Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Chapter 19. Bandits of the Northern Plateau (4)
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"If we're as unlucky as Ye-hyung says, we'd break our noses even if we just fell over. But more than that, it's far more reasonable to assume the information leaked from somewhere."
"Exactly. So if we don't sort this out first, no strategy we come up with will mean a thing."
"I see. But you're not suggesting the leak came from our Face Pursuit Unit Jeong, are you?"
"No. In fact, your unit is the least suspicious. That's one of the main reasons it was assigned this mission. But even so, we had to confirm it."
"......"
"Two bitter defeats in a row? Mountain Ranger pride won't stand for that. And truthfully, without knowing how the information leaked, we had to be cautious. You all had no intention of doing so, but who knows if some spy hiding nearby might've overheard something."
Everyone nodded along to some extent with Gwak Nan-hoe's words. It didn't sit entirely pleasant, but that was beside the point.
Riding the momentum, Gwak Nan-hoe continued.
"That's why we reinvestigated every one of you team members, and confirmed you're all clean. Now we can discuss the real operation openly with you."
"If any of us had been pegged as a spy, this meeting would've been..."
Flying Tiger trailed off, shooting a sidelong glance at Jin Ga-yong.
Before entering the valley, Jin Ga-yong had sworn on his own name that 'stepping inside won't bring you any harm.' But from what the deputy commander was saying now, all that talk of believe it or not was just noise—they'd planned to root out any spies right here and execute them on the spot.
So Flying Tiger's look was a mild reproach of 'Huh? That's not what you said?' Light enough that you could call it a casual jab.
But Jin Ga-yong got the message and stepped forward in Gwak Nan-hoe's stead.
"We would've walked right into our graves. What, still hung up on what I said before we entered? I promised safety to my comrades, not to traitors. Clear enough, Flying Tiger warrior?"
"Ah! Got it."
"Yeah. That's it."
Flying Tiger clamped his mouth shut with an awkward grin. Na-mok muttered under his breath, 'Knew it from the guy who couldn't hold his shit,' while the team members shot Flying Tiger various looks.
But the man himself was thinking something else entirely.
'A warning, huh? But our shady team leader's awfully firm. Any spy listening in would feel slighted.'
Clap.
Gwak Nan-hoe clapped to break the awkward tension in the room. Then she spoke.
"Anyway, thanks to you drawing attention, we could carry out our full purge operation smoothly."
"Purge operation?"
Na-mok chimed in on behalf of the tight-lipped Flying Tiger.
"Yes. Your deputy commander here has been run off his feet the last couple days. And we got the results we wanted."
The Face Pursuit Squad had barely set up their hideout when the enemy found it in just one day. More than enough cause for alarm.
'Nine times out of ten, the info leaked!'
'So, accept it as fact and use this chance to weed out the traitors.'
For Deputy Commander Gwak Nan-hoe, it was a headache. Plenty of suspects, and not just Martial Qin Alliance members—Face Pursuit Squad officers were in the mix too.
The few she could trust were few indeed.
Her two deputy commanders from Lion Hall, Protector Wang Baek-gun with whom she'd made some deal, and Team Leader Jin Ga-yong, who had zero motive or gain from the other side. Just those four.
This meant the Martial Qin Alliance was wracked with infighting in the absence of each sect's leaders. And it wasn't just between alliance sects—individual sects were simmering with silent power struggles among their own ranks.
Be that as it may.
Gwak Nan-hoe had her reasons for going after the Yellow Turban Corps no matter what. In fact, it tied directly into why she'd claimed the Face Pursuit Squad commander's seat.
'Time to show my abilities to the world.'
'Solidify my independent standing within Lion Hall.'
Even as the sect master's only daughter, she wasn't free from the power games.
Who better than the Yellow Turban Corps as prey to build her achievements?
Plus, it gave her an excuse to purge the disloyal and fill the gaps with her own people.
Thus, Gwak Nan-hoe resolved to pour all her resources into this operation.
"Allow me to introduce. This is Great Black Cat, leader of the ten who serve as my eyes and ears."
"The Ten Cats!"
Na-mok let out an exclamation.
The Ten Cats were the ten warriors in Gwak Nan-hoe's personal guard who handled the shadowy work. Their identities were secret by nature, but Great Black Cat occasionally showed his face at select gatherings.
And today was one such rare day.
"Team Leader of Face Pursuit Unit Jeong, and team members—pleased to meet you."
The man greeting them smoothly was past forty, with bee-black tiny eyes and rat-sharp mouth corners. A stylish mustache and fine clothes masked his first impression, but his face screamed sly, cruel, self-serving type.
Appearance isn't everything, of course. But it suited someone knee-deep in the underworld.
Yet Flying Tiger got a strange vibe from Great Black Cat. Assassin-like, yet also like a traditional martial artist—some ambiguous in-between. And beyond that, his unique aura sparked an odd sense of familiarity.
A feeling he'd gotten from someone before.
But Gwak Nan-hoe drew all eyes by addressing Jin Ga-yong, cutting Flying Tiger's thoughts short.
"Team Leader Jin Ga-yong."
"Yes."
"From this moment until the operation ends, the Ten Cats under Great Black Cat will be Face Pursuit Unit Jeong's eyes and ears. Does this satisfy your first demand?"
"I'm satisfied."
Gwak Nan-hoe nodded, and Great Black Cat approached Jin Ga-yong, dropping to one knee.
This was unprecedented.
Great Black Cat's status wasn't below a mere team leader's, and he already served Gwak Nan-hoe as lord. Bowing his head like this, even to nobility, was improper—it disgraced his own master.
Everyone knew it was at her order. A show to boost Jin Ga-yong's face and authority before the team.
Jin Ga-yong tried to stop him, saying it was too much, but Great Black Cat wouldn't budge.
"My lord commanded me to treat Team Leader Jin as I treat her until your mission ends. So command me freely, Team Leader Jin. This Black Cat and his nine brothers will serve with utmost devotion."
No sooner had Great Black Cat finished than nine masked men appeared behind him, prostrating and chorusing in unison.
"We shall serve!"
The Ten Cats moved with precision and power.
Gwak Nan-hoe snapped her fingers after handing them over, and another masked warrior emerged with a black box. He opened it carefully before Jin Ga-yong, revealing ten iron balls with fuses.
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong members buzzed, and Gwak Nan-hoe said to Jin Ga-yong.
"Heaven-Shaking Thunders. Guaranteed by Sichuan's Tang Clan—blast radius of five zhang. Regrettably, couldn't get top-grade ones. Will these suffice?"
"I know even these are like stars in the sky to acquire. Only possible because it's you, Deputy Commander. Thank you. We'll put them to good use."
Thus, two of Jin Ga-yong's three requests—manpower and gear—were fulfilled.
And for the last one, Gwak Nan-hoe immediately announced her approval.
Generous extra rewards scaled to the operation's value.
She promised to collect all external bounties on the bandits' heads and distribute them evenly. Separately, her personal funds would cover hefty pay: one tael of gold for participation, another for success, and an extra for standout contributions—up to three taels max.
For such a short op, it was top-tier bounty hunter pay.
Ye Dok-du summed it up thus:
"Heh heh heh, lads, now it really feels like we're off to fight the Yellow Turban Corps brass. You all feel it too, right?"
Flying Tiger, A Jeok-gang, and Dan-geum nodded as one in agreement.
Back at HQ, Jin Ga-yong had said the goal was to tie down the Yellow Turban Corps. Not bind them tight—just harass with ambushes to slow their march. Meanwhile, the Martial Qin Alliance would muster warriors for the main force and launch a full purge.
But that was a lie, fabricated under the assumption of leaks—to feed the enemy false intel.
So, what was the real objective?
Assassinate the Yellow Turban Corps leader, White Horse Lantern!
Possible?
Way beyond Face Pursuit Unit Jeong's capabilities alone. Their role? Unexpectedly, escorting Protector Wang Baek-gun.
Set the stage for Wang Baek-gun to duel White Horse Lantern one-on-one.
That was it.
Afterward, regardless of the duel outcome, Unit Jeong retreats unconditionally. That was the core mission.
"We get one shot. And the Ten Cats infiltrating first will create that opening."
"Leave it to us."
With Great Black Cat's confident nod, Jin Ga-yong turned to his team.
"The key is a lightning strike. But even if we punch through to the enemy's heart and succeed, how do we escape after?"
Jin Ga-yong pulled a Heaven-Shaking Thunder from the box, tossed and caught it lightly, then emphasized:
"This will open our escape route."
The Ten Cats create the gap.
Unit Jeong slips in, delivers Wang Baek-gun to the enemy boss.
Escape with Heaven-Shaking Thunder aid.
Simple and clear.
But it required perfect timing, every gear meshing like clockwork. One slip, and the whole team dies.
High stakes came with high pay for a reason.