Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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“Did that wolf really return to the stars?”
“He couldn’t return alive. After dying in the fox pack’s ambush, his spirit goes back to the stars where it was born.”
I finally understood why they called themselves the Lost Wolves. Leaning back against the folding chair’s headrest, I asked,
“Are you looking for a way back? Through me?”
“Wandering wolves are always searching for a path. We have no homeland, but we long to return to the stars.”
“Where are those stars? In Goguryeo?”
“That’s what our leader wants to know. If you kill me, the monkey will come. And if you kill the monkey, someone else will show up.”
I fell into thought after hearing Palryunja’s words. Then, a sudden curiosity struck me.
“Do you have Gerheng with you? Or did you hand him over?”
“He’s doing well.”
“Then bring Gerheng out with you. I’ll meet him.”
“Our leader wants to meet in the open plains. Just the two of them, no one else.”
Geom Mojam grew angry upon hearing Palryunja’s words.
“It’s a trap. You can’t trust horse-riding raiders.”
I gestured for him to calm down and looked at Palryunja. His eyes were still not red. That meant he wasn’t lying or trying to deceive me, at least. Earlier, when I’d told him to kill, a clear warning signal had come that it was wrong. I made up my mind inwardly and spoke.
“Time and place?”
“Tomorrow morning at sunrise, at the Black Rock north of Buyeo Fortress.”
“Black Rock?”
“It’s a black stone. It stands tall in the plains, easy to spot.”
“I’ll be waiting there.”
“You must come alone.”
“I’ll bring my retainers, but I’ll go to the spot alone.”
To scare him just in case, I decided to intimidate him. I drew Jumong’s spear blade from my waist and pointed it at Palryunja.
“Moja!”
No sooner had I spoken than the spear blade shot out like an arrow, neatly slicing off the top of Palryunja’s fur hat. Amid the scattering fur clumps, it returned to my hand.
“If I want to, I can easily kill even your leader. No matter how many underlings he has.”
“Just as the rumors say. I saw you cut down dozens of enemies from afar with that.”
Palryunja spoke in an admiring tone and stood up. I signaled Yang Man-chun to escort him out. As curiosity struck me again, I asked Palryunja, who was heading out of the guest house.
“What kind of man is your leader?”
“A lost soul. That’s why he’s always thirsty.”
“Thirsty to return to the stars?”
Palryunja thought for a moment before answering.
“Our leader calls it a new world.”
“A new world?”
While I mulled over the unexpected reply, Palryunja left the guest house. Geom Mojam knelt on one knee and said,
“Master, it’s too dangerous.”
“I have to meet him first.”
“Let me go in your place.”
“They’d notice right away. Meeting alone in the open plains might actually be safer.”
Yang Man-chun, standing nearby, chimed in.
“I think the same. If they wanted you gone, they’d have struck at the rocky hill. But there could be ambushes or others interfering, so I should scout the area ahead.”
He added immediately,
“I’ll go. When you arrive tomorrow morning, I’ll fire a signal arrow. Two in a row means it’s clear. If none or just one...”
I finished for him.
“Means trouble?”
“Exactly. I’ll head out after a short rest. You get some good sleep tonight and come tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks.”
“What are friends for?”
Yang Man-chun grinned lightly and beckoned Geom Mojam over. Watching them, I turned to Ariyeong. Whispering as she approached,
“Verify what Palryunja said.”
“The man called Uhyodong?”
I nodded, and she replied,
“We’ll eliminate him as soon as evidence surfaces.”
“No, keep him alive and under surveillance. There’ll come a time to use him.”
“Even tearing him apart wouldn’t quench my rage.”
Tears welled in Ariyeong’s eyes as I told her,
“Using him to deceive the enemy will be the ultimate revenge. Think coldly about it.”
“Understood. I’ll have him watched for now.”
“Don’t tell Buyeo’s officials either. He’d catch on first.”
Ariyeong promised to be careful and left the guest house. As I took a brief moment to catch my breath, the door burst open. Startled, Geom Mojam blocked me. The one who kicked it open was an unexpected figure.
“Hey!”
I couldn’t help shouting, and Go Jeong-ui grinned.
“Am I that welcome?”
“Of course. What brings you here?”
“You said you didn’t need us, so I came to argue.”
“Us?”
Only then did Go Yeon-mu appear from behind Go Jeong-ui. Both wore yellow turbans tied tightly and black jackets. Seeing them dressed like a matching couple made me laugh involuntarily. Go Yeon-mu shot Go Jeong-ui a look.
“I told you it’d make him laugh.”
Go Jeong-ui replied glumly,
“I didn’t expect him to laugh outright like this. You’ve lost your innocence.”
“Enough joking. How did you get here?”
“On horseback.”
Go Jeong-ui’s lame pun made him and Go Yeon-mu burst into laughter. I inwardly tsked at the kids doing dad jokes. As the laughter died down, Go Jeong-ui said,
“We came to help you, Master. Why else would we come all this way?”
“What makes you think you can help?”
Go Yeon-mu answered my teasing question instead.
“We brought the flying chariot.”
“You hauled that all the way here?”
“In a cart.”
Go Yeon-mu replied swiftly, grinning with an expression just like Go Jeong-ui’s. I grumbled inwardly that leaving them together had made them too alike. Then, Ham-a popped up.
“I came too.”
“You here to help me as well?”
“Yes. I’m the only one who can assemble the disassembled flying chariot.”
“Seon Do-hae must be upset.”
“He wanted to come, but he had work.”
Ham-a’s speech had improved with time. I spent the day laughing and chatting with my long-unseen subordinates.
The next day, I woke at dawn. My body wasn’t in great shape after days of near-death struggles, but this couldn’t be delayed. I mounted the horse Geom Mojam had prepared and left the guest house. Exiting via the north gate of Buyeo Fortress, I headed north. The lingering darkness cast long shadows alongside us. Tense Geom Mojam rode right beside me, with the surviving guards and men following at a slight distance. The midsummer heat brought sweat, but occasional breezes offered some relief.
As the sun rose higher, we finally reached Black Rock. Geom Mojam, leading, pointed at the rock ahead.
“There it is.”
Gazing at it, I muttered unwittingly,
“It’s Stonehenge.”
I’d thought it was a single standing stone like Seondol in Yeongwol from my modern visits. But dozens of black stones stood like pillars, leaving me slightly startled. I halted the horse and watched. Then came the whistle of a signal arrow. Both Geom Mojam and I shouted,
“One!”
Moments later, another signal arrow streaked into the sky.
“Two!”
Yang Man-chun, who’d arrived first, was signaling it was safe. Geom Mojam said tensely,
“Still, be careful.”
As I nodded, Gido-ryang shouted,
“Something’s moving between the rocks.”
Where Gido-ryang pointed, a mounted figure was visible amid the Black Rocks. Seeing the spear in one hand, I muttered,
“Looks like the one who chased us last time.”
Silence fell beyond Geom Mojam’s worried gaze. I was a bit scared too, but after such sacrifices, I couldn’t return empty-handed. Steel ing my resolve, I lightly tugged the reins. The horse advanced slowly, sensing my intent. I told Geom Mojam not to follow and headed toward the Black Rocks. Once decided, my mind eased.
‘The other guy’s alone anyway. If need be, I can finish him with Jumong’s spear blade.’
As long as I kept distance, I wouldn’t repeat last time’s mistake. Passing a low hill, I neared the Black Rocks. Amid the pillar-like black stones, a black horse briefly flickered past. I decided to keep distance and needed to see his eyes, so I turned my horse sideways. The dozens of large and small black stone pillars intertwined like a maze; entering seemed risky.
As I slowly circled the perimeter, shadows of the black horse and spear flashed on the rocks. Then a deep voice rang out.
“This place has an ancient legend.”
I looked toward the voice. A black horse was visible, but the rider was hidden by a black stone pillar. Shifting my horse slightly sideways revealed his back.
“What legend is that?”
In response, the man I presumed was Nak Sang-gwan spoke.
“Long ago, giants lived on this land. They ruled the world but were defeated by horsemen from the north and turned to stone.”
“A sad legend.”
“They say someday these rocks will shatter, and the giants inside will emerge into the world.”
Hearing that, I touched a rock with my hand.
“They feel solid. Not easy to break.”
“Nothing in the world is unbreakable. Everything shatters eventually.”
“Deep thoughts. Does staring at the stars from horseback on the plains do that to you?”
My question mixed sarcasm and mockery, but he laughed it off.
“Staring at the stars can make you lose your way.”
“Not using them as guides?”
“The night sky has countless stars. Wandering among them leads to strange, painful places. I’m a lost wolf, but I don’t trust the stars.”
“Your subordinate said returning to the stars is his dream.”
To my question, he extended his hand like I had earlier, stroking the Black Rock.
“The legend of giants trapped in stone is just false hope invented by those tormented by nomads. Dreaming of someone to drive off their oppressors.”
“Cold assessment. Having dreams isn’t bad.”
“No, dreaming is a sin.”
He stated firmly and revealed himself. About my age, with a swarthy face. Nomad features were fierce, but his eyes held depth from much thought. Turning his horse toward me, he added,
“It makes you ignore reality.”
I held back calling him a realist and asked something else.
“I have a question.”
He nodded, gesturing to go ahead.
“Why did you help me when I was surrounded at the rocky hill?”
“You seemed to be dreaming.”
“But dreams are sins.”
“You looked desperate. Why?”
To his question, I answered promptly.
“Because I have something to protect.”
At first, it was Yeon Namsaeng’s life. Ensuring he didn’t become a traitor was the biggest reason. But now, my thoughts had changed.