At Eun Dan-bi’s words, the group fell into despair. The Tamrang Tribe was the most vicious of the Nine Ancient Kingdoms’ clans, and the main instigators of the current war. If their hideout had truly been discovered, their plan to stay in the Eastern Region was as good as ruined.