Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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Gripping his mace tightly, Adokbang charged at the assassins, smashing their skulls with all his might. The first one to leap forward raised his sword overhead to block, but it was useless. The mace pressed down on the blade effortlessly, shattering the assassin's head.
"No martial arts, no skill at all."
He must have harbored a grudge from the Nihaseong battle, where he'd gone out on campaign only to fall ill and earn no merits. Even from a distance, the sound of heads exploding and shoulder bones crunching under Adokbang's descending mace echoed. The victims were in such agony they couldn't even scream.
"You bastards!"
At Adokbang's roar, the assassins flinched. He aimed for their heads, swinging the mace down, and if they dodged or blocked, he whipped it sideways to target their sides or knees. His strength was immense; anyone hit there inevitably crumpled or collapsed, writhing. Then Adokbang finished them off with a strike to the head or chest.
"The High Stone Squadron of Ogolseong is here. Come at me!"
Godolbal drew his curved sword and joined in. The assassins, numbering over twenty, were dispatched by just the two of them. Godolbal used his hooked spear blade to swiftly strike vital points or slice them open. Ever since giving him the curved sword, his spearwork had changed. It used to be straight-line thrusts at first sight, but now the tip undulated like a serpent—unpredictable, nearly impossible to evade even if you saw it coming. Adokbang and Godolbal nearly cleared out all the assassins on their own.
"That was too easy."
As tension eased while watching them, Jumong's spear tip hummed again and shot forward.
"Damn, give a signal before flying off like that."
Regardless, the spear tip sliced through the air toward the farmers who had held our attention earlier. Having discarded their bamboo hats, the "farmers" had crossed the bridge while we fought the other assassins. Up close now, their eyes were all bloodshot red.
"A pincer attack?"
Even as I thought whoever planned this was clever, Jumong's spear tip pierced the head of the lead assassin crossing the bridge. It yanked free and neatly severed the neck of the one beside him. Though it was the spear tip acting on its own, to the retainers it looked like I'd wielded it, and they let out exclamations of awe. Thanks to its rampage, the charging assassins hesitated. In that gap, Gidoryang pulled out the Yeon Clan bow and unleashed a barrage of arrows. The range was close, and as a master archer, not one missed. He reloaded in an instant, firing without pause. His fantastical archery drew an involuntary gasp from me.
"Whoa!"
Gidoryang took down nearly all the disguised farmer-assassins. The retainers handled the rest with ease. Just in case, I drew Jumong's spear tip and gripped it, but it stayed still.
"Everyone alright?"
After catching our breath, they all replied they were fine. I saw Gidoryang hurriedly reloading. Seon Do-hae tugged my sleeve.
"Master, we should leave this place quickly."
Then Godolbal pointed ahead with his bloodied curved sword.
"Hold on. Someone's running this way."
Looking where he pointed, I saw a Silla warrior on horseback galloping toward us. Another followed behind, partially obscured.
"He's nocking an arrow."
At Godolbal's shout, Gidoryang set down the Yeon Clan bow and grabbed his regular one. But the enemy was a beat faster. The arrow whistled through the air, grazing past my head. Only after it passed did I hear the wind. I twisted away from it, and an assassin who'd been hiding under the bridge leaped out—only to take the arrow and collapse.
'It wasn't aimed at me?'
Realizing the situation, I yelled at Gidoryang, who had the Silla warrior in his sights.
"No! Don't shoot!"
"But—"
"It wasn't shooting at me. He hit another assassin."
Only then did Gidoryang lower his bow. But there was one more assassin hidden under the bridge. He climbed up late, saw the scene, and bolted across to the other side. Spotting him, Gidoryang said,
"I'd like to test the bolt."
"Permission granted."
Gidoryang drew a bamboo tube from his quiver, nocked it on the string, and loaded the bolt into it. He gauged the fleeing assassin's position, raised the bow skyward, and released. The tube stayed in hand; the bolt flew into the air. Seon Do-hae tilted his head up, squinting at the trajectory, then murmured softly.
"Hit."
As he said, the fleeing assassin flailed his arms and pitched forward. I exhaled the breath I'd been holding and asked Gidoryang,
"How was it?"
"Usable."
Gidoryang replied with a satisfied look as he lowered his bow. By then, the Silla warrior who'd fired the arrow while riding up had stopped. I'd judged him non-threatening from the start—his eyes weren't red. But recognizing him as none other than Kim Yushin surprised me. Dismounting, Kim Yushin looked at Gidoryang.
"What was that arrow you just used?"
"It's called a bolt, sir. Master made it."
Kim Yushin turned to me.
"Why make the arrows so short?"
"Shorter means lighter, so they fly farther."
He nodded silently, then surveyed the fallen assassins.
"We were waiting at the temple, heard the commotion, and rushed over—only to find this."
"Silla's hospitality seems... unique."
I chuckled heartily, but Kim Yushin's face darkened.
"That wasn't my doing."
"Of course not. I know you wouldn't stoop to this, Yushin."
"We should leave here quickly. My retainers are at the temple; once we're there, no one will dare attempt assassination."
"Agreed."
As I stepped forward, Kim Yushin grabbed his reins and stuck close by my side, likely guarding against further attacks. The man in his early thirties who'd followed him also dismounted. He wore jade-green pants and a red jacket, with a sword and bow at his waist. But he didn't give off the skilled warrior vibe like Kim Yushin or my own men. His head was topped with a crown similar to a jougwan, adorned with a gold centerpiece.
'He must hold a high position.'
He shot Kim Yushin a displeased look.
"Must we really go this far?"
"I made a promise, and I have a duty to keep it."
The hwaryang glanced at me upon hearing Kim Yushin's reply. His eyes weren't red, but his expression wasn't welcoming. Kim Yushin spoke to him courteously.
"It breaks my heart, but a warrior's fate is to die on the battlefield. No more arguing. Lord Chun-chu."
Chun-chu from Kim Yushin's lips nearly made me faint. The man following him was none other than Kim Chun-chu.
"T-Taejong Muyewang?"
One of the two men who'd enabled Silla's incomplete unification of the three kingdoms stood before me. Seeing my shocked face, Kim Chun-chu reluctantly introduced himself.
"I'm Kim Chun-chu."
"Yeon Taehwan—no, Yeon Namsaeng."
Since I used informal speech with Kim Yushin, I couldn't very well use honorifics with the slightly younger Kim Chun-chu.
'My God. Did I just greet Kim Chun-chu?'
Even if the future was uncertain, beholding in person a figure from the unification era set my heart racing. He was strikingly handsome, just as the histories described—sharp jaw, fair skin that stood out. The Samguk Yusa and Japanese chronicles praised his looks and eloquence; I couldn't vouch for the latter, but the former was spot on. As I kept staring with open curiosity, Kim Chun-chu looked increasingly uncomfortable. Kim Yushin tactfully stepped back, giving us space to talk.
"I heard you shone at Nihaseong."
"We each just did our duty. If my strategy hadn't worked, I wouldn't be alive now."
Kim Chun-chu nodded thoughtfully.
"You're heading to Baekje to form an alliance?"
"Baekje's in turmoil over succession, so I'm going to see who to treaty with."
It wasn't a lie. Even if I negotiated with someone, the Central Administration Bureau would send envoys later for a formal alliance. Sensing his interest, Kim Chun-chu pressed on.
"In your view, who will be Baekje's next Arah?"
I debated honesty before speaking.
"Probably the one at Mireuk Temple. Most likely."
"Everyone's betting on Prince Gyo-gi."
"Even Silla?"
I turned to ask, and Kim Chun-chu answered hastily.
"Our opinions are divided, of course."
"What do you think, Lord Chun-chu?"
He stroked his beard, pondering.
"I also see the crown prince at Mireuk Temple succeeding."
Classic Kim Chun-chu, I thought, then pressed.
"Not Prince Gyo-gi?"
"Baekje's current Arah is nearing sixty. He could die any day, and if he had no intention of naming the crown prince heir, he'd have settled it long ago."
"Maybe he's still undecided? They're both his sons, after all."
"If he's dithering, that's ideal for us. But Baekje's Arah is no pushover."
I asked the blunt Kim Chun-chu,
"Everyone thinks the crown prince was exiled."
"Blindly following appearances won't get you to your goal."
From his irritated expression, I could guess the dynamics.
"Silla's people are backing Prince Gyo-gi too, then."
"Yes. This could spell real trouble."
Gazing at the sighing Kim Chun-chu, I marveled again at his insight. In truth, upon ascending, King Uija had fiercely attacked Silla, capturing Daeya Fortress and gaining momentum. Desperate, Silla sought allies, contacting Goguryeo and Wa before allying with Tang. As I looked at him in slight surprise, Kim Chun-chu added,
"Truth be told, some of us hope it plays out that way."
"Since he has the Eight Legions' support but weak legitimacy, they think he won't attack Silla."
Kim Chun-chu startled at my words, then glanced naturally at Kim Yushin trailing behind. I saw Kim Yushin give a wry smile. Turning back to Kim Chun-chu, I asked,
"Or maybe the opposite?"
"Opposite?"
"The current Arah invokes dragon descent, but he barely has a drop of royal blood. Yet upon taking the throne, he relentlessly attacked Silla to build his legitimacy."
"He hounded us relentlessly."
"No guarantee Prince Gyo-gi won't do the same?"
After a moment's thought, Kim Chun-chu replied.