Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Chapter 47. One Night (4)
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Jin Ga-yong spoke with an awkward expression.
"Um, since everyone looks uncomfortable, I'll wait outside. Take your time finishing the conversation, and come out when you're done."
"No. Everyone else has already finished, and it was my turn last. It was a story I wanted to tell the squad leader someday anyway, so this is perfect."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So even if it's a bit uncomfortable, since things have come to this, why not join us?"
"Then I'll impose without shame."
Jin Ga-yong said as much and smoothly took a seat next to Flying Tiger. Flying Tiger busied himself for a moment preparing new cups and plates.
In the meantime, the Shandong old man, Ho Ye-hwa, and Yun Deok-sin stared at the nonchalantly seated Jin Ga-yong with peculiar gazes. Why wouldn't they? Just until dawn yesterday, they had been fiercely clashing. Yet now, watching Flying Tiger and Jin Ga-yong, they looked like bosom friends closer than ten-year companions.
Ho Ye-hwa tilted her head.
'Getting fond through fighting, or water cut by a blade... what on earth is their strange relationship?'
As Flying Tiger took his seat, Yun Deok-sin proposed a toast. With a new arrival, it was to refresh the mood. They clinked glasses, and now everyone awaited Flying Tiger.
"My story is simple. So... there was a woman I've liked for a long time. But just recently, she said we should part ways. I'm not ready yet. So I still don't know what I need to prepare, and I've been rushing around busily."
"……?"
"Is that the answer?"
"Yeah."
"Aw... too straightforward?"
"Exactly. It's simple. To me, she's everything. Meeting her elates me, parting makes me anxious. Her pain saddens me, her smile brings me joy. All my joys and sorrows are pinned on her—what's there to complicate?"
"……."
Everyone was stunned. By their knowledge, Flying Tiger was cunning bordering on sly. Yet to have such a pure side—this was the real twist.
Having spent more time with Flying Tiger, Jin Ga-yong sensed something unique.
'Now I see—the woman gripping the reins on this colt-like fellow. And if those reins slip free... tsk. The world will get noisy.'
And so Flying Tiger's tale ended blandly. Ho Ye-hwa pestered for more, lamenting it was disappointingly short. The Shandong old man intervened. Short as it was, it brimmed with Flying Tiger's raw emotion—no need for extras to dilute the impact, he argued.
The drinking gathering broke up.
The Shandong old man rose first, citing fatigue. Ho Ye-hwa and Yun Deok-sin caught on and hurried to their rooms, claiming it was bedtime. Only Flying Tiger and Jin Ga-yong remained.
"Moon's bright—care to stroll a bit?"
Flying Tiger readily nodded at Jin Ga-yong's suggestion. Each grabbed an untouched bottle of liquor and stepped outside the house. True to his word, a brilliant full moon hung beyond the gate.
*Three Watches
The two walked.
Jin Ga-yong led, Flying Tiger followed—no set destination. They traded a word or two en route, lingered at fine vistas to drink in the sights, and sipped liquor on whims.
A true moonlit ramble. Flying Tiger felt serenity. Nine days since leaving Gong Won-yeong's side.
"You met the juniors?"
"Good folk."
"Solid bunch. Your advice helped heaps, they said. Uga was especially grateful—too bashful to tell you himself."
"Just common sense. Obvious from looking around, plain as day. But that age, they're peak rebellion—ignore who they should heed, perk up only for peers."
"That age? Heh, and you?"
"Me? Grew up in such a brutal hellhole—not listening meant beatings to death or dying in the mess. Rebellion? Dream on. Manners sank in young. Let me grow into a straight-arrow youth unlike others."
Pure bullshit. His assassin group's masters and senior comrades would vault from graves in outrage hearing it.
Flying Tiger meant it as a joke, but Jin Ga-yong turned grave and fumed.
"What wretched scum! What place swings violence at children—even kills them?"
"Uh... assassin outfit. Assassins."
"Assassins? Hmph—kidnapped or slave-bought brats twisted into killers their way? Abominations defying heaven. You still bound there?"
"No. Ditched it ages ago."
Jin Ga-yong bristled; Flying Tiger flinched and hastened reply. He muttered under breath, 'Torched it on exit.' Unsure if Jin would approve.
Jin Ga-yong sighed.
"Well done. No easy feat. You good now?"
"……!"
Flying Tiger's eyes widened at Jin Ga-yong. Anger and worry on his behalf felt odd—yet not wholly unwelcome.
'Lord almighty. One word repays a thousand-nyang debt... wait, or racks it up?'
Flying Tiger's stray thought prompted Jin Ga-yong's worried query, mistaking it.
"What's wrong? Still hunted?"
"Ah... no. None since hitting Central Plains. Probably quit by now. Time's flown, distance vast. No worries."
Flying Tiger muddled through.
In truth, he harbored vague dread—they'd hunt someday, if not soon. Traitors unforgiven. Hell-followers.
'But mine alone. Not for sharing—nor want to.'
Jin Ga-yong nodded and resumed walking. Flying Tiger swigged liquor, trailed after.
Crunch crunch.
World dark, silence profound—only their leisurely steps echoed, as if they two alone existed. Flying Tiger savored it. But eternity? No.
Halt.
"Squad Leader Jin, night's deep. Time to speak."
"Heavens, my lapse. Hogged your busy hours."
"No. Plenty good. Crave another someday if chance allows."
Jin Ga-yong chuckled.
In that smile's bloom and fade, Flying Tiger glimpsed an apparition. Resembling Jin Ga-yong in form and poise—yet another entity. Like summoning from alien time-space.
That woman—endlessly bewitching!
Moonstruck?
Flying Tiger shook his head, looked anew—vision gone. Only Jin Ga-yong stood there.
"Sounds fine. If that someday dawns."
"Hm, life's long—might happen."
"Aye. Let's hope. Anyway, something to ask. Meant to skip as crass... no preamble. Yesterday dawn, you pinned me—to prove no demonic arts, I proffered my left hand. You checked my pulse. Recall?"
"Yes."
"What shocked you?"
Flying Tiger murmured softly; Jin Ga-yong smiled wryly. Pressed on curiosity—Jin shook head, nothing. Flying Tiger itched but held tongue. Jin Ga-yong gazed skyward silent, face void beyond words. So Flying Tiger joined, sharing the heavens beside him.
"Why stay here—not go to her?"
"Work here, none there. Sent capable folk instead—me stays."
"She'd feel slighted."
"Few days anyway."
"What if nevermore?"
Reproof laced Jin Ga-yong's tone.
"Could be. But I'll skirt death again. Then her death-throes—won't she fight fiercer?"
"Hmph, stray cur whining in rain. Wooing heaven?"
"Heh heh, know I'm idiot. Said it earlier—lost on prep."
"……."
Jin Ga-yong dropped his gaze from sky, met Flying Tiger's.
"I'll root for you."
"Pardon?"
"Save her, bring her back. Now curious about your girl. Meal on me."
"All meet alive again?"
"Aye. Good fortune."
"Fortune to you, Squad Leader Jin."
Farewell.
Unwittingly, they'd circled Zhao Family Manor's environs. Jin Ga-yong drank sights everywhere—like savoring memories. Flying Tiger guessed he might leave post-affair, if smooth.
Suddenly halting mid-stride, back-turned Jin Ga-yong paused as if recollecting.
"Oh right—you wondered on Ghost Shell? Still?"
"Why—spilling?"
"All bared—what's hiding that? Brief tale if wanted."
"Pass."
"Figured."
"Roughly."
"Reading my heart now?"
"Emotion shifts? You've clocked it too. Precisely your feel for me—no more, no less."
"Ah, that. Sorcery?"
"Pulse Other Shore Scripture. Buddhist mind art. Finds 'true self'—pure, no ills. Fades snow-melt in days. Thief wielding it? Issue. Truly sorry."
"So that's it. Ha—thief in my chamber!"
Jin Ga-yong departed, flabbergasted.
Flying Tiger watched regretfully a beat, then turned steps, muttering.
"Just 'thief'? Curses and blades scarce suffice—such restraint."