A Pledge Written in Blood

Lee Go-nap-hap did not answer.

Tung Jugang asked again.

"Kunaha, do you even know who I am?"

Only then did Lee Go-nap-hap lift his eyes to look up at Tung Jugang.

It was the look of a beast driven into a corner.

"Tung Jugang⋯⋯."

"So, you've come back to your senses."

Tung Jugang turned his head to glance at the other three men, then spoke.

"Would have been better if the bear had finished you off. In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any case, what are we to do with this one? By rights, by law, he deserves to die."

"Me? You mean to kill me?"

Lee Go-nap-hap murmured weakly, drained of all strength.

Tung Jugang fixed him with a cold stare.

"You tried to defile my little sister. Did you expect to simply walk away alive?"

"Even so, I mean—hey, hold on⋯⋯ this is a joke, right?"

"Does it look like a joke?"

When ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tung Jugang drew his blade with a savage expression and advanced, Lee Go-nap-hap flinched and began backing away, casting desperate glances around him.

His gaze landed on Hong-wi.

"H-hey, you—you're Temusi-i, aren't you? Temusi-i! You're just going to stand there and watch? Say something, anything!"

Hong-wi was so disgusted by the man's servility that he nearly retched.

Tung Jugang evidently felt the same, for contempt was written plain across his face.

At that very moment—

"Please don't, my lord brother."

"What?"

Tung Jugang turned to Wol-yeong with an incredulous look.

Lee Go-nap-hap turned to her as well.

She shook her head slowly.

"This man must not be touched."

Tung Jugang regarded her for a long moment.

"He's the one who tried to shame you."

"That's true. But if you lay a hand on him, it will bring ruin not only on you, my lord, but on Father as well."

"There's no one around to see."

"His lackeys wouldn't have abandoned their master and fled far. They'll be watching us from somewhere—I'd stake anything on it."

"Well said! Yes, my men will surely be watching from somewhere out there."

Lee Go-nap-hap shouted as though driven half-mad by the reprieve.

"Listen, Tung Jugang, you know perfectly well what will happen if you kill me!"

"Silence, Kunaha."

Tung Jugang spat the words out, then thrust the tip of his blade forward and pressed it against the man's Adam's apple.

Lee Go-nap-hap, not daring to make a sound, stared at him with eyes gone wide as saucers.

"If this man were the least bit honorable, he wouldn't forget that today he owes us his life. But where would he ever be that sort? Aren't you the kind who'd count merely owing us a debt as an unbearable humiliation? Sooner or later, you'd come seeking payback."

"H-hey, now. That's a misunderstanding."

Lee Go-nap-hap waved his hands frantically, sweat beading on his face.

His eyes darted about.

"Th-then say something! I say there, Temusi-i! Are you just going to watch? Talk him down, will you!"

"Jugang-ya."

Hong-wi spoke in a low voice.

Tung Jugang shook his head.

"Whatever you do, don't tell me to let this man live. He'd only become a thorn in our side later."

"But killing him would be a problem too. Isn't he Lee Man-ju's son?"

Tung Jugang did not answer.

After a long while, he let out a sigh.

"That is true enough."

Tung Jugang could hardly be ignorant of the delicate contest of wills now flowing between Lee Man-ju and Onyan Isiha. Lee Man-ju's voice was growing louder by the day, and the aging Onyan Isiha's ability to hold him in check was reaching its limits.

"Then what are we supposed to do? Just let this man go free?"

"Of course, we can't let him go scot-free."

At Hong-wi's answer, Tung Jugang wrinkled the bridge of his nose.

"What are you talking about? What do you intend to do?"

Rather than answer, Hong-wi turned to Lee Go-nap-hap.

"Kunaha. If you return from here, you'll never lay a hand on Wol-yeong or the Onyan clan again—won't you?"

"Of course not!"

Lee Go-nap-hap answered in a panicked rush.

"Will you swear it by heaven and earth, and by your parents?"

At Hong-wi's words, Lee Go-nap-hap faltered slightly.

Wild tribesmen broke oaths as casually as they ate their meals. But a pledge sworn upon heaven and earth carried real weight among the superstitious tribesmen.

It was a vow made upon one's very soul. Lee Go-nap-hap was a tribesman too, and he was not so brazen as to dismiss it outright.

"Y-yes. I swear it by heaven and earth, and by our ancestors' spirits!"

Lee Go-nap-hap cried out in a fluster.

Hong-wi turned to Tung Jugang.

"Can you trust that oath?"

"Not a chance."

Tung Jugang snorted.

"Temusi-i⋯⋯ I seem to have misjudged you. Do you mean to believe this man's word? Trust the flailing of someone desperate to wriggle out of danger?"

"You're right to doubt it."

Hong-wi shook his head.

Tung Jugang tilted his head, puzzled.

"Then what's your plan?"

"Come here a moment."

Hong-wi walked off.

Tung Jugang wore a look of bewilderment, but he soon followed. The two of them drew well out of Lee Go-nap-hap's earshot.

"Your kinsmen value face above all else, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't they."

Tung Jugang wore the expression of a man wondering why his friend had suddenly come out with something so random.

"That's right. And more than that⋯⋯."

"Those who lose face are held in deep contempt, I hear."

"They are."

"Then what would happen if word spread that this man, the Dudu of the Jianzhou Guard no less, tried to force himself upon a noble woman—and was beaten back by women instead?"

"Well⋯⋯."

Tung Jugang furrowed his brow.

"⋯⋯his prestige would be trampled into the dirt. He'd never be able to hold his head up again."

"And if Lee Man-ju found out?"

"He'd cast his own son out on the spot."

Tung Jugang gave a derisive snort.

They both looked toward Lee Go-nap-hap.

"For my part, I have no wish to see today's events made common knowledge either. I could not bear to see Wol-yeong's honor smeared."

"Nor I. But that fool doesn't know that. So we make it known to him—if he ever touches Wol-yeong again, we'll broadcast today's affair across all of Jianzhou."

"That sounds plausible enough."

Tung Jugang pondered for a moment, then grimaced.

"What if we let him go and he swears up and down that nothing of the sort ever happened?"

Hong-wi glanced at Lee Go-nap-hap.

Tung Jugang had a point. The man was more than capable of it.

"Then we make proof."

"Proof?"

Hong-wi nodded and strode back toward Lee Go-nap-hap, who had been thoroughly deflated until now. The man raised his head.

"⋯⋯What now."

"You bear the title of Dudu of the Jianzhou Guard yourself. If today's affair leaks out, your prestige will be trampled into the dirt alongside ours. How do you suppose it would go for you if word reached your father's ears?"

At that, Lee Go-nap-hap made a face as though he'd been run through with a knife.

Seeing that he had struck home, Hong-wi turned to Tung Jugang and continued.

"We have him write an oath. If this friend of ours ever pulls anything, we publish that oath before the assembled crowd."

"Hmm."

Tung Jugang looked back at Lee Go-nap-hap, dubious.

"Will that actually work?"

"Since killing him is difficult, and we must let him live, there's no better way than this."

Tung Jugang fell into thought. It was Wol-yeong who spoke up.

"Lord Temusi-i is right. Kunaha may be a man who acts without thinking, but—"

Wol-yeong shot Lee Go-nap-hap a frosty glance.

He slid his eyes away and lowered his gaze.

"—with that hanging over him, he won't dare run wild."

"If that's how it is, fine."

Tung Jugang sighed and sheathed his blade.

Lee Go-nap-hap stumbled backward, then let out a rough, ragged breath.

"Very well, Kunaha. Let's have that oath written."

"I can't write."

Lee Go-nap-hap replied with his eyes cast down.

There was nothing the least bit surprising in that, and none of them had expected otherwise.

Hong-wi said, "Don't trouble yourself over that. We'll write the words for you."

"Fine. But what will we write it with?"

"Shall we use blood, then?"

Hong-wi presently began to take off his hempen jacket.

Tung Jugang shook his head and stepped forward.

"I've more blood to spare than you do."

At that moment, Wol-yeong stepped in.

Pointing toward Lee Go-nap-hap, she said, "Might there not be something better than the blood of my lord brothers?"

"Wh-who, me?"

When Lee Go-nap-hap cried out in horror, Wol-yeong wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

The next instant, Hong-wi and Tung Jugang both burst out laughing.

"Right you are. There truly was something better after all."

Behind Lee Go-nap-hap, the bear that had not yet breathed its last was still heaving for breath.

Truly, no creature had ever clung to life so stubbornly.

Hong-wi raised his blade and cut one of the beast's veins.

Hot blood gushed out in surges, keeping time with the pounding of the great heart.

Hong-wi wet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his fingers and gathered enough of it, then wrote out the pledge, stroke by stroke, on his hempen jacket.

When he had finished writing, Hong-wi showed it to Tung Jugang and Wol-yeong as well. They, too, could read Chinese characters.

Tung Jugang said, "Not bad."

"But, my lord brothers—what if he claims it was written under duress?"

It was Wol-yeong who raised the point.

At that, Tung Jugang shook his head.

"He might try. But for a man bearing the title of Dudu of the Jianzhou Guard to admit he wrote this under threat—why, he'd become the laughingstock of all Jianzhou."

"I suppose that's true."

Wol-yeong conceded the point.

Hong-wi thought for a moment.

"Now all that's left is to leave a token of authenticity here⋯⋯ Kunaha, do you have a seal?"

"Would I be carrying one right now?"

Lee Go-nap-hap had in fact received a seal when the Ming dynasty invested him as Dudu of the Jianzhou Guard. But of course, such an object was not the sort of thing one carried about on a hunting trip.

Hong-wi had not expected much anyway.

"Then a thumbprint will do. Come, press it."

Lee Go-nap-hap hesitated a moment, then, having no choice, wet his finger in the bear's blood and pressed it against the jacket.

He looked around at the three of them and said, "Is that enough?"

At his words, Tung Jugang shook his head.

"Go on, press a few more while you're at it. Best to be thorough."

Lee Go-nap-hap pressed his finger down as many times as Tung Jugang ordered, leaving print after print. Once clearly legible thumbprints had been left, Hong-wi nodded.

"That should do."

"Satisfied now?"

Lee Go-nap-hap asked listlessly.

Tung Jugang glared at him with a ferocious expression.

"If you ever lay hands on Wol-yeong again, we'll let all of Jianzhou know about this."

"Fine. As long as you keep silent first, I'll keep my end of the bargain."

Lee Go-nap-hap put on airs, as if determined to salvage what dignity he could.

Tung Jugang barely suppressed the fury boiling up inside him, lowered his voice, and said, "That is, if a creature like you even knows how to keep a promise."

At Tung Jugang's words, Lee Go-nap-hap answered sullenly, "If you make that thing public, I'm ruined too. I know at least that much."

"Your so-called honor means nothing to me, but if word got out that Wol-yeong was nearly shamed by the likes of you, her honor would suffer as well. So it won't happen."

"I'm not worried about that⋯⋯ what worries me more is that this man might try to retaliate against you, my lords."

"In that case, it's all the better for us."

Tung Jugang replied with a snort, and Hong-wi nodded as if to say she'd spoken well.

"And if you count today's affair as a disgrace and hunger for revenge—come find us whenever you like. We'll be happy to oblige you."

Lee Go-nap-hap bit his lip.

There could be no humiliation like this humiliation.

Tung Jugang wheeled around, as if he could not bear the sight of him a moment longer.

"Now then, get lost."

"What?"

"Clear off, and be quick about it. If anyone else sees you were here, today's business can't be hidden no matter how we try."

Tung Jugang bellowed, and Lee Go-nap-hap fled at once.

Tung Jugang silently glared after his retreating figure.

"Will that man really stay quiet?"

"I doubt it—but as long as we have that, he can't try anything reckless."

At Hong-wi's question, Tung Jugang merely shrugged.

Wol-yeong spoke up.

"I'm sorry—for causing all this trouble over nothing⋯⋯."

"No."

Hong-wi opened his mouth.

"The mere fact that the likes of him can no longer touch you so easily is more than enough. It's not as though we can't handle one wretch like that. Isn't that so, Tung Jugang?"

"Of course it is."

Tung Jugang puffed out his chest, then immediately furrowed his brow.

"By the way—when exactly are you planning to blow that horn?"

"Ah."

Only then did Hong-wi raise the horn to his lips and blow with all his might.

Then he waited.

How long had it been? The sound of hoofbeats echoed from far off.

Hong-wi walked forward, waving both hands.

As they drew near, the eyes of Cha Gyeong-yeon and Ho-in went wide as saucers.

"Good heavens—what in the world happened here?"

Ho-in gaped at the carcass of the fallen bear.

"As you can see, things rather got out of hand."

Hong-wi gave a light laugh.

"All our horses ran off."

"That explains it—I did pass a few riderless horses on the way here."

Cha Gyeong-yeon said. Only then did Hong-wi and his companions realize that the two men had led several extra horses along behind them.

"We brought them along just in case."

"Excellent work!"

Hong-wi broke into a grin.

"Help us drag that thing back. We'll need to haul the boar we hunted earlier as well."

"A boar?"

"Yes⋯⋯ all in all, it's been quite the day for hunting."

Ho-in looked down at the dead bear once more. It was an enormously massive beast.

Hong-wi glanced toward the corpses lying at a distance.

"Those men don't seem to be from Anchuunbugu. Likely from a neighboring village, or wanderers passing through—unlucky souls, that's all. Wouldn't you say, Tung Jugang?"

"Mm."

Tung Jugang nodded as well.

"We'll speak to Elder Daeju and have them properly seen to later."

"⋯⋯Understood."