When Jaekyung said he would deal with the Black Shark Gang, Gwak Jeong-shin expressed his concern. This concern stemmed from several reasons, but the three main ones were. The strength and connections of the Black Shark Gang Leader, and finally, the large number of Black Shark Gang members.
Jaekyung showed confidence in dealing with the Gang Leader, and Gwak Jeong-shin himself decided to handle the connections. But what about the third problem, the considerable number of Black Shark Gang members? Even if Jaekyung takes care of the Gang Leader, what is to be done about the countless subordinates under him?
Of course, most of those many members would be in the early or middle Qi Refining Stage, not even worth considering. But there would surely be dozens in the late Qi Refining Stage, and perhaps even some knocking on the door of Foundation Establishment.
That level of power was something even a demon race of the Great Spirit stage had to pay attention to. But Jaekyyung boasted to the concerned Gwak Jeong-shin that there was no need to worry. Gwak Jeong-shin was half in doubt about such baseless confidence, but he had no choice but to say he understood and move on.
In any case, this Great Spirit Beast named Jaekyung certainly seemed extraordinary, and he didn't appear to have any defects in his mental state like other demon races. Rather, he seemed as level-headed as any human cultivator, so he thought Jaekyung must have his own calculations. Gwak Jeong-shin's guess was not wrong.
Jaekyung truly had his own thoughts.
‘Back then, the Great Spirit Beasts of the Upper Demon Forest freely mobilized thousands of demon race members.’
Whether it was brainwashing or some other special ability, he didn't know, but in any case, that powerful ability had left a deep impression on Jaekyung. If he could, he too wanted to possess such an ability. Even if he couldn't use it as flexibly as his own limbs, who would refuse the ability to mobilize such a large-scale force?
So after reaching the Great Spirit stage, Jaekyung had thought about that ability from time to time. But no matter how he thought about it, he concluded that such mass brainwashing was impossible. Paralyzing the reason of thousands of demon race members and making them unafraid of death was something he was utterly incapable of.
However, like the saying that there are many paths to the same destination, he thought he could achieve a similar effect in a slightly different way. From what Jaekyung had experienced firsthand, a cultivator naturally feels suppressed by those of a higher cultivation level.
This was true for all cultivators, and the degree was especially severe for the demon races compared to humans. This is because the demon races have bloodlines.
With the pressure of a higher realm added to the pressure of a higher bloodline, a demon race member without the protection of a strong bloodline could not help but feel extreme suppression from a higher-ranking being. Of course, this wasn't absolute, and there were some individual differences.
Just like how Jaekyung had been able to face Sagye-wan more or less fine, while Cheong-o and Mook-soo could barely keep their wits about them. But the majority of the demon races, especially the so-called lesser demons without any notable bloodline, are thoroughly bound by this suppression.
'I am a Great Spirit Beast, which means I now possess the bloodline of the Great Spirit stage.’ Ordinary spirit beasts would try to flee in fear upon seeing him, and some might roll their eyes back and faint. They would hold their breath if he came close, and if he roared fiercely, the weak-hearted would simply stop breathing.
It was an extremely natural, instinctual reaction. Jaekyung planned to use precisely that instinctual reaction. He gave the turtle fellow a few drops of his blood, imbuing it heavily with his aura, and designated the creature as his representative.
The turtle, stained with his blood, would visit various aquatic spirit beasts, conveying his will and persuading them. Of course, it was only persuasion in name; in reality, it would be more of a threat. Well, what did it matter?
As long as it was effective. * The turtle set out on its mission with grim determination.
That's right. A mission.
If the tasks he had undertaken so far were minor errands, this was a proper mission.
‘Because I haven't disappointed the Dragon Lord so far, he now trusts me and has entrusted me with a more important task.’
The turtle had not heard a detailed explanation, but he prided himself on his sharp mind and managed to guess the Dragon Lord's grand plan. This is a very big hunt. Not a small hunt to catch a few water bandits, but a big hunt aiming for an entire human sect.
“Listen up, you rascals!”
Though there were a few fierce creatures he usually found awkward to face, the turtle showed not the slightest bit of intimidation, instead shouting loudly with an arrogant attitude. But despite the turtle's insolent demeanor, the aquatic spirit beasts couldn't make a peep and lowered their heads.
A few tried to show a rebellious attitude, but the threatening aura emanating from the turtle eventually made them tuck their tails.
“The Dragon Lord has declared that he will soon hunt the humans! You must all follow the Dragon Lord!”
“Dragon Lord? We do not know who this Dragon Lord you speak of is!”
An aquatic spirit beast with a rebellious gaze shouted out intermittently. Being able to speak despite not having reached the Great Spirit stage showed that it was a rather extraordinary creature, much like Cheong-o or the turtle.
“Of course you don't know! You have never seen him!”
The turtle yelled back. The aquatic spirit beast that had just spoken shut its mouth in fear. The turtle's own aura was not special, but the few drops of blood on its body amplified its intimidating presence several times over.
To use an analogy, the turtle was now a child wearing a tiger's mask. However, this mask roared as if alive and even bared its fangs. The aquatic spirit beasts, being nothing more than ordinary spirit beasts, could not withstand this pressure.
“Consider yourselves lucky that I came! If you had been so disrespectful in his presence, you would have been eaten alive!”
The aquatic spirit beasts before the turtle now were all intelligent creatures. Even those who could not communicate by speaking directly could understand the turtle's words and show their own reactions. Listening to the turtle's threatening words, they imagined a scene of a giant dragon chewing them up alive.
“If you do not follow the Dragon Lord's command, you will all not die a peaceful death! But you don't need to be too afraid! If you follow the Dragon Lord's orders well, not only will you not die, but depending on your performance, you may even get to eat your fill of human flesh!”
The turtle said this as it slowly turned its head. Without exception, every creature that met its gaze averted its eyes. The turtle's heart filled with joy.
When had he ever experienced something like this? He was born with a sharp mind, but his combat abilities were nothing to speak of, so he always had to avoid other aquatic spirit beasts. He could only eat seaweed or small fish that others didn't eat.
But now, to have the very creatures he would have avoided from a distance lined up before him while he shouted and boasted, it felt like he was in a sweet dream. His chest swelled with emotion.
‘This is it. This is the true life of a turtle.’
To be born a turtle in this wide world, one ought to show this much spirit. He had been living his life all wrong.
‘No, I wasn't living wrong. I just hadn't met my time yet.’
Looking at the crestfallen aquatic spirit beasts, the turtle shouted once more. His voice began to crack after just a few shouts, but the turtle didn't care in the slightest.
“There are many humans! We alone are far from enough! So gather every creature you can! Gather them all!”
The turtle shouted passionately. * Upon receiving the turtle's report, Jaekyung inwardly nodded.
‘He's a useful fellow, as expected.’
Jaekyung had instructed the turtle to win over the intelligent aquatic spirit beasts. He thought it wouldn't be a difficult task, but the turtle had performed better than he had expected. He had personally recruited dozens of aquatic spirit beasts, so if each of them could gather just ten more, that would secure several hundred aquatic spirit beasts.
Although it felt like a handful compared to the members of the Black Shark Gang, Jaekyung was sufficiently satisfied with this much. Spirit beasts are simple. The majority are just beasts with stronger bodies, and even if their minds have improved a little, they are often swayed by instinct.
Being such creatures, if he just sprinkled the scent of blood appropriately, they would gather on their own.
"How are things on Black Shark Island?"
“Yes. It's the same. Small boats come and go every day, and a large boat goes out once every five days.”
While gathering the aquatic spirit beasts through the turtle, Jaekyung had Cheong-o watch the Black Shark Gang. Cheong-o meticulously memorized the number and routes of the boats entering and exiting Black Shark Island and reported them to Jaekyung.
‘The Black Shark Gang Leader. He's certainly a man of ambition and ability.’
After revealing his intention to deal with the Black Shark Gang to Gwak Jeong-shin, Jaekyung had been steadily gathering various information about them. And the more he learned about the Black Shark Gang, the more he had to admit that the Black Shark Gang Leader, Gong Byeok-un, was quite a remarkable figure.
‘Isn't this basically a kind of business enterprise? It's different from a typical sect, but it's still a proper organization.’
All members of the Black Shark Gang were both fishermen and water bandits. Their main income was from selling Meat-Scaled Fish, but it seemed the profits from their banditry were also substantial. These fellows controlled dozens of islands, and Three Frog Island was just one of them.
‘The banditry isn't just for making money. It's a means to more effectively control those many islands.’
The Black Shark Gang had only a few thousand members. At most, it would be less than ten thousand. So how could such a small number so thoroughly control a population dozens, perhaps even a hundred times larger, for so long?
It was because that large population was divided and living on dozens of islands. The Black Shark Gang strictly controlled the population of each island and prevented exchanges between them. Occasionally, when an island broke their rules, they would be brutally punished, and Three Frog Island was one such case.
A third of the island's population was killed or taken away as slaves.
‘Thanks to that, my job has become easier.’
There is no such thing as perfect rule. Even the most solid fortress wall will develop mouse holes. When struck by an iron fist, some will be scared and collapse, but others will lie fallen, burning with resentment.
Jaekyung recalled the boy whose eyes had shone as he declared he would gladly be his collaborator.
‘Can the little guy do it.’
His gaze was impressive, but that was all. He was just a kid who had barely entered the path of Cultivation, not even fully grown. But, for some reason, he felt a sense of anticipation.
* "Cheong-yu, are you in your right mind?"
“We can't live like this forever.”
Han Cheong-yu met the eyes of his friends, who were treating him like a madman, one by one.
“What if it doesn't work out like you say? We'll all die! We'll all die!”
Looking at the boy who seemed ready to jump up from his seat at any moment, Han Cheong-yu sneered.
“We'll die? Do you think we're alive right now?”
"What?"
“Wake up! We're no different from fish trapped in a basket. We're like fish that the Black Shark Gang can dispose of whenever they please! Didn't you see this time? How many people died after being framed for something they didn't do?”
Han Cheong-yu's words were rough, but they resonated in everyone's hearts. Because what Han Cheong-yu was saying was bringing to light the inner thoughts everyone had been desperately hiding out of fear.
“Listen up, everyone. I'm not just saying this. We don't have a choice anyway. We've already been marked by them! Sooner or later, we're all going to die! Or we'll end up living a life worse than death! Just like our parents, and the village elders! Do any of you want that?”
Those gathered here were not old, but they were not foolish. The things they had seen and experienced in their lives had made them mature for their age, so they knew that what Han Cheong-yu was saying wasn't just empty words to persuade them. ...
"Do you have a plan?"
“When they come to collect the tribute, we strike them. We cause as much of a commotion as possible to draw in the villagers. Then even the Black Shark Gang will have no choice but to retreat for the time being.”
“And then what? They'll come back with even more men…”
“That's it. When they return and bring their boats to attack us, that's when.”
Everyone swallowed dryly. But their eyes no longer trembled with anxiety as before. Meeting their gazes, which now shone silently with a single purpose, Han Cheong-yu answered.
"Someone who despises the Black Shark Gang will turn them all into fish food."
* “Cheong-yu!
Are you sure about this?! The fate of the villagers now rests on your words!” Han Cheong-yu paid no mind to the roar of the white-haired village elder.
He silently stared at the dozen or so boats approaching from the distance.
“It's too late, elder. Think of it with a peaceful mind. If I am wrong, we will just die fighting. If I am not wrong, we will gain our freedom. Either way, we will no longer have to suffer at their hands.”
“You rascal…!”
The elder was not truly blaming Han Cheong-yu. He simply lacked the resolve. He was just swallowed by fear, unable to see what he needed to see.
Just as Han Cheong-yu himself had been before.
“Oh dear. What are we to do now? The line of Three Frog Island ends with my generation!”
Just as the elder began to sob in earnest. The residents of Three Frog Island who had gathered at the dock all saw it.
‘He's here!’
The calm lake water suddenly churned, and waves that rose out of nowhere swallowed the Black Shark Gang's boats. Only Han Cheong-yu, with his sharp eyes, could clearly see the ferocious creatures swarming within those waves.
‘…Huh?’