Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: 24. Blitzkrieg (2)
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Ye Dok-du and Dan Geum paired up with A Jeok-gang and Na Mok, burying the bodies of the two bandits each before regrouping.
In the meantime, Jin Ga-yong, Wang Baek-gun, and Flying Tiger had discussed the current situation.
It wasn't good.
It was past the hour of the rabbit, but none of the Ten Cats had shown up. Worse still, after dealing with the guards at the narrow gate and planning to descend via the ravine path, the two bandits had come down from that very gate instead.
What was going on?
From what they'd overheard, security had suddenly tightened this morning. Could it be related?
"So the conclusion is we move first."
"We do? Even if it's a passage where only a few come and go, is that even possible? We can't afford to cause a commotion."
"Brute force would be tough. That's why we'll head to the narrow gate first and bide our time for an opportunity."
"Why not stick to the original plan and wait here a bit longer?"
Ye Dok-du voiced the negative opinion on behalf of the four team members who hadn't been part of the discussion.
At that, Flying Tiger stepped forward in place of Jin Ga-yong.
"It was my suggestion."
"Why?"
"My gut feeling's off."
"You want us to follow your gut? In a matter this critical?"
"Then what, pull back now? Things are already going sideways, and by the book, we should retreat."
"Well... that's why I say we wait, right?"
"Time's not on our side. Plus, I'm not one for sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Think about it. For some reason, the Ten Cats are having trouble seizing the narrow gate right now. But if we coordinate from inside and out, we could break through easily, no? That's why we actively look for that chance."
Dan Geum, who had been listening, chimed in.
"Let me ask one thing. Do you really think the Ten Cats are safe with no word yet? They might've been spotted early and bailed, or worst case, all wiped out. That's why they beefed up security?"
"Remember what the dead bandits said. They had no clue."
"The higher-ups could've hidden it on purpose."
"Hide it from the grunts so they don't know? What do the bosses gain from that? In cases like this, spreading it wide to the ranks heightens vigilance and strengthens security, doesn't it?"
Dan Geum conceded with a nod, and Flying Tiger pressed on passionately.
"The tougher the situation, the more proactive we need to be. Hunkering down passively won't untangle this mess. So let's move. Opportunities show up when we move, and doors open when we knock."
Flying Tiger's persuasion swayed the skeptical team members.
Then Jin Ga-yong added the clincher. No more, no less—just try for one incense stick's time, and if things still look dicey, we'd pull out without hesitation, he declared.
That left one issue.
The team members glanced at Wang Baek-gun. They knew his resolve for this mission all too well.
In response, Wang Baek-gun backed Jin Ga-yong.
"This old man's already agreed. If it were up to me, how could I turn back? But I know you're pushing hard enough as is, and forcing more would be reckless. So as the leader says, just until then."
The Jeong Unit moved out again.
The narrow path to the narrow gate in Hwangchungdan Fortress's walls was treacherously steep and winding—fit only for mountain folk or seasoned mules. It barely qualified as a path, half-hidden as it was, making one wonder if it hadn't originally been meant as a secret tunnel.
Even outsiders rarely knew of it; the Ten Cats had only found it by chance while surveilling the area these past few days.
That explained why the path was deserted, free from walls or watchposts except in certain stretches. The Jeong Unit climbed so effortlessly that their tension melted away, arriving in less time than it took to sip tea.
Yes, the wall towering above was impressive.
The outer wall stood two to three zhang high (varying with the uneven terrain), but built atop a cliff, scaling it meant climbing nearly seven zhang.
The narrow gate sat at the base of the wall's left end, right where the path terminated at the cliff—likely a natural cave mouth hollowed out for one person at a time.
And it had a thick iron door. Forcing or smashing it would be impossible.
The Jeong Unit skirted into a blind spot hard to see from atop the wall, clinging to the cliff beside the narrow gate like barnacles.
'They followed quietly this far, but now what?'
Na Mok's emotions churned. His heart raced, yet despair loomed.
That's when Jin Ga-yong exchanged a glance with Flying Tiger, then signaled Ye Dok-du.
Ye Dok-du unslung the shield from his back and shifted to the narrow gate, while Flying Tiger moved behind him, drawing his mandarin duck moons and gripping one in each hand.
Jin Ga-yong adjusted their positions, then began counting on his fingers, signaling the others. He started with three fingers, pointing to himself; four for A Jeok-gang; five spread wide for Dan Geum.
Na Mok tensed, uncomprehending, until the count hit five—leaving him baffled.
Me?
Then Jin Ga-yong rapped roughly on the iron door.
Thud thud thud.
'No way—did that "knock and it opens" bit mean actually doing this?'
Na Mok was floored. This wasn't a friendly visit; they'd come armed to kill.
But incredibly, it worked.
Clank.
Creeeak...
The iron door groaned open slowly, a voice drifting from inside.
"What? Why're you back? You couldn't have finished the job already."
Only then did Na Mok piece it together.
The bandit inside mistook them for the pair they'd just killed, returning from their route.
Why?
He never dreamed the knocker was an enemy. They'd nested here over a decade without incident. Plus, no one would boldly knock to attack.
Under that assumption, he figured it was his comrades who'd left moments ago.
'But even so, no guarantee they'd open up.'
As Na Mok stepped back with that idle thought, things escalated.
The moment the door cracked, Ye Dok-du thrust his hand through, yanking hard—a head came tumbling out, hair gripped tight. The door-opener.
A Jeok-gang then slammed his foot into the door.
Bam.
It crunched the trapped bandit with a squelch, rebounding wide.
Ye Dok-du wrenched the head free by the hair, hurling it back, then charged inside shield-first.
Flying Tiger followed.
Then Jin Ga-yong, and after him, A Jeok-gang who had kicked the door.
Fifth was Dan Geum, designated earlier—he smashed his war hammer down on the bandit Ye Dok-du had dragged out.
Splorch.
Dan Geum cracked the bandit's skull and sauntered inside leisurely, unlike his rushing comrades.
The inside was already a chaotic uproar.
"Let's head in too."
The last two remained; Wang Baek-gun led, eyes alight with excitement. After all the anxiety en route, they'd finally breached.
Na Mok trailed him, Flying Tiger's earlier words echoing in his ears.
'Knock. And it shall open.'
Beyond the iron door sprawled a space some twenty-odd pyeong, wider than expected. The high ceiling tapered inward, opening to the clear sky at center.
A beam of light poured through, illuminating the dim room.
Visible now: a table and chairs in one corner, junk piled in another. Opposite the iron door, stairs led up to the outer fortress cave.
Four bandits occupied the space.
Three sat at a table strewn with mahjong tiles; one rummaged through the junk.
All stared wide-eyed as the Jeong Unit poured in through the door.
This was the scene Flying Tiger took in at a glance upon leaping inside.
"Left."
He barked and veered right toward the junk-rummager.
Ye Dok-du, in the lead, charged the left table's trio like an enraged bull per the order.
"Who are you?!"
One startled bandit shot up yelling, but the cry drowned in the ensuing clash.
Flying Tiger struck first.
He lunged, smashing down with the moon blade in his right hand.
The bandit instinctively swung a small tray he'd just grabbed.
Crack.
The tray splintered, shards flying; the bandit reeled but flailed the broken leg wildly to fend off the intruder.
Flying Tiger closed in without pause, flicking the tray leg aside with his left moon blade—Sweeping Moon Form.
One step more, thrusting the moon blade's upper edge at the bandit's chest—Thrusting Moon Form.
Chained seamlessly, the bandit crumpled into the junk pile.
Crash.
Then a sharp thwack echoed from across the room.
Ye Dok-du had bashed a scrambling bandit's head with his shield.
Another rolled skull-cracked into the far corner.
The remaining two reacted. One drew steel and charged Ye Dok-du; the other bolted for the stairs.
Fight or flight—neither easy.
The fleeing bandit barely took three steps before a pair of mandarin duck moons struck in sequence.
Thud. Thud.
One pierced his side, the other his shoulder; his third step buckled his knee.
Flying Tiger, blade drawn, overtook and slashed deep into the staggering bandit.
Slash.
At that instant, third entrant Jin Ga-yong severed the neck of the bandit sparring Ye Dok-du's shield.
Fourth in, A Jeok-gang scanned about, lowering his idle raised hand axe. From door flung wide to now, mere blinks of an eye.
Then Dan Geum, Wang Baek-gun, Na Mok filed in.
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong had finally breached the enemy lair.