Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Asilbul's Challenge
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What I was really curious about was the reason they were testing me in a situation like this. It just might turn out to be an unexpected motive—a clue pointing me north—which made it all the more intriguing.
The suffocating standoff eased slightly as Asilbul rested a hand on his waist and bellowed at the interpreter. The interpreter turned to look at me.
"He says if you don't tell the truth, he'll force your mouth open."
"How?"
"In the Gomokhae tribe's way."
The interpreter swallowed dryly before adding,
"He wants to duel you."
"Tell him I accept."
The moment he heard that, Geom Mojam spoke up.
"Let me take your place."
"Don't worry."
Asilbul's men brought him a massive iron mace and a wooden shield. He assumed his stance and glared at me as he opened his mouth. The interpreter looked my way.
"He says grab a weapon, quickly."
I drew the blade of Jumong's spear from behind my waist.
"Tell him this will suffice."
Asilbul scoffed at the sight of Jumong's spear blade. He looped a leather strap around his wrist and spun the blade in circles as he stepped forward.
Feeling insulted, Asilbul let out a mighty roar in fury. The interpreter staggered back, looking like he might faint. With a monstrous yell, Asilbul swung his mace. Even at a glance, it looked incredibly heavy, yet he wielded it effortlessly. Geom Mojam's expression darkened at the sight.
I made a reassuring face and told the interpreter,
"Tell him if he surrenders now, he'll be forgiven."
"Pardon?"
The interpreter looked incredulous but translated in a cowed tone. Asilbul and the Gomokhae tribesmen burst into laughter all at once. Before their mocking could end, I shouted,
"Hand!"
Jumong's spear blade shot forward like lightning, piercing the back of Asilbul's hand that gripped the mace.
"Argh!"
Asilbul let out a short scream and dropped the mace from his grasp. He must have anticipated me throwing the spear blade, but not that it would fly so fast. Clutching his hand as blood poured out, he unleashed another beastly howl. The Gomokhae tribesmen around him charged in unison.
"Weapons!"
The spear blade knocked away the weapons in their hands. Stunned by the powerful impact, the tribesmen dropped their arms in bewilderment. I caught the returning spear blade and told the interpreter,
"Tell them if they resist again, I'll pierce their throats."
"Y-yes, understood."
As the trembling interpreter relayed the message, Asilbul looked up at me, still clutching his blood-soaked hand. When he spoke, the interpreter translated.
"He wants to know who you really are."
"I already told you—I'm a subordinate of the Central Administration's Master Archer."
"He says the only person in Goguryeo who can wield a dagger as if it were alive doesn't exist except one."
"What?"
Stunned by the unexpected reply, I watched as Asilbul dropped to his knees. He spoke in a desperate tone utterly different from before. I turned to the interpreter.
"What did he say?"
"He asks you to rescue the chief's daughter, who's been captured by the enemy."
"What?"
"He says if you save her, they'll never forget the favor."
As the interpreter finished, Asilbul bowed so low his forehead touched the ground. The other Gomokhae tribesmen assumed the same posture. After a moment's thought, I glanced at Geom Mojam.
"Have Garadal outside fetch a physician. We'll treat him first and hear him out."
Once inside the lodge, I waited and summoned Ariyeong. When she arrived, we sat side by side on the cushions atop the mats. Shortly after, Asilbul entered, his one hand wrapped thickly in cloth. I looked for the interpreter, but Asilbul spoke first.
"I speak Goguryeo."
"You were pretending not to understand on purpose."
"Forgive me. I didn't know whom to trust."
"Tell me the whole story. How did things come to this?"
"Yes. I'll tell you everything. I am Asilbul of the Haeryang-a tribe of the Gomokhae. Our tribe has always been close to Goguryeo for generations."
I glanced at Ariyeong. She nodded.
"They're friendly to Goguryeo, like the Oheul-a tribe."
After hearing her explanation, I gestured for Asilbul to continue.
"Starting last year, strange things began happening in our tribe."
"What kind of things?"
"The young people started acting defiantly toward the elders. The rule had always been to share the hunt equally among the tribe, but they claimed it wasn't fair since they'd done most of the work. On top of that, they began mingling with Tang merchants without the elders' permission."
As I listened to Asilbul, Ariyeong's words about unusual movements from the Tang side came to mind. Ariyeong's face grew tense as well.
"So the conflict within the tribe worsened?"
"The chief agonized over it. Then, early this year, it all exploded."
"What happened?"
"Goguryeo merchants invited by the chief and elders visited the tribe and were attacked."
"Who did it?"
"The young tribesmen. They claimed the merchants insulted them, forcing their hand, but it was an obvious lie."
"How many Goguryeo merchants were killed or injured?"
"Eight merchants and guards were killed, and fifteen more badly wounded. Much of their cargo was looted too."
Ariyeong spoke up after hearing Asilbul.
"Not from our Maemul Merchant Guild, but a nearby caravan."
I turned back to Asilbul after her words.
"Was that the spark of the conflict?"
"Yes. The chief tried to capture and punish the young attackers and compensate for the damages. But they insulted him, calling him Goguryeo's lackey. Some elders sided with the youths to seize the chieftain position for themselves."
"What made the youths act that way?"
Asilbul looked troubled at my question.
"I don't know. The chief always favored the youths as the tribe's future and indulged them. He handled this incident discreetly too, to punish them internally and keep Goguryeo from intervening."
"Yet they stirred things up, accusing him of oppressing the tribe for Goguryeo."
"Exactly. The chief believed the tribesmen would understand his intentions without explanation."
"But they didn't."
Asilbul's face twisted in pain at my response.
"At first, it was dismissed as rumors, but they spread it so much that believers grew one by one."
"Rumors become truth the more they spread."
Asilbul gave a bitter smile at my words.
"The chief called a torch council to clear the misunderstandings. But the youths used that moment to launch a rebellion."
"Couldn't stop it?"
"It was unforeseen. No one thought they'd rebel against the chief himself, and we trusted the elders' support even if trouble arose."
"Even the elders betrayed you?"
"Some turned. The youths' parents and kin threatened or bribed them over."
"What happened then?"
"The chief was assassinated. Those of us loyal to him, myself included, fled with his daughter."
"His daughter?"
"He had no sons, only the one daughter. Gerhung—clever and brave."
"Why didn't she come with you?"
"We were ambushed crossing the Black River."
"By whom?"
"Lost wolves."
I thought they meant actual wolves, but Ariyeong clarified.
"Bandits made up of Malgal, Silwi, and rogue Gomokhae tribesmen."
"Why target Gerhung?"
"They usually raid caravans for goods or kidnap people for ransom."
"But Gerhung wasn't in a position to pay ransom."
Asilbul cut in as we spoke.
"They targeted Lady Gerhung from the start. After kidnapping her, they even abandoned their wounded and fled."
From Asilbul's account, I pieced together the situation.
"Someone put them up to it."
Ariyeong nodded in agreement. Asilbul looked on the verge of madness with frustration.
"We were escorting her to Goguryeo to bide our time."
"Because she's the late chief's only blood kin?"
"That, and no young tribesman could match her horsemanship or archery. She was so sharp that nearby chiefs sent proposals to marry her off to their children."
"But she was kidnapped en route."
"The late chief ordered me to protect his daughter no matter what. To fail like this... I wept blood all the way here."
With the gist of it grasped, I whispered to Ariyeong.
"Can we intervene in Gomokhae internal affairs?"
"Malgal maybe, but the Gomokhae are beyond our direct influence."
"Same for the Tang?"
"Yes. That's why we don't meddle directly."
"Didn't you say the Haeryang-a are close to us?"
"Relatively speaking. Never trust grassland nomads who live on horseback."
"Why?"
"For those who farm the land and live in cities, promises must be kept. Otherwise, they're cast out. But nomads are different. If they dislike it or it's inconvenient, they pack their tents, drive their herds, and go. To them, promises are like the wind."
"Gone in a flash?"
"They forget them quickly too. They'll buy goods from a caravan without paying, vanish, then show up the next year as if nothing happened, wanting more."
"Still, letting our influence wane like this isn't good."
"True, but we must intervene cautiously. Otherwise, they'll all come begging with their sob stories, and if we don't listen, out come the blades—over and over."
"Shouldn't we curb Tang influence growing?"
"Yes, but think why the Tang don't intervene directly themselves."
Asilbul sensed our conversation turning serious and spoke.
"Rescue Lady Gerhung and aid us, and we'll pledge full loyalty to Goguryeo."
"How exactly?"
Asilbul hesitated at my cool question before replying.
"My tribesmen and I will fight alongside Goguryeo. We're only about a hundred now, but if Lady Gerhung steps forward, we can gather two to three thousand in no time."
"Even though she's just the daughter, not chief?"
"Anyone who's seen our lady once wouldn't say that."
Geom Mojam tensed slightly as Asilbul snapped in anger. But his eyes didn't redden. I took it as a sign of his desperation. After sorting my thoughts, I looked at Asilbul.