Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Chapter 6. Jin Ga-yong (3)
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Jin Ga-yong's face flickered with anger, etched with a clear 'how dare you' expression.
The watcher was an expert in stealth and tracking. If this were the heart of enemy territory or a tense moment during a dangerous operation, that might be one thing—but in an ordinary situation like this, even Jin Ga-yong wouldn't have noticed.
So how had Flying Tiger caught on?
This place was tied to him somehow, so he'd naturally been on high alert, senses sharpened. Call it a solo operation of sorts? He'd just happened to snag the tail end of it.
In any case.
The watcher pressed himself against the wall, stifling his presence—but once Jin Ga-yong had spotted him, it was pointless.
One... two... three...
Jin Ga-yong counted the watcher's strides, then leaped at 'four,' vaulting over the wall in a sprint.
The watcher jolted in surprise, flattening himself against the wall—only to realize that wouldn't work. Just as he pivoted for his fifth step to flee,
whoosh.
Like an eagle snatching a rabbit from the sky, Jin Ga-yong dropped diagonally along the wall, swinging his sheathed sword.
Thud. Crash-tumble-bang.
The watcher didn't even have time to block or dodge before tumbling messily across the ground. The strike to his shoulder blade had locked his entire body rigid like a log.
Flying Tiger dashed up right after, stomping the watcher's head and back a few times before hurriedly asking,
"How long will the acupoint strike hold?"
"One gak."
"Got anything for a full si-jin?"
At Flying Tiger's request, Jin Ga-yong prodded two spots on the prone watcher's back with his sheathed sword.
"What're you planning?"
"Leave this one here for now and let's go for a run with me."
"Huh?"
Flying Tiger was already bolting off, urgency in his voice.
"Follow me. There's one more in his crew."
"...!"
"Perfect timing—he's making a break for it. He'll lead us right where we want to go, don't you think?"
And with that, the two began tracking the second watcher.
......
The one who'd fled frantically for a full gak stripped off his mask in a remote spot and changed his appearance.
Shaggy, unkempt hair, sleeveless leather vest over his upper body—his exposed left forearm was covered in tattoos.
This shaggy-haired guy was thorough.
Even after running that far, he looped around for another gak to shake any potential pursuit.
Weaving through the market district's alleys: slipping into a bookstore and out the back, ducking into a beauty salon only to emerge from the building next door. Flashy moves.
Jin Ga-yong, trailing from afar, was genuinely impressed—which said plenty about Flying Tiger's skills.
They pursued the shaggy head at a leisurely pace. Even if he vanished from sight suddenly, they never rushed or tensed up. As if to say, no matter how you run, you're still in the Buddha's palm.
Flying Tiger glanced sideways at Jin Ga-yong's expression and remarked,
"What do you think? Leader, is your subordinate's guy any good?"
"This one? I'll confess: if you were chasing me, I'd give up running."
"Heh."
Flying Tiger couldn't help but chuckle.
Jin Ga-yong as the fugitive, himself as the hunter?
Of course Jin Ga-yong would stop. Even if he could run, he'd halt now, shake off the pest, and deal with it. Flying Tiger would do the same in his shoes—he had a sharp enough blade, after all!
"Any guess where he's headed?"
"Not a clue. But after spinning in circles like that, he'll head back where he came from. Gotta report in, right?"
"What if he already linked up with a contact midway and passed the word?"
"Slim chance. Their situation's too messy for a quick word. He'll have to meet the boss in person, yeah?"
Jin Ga-yong nodded in agreement, but Flying Tiger stared at the shaggy head and dropped a bombshell.
"Song Family Rice Shop."
"...?"
"If you're right and he already met a relay, that's where it'd be."
"Ah..."
"So, let's check if my hunch or your worry wins out. He's finally moving."
It was a fiercely sunny afternoon.
On the outskirts of Chang'an City, in a village of blacksmiths, stood 'Tiger Halting Manor,' a sizable sword forge.
The tattooed shaggy head entered through the front gate.
And shortly after,
Flying Tiger and Jin Ga-yong appeared.
Jin Ga-yong crossed his arms, glaring at 'Tiger Halting Manor.' Deep in thought, it seemed.
Too deep, perhaps—Flying Tiger waited before offering,
"Leader, what's the plan? Move at night? Call in the squad if needed."
Tiger Halting Manor was a sprawling estate that could house a hundred easily.
Given the blacksmith village and forge markings, it screamed 'sword makers.' Towering outer walls blocked any view inside, with watchtowers and arrow slits suggesting it could hold a siege if pushed.
Not huge, but tough as a turtle shell.
Who knew what lurked within?
Thus, Flying Tiger suggested a cautious nighttime visit—but Jin Ga-yong shook his head.
"Flying Tiger, do you know what Tiger Halting Manor is?"
"Sword forge? Or the Face Pursuit Squad's hideout?"
"Hm, no. Let's go see."
Jin Ga-yong seemed to know the place, and he'd made up his mind.
He strode forward and knocked on the manor's grand gate.
From inside the closed gate came a cocky 'Who is it?' without even showing a face. Jin Ga-yong announced himself as the squad leader of the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong, and soon the gate creaked open.
Creeeak.
It had once been a forge.
The open workshop space, tools and implements piled in one corner—furnaces, anvils, hammers, tongs, shovels—told the tale.
But now...
Flying Tiger's eyes narrowed.
Some thirty seasoned swordsmen lounged about in sloppy postures. Each one's aura was no joke—they were pros, battle-hardened.
And notably, like the shaggy head they'd chased, every left arm bore tattoos.
In other words, these were his comrades!
So even as they feigned indifference, their sidelong glances at Jin Ga-yong and Flying Tiger weren't friendly.
—Leader, what the hell are these guys? They look ready to swarm and skewer us. Okay to charge in blind like this?
—Don't worry. Same alliance. Tied to the Face Pursuit Squad. They might lack manners, but they won't cross the line.
—That line... Sigh, got it.
Why argue when the boss said relax? He'd handle any mess.
Flying Tiger tried to stay calm, but the world wasn't that forgiving.
"Kahk~ Ptoo."
Someone up front spat a thick glob on the floor and sauntered over. Squinting eyes, punchy nose standing out.
Two more flanked him from the sides, blocking the way.
Creeeak-clunk.
The gate guy who'd opened it cockily slammed it shut again, another joining him.
Front blocked, now rear too.
Thus, Jin Ga-yong and Flying Tiger found themselves trapped inside the closed manor by five swordsmen front and back, with over twenty more circling to watch.
Jin Ga-yong remained impassive, but Flying Tiger's lips curled into a cold smile, guts twisting.
Lack manners? And they wouldn't cross the line here?
"What's the business?"
Punchy Nose tilted his head cockily at Jin Ga-yong.
"I'd like to see the man in charge. Fetch him."
"I'm the man in charge. Spit it out to me."
Snickers from the onlookers—pure mockery.
Jin Ga-yong frowned but pressed on.
"Relay this clearly to your superior inside: Jeong Squad Leader Jin of the Face Pursuit Squad is here on official duty. Tell whoever's responsible to show themselves."
"Jeez, don't you get it? That's why I'm here myself. What's the damn problem? Quit whining and state your business quick, then scram!"
Like: don't strut in our turf—bow and begone?
Jin Ga-yong's face hardened.
"Look me in the eye and say that again. You're taking responsibility?"
"And if I am?"
Punchy Nose snapped his head up, eyes defiant, glaring at Jin Ga-yong.
There. Your move?
The mood plummeted.
Loungers rose one by one—the line Jin Ga-yong said they wouldn't cross was inches away.
Then Jin Ga-yong's torso tilted smoothly.
Punchy Nose sensed danger and stepped back half a pace, hand drifting to his sword hilt.
But in the next instant, Jin Ga-yong vanished from his view.
Not just that?
The whole world blinked out into darkness.
Uh...
Then agony exploded as his pupils ruptured!
"Argh! My eyes, my eyeee~!"
Jin Ga-yong had formed a bird's claw with index and middle fingers, gouging out Punchy Nose's eyes. Perfect range, fitting punishment—making useless eyes pay the price.
The move was so swift, over twenty pairs of eyes fixed on him, yet no one caught it properly.
One moment Jin Ga-yong twitched, next he was still—while Punchy Nose flopped screaming about his eyes!
The result?
Tiger Halting Manor's warriors, poised to charge, hesitated in disbelief, eyeing each other.
Seeing only as much as you know?
He was leagues above.
And that brutal hand—gouging eyes first if things soured.
Jin Ga-yong wasn't one to act on whims lightly.
Sure, they could fight to mutual destruction—but justification was thin here...
Jin Ga-yong thrust his sheathed sword forward at the wavering group, warning sternly.
"I said I'm on official duty. Interfere again, and I'll hold you accountable. I'll draw this blade and punish you!"
Fingers took the eyes—what would the sword do?
Flying Tiger, watching from behind, nodded in admiration.
Do it or don't—same difference either way, right?
In any case, per the leader, they didn't cross the line.
Couldn't!
Pat-pat.
One buckled under the pressure and bolted inside. Soon, the responsible party emerged with four escorts.
Mid-height, angular face, sturdy build. But his face flushed red-purple with fury. Even a mutt bites in its own yard—and things hadn't gone his way.
The man stormed up to Jin Ga-yong and unleashed curses.
"You bastard! Who the hell do you think you are, causing this shit in my house?"
"Isn't this the temporary base for the Yin Affairs Squad under the Martial Qin Alliance's Sungyang Sect?"
Jin Ga-yong spoke calmly, deliberately—but Flying Tiger sensed flames flickering beneath.
Oh, and these guys were Sungyang Sect.
One of the Four Great Powers, thriving after Lion Hall post-Shaanxi unification.
Haha, well now. This oughta be fun.