The World Does Not Change (3)
“Senior.”
“How’d it go?”
Gadeuksang let out a sigh.
“All the remaining Shadow Warriors blew themselves up with explosives at the entrance to Muk Ryong Bu, turning it into a wasteland. I just confirmed it.”
“I see.”
Paeryul, who had been gazing southwest, nodded.
“Got it.”
“Senior.”
“……?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For picking a fight with you over nothing before.”
“When did you ever pick a fight with me? If you had, I’d have taken your head.”
It was an uncharacteristic joke. That made Gadeuksang feel even more guilty toward him.
Senior’s hurting plenty too.
Not all of the Moyong family’s Shadow Warriors, disguised as merchants from the Gwiju Merchant Association, were dead. Yeon Hojeong had tried to persuade them somehow, and when the number left had dwindled to fifty-two, they finally stopped their attacks.
Afterward, Yeon Hojeong had fervently implored them, or so he’d said. He’d begged them endlessly that they didn’t need to die like this—that it’d be better to land one solid blow on Moyong Gun instead.
But they couldn’t. Every last Shadow Warrior was afflicted with chronic poison. Without the antidote in time, death was inevitable. Naturally, Moyong Gun had no intention of giving it to them.
Die this way or that—they were doomed either way. And if they didn’t die, their families held captive by Moyong Gun would suffer miserable fates. That was why they’d charged so ferociously.
In the end, swayed by Yeon Hojeong’s persuasion, they’d staked their lives to deliver that blow to Moyong Gun.
I will never forget your names.
Gadeuksang sighed again. Watching him, Paeryul spoke in a listless tone.
“What’s with all the sighing from a beggar like you?”
“Can’t beggars sigh?”
“You’re already a beggar with no luck to speak of. You’ll scare off what little you have.”
“Heh heh, you worried about me?”
Shing.
“……Sorry.”
Paeryul snorted and sheathed his blade.
“We should get moving too.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where was the spot again?”
“……”
“What?”
“Sometimes you’re so wise, but other times you’re just plain dumb.”
Ching!
“Ow! I’m kidding! Real kidding!”
“Cheap joke. Costs you just one life.”
“S-sorry!”
“Hmph.”
Gadeuksang smacked his lips.
“Head northwest from Changsa to Ik Yang. First, take the outer roads around Changsa.”
“Got it.”
Up until then, Jegal A-yeon had been silent. Now she spoke up.
“Um……”
“What’re you doing? Get ready. Dang Sang-a, you too.”
“S-Senior?”
“What?”
“Well……”
Paeryul scowled.
“You turning into this beggar too? Spit it out already.”
Jegal A-yeon swallowed hard.
“I think we overlooked something.”
“What?”
“Muk Ryong Bu’s reaction.”
“What?”
“I thought this distance was enough……but apparently not?”
Wondering what she meant, Paeryul turned. His face hardened instantly. Horror spread across Gadeuksang’s features too.
“Th-that’s……?!”
Rumble.
Around Ak Lok San, where Muk Ryong Bu was located. A band of riders kicked up dust clouds, scattering in all directions.
No, “band” didn’t fit. The warriors who’d appeared numbered well over a hundred—no, a thousand.
“……Looks like over a thousand at a glance?”
“Damn it.”
Paeryul bellowed.
“Move!”
Whoosh!
The four dove into the underbrush.
Quiet!
The distance was far, but who knew? This was near Changsa, in Hunan—swarming with black path informants. Unfortunately, only Paeryul could properly detect them. Even he could only do so when calm; in this emergency, his senses wavered.
Dang Sang-a sent a transmission to Jegal A-yeon.
[They reacted fast, little sis?]
[Makes sense. The entrance collapsed entirely. But I didn’t expect elites like that lying in wait nearby.]
Jegal A-yeon gritted her teeth.
[My fault. With their deputy down, of course they’d be on high alert.]
[Not your fault, sis. Don’t sweat it. Still, where’d they come from? If they’d been ambushing all along, the Shadow Warriors would’ve been caught……]
[They wore merchant garb. Couldn’t just kill them without knowing their intent.]
[R-right?]
[Yeah. Slaughtering everyone nearby would broadcast some shady group’s here.]
[Huh, true.]
Dang Sang-a scratched her head, nodding.
[But do we need to run like this? They don’t know us anyway?]
[Ugh.]
Jegal A-yeon nearly tripped.
[Sis! Black path informants already know our faces! We faked our deaths blowing up the manor—if we’re spotted, it’s over!]
[Oh……so we’re in deep now?]
[Super deep!]
[We won’t see them again anyway?]
[If we escape clean.]
[Alright, good.]
Dang Sang-a pulled a small golden pouch from her bosom. No time for anyone to stop her—she hurled it far into the northeast brush.
Pop!
The pouch burst, spreading purple powder. Jegal A-yeon’s eyes went wide.
[Sis? Wh-what was that?]
[Danjang Powder. Family secret ultimate poison.]
[Why throw that……?]
[They’re fanning out. Gotta fool ‘em.]
[Then behind us!]
[Nope.]
[Huh?]
[That’d scream we’re heading this way.]
[……Ah!]
Jegal A-yeon pounded her head. She’d just said they couldn’t kill indiscriminately or reveal the location. Dang Sang-a’s trap was an adaptation of that.
Such quick thinking in a pinch—impressive.
[Amazing, sis!]
Dang Sang-a blushed.
[It’s nothing……]
Then Paeryul grumbled openly.
“Having fun? Here to play?”
“……He says you’re too loud, senior.”
“With those bastards thundering around? Loud my ass.”
“Oh.”
Jegal A-yeon and Dang Sang-a bowed their heads. They’d tensed up and needlessly transmitted.
“But good pouch toss. It’ll shake ‘em off for now.”
“Th-thanks.”
“No more yapping. Run.”
“Yes!”
The four slipped out of the brush stealthily—yet as fast as possible.
“Whew, safe now?”
Gadeuksang wiped his brow. Tension sweat.
Paeryul nodded.
“This distance should be fine. Watch for black path informants now. Everyone, hoods up.”
“Yes!”
The group donned their hoods. How long had they walked?
Rumble.
Paeryul’s eyes gleamed.
“Fast.”
Many of the thousand-plus elites were heading north. Some already felled by Dang Sang-a’s poison.
“Act natural, keep walking. Brush in two hundred jang. Blend with the crowd.”
“Understood.”
Then—
Boom!
A massive explosion. An entire building collapsed.
“Aaaagh!”
“S-save me!”
“Run! Ru…… Aaaagh!”
The four halted. Explosion, screams. They whipped around to the source.
“……!!”
Horror dawned on their faces.
Splat!
“Gaaah!”
“Mommy! M-Mom…… Gah!”
“Mercy! Please! I have kids…… Cough.”
A brutal massacre. Thirty-odd elites from near Ak Lok San slashed indiscriminately at civilians. No words—just feral eyes and blades. Pure slaughter.
Tremble.
Gadeuksang’s fists shook. Jegal A-yeon grabbed his arm. But her eyes were bloodshot too.
Then a warrior shouted.
“Accomplices among them! Kill everyone in Changsa if you must—find them!”
Absurd logic. Sure, not just grunts would suicide-bomb, so a commander nearby made sense. They’d grasped the plot well—but the method was insane.
No group in the world massacres for a spy. These were Cham Baek Dan—Muk Ryong Bu’s most vicious unit. Rarely deployed, each a black path demon.
“Gaaah!”
“Daddy! D……”
“Aaaagh! Mercy!”
Horrific screams, merciless terror, mad butchery.
Crack!
Dang Sang-a’s dagger crumbled in her grip. Her fury shattered it.
But neither she nor Jegal A-yeon could act. Enraged to their limits, they knew intervening would complicate everything.
Then—
Whoosh!
Gadeuksang shot forward like a gale.
“You crazy sons of bitches!!”
Boom!
A flashy blast. Two Cham Baek Dan warriors vomited blood, flying back. Heavy palm strike, immense power. Channeling full inner energy, it hit like a thousand-geun boulder.
Whoosh!
Killing intent surged from Gadeuksang.
“You worthless shits!”
One warrior bellowed through boiling rage.
“Suspicious! C……”
Gadeuksang’s leg whipped like a flail.
Splat!
The warrior’s head exploded. Uncharacteristic vicious kill. Showed his fury.
“Fuckers! Come on! Come get me, you lunatics! Kill me too!”
One pulled a small flute.
Squeak!
Thud!
The note cut short. A steel dart embedded in his forehead.
Flutter.
Dang Sang-a stood beside Gadeuksang, daggers ready. She couldn’t hold back anymore.
Warriors yelled from all sides.
“Enemy!”
“These guys!”
“No! More might be around! Call the whole brigade!”
Then—
“Sorry, but it’s just us. Don’t be a pain—call everyone at once.”
Boom!
A monstrous flash pierced five warriors, gouging huge holes. Paeryul, now in full battle mode, spoke in chilling cold.
“Beggar.”
Gadeuksang roared in fury.
“Don’t stop me!”
“Good job.”
“……!”
“You stepping up saved my face. I was agonizing over it.”
Snap!
Jegal A-yeon, soaring like a fairy, snapped a Cham Baek Dan warrior’s neck.
The four backed into a circle, glaring outward.
Killing intent swirled in Paeryul’s eyes.
“Forget the mission. Save people first.”