Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: 05. Face Pursuit Unit Jeong (3)
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The One Heart Society, including all its lower organizations, was vast enough to number over a thousand members. Considering it had been a mid-sized black path sect with just over a hundred members a year or so ago, this was a transformation worthy of being called a complete turnaround.
This was the result of massive funds flowing into the organization from new ventures, which were then aggressively reinvested. It also meant they had been doing extremely well as of late.
At this rate, they might even grow into one of the top black path sects vying for dominance in Shaanxi Province within a few years.
A momentum like the rising sun.
Because of this rapid expansion, the once tightly organized group was now in quite a state of disarray, with gaps appearing here and there. It was a kind of growing pain, and these issues would eventually be resolved with time.
That is, if time permitted.
The Martial Qin Alliance's judgment was as follows.
Eliminate the leader, Twin Chaos Blade Yeo Gyeong-cheol, his younger brother and vice-leader Stabilizing Heavy Blade Yeo Gyeong-gu, and the five division heads comprising the top brass, and the One Heart Society would crumble.
Now was the time!
Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
For starters, Twin Chaos Blade and Stabilizing Heavy Blade were both renowned experts even among Shaanxi's black path circles. And all five division heads below them were first-rate masters who could properly wield sword qi.
Moreover, considering the rough turf they operated in, their actual combat prowess was probably one-third to half again as effective as their raw skill suggested.
And above all, they were well aware that they were currently under heavy scrutiny from all sides. As such, they kept a low profile with ironclad security, and strictly maintained secrecy around their external schedules.
That made it hard to even find an opening, and even if one appeared, crushing them by force wouldn't be a walk in the park.
However, the Martial Qin Alliance had obtained intelligence that the One Heart Society's executives would be gathering at a specific location tonight for a meeting, so they planned to dispatch the Face Pursuit Squad immediately.
The strike force consisted of two units: the Jeong Unit that Flying Tiger belonged to and the Byeong Unit—a total of thirteen members.
A support unit on the outskirts would monitor their movements and handle cleanup afterward.
At the same time, the Gap Unit planned to deal with the organizations in Gansu colluding with the One Heart Society. It would be tricky to stir up trouble deep in enemy territory, but they intended to excise all the resident contacts in Shaanxi while they were at it.
The operation document detailed the seven primary targets to eliminate tonight, along with profiles of key experts, role assignments per unit, and a rough strategy (detailed tactics were left to each unit's discretion). It also included appendices on their crimes, examples of damages inflicted, recent activities, and predictions of the fallout if they were left unchecked.
Flying Tiger chewed his food thoroughly as he read and memorized the document. Nothing stood out as unusual, so the impression he got was this.
These bastards are utter scum.
So, we'll set the stage—jump in and kill whatever you can. If you get stabbed and die in the process, tough luck.
But we'll handle the cleanup.
Something like that?
'Tonight's enemies number roughly a hundred, with seven priority targets among them, a dozen or so others to watch out for, and the rest at second- or third-rate levels. On our side, thirteen strong: the two squad leaders are top-tier experts, and the rest are all seasoned mercenaries capable in their own right. Our experts are superior in quality, but they hold a clear numerical advantage. That said, we're the ones launching the surprise attack.'
It's hard to expect iron discipline from a profit-driven black path outfit like the One Heart Society. If they hit hard right at the start, it might collapse more easily than expected. Factor in the ambush for the numbers advantage, and...
In the end, the fight would likely come down to a clash between the top experts on both sides.
The One Heart Society's leader and vice-leader versus the Face Pursuit Squad's two squad leaders. One side were long-established masters of Shaanxi's black path; the other, rising stars touted by Shaanxi's orthodox faction.
It was a matchup of considerable interest.
Flying Tiger sketched a rough outline of how the battle with the One Heart Society might unfold, then closed the operation document. Real combat was full of variables anyway, so this level of preparation felt just right.
Afterward, he pondered how to handle the one remaining issue.
'How should I let Hidden Moon know about this? Or rather, is even attempting to inform him the right move?'
As part of his deal with Hidden Moon, Flying Tiger had agreed to share the Face Pursuit Squad's targets in exchange for treatment of Gong Won-yeong until he procured the roster. To facilitate this, they had even designated a specific contact.
There was still plenty of time before assembly. Normally, he should move to pass on the intel that the Face Pursuit Squad was moving on the One Heart Society tonight.
But he hesitated.
The reason was...
"I need to grab my weapon and head out first. See you all later."
Among the squad members, Hwa Yeong was the first to leave his seat. This was about the time it takes to eat a meal after squad leader Jin Ga-yong had departed.
Another incense stick's worth of time passed, and Ye Dok-du patted his full belly in satisfaction, declaring he'd eaten his fill. He left together with Choi Ong, who had finished eating long ago and been waiting.
Thus, only Flying Tiger and A Jeok-gang remained in the private room at Nanhwa Pavilion.
The two ate on in silence.
Flying Tiger slowly savored each dish, taking small bites and letting them linger on his tongue. A Jeok-gang, meanwhile, had slowed compared to earlier but steadily worked his chopsticks, emptying the plates one by one.
Eventually, Flying Tiger set down his chopsticks first.
"A Jeok-gang, I'll take my leave now. See you shortly."
"Why? Not eating more?"
"I'm already stuffed. These were rare delicacies I don't get to taste often, so I forced myself to hold out just to savor the flavors longer."
"I see. Well, most of these are new to me too, so I've been enjoying this immensely. That said, Flying Tiger, I have one question."
"Go ahead."
"Why do you speak so formally to me the whole time? Earlier, you were casual with the other squad members."
"That's just how I talk by default. You haven't dropped the honorifics with me, so I matched that. Is it strange?"
"Hmm. Fair enough, I suppose... Yes, got it."
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Flying Tiger left as well, leaving A Jeok-gang alone. He blankly mulled over Flying Tiger's words for a moment before shaking his head. Then he resumed moving his chopsticks, which had paused briefly.
...
Flying Tiger didn't go far.
After exiting the private room, he instructed a loitering servant to summon the manager. He then requested a training space suitable for sword practice at the Six Fairies brothel.
A pleasure house wasn't a martial arts dojo that sold techniques—did such a space even exist?
It did.
Of course, it wasn't for guests. It was a spot where resident guards could loosen up or servants gathered to chat. There might be eyes coming and going, but that was no issue, they said.
The Nanhwa Pavilion manager hesitated briefly but soon accommodated Flying Tiger's request. High-end brothels were used to catering to all sorts of eccentric tastes, after all.
Thus, the spot Flying Tiger secured was a flat clearing of about five pyeong, reached by following a bamboo grove path behind the annex.
To aid digestion, he lightly warmed up before drawing his sword and beginning to swing it. With exertion imminent, he didn't go all-out, but each stroke was executed with the meticulous care of embroidery.
He swung his sword in all eight directions in succession.
It could be seen as the common street martial art derisively called Eight Directions Wind and Rain, but if there was a difference, it was that the short thrusts in eight directions flowed together as smoothly as a single linked form.
Taking that as one set, he took eight steps, performing a set per step.
Eight times eight made sixty-four swings, which some called Sixty-Four Roads Wind Water Ring.
In truth, anyone watching would see these movements as straightforward and plain, without any room for misunderstanding. There was none of the profound implications typically found in advanced martial arts.
So, was it fair to call it street-level martial arts, or perhaps slightly better third-rate stuff?
It didn't matter.
Flying Tiger liked its clarity, so he often used it to warm up before taking a commission.
Today was no different—an extension of that habit.
If anyone was watching, they'd be yawning within half an incense stick's time (3-4 minutes), bored by the repetitive sixty-four motions.
All the while, the tip of Flying Tiger's sword subtly shifted in direction, speed, and weight with each iteration.
Flying Tiger finished his monotonous training when about two incense sticks (30 minutes) remained until the assembly time at the rendezvous point. Since it wasn't far from here, hurrying now would get him there with time to spare.
In the interim, he had thoroughly warmed his body.
He had also confirmed the matter that had piqued his curiosity all along.
'As expected, there's a tail on me. Probably not just me—likely every squad member has one.'
He didn't know about the other units, but the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong was definitely under surveillance right now.
So, tonight's gathering had two purposes. First: punishing the One Heart Society that had tried to scheme against them. Second: rooting out any other potential moles within the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong.
People like Flying Tiger, for instance.
That was why he had killed time without directly contacting the designated point until now.
Flying Tiger gathered his things and left the Six Fairies brothel.
Near the brothel, street vendors lined up to serve late-night drunks with the munchies.
Flying Tiger paused, tilting his head, then stopped at one of them.
It was a mutton skewer stall.
There, he wolfed down one skewer in the blink of an eye. He thanked the owner heartily, tossed the empty stick into the collection bin, and hurried off with quick steps.
'Nothing suspicious, so he must think I got hungry after sword practice and grabbed a snack... But to be safe, keep watching the vendor? Or tail him?'
The watcher, lurking twenty paces away, agonized briefly.
But he had no idea.
The vendor wasn't the contact. Flying Tiger had already made contact with the real one moments ago.
When?
Growing impatient with Flying Tiger's delay, the contact had come all the way to the front of the Six Fairies to wait. When Flying Tiger stopped at the vendor, the contact approached pretending to be a passerby.
Right then.
"Thanks for the meal."
Flying Tiger thanked the vendor, drawing the watcher's eyes and ears to his mouth and the vendor's face as he turned.
In that brief instant.
Flying Tiger's hand dipped below his waist, using sauce from the empty skewer's tip to swiftly write and erase "One Heart, Now" on the cart's surface.
The contact cleared his throat once and passed by Flying Tiger.