Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: 59. Boundary Line (3)
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“What the hell is this nonsense in the middle of the night?”
Ye Dok-du muttered in disbelief. He thought it was just to himself, but everyone heard it loud and clear. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room here and there.
Flying Tiger, arms crossed and leaning against the back wall as he watched, clicked his tongue and stepped forward when the mood turned sour.
“Hey, Ye hyung. Why do you call it nonsense?”
“Because it is.”
“What? Were you a spy, Dok-du?”
“What did you say? You messing with me? Say it again!”
Ye Dok-du bristled, but Flying Tiger fired back instead.
“No, you explain first. If you're the traitor and lying right now, even if Ah hyung over there beats your head in until it explodes, you won't have a damn thing to say about it.”
“What? This guy's really pushing it...”
“You're not, right? Then it doesn't matter, does it?”
Flying Tiger said coldly.
It was childish, the kind of lowbrow argument kids with snotty noses might have. But the pressure Flying Tiger exuded under the pretext was no joke. It was real.
Ye Dok-du was so flabbergasted he was speechless. Then he groaned and asked,
“Does it have to go this far?”
“If it's necessary.”
“Why me, of all people?”
“Does the order matter? Everyone's taking turns anyway.”
In truth, the order did matter. The beginning set the tone. In that sense, Ye Dok-du was perfect. He was the type who couldn't hide his true feelings. But Flying Tiger had no intention of explaining such minutiae. Instead, he said,
“Anyway, fine. If you're uncomfortable, Ye hyung, I'll swear first. If I have even a hair's breadth of thought to betray any of the comrades here, may I be a bastard. And on top of that, if the Great Hound Ahu from Unit Eul chews up my liver, I won't complain.”
Flying Tiger glanced at Ahu as he spoke, and the suddenly singled-out Ahu flinched.
With Flying Tiger coming out so forcefully, Ye Dok-du grumbled “Damn it” and swore in a similar fashion, entrusting his life to A Jeok-gang at Flying Tiger's urging.
Watching the two swear, the group realized no one could escape this bizarre oath ritual. Their collective resistance crumbled.
Dan Geum was the first to step up, his face dark.
“If I'm the traitor... Ye hyung, take my head.”
“Me?”
Ye Dok-du shot him a look that said, 'What the hell's your problem?' But Dan Geum's gaze had already shifted to Flying Tiger.
“Vice Unit Leader Flying Tiger, is this satisfactory?”
Flying Tiger nodded. Then he eyed the members of Unit Eul. It was silent pressure.
See? We're not thrilled either, but we're doing it. You still gonna bail?
Na Baek let out a deep sigh. He turned to Jin Ga-yong.
“Unit Leader Jin, as you know, Won Gap Protector and I already pledged to you once in front of the Deputy Commander. Do we really have to do this?”
“Sorry, Na Unit Leader. No exceptions. If you hate it that much, I'll go first.”
“Hmph.”
Na Baek snorted and swore, irritably telling Jin Ga-yong to take his head if he was the traitor.
With even Na Baek complying, the ridiculous oaths went around one by one. Everyone still hated it. But the mood had shifted to something they had to do, whether they liked it or not.
The order reached Ahu last, after Dan Geum. He hesitated noticeably, then swore he wouldn't strike from behind. Meaning he'd hit in the face if the chance came. Stealth attacks didn't suit his temperament anyway—a personal compromise. But after speaking, it felt incomplete, so he quickly added,
“... At least until this operation ends.”
“At least?”
“What, not good enough?”
“No, that's plenty.”
“Good. Then if I break my word, you take my head however you like.”
Flying Tiger smirked.
What a clown. 'Take it yourself'—wasn't that basically threatening, 'I won't stop you, so try if you can'?
Anyway, the order completed its round.
Gu Bi Na-mok, who'd looked uncomfortable throughout, first eyed Jin Ga-yong to entrust his life to, then picked Jang Il-uk from Unit Eul, with whom he'd exchanged not a single word.
As for Black Dan Temple's Won Gap, he silently named So Myeong-rang with evident discomfort. By then, everyone had been named once, leaving no one else. He eyed her as if appraising.
With Won Gap last, the oaths ended.
Even if formal, choosing who to entrust one's life to was sensitive. Some, like Dan Geum, picked old friends; others, like Na Baek, considered their dignity. Units Eul and Jeong mixed, forging new bonds equal to their number.
Flying Tiger observed throughout. Especially the three he'd already marked, with extra focus. That was the point of this chaotic shake-up: flushing out the traitor.
It was called Heart-Reading Technique.
A skill to discern inner thoughts from body language, facial expressions, muscle twitches.
Naturally, at Jin Ga-yong's request. Not relying on confessions of conscience, but on Flying Tiger's ability. Jin Ga-yong knew from experience this versatile subordinate excelled at peering into minds.
“Thanks for readily agreeing to such a tough request.”
“Spare the formalities. As I said before, I'm still skeptical. I just accepted because you're leading this. So, did Flying Tiger Warrior find anything?”
Na Baek replied coldly to Jin Ga-yong's courtesy, then asked Flying Tiger.
This whole thing had been a play with Na Baek from the start. Without his buy-in, the disrupted mood and aftermath would've been unmanageable. Worst case, they'd have to purge all of Unit Eul.
But what if Na Baek was the traitor?
Jin Ga-yong figured his character made it unlikely. Flying Tiger agreed without hesitation. Not out of blind trust. Risk was inevitable either way, so better one man than many. And that one could be watched separately.
“Wait a day or two. We've planted the seeds; something'll surface.”
“Mm, got it. But Unit Leader Jin, I'm still uneasy about keeping this from Won Gap Elder without his knowledge. As you know, he's an elder of my sect personally.”
Jin Ga-yong met Flying Tiger's eyes briefly; Flying Tiger shook his head side to side. A firm no.
“I understand your position. But it's impossible. Assuming the worst, Won Gap Protector is the highest-risk target.”
“You suspect a Sungyang Sect elder?”
“More that if he were the traitor, it'd be most fatal. He's in an uncontrollable position, with superior martial arts to boot. Just risk management.”
“That's not all, of course?”
“...”
“Fine. Then why trust me? We're both from Sungyang Sect.”
Flying Tiger stepped in.
“If Unit Leader Na's the traitor, we're beyond danger—we're done. No need to guard then. Just have faith.”
“...”
Flying Tiger shrugged. Jin Ga-yong asked him to leave, saying he had private words for Na Baek. Flying Tiger's role ended here. Now Jin Ga-yong would soothe the uneasy Na Baek.
....
“Night watch?”
“Yeah. Rotten luck. On a night like this, no less. What brings you out in the middle of the night? You said you're heading out at dawn; shouldn't you be sleeping?”
“Can't sleep.”
“Can't sleep? Hmph. Got something to hide?”
Flying Tiger stared silently at Ye Dok-du standing guard outside the inn. Fresh from the secret talk in Na Baek's room, he truly couldn't sleep. His mind was restless. He'd come out for a walk and run into Ye Dok-du.
Ye Dok-du, embarrassed under the wordless gaze, snapped gruffly,
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, sharp observation. I was rude earlier. So give me a chance.”
“What chance?”
“By way of apology, after your shift, I'll treat you, Ye hyung, and all our Jeong Unit members to a proper feast.”
“You damn bastard. Think a real man's honor can be bought with that crap...”
“Seven Fairies.”
“Uh.”
“To melt a hot-blooded guy like Ye hyung, mihyo and gaju aren't enough. Want a tall beauty too?”
“Ahem.”
“What, no?”
“Hmph. I'll watch with these eyes first.”
“Watch what?”
“Women... start with the chest!”
“Aha!”
Flying Tiger nodded as if accepting. He turned to leave the inn, chuckling. Thanks. He appreciated Ye Dok-du graciously accepting his apology with such pointless banter.
Then Ye Dok-du called from behind.
“Hey, friend. I trust you. But not Dan Geum.”
He stopped.
“That guy's a decent fellow too. That's why I trust him like I trust you.”
“...”
Flying Tiger waved without turning. He resumed walking, lost in thought.
'Dan Geum's a good man, I admit. Few comrades as reliable in battle. He's saved Ye Dok-du's life a time or two. But trust... does that luxury fit the jianghu?'
Thinking it over, Flying Tiger didn't suspect everyone. He trusted Jin Ga-yong first. And Seo Guk-dang's Woo-i. How could he stand here without believing her?
At that moment.
Woo-i was preparing to move. Iron Scripture watched with anxious eyes, unable to dissuade her.