We left Lee Tae’s base and headed back toward Dongting Lake aboard Geumdo.

Maybe it was the heat of the sun soaked into his body during the sunbathing—but Geumdo moved with noticeably more vigor.

As Geumdo sped downstream and a thick reed field appeared on the right, Lee Tae pointed and said,

“Lord So-ryong, we need to go in there. That’s Songzi Mouth.”

The spot he indicated was where the water of the Yangtze flowed into the center of the reed forest.

Tilting my head, I asked,

“Didn’t you say there were three entrances? Do we just use the first one we find?”

“Whichever one you take, they all converge eventually.”

“Really?”

From what the steersman had told me, there were three ways into West Dongting Lake.

Songzi Mouth, Ouchi Mouth, and Taiping Mouth.

I’d assumed they each led along different paths, but it turned out they all fed into a single water route.

“Alright. Geumdo, head that way.”

Bububururu.

As soon as I told Geumdo to go where Lee Tae had pointed, he swiftly turned into the narrow waterway between the reeds.

Once we entered Songzi Mouth, what we saw was a sprawling wetland.

Contrary to its reputation for being a tangled nightmare, it seemed manageable at first glance.

It looked like we could just follow the current.

“But this doesn’t seem nearly as bad as its reputation suggests?”

To my comment, Lee Tae pointed ahead and replied,

“The entrance is fine, but once we pass that point, the swamp, reed forest, and channels get so mixed up you can’t tell one from the other. One wrong move, and your boat’ll be stuck in a bog.”

When we reached the spot he mentioned, sure enough—reeds thickened around us, and the swampy ground blended with the water so thoroughly that it was impossible to distinguish the safe routes.

And with night falling, the shallow swamp and channels became even harder to tell apart.

My immediate impression?

A perfect spot for pirates.

Hide your boat in the reeds, lie in wait, and spring out—no one would stand a chance.

And if someone tried to flee and ended up grounded in the swamp, like Lee Tae said, even worse.

‘Yeah, no wonder the pirates are so thick here.’

Just as I was thinking how perfectly suited this place was for ambushes, I noticed movement up ahead in the reeds.

‘Is that reedbed moving?’

Focusing my vision, I saw small reed islands silently gliding across the dark water.

Suddenly, a cluster of those islands blocked Geumdo’s path, and a loud voice rang out.

“Wahahaha! Who dares trespass into the waters of the Eighteen Dongting Camps!”

The reed islands blocking our way were boats covered in reeds, and before I knew it, we were surrounded on all sides.

They must’ve been the Dongting Lake pirates.

As their voices rang out, Lee Tae quickly leaned over the rail and called toward the sound.

“Who's there? It’s me, Lee Tae of the Yangtze Water Route Camp!”

“Huh? Lee Tae of the Yangtze Route? Brother?!”

As someone responded from below the boat, a figure leapt up onto the deck.

When he saw Lee Tae standing there, his expression turned surprised.

“Brother! What brings you here at this hour?”

“Oh, Jin Un-gi? I have business at Dongting Lake, so I came to ask the chief to help guide me.”

“But this ship... did you raid it?”

“R-Raid it? This ship belongs to the person I serve.”

“What? Someone you serve?”

The pirate tilted his head in confusion at the phrase “person I serve.”

“Did the Yangtze Water Route Camp get a new chief?”

He must’ve thought Lee Tae’s “master” was the new boss of his entire camp. Lee Tae gave a sheepish smile and replied,

“No, nothing like that. I’ll explain once we get to the chief.”

“Alright then. Park the ship here and come with me.”

“Alright.”

As the pirate jumped back down, Lee Tae bowed slightly to me and said,

“Lord So-ryong, I’ll be back soon. Please wait here.”

“Got it.”

Just as we’d discussed, he was off to get permission from the chief.

Lee Tae boarded the pirate’s boat and vanished into the reed maze.

***

“Chief! Chief!”

“What’s with the racket in the middle of the night?!”

Dongting Eighteen Camps’ chief, Sagong Won, rubbed his eyes and sat up, clearly irritated by the shouting.

He’d just dozed off, and the interruption annoyed him.

“It’s me, brother.”

“Huh? Lee Tae? What are you doing here?!”

Sagong Won shouted from his bed, expecting one of his men—but then he heard a different voice.

Realizing who it was, his tone quickly softened, and the scowl on his face turned to surprise and delight.

Of course it did—the voice belonged to his sworn brother, Lee Tae.

“Wait there a moment.”

Sagong Won’s sudden mood change had a reason.

In the martial world, loyalty is sacred—but it’s rare among pirates.

Most pirates come from desperate circumstances or criminal pasts, only looking out for themselves.

But if there was one man Sagong Won believed to be truly loyal, it was Lee Tae.

They had first met when Sagong Won washed up at Dongting Lake, a low-ranking pirate with no place to go.

He’d fled home after beating a corrupt official who tried to seize all the winter rations, chased out by government troops.

“You’re Sagong Won?”

“Yes, sir!”

Nervous, newly minted pirate Sagong Won had his first conversation with Lee Tae.

“Keep your voice down. I haven’t been a pirate long either.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. How old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Then you’re younger than me. I’ll be your big brother, then.”

“Wait, but what about seniority or rank or whatever?”

“We’re pirates. Who cares about rank? We joined around the same time, so we’re equals. But by age, you’re younger—so I’m hyung, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

And so, they began calling each other “brother,” and over time, Sagong Won realized just how loyal Lee Tae really was.

The first time he led a raid from a reed boat, his subordinate’s mistake got him punished, and he was left starving for three days.

“Hyung, you hungry? Here, eat this.”

As he lay curled up in his quarters, Lee Tae suddenly appeared, holding out something fragrant.

“What’s this?”

“Venison jerky. I took some from the last raid and hid it away.”

Sagong Won reached out for it with joy, only to freeze.

Their boss had made it clear—anyone caught sharing food would be punished.

“Wait, if the chief finds out you gave me food, you’ll be in trouble.”

“So what? Worst case, I get beaten. Don’t worry and just eat.”

“Damn... Brother!”

And that wasn’t all.

Even after Lee Tae became the boss of the pirates on the great Yangtze River, he still treated Sagong Won—who hadn’t even become a chief—as his elder brother, always polite and respectful.

Sagong Won quickly threw on his clothes and stepped out, welcoming Lee Tae warmly.

“What’s with the surprise visit without even sending word? Is something wrong?”

Lee Tae smiled and replied,

“Nothing serious. I just need help getting to Dongting Lake. I need a guide.”

“To Dongting? Why there? That place has been dangerous lately—swirls and whirlpools keep popping up out of nowhere.”

He’d gladly offer help with a guide anytime, but just the mention of Dongting Lake brought a worried frown to his face.

Lately, mysterious whirlpools had been flipping boats inside the lake.

Because of that, even the pirates stuck to the outer routes and avoided going into the lake itself.

Scratching his head, Lee Tae replied,

“Well, the person I serve insists we go there.”

“Huh? Someone you serve? Did the Yangtze Route get a new chief? Are you safe?”

That sounded ominous. If a new chief had taken over, Lee Tae might be in danger of being purged.

But Lee Tae shook his head.

“No, nothing like that. I’ve started serving the son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

“The Tang Clan? What are you talking about?”

Sagong Won’s eyes widened.

The Sichuan Tang Clan—one of the Seven Great Clans.

Why would such a prestigious family ever take in a pirate like Lee Tae?

Seeing his confusion, Lee Tae scratched his head awkwardly.

“Well, you see, Brother... I...”

“WHAT!?”

And with that, Sagong Won’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Although his younger brother spoke calmly, it was clear—he’d been subdued, stripped of his weapon, and now had no choice but to serve the Tang Clan.

There was no doubt the Tang Clan had poisoned him and were using the antidote to control his life.

It was well-known throughout the martial world: the Tang Clan fed poison to people and used the antidote to hold their lives in their hands.

Fury surged within Sagong Won, but he held it back and asked,

“So then, is the person you serve on that ship?”

“Of course, Brother.”

“Then I should go and pay my respects as well.”

“You’ll go yourself?”

“Of course. How can I sit back when it’s someone my younger brother serves? I must greet him in person.”

His eyes gleamed as he said the man who had poisoned his brother was aboard.

He claimed it was to greet him—but it was a lie.

His real intent was to seize the man who had taken down his brother and force the antidote out of him, to free him once and for all.

Sure, there was a risk in attacking someone tied to the Tang Clan. But among pirates of the Green Forest, Yangtze, or Dongting Lake, there was an unspoken rule: never mess with each other or with orthodox martial sects.

Since the other side had broken that rule first by binding his brother, they had justification on their side.

It was time to pay back the man who’d once given him jerky when he was starving.

Back then, his brother was nearly beaten to death by the chief for sharing that food.

“Very well. Lord So-ryong /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ will appreciate it.”

“So this man—he’s Lord So-ryong, yes? Then go back to the ship ahead of me and wait. I can’t go like this. I need to shave and change into proper clothes before I pay my respects.”

“Understood, Brother.”

He sent his brother ahead and immediately ordered his men.

“Tell all seventeen branch leaders of the Eighteen Dongting Camps to gather, fully armed, immediately!”

“What!?”

“My brother’s in danger—I can’t just stand by!”

“Y-Yes, Chief!”

His subordinates scattered, and not long after...

Seventeen pirate captains gathered outside Sagong Won’s quarters.

With a grave expression, Sagong Won addressed them.

“Listen well! My sworn brother, Lee Tae, has been poisoned and is being forced to serve against his will! I owe him my life—I cannot ignore his plight!

Once I board the ship, when I raise my voice, all of you will strike from hiding. Understood!?”

“Yes, Chief!”

With that, Sagong Won’s ship, lit by lanterns, set off—and dozens of reed-camouflaged boats quietly followed behind.

***

“But when is Lee Tae’s sworn brother supposed to arrive?”

“Good question... Ah, Lord So-ryong, there he is.”

A voice echoed across the calm midnight waters, and Sagong Won’s fury flared again.

They were chastising his brother.

It was definitely because of the poison.

‘Hold on just a little longer, brother.’

Grinding down his rage, Sagong Won approached swiftly and boarded the ship.

Standing next to his brother was a boy—barely more than a child.

So young... and yet this was the one who’d poisoned Lee Tae and made him serve?

A little devil, surely.

He was just thinking how cruel the boy must be when the young one flashed a devilish grin and greeted him.

“Lord So-ryong, this is my sworn brother, Sagong Won.”

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m So-ryong.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Sagong Won.”

Sagong Won forced a smile, all the while checking the poisoned wine hidden in his sleeve and the venom bombs tucked into his coat.

He’d already told his men to be ready with their own poisoned wine.

Poison might not work well on someone from the Tang Clan, but if he detonated several poisons at once, it would at least cause panic. That was the plan.

He gripped three bombs in his hand, waiting for the right moment—but then a group emerged from what looked like the cabin entrance.

A man and women—clearly martial artists.

As they appeared, Lee Tae introduced them.

“This is my sworn brother, Sagong Won. And this is the Dragon Fangs.”

“T-The Dragon Fangs? All of them?”

“Yes, all of them.”

The Dragon Fangs were among the strongest martial artists of the younger generation.

Even with all his men gathered, Sagong Won couldn’t be sure they’d win if things came to a fight.

And then it happened.

Sssrrrk.

Grrrkl.

Hissss.

Shiaaa.

Huge centipedes emerged from behind the Dragon Fangs, along with women whose lower halves were serpents or monstrous insects.

A massive red butterfly landed on So-ryong’s head, and on both his shoulders perched pale-white moths.

Sagong Won’s eyes flew wide in disbelief—and then one of the Dragon Fangs turned to him and said,

“Each of those beasts could overwhelm all of us combined. But don’t worry—they won’t harm anyone unless provoked. They’re all raised by So-ryong.”

“Hiiieeek!”

A scream escaped him without even realizing it.

And that, unfortunately, became the signal.

Voices erupted from all around.

“Attack!”

“Attack!”

A single mistake could lead to complete annihilation at the hands of these spirit beasts.

Sagong Won lunged to the rail and shouted,

“STOP! You fools!”

His men froze in confusion, realizing they had misunderstood.

Sagong Won bellowed again,

“When did I tell you to attack!? I told you to show respect to the one your brother serves!”

Yeah...

He’d have to repay the jerky debt another time.

That is—if he lived long enough to do it.