After the conversation ended, the Namgoong group immediately began preparing to depart, as promised.

Since they had come in such a hurry, following the markers Seolhwa had left, they had brought nothing with them and, therefore, had nothing to pack.

Meng Deungho, as agreed, provided them with a large ship and several river bandits skilled in night navigation.

Down by the river, preparations for Namgoong’s departure were well underway.

“Please take good care of Soyak,” Meng Deungho said, looking at Soyak, who was standing by Yugang’s side. The boy clutched a bundle containing his most cherished possessions.

This place would soon become a battlefield between two strongholds. Meng Deungho couldn’t leave his sick child in such a dangerous place, so he entrusted Soyak to Namgoong’s care.

— I will come to hear about the cure when I come to pick up the child.

Meng Deungho said to Seolhwa.

Seolhwa silently nodded.

Jin Soyak ran to Meng Deungho, grasping his father’s thick hands.

“Be careful... Dad.”

He didn’t want to leave, but he knew his place too well.

Staying here would only hinder his father. It was better to be separated for a while.

“Don’t... get hurt....”

“Yeah. I’ll see you in a few days.”

With that brief farewell, the Namgoong group headed toward the ship, now fully prepared for departure.

Just as the children were about to step onto the gangway—

“!”

“!!”

Cheongun and Meng Deungho reacted simultaneously, and immediately after, Seolhwa and Cheongsan sensed it too.

“Get back!”

Cheongun swiftly pushed the group back, while Meng Deungho raised his spear toward the riverbank.

Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa moved the children behind them, taking defensive stances.

And then, accompanied by the pounding sound of war drums, several ships emerged from the far side of the river, their decks illuminated by bright torches.

On the stern of each ship, a dark crimson banner flapped violently in the wind, and beneath one such banner stood a figure that Seolhwa recognized immediately.

‘The Sixth Blood Lord...!’

It was an assault from the Blood Serpent Stronghold.

“All of you, get on the ship! Prepare for battle!”

Meng Deungho’s shout echoed through the stronghold as the alarm signaling an enemy attack resounded once more.

The river bandits of Guiyeong Stronghold moved with swift, practiced efficiency, boarding the ships and taking their positions.

“Chief!”

Cheongun grabbed Meng Deungho’s arm in desperation.

Even the ship that Meng Deungho had promised to the Namgoong group was now preparing for battle.

“This is a naval battle. The river route is no longer viable. Namgoong must flee immediately.”

“Something isn’t right.”

Cheongun narrowed his eyes at the approaching ships of the Blood Serpent Stronghold.

Whether on land or at sea, the key to gaining the upper hand in battle was the element of surprise.

The Blood Serpent Stronghold’s ships were fully prepared for combat, but Guiyeong Stronghold was not.

Despite this, instead of attacking, the Blood Serpent ships were merely pounding their war drums and illuminating the riverbank with torches, as if beckoning Guiyeong’s forces to come to them.

“It’s a trap. They’re trying to lure Guiyeong Stronghold onto the river,” Cheongun said.

Meng Deungho’s response was unexpected.

“I know.”

“What?”

He knew? And yet, he was still engaging in battle?

“We are river bandits. Our battlefield is the water. Whether they’re luring us or not, that will be their grave.”

He wasn’t wrong. For river bandits, the battlefield was the water, the deck of the ship.

However, if the Blood Serpent Stronghold was making such an obvious attempt to draw them out, they likely had some other strategy in mind.

Cheongun was deeply concerned, but Meng Deungho shook off his grip.

“Namgoong must flee immediately. Understand that I can’t look after you while we’re dealing with this.”

“But—!”

“This is a matter for the river strongholds.”

Without another word, Meng Deungho headed toward his ship.

“Father.”

Seolhwa called to Cheongun.

Cheongun, having reached the same conclusion, nodded and spoke to Cheongsan.

“Cheongsan. Stay with the children. I will go with Seolhwa and assess the situation.”

“Why take Seolhwa to such a dangerous place?”

“Even if I tell her not to go, she will.”

Cheongun glanced at Seolhwa, who nodded without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘It’s an opportunity to gauge the Sixth Blood Lord’s martial prowess.’

She needed to see how strong he was now and whether he had mastered the Blood Arts.

“Ha. A girl determined to go to a dangerous place and a father willing to take her... I just can’t understand you two.”

“Don’t bother trying to understand. It’s easier that way.”

Seolhwa looked at Cheongun, her expression conflicted.

She was grateful, but at the same time... was this really okay?

‘...It’s better than being told not to go.’

“I’ll stay with Hwarin. If things get dangerous, we’ll retreat, so just know that.”

“All right. Stay safe. We’ll just observe the situation and return quickly.”

Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa led the children away from the riverbank, moving toward the back of the stronghold, away from the impending battle.

Meanwhile, Cheongun and Seolhwa climbed a hill overlooking the river to assess the situation.

Blindly fleeing into the unfamiliar mountains carried significant risks.

Other bandits might be lying in wait, and they could easily get lost, which would only make things worse.

It was better to gauge the battle’s outcome before making a move.

If Guiyeong Stronghold seemed likely to win, it would be more advantageous to stay and lend their support.

The ships of Guiyeong Stronghold and the Blood Serpent Stronghold now faced each other on the river, a short distance from the stronghold.

Guiyeong Stronghold had its chief’s ship at the forefront, while the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s flagship remained at the rear.

It was a formation that clearly reflected the contrasting personalities of the two chiefs.

“Meng Deungho!”

The Sixth Blood Lord, the Chief of the Blood Serpent Stronghold, stood at the prow of his ship, spear raised, exuding a menacing aura as he shouted across the water to Meng Deungho.

“The stronghold seems to be in chaos! Did you have a little skirmish?”

Despite knowing full well what had happened, he spoke as if completely unaware, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) his tone mocking and taunting.

Meng Deungho’s presence grew even more menacing, his killing intent palpable.

“You dare court death, you bastard! Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you provoked me, stirring up a fight between Guiyeong Stronghold and Namgoong?!”

“That’s my fault? It’s your own stupidity! You’re the one who kidnapped Namgoong’s daughter, aren’t you?”

Meng Deungho fell silent.

Regardless of the reasons, he was the one who had brought the child here.

The real mistake was that he had played along with the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader, even though he knew the man was despicable.

“Where is my subordinate?”

The Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader demanded.

Meng Deungho sneered, cracking his knuckles.

“That venomous snake is already dead by my hand. His tongue wagged too freely, so I ripped it out first.”

This time, the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader’s expression hardened.

Ma Jong-ui had been his right-hand man, practically the brains of the operation. His death was a significant blow to the Blood Serpent Stronghold.

“Keh keh keh, that bastard always did have a loose tongue.”

However, the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader didn’t seem particularly grieved by Ma Jong-ui’s death.

To the Sixth Blood Lord, Ma Jong-ui had never been more than a disposable pawn.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. There are plenty of loose-tongued fools to replace him. After all, sacrificing the calf to catch the ox is the essence of being a bandit, isn’t it?”

His sinister laugh echoed across the water.

‘Yes, that’s the kind of person the Sixth Blood Lord is.’

A man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted—even if it meant sacrificing his own subordinates.

The Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader pointed his spear at Meng Deungho.

“I lost a subordinate today, so it’s only fair that I gain a new one. Someone strong would be preferable.”

It was a blatant declaration of his intent to take Meng Deungho as his new subordinate.

Meng Deungho’s expression grew cold.

He raised his spear and aimed it at the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Today, I will drown you in this river myself.”

At that moment, the wind direction suddenly shifted, blowing from the direction of the stronghold.

“!”

Seolhwa’s eyes widened as she looked back toward the stronghold.

“What is it?”

‘...Is that incense smoke?’

Mixed in with the wind was a faint, distinct scent—incense smoke.

It was the same scent as the incense flare used by the Blood Demon Cult.

‘Someone used an incense flare to summon the Blood Serpent Stronghold?’

Something had felt off to her from the start.

Ma Jong-ui had been killed before he could set off the incense flare, so how had the Blood Serpent Stronghold known to attack?

For them to arrive from a hundred li away meant they must have set out before Ma Jong-ui died, while Guiyeong Stronghold was still distracted by him.

And that could only mean one thing.

‘There was another spy besides Ma Jong-ui.’

Another infiltrator within Guiyeong Stronghold must have taken advantage of the chaos to set off the incense flare, summoning the Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader.

Despite having memories of her previous life, Seolhwa couldn’t possibly remember the faces of every one of the Sixth Blood Lord’s countless subordinates.

Perhaps she might have recognized someone as influential as Ma Jong-ui, but...

‘...This is bad.’

The situation was unfolding in the exact opposite direction of what the Sixth Blood Lord had intended.

Instead of wiping each other out, Namgoong and Guiyeong Stronghold had joined forces to end the conflict, preserving Guiyeong’s combat power.

‘The Blood Serpent Stronghold’s leader must have noticed that as well.’

The Sixth Blood Lord wasn’t the type to act recklessly without a plan.

If he was still so boldly advancing despite knowing his scheme had failed, it could only mean he had another move ready.

‘Moreover, he attacked even though he knew Namgoong hadn’t yet escaped. That means he intends to crush both Guiyeong and Namgoong.’

While Guiyeong Stronghold might be able to withstand the assault, Namgoong’s forces were still too weak.

If Guiyeong fell, Namgoong’s safety could not be guaranteed.

“Father.”

“?”

“We need to run.”

Cheongun looked back and forth between the two opposing forces.

“The battle hasn’t even started yet. Wouldn’t it be better to assess the situation first?”

“No. Guiyeong Stronghold is going to lose this fight.”

Seolhwa grabbed Cheongun’s arm tightly.

“We need to get out of the stronghold before the battle ends.”