Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Mutual Understanding (2)
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After playing with the neighborhood kids as usual, I climbed a quiet hill to enjoy some alone time. So and I gazed up at the sky as the sun set. The landscape pressing in on my heart was so striking that I didn't want to miss a moment of it.
Pusss!
I sensed someone's presence.
Strange men with the sun at their backs approached, surrounding Mi Joo and So.
They had increased their numbers in case she tried to run, which would make things messy. One failure was enough. They had been reprimanded for failing to capture her that day. If they failed again, the hall leader wouldn't forgive them.
"Little girl, why don't you come with us?"
"Why should I?"
"If you don't obey, it's going to hurt a lot."
"You uncles should just come quietly. If you refuse, it's going to hurt a lot."
"This pea-brained brat thinks we're a joke, huh."
It was nearly time for darkness to blanket the surroundings. With five grown men surrounding them, anyone would be scared—but Mi Joo and So looked utterly bored. That irritated the men. It felt like even this kid was looking down on them.
"Mi Joo isn't scared no matter how you glare."
"Pretty brave, huh? Let's see if you're still not scared after this!"
Ma Dong-cheol and his comrades drew their swords at the brat's bold taunt. The blades gleamed red in the fading sunset.
"Not scared now?"
"So's even scarier."
"You think that fat pig of a cat that just eats all day is gonna protect you? Grab her!"
"That's dangerous."
Ma Dong-cheol was dumbfounded when the all-day glutton cat blocked Mi Joo's path. He swung his sword, intending to cleave it in one stroke.
Whish! Kyaaaaang!
Brrrrr!
The downward slash bounced off as if striking thick bedrock, letting out a wail. Then Ma Dong-cheol and the men's heads slowly tilted up from the ground.
Huhk!
A massive White Tiger the size of a chapter house stood there. Its bright yellow eyes flashed blood-red in the sunset. The "fierce" scar on its forehead looked all the more terrifying.
"So's scarier, right?"
Mi Joo's innocent smile no longer looked like a beautiful doll to Ma Dong-cheol and the men. Unless she was a witch wearing human skin.
"Run... Kwek!"
The other men fled, but Ma Dong-cheol dangled in midair, clawing at his throat. So's yellow eyes glared at him from where its claw gripped his neck.
Brrr!
They said anyone who faced a tiger's roar lost their mind for a while or went insane. Ma Dong-cheol couldn't endure the terror and wet himself. The yellow stream dripping to the ground was quite the sight.
"Piss pants."
Mi Joo's blunt remark, nose pinched against the smell, killed him a second time.
Thud, crash!
The ones who had bolted to save their own skins were caught by the Crimson Tiger Squad surrounding the area and beaten soundly.
"Uncle, I did good, right?"
"You did great."
Kang Muho swallowed hard at the sight of Mi Joo running over with her bright, adorable smile. Such innocence in this situation! If he didn't know what was going on, it might be different.
"Uncle, some weird people targeted me today."
"Weird people?"
"They looked like Gushan Hall guys to me. If they're targeting me, they must want to use me as leverage."
"These bastards dare!"
No one else to target, so they go after Mi Joo? Gushan Hall must be begging to die. Honestly, he could wipe them out single-handedly without a trace. He was holding back only to test the sect's strength.
He nearly dashed off to punish Gushan Hall right then. But Mi Joo stopped him.
"Uncle, do it like this."
"Mi Joo, this isn't something you should do. We need to lodge a formal protest with Gushan Hall."
"That'd be the worst option. We need solid proof."
"You don't mean...?"
Muho didn't dismiss his niece as a child. She only looked young—she outdid her father in smarts. She hid her precocious brilliance behind cuteness. But he didn't like following her plan.
"Does Aunt know?"
"Mom would definitely oppose it. Just trust Uncle."
He should have refused!
The problem was her plan made too much sense. It wasn't even that hard, and there was no real danger to her life.
So at Mi Joo's side was no ordinary spirit beast. If it got serious, even he couldn't guarantee victory against that millennium spirit tiger. Unless Gushan Hall's leader called in outsiders and went all out.
'I still didn't want to do it.'
If she hadn't begged with that charm.
But now it was done. It ended without a hitch, but using Mi Joo as bait would reach her father's ears.
'I'm dead!'
Oblivious to his thoughts, Mi Joo clung to his neck, insisting he was the only one she trusted. He wished his brother would come back as late as possible. He had to clean up Gushan Hall thoroughly before then.
Ding, ding!
Mi Joo!
I'm going crazy.
Following Mi Joo's plan, they captured Gushan Hall warriors and extracted confessions.
Regardless of reason, the Pine Tiger Sect warriors were furious. It wasn't just anyone—it was the sect's forbidden treasure. As the daughter of the sect's eldest son, Kang Mujin, everyone doted on her. Trying to kidnap her to turn the standoff in their favor was enough to enrage anyone in the Pine Tiger Sect.
"We can't let Gushan Hall get away with this!"
"We need to wipe them out completely."
"As warriors, this is an outrage against heaven and man!"
Until now, even in standoffs, they'd held back in combat. No casualties despite battles proved it.
But now, the Pine Tiger Sect burned with killing intent.
Especially Guo Yun-baek's rage exceeded imagination.
His only joy besides training was seeing Mi Joo. She was like a granddaughter he could hold in his eyes without pain. He couldn't forgive anyone trying to kidnap her.
It was a far cry from his cool demeanor during the human trafficking incident.
"This Guo can no longer stand by Gushan Hall's atrocities!"
"I fully understand Protector Guo's feelings. I'm grateful. But please hold back this time."
As sect leader, Kang U-gyeong restrained Protector Guo's participation. It could be resolved easily if he joined, but outsiders might not look kindly. It could give Gushan Hall pretext to claim the high ground and counterattack.
They needed to resolve it with the main force's strength as much as possible.
Protector Guo was a secret weapon for later. Unless survival was at stake, he planned not to deploy Great Hero Guo. It made sense—Guo Yun-baek was hiding his identity.
"We can no longer overlook Gushan Hall's evils. It's time to reveal the main force's power."
They had justification to pressure Gushan Hall. If they didn't yield, it would become an all-out sect war.
As sect leader, Kang U-gyeong declared it before everyone.
'In the end, things go your way.'
Kang U-gyeong let out a deep sigh at his son's foresight.
A slender build with a sharp impression contrasted with a plump, kindly face. The two middle-aged men faced each other over a go board, sipping from their cups. The pavilion in the private garden overlooked a pond, with trees and flowers completing the scenic view.
Clink!
They refilled and emptied their cups several times. Once the alcohol loosened their tongues, they revealed their true feelings.
"We got hit hard."
"Who could've guessed Jeongun Merchant Group would stab us in the back like that."
They were Do Dam-hu, leader of Baekje Merchant Group, and Im Dae-pung, leader of Cheongpung Merchant Group. They fumed at Jeongun Merchant Group's counterattack exploiting their weakness.
"The agreement means nothing if they win."
"Who knew things would twist this badly."
"What do we do?"
"No choice."
Shadow forces backed their merchant groups.
Refusing them would strip away all their privileges. So they planned to deal with Jeongun with minimal losses. But relying on that help again would make escaping subordination impossible.
That fueled their rage even more.
They despised being dragged around like this after that muddled fool landed a blow.
"At this point, we need to consolidate the merchant world."
"No need to say it twice."
***
The merchant caravan departed on schedule. But the scale was larger, and the merchant leader led it personally. It wasn't just with Yu Han Merchant Group from Jiangsu Province—they aimed to trade with several others.
They hired fifty for escort: thirty escort warriors and twenty ronin. Matching the merchants' numbers. Including porters, it was a massive caravan of 150 people.
Yukchil and Taejin traveled in a carriage behind, per Mujin's orders. It would take days to reach the destination, joining discreetly at checkpoints without the merchants knowing. It wouldn't matter if they did—they were indistinguishable up close.
"You can rest a bit."
"I want to live long."
Taejin trained relentlessly throughout the journey. His tenacity was indescribable. It wasn't exaggeration to say his father's harsh training and rivalry with Cheol-ho forged the current Taejin.
Before crossing the mountains, they camped in the plains. They selected the site and prepared food to refresh.
After the group meal, night deepened. They set rotating watches of ten for vigilance. Security was tighter than usual. With the merchant leader and key figures present, strict protection was natural.
"Think they'll come?"
"They will."
"So confident."
"Don't you think so?"
"Yeah."
Night deepened, but Taejin and Yukchil stayed alert. They'd chosen this spot openly. The next leg was by boat, so any raid had to happen before.
Sasasak!
Sure enough?
The night stirred with a subtle shift in the wind. Black shadows pressed in, encircling. As they neared the caravan, they revealed their killing intent.
"Kill them all!"
Why prioritize and focus? Simple. Reality has countless variables, and one person can't handle everything. You can't split yourself in two or three.
That doesn't mean pick randomly or focus like digging sand in a desert.
You must consider the opponent's moves. Key here was their alliance with shadow forces. Prediction could be wrong, but countermeasures minimized damage.
Know the situation so well, why be here?
If asked, one answer.
I had to see through what they wanted. I'd boasted of great fortune and gold. No one wants a hated rival to thrive—they'd snatch even a rice cake.
Seeing the outline now?
What hurts me most?
Through contemplation, narrow the answers. Obviously, my opinion doesn't matter. Only what the opponent knows about me.
I looked down at the mountain as night deepened. Torches lit a spot. Wooden houses, dozens guarding it.
Darkness thickened, black clouds covering the sky. The pitch-black mountain offered no visibility.
Sneer!
Hidden by the veil of darkness, I smiled.
-Hmph!