Chapter 51: Rewind to the Siege Defense
After Yi Jinpyeong hurriedly left Yi Gajang's manor to search for his missing eldest brother Yi Jingang, the real powerholders left behind plunged into an emergency meeting. The hairy Gang Ryong, now promoted to advisor; the bushy-haired Chief Steward Gwak Yeonyong; and the second brother Yi Jinun were the key players.
"This is unsettling."
"Very unsettling, sir."
"Yeah... it's unsettling..."
Unlike their earlier boasts of "just trust us," all they could say now, gathered for this emergency meeting, was how unsettling everything felt.
"With the eldest young master missing and the third young master leaving us behind to empty the manor... it's extremely unsettling. This is unprecedented."
"Still, it'll probably be fine, right? Maybe I'm overreacting. Our big brother might just be doing some volunteer work and running a bit late..."
Yi Jinun spoke in a hopeful tone, but Chief Steward Gwak shook his head firmly.
"Even if that's the case, there are too many enemies eyeing Yi Gajang right now. Jang Gapae could strike anytime, there's the Dongbeonhoe, and negotiations with Chwi Hwa Bang's leader fell through..."
"Even so, the third young master's absence is just temporary. It'll be okay... please."
"We can't assume that. We need to prepare for every possibility."
"Chief Steward Gwak, what should we do?"
Their gazes locked onto the bushy-haired Chief Steward Gwak. The manor's cunning tactician, backed by Yi Jinpyeong's full trust, narrowed his eyes and pondered deeply with an audible groan.
"First, we analyze our forces. If some brazen faction attacks, we need the optimal strategy to counter them. I haven't trained much lately, running errands for the young master... but how are Second Young Master and Brother Gang's training going?"
"I only recently ditched the sword for full-on fist training... If I fought right now, I'd probably do worse than before. Honestly, I feel like a half-baked amateur."
Gang Ryong showed uncharacteristic lack of confidence, while Yi Jinun, surprisingly, straightened up proudly.
"I've been special training with big brother under Jinpyeong's guidance lately, haven't I? The real drills are brutal—like I might die—but somehow keeping up, and lately my body's surging with strength. Muscles are packing on weirdly fast. Wanna see?"
Yi Jinun rolled up his sleeves eagerly. True to his word, his bony arms—once like bare skeletons—now bulged with quail-egg-sized biceps.
"Ooh... definitely some muscle there!"
"Right?"
"But compared to my muscles? Laughable!"
Gang Ryong rolled up both sleeves, flexing his rugged, rock-hard lumps. Yi Jinun gawked in awe, poking and gasping.
"Whoa... Brother Gang, you've got some real impressive guns! What's it called... good 'fiber' or something?"
"Heh heh heh. Folks always say this body's blessed..."
Gwak Yeonyong shook his head at the giant anchovy duo. "This is dire. If even our old Hwang Sabang crew showed up, we'd be wiped out."
"C'mon, Chief Steward, you're joking! We're leagues beyond back then...!"
"A few weeks of training? And if a peak expert like Jang Gapae's leader or Chwi Hwa Bang's boss storms in—who blocks 'em?"
The two fell silent, honey-glazed dummies.
A heavy quiet lingered until Gang Ryong spoke with grim resolve. "...We'll fight to the death."
"That's not the answer. Forgot the young master's orders? Our safety first."
"Then we bolt?"
"Heavens, no! How dare a Yi Gajang man abandon the manor and flee...?"
"Then what, damn it?!"
"Use your heads. To hold till the third young master returns—and survive—we drag it out, defend smart. Buy time any way."
"How, exactly?"
"Here's my plan..."
They leaned in as Gwak laid it out—plausible yet absurd, shockingly bold. Deep in debate, refining Gang Ryong's ideas, a lookout burst in panting.
"They're coming!"
"A pack of warriors charging hard! Straight for our manor!"
"How many?"
"At least thirty or forty!"
"!!!!"
The three shot up. Their worst fears realized. No options, no time. Fear hardened into steely resolve on their faces.
The rushing warriors halted before Yi Gajang's grand gates. A majestic plaque loomed above: Yi Gajang 李家莊.
Jang Gapae's leader, Woo Gwang, scowled up at it. "This the place?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Pretty grand setup."
"Must be 'cause it was famous once, right?"
"Hmph! But now? Not even an ant stirs."
"Yeah. Word is, totally bankrupt these past few years."
"...And some brat from this family humiliated Seo Dal proper."
Woo Gwang couldn't wrap his head around it. Why fear a dead clan? If he'd gone first from the start, it'd be cleaned up neat. That runt Seo Dal poked the hornet's nest, came back empty-handed. Frustratingly, he warned against touching Yi Gajang with its mad third young master. His lord Dang Sobaek went further—hostages, traps even.
At least he'd see that slick poison needle show. But no: his job? Raid the empty manor, slaughter and torch. Suited his bloodlust fine, but irked him—Dang Sobaek favoring that mercenary runt over him.
The deeper he thought, the hotter he burned. Today, he'd kill flashy, burn brighter. Prove his skill, loyalty. When his lord seized Tang power, he'd soar too.
Woo Gwang barked resolutely. "Open the gates."
"Yes, sir!"
A subordinate kicked the gates with a boom! Swords drawn, they roared in with battle cries.
"Raaagh—huh...?"
The men froze. Voices trailed limp.
"What're you idiots doing?"
Woo Gwang shoved forward. The vast outer courtyard sprawled empty—no welcome, no resistance. Just silence.
Subordinates scanned and yelled. "No one's here! It's deserted!"
"Maybe they all left to rescue prisoners?"
Woo Gwang's sharp eyes pierced every corner of the quiet manor. Then he grinned wolfishly. "Empty? Fools."
"Huh?"
"Look at the ground. Use your eyes—and brains!"
No one fools his eyes. Fresh tracks everywhere—warriors scrambling just moments ago. They'd sensed the raid, panicked, hid.
"Rats scurried into holes. Hunt 'em! Cut every throat!"
"Yes, sir!" Jang Gapae's thugs scattered.
A Jang Gapae thug with a massive blade prowled the vast Yi Gajang, searching every nook. He stormed a side annex with murderous aura—but froze in shock.
"!!!!!"
Dozens of men lay neatly on the ground. Motionless, perfectly arranged corpses... Had another force hit first? Were they all dead, making it seem empty? And so tidy—making zombies maybe?
Before calling backup, he crept closer to confirm. Then—
"—Mmph!!"
From behind the wall, a hairy paw clamped his mouth. Someone swiftly shut the doors. A skinny youth with sword appeared opposite, lips tight, slamming the scabbard on his skull.
Thwack!!!
"...Second Young Master. That's my head."
"Ah, sorry."
Thwack! The thug slumped. Waiting Yi Gajang men bound him tight, dragged him behind the annex.
Flawless sync—save Yi Jinun's slip on Gang Ryong's noggin. His first real hit, hands shaking. "Body actors" flashed thumbs-up silently. Praise without sound.
Yi Jinun scratched sheepishly, then gasped at blood trickling from Gang Ryong's head.
Gang Ryong waved it off.
[Shh! More coming!]
Bushy-haired Gwak signaled urgently. Yi Gajang men flopped "dead" again.
Same play: Invader gawked at "corpses," Gang Ryong muffled, Yi Jinun scabbard-smashed the thug's skull—not Gang's.
Gwak's ploy: Thin the herd pre-battle.
Knockouts piled up. Yi Jinun, now steady, marveled. "Chief Steward, wild how this works."
"Manor's size makes it possible. Told you—hit 'em with a shock first, snag their eyes."
Gwak shrugged smugly. "Gold would be best—they'd pocket it before reporting. No shine here yet, so we improvise the jolt."
Solid, clever tactic. All bought in, despite the ego hit from corpse cosplay after hard training...
"But will it fool their boss?"
"Dunno. Hundred percent so far—pray it sticks..."
Gwak's voice lacked conviction. Uneasy.
And sure enough—a thick voice boomed from beyond the wall. "You rat bastards. Pathetic tricks against this body?"
Inner force laced the words. Hearts sank.