Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Chapter 20. Snake and Hawk Hunt (3)
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The swift-footed No Song-seo had set out on reconnaissance the day before. His mission was to locate where the hundred-strong bandit horde would camp tonight.
The bandits had departed from their stronghold only yesterday afternoon. So, as expected, on the first day they would focus on establishing a base for the full-scale search starting the next day, rather than actively hunting for the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong right away. Things were still in disarray for them.
The distance between the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong and the bandits was considerable.
But what if they could close that gap?
It would certainly catch the bandits off guard.
That was why the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong had boldly charged ahead without hesitation.
Preemptive strike!
Of course, this audacious plan had its flaws. If their assumptions were wrong, they might run into the enemy midway, and in the worst case, get spotted first and ambushed instead. To reach the target point on time, they had to whip their horses forward without looking back.
Jin Ga-yong was resolute about such concerns.
"Tiger's den, tiger's cub."
To catch a tiger cub, one must enter the tiger's den. How could they expect great rewards without embracing great risks?
Those four words from Jin Ga-yong brimmed with boldness, steadying the hearts of his anxious squad members.
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong rode on for another half sichen before arriving at Cheonpyeong Uldae, where they met No Song-seo waiting in the open field. They had covered nearly two hundred li in just two sichen.
Jin Ga-yong praised No Song-seo.
"Well done."
"Just doing my duty. Let's get straight to it."
No Song-seo pulled out a map and pointed to a triangular mark.
"Look here. The bandits have seized a village of about fifty households in Yi-ga-gu and turned it into their forward base. It's roughly ten li from here."
"A village housing around two hundred people, then. What about the residents? Did they take over the whole place?"
"I observed from afar, so I don't know the details. But since there was no major commotion, it seems the villagers cooperated without much resistance. They might have known them already, or even if not, standing up to a hundred armed men wouldn't be easy."
"Understood. Any other advice?"
"I don't know about inside the village, but there's a watchtower, so be careful when approaching. I've also confirmed pairs of two sentries posted outside here and here. From that, I infer..."
Jin Ga-yong noted the two spots No Song-seo indicated on the map. They were about one to two li west and south from the Yi-ga-gu village, respectively.
"They've likely set up outer perimeters of two in each cardinal direction. Hmm, this seems unusually disciplined for a typical bandit gang."
"Exactly. Most would be carousing noisily in a captured village, but it was quiet. They must have strict discipline."
"I see. Have you selected retreat candidates?"
No Song-seo's finger tapped three locations on the map in turn, explaining the reasons for each. Jin Ga-yong chose one, wrapping up their discussion.
A gak later, the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong entered combat readiness and launched the ambush.
This time, guide No Song-seo and the eight horses stayed behind, seeing off the departing seven warriors.
"We'll take out the outer sentries at the Yi-ga-gu village first. Split into two: one goes clockwise, the other counterclockwise, eliminating them in sequence before rendezvousing here."
Jin Ga-yong pointed to the meeting spot on the map No Song-seo had given him, and the clustered squad members nodded.
Then Flying Tiger stepped forward. As deputy leader, he needed to take charge of one flank in this situation.
"I'll start from the west and sweep clockwise. I'll take Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum. You two alright with that?"
Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum wordlessly adjusted their gear and fell in behind Flying Tiger.
Thus, the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong split into two near the surveillance perimeter.
One group was Jin Ga-yong, A Jeok-gang, and Na-mok; the other was Flying Tiger, Ye Dok-du, and Dan-geum.
Wang Baek-gun held back for this ambush, serving as reserve force to cover any contingencies.
A gak later.
Flying Tiger and his two companions reached right under the western sentries' chins.
The sentries were positioned amid rock piles on a hill with clear visibility. But thanks to No Song-seo's approximate location, finding them was no trouble.
Upon closer look, one was sprawled out asleep, the other dozing while standing.
Ye Dok-du shot Flying Tiger a look that said jackpot.
Flying Tiger nodded in agreement, extended his left index finger, then mimed slitting his throat with his right hand. He followed by extending his left middle finger and curling both together. Signal: kill the first, capture the second.
Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum exchanged a glance and a nod, assigning roles.
'I'll take this one.'
'Then I'll handle that.'
They crept forward quietly, then dashed up the rocks.
Startle.
Something charging this way—was it a wild boar?
The standing sentry's eyes flew open in shock, only to gape as a boar-sized mass hurtled toward him.
The surprise hit like a thunderclap.
Crack.
Dan-geum leaped in, smashing the sentry's skull with his hammer in one go.
Ye Dok-du blew past him, seized the sleeping bandit's face with one hand, and slammed it into the ground.
Urk, hack hack.
The bandit finally woke in panic, but darkness enveloped him and his head throbbed like it would split. He could barely tell if this was the living world or the afterlife. He thrashed a bit, took a few blows to the ribs and back from Ye Dok-du, then gave up resisting and just trembled.
Soon, he heard the voice of the grim reaper. In truth, it was Flying Tiger's low query from behind, but to him, it was one and the same.
"Got some questions. First, advice: spout nonsense or try anything stupid, and I'll rip off that useless head of yours. Nod if you understand."
After thoroughly intimidating him, Flying Tiger interrogated the captured bandit.
He asked about the village's guard system, who led them here, the mood at headquarters (they called the Yellow Worm Group's stronghold the "main altar"), and their relocation plans.
The bandit answered eagerly to survive, but as a lowly grunt, his knowledge was limited.
Finally, Flying Tiger ended the questioning with a glance. Ye Dok-du snapped the now-useless bandit's neck.
Snap.
Ye Dok-du wiped his tear- and spit-soaked palm roughly on the bandit's clothes, dusted his hands, and stood.
The three intruders left; the original two remained. But their mangled state made it obvious night visitors had passed.
The western sentries were easy since their position was known from the start.
The northern ones were trickier—no idea where they were, and the terrain was a wild hillside, far more complex. It could take considerable time just to find them. Botch it, and they'd be spotted first.
So this time, Flying Tiger, familiar with the dark, took the lead.
He told Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum to ignore surroundings and just follow him, then set off.
Flying Tiger ran, stopped, repeated; sometimes he crouched low and quick-stepped. He even checked if his companions kept up amid it all.
Perhaps because it instilled such confidence, Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum felt unhindered despite hurrying behind.
Soon they entered the hillside, and a gak later, lead Flying Tiger halted, eyes gleaming.
He'd found the northern sentries.
Mid-mountain slope. Whether natural or deliberate, the sentries were half-buried in a pit, surrounded by dry grass piles—hard to spot. And it was pitch black night. Even Ye Dok-du and Dan-geum stared hard at Flying Tiger's pointed direction before making them out.
Dan-geum transmitted admiration.
-Impressive. So, what's the plan? They seem properly alert this time, unlike before.
-Count to a hundred from your spot, then charge that path with Ye-hyung for a surprise attack. Can you do it?
-Not easy, but we'll manage. What about you?
-I'll circle and hit from behind.
Flying Tiger departed first; Dan-geum and Ye Dok-du stayed to count.
One, two, three...
Ninety-nine, one hundred.
Dan-geum and Ye Dok-du locked eyes.
Ye Dok-du kicked off first, accelerating; Dan-geum dashed after.
These burly two weren't stealth experts. Before, the sentries slept, but against alert guards in dead silence, sneaking close was tough.
Better bulldoze with speed than fumble stealth.
Flying Tiger's plan matched.
"Who's there?"
The startled sentry's voice rang before Dan-geum took ten steps after Ye Dok-du.
Expected so far; now came the crux.
Ye Dok-du pushed harder, leaping skyward; Dan-geum readied his handaxe for the facing sentry.
"Huh?"
Dan-geum faltered at the sentry's unexpected move, missing the throw.
And that proved fortunate.
The shouting sentry convulsed like seized by a fit, then slumped. A moonblade was embedded in the back of his skull.
Flying Tiger's handiwork.
He'd flanked while they counted, striking as they drew eyes.
"Good work coming up."
Flying Tiger's words to Dan-geum climbing the mound.
Dan-geum looked around sheepishly: besides the sentry who'd yelled at him, two more corpses lay strewn. He signaled Ye Dok-du up top, who shrugged ignorance.
Flying Tiger explained.
"Didn't realize till I got close. There were three, not two. But you two moved right on time, so we finished clean."
Flying Tiger's tone had relaxed from semi-formal to casual.