Chapter 52: Dispatch-2
Chapter 52: Dispatch-2
We were able to obtain intelligence regarding the Georyeokma at the Hao Gate branch located in Seonwi, Guijuseong.
No, to be precise, it was intelligence about why the Georyeokma's whereabouts could not be found.
The Twelfth Daeju, Man Jong-im, muttered in a grim tone.
"Hmm, you're saying they disguised themselves as ronin and moved?"
According to the intelligence, the winds of war had been swirling over the western part of Guijuseong recently.
It was a clash between the Jeonghyeopbang, which wielded power in Sichuan Province, and the Un Clan and the Sangeommun, who held two of the seats among the Guizhou Eight Families. There had already been one battle, and it was said the situation was about to escalate further.
Because of that, most of Guizhou's ronin were currently heading there, and groups of cash-strapped ronin banding together and traveling by cart could be seen everywhere.
The Hao Gate's explanation was that if the Georyeokma had infiltrated and moved among them, it would naturally be impossible to track their whereabouts.
Furthermore, the Hao Gate also asserted that they had definitely not entered Seonwi itself.
Since most martial artists were heading out, if outsiders had entered Seonwi, there was absolutely no way they wouldn't know.
Do Mu-gon, the leader of the Twelfth Squad's First Squad, asked Man Jong-im with a dark face.
"In the end, those bastards went to Guijuseong. What will you do, Daeju-nim?"
Man Jong-im gritted his teeth and answered.
"What do you mean, what will I do! We follow them! I will never let them get away!"
Then, the Jeomchang Sword Tiger, Je Won-yeong, asked.
"But where exactly do we follow them to? If they've already mixed in with the ronin and gone up all the way to Guijuseong, they could go in any direction after that, couldn't they? How can we possibly pursue them?"
"Hmm."
Man Jong-im couldn't answer Je Won-yeong's question.
It was because he felt Je Won-yeong's question was too valid even for him to be stubborn about.
But my thoughts were different.
"No, they probably went toward either the Jeonghyeopbang or the Un Clan."
Everyone focused on me with puzzled eyes.
Je Won-yeong asked.
"Those bastards? Why do you think so?"
Memories of my past life suddenly came to mind.
Memories of household members who had been soul-possessed by the Blood Cult without anyone knowing when, memories of that chaotic time when you couldn't tell friend from foe.
I looked around at the people with sharp eyes and opened my mouth.
"The Georyeokma crossed the front line at precisely the time a conflict between massive factions breaks out. And then they naturally joined up with the ronin, not inside Seonwi but at its entrance, and moved to Guijuseong. Don't you think all of this has proceeded far too naturally and cleanly, without a single hitch?"
But most of the people couldn't grasp the meaning of my words. While they were merely frowning, only Cheongyeon seemed to realize something immediately and asked me.
"It was a predetermined plan from the start? You think there are more of them."
It was Cheongyeon, as expected.
I grinned and nodded.
"I think it's probably one of the three."
"Couldn't it be two?"
"Looking at the current situation, I don't think it's both."
"Hmm, then it's one of two, not three."
"Probably."
Having said that much, Cheongyeon shook her head with a laugh, as if dumbfounded.
"So the non-aggression treaty really was completely meaningless. If I could, I'd like to turn back time and observe what kind of conversation took place."
Je Won-yeong, who had been listening to our conversation with a blank face, cautiously asked Bi Sa-yeong.
"What in the world are they talking about? Am I the only one not understanding this?"
Then Bi Sa-yeong answered with a bright smile.
"Don't worry. I have absolutely no idea either. But wait just a moment. That friend of ours will soon translate it into human language for us."
At those words, the other squad members smiled brightly too and nodded. It was a laugh akin to that of enlightened Taoists.
I immediately began explaining to them.
"My thought is this. The series of events so far appears to be the Georyeokma moving according to a well-crafted plan, rather than impulsively crossing the front line."
Man Jong-im frowned and asked back.
"Moving according to a plan? How so?"
"Someone ordered the Georyeokma to arrive in front of Seonwi right on time, and then picked them up from there to transport them immediately."
"...Wha, what? Who in the world would do such a thing?!"
"Who else? It would be a Blood Cult force positioned north of the front line. No, should I call it a forward base?"
"What?!"
At my words, everyone's faces became shocked.
Man Jong-im stammered as he asked.
"D-Does that even make sense? How could those bastards form a force north of the front line?"
In my past life, I had been curious about that too.
Just when and how had they managed to establish forces throughout places north of the front line.
It seemed I had only now found the answer to that question.
"Up until now, we only thought that the demon heads of the Blood Cult bursting out of Yunnan Province was because they were dissatisfied with the Blood Demon's rule. We even thought it was the Blood Demon's ploy to kill with a borrowed knife. But what if some of them didn't escape for that reason? What if they actually left Yunnan Province on the Blood Demon's orders?"
"Th-That..."
While everyone was standing stunned with shocked faces, Seolpung Jojang, who was the first to regain his senses, asked me.
"Then what about what you said earlier, one of the three?"
"If my hypothesis is correct, the reason the Georyeokma are moving now is because there's a place that needs their military force. So I think one of the three factions currently in conflict at the ronins' destination is their forward base. One among the Jeonghyeopbang, the Un Clan, and the Sangeommun."
"Hmm!"
After finishing, I waited for a moment until the others could calm their shock and accept reality.
And when I figured enough time had passed, I asked Man Jong-im.
"So, what do you plan to do, Daeju-nim? If my prediction is correct, to pursue them, we must head north to the central part of Guijuseong. Also, even if we go there, there's no guarantee we'll find them. No, even if we do discover them, that would also be a problem. It would mean their numbers and strength are far greater than we expected."
But even with my warning, Man Jong-im answered as if there was nothing more to consider.
"Hmph! I have already sworn to heaven that I will never let those bastards live! Even if their strength is far greater and stronger than expected, do you think I would give up?!"
I smiled faintly at his answer and nodded.
"I see. Understood."
There was nothing more to say.
Because I was of the same mind.
Even if he said he wouldn't go, I had intended to persuade at least our squad members and go.
Truthfully, I had come out on this dispatch thinking of it as a picnic.
Because I had figured we'd lose the enemy's trail anyway and the pursuit would be thwarted.
But now that I knew the Blood Cult's influence had already extended above the front line, and we had even grasped a clue, I absolutely could not turn back like this.
For the sake of the future, I had to pull on that clue and tear out its roots.
And so, we all decided to head together to the branch hall in the northwestern part of Guijuseong, where the winds of war were said to be swirling.
However, that course of action did not proceed smoothly.
Man Jong-im said to me with a scrunched-up face.
"As frontline personnel, it is our natural duty to report the facts we've learned and our movements to the alliance. Just why are you telling us not to report this?"
This time, his words were clearly valid.
But I wanted to somehow stop that valid action.
"I say again, if you intend to just convey the facts and return like this, I think reporting it doesn't matter. But if we report that we are moving to the northern part of Guijuseong, the alliance will certainly try to stop us."
That was it. In my past life, the dispatched personnel had turned back because the alliance hadn't permitted them to go north, so naturally, it would be the same this time.
But Man Jong-im, who had no memories of his past life, asked as if dumbfounded.
"What nonsense is that? Why in the world would the alliance try to stop us?!"
I even wanted to say that they might not just try to stop us, but kill us to stop us if it came down to it, but it was pointless for him who knew nothing of the Shadow Unit, let alone memories of a past life.
Ultimately, thinking there was no way to persuade him, I let out a sigh and said.
"If you truly think so, then report it. However, if things turn out as I say this time, please be sure to listen to me next time."
Then he glared at me with displeased eyes and sent a messenger pigeon exclusive to Daejus, reporting our situation and decision to the Murim Alliance.
It was regrettable, but there was nothing to be done.
After that, the warriors of the Murim Alliance blocked our path later that afternoon, just as we were leaving Yunnan Province and entering Guizhou Province.
"Halt!"
The ones who appeared before us were eleven men in black, wearing large bamboo hats pulled down low.
Our squad members, who had already seen that same attire before, could recognize them immediately.
It was the Shadow Unit.
They asked.
"Are you the Twelfth Daeju of the Flying Dragon Squad, Man Jong-im Daehyeop?"
At that, Man Jong-im, who had been on guard and ready to draw his blade immediately, asked with a glint of interest in his eyes.
"You know me. Who are you?"
The man in the black bamboo hat, who appeared to be their leader, stepped forward and clasped his fists in greeting.
"It is an honor to meet you. We have come from the alliance."
"The alliance? You're saying you're warriors of the alliance?"
Only then did Man Jong-im relax his guard and show a glad expression.
But despite his welcoming air, the bamboo hat man got straight to the point without another word.
"We received the report sent by Man Daehyeop well. The task of pursuing the Georyeokma you mentioned will be taken over by us, the alliance's warriors. Man Daehyeop and the Flying Dragon Unit members may return now."
Hearing those words, Man Jong-im was utterly shocked.
"What? What do you mean? Telling us to go back?"
It was exactly as I had expected.
But Man Jong-im, who hadn't expected it at all, looked very flustered by this situation.
The man in the black bamboo hat replied in a cold tone.
"Matters outside Yunnan Province will be handled by us, the alliance's warriors. All members of the Flying Dragon Unit, please focus your attention solely on maintaining the front line."
His choice of vocabulary was somewhat polite, but his attitude wasn't polite at all.
Rather, it was very stiff, to the point of feeling coercive.
Man Jong-im glanced at my face, then spoke to them with a slightly angry expression.
"You must have already been briefed, but those bastards killed close to twenty of my squad members. I swore to heaven I would absolutely not return until I've torn those bastards to shreds!"
But their attitude didn't change in the slightest.
"It is the alliance's policy that the Flying Dragon Unit members guard the front line and that we handle matters beyond it. As you belong to the alliance, please follow the rules."
"Why, what is this...!"
Man Jong-im seemed at a loss for words at their impenetrable attitude.
For now, I subtly glanced back towards Cheongyeon.
Then, I could see that she was already standing as if hidden behind Bae Jong-gwan's large frame.
She seemed to be trying to avoid the Shadow Unit's notice.
Having confirmed her position, I could now step forward with peace of mind.
"That is quite strange. It sounds like you're saying you intend to lock the Flying Dragon Unit members up on the front line. Isn't that right, Daeju-nim?"
The bamboo hat man, who had been staring as if slightly flustered by my words for a moment, opened his mouth again.
"That is not the case. It is merely the alliance's rule..."
"So, why must we follow the alliance's rule? Purely speaking, we are a sort of volunteer army, gathered at the front line of our own will to stop the Blood Cult, not a warrior troop belonging to the alliance."
"...Do not be unreasonable. Did you not clearly sign an oath when you entered the Flying Dragon Unit?"
"An oath, of course we wrote one. A secrecy oath, that is. But was that document about joining the alliance? I don't recall such content. Nor was there any content restricting movement to places other than the front line."
This time, it seemed my words had left the bamboo hat man speechless.
His eyes, visible under the bamboo hat, were glaring at me.
And I could also feel killing intent gradually seeping into those eyes.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"I tell you again, this is the alliance's rule. If you will not follow the rule, we too have no other choice."
No other choice, he said.
Somehow, I felt like I could smell blood from those words.
It was a powerful momentum, but I smirked and spoke fiercely myself.
"We are on our way to avenge our comrades right now. Is there any rule in the martial world's laws more important than revenge? If you wish to stop our act of vengeance, then first make us understand why you must. Don't just repeat the word 'rule,' the substance of which is unknowable, like a parrot. When, and why, did a rule that even the frontline personnel don't know about come into existence?!"
Having said that, I subtly asked Man Jong-im.
"Isn't that right, Daeju-nim?"
"Uh, huh? Of course. Absolutely right!"
Having slightly diverted the opponent's attention to Man Jong-im, I smiled lightly and delivered the final decisive blow.
"Of course, it's not that I can't understand your position, having to follow orders from above. But if you blindly follow orders from above without even judging whether they are right or wrong.... Can that be called a murim-in? No, what is a murim-in? You'd be nothing more than a dog or a pig, not even a person. Don't you think so?"
When I had provoked the dog or pig before my eyes like that, he, who had been glaring at me as if he would kill me, finally left only his last words behind and departed.
"You will regret this."
I was a little disappointed.
I had expected him to fly into a rage and attack on the spot.
But I could predict that even if not here and now, it would be at a point not too far off.
I looked at their retreating figures and thought with a subtle smile that who would regret it was something still unknowable.