Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Tiger Menace Deception
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“...Haah, a tiger hunt out of nowhere.”
Tiger Earth Squad’s leader, Jegal Myeong let out a long sigh.
Slumped shoulders.
A deeply furrowed face.
A trudging gait.
The squad members’ morale was starting to hit rock bottom, thanks to their leader radiating “I don’t wanna go” vibes from every pore.
And then there was one person clicking their tongue in clear displeasure at Jegal Myeong and his Tiger Earth Squad.
“Tch, look at these so-called clan enforcers and their sloppy march...”
There was only one person who’d talk smack to the Tiger Earth leader like that.
Without even turning his head, Jegal Myeong waved lazily in greeting.
“Hey, you’re here too. Gonna get chewed out. Mr. Neat Freak looks like he’s about to end up covered in mountain dirt.”
“You bastard...!”
Jegal Myeong cackled at the guy picking a fight first then getting mad first, finally bothering to turn and look at his opponent.
There stood a man who’d brought his own squad along, just like him.
The man’s name was Jegal Cheong.
Leader of the Tiger Man Squad, another of the clan’s enforcer units.
Jegal Myeong shuddered at the sight of Jegal Cheong, who—as always—kept his pristine white martial robes spotless.
“Ugh, I could die and come back to life and still never live like that. Doesn’t it tire him out?”
Jegal Cheong fired back.
“Hmph! A slacker who half-asses even his training could never live like me. That’s a one-way ticket to dropping dead in some ditch.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll handle my own life, so butt out.”
The Tiger Man and Tiger Earth Squad members didn’t tense up or glare at each other during their leaders’ clash—instead, they were busy betting among themselves on who’d win.
It wasn’t the first day these two had been barking at each other like dog and monkey.
Plus, with the Tiger Heaven Squad on the way, someone to break it up would show up soon enough.
“Both of you, cut it out.”
Here he was. The peacemaker.
“Big bro!”
“Big bro!”
At the new voice, Jegal Myeong and Jegal Cheong whipped their heads around in unison and shouted.
In the direction their gazes locked, the final unit—the Tiger Heaven Squad—came into view.
Leading at the front was a man.
A neatly trimmed beard and a stern, upright face.
With the true leader, Jegal Cheon-sang, away on a secret solo mission, this was Jegal Ho, the deputy leader acting as Tiger Heaven Squad’s commander.
Leader and deputy.
Despite being clearly subordinate, Jegal Cheong and Jegal Myeong greeted Jegal Ho like puppies seeing their owner.
“Good to see you, big bro. Been a while since we’ve been on a mission together.”
“You feeling okay? That injury from last time all healed up?”
The two welcomed Jegal Ho chummily, as if they’d never been at each other’s throats.
They were pretending like nothing had happened, but Jegal Ho said nothing of it.
Personal friendships aside, it wouldn’t look good for a mere deputy to boss around other squad leaders.
As they exchanged greetings, Jegal Myeong craned his neck, peering behind Jegal Ho.
“But where’s that punk-ass leader at?”
At the question about their leader Jegal Cheon-sang’s whereabouts, Jegal Ho shook his head.
“All I know is he’s off on a solo mission by the patriarch’s orders. So I’ll be commanding Tiger Heaven Squad for this one.”
Hearing the explanation, the two leaders twisted their lips in sync.
“A solo mission, huh. What’s so damn special he’s gotta keep it secret?”
“Guess being the clan’s golden boy hope comes with perks.”
Jegal Myeong and Jegal Cheong didn’t even try to hide their resentment.
Jegal Ho scolded them.
“He may be young, but he’s still a squad leader. Watch your words in front of the men.”
“Argh, big bro, you’re so frustrating. Let’s be real—anyone in Tiger Heaven Squad actually loyal to that arrogant brat?”
Jegal Myeong’s gaze shifted to the Tiger Heaven Squad standing rigidly behind Jegal Ho.
Shorthanded compared to the others after losing men to the Jade-Faced Seductress last time.
He hadn’t said it outright, but the Tiger Heaven Squad openly nodded or showed agreement.
A scene that showed just how little respect Jegal Cheon-sang commanded.
But it was short-lived.
Jegal Ho’s sharp gaze turned on them, and they snapped back to attention like it was nothing.
A glimpse, ironically, of Jegal Ho’s real authority in Tiger Heaven Squad.
‘Tiger Heaven’s better off with big bro Ho leading. Not that obnoxious punk.’
It was only natural for the two leaders who treated Jegal Ho like an older brother to think that way.
Jegal Myeong even muttered under his breath.
“Man, hope that jerk just keels over dead somewhere.”
“Who’re you hoping drops dead?”
A sudden unfamiliar voice.
Startled, Jegal Myeong spun around, eyes widening at the group approaching them.
“You people...!”
Unlike the uniformed enforcer squads, this bunch had mismatched clothes and weapons.
They were the guest retainers quartered in the annex.
Stepping forward from their midst was a bronze-skinned woman with a bold stride: Hyeok Ri-eum.
Her eyes glared sharply at Jegal Myeong, as if she’d already guessed who he meant.
He hurriedly looked away, pretending nothing happened, but she kept staring him down. Jegal Ho spoke up.
“What brings the annex guests here?”
“...Heard you were heading out on a tiger hunt, so we figured we’d lend a hand.”
Jegal Ho raised an eyebrow at Hyeok Ri-eum’s answer, her eyes still fixed on Jegal Myeong.
Lend a hand? On a tiger hunt?
“...We appreciate the help, but did you get the full story? Apparently, these tigers are forming packs and hunting together, which is unusual.”
“That’s exactly why we should pitch in, right?”
Hyeok Ri-eum finally tore her gaze from Jegal Myeong to reply.
Something felt off, but there was no reason to turn down help against a tiger menace.
“Very well. Our thanks for the assistance.”
And so, over a hundred strong—including Tiger Heaven, Tiger Earth, Tiger Man Squads and the guest retainers—headed up the mountain.
*
The Jegal Clan’s enforcer units climbed Yungjung Mountain to deal with the tiger menace, only to run into an unexpected situation right away.
“What the...? This is...?”
“Huh....”
“...Something’s off.”
Jegal Cheong grimaced grotesquely, Jegal Myeong let out a weird groan.
Even Jegal Ho narrowed his eyes.
The three leaders each reacted in their own way to the scene before them.
Namely... the mountain being way too peaceful.
“I mean, if a pack of tigers is raiding villages, shouldn’t the local prey be wiped out first? What’s with that deer over there?”
“Bunnies hopping around too.”
For a report of over seven tigers on the loose, the mountain was far too serene.
“Think the rumors got all twisted up? Doesn’t look like any place tigers would...”
That was when it happened.
-Roaaar-!
“...!?”
A powerful roar echoing through the mountains.
No mistaking it—a tiger’s cry.
Jegal Ho’s face hardened at the sound.
“...Prey’s plentiful in the mountains, yet they came down to attack people. Might’ve already gotten a taste for human flesh.”
The others paled as the implication sank in.
A taste for human meat meant they’d keep coming for more.
Fail to kill them today, and the damage would only grow.
“...Let’s move.”
The enforcers followed Jegal Ho’s resolute advance deeper into the mountains.
The guest retainers trailed silently behind.
But compared to the leaders up front, their reactions were lukewarm at best.
“Pfft... heh.”
Like they were struggling not to laugh.
“...Kinda feel bad dragging them into this pointless hassle.”
Some even felt sorry for the enforcers.
“Damn, that roar sounded legit. No wonder they’re charging in so confidently.”
Others casually critiqued the tiger’s bellow.
And for good reason—the roar had come from one of the guest retainers who’d climbed ahead, luring the enforcers.
“The guys up front are doing great, so we shouldn’t mess it up, right?”
Her fellow guests grinned at Hyeok Ri-eum’s spirited words.
Tiger Menace Deception, the third.
Keep the clan’s enforcers tied up in the mountains. For as long as possible.
Until the patriarch and elders were ousted, precisely.
The tiger roars from the advance group, their own decision to join the enforcers—all for this.
“Let’s keep ’em pinned here at least until sundown.”
Her pearly white teeth flashed confidently against her bronze skin, curving her lips into a smile.
With that, the guest retainers started overtaking Hyeok Ri-eum one by one, climbing ahead.
Now they’d take the lead, luring the enforcers all over the mountain and scattering them.
Hyeok Ri-eum watched their receding backs, wiped the smile from her face, and turned with a slightly tense expression toward the clan compound.
“...Damn brother of mine, you better be okay.”
She thought of Jegal Cheon-sang.
Tricking her out of the family secret arts pissed her off to no end, but right now, she was more worried about her brother’s safety.
Blood Jade, Explosive Blood Technique—half of it went over her head, but she knew her own flesh and blood was tangled in something huge.
‘What if something goes wrong...’
She shook her head sharply at the worst-case scenario flashing through her mind.
“No way.”
Yeah, no way.
Above all, Dad was with him.
Dad was the strongest guy in the clan—he’d break that damn brother’s legs and drag him home himself.
‘Then I’ll sock him right in his slippery face.’
They’d fight, make up, and go back to getting along like always. They had to.
Hyeok Ri-eum shoved down the nagging unease and climbed the mountain.