Chapter 185
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Lightning Flash (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Looking back, the reports from the intelligence division said as much. How did you know that Zuo Yingqi and Yulinwon harbored rebellious intentions toward the Hanjung Fortress Lord?”
Hyung Woo-saeng asked curiously.
Flying Tiger had just interrogated the owl-masked warriors as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and they'd reacted with a start. It was a guess based on that.
“Given Zuo Yingqi's past, doesn't it seem entirely plausible?”
“True. Even if he did harbor treasonous thoughts, it wouldn't be all that surprising. But that's just speculation, isn't it?”
“That's enough.”
“...?”
“The tree may want stillness, but the wind won't subside, no?”
“Ho~”
“But little brother, appearances can be deceiving. Zuo Yingqi and the Fortress Lord might actually be on good terms.”
Flying Tiger suddenly had an amusing thought. The reason So Myeong-rang said that might be because the relationship between Grand General Bo—Jin Gayong's mentor—and Manor Lord Jo wasn't so bad after all.
'They say they had a big falling out, but maybe they were actually close, unlike what they showed outsiders? Makes sense—why else would he rush over the moment he heard about the Zhao Manor?'
“Their personal relationship might be fine. But when groups with various interests gather like in Hanjung Fortress, conflicts arise that even the parties involved can't resolve. It's a position with too much at stake.”
“Regardless of their relationship, some of the Fortress Lord's close aides must see Zuo Yingqi as a thorn in their side.”
“Yeah. And honestly... to my eyes, even the Fortress Lord doesn't seem to look kindly on his junior brother.”
“Why's that?”
“The accommodations he provided and the level of the guarding warriors are overkill for someone with no official position.”
“Yulinwon and the Elite Guard?”
“Exactly. Doesn't it seem off? With that level of security, it's more like they're watching someone inside rather than guarding against outsiders.”
“...!”
The released owl slipped into the winding mountains, vanishing behind a small waterfall that appeared out of nowhere. Had Flying Tiger's group not followed and confirmed it with their own eyes, they might have passed right by without noticing—such a cleverly hidden spot.
As Hyung Woo-saeng marveled and moved to follow quickly, Flying Tiger held him back. If this hidden passage was a gateway to Yulinwon, there might be sentries. After waiting a bit, Hyung Woo-saeng, growing antsy, sent a transmission.
-How long are we going to wait like this?
-I planned to wait about fifteen minutes more. But no need now.
Hyung Woo-saeng turned at Flying Tiger's words and saw the owl, which they'd thought had disappeared behind the waterfall, peek out briefly to scan the surroundings before vanishing again.
It seemed there were no other sentries inside. Instead, wary of tails, he'd hidden deeper, checked that no one approached, and finally glanced outward one last time.
After the owl vanished, Flying Tiger's group slipped behind the waterfall.
Shaaaah—
Invisible from outside, the waterfall concealed a man-made short tunnel. Beyond it unfolded an entirely different vista.
A narrow, twisting canyon path.
Its depths were staggering—the cliffs on either side rose nearly ten zhang, like a rift torn in the earth itself.
They'd found the land route to Yulinwon.
The owl-masked warrior entered through Yulinwon's side gate. Inside, all hell broke loose. Dogs had started barking sporadically as he approached, but once he was through the gate, they howled in a full pack chorus.
Woof. Woof. Woof~
“Damn mutts... Tch. No sneaking in easy, I guess.”
Hyung Woo-saeng voiced his regret.
They'd been blocked by the fierce hounds raised by the Beast Handler Squad. Otherwise, infiltration would have been a breeze. Plenty of ways to deal with dogs, but as always, preparation time was the issue. With what they had on hand, only one option to silence the noisy pack.
So Myeong-rang drew the Stabilizing Heavy Blade from his back and said,
“What can we do? Gotta beat 'em quiet.”
And so they moved.
“What's all the racket outside?”
A middle-aged man stepped out of his chambers, asking. Woken by the barking, he was clad in black combat robes, three spears thrust into the backplate of his armor, a small shield strapped to his left arm—fully geared for battle.
The man was Gong Hon-hwang of the Elite Guard's “Three-Legged Crow,” and tonight's overall commander of Yulinwon's outer defenses.
Prostrated before Gong Hon-hwang's chambers was the leader of the Elite Guard's Eleventh Squad, reporting.
“Unknown masters breached near the north gate of the manor, causing a disturbance.”
“Unknown... How many?”
“Two or three. One's rampaging, with hidden accomplices.”
“Current situation?”
“Detected by the Beast Handlers' hounds, fight broke out. When our Ninth and Tenth Squads deployed, they judged it unfavorable and fled.”
“Casualties?”
“Ten injured, seven hounds dead. Beast Handlers charged blindly at first and took heavy losses. Regrettably, the intruders seem unscathed.”
“Escaped without a scratch? Impressive masters indeed. Which way did they go?”
“Fled toward the back path from the north gate. Two squads pursuing with hounds now.”
“Back path? Isn't that off-limits to outsiders? Coincidence?”
“That's the problem. Just before...”
The adjutant lowered his voice.
An Owl Squad warrior had returned in dire straits. He'd likely slipped out secretly for some task, run into trouble, and the intruders chased him in, only to be spotted by the hounds—that was the guess.
Gong Hon-hwang asked the Eleventh Squad leader with a heavy heart,
“Owl Squad? Where's the injured one who returned?”
“The Owl Squad dragged him off en masse, half by force. Looks like they botched something big. Vice Commander, my guess is the intruders might be...”
“Enough! Watch your mouth. Forgotten where we are?”
“Ah... Yes.”
“How many witnessed the owl being escorted away?”
“Two Beast Handler patrols and two from our squad—four total. One reported to me.”
“I see. Tch, what a shame.”
The Eleventh Squad leader eyed his superior puzzled—'What's regrettable?'—then realized the implication, chills running down his spine. Followed by sharp agony.
Puuk.
Looking down, he saw a sharp metal point protruding from his chest.
“...Why?”
“Not thrilled, but what can be done? Just as you pledged loyalty to the Fortress Lord after being swayed by Intelligence, I've decided to serve under Lord Zuo. I did warn you to watch your mouth.”
Whether the Eleventh Squad leader heard Gong Hon-hwang's last words was unknown, but his glare of resentment was clear as he breathed his last.
Thud.
The owl who struck from behind stealthily bowed to Gong Hon-hwang and reported,
“Apologies for the worry. With this one, all witnesses are eliminated. No further concerns.”
“Heh heh, you said you'd handle it quietly, yet you stir this mess and tell me not to worry? What about the fleeing intruders?”
“They...”
“Hmph, never mind. I'll handle them personally.”
“Thank you. And sorry.”
“We're in the same boat now, so I'll overlook it this time without complaint. But I'm disappointed all the same. Lord Zuo must be fretting too—our underlings' incompetence is maddening.”
“...”
Gong Hon-hwang vented his irritation with harsh words and departed. The silently berated owl hoisted the dead Eleventh Squad leader's body over his shoulder and vanished.
Meanwhile, the lone surviving owl—the one the others had escorted—was moved deep into Yulinwon for treatment. His wounds were bad enough, but a stone weighed on his chest, leaving him in utter confusion.
What was going on...?
He'd planned a discreet return to Yulinwon, unseen. But blood loss agitated the hounds; the moment he entered the side gate, they barked wildly, unlike usual.
His secret outing was exposed. Result: several deaths, including the Eleventh Squad leader.
They'd contained it for now, but the fallout was unpredictable. He'd not only failed his mission but broken basic protocol for the secrecy-vital Owl Squad.
And it didn't end there.
The ensuing commotion suggested he'd led a tail. His head spun thinking of the consequences; only stifled sighs escaped.
“You've survived for now. Rest a bit, then I'll finish treatment. Someone's waiting to see you.”
The physician completed emergency care, spoke, and exited. An Owl Squad senior entered from outside. The bedridden owl tried forcing himself up, but the senior bade him lie still.
“Normally I'd wait for treatment to end, but circumstances demand haste. Straight to the point: what happened? Why'd you return alone?”
“Well...”
The owl recounted his ordeal and the assailants' descriptions. He also shared his guess on their identities.
The senior, having heard it all, confirmed,
“So, you think there were three assailants, and they're from the Fortress Lord's Intelligence division?”
“Yes. Their grilling tone suggested suspicion. They asked outright if we were off to plot rebellion.”
“Mentioning rebellion points to the Pavilion Lord's people—and thus Intelligence, who've eyed us suspiciously.”
“Yes.”p>
“Plausible. Rest and recover.”
“Ah, what happens to me now?”
The departing senior turned at the owl's question.
“Worried about punishment?”
“Sorry.”
“No decision yet. We sort this chaos first.”
“...Yes. Short-sighted of me.”
“Indeed. But don't despair. Unavoidable factors will be considered, even if upper echelons are displeased. You'll have to endure that much.”
“Thank you.”
The senior soothed his subordinate appropriately and hurried off to report.
Alone now, the owl sighed deeply. Strangely, his heavy heart suddenly felt light as air. Tilting his head, he muttered,
“Just my imagination?”
Not entirely. Flying Tiger, hidden behind him via Shadow Arts, had just slipped into the senior's shadow for a new hiding spot.