Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Return (1)
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"In truth, there's no reason for those bandits to come chasing after us."
"One might hope so. Unless there's something in it for them like loot, what bandit worries about avenging a fallen comrade?"
A Jeok-gang chimed in agreement with No Song-seo's words, prompting the old man to smile faintly and continue.
"That's a fair point, but the reason I'm bringing it up is something else."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Last night, the young lord of the Ye-ryang Sword Faction personally led the Five Tigers and Hundred Wolves down this very road."
"What? The Ye-ryang Sword Faction? Where were they headed?"
A Jeok-gang asked in surprise, but though Flying Tiger was unfamiliar with the Ye-ryang Sword Faction, he grasped No Song-seo's intent immediately.
'The Ye-ryang Sword Faction passed through the road we took... So even if the bandits do tail us, they'll run into them first. Hmph, so that's why No Song-seo chose this route.'
As U-i disguised as No Song-seo, she had enemies in both the Western Bureau—which handled intelligence—and the Hao Clan. She must have gotten prior word of the Ye-ryang Sword Faction's movements through one channel or the other and used it to block any potential pursuit.
Seen in that light, she truly was the capable and diligent guide she'd claimed to be.
Flying Tiger let out a low whistle of admiration, and No Song-seo shrugged proudly. He then answered A Jeok-gang's question.
"Luan Family Plains. That's their rally point, apparently. They should be there by now."
The Luan Family Plains lay at the heart of the northern highlands, a vital transportation hub. From Mi Deok County, where the Face Pursuit Unit was currently staying, it was about a hundred li to the west.
But that wasn't the answer A Jeok-gang had hoped for, so he pressed on.
"A rally point? What's going on?"
"Do you really think a powerhouse like the Ye-ryang Sword Faction—one of the north's finest—would mobilize its core forces just to patrol the trails?"
"Then what?"
"War."
"...!"
The word war hung heavy in the air, thick with the stench of blood.
"So Gwak Division Leader has finally drawn her sword."
Jin Ga-yong spoke up, downing his cup in one gulp as if to wash the words away.
No Song-seo nodded.
"As expected. The team leader knew. The others seem clueless, though."
No Song-seo tossed out the hint casually before supplementing his explanation for the oblivious A Jeok-gang and Flying Tiger.
"This morning at dawn, a proclamation went out in Gwak Nan-hoe's name to all allied factions in the north. The gist is for everyone to take up arms and purge the traitor groups—the Yellow Turban Corps and its collaborators, including the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Horse Stables and surrounding forces. Word is, it turned the Martial Qin Alliance headquarters in Chang'an City upside down. Even they were caught off guard, just like you lot."
A Jeok-gang tilted his head midway through the shocking news, pointing out the inconsistency.
"This morning at dawn? But you said the Ye-ryang Sword Faction's main force passed through here last night."
"Heh heh. That's the official announcement. The real allies had already coordinated in advance."
"Ah."
"According to Hao Clan reports, messenger birds have been flying nonstop in the north for the past three days. The Ye-ryang Sword Faction's at the eastern edge of Shaanxi, so they've probably just linked up by now. But most of the participating sects were likely already gathered well beforehand."
"Hmm. Three days ago... could that mean...?"
"Exactly. The very day you stirred up the Yellow Turban Corps."
Not just A Jeok-gang—Flying Tiger felt blindsided too.
It was lightning-quick maneuvering!
Even the Martial Qin Alliance hadn't known, which spoke volumes about the intense behind-the-scenes efforts.
Even as members of the same alliance, and with her riding her father's coattails, securing commitments for war wasn't easy. All while dodging the watchful eyes everywhere.
As Flying Tiger pondered, he recalled the true departure ceremony back at Little Flower Mountain Gorge before this Yellow Turban operation.
It had been so secretive that even the Face Pursuit Unit's own team members hadn't known until the last moment.
The excessive secrecy had drawn backlash from the team members, including Flying Tiger, toward their leader Jin Ga-yong.
Gwak Nan-hoe had later stepped in personally, explaining it as a necessary measure to fool the spies she'd deeply embedded in the Face Pursuit Squad. She'd begged their understanding.
'No wonder the warriors she brought seemed so numerous and skilled... We weren't the only ones heading north for an operation back then. She was moving north too, for her own plans. While our team drew eyes battling the Yellow Turban Corps, she must have been pulling in allied forces through political maneuvers.'
Flying Tiger pictured Gwak Nan-hoe's face for a moment.
She was glamorous, refined, and carried herself with fitting arrogance. She'd also demonstrated her ability to command a room.
Yes, the daughter of a lion, indeed.
Having pieced it together, Flying Tiger cut straight to the point with Jin Ga-yong.
"A diversion, then. So was the mission you gave us just bait to cover the division leader's movements?"
A Jeok-gang, listening beside him, frowned at Flying Tiger's words. It was a natural reaction—having risked their lives, no one liked hearing their efforts downplayed.
But Jin Ga-yong remained composed, showing no offense.
"Bait is too harsh a word. Dealing with the internal enemies colluding with the Yellow Turban Corps was important, of course. But do you think eliminating their leadership was any less vital? If anything, more so."
"Hmph."
"Was my explanation lacking? The division leader's operation hinges on moving in secret before the traitors catch wind. Our movements were bound to draw some attention anyway, so we hid behind them. But did she neglect our side? She quietly assigned us the Ten Cats and rescued Jin Cheon-rae for us. You know we benefited greatly from that. And not just that—she promised extra rewards to boost morale. All those factors combined let us pull off the mission, didn't they?"
"Well, sure."
"So calling it a diversion to mask her operation is an overreach. Better to say we advanced both operations in parallel, without neglecting either."
Despite Jin Ga-yong's persuasion, Flying Tiger felt a lingering skew in his thinking. A touch contrarian, perhaps.
Jin Ga-yong wasn't wrong—both were crucial.
But from Gwak Nan-hoe's perspective, hadn't there been degrees of priority based on the gains she'd reap?
She wouldn't have wanted their team to fail, of course, but there were levels of importance.
'For instance, even mid-operation, those "attached" Ten Cats were too busy chasing loot to focus. From her standpoint, our success was preferable, but failure was recoverable. Maybe... she even planned assuming we'd fail from the start.'
That was Flying Tiger's inner sentiment, but he saw no need to air such delicate suspicions and sour the mood.
So Flying Tiger readily conceded to Jin Ga-yong.
"You're right, team leader. I was too narrow-minded."
With that settled, No Song-seo rubbed his hands eagerly, his anticipation bubbling over. He'd been waiting for this moment all along.
"Well then, Team Leader Jin, now that the mood's right, why don't you tell us what exactly went down at the Yellow Turban Corps' stronghold? If you're game."
"Of course."
Jin Ga-yong nodded agreeably. He glanced at Flying Tiger—a signal to chime in at the right moments and play off his lead. Flying Tiger got it perfectly and nodded back.
And so the Face Pursuit Unit's tale flowed eloquently from Jin Ga-yong's lips, starting from the moment they'd waited agonizingly at the Yellow Turban Corps' inner gate for the Ten Cats to arrive. Flying Tiger jumped in and out precisely, supporting and elevating the narrative. The story was so vivid and flavorful it practically gleamed. Not just U-i in her No Song-seo guise—even A Jeok-gang, who'd lived it, was soon hooked.
Their synergy was that seamless.
Jin Ga-yong had the knack for guiding the tale, while Flying Tiger added the perfect spice to make it shine.
...
Clap. Clap. Clap.
About half a shichen later, the story wrapped. No Song-seo applauded with evident satisfaction.
The drinking session naturally wound down from there.
As everyone rose, Jin Ga-yong—who'd been talking nonstop and parched his throat—wetted it with more liquor and called to Flying Tiger.
"Deputy leader, a word."
"...?"
No Song-seo and A Jeok-gang exchanged glances before excusing themselves. Flying Tiger sat back down awkwardly.
It felt uncomfortable.
There were unresolved issues piling up between him and Jin Ga-yong, but today, at least, he had no desire to dig into them.
"Ahem. So, what's up?"
"How was my storytelling just now?"
"You mean our Face Pursuit Unit's battle with the Yellow Turban Corps?"
"Yes."
"Everyone seemed hooked. You've got a real gift for words. I always took you for a stoic type who just said the bare minimum—quite the surprise."
As Flying Tiger spoke, a memory surfaced, making him inwardly wince.
It was one evening after battling the Eight Villains of Sichuan, while he was recovering at Jin Ga-yong's sect, the Zhao Family Manor on Ye Mountain.
That day, the Face Pursuit Unit's members had visited to check on him and ended up holding an impromptu gathering at a rundown tavern nearby.
Jin Ga-yong had personally served drinks and snacks to his guests who'd come all the way to Ye Mountain, playing host to perfection.
He'd warmed the mood by sharing childhood memories tied to that tavern.
A tale of how he and his late senior brother had snuck out to drink there without their master's knowledge, only to get caught and thoroughly scolded by the old lady owner.
Come to think of it, in private Jin Ga-yong was unpretentious and very human. Not the type to dominate conversations, but his eloquence and witty side shone through.
He was just so invariably composed and aloof that he seemed unapproachable.
Flying Tiger eyed him with fresh appreciation, and Jin Ga-yong smiled faintly, raising his cup.
"Feels like I'm tooting my own horn, but I'm glad you think so. Truth be told, it was you matching my rhythm and breathing life into the story. Thanks to you. And the operation's success too—I'm grateful as your leader."
Clink~
The cups met and parted, and they each downed the rippling liquor within.
Then Jin Ga-yong got to the point.
"That story I told the guide. If you're alright with it, I'd like to file the official report the same way. What do you say?"
He was asking permission.
The version for No Song-seo had deviated from the facts in places. The awkward entanglements with the Ten Cats, Wang Baek-gun's bizarre death, the ends of White Horse Deng and Do-ryung.
Lingering oddities.
'And he wants me to bury all that?'
Flying Tiger stared into his empty cup before countering.
"Was there something else?"
"...?"
"If you're planning to report it straight, why ask me if it's okay?"
"Is that how it seems?"
Flying Tiger shrugged.
Jin Ga-yong murmured, "I owe you one," and refilled Flying Tiger's cup.
Pour~
"Just one more thing. Personal curiosity."
"Ask away."
"When Do-ryung died, did he say anything to you?"
Jin Ga-yong's voice had sunk, a far cry from his earlier cheer.