Chapter 216
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: 59. Boundary Line (2)
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Flying Tiger met privately with Jin Ga-yong the moment he returned. And that meeting only grew longer.
It was all because of the words Sama had left behind.
First, there were no real disagreements about Sama mentioning "Gap Unit" and "fingernails." It was probably his way of pointing out the connection between the Face Pursuit Gap Unit and the Red Nail Brotherhood.
Flying Tiger informed Jin Ga-yong that the man he had pursued had identified himself as Pyeon Bok-ja, one of the Five Tiger Warriors under the Gap Unit. Jin Ga-yong nodded and replied,
"So that was Pyeon Bok-ja Yuk Jae-cheong."
"Yuk Jae-cheong? You know him?"
"How would I know him personally? Word came from the squad leader."
"Ah, good thing we weren't too late."
The letter from Squad Leader Mu Un-bo Yi Yang-jo of the Face Pursuit Squad listed the members of the Face Pursuit Gap Unit. As Pyeon Bok-ja had said, there were six in total, including the squad leader Yeo Hoe.
Heavenly Pivot Spear Yeo Hoe.
Myriad Transformations Brush Ham Pyeong.
One-Horned Beast Mo Ak-chu.
Thousand Jin Axe Ham Gyu.
Bat Child Yuk Jae-cheong.
Ice Shattering Sword Gongson Seol-wan.
And it had been confirmed that at least three of these six had formerly been members of the Red Nail Brotherhood.
In addition to One-Horned Beast Mo Ak-chu, whose identity was already exposed, the other two who had come to light were Myriad Transformations Brush Ham Pyeong and Thousand Jin Axe Ham Gyu.
According to the investigation, Ham Pyeong and Ham Gyu were brothers who had been notorious as the Hebei Twin Freaks more than a decade ago, operating as a duo of mountain bandits. Just as Mo Ak-chu had been a prominent bandit in Hubei Province, these two had been big shots in the unorthodox world around distant eastern Hebei Province.
So what about the remaining three in the Gap Unit: squad leader Yeo Hoe, Bat Child Yuk Jae-cheong, and Ice Shattering Sword Gongson Seol-wan?
First, in Yeo Hoe's case, it was unclear if he had been a member of the Red Nail Brotherhood. But there were suspicions. While not all cases had been investigated, in the instances that had been uncovered, Yeo Hoe's whereabouts were suspiciously unaccounted for during the times the Nail Squad had carried out their bloodbaths. They were still digging deeper, but it would take time to confirm.
Next, Bat Child Yuk Jae-cheong, who had died at Flying Tiger's hands, was a complete unknown. All the background he had provided was fabricated, and they hadn't even found a suspicious match yet, so the investigation was stalled from the start.
Finally, Ice Shattering Sword Gongson Seol-wan, the sole woman in the Gap Unit, was definitely not a former Nail Squad member. She was barely of marriageable age now. In other words, too young. However, the investigation noted she was a swordswoman of heaven-sent talent. Meaning she had the skills to run with hardened criminals.
The letter contained information on all six members of the Gap Unit like this, followed by newly uncovered facts.
It concerned the Gap Unit's non-combat personnel. Up until recently, they had been known merely as hired help loosely affiliated with the Gap Unit, aiding their movements.
But upon reviewing their past activities, it turned out they operated under a strict chain of command. And they were fully capable of combat when needed, with numbers far exceeding the previously estimated ten or so— at least thirty, at minimum.
So the Face Pursuit Gap Unit that Flying Tiger's group had to face wasn't just those six, but dozens. It was beyond a single squad, scaling up to battalion level.
And this aligned perfectly with the information Flying Tiger had already gleaned from Pyeon Bok-ja.
That was the extent of what Face Pursuit Squad Leader Yi Yang-jo had uncovered.
Since little was known about the Red Nail Brotherhood to begin with, it was fair to say he had exhausted every avenue available in such a short time.
The letter closed by stating that, given the severity of the situation, they had rushed the selection of reinforcements and were in the final stages. They were confident of departing within three days at latest, putting their arrival roughly a week from today.
Seven days.
This set the timeline for how long Jin Ga-yong's vanguard would have to hold out with the Jin Clan.
Yet one crucial detail was missing from the letter. There was no mention of the whereabouts of Lei Shi, the Shaanxi Death Division's leader who commanded the Red Nail Brotherhood.
"In summary, the enemy's numbers have swelled, and their predecessor organization is the Red Nail Brotherhood."
"That's right."
"Then where's their leader, Lei Shi? Based on the current situation, Gap Unit leader Yeo Hoe seems a prime candidate, but considering their ages during the Brotherhood's active period, that doesn't fit."
"I agree. I also judge Yeo Hoe and Lei Shi to be separate individuals. Speculating, there are several possibilities, but I'm worried he might be hiding among them under a false identity."
"If that's the case, then the fake Face-Hider might not be Yeo Hoe, but him."
"He could be the fake Face-Hider, standing at the front as Gap Unit leader just like Yeo Hoe is now. Even so, Lei Shi would likely be pulling the strings from behind."
"Putting Yeo Hoe out front? So you see him as Lei Shi's successor."
"Perhaps. Truth is, with so many variables, it's hard to say for sure."
"But we have to fight assuming the worst case. In that vein, on top of their increased numbers, they've now got another top-tier expert in the mix."
Flying Tiger grumbled as he eyed Jin Ga-yong.
If Lei Shi was on par with Pung-sa, few on their side could match him. Jin Ga-yong, maybe Black Dan-sa Won Gap. Or Golden-Eyed Na Baek? But he didn't fully trust Won Gap or Na Baek. That's why he was looking at Jin Ga-yong. What he wanted to ask was, "He's yours in the end. You confident?"—conveyed through a glance.
Jin Ga-yong answered curtly, tapping the sword at his waist.
"In the end, this will tell us everything."
"I'll be counting on you."
"You too."
The question from Flying Tiger and Jin Ga-yong's reply seemed contextless. But in truth, they understood each other perfectly. They were of one mind.
Flying Tiger envisioned the whole battlefield, steeling his resolve.
'Alright. Say Jin Ga-yong takes Lei Shi. Yeo Hoe goes to Won Gap or Na Baek... if it gets tight, have them team up. That should leave the rest—fifty, a hundred, whatever—for me and my team to mop up.'
Afterward, the two exchanged thoughts on the "trap" and "preparations" Sama had mentioned.
Probably a warning to beware of traps being dug and preparations underway?
Flying Tiger and Jin Ga-yong didn't know what exactly, but they knew the enemy was scheming something. And knowing that, they wouldn't go down easy. They took some comfort in that and moved on.
"I'm more worried they'll realize their situation's dire, fold up shop, and retreat."
"Really? I'd prefer that."
"...?"
"Wouldn't it be a relief? Then they'd learn firsthand how filthy it feels to be hunted by someone like me."
"Well said!"
Jin Ga-yong beamed at Flying Tiger's bold words. Memories surfaced.
Several months prior, when they hardly knew each other.
They had investigated the Six Jia Gate bloodbath caused by the fake Face-Hider together. Then turned the tables, pursuing those secretly watching them. They had reached the Yin Division's hideout.
Back then, Jin Ga-yong had marveled at Flying Tiger's tracking skills and shared this exchange.
"How about it? Is the squad leader's underling any good?"
"This? I'll confess: if you were chasing me, I'd give up running."
It was his way of praising, and Flying Tiger had chuckled.
Flying Tiger grew wary.
"I'm more concerned they'll draw their blades on the Jin Clan even knowing we're here. Charging in despite knowing..."
"Means they're confident."
"Yes. Plus, they're from the same Face Pursuit Squad, aren't they? So just as we've gathered plenty on them, they've likely sized us up too."
"But we haven't grasped everything about them, nor they us."
Flying Tiger nodded.
Spot on. The Gap Unit and the Yi/Bing Units knew much about each other yet had blind spots. Those unknowns might decide the battle. As always, settled by blade and fist tearing flesh and bone.
This was the jianghu, after all!
"Anyway, the clues Sama left are mostly sorted out."
Jin Ga-yong broached the subject. What remained was delicate. Flying Tiger picked up the cue and struck at the heart.
"Yes. Everything but Sama's final clue. So what's your plan?"
"What do you think?"
"I'll follow your lead."
"Convenient."
"Your subordinate isn't fool enough to cling to his own stubbornness on unsolvable or unknown matters."
Jin Ga-yong smiled faintly.
In truth, the reason Jin Ga-yong had met Flying Tiger alone all this time was to discuss this very issue before convening the others.
'Be especially careful.'
A warning without an object. Who or what did Sama mean to beware of?
In the worst case, watch your back? Implying a traitor colluding with the enemy among them. Even as a hypothesis, they had to prepare for it.
Hence the caution.
Bringing it up bluntly without direction could spark endless arguments and strife.
"Ha—so you're saying there's a traitor among us? And my team and I are prime suspects?"
Na Baek flushed red, grilling Jin Ga-yong, as the room turned ice-cold.
This was right after Jin Ga-yong and Flying Tiger's private meeting ended. Jin Ga-yong had called everyone together, shared the intel from Flying Tiger, and at the end suggested there might be a traitor, even proposing his solution. The Yi Unit was now rebelling en masse against it.
What was it? Jin Ga-yong had asked outright. Like this:
'You the culprit?'
'No.'
'Prove it. Swear.'
Of course, Jin Ga-yong phrased it politely. But dressing a pumpkin as a watermelon? The suspects were offended, naturally. Even the unsuspected were puzzled.
As if the real culprit would confess, "I can't swear. Fine, I'm guilty."
It would only stir up trouble like now.
So what was the point of this nonsense?