Very Strange Pursuers
After finishing their meal, Yeon-hoo sat facing Bukgung Pae.
"I think it's time we part ways here."
"Ah... yes."
Bukgung Pae was inwardly flustered. When he had announced his departure, Yeon-hoo had insisted on escorting him all the way to the Iron Blood Family for safety. Yet now, he wanted to say goodbye right here.
"You'll need to take off your clothes. All of them."
"...Pardon?"
"To shake off any potential pursuers from Hwangha Suryeon, I'm going to use a little ploy. That means we'll have to stay here for a few days."
"..."
"So, in other words..."
Yeon-hoo gave a brief explanation of what he planned to do. Once he finished speaking, Bukgung Pae expressed his gratitude.
"For you to go to such lengths for us... I truly don't know how to thank you. I will never forget this favor."
"The tea's getting cold. Drink up."
"May I ask one thing?"
"Go ahead."
"The southern regions of Northwest Murim overlap heavily with Hwangha Suryeon's sphere of influence. Is establishing a naval camp there... because of Hwangha Suryeon?"
"Exactly."
Yeon-hoo took a sip of tea and met Bukgung Pae's eyes directly as he continued. "I plan to drive them out completely from every area where our influences overlap. That should be the clearest answer to your question... Satisfied now?"
"Ah, yes."
"Then may I ask you something in turn?"
"Please do."
"This war... Do you intend to see it through to the end?"
"That's... not something I can speak on. Besides, my brother has never mentioned that matter to me specifically. My apologies."
Looking at the genuinely apologetic Bukgung Pae, Yeon-hoo found himself liking the man even more. Watching him brought someone else to mind: Sama Song, head of the Sama family, whom he had promoted to Elder Council Chairman in Song Gyeom's place. Their speech, demeanor, and way of treating others were strikingly similar.
"Take good care of the young master."
"...Pardon?"
"From what I saw, the young master seems to carry a deep wound in his heart. If you can heal that... Ah, I've overstepped. Sorry."
"Not at all. I'm simply grateful for your concern. As you said, I'll do my best to look after him."
It was then.
"My lord, it's me."
"Come in."
Seobaek opened the door and entered, followed by Jo Yeong. Both were carrying armfuls of clothes.
"Change into these. And when our forces give the signal to depart, leave then—you'll all make it home safely."
"Thank you, family head."
Seobaek added, "As instructed, I've had our warriors match the numbers from Geomga and stand by."
"Send them off with Songyeong when he returns. And you two go with them."
"Won't you be coming with us, my lord?"
"I have business to attend to."
"What kind of...?"
"That's enough. Out."
"...Yes."
Seobaek and Jo Yeong headed toward where Songyeong was. Jo Yeong grumbled.
"If it ends like this, it'll feel too unsatisfying..."
"What's so unsatisfying about it?"
"I haven't even had a proper fight. Honestly, when the chase started, I was excited—now's my chance to swing my sword for real—but it fizzled out."
Seobaek snorted.
"After that river battle, you're still not satisfied?"
"That barely scratched the itch. And honestly, we weren't fighting—we were just running. Ahem!"
It was true. Jo Yeong felt immense regret that his time traveling with Yeon-hoo was ending like this. He wanted to show his skills properly in front of Yeon-hoo and the others, earn recognition—but he hadn't even shown half of what he could do.
"You want the lord's approval that badly?"
"Honestly, yes."
"Do you know something?"
"What?"
"Our lord never travels with people he doesn't trust. In that sense, Brother Jo, you've already journeyed with him twice. You don't need to strive for extra recognition."
"...!"
"That look of pure emotion... you're really touched, huh?"
"I am. Heh heh."
"You sound just like Brother Bu Cha."
"Heh heh heh!"
"Cut it out. It's creepy."
A moment later, they arrived where several wagons were lined up—the ones Songyeong had used to haul iron and liquor. Songyeong was chatting with some warriors when he spotted Seobaek and Jo Yeong and approached.
"When do we leave?"
"Soon."
"How soon?"
"Once Geomga brings the clothes. You did save a few bottles of liquor, right?"
"Plenty left, don't worry. And a whole crate of killer snacks."
"Great!"
"Heh heh."
Jo Yeong's mouth split into a grin from ear to ear.
"Ah, I said don't smile like that!"
"Heh heh."
Songyeong frowned at Jo Yeong's eerie laugh.
"You sound just like Brother Bu Cha. But it doesn't suit you at all, you know?"
The laughter cut off.
From a vantage point overlooking the entire construction site, Hwangtae watched every person leaving the camp. With so many coming and going, monitoring everything alone was no easy task. But his burning obsession with Yeon-hoo sharpened his focus beyond normal limits.
About two hours passed like that. Hwangtae's eyes flashed when he spotted several wagons and dozens of warriors departing the site. Among the warriors were Geomga's men, heading precisely northeast toward the Iron Blood Family.
Hwangtae quietly descended the ridge and followed. Soon, he closed in enough to identify faces with the naked eye.
'Hm?'
A glint entered Hwangtae's eyes. His qi-infused gaze scanned the Geomga warriors sharply—then locked on their shoes. While their battle-worn uniforms were ragged from fights and chases, their footwear was pristine.
'Nearly chased the wrong ones.'
Realizing he'd been fooled by a disguise tactic, Hwangtae recalled other groups that had left around the same time. One in particular stood out: a group heading west.
He couldn't be sure, but he had to check. He regretted sending his subordinates away—they could have tailed multiple groups at once. But spilled water; he'd handle it alone.
Whoosh!
Hwangtae launched himself westward. After he vanished, Son Gyeom emerged from the forest thirty zhang away.
'Chase like a hunting dog. I'll just chase you.'
He muttered inwardly but didn't move. After about fifteen minutes, he pulled a small flute from his bosom and blew.
Piiiii.
A low bird cry spread out. Moments later, an eagle appeared overhead and perched on Son Gyeom's shoulder. He whispered something like an incantation; the eagle took flight again, pursuing Hwangtae's direction.
Only then did Son Gyeom move.
'Not even a winged bird can escape my tracking.'
Seobaek and Songyeong sat side by side in one wagon. Songyeong, driving, tilted his head.
"No matter how I think about it, I don't get it."
"What?"
"Why did the lord say not to change shoes? To fool pursuers perfectly, shouldn't we swap those too?"
"Don't question it. Don't wonder."
"Huh?"
"The lord has his reasons. We just follow orders. It's always worked—no mistakes so far."
"True, but..."
"What puzzles me is why bother with this? Just eliminate them."
"Right? Why this way?"
"No idea."
"No clues at all?"
"None."
"He wouldn't be using us as bait, would he?"
"Don't be stupid. Not with who's here..."
Seobaek glanced back at the wagon, twitched his nose, and peered behind. The site was long out of sight. Only a massive watchtower piercing the forest canopy remained visible.
Then, Dongbang Ri's voice came from inside the wagon.
"It's time to turn north."
"Aye!"
Songyeong veered north; the trailing wagons followed suit. Yeon-hoo's voice echoed in Seobaek's mind: Once you reach the main road, head straight north. No one will pursue from there.
Seobaek frowned inwardly. I get not changing shoes to confuse pursuers, but after that? No clue.
Thwack thwack.
Frustrated, Seobaek smacked his own head a few times. Songyeong eyed him oddly.
"Why the sudden self-harm?"
Whoooosh!
Atop a swaying ancient tree in the fierce wind, Yeon-hoo and Cheol-u stood side by side. Their gazes weren't on the group heading to Iron Blood Family, but westward—where Hwangtae and Son Gyeom were moving.
Yeon-hoo narrowed his eyes.
"Strange. Not only are we being pursued, but someone's tailing our pursuer..."
"What shall we do?"
"Stick to the plan—head home. As I said, no time to dally with assassins. Unless they follow us all the way, but then it's a different story."
"Understood."
Yeon-hoo glanced at Dongbang Ri and Seobaek's wagons, now mere black dots.
"May I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"I'm curious why you deliberately exposed flaws while disguising as Geomga experts."
"I figured they'd notice that much."
"To confuse the pursuers... Honestly, that's all I can think of."
"Spot on."
"...Pardon?"
"Thanks to it, they're heading west to Byeokryeokga instead of home. Perfect confusion."
"That's... really all?"
Seobaek snorted at Cheol-u's bewildered expression.
"You thought it was something grand. That's your problem—overthinking everything."
"..."
"Sometimes, the simplest ploy is the most intricate and effective. When we get back, learn Go from Elder Sama. It'll help curb that overactive mind of yours."
"...Yes."
"Let's go."
Yeon-hoo leaped down from the tree. Two horses grazed in a nearby clearing. As he approached, he frowned.
'That eagle from before?'
The eagle that had appeared earlier nagged at him. It had bothered him since the river chase with Hwangha Suryeon. He couldn't confirm if it was the same one, but his gut said yes.
'If Hwangha Suryeon can command eagles, it'd be a massive threat to any faction using messenger birds...'
It would especially hinder his plan to expel their forces from overlapping regions in Northwest Murim.
'For now, extend archery range. Find other countermeasures later.'