After descending from the mountains, Cheon Woojin promptly decided on his destination.
The grand alliance of the White Path of the current era—the Martial Alliance .It was a federation established long ago to stop the Heavenly Demon, who had once drenched the Central Plains in blood with overwhelming martial might.
Its scale was truly immense.It would not be an exaggeration to say that nearly every major White Path sect and noble clan scattered across the Central Plains belonged to the Martial Alliance.
The Martial Alliance upheld chivalry , peace , fairness , and the subjugation of demons .Because of this, promising young talents without powerful backgrounds all aspired to become warriors of the Martial Alliance.It was practically the only organization under heaven where one could rise to great heights purely through ability, regardless of status.
Of course, Cheon Woojin had no desire to become a warrior of the Martial Alliance.He was merely heading there to deliver news to someone—a junior disciple whom Master Baekno had once cherished.
Recalling the wills his two masters had left behind, Cheon Woojin let out a quiet chuckle.
"Woojin, take a look."
That was how Master Baekno's will began.Amazingly, it took half a day just to read through.In truth, it was less a will and more a book—a written treatise compiling his master's lifelong insights into chivalry and righteousness .
Among its contents were the names of five righteous men who were to be informed of his passing.The first of them was someone in the Martial Alliance known as "The Sword Slower Than a Turtle."
"How can someone's epithet be turtle—"
Cheon Woojin coughed lightly to clear his throat.Still, if he was a martial artist acknowledged by Master Baekno, then he must truly be an outstanding righteous man.
In contrast, Master Cheokno's will was as blunt and straightforward as his temperament.
"Don't skip meals."
Cheon Woojin burst into laughter.That eccentric personality had sometimes frightened him, yet now that he would never see it again, a sense of regret lingered.
Lost in such thoughts, he had already covered quite a long distance.Ahead of him, the vivid blue expanse of Poyang Lake came into view.Its breadth was so vast that a long horizon stretched across it, making it look almost like the sea.
Cheon Woojin paused to quietly take in the lakeside scenery.Large and small boats came and went without pause, and off to one side were street stalls selling simple food and alcohol.
The reason he had come here was simple.He planned to take a boat.
From Jiangxi Province to Wuhan in Hubei, where the Martial Alliance was located, flowed the vast current of the Yangtze River.Remembering how he used to take small boats on outings with Master Baekno, Cheon Woojin had decided—on a whim—to travel by water.
"And while I'm at it, I can watch some people too."
It had been years since he came down from the mountains, and he had no desire to sprint along mountain roads for days and nights on end.As Cheon Woojin stood admiring the sunlight shattering across the surface of Poyang Lake—
"Hey there, young man. Aren't you getting on?"
A deep voice came from beside him.Turning his head, he saw a middle-aged man whose appearance suited the voice perfectly.A massive build like the boat he was pointing at, a thick, bushy beard, a sturdy neck, and steady, hardened eyes.There was something about him that spoke of a man who had endured a hard life for many long years.
As Cheon Woojin quietly observed him, the ferryman continued.
"It's a boat headed for Hubei. We'll be departing soon."
If he wanted to go to the Martial Alliance, that was the boat he had to take.But there was a problem.
Cheon Woojin rummaged through his clothes.He had no money. Naturally—there was nothing to spend money on in the mountains.
Watching him closely, the ferryman spoke again.
"You're heading to the Martial Alliance, aren't you?""…Pardon?"
Cheon Woojin's eyes widened.How could he possibly know that?His expression grew wary at once.
Seeing that, the ferryman burst into hearty laughter.
"Ha! You look surprised. I've been doing this work for thirty years now. I can tell just by a glance.""…So they weren't exaggerating when they said the world is full of eccentrics."
It was true.A ferryman who could guess someone's destination just from their eyes.
"What's that? Hahaha, you're an amusing one. Very well—then I'm the eccentric of Poyang Lake. I'm in a good mood today, so just get on.""Is that really alright?""It's the ferryman's call. Taking one more passenger doesn't cost me anything."
Something swelled up in Cheon Woojin's chest.Just as Master Baekno had said, the world was full of righteous people.
"Thank you.""Hahaha, may martial fortune be with you."
Cheon Woojin bowed deeply and stepped onto the boat.The moment he boarded, he realized that the ferryman was not the eccentric here.
"...…"
The boat was packed with young martial artists.There were some whose skills were respectable for their age, but none who could truly be called masters.
Just from the atmosphere they gave off, it was clear that they were all late-generation disciples of the White Path.A boat filled to the brim with White Path youths, heading toward Hubei.
Cheon Woojin looked at the ferryman and asked,
"It seems the Martial Alliance recruitment is being held, isn't it?""Heh heh, you caught on."
Once every three years, the Martial Alliance held a grand examination to recruit new officials.Young talents of the White Path from all across the land gathered, their hearts full of lofty dreams.
Only then did Cheon Woojin understand the meaning behind the ferryman's wish of martial fortune.It seemed the ferryman had mistaken him for an applicant in this year's examination.
Cheon Woojin hesitated for a moment.If the free passage was due to a misunderstanding, Master Baekno would surely scold him for it.
"You didn't lie, did you? That bear-like boatman just made a fuss all on his own."
For a brief instant, it felt as though Master Cheokno's voice brushed against his ear.
Cheon Woojin watched the bear-like ferryman for a moment, then quietly took a seat off to one side of the deck.
The ferryman, who had been looking at Cheon Woojin with a pleased expression, soon raised the anchor and shouted in a booming voice.
"All right—setting off!"
Just as he had said, the ferryman seemed to be in an excellent mood.
Every three years, when a season like this came around and money practically poured in, it was impossible not to smile.
Cheon Woojin sat crouched to one side, letting the wind brush past him.
For some reason, it felt as though he had tricked the ferryman, leaving an uncomfortable knot in his chest.
Even so, he showed me kindness…
He briefly considered getting off the boat even now.
Of course, they were already cutting through the middle of the vast Poyang Lake, but that posed no real problem for Cheon Woojin.
Walking atop the water—Water-Soaring Steps—was a realm he had already reached so long ago that he could no longer remember when he first grasped it.
His gaze drifted to the young martial artists gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves.
Some were clearly tense ahead of the examination, while others boasted grand dreams of becoming the future leader of the Martial Alliance.
Among them, two figures stood out the most.
A man leaning against the railing, gazing across the lake with distant eyes.
His features were well-defined, yet his lines were slender, giving him a refined appearance.
Whenever splashing droplets brushed past him, the sunlight shimmered, making him look like a scene painted on silk.
Quite handsome.
The thought arose unbidden.
It seemed Cheon Woojin was not alone in that assessment—several women aboard the boat were stealing glances in his direction.
Then there was a woman sitting some distance away from the group, her face expressionless, perhaps even tinged with boredom.
Even Cheon Woojin, who had lived his entire life in the mountains, could immediately tell that her beauty was exceptional.
The sharp clarity filling her eyes lent an even colder edge to her ice-like impression.
Because of the difficult-to-approach aura she gave off, the young martial artists merely watched her from afar.
Of course, it was not only their appearances that caught Cheon Woojin's attention.
They stand apart.
Among all the young martial artists on board, those two were the strongest.
Not just slightly ahead of the others—they existed on an entirely different level altogether.
That was when it happened.
"Do you like pretty young ladies that much?"
A man suddenly approached and sat down beside him as naturally as if they were traveling companions.It was the same man who had been drawing all the women's gazes.
Cheon Woojin frowned slightly.
"I wasn't looking because she's pretty."
The man let out a soft chuckle.Cheon Woojin felt a bit wronged, but decided there was no need to explain further and kept his mouth shut.
The man spoke again.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Song Iyeon, from Anhui.""Cheon Woojin."
After answering briefly, Cheon Woojin turned his gaze forward again.He only wanted to watch the Yangtze's currents, but the woman happened to fall within his line of sight, making him worry he might be misunderstood again.
The man who had introduced himself as Song Iyeon laughed lightly.
"You're more taciturn than you look, young hero. Heading to the Martial Alliance?""I am.""So am I."
Cheon Woojin merely nodded in response.Seeing that, Song Iyeon leaned in a little closer and said,
"Young hero, I'm actually going to become the Martial Alliance Lord.""…?"
What was he supposed to say to that?As Cheon Woojin stared in disbelief, Song Iyeon continued.
"But from what I can tell, the only competitor on this boat is you. Where in the world did a monster like you crawl out from?""Calling someone a monster upon first meeting?""Hah, my apologies. It's just that I've never met anyone my age as strong as you. Truth is, I was considered a pretty promising talent where I come from.""I still have a long way to go before I can call myself strong."
For Cheon Woojin, the standard of strength was his two masters.Song Iyeon recoiled as if disgusted and said,
"Now hold on—if you go around saying things like that, you'll get cursed out. If you are weak, then everyone on this boat would be…"
Song Iyeon trailed off.
He had been about to say something rather crude, but caught himself after noticing the looks from those around them.
"Ahem. Anyway—taciturn young hero, it looks like we'll be seeing each other for quite a while, so I hope we get along. This is actually my first time stepping into the jianghu. They say most people fail the Martial Alliance exam two or three times before passing. But I'm different. I'll pass on my first try."
Cheon Woojin nodded.
With that level of martial skill, becoming a Martial Alliance warrior didn't seem particularly difficult.
"I'll be rooting for you."
"Keh—so you really are the type who looks cold but is warm inside."
"What does that mean?"
"Cold on the outside, warm on the inside."
"...…"
Cheon Woojin shook his head with a weary expression.
At that, Song Iyeon casually held something out.
A rice ball.
"Care for one?"
"It looks like it tastes bad."
"My mother made it."
"Let's eat."
And so, the two of them quietly shared the rice balls.
After all, Master Cheokno had told him never to skip meals...
Just as Cheon Woojin tried to give the last remaining rice ball to Song Iyeon—only for Song Iyeon to nudge it back toward him—
Boom!
With a sudden thunderous crash, the boat lurched violently from side to side.
Charr-r-r!
At the same time, dozens of chain-like iron cables flew in and latched firmly onto the bow.
Moments later, three large ships emerged from the dense reeds lining the Yangtze River.
"P-pirates!"
Someone shouted, and the young martial artists hurriedly retreated in the opposite direction from the chains.Amid the chaos, the rice ball that had been between Cheon Woojin and Song Iyeon was crushed under someone's foot.
"My rice ball!"
Song Iyeon cried out in despair.Meanwhile, sturdy-looking martial artists began crossing over along the chains.
Unlike most of the young disciples, who moved in tight coordination, Song Iyeon remained calm.Cheon Woojin asked him,
"Aren't you running?""Why would I? This is between the boatman and the pirates. It has nothing to do with us."
He wasn't wrong.For boats to run into river pirates was as common as summer rain.All it usually took was for the boatman to hand over a few coins as a customary toll, allowing both sides to save face.
Cheon Woojin's gaze shifted to the other young martial artists.They too seemed to be merely avoiding danger, not taking the situation seriously.The cold-looking woman, the few who seemed relatively strong, even those boasting about becoming the Alliance Lord—none of them stepped forward.
Some even snickered, as if finding the situation amusing.
Perhaps Master Cheokno was right as well.
The Martial Alliance claimed to uphold justice,yet those who aspired to become its warriors were merely standing by in the face of injustice.
The ferryman who had shown Cheon Woojin kindness stepped forward, rubbing his palms together.
"Ah, esteemed heroes!"
At that attitude, the pirates curled their lips into grins.It looked like this would end easily once again.
"What, this is Boatman Jang's ship?""Haha, yes, that's right."
As he spoke, the ferryman pulled out a coin pouch from his robes.A pirate took it naturally and patted the ferryman's shoulder in a familiar manner.
"You know the toll's gone up lately, right?""…Ah, yes.""Normally, spilling a little blood spreads rumors faster, which is nice and all, but…"
At the pirates' smooth, oily words, the ferryman flinched.One of the pirates bared his yellowed teeth in a grin.
"We've got a history together, Boatman Jang. For old times' sake, it's only right that we let you off this once, don't you think?"
The pirates were talking about moral principles right in front of White Path youths.And yet, still, no one stepped forward.
Forcing a smile, the ferryman replied,
"Yes, next time I'll be sure to prepare properly for the increased toll. Coincidentally, there are many examinees this time, so business has been good…"
He subtly pointed out that those aboard were White Path juniors.He was smiling now, but these were armed pirates who could turn violent at any moment.
However, that small bit of cleverness backfired.
The pirate who had been glancing at the young disciples twisted his face into a scowl.
"Are you threatening me right now?""Pardon?"
Startled, the ferryman hurriedly waved his hands.
"H-how could that be?""No, looks to me like you're hoping we'll get scared and back off because those White Path brats are here.""N-no, that's not it."
The ferryman quickly bowed his head.But the pirate gripping his shoulder only tightened his hold.
"Right. There might be some pampered scion of a great family here. Maybe even a future Martial Alliance member. Can't just go around causing a scene, now can we?""...…"
"But tell me—Boatman Jang, are you a righteous sect member?""Pardon?""Are you Martial Alliance, then?""That's not it either, so why are you puffing out your chest like that?"
Song Iyeon had been right.This was strictly between the pirates and the ferryman—nothing to do with the young disciples.
The pirate circulated his inner energy and squeezed harder.The ferryman's neck visibly caved in as he let out a pained groan.
"Ghk… ghk..."
That was when it happened.
Cheon Woojin suddenly sprang to his feet.At once, everyone's gaze turned toward him.
Song Iyeon tugged lightly at Cheon Woojin's sleeve and lowered his voice.
"Young hero, what are you doing right now?"
Cheon Woojin brushed his hand away without a word.Whatever the case, the ferryman was someone who had shown him kindness.
If Master Baekno had been here, he would have taken that pirate's head as a warning without hesitation.And even Master Cheokno had said that tormenting the weak wasn't the mark of a villain—it was the mark of an idiot.
Cheon Woojin walked up and stopped calmly before the pirates.Seeing this, all the young disciples except Song Iyeon brightened, as if some entertainment had appeared during the long voyage.
Cheon Woojin spoke to the pirates politely.
"Are times hard for you these days? For instance, are you caring for an elderly mother but unable to afford her medicine?""W-what did you say?""If that's not the case, how about letting this pass today? This ferryman showed me kindness, so I can't bring myself to ignore it."
The pirates looked Cheon Woojin up and down, then let out mocking laughs.
"Some precious young master from a noble house?""I'm an orphan.""...Then where'd you learn martial arts?""In the mountains."
The pirates exchanged glances.They all seemed to reach the same conclusion.
Someone we can mess with without consequences.
But there was one thing they overlooked.Traditionally, newcomers to the martial world who descended from the mountains were always treated with caution.Had these pirates grown up in even a modest household and read a single martial arts novel, they would have known that much.
"Shall we release the ferryman first and talk?"
Cheon Woojin lightly grasped the pirate's wrist.
However, the result was anything but light.
Kwa-deuk—!
The pirate's wrist twisted into an unnatural shape.
"G-gggyaaagh!"
He let out a shrill scream, and at the same time, the pirates drew their gleaming sabers.
"Kill him!"