Choi Yeom (4) - Jailbreak Chaos

"Kkuheeeek!!" That jailer bastard even looked like a pig, and sure enough, he squealed just like one when my blade struck him down.

Beyond the jailer collapsing with blood pouring from his gut, there stood Cai Yong, his face etched with shock. No chance I'd mistaken him. His nameplate hovered clearly in my vision: Cai Yong. The Status Window never lied. This was definitely him.

"Old man!! You're safe!" I grabbed Cai Yong and led him out right away.

"You..." Cai Yong stared at me, his expression flustered.

"Your daughter asked me to come." I admitted straight up that it was Choi Yeom who'd requested it.

"...Is my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girl safe?" Cai Yong's eyes widened round as he asked immediately.

"Yeah, she's fine." She was probably waiting by the city gates. I'd just take him to the stables and we'd bolt.

First, let's get him to Xuzhou. I needed to learn writing from Choi Yeom, so Xuzhou it was. If I sent him somewhere else, I'd have to track him down every time to learn. That'd be a pain.

Hyeong Ju's out. Sending him to Hyeong Ju would trigger the event where Choi Yeom becomes Liu Biao's concubine. That'd sever my connection with her—no more raising affinity. Even if I tried talking, she'd draw a line with lines like, "My husband doesn't like me chatting with strange men." Plus, it left a bitter aftertaste. She'd drop subtle hints about an unhappy marriage with Liu Biao.

So Xuzhou was the pick. It wasn't the safest, but it'd be peaceful for a while. I could suck up all her intelligence-related stats there.

"Hup!" I snatched the keys from the jailer's belt and roughly unlocked the bars.

"Let's go." I clapped Cai Yong on the shoulder and scanned the surroundings.

"Get me out too!!" "Hero!! I'm innocent!!" "These bastards torture people wildly! I'll die if this goes on! Please!!" The other prisoners pounded on their bars like mad.

I just unlocked the rest and set them free.

"Thank you!!" "Thanks!" The grubby prisoners bowed low in gratitude.

"Everyone, run!! Run and you'll live!" I shouted to reassure them, then led Cai Yong out of the prison.

Truth be told, it wasn't some heroic intent. These guys need to pull the aggro for me. Cai Yong was just a normal old man with no martial arts training. Lose sight of him, and he'd die in the melee instantly.

My own strength wasn't overwhelming enough to protect him flawlessly—that'd be a gamble.

Freeing the other prisoners was for that reason, exactly. While the soldiers chased them, their attention would split, letting me carve a path.

What, no heroic full-rescue? Nah. Know your limits. I'm not the top swordsman in the Central Plains. Can't protect everyone. My best was saving Cai Yong. Stick to what you can do—that's the key to not failing.

Anyway.

"Waaah!!" "Freedom!!" The prisoners bolted wildly toward the exit.

"Kuh... Prison break!!" "W-Wait, bodies?!" Soldiers rushed out in panic. As expected from Chang'an's yamen—tons of them.

"Old man!! This way!!" I dragged Cai Yong and sprinted straight out of the yamen.

"Catch them!! We have to!!" "Kiyot!! Outta the way!!" Escaping prisoners and pursuing soldiers turned everything into chaos. I dashed toward the thinnest stretch of the wall.

"There!! Grab that one!!" "We must catch Cai Yong!! The Prime Minister ordered his execution as an example!!" A few soldiers blocked our path, weapons drawn. Some in the back even held binding ropes.

"Come on!!! Bring it!!!" Hesitate here, and it was game over. I drew my sword and charged forward.

"Kkiiiyaaaak!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and swung wide.

"Kuh..." One soldier froze, rattled by my ferocious momentum.

Spuuuurt!!!

Clean wrist slice. The soldier's arm flew skyward, still clutching his axe.

I could've engaged the next foe, but having mastered the Changshan Native Sword, another way to break through occurred to me.

Thud!!

I snatched the airborne axe and hurled it sideways with all my might.

Spuuuurt!!!!

It felt like sweeping twigs. The axe's wide sweep blasted the front-line enemies away with massive force.

Clang.

The blade dulled after slicing six at once.

"What're you dawdling for!! Block them!!" A burly soldier hefted a massive spear to bar our way.

Whoooosh!!

Seemed tricky head-on, so I chucked the near-broken axe with gusto.

Spluuurt!!

It spun cleanly, cleaving the charging giant's skull wide open.

"Guhk...!!!"

Spuuuurt!!!

The soldier crumpled mid-stagger, brains and blood gushing from his shattered head.

Sweep with Gentleman Wind, then toss the battered weapon for an extra kill. Unbeatable strategy.

"What kind of beastly fighting is that..." Cai Yong seemed rattled by my brutal style.

Once out of the yamen, I aimed for the shortest path to the main gate.

It'd be tough, but weaving through the city crowds should cover us.

Mid-sprint through the streets with Cai Yong, I realized things weren't going smoothly.

"There!! Grab 'em!! The curly-haired one's there!!" Well-equipped soldiers surrounded us.

Clank. Click.

From their armor, I knew: Imperial Guards. Elite protectors of the palace.

"You sure know how to make a scene." Amid the Guards stood two figures.

A stuffy old man in silk robes—Wang Yun. Beside him, Cho Seon in flowing silks.

Hmm. She'd probably danced at the banquet to draw attention, but it hadn't worked out.

"Hand over that traitor. He composed poems flattering Dong Zhuo for meat and wine. And when Dong Zhuo died, he sent condolences. Utter scum." Wang Yun glared back at me.

"Why so extreme?" I stepped in front of Cai Yong, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠raising my Nam Un Geom.

"You flattered Dong Zhuo too when he was around, sharing the same pot. If you hated him that much, why not quit your post? Now that he's gone, you show your enmity—what's that about?" Wang Yun was just flexing now that Dong Zhuo was out. Loyalty to Han? Maybe real. But his actions crossed the line.

"You're just like me. Blood-mad." That was my verdict.

"You speak like you know me well." Wang Yun eyed me with simmering rage.

"Like recognizes like." I kill under my goals. So does he. Just keeps his hands clean.

"Seize them all. Kill if needed." Wang Yun waved dismissively.

Shit. Surrounded. Of all people, Wang Yun leading the Guards made it rough.

Clank.

One greedy Guard drew his sword and charged.

Whoooosh!!

He came in hot, but I was stronger now—not his match.

Clang.

I flicked his blade aside with Taiji Sword and slashed neatly at his gorget.

Spuuurt!!!

The Guard's head detached, soaring into the air.

"Come on." I glared at the others, sword ready.

"Kuh..." The Guards hesitated. They knew ganging up would work, but no one wants to die.

"What're you doing!! Seize them!! First to take their heads gets a post!!!" Wang Yun's shout spurred them.

How to break this? Brain racing in the crisis.

Quick conclusion.

Fwoosh!!!

I bolted full-tilt toward Wang Yun and Cho Seon.

"Kuh...!!" The Guards, sensing danger to Wang Yun, raised weapons to shield him.

Whoooosh!!!

I vaulted over them toward my target.

One way to survive: I roughly grabbed Cho Seon.

"Kyaaak?!!" She yelped in surprise, tumbling into my arms.

Shing.

I pressed my blade to her throat.

"Kuh.... Taking the lady hostage...!!" "Such cowardice...!!" "Barbarian scum..." The Guards froze like hit with hard CC.

Wang Yun doted on his daughter. Cho Seon as hostage worked.

"Sorry. Just for a bit." I whispered in her ear.

"A-Ah, okay..." She nodded softly. Good. This was scripted.

"Clear the way!! Or she gets it!!" I shouted, waving the sword wildly.

The path parted like the Red Sea.

Perfect. With Cho Seon, Cai Yong and I were safe. Drag her to the gate like this.

That's when.

"Hihihihihi!!!" Clop clop!! Two horses galloped through the streets.

"Kyaaak?" "Dodge!!" Crowds scattered from the mad dash.

Riding them: Yong Hwa and Choi Yeom.

"Yong Hwa!" They'd brought horses all the way? Insane instincts!!

"Hubby! We got worried and came! Hop on!!" Yong Hwa patted her jingle horse.

"Old man!! Get on!!" I hoisted Cai Yong onto Choi Yeom's horse, then leaped onto Yong Hwa's.

"Catch them somehow!!" At Wang Yun's cry, Guards drew shortbows from their belts, aiming.

They'd fire once we rode. We'd be pincushions.

Drop Cho Seon and we're dead. No choice—I slung her aboard like luggage.

"Kyuh..." Her whimper hit me. Felt like a dick now. Three ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on a jingle horse was cramped, but it was strong.

"Sh-Shoot?" A Guard asked Wang Yun.

"What if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you hit my daughter!!! Stand down!!" Bows lowered at his yell.

Go time.

"Now!!!" I spurred the horse.

Clop!!!!

The horse with Cho Seon bolted wildly.

"Cho Seon!! My daughter...!!" Wang Yun's stamping echoed faintly behind.

I'd sparked a massive prison break in Chang'an and kidnapped Wang Yun's daughter. Worst criminal ever. Fuck it. Whatever now.

For now, full speed to safety.