Canyon Pursuit (3)
After the time it took to eat a single meal had passed, Wang Yi Sam came bounding up the steep path carved into the cliffside.
“Caught ‘em, eh… Good work, junior… Huff… huff… huff……”
Wang Yi Sam panted as if on the verge of collapse, hoisting his broad dao high. Seo Baek traded a listless glance with Yu So Un, who had arrived ahead of him, then reined the man in.
“Lower the broad dao, sir. More to the point, you look ready to keel over.”
“Y’think? Huff… huff……”
Wang Yi Sam, drained to the point he couldn’t twitch a finger, promptly dropped the blade at Seo Baek’s words.
Spotting Son Il Seo and his companions, he asked,
“Why leave ‘em loose like that?”
“Where’d we get rope for that? Anyway, let’s talk.”
Seo Baek pulled Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam aside, away from the others, before speaking.
Yu So Un, having arrived early and gotten the rundown from Seo Baek, explained the situation to Wang Yi Sam.
When he finished, Wang Yi Sam bellowed,
“That filthy rat! No forgiveness for scum like that!”
“What’s it matter to them if we forgive or not?”
“Well, sure, but……”
“We’re helping them for one reason only: to make Cheon Ri Hyeong pay for deceiving us.”
Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam exchanged looks and grinned.
“Do it your way, junior.”
“Damn right! In the martial world, let yourself get played and everyone thinks you’re a joke.”
For once, Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam saw eye to eye.
“Just one issue remains.”
“What now?”
“Hard to say how much of their story to trust. Can’t wait around for Cheon Ri Hyeong to cross-examine them, either.”
“Ugh. Aiding fugitives but waiting for the pursuit squad? Makes no sense.”
Seo Baek cut straight to it with Son Il Seo’s group.
“Proof Cheon Ri Hyeong betrayed the Iron Palm Gang?”
“Plenty. Know how he slunk back alone that day?”
“The day the gang leader died, surrounded by the revenant horde?”
“Right. He was the only one who made it out alive. We reckon he ditched the rest on purpose.”
Then Chuk Yeong, who’d stayed quiet till now, spoke up.
“My brother was with the gang leader that day too… A few days later, he came back as a revenant……”
She trailed off, voice breaking, and Yang San filled in the rest.
“Chuk Yeong’s brother, Chuk Mu Dae—he was the gang leader’s personal guard.”
Chuk Mu Dae ranked second only to the gang leader in the Iron Palm Gang.
His lightness skill was especially swift; dozens of revenants were child’s play for him to evade.
He always led horde scouts and returned without fail.
For even Chuk Mu Dae to turn revenant……
“Cheon Ri Hyeong’s no match for him in speed, yet he escapes alone? Reeks of foul play.”
“……”
Seo Baek held his silence, no quick reply.
Son Il Seo’s crew had circumstantial evidence at best—no hard proof.
But it rang true enough.
No point in obvious lies; the pursuit squad would sniff them out in a heartbeat.
Time to move.
“They saw the signal flare. One squad’ll show soon.”
“Cheon Ri Hyeong’s got this Mo Sam Guk under him—knows the canyon like his palm, mountain goat too.”
Seo Baek spread the map for Yang San.
“Any ambush spots for the pursuit?”
“Here.”
Yang San jabbed where the straight canyon path broke off midway.
“Narrow pass—the only way through. Mo Sam Guk knows it for sure.”
A canyon with one exit.
Situation simplified.
Reach the exit first: fugitives win. Pursuit claims it and signals: game over.
Seo Baek tucked the map away.
“I’ll go ahead, block their ambush.”
“Solo?”
“All together? Too slow, too noisy.”
Son Il Seo’s group blinked in confusion at Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam when Seo Baek claimed the ambush solo.
But the pair just crossed their arms, unmoved. They knew what the boy could do.
A grizzled sword-for-hire and young martial artist handing the keys to a mere teen.
Incomprehensible—but they had to trust him.
Seo Baek pressed on, plan unfolding smoothly.
“Stop ‘em signaling.”
He handed Yu So Un one of two flares left.
“Spot another squad, flare up—signal us.”
“Turn Cheon Ri Hyeong’s flares against him? Fitting.”
“Hide till I arrive. Stall.”
“Four per squad—Wang Yi Sam drops one, I’ll mop up.”
Yu So Un shot Wang Yi Sam a doubtful side-eye.
Wang Yi Sam bristled.
“You solo three? Big talk!”
“No brag. Three shots do it.”
Yu So Un eyed the cliff path below.
Straight shot, uphill climb.
Blind charge meets unerring arrows—pierced clean!
Peak expert or bust to survive a master archer from above.
Wang Yi Sam got it, clammed up.
“Move out. You, carry the injured woman.”
Seo Baek tasked Yang San with Chuk Yeong—guessing lovers.
Spot on: they flushed, nodded.
“I’ll tote the kid.”
“Not a kid—Son Il Seo!”
“My apologies, didn’t recognize Iron Palm’s new boss.”
Yu So Un smirked, hoisted him.
Last: Seo Baek, Wang Yi Sam.
“Senior, need a piggyback?”
“What am I, invalid? Heart’ll burst ‘fore I let ya!”
“Good man.”
Seo Baek flashed a grin.
“Rear guard’s yours.”
Deep breath in, out—then he launched forward.
Thud.
Blue shadow blinked around the cliff bend, gone.
Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam unfazed; Son Il Seo’s lot gawked, jaws slack.
Towering cliffs scraped the sky, a mere slit wide enough for a carriage.
Sword-cleft screen, splayed wide.
Bypass it, days to escape canyon. Yang San’s ambush pick.
Mo Sam Guk’s squad hit it first.
Terrain ace Mo Sam Guk scaled ridges post-flare, overtook early.
The four eased pace, cooled sweat.
Leisure bred mockery.
“That brat. Thinks he’s jianghu vet—total fool.”
“Flares himself? We’re grateful.”
“Kid’s clueless. New boss sweet-talks, he bites.”
Distant gap: silhouette.
“Shh! Who?”
“Traitors? Beat us here? Nah.”
Gang tilted heads; Mo Sam Guk spoke.
“Early catch? Bonus. Fleeing to maternal kin—not Shaolin or Ami.”
“Mommy’s milk cravings.”
“Wahahahaha!”
Laughter boomed as they neared the gap.
Figure stood firm, blocking—no flight.
Like awaiting company……
Upslope to gap: shock at recognition.
“Finally here? Waited ages.”
“You… the brat?”
Head cocked, eyeing them: Seo Baek.
Mo Sam Guk swept gaze over his men.
“Saw your flare.”
“Noted.”
“Traitors where?”
“Cup of tea’s time, they’ll show.”
“Then you……”
“Came early. To wait.”
Said “they” meant this squad.
Misread entirely.
“Hoh, mapped their path here? Keen.”
“Iron Palm owes ya!”
Servants ape masters: endless honeyed words.
Seo Baek’s gaze: ice-cold, deaf to flattery.
“One question.”
“Shoot.”
“Day Iron Palm got swarmed—what’d you do?”
“Fled, duh.”
“Ditching leader and deputy?”
“No choice. Revenants laugh at beheading—run or die.”
“Like Cheon Ri Hyeong dumping his dad?”
Mo Sam Guk eyed men, snickered.
“Kid’s green.”
Others cackled.
“No tactics, kid. Retreat, not flight.”
“All die, gang’s done. Pity the dead—live on.”
“Jianghu’s like that. Capisce?”
“……”
Seo Baek scanned silent.
Iron Palm Gang: palm fame.
Palms demand vast qi, grind—swords easier fallback.
Grunts’ palms? Meh.
Mo Sam Guk: waist sword.
Two: broad daos, wide curve.
Last: sword, pristine hilt—dusty drawer.
Cool canyon, robe chest loose.
Quick-draw bosom stash.
Non-sword. Hidden weapons?
Silence: they figured him stumped, giggled.
“Jianghu’s warzone, kid. Die there? Your loss!”
“Spot on!”
Seo Baek at last:
“So you ditched Chuk Mu Dae too?”
“Eh? You know him?”
Mo Sam Guk shrugged.
“Strutted guard, yelled ‘flee’ at leader—dove horde. Leader croaked, he too. Foolish life-wasters end up dead.”
“Clear now.”
Cold query:
“Ignore the self-doomed? That it?”
“Finally gets it. Senior wisdom—engrave it.”
“Got it.”
Whoosh. Howl.
Fierce gale whipped Mo Sam Guk’s hair like a lunatic’s.
“What this brat just……”
Unfinished.
Foam bubbled lips, eyes whites. Head slipped shoulders, thud to dirt.