Fortress Infiltration (2)
Namgung Jin rose from the bed, his sweat-glistened body shining as he took a drink of water.
Moyong Hwajeong, lying on the bed, pulled the blanket over herself and asked,
"Do you really think those Shaolin-bound intruders will sneak into the fortress?"
"Of course."
"There might be more than one of them."
"All the better."
There wasn't a shred of doubt in Namgung Jin's voice.
It stemmed from his unshakeable faith in himself.
"They rode horses when they burned the inn, so they'll come on foot. A week by foot to the fortress means tomorrow or the day after..."
"No, they'll strike at our expectations. Cut sleep and force-march, and they can stockpile stamina while arriving in five days."
"That means..."
"Exactly. They'll come tonight."
Moyong Hwajeong started in surprise, letting the blanket slip from her grasp. Her silken skin was fully exposed.
"Then they'll infiltrate the fortress."
"Infiltrate? I said they're coming, not that they'll get inside."
"What do you mean?"
"The sheer cliffs surrounding the fortress are as steep as a thousand-foot precipice. They won't come down easily."
"What if they're peak lightness skill masters? Couldn't they descend with Wall-Climbing Skill?"
Moyong Hwajeong subtly challenged him, a spark of competitive spirit igniting her desire to dent the overconfident man's ego, if only once.
"Even if they descend the cliffs, this ten-foot palisade blocks the way."
"Hmph, I could leap that myself. A true master goes without saying."
"The palisade isn't the issue. There's no escaping the watchtowers' eyes across the entire fortress."
Namgung Jin smiled, admiring her body.
"If the watchtower guards sound the alarm, archers will rain arrows. Our foes will turn into porcupines in an instant."
"Arrows are easy for me to block. Unless it's those special strongbows from the court."
"Well said. Do you know the Namgung family has connections to the court?"
"You mean..."
"I personally trained our Namgung warriors with those very court strongbows."
"Impressive."
Moyong Hwajeong wasn't mocking him; it was genuine admiration.
It was common knowledge among martial artists that the Namgung family harbored ambitions to topple Shaolin and the Murim Alliance.
But to join hands with the court and acquire even the strongbows meant for the emperor's guards...
Namgung Jin, interim leader of the Five Families Alliance, was undeniably resourceful.
Moyong Hwajeong, unable to shake his confidence despite grasping at straws several times, changed the subject.
"What about using the hostages?"
"Bait would be ideal, but it hardly matters. My plan is complete with the Black Dao rabble causing chaos and sinking the boats. They have to pass this fortress."
As Namgung Jin revisited his scheme, Moyong Hwajeong unconsciously furrowed her brow. His flaw was getting so immersed in his own confidence.
Yet here he was, climbing back onto the bed.
"It's not even evening yet, and you say they're coming tonight. Is this really wise?"
"Don't worry. I'll save my strength for the fight."
"Of course. Life is short. Enjoy it while you can."
"Well said."
Namgung Jin grinned and pulled her fiercely into his arms.
But in that moment, Moyong Hwajeong's eyes, nestled in his embrace, turned icy cold, flashing with sharp intent.
Her mind raced with thoughts far from her words, erupting in silent laughter.
Yes, life is short. Enjoy it while you can, hohoho!
Meanwhile, Seo Baek slipped through a hole in the rotten palisade.
The gap was concealed by waist-high thickets, invisible unless deliberately searched for—a complacency born from driving stakes for the palisade and erecting watchtowers.
Perfect for Seo Baek's group.
Emerging from the hole, Seo Baek crouched in the bushes, hand on his sword hilt, scanning for presences.
Ready to sever any witness's neck on the spot.
Fortunately, no warrior appeared.
Seo Baek tapped the palisade twice behind him—all clear.
Wang Yi Sam followed through first.
Smooth start.
But Seo Baek's thought shattered immediately.
Wang Yi Sam's body snagged on a jagged protrusion of the rotten palisade.
Right at his belly.
A middle-aged drinker like him, his beer gut caught perfectly.
Wang Yi Sam whispered hoarsely,
"Junior brother, think I'm stuck..."
"Where?"
"Well... my gut..."
"Pull it out quick."
Wang Yi Sam sucked in his breath, tucking his belly. But that hunched his back, snagging it instead.
Then, two warriors approached from the darkness.
"Senior Wang, hurry!"
Seo Baek's whisper spurred Wang Yi Sam to hold his breath and yank free. His body popped through like a cork.
The real problem followed. The rotten wood, caught on his belly, snapped with a crack.
Crack.
"What was that? Hear something?"
The warriors who'd passed by turned and approached.
Discovered?
Seo Baek's eyes chilled as his hand gripped his sword.
Moving rashly now risked the watchtowers. He'd have to decapitate them swiftly.
Leave it to luck...
Something darted across the ground into the buildings—Chorang, sliding down Joo Eun-ri's sleeve.
"Tch, just a wild animal."
"Namgung Jin builds palisades and watchtowers, then demands more guards? What for?"
Dismissing Chorang, the warriors grumbled and left. Only after they vanished did Seo Baek release his sword.
Wang Yi Sam whispered sheepishly,
"Sorry, junior brother..."
"It's fine."
Wang Yi Sam's absurd blunder had sparked a crisis.
But it yielded gains.
Joo Eun-ri's quick thinking, using Chorang to distract and expose their complacency.
Infiltration meant unknowns. With new ally Joo Eun-ri's sharp adaptability, she was trustworthy.
Plus, their overheard talk was valuable.
The warriors resent the Namgung family.
Grousing Namgung Jin's name openly? They weren't Namgung warriors—likely from other families.
Even across families, a mere warrior badmouthing the alliance leader-figure wasn't overlooked lightly.
He'd suspected the Five Families Alliance's fragile bonds, united only against the Murim Alliance.
But warriors viewing each other as foes?
Another weakness in the fortress.
Without turning, Seo Baek clenched his fist—halt. Confirmed safety, then extended index and middle fingers—advance.
Thousand-foot cliffs and ten-foot palisades.
No natural barrier stopped Seo Baek's group.
Moyong Hwajeong asked in a sultry voice,
"Strongbows pack power, but it's no guarantee. A master could hurl hidden weapons or flying swords before your warriors even loose—turning them to ghosts."
"Warriors are expendable anyway."
"Then you can't stop them entering the fortress."
"That's what I want."
Namgung Jin replied, holding her close.
"Shandong Yue Family, North Paeng Family, Pearl Eon Family, and your Moyong Family—fifty warriors each. Plus a hundred from Namgung. Three hundred total."
"Quite a force."
"Excluding the families' Dharma Protectors. The moment they're spotted, warriors swarm. Trapped in a forest of blades by their own doing."
Namgung Jin brimmed with confidence.
But Moyong Hwajeong had one lingering doubt.
"What if they aren't spotted?"
"Impossible."
He smirked cruelly, declaring it absolute.
"Eleven watchtowers cover the fortress. Nowhere to hide."
Swish.
Shadows glided soundlessly through thickets, between bushes, along walls in the dim fortress.
Watchtower guards peered down from thirty feet up.
Yet none detected Seo Baek's group—or even their shadows' whispers.
Seo Baek had memorized Joo Eun-ri's hawk-eyed daytime survey of the fortress layout.
He navigated by that mental bird's-eye view.
Paths strictly in the watchtowers' blind spots!
Mountain darkness dwarfed plains' gloom.
In this gorge between ridges, dodging torchlight from towers and patrols meant near-zero detection risk.
As the proverb went: darkest under the lamp.
Footsteps were low-risk too.
Seo Baek, Song Hyeon, and lightness master Joo Eun-ri moved silently.
Wang Yi Sam was the issue—strong in external arts, weak in internal, especially lightness skill.
But the gorge fortress teemed with wild beasts and birdsong. Only a peak internal master could distinguish.
Luck for Wang Yi Sam.
Soon, they reached the building-packed streets.
No more dodging thickets for watchtowers; now, cramped structures offered perfect cover amid pervasive shadows.
The eleven watchtowers missed their infiltration entirely.
Then, something emerged from the dark, charging the group.
The intruder? Chorang.
Having drawn warriors' eyes to cover Wang Yi Sam's mishap, Chorang claimed first merit.
Seo Baek lowered his hand; Chorang licked it once, then climbed Joo Eun-ri's sleeve.
Perfect timing.
Next phase accounted for Chorang.
Seo Baek signaled; the group split: Seo Baek with Joo Eun-ri, Song Hyeon with Wang Yi Sam.
The fortress was vast; infiltration must end tonight.
Sticking together wasted time and raised risks.
Thus, split to search: west three buildings for Seo Baek and Joo Eun-ri, east three for Song Hyeon and Wang Yi Sam, moving north.
Splitting meant no contact. Watchtowers and patrols everywhere.
Transmissions risked detection by the five peak experts leading the alliance.
Seo Baek's solution: Chorang.
After each building, Chorang shuttles status—tail wag twice for clear, four for found Wang Il and Wang Yi.
Seo Baek doubted Chorang's reliability, but Joo Eun-ri dismissed it: "It follows orders better than people."
Seo Baek and Song Hyeon exchanged glances.
—Count on you.
—Good luck.
The group parted east and west into the shadows.