Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Chapter 26. Duel of Black and White (2)
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Hak Da-won glared at him and demanded,
"Are you trying to mess with us?"
"Hear me out. If we lose the duel, we'll hand over all the Thunderclap Bombs we have. But the handover spot has to be at least twenty li from here, and no more than three of you can come along. The point is, we'll only give them up once our safety is guaranteed at minimum."
"And why should we trust you bastards?"
"I could go on about trust, but I'll keep it short. Those Thunderclap Bombs are our last line of defense, so it's non-negotiable for us. If you can't accept that, the deal's off. What'll it be?"
"Hmph. Then at least take hostages..."
"That's off the table too."
"What? Listen here, you..."
"Instead, I recommend that your leader negotiate directly with our captain. Officially or unofficially, whatever works."
Listening to the back-and-forth between Jin Ga-yong and Hak Da-won from behind, the third leader, Do-rung, exploded in fury and jumped in.
"Recommend? What if that Face Pursuit captain bitch turns you down?"
"That's up to her. What can a subordinate like me do? Isn't that what 'recommend' means?"
"You little shit, mocking me with that loose mouth? Get over here."
As Do-rung took a step forward, Jin Ga-yong matched him with one of his own.
The two sides were facing off about ten zhang apart. For experts like Do-rung and Jin Ga-yong, two or three more steps would bring them close enough to lunge and slash at each other.
It was Jin Ga-yong's way of showing he wouldn't yield an inch to the raging Do-rung. At that moment, the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong subtly shifted their positions.
Ye Dok-du and Dan Geum blocked the front, while Flying Tiger, Na Mok, and A Jeok-gang fell back, widening the gaps between them. It looked exactly like a formation for ranged attacks from the rear trio.
What are they going to throw?
The White Horse Lantern and the Locust Brigade's higher-ups could guess.
Those three have the Thunderclap Bombs split between them! Too many to take out at once?
But the hot-tempered Do-rung ignored it like it was none of his business, gripping his massive saber tightly as he took another step. Jin Ga-yong responded in kind, hand on his sword hilt.
That was when it happened.
"Enough! Third, hold yourself back and step down."
At White Horse Lantern's command, Do-rung reluctantly retreated step by grudging step, face twisted in annoyance. Jin Ga-yong withdrew the same number of paces.
With the immediate crisis averted, White Horse Lantern turned to Jin Ga-yong.
"I'll ask. You mentioned official and unofficial earlier. What did you mean?"
"Just a thought. Our captain might be interested in a meeting with you. If so, wouldn't it be unofficial?"
"Interested? Why?"
"How should I know the minds of great leaders? The world's a mess, so who knows what tomorrow brings? No special intent behind it."
"Hmmm, is that so? What does the 'old fox' think?"
Hak Da-won stared at Jin Ga-yong as if peering into his soul. Jin Ga-yong himself flushed hot with embarrassment, struggling to keep composed. He'd recited what Flying Tiger told him, but it felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes—awkward as hell.
A little earlier, when Flying Tiger had transmitted his advice to Jin Ga-yong via inner force messaging.
He'd started by confirming something.
-Just to be sure, if we make a deal with those guys, do you plan to keep it?
-I've always tried to honor my word. Regardless of immediate gains or losses.
-What if they break it first and stab us in the back? Or if you just can't trust them?
-Shouldn't have made the promise then. But if I did, I have to trust it. If they betray that... blame my naive self first, then make them pay dearly for the deceit.
Flying Tiger inwardly clicked his tongue at the response.
Quite the gentleman, aren't you? Swords flash quick and clean, but words like that flip people's guts sometimes. Tsk. Then again, that's part of your charm.
It wasn't an unexpected answer, though. That's why he'd stepped in, worried Jin Ga-yong might get tangled in their nonsense and fall for their schemes.
So Flying Tiger said,
-What they really want is certainty we won't use the Thunderclap Bombs. And for White Horse Lantern, it's an excuse to accept the duel in front of his men. Face-saving, you could say. Guarantee those two reasonably, and the rest won't matter.
-No need for hostages?
-Heh, since when do those bastards take hostages? Bet you a silver tael anyone we hand over turns up a corpse that night.
-Got it. So you really plan to hand over the Thunderclap Bombs?
-They were our lifeline anyway. If they keep their end, they've served their purpose.
-Mm.
-But watch this point.
Flying Tiger then relayed the exact terms Jin Ga-yong would later spout to Hak Da-won.
Jin Ga-yong countered that such strict conditions might not fly with them.
Flying Tiger explained his reasoning.
-The more detailed the terms, the better. It'll make them think we're obsessed with the bombs, convincing them we won't dare use them recklessly.
-Convincing them... You don't say?
-Of course, if they hold up their end, I'll hand them over for real.
If any are left, Flying Tiger added inwardly. He planned to use them all up beforehand with some excuse—or kindly light the fuses for them.
No need to tip off this leaky-sieve of a man, though.
Like the saying goes: ignorance is bliss?
He also coached on the face-saving bit, leaving Jin Ga-yong flustered.
So Flying Tiger insisted:
It's not a lie.
Just recommend it to Captain Gwak for real. Sure, she'll probably call it bullshit nine times out of ten, but still.
Not fraud either.
You don't know high-ups' hearts either, right? Admitting ignorance isn't deceit—it's honesty.
Besides, do they really want to meet Captain Gwak?
They just need a plausible excuse in front of their men.
Jin Ga-yong wavered, and Flying Tiger drove it home.
-Squad Leader Jin, deals like this aren't won by haggling price down. If they want it, raise the cost and they'll buy. If not, no discount sways them. Don't get hung up on their petty tricks—cut it clean.
-Clean?
-Like slicing with a real blade.
Hak Da-won nodded as if he'd read Jin Ga-yong's intent, withdrawing his gaze. Like some mind-reading technique.
He cleared his throat with a "Hmph" and began laying out his case to White Horse Lantern.
"Boss, I've heard some rumors about that Face Pursuit captain from the Gwak family. She's struggling after losing out to her senior brother in the succession fight."
"Is that right? But isn't she the only daughter of Sect Master Gwak?"
"Still just a woman. Her rival's the sect master's top disciple—unrivaled in his age group, with deep trust and support. Word is, with the sect master off at war, he's leading Lion Hall as proxy. Meanwhile, the Gwak girl got stuck with the newbie Face Pursuit Squad."
"Pushed to the sidelines."
"Exactly. She's boiling inside. Take this mess—even after losing a whole unit, she throws in another right away. Desperate for merit, plain as day."
"Hmmm, so that's the situation."
"Yes. But even that gamble's about to fail. Desperate enough to challenge you to a duel?"
To the bandits and other Face Pursuit members who didn't know the details, their talk sounded like distant politics of the elite—like chatter from another realm.
Everyone perked up, straining to catch it. Jin Ga-yong's eyes chilled with anger.
Where do these two get off spinning baseless bullshit like that?
It wasn't entirely groundless—marketplace gossip had its grains of truth. But to Jin Ga-yong, who knew Captain Gwak Nan-hoe personally, it was plenty insulting.
-Squad Leader Jin, hold it in. Even this old man's gritting his teeth.
Jin Ga-yong nodded at Wang Baek-gun's urging. Flying Tiger snorted inwardly at their pathetic ploy but cheered silently.
Why such silver tongues?
The reason's obvious.
Finally, Hak Da-won got to the point.
"So, if you show your might now, Boss, that Gwak girl will go 'hot damn' and see you and the Locust Brigade in a new light. Once her arms and legs are broken, left in dire straits, she'll start thinking. That's the context behind Squad Leader Jeong's words about outreach."
"You want me to show them my power plainly, then."
"My apologies."
"Understood."
At White Horse Lantern's "Understood," Do-rung beside him swallowed his urge to fight in his sworn brother's stead. Once the boss decided, no one dared argue.
White Horse Lantern turned to Wang Baek-gun.
Coldly, like a snake eyeing a mouse.
Wang Baek-gun straightened, fire in his dantian, meeting those ruthless, icy eyes.
Hotly, with decades of pent-up longing.
They locked gazes, until White Horse Lantern smirked ambiguously. Then he declared solemnly,
"You hear that, old Wang? For those reasons, I'll grant your plea. The duel is on!"
And so, the duel between White Horse Lantern and Wang Baek-gun was set!
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong had finally completed its mission!
One was a pinnacle figure of Shaanxi's underworld, one of the "Shaanxi Evil Saints," the scourge who'd ravaged northern Shaanxi and beyond mercilessly for nearly twenty years as the Locust Brigade's chief.
The other was the top expert of Dance Melody Manor, Shaanxi's premier righteous martial clan, a warrior who'd sharpened his blade obsessively for years solely to topple White Horse Lantern.
How would this clash of Shaanxi's black and white end?
And could the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong and Locust Brigade's feud reach closure with one man's blood?
Though the unit had finished its task, with the world shrouded in dust storms, everything remained shrouded in uncertainty.