Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Chapter 20. Snake and Hawk Hunt (10)
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Yu Orogo had finally caught up to Dan Geum and beaten him half to death. It was right around the moment when, after methodically pummeling him bit by bit, only one final strike remained.
That's when Na Mok burst out from an unexpected direction, wildly swinging his sword like a madman. In response, Yu Orogo beat Na Mok down like a mangy dog as well.
But Na Mok clung to life with desperate ferocity, barely holding on by a thread. That allowed Jin Gayong to arrive just before it was too late.
Jin Gayong himself looked a mess after forcing his way through the blood roads, but his eyes burned with vivid intensity.
Yu Orogo and Jin Gayong.
The two locked eyes and charged at each other without a word, clashing immediately.
Yu Orogo wielded a whip-like weapon called the Thirteen Section Whip, made by linking together several metal rods the thickness of fingers. At the end of its segments hung weights to boost its striking power.
He swung the section whip around like a meteor hammer, whipping it left and right before launching the weight.
Its movements were impossibly unpredictable.
Sometimes he'd hook a mid-segment around an arm, leg, ankle, or armpit before flinging it, shortening and lengthening the reach at will. The rhythm shifted between steady beats and off-beats, and the weight's launch point changed constantly.
Jin Gayong found it hard to gauge, so he didn't dare close in recklessly.
Instead, he nimbly stepped side to side on the balls of his feet, dodging left and right, retreating at times and subtly advancing others to measure the distance.
The fight thus turned into a prolonged battle, with Yu Orogo gradually pressing Jin Gayong back.
But neither had any intention of dragging it out endlessly from the start.
Shwick.
As the weight shot toward Jin Gayong once more, he tried to evade to the left.
In that instant, Yu Orogo spun in place, looping a segment around Jin Gayong's neck before releasing it. The flying weight abruptly arced in midair, slicing down diagonally.
It was a lightning-fast irregular strike.
Just as it seemed the weight would smash into Jin Gayong, it pierced straight through him and slammed into the ground.
Boom.
Dust billowed up in a cloud, and Yu Orogo instantly realized something was wrong.
'Afterimage? Phantom Shift?'
Swoosh.
Jin Gayong, who had seemed to move left, reappeared on the right. Before Yu Orogo could react, he was suddenly right in his face, thrusting his sword forward.
It was Phantom Shift executed in succession.
And the first counterattack after endless evasion.
But Yu Orogo was a fraction faster. The moment he sensed the trap, he rolled on the ground using the Nayreta Gon technique. Covered in dirt, he retrieved the section whip and tried to spring back up.
But the Thirteen Section Whip, which had been like an extension of his limbs, wouldn't come.
Yu Orogo collapsed back down as he rose.
He stared at Jin Gayong in shock, but Jin Gayong's gaze had already shifted to the other bandits nearby.
……!
'Why? I moved first, even before he lunged. How...? Did his sword move faster than it looked? Is that it?'
Yu Orogo fell into dazed contemplation. It was all he could do now.
'Right, I've heard rumors. Fighting him with swords is like stumbling into fog... But as far as I know, the one who uses that sword style is... Wait. Then who the hell is this guy?'
His thoughts began spinning in futile circles like a hamster on a wheel. His head throbbed and overheated, making it impossible to string them together.
Soon, Yu Orogo laid his heavy head on the ground.
Splat.
By then, blood gushed from the hole in his heart, soaking his upper body red.
Where Yu Orogo had died, about ten bandits remained. They swung their blades ferociously at Jin Gayong, along with Dan Geum and Na Mok, who had become his allies.
By this point, Jin Gayong's qi had bottomed out from the excessive exertion, so he couldn't overwhelm the bloodthirsty bandits.
But with his back to a wall, he relied solely on his exquisite swordsmanship, fighting desperately without collapsing. He steadily whittled down their numbers one by one.
Dan Geum and Na Mok leaned on each other, somehow holding out. They could barely stand, but Jin Gayong was taking the brunt of the blades, making it possible.
About fifteen minutes later, Wang Baek-gun finally intervened, swinging his sword mercilessly. Only then did the remaining bandits scatter in all directions, fleeing for their lives.
The Ashen Wolf and three bandits chased A Jeok-gang, only to get massacred in turn.
A Jeok-gang weaved through collapsed buildings, wheeling around exquisitely to hurl his last two hand axes from both hands. Two bandits collapsed while chasing blindly.
Thus, when the Ashen Wolf and the last bandit had him surrounded front and back, A Jeok-gang seemed empty-handed.
Click.
But A Jeok-gang yanked out his belt, revealing a flexible chain sword in his grasp.
He was a hidden master concealing his identity, and the hand axes were mere auxiliaries. His true weapon was this chain sword called "Dragonfly Wings."
And so?
Just by switching weapons, A Jeok-gang's aura transformed completely. He whirled the chain sword at the tense Ashen Wolf and spoke loftily.
"You must be tired from the chase. Now, let's see your skills."
"Damn it all, when the hell is Elder Seok going to show up? We're all gonna die at this rate."
The Bald Eagle and two bandits moved stealthily, hiding as they went.
They had fled from Wang Baek-gun toward the main force, catching sight from afar of Jin Gayong killing Yu Orogo just in time.
Startled, he didn't rejoin the main group and instead wandered off seeking his own escape.
At least he hadn't fled on horseback outright. Though the leader was dead, chaos reigned everywhere, and he didn't know how the battle was turning. Blindly running outward might backfire if his side somehow won.
Yes, just as the Bald Eagle's anxiety gnawed at him, an event swept away all his headaches in one stroke.
Thwack.
A fierce arrow from somewhere pierced the Bald Eagle's skull.
The arrow that killed him instantly was longer and more ornate than usual—the very weapon of Elder Seok he'd been desperately awaiting.
Flying Tiger had finally joined, taking position to begin support fire.
Flying Tiger loosed eight arrows at the scattering bandits, felling four. With that, he slung his bow, bringing the long battle to an end.
The seven warriors of Face Pursuit Unit Jeong had crowned their first clash with the Yellow Turban Corps in resounding victory!
"So, what Protector Wang is saying is... uh, Chu Hyang, was it? That clever hawk spotted our deputy leader thanks to her. And then, through signals, he even figured out that the deputy took out the sniper."
Ye Dok-du asked with an expression of pure wonder, his face beaming innocently.
Right now, Ye Dok-du had stripped off his upper garments, his body wrapped head to toe in bandages. The countless red stains seeping through told of numerous wounds.
It must hurt like hell, yet he showed no sign of pain, only joy.
This wasn't unique to Ye Dok-du.
Dan Geum and Na Mok, looking even more haggard if anything, grinned ear to ear for some reason.
Na Mok occasionally winced and shifted uncomfortably, so he clearly felt the pain.
Why?
The battle had been that exhilarating. Drunk on triumph, they dismissed bodily agony as trivial.
After all, they were tough, hardened men.
"We got lucky. Thanks to her, this old man could return quickly and lend a hand to our struggling Lady Ye."
Wang Baek-gun smiled broadly, stroking his beard. It was a slight stretch of the truth, but decorum demanded it. Then, curiosity struck, and he turned to Flying Tiger.
"By the way, how did that hawk Chu Hyang end up with you? And where is she now?"
"Who knows. About fifteen minutes ago, I was stealthily tailing the Yellow Turban Corps when she circled overhead, then came down to me shortly after. We've been together since. She flew off again around when I headed here. Probably the guide sent her to check on me after I vanished."
"Hmph, as if. Since when did that Song fellow have that kind of loyalty? He didn't show his face once during the fight. My take? Chu Hyang's just smitten with you. That sly female's fallen for you. What do you think, young hero Na?"
Ye Dok-du spouted nonsense, making Flying Tiger chuckle despite himself.
The singled-out Na Mok stood awkwardly and did something unexpected. He bowed deeply and spoke.
"Deputy Leader Flying Tiger, Ye Dok-du, Dan Geum, and A Jeok-gang. Allow me to apologize here. My foolish actions nearly put our entire unit in grave danger. Especially relieved you're safe, Deputy Leader Flying Tiger."
"……."
Na Mok had received orders from Jin Gayong in the Cheonpyeongdae fields to beg forgiveness from his comrades, and he'd held onto that remorse until now.
Flying Tiger looked baffled until A Jeok-gang briefly explained. Then he grinned.
"So the idiot who caused trouble was you, big brother."
"Big brother?"
"What, we're close enough now for 'brother,' but you don't like it? Should I politely call you Warrior Na Mok instead?"
"Ah, no. Ahem. No, little brother Flying Tiger. Take care of this foolish brother from now on."
Na Mok replied awkwardly.
But that response missed the mark a bit. Flying Tiger's 'brother' wasn't about formal elder-younger bonds. It was just casual camaraderie, like calling a buddy "such-and-such bro."
Flying Tiger let it slide with a laugh, without correcting him.
Na Mok, feeling much relieved, looked to A Jeok-gang, Ye Dok-du, and Dan Geum.
"Young hero Na Mok, aren't we already battle comrades? You've proven yourself plenty—no need to feel a shred of guilt toward me."
"It sounded iffy when I heard, but fighting together? You're solid."
"Welcome aboard. Thought I was done for, but you saved my skin. I owe you a solid blade's worth."
The whole squad welcomed Na Mok as one of their own. It was only natural—they'd already shared blades in battle.
Na Mok bowed gladly, pledging to do well, then stepped forward to Jin Gayong.
"Mission accomplished, sir. I'll be extra cautious not to burden the squad from here on."
"Well done. Gu Bi Na Mok, welcome to our unit."
Thus, the outsider Na Mok became a full member of the unit.
Wang Baek-gun watched warmly before asking Jin Gayong.
"Thanks to everyone's hard running, we cleared the first hurdle. So, leader, what's next?"
"Before the plan, one thing to settle first. Listen, Ye Dok-du."
"Yes."
"You're wrong. Even if he's not here, slandering Elder Song of Hao Gate as disloyal is rude."
"Ah, my mouth just..."
"I know you meant no malice. As a rough wanderer, it slipped out in frustration."
"Yes! Exactly."
"But Elder Song is a precious guest we invited. His non-combat role was agreed in the contract. Roles differ, but he's essential like you. Thanks to him, we fought the enemy at the perfect spot, right? What if we'd met them in open fields for unwanted cavalry battle?"
What then?
No need to overthink—it would've been slaughter.
Even for martial prowess like Wang Baek-gun or Jin Gayong, they'd rampage briefly at first, but eventually stamina and inner energy would deplete.
That's what a hundred skilled mounted warriors meant.