Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: 20. Snake and Hawk Hunt (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Hey, Deputy Leader, where to?”
Ye Dok-du shouted over the thunder of hooves, his voice booming with cheer. He’d just gotten one good hit in, and it felt damn good to vent like that.
Flying Tiger channeled his internal energy into his voice so it carried clearly.
“Second rendezvous point. We’ve wasted time already, and pursuers might catch up. Let’s shake ’em for sure.”
“Heh heh heh. What if they do? Wanna carve ’em up too?”
“Not a bad idea.”
Flying Tiger meant it. Of course, it depended on them chasing, but he figured he could handle up to a dozen or so no matter what.
Jin Ga-yong’s side had tripped over the sentries, cutting their raid short. It left a sour taste—not enough fun in the ambush.
His own team had at least looted the warehouse to make up for it. But the original goal was way higher. A full-on surprise attack on the enemy’s most unguarded first night? Come on.
Thinking of the brutal fights ahead against those venomous bastards, he couldn’t shake the regret of squandering a chance to gut their forces deep.
That’s when it happened.
Thwack—
A sharp impact pierced the galloping hooves.
Flying Tiger, leading the pack, whipped around in shock. Ye Dok-du was tumbling off his horse, an arrow buried in his back.
“Ye Dok-du!”
Flying Tiger yanked his reins, slowing down. He wheeled his mount to head back.
Then Dan Geum, at the rear, pulled off a slick maneuver.
Ye Dok-du rolled on impact, but Dan Geum pressed his horse alongside, leaned over, and snatched him up with one arm against his mount’s flank.
With a grunt, Dan Geum hoisted the burly Ye Dok-du single-handed onto his back like a sack. All while his horse never broke stride.
Horseback wizardry worthy of the name!
No need to turn back. Flying Tiger pulled up alongside Dan Geum’s horse, impressed.
“How’s Brother Ye look?”
“Out cold from the shock, but he got lucky.”
“Lucky?”
Now Flying Tiger saw it—missed in the split-second glimpse before. That arrow should’ve punched clean through Ye Dok-du’s back with the sound it made. But only the arrowhead had sunk in; shaft and fletching stuck out. Maybe two or three finger-widths deep.
How?
Ye Dok-du’s back-mounted shield. The arrow pierced it but ran out of steam there. Luck, plain and simple—what else you gonna call it?
But embedding an arrowhead in a steel shield? Whoever did it had chills-inducing skill. And from the angle, not even close range.
From way the hell out there…
Flying Tiger scanned the arrow’s flight path while riding. He whistled low.
“Talk about a close call. But who the hell’s handiwork is this?”
“Seok Maeng. That ‘Hawk’s Eye’ guy they say has eagle vision.”
“Oh, right. That bastard.”
Flying Tiger kicked himself. He’d heard the name interrogating the western sentries. Their leader was ‘Snake Hammer’ Yu O-ro, and his rival top hand was Seok Maeng, a ghost with the bow.
Now it clicked—this was no joke.
Sniping with that power from a distance we can’t even see? In a melee, maybe Jin Ga-yong or Wang Baek-gun could dodge, but the rest of us schmucks are dead meat.
Flying Tiger’s face darkened, thoughts spiraling.
An arrow that strong? Even Seok Maeng couldn’t rapid-fire ’em. Reload time? Gotta know the gap to counter right.
No way it’s under fifteen breaths, right?
If it was…
Damn it all!
The second arrow flew. Right at the twelve-breath mark.
And this one targeted Flying Tiger!
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong had set multiple rally points before splitting, just in case.
First was the split site, where Wang Baek-gun waited.
Second: Tianping Brigade’s fields, where guide No Song-seo held their horses.
If primary was a no-go, that’s where they’d regroup.
Third was worst-case—let’s not go there.
So Ye Dok-du’s earlier “Where to?” meant which of the three.
Jin Ga-yong, Wang Baek-gun, A Jeok-gang, and Na Mok—all four headed to the second point and met No Song-seo.
Ui, disguised as No Song-seo, clocked it instantly: halved team, icy vibes. Something went south.
Honestly, she didn’t care if the unit succeeded or failed. But Flying Tiger’s absence nagged.
“Trouble? Missing a few faces.”
“We split. Our side botched it, so we pulled back early. Don’t know their status yet. But with our deputy leader and two members’ skills, they’ll make it. No worries.”
“Oh? How’d that happen?”
Ui and Jin Ga-yong locked eyes, tension crackling. Both caught the prickly undertone.
Ui seethed inwardly.
What’s this rock-head saying? ‘Our deputy leader’? Bonding with Flying Tiger, huh? Tough luck—I’ve already built a fortress between us.
“All my fault.”
Na Mok jumped in, oblivious to the stare-down, head bowed like a confessor before Jin Ga-yong.
“Squad Leader Jin, punish me as you see fit.”
Na Mok’s blunder caused the failed eastern sentry takedown.
They’d subdued them, left one for questioning—like Flying Tiger’s side.
Post-interrogation, Jin Ga-yong told Na Mok to finish the last guy, then stepped away with A Jeok-gang to plan next moves.
But Na Mok disobeyed, just sealed the bandit’s acupoints and let him live. Then lied, saying it was handled.
Pressed later, Na Mok claimed killing a helpless foe went against the righteous path.
Flying Tiger or Ye Dok-du would’ve howled with laughter at the idiot joke. A Jeok-gang, who was there, just gave a cold snort.
Even so, proper acupoint work would’ve prevented disaster.
Problem: the bandit’s odd constitution shifted his points off-standard. Inexperienced Na Mok missed it.
So the seal failed. Bandit scraped up qi, fired the signal flare.
Face Pursuit Unit Jeong blew their golden chance.
“Any punishment? Na Mok, can you really own your words?”
Jin Ga-yong’s glare was murderous. Na Mok’s chest tightened, vision blurring.
He didn’t know it was her formless pressure overwhelming him. Pathetic tremors shook him as he whispered, “Yes.”
Jin Ga-yong pressed harder. Wang Baek-gun sighed uncomfortably.
“Squad Leader Jin, I vouch for him. Na Mok will answer for it.”
Na Mok was Wang Baek-gun’s man, after all. This forced the elder’s intervention.
Now, with Wang Baek-gun’s guarantee, Na Mok’s fate shifted to Jin Ga-yong.
She eased off, voice icy.
“Na Mok, your crime’s no trifle. One: defying orders in battle, acting alone. Two: now the whole squad pays for it. Admit?”
“Yes.”
“Then if I lop your head to restore squad morale and discipline, no complaints?”
“...Yes.”
Na Mok bit his lip, eyes shut.
Jin Ga-yong’s solemn fury chilled even bystander No Song-seo.
“Good. You get it. Here’s your path to live.”
“Pardon?”
“What, prefer death now?”
“N-No!”
“Listen close. It won’t be easy. Apologize to A Jeok-gang here, then Flying Tiger, Ye Dok-du, Dan Geum. Get forgiveness from all four. They’re comrades you’ll fight shoulder-to-shoulder with. No buy-in? You’re useless to this squad. My blade ends you then. Deal?”
“I’ll do it.”
Na Mok flushed, shuffled to A Jeok-gang, sweating.
A Jeok-gang, arms crossed watching, cut him off coldly.
“Young Hero Na Mok, stand down.”
“B-But I…”
“Not now. After the others join and we confirm they’re safe. Then I’ll speak.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Na Mok slunk to a corner. The squad waited for Flying Tiger and crew.
Soon, a horse appeared with two riders: grim-faced Dan Geum, pale Ye Dok-du.
Jin Ga-yong’s brow twitched, but she steadied.
“Where’s Deputy Leader Flying Tiger?”
“Well, about that…”
Flying Tiger took an arrow from the presumed Seok Maeng and fell.
Dan Geum couldn’t turn back—too risky. He already had unconscious Ye Dok-du behind him. Adding Flying Tiger? Suicide invite for the sniper.
Flying Tiger knew, sending a transmission:
Order. Don’t stop. Ride.
Dan Geum kept galloping, distance growing. No more transmission range.
Glancing back, last sight: Flying Tiger bolting another way.
“Remounted?”
“On foot.”
“How’d he look?”
“Bit unsteady.”
“……”