Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: 22. Fragments of the Past (1)
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Jin Ga-yong finished the meeting and, before departing with the Four Phantoms, called Flying Tiger and Wang Baek-gun aside separately. He entrusted them with managing the platoon members while he was away.
"How long will it take?"
It was a question Flying Tiger tossed out, thinking that for a half-day outing, there was no need to mention management.
"It'll depend on the circumstances. In any case, I plan to stay there until the advance or retreat is decided."
"So you're saying you'll bring back a firm answer."
"That's right. And if I don't return after two days and a half, tell the guide first to secure the retreat route and prepare to withdraw the platoon members."
"What if... the platoon leader doesn't return, and one of the Ten Phantoms comes saying the platoon leader ordered the advance?"
Wang Baek-gun, listening from the side, was startled.
It was something he hadn't even considered, but examining the implication, it meant even the Ten Phantoms couldn't be trusted. Of course, it could be due to rigid thinking or pathological suspicion, but the Flying Tiger he knew wasn't an inflexible man.
Yet Jin Ga-yong seemed to take it as a given. As if he'd already thought of it, he immediately proposed a solution, which was surprising in itself.
"To prepare for that, let's set a code word. The first character will be 'water' for you and 'fire' for my deputy. The second character will be numbers that add up to nine. Understood?"
"Hm... Water-Five?"
"Fire-Four."
"Water-One?"
"Fire-Eight."
"I see. Got it."
After Jin Ga-yong left, Flying Tiger gathered the platoon members and relayed the simple message. Then, excluding Wang Baek-gun and No Song-seo, he assigned shifts for the five others to take turns on watch duty.
No Song-seo was exempt, as he had to scout the surroundings on foot starting at dawn tomorrow.
Wang Baek-gun stepped up, saying he would join the watch, but Flying Tiger flatly refused.
"You're needed for the most crucial moment, so sit this out. Our platoon's mission from the start has been escorting you, Elder Wang. We'll handle the minor conveniences, so rest easy."
A Jeok-gang took the first shift on night watch, and the rest went to sleep.
Considering they were right in front of enemy territory, with a massive battle ahead where life and death hung in the balance, one might expect insomnia from anxiety. Yet everyone slept soundly without a hint of it.
It wasn't just fatigue or boldness. It came from hard-earned experience imprinting a vital truth.
'Eat well and sleep well to fight well. Rest when you can. That's part of the battle too.'
Of course, there was always an exception.
Na-mok tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Flying Tiger, who had dozed off lightly, grumbled as he got up, rummaged through his baggage, and approached him.
Na-mok shot up like he'd met a comrade.
"Can't sleep either, brother Flying Tiger?"
"First, take a swig of this."
"What's this? Don't tell me it's liquor?"
Na-mok eyed the gourd sloshing before him in bewilderment. He loved booze, but bringing it to a place like this was unthinkable.
Flying Tiger uncorked it without a word, and a sharp, fragrant aroma spread. Na-mok sniffed eagerly and gulped down a mouthful straight from the gourd.
Kyah~
It was brutally strong liquor.
The moment Na-mok's head spun and his mouth gaped from the fiery kick he'd never tasted before—
Thwack.
Flying Tiger smacked the back of his head and struck the sleeping acupoint.
Na-mok collapsed with eyes rolled back, unaware of what hit him. Flying Tiger snatched the gourd, wiped the spout clean, and corked it tight, as if he couldn't waste even a whiff of the aroma to the air.
Then he roughly covered the sprawled Na-mok with a blanket and grumbled back to his spot. As he closed his eyes again, a mosquito-like buzz reached his ear.
It was the sound transmission technique.
-Impressive sleight of hand. So, since I can't sleep either, how about a sip for me?
Flying Tiger clutched his baggage with the gourd to his chest and pulled his blanket over his head—a clear declaration against vain hopes. The mosquito buzzed outside, but he soon ignored it and drifted off.
-Hey, isn't that too much? Didn't you say you'd handle my conveniences? For instance... mumble mumble...
Flying Tiger rose at dawn and quietly slipped out of the cave. He climbed a twenty-zhang rocky peak, where Dan Geum sat rigidly atop, staring into the dark distance.
"The sun's not up yet. Why are you awake so early?"
"Thought I'd do some morning training."
"Here?"
"No way. Just stopped by since I was up."
"I see."
Dan Geum spoke without turning, his tone flat and devoid of warmth.
He was gruff by nature, so Flying Tiger didn't mind and turned to descend for a training spot.
Then Dan Geum's voice came from behind.
"Do you think this operation will succeed? Or rather, what's your estimate for surviving and returning?"
Flying Tiger turned to see Dan Geum's gaze still fixed afar, his stubborn face betraying no thoughts.
Come to think of it, that guy's got it good.
So, what should I say?
Flying Tiger spoke whatever came to mind.
"The operation will succeed. But if we're talking just my survival odds... maybe fifty-fifty? Die or live. Who in this damned jianghu can guarantee tomorrow anyway? What about you, Brother Dan?"
"Not me either. ...Well, yeah."
That 'well, yeah' carried a strange lingering note. With that, Dan Geum fell silent.
'Has all this time to think stirred up stray thoughts?'
Flying Tiger thought as he left. It didn't suit the man Dan Geum was. But he had no words to offer. Such issues were for one to bear alone.
Fuu~
Flying Tiger settled in a suitable spot and exhaled. He assumed the starting stance of the Nine Forms Five Golden Steps and cleared his mind.
'Right. Focus on what I must bear, devote myself to what I can do now.'
Flying Tiger began slowly unfolding the Nine Forms Five Golden Steps. Concentrating on the movements, he contemplated the breath that rose and fell in dance with them.
One by one, he expelled stray thoughts—like shedding old grime, shaking off weakness, anxiety, impatience, fear.
Was Flying Tiger clever, cunning, or just shrewd? He lived exhaustingly either way.
Paradoxically, he cherished these times of emptying his mind and immersing simply.
Perhaps because his mindset was especially clear today? The Nine Forms Five Golden Steps clung perfectly to his body.
He emptied and emptied again, his body and mind lightening as vitality infused the movements.
How many cycles?
He lost track of time, then even himself.
He had entered the threshold of the trance state.
The trance state (Selfless State).
A rare stroke of fortune, hard to come by. One more step in, and a new world would unfold.
Just set down that final burden...!
Haa~
Flying Tiger's focus shattered, his extraordinary movements losing their luster. The Great Roc Spreads Wings he was performing ended in a limp flap.
He hadn't shed that last burden.
It was longing.
Longing born of love was affection.
Flying Tiger couldn't set Gong Won-yeong down even for a moment in his heart; she was his limit.
And his reason for being.
'But what am I doing right now? Is this right?'
Flying Tiger knew his situation well.
Or so he believed.
Like flowers bloom and wither, their bond was nearing its end. He was merely thrashing to delay it.
But as suppressed emotions surged anew, despair and emptiness washed over him.
His vision blurred rapidly.
"Hah!"
A scolding shout from somewhere shook him.
The voice carried power, focused solely on him—like a sound art technique.
Thanks to it, Flying Tiger suffered minor internal injuries, snapped awake, and blinked in confusion.
It had been dark dawn moments ago, but now the sun hung high at midday.
"You alright?"
"Elder Wang?"
"Tch. I came because your state seemed off. Thought you might gain some insight and waited ages, but you suddenly fell into qi deviation. What on earth were you thinking at such a critical moment?"
"Well..."
Flying Tiger flushed, embarrassed.
From what he heard, Wang Baek-gun had not only pulled him back from the brink but had been guarding him all along.
He was grateful and sorry, but explaining it was due to thoughts of Gong Won-yeong was impossible. It sounded womanizing, and he feared it might expose sensitive info—like his double agent role for the Seoguk Party.
Even great dikes crumble from small holes.
Wang Baek-gun overlooked the hesitation but didn't forget to advise.
"If it's hard to say, fine. But remember this: defy the natural flow, and you'll meet the devil again soon."
"...!"
Flying Tiger was shocked.
The advice was sound, something he knew well.
But words hit differently by context.
Applied to his case, it meant his refusal to let go of Gong Won-yeong went against the flow.
And defying it would lead to... the demonic path?
'So, send Won-yeong away? No way! I'd become a demon before giving up. But if it's against the flow, maybe my obsession is tormenting her instead?'
Flying Tiger grew distraught; Wang Baek-gun watched with concern. Realizing his mistake, Flying Tiger composed himself and thanked him first.
It was already the hour of the sheep (1-3 PM). He'd been immersed in the Nine Forms Five Golden Steps for over four hours.
The watch schedule changed.
Flying Tiger had a slight fever and wasn't in good shape. Wang Baek-gun took his shift, and Flying Tiger's next was postponed so he could stand two double shifts later.
Thus, Flying Tiger collapsed and groaned in fever. Heat boiled like a bad flu, his mind hazy in delirium. Yet he vaguely sensed comrades checking on him constantly.
It was touching.
And embarrassing, showing such an unsightly side.
Soon, he sank into deep sleep.