Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Bright Moon Rises Over Heavenly Mountain (3)
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Flying Tiger decided to first divert Jin Ga-yong's attention by bringing up a topic that would pique his interest. It wasn't a lie, though. If anything, it was a thought he harbored deep within, one he wouldn't voice in front of others. To that end, he lowered his voice first.
"Ahem, Leader Jin."
"...?"
"When that sandstorm passed today, it got me thinking. Maybe it's time to let Young-i go."
"You... Hm."
Flying Tiger spoke with such gravity that Jin Ga-yong was caught off guard by the unexpected remark, yet he couldn't bring himself to brush it aside and listened patiently. In the process, his attention scattered just as Flying Tiger intended.
"Still, I'd like to at least say goodbye."
"Is there a way?"
"Yes."
"I see... Sigh."
"Don't take it too hard. I just had to get it off my chest because it's been weighing on me. When that moment actually comes... I have no idea what to say."
It was a problem with no answer from the start.
And it was sincere, too.
Flying Tiger figured this was a good point to wrap up the conversation. He hadn't meant to seek comfort; the words had simply slipped out while changing the subject, so his original goal was achieved.
Just as Flying Tiger moved to stand and leave, Jin Ga-yong sat lost in thought.
Why?
Was he about to offer some worldly advice, like a know-it-all?
Don't!
But contrary to Flying Tiger's silent scream, Jin Ga-yong opened his mouth with a wistful expression.
"A farewell... You'll have to decide what to say yourself. Just don't make it too tender. When the one leaving does that, it lingers painfully with the one left behind. So, be crisp—even to the point of seeming curt at the time."
'Huh? I'm the one staying and Young-i's leaving, so why's he saying it the other way around? Oh... it's the same either way.'
Only then did Flying Tiger realize.
Jin Ga-yong was giving what he considered serious advice, drawing from his own real experience.
Which meant Jin Ga-yong had parted from someone in the past, that person had left, and he'd been the one left behind. And it had tormented him.
'Back at that teahouse, we argued over the golden hairpin, and he said something like that. That romance was already over for him. So, the one he parted from must've been Leader Jin's lover? Ah... I don't want to know.'
At that moment, four sturdy men were drinking at the night market in Lanzhou. They were Yi Squad's Dae-san and A-hu, along with Jeong Squad's Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum.
Dae-san felt the need to soothe Ye Dok-du, who was itching to devour him whole, so when a chance arose, he suggested grabbing a drink. Ye Dok-du eagerly tagged along, delighted at the prospect of free booze.
Thus, the drinking session began.
And since they were at it, Dae-san invited his resting comrades to join.
The gathering seemed to grow, but Dan-geum tagged along readily while the rest of Jeong Squad declined, citing fatigue or other excuses. A Jeok-gang had little interest in alcohol anyway, but it was surprising that Na-mok—who never passed up free drinks—turned it down.
From Yi Squad, Dae-san's partner Jang Il-wook begged off due to illness, while A-hu, who rarely mingled, unexpectedly joined.
Naturally, the topic at this impromptu drinking party turned to tales of valor. They each had fresh, firsthand exploits to share. With Dan-geum, the sole survivor of Bing Squad, present alongside members from Yi, Bing, and Jeong Squads of the Face Pursuit Squad, every mishap and incident they'd been through came pouring out.
But the undisputed highlight was Jeong Squad's extermination of the Yellow Worm Group.
Even A-hu, the Yi Squad newbie who'd been listening languidly with occasional murmurs, perked up with sparkling eyes and peppered them with questions.
"Oh? So Hochi Wang Baek-gun went one-on-one with Gwangpung White Horse Deng and took him down in mutual destruction?"
"That's right. He struggled throughout, but in the end, he mustered his last reserves and chose death alongside that vile White Horse Deng. A noble sacrifice!"
"... ."
"What, you don't believe me?"
"Hm."
A-hu wore a troubled expression, inwardly seething. He wanted to debunk every point, but he couldn't let on that he knew.
Mutual destruction? Knowing his first master's prowess all too well, A-hu found it highly suspect.
Even granting that his opponent was a top expert from Dance Melody Manor who'd honed his blade for years.
Why, then, was his first master's naked corpse sprawled behind the stone statue in the Three Kings Hall?
And how to explain the blast wounds from explosives, the gashes from multiple types of blades, and injuries in places impossible from a one-on-one duel?
It reeked to high heaven.
The scene had clearly been staged.
Given the circumstances, how could Gwanggyeon Ho Tae-a-hu, second-in-command of the Yellow Worm Group, not feel stifled?
He wanted to flip the table right then, pummel these loathsome bastards—especially that bald-headed fool—until they couldn't spout more nonsense.
Until his rage subsided!
On second thought, he could start by crushing these guys in front of him, then hunt down the rest one by one and wipe them out. No need to trek all the way to distant Qilian Mountain. From what he'd gauged by eye, Jeong Squad's leader was a potential threat, but that'd only show in a real fight.
But A-hu held back. He restrained his bloodshot fury with superhuman patience he'd never summoned before.
Why?
'Sweet candies are best savored slowly. These suspicious developments are plenty intriguing too. Honestly... once revenge is done, what else is there to do?'
A-hu barely swallowed his boiling resentment and changed the subject.
"Seems like you guys are conveniently skipping the juiciest bits, but I'll let it slide for now."
"Huh? Actually, that part is..."
"Ahem."
Ye Dok-du's eyes widened as he nearly spilled a hidden detail, but Dan-geum's cough cut him off.
In truth, at Jin Ga-yong's request and under Flying Tiger's lead, they'd agreed to tweak parts of the truth(?) that day. Trim the rough edges to suit the bosses and the crowd, spice up what needed it. Flying Tiger claimed that way the payers would feel good, save face, and loosen their purse strings.
Anyway.
A-hu pretended not to notice, but their scheme was obvious. Grill the simpleton Ye Dok-du a bit, and the truth would come out soon enough.
'So I'll hear that later. For now, I need the rest of the details.'
"Fine, whatever. I heard the Yellow Worm Group had three leaders. How'd you take down the other two?"
"Gwang-pyo and Gwang-ung, I think? The bearish big one was done in by our Leader Jin. In less than three exchanges, apparently?"
"Apparently?"
"The Three Kings Hall was filled with smoke then, and we fought in the chaos. No one had eyes for others' battles amid their own, and the smoke blinded us anyway. We only heard the results after."
"I see."
"Disappointed not to hear the details? No need to grieve. The tale of my opponent will tantalize you just as much."
"Yeah? Who was it?"
A-hu asked indifferently. His interest lay solely in whoever felled first master Gwangpung and third master Gwang-ung. Second brother Gwang-pyo had been away on a mission with him, so irrelevant. No need to hear more.
Yet as Ye Dok-du boasted, his next words shook A-hu to the core.
"Kahaha, don't be shocked. One of the two you were curious about—Gwang-pyo himself—was faced by none other than I, Iron Arm Ye Dok-du."
"What? No, bullshit. You faced Revolutionary Brother... er, Gwang-pyo?"
"Huhu, that surprising? We clashed for a hundred exchanges. A famed warrior indeed— no pushover. Shame he slunk away slyly before I could finish him."
"... ."
Fury surged.
A-hu seriously considered ditching the sweets and candy, beating that lying baldhead senseless right then.
Oblivious to A-hu's turmoil, Dae-san egged him on with 'Oh, really? Impressive!' urging more details. Ye Dok-du obliged enthusiastically, while Dan-geum quietly nodded, munching snacks and sipping liquor.
Dan-geum knew Ye Dok-du was lying. Dae-san guessed his tales were ninety percent exaggeration. But neither cared. As long as it was fun—who takes drinking stories seriously?
Dae-san even thought to adapt it for his own use at future sessions.
Thus, the Face Pursuit Squad members each enjoyed Lanzhou's night in their own way. A sweet respite amid their grueling journey.
The next day, before dawn, Jin Ga-yong and the Face Pursuit Jeong Squad rose, crossed the Yellow River by boat, and received horses and supplies from a Lanzhou merchant caravan awaiting their signal.
They then embarked properly along the Silk Road known as the Hexi Corridor.
'Hexi' meant west of the Yellow River, and 'corridor' evoked a long hallway. Together, it signified the 'long passage west of the Yellow River.' Stretching some two thousand li between the Qilian Mountains, Helan Mountains, and Yansu Mountains, it resembled an endless corridor.
Thud-thud-thud-
The group galloped on, Qilian's eternal snows to their left, the Gobi Desert to their right.
After cresting five passes, a vast grassland unfurled where horse herds grazed scattered, and far off gleamed a blue lake teeming with migratory birds.
As they rode till sunset, ochre hills like velvet and clouds shimmered on the road's far side.
"How much farther?"
"Almost there. One final sprint after dinner."
"Oh, perfect. So we might arrive before dawn tomorrow?"
"You're exaggerating. Two or three hours more."
"Great. Hey, everyone hear Leader Jin? Destination's just ahead. Eat quick and let's go."
At Flying Tiger's urging, the squad grumbled. By now, Ye Dok-du—thick as thieves overnight with A-hu—griped at him.
"Damn it. Know what? In the Central Plains, a thousand-li steed costs a fortune. Thought these were impressive, but nah."
"And?"
"Look at these scrawny nags we rode."
Ye Dok-du pointed at their tethered horses.
"You start on thousand-li horses, then gripe about ours?"
"Thousand-li horses cover a thousand li a day—what else you call 'em?"
"Fair enough."
Ye Dok-du meant their mounts showed promise to exceed a thousand li daily. A-hu agreed; even he, hardened rider, was nearing nausea.
The group rode on.
Through the bleak desert's dark night, they arrived deep into the night at Zhangye—a verdant oasis city with springs amid the sands.
By then, the moon rising over distant ice peaks had drifted into an endless sea of clouds.