See You in the Cartel Someday

Having narrowly escaped absolute peril, Cheol Gun-ak and Somubaek caught their breath in Yeon-hoo's residence. There, Yeon-hoo heard the full story from the two men. It was then that Cheol-u returned.

"Just in case, I subdued one and hid him in the woods. I shook off the rest."

Cheol Gun-ak and Somubaek couldn't hide their astonishment. It was shocking enough that Cheol-u had evaded the pursuers alone, but to have even captured one?

Just how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠formidable is this man's power...?

But Yeon-hoo's reaction was different.

"Capturing one was an unwise choice."

"...Pardon?"

"When they realize one of their own is missing, they won't leave this area until they track him down."

"My apologies. I didn't consider that far."

"Enough. I'll meet him myself tomorrow. Go rest now."

"Yes, my lord."

Once Cheol-u withdrew, Yeon-hoo turned to Somubaek and Cheol Gun-ak.

"It would be safest for you to stay with me for a while."

"We're grateful, but we wouldn't want to bring trouble upon you because of us..."

"I don't concern myself with such things. And as I said earlier, remember it's not for free."

The words could be interpreted in different ways, but they eased Cheol Gun-ak and Somubaek's minds instead. They took it as Yeon-hoo deliberately lightening their burden.

Cheol Gun-ak bowed his head.

"We will never forget this grace. From today, treat us as your limbs for secrecy's sake. We'll serve you as our lord."

Yeon-hoo fixed his gaze on Somubaek.

"Can you do that?"

"Of course."

Somubaek smiled brightly instead. Yeon-hoo found himself newly impressed by the man. But some lines needed to be drawn firmly.

"Don't expect special treatment just because you're my brother's friend. He stopped at young master, but I will become a lord."

"Of course. I'd prefer you treat me without reserve anyway."

The next morning, Yeon-hoo went to see the White Night Cartel pursuer that Cheol-u had subdued. There were no external wounds, but the man's pallid face—devoid of any color—and the bloodstains on his white robes betrayed severe internal injuries.

"Release him."

"Yes, my lord."

Cheol-u undid the pressure points, but the man in white remained seated motionlessly. Instead, he looked up at Yeon-hoo with uncanny calm.

"What is your relation to the young master?"

"Hey, I ask the questions."

Yeon-hoo perched on a jagged rock opposite him.

"Did the Great Earth Sovereign send you?"

"I can't tell you anything. But let me see the young master, and I'll reveal everything."

"What a joker. You chased us to kill, and now you want an audience?"

"It seems there's a misunderstanding. We came to escort the young master. If we'd meant to kill him, we'd have chosen other methods—and we had plenty of chances."

This guy's no liar.

Yeon-hoo narrowed his eyes. The man's tone could be faked, but those eyes held no deception.

No need to complicate things.

Yeon-hoo gazed toward the opposite woods, where Somubaek and Cheol Gun-ak waited. With a nod, the two emerged from the trees.

Somubaek's eyes, fixed on the man in white, brimmed with complication. He hadn't realized it last night, but this was someone he'd seen often in the White Night Cartel.

"I didn't expect you to be the one pursuing me."

"As I said, we weren't pursuing—we came to fetch you."

"If that was the goal, you could have sent word through secret branch experts or outposts. But you didn't. You mobilized a tracking squad and came alone?"

"Drive these men away, and I'll tell you everything."

"Are you trustworthy?"

"...!"

"Speak. If I deem it false, I'll cut your throat myself."

Under Somubaek's resolute tone, the man in white bit his lip, hesitating. Then came the shocking revelation.

"The Great Earth Sovereign and the young lord... suddenly collapsed into unconsciousness. Every physician in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Cartel rushed in, but to no avail. The Elder Council Leader ordered us to retrieve the young master—the only one qualified to succeed—in case of emergency."

Thud!

Shock rippled through them all. Even Yeon-hoo felt thunder crash in his mind.

Cheol Gun-ak asked gravely, "An ambush?"

"Nothing was known when we left the Cartel."

"In such a time-sensitive crisis, why come alone? You should have mobilized everyone!"

Shing!

Cheol Gun-ak drew his sword, aiming at the man's throat. Unfazed, the man continued.

"The Elder Council Leader said no one must know."

Yeon-hoo interjected.

"If true, I'd have done the same. Word spreads, and the world flips."

"..."

Yeon-hoo asked the man in white, "When did this happen?"

The man still hesitated to answer Yeon-hoo directly. But he soon relented.

"Two days before the grand assembly."

"Was the assembly canceled because of this?"

"Yes."

If true, everything fit perfectly. The issue was verifying it. Too grave to trust eyes alone.

Yeon-hoo turned to Somubaek, who stood dazed, lost in successive shocks.

"We need to confirm if he's telling the truth."

"How?" Cheol Gun-ak asked.

Yeon-hoo furrowed his brow.

"I have a sorcery I'd rather not use... It might look gruesome, so step back."

"Understood."

Cheol Gun-ak grabbed Somubaek's arm. As they turned, a desperate transmission voice pierced Somubaek's ear.

Somubaek's eyes trembled as he entered the woods. How much time passed?

"Come out."

At Yeon-hoo's voice, Somubaek emerged before Cheol Gun-ak—though less than a quarter-hour had passed, it felt an eternity. In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that time, he had decided: return or not.

"No lie."

At Yeon-hoo's words, Somubaek stared at the man. Waxy pale, blood trickled from nose and mouth. Yet his eyes blazed toward Somubaek like ignited flames.

Cheol-u raised his sword to the man's throat.

"Sheathe it. If true, he has no reason to die."

Clang.

Cheol-u withdrew. Somubaek met Yeon-hoo's gaze. Their eyes locked fiercely in the air.

"I have words for you."

"I know."

Is returning to the Cartel my fate?

Cheol Gun-ak recalled Somubaek's words in the woods earlier and sighed softly. He could only pledge to follow Somubaek's will. Knowing better than anyone the throne awaiting him, he couldn't dissuade—those eyes burned with aspiration.

If that's the master's fate, he must follow it.

Whoosh!

A chill wind clawed his face. Cheol Gun-ak smoothed his disheveled hair and glanced at the man in white. The sorcery's aftermath lingered: pallor and dulled eyes showed no improvement.

Watching him stirred fresh curiosity about Cheol-u. This man was a master. Skilled in pursuit arts. With iron will, he'd sooner die than be captured. Defeat in battle? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Understandable. But live capture—far harder than killing—was unbelievable.

...Unless.

A sudden thought struck. Cheol Gun-ak sent a transmission.

The man looked up, lips twitching amid dried blood and hazy eyes. Internal wounds barred transmission, but he nodded faintly with a blurred smile.

As I thought...

Understanding dawned. Emotion welled from deep within. To a warrior, defeat was worse than death. Yet he'd endured it to convey the truth to Somubaek.

Cheol Gun-ak bowed, pressing his palm to the man's back.

"I'll infuse qi. Endure the pain."

"Stop."

Cheol-u intervened. Cheol Gun-ak looked up.

"This much should be fine, no?"

"One mistake, and he dies. My lord's power is nothing like what rivers-and-lakes warriors imagine."

"...Understood. Thank you."

Cheol Gun-ak withdrew. Cheol-u eyed the man oddly, then spoke flatly to Cheol Gun-ak.

"Don't worry. I'll beg my lord if needed to heal him."

"Thank you."

"No thanks needed. I have unfinished business with him."

"Unfinished...?"

"Ask him."

Cheol Gun-ak glanced bewildered between them, then realization hit. He stared anew at Cheol-u.

You knew from the start that Seok—the hall leader—didn't go all out.

His heart raced. One bore humiliation for duty, choosing capture. The other granted a second chance to a half-hearted foe—potentially insulting, yet noble.

This is a true warrior's way...

Then the woods rustled. Yeon-hoo and Somubaek emerged. All eyes turned. Yeon-hoo stared straight at Cheol Gun-ak.

"See you in the Cartel someday."