Revenge (3)
“Try untying it properly!”
“……”
“Didn’t they teach you fine energy control at Shaolin?”
“Y-yes, I learned it. And I even achieved excellent marks.”
“Then why can’t you untie it!”
Ilgak spoke with a wronged expression.
“Th-this is tied way too intricately. And besides… it’s buried in the Man nyeonto-ung’s flesh, so it won’t come loose easily.”
“That’s what skill is for—solving stuff like that!”
“Th-then, Jin-nim… no, Captain Jin, why don’t you do it.”
“Fuck, you saying that after seeing my state?”
I showed him my rag-like hands, shredded from grappling the Man nyeonto-ung.
“……It doesn’t look that badly injured……”
“What’d you say?”
“N-no, nothing. Why won’t this come undone? Ngh……”
Aigoo, my fate.
I’d put this guy in charge of First Squad, and here he was, grunting away without even being able to untie a Thousand Silkworm thread.
“Honestly, you look remarkably intact for someone who charged at the Man nyeonto-ung with bare fists.”
Come to think of it, when did all my wounds heal?
“……You think I wanted to charge in?”
“Still, I’m glad you’re alive… The squad members were really worried. I barely talked them out of coming after you all together.”
“……”
I told them to run, so they should’ve just run hard. Why’d they come back? Since when are we that close?
“Then hurry up and untie this! You planning to ditch me again if we run into another beast?”
“D-ditch you…! No, you’re the one who gave the order in the first place, Captain Jin!”
“You actually went when I told you to? Ungrateful bastards.”
Ilgak’s scalp turned redder than when it was caked in blood.
“N-no! Chain of command… Ah… Captain Jin…”
“Just untie it already!”
Under my barking, Ilgak sweated bullets and finally managed to free the tangled Flying Dragon Claw threads after more than two hours.
I looked at him catching his breath.
“Don’t go around saying you know energy control. It’d tarnish Shaolin’s name.”
“……”
But Ilgak stayed silent despite my scolding. What, was he sulking?
Hm, even so, mentioning Shaolin might’ve crossed a line…
“Captain Jin. Don’t you think you should value yourself a bit more?”
Sudden nonsense.
“Sometimes you seem so precarious. Like a candle burning itself to light the darkness.”
Ilgak’s face held a pity deeper than ever before.
“I’m anxious.”
Anxious? About what…?
“That flame burns too fiercely and will vanish too soon. That’s why I’m anxious.”
His words left me momentarily stunned.
In the sinking mood, I smirked and patted his shoulder.
“From Jeongdohoe’s perspective, wouldn’t that be ideal?”
“Some might wish for it.”
I’d meant it as a joke, but it stung a little that someone actually did.
“That’s a bit harsh…”
“But I don’t want that. I hope Captain Jin stays by our side for a long, long time.”
His face grew utterly serious. Then he met my gaze with steadfast eyes.
“Because I want to see it. The path you’ll carve ahead.”
Goosebumps from the sudden sappy words. I turned away and muttered.
“Then just do what I tell you right. If you’d caught the Man nyeonto-ung, I wouldn’t have had to risk my life.”
“No, charging at a monster like that is what’s cra—”
“Enough.”
Interrupting him, I scanned ahead again.
“What’re you doing?”
He called to me with a sullen look, reaching to support me.
“Can’t be easy to walk. Let me carry you on my back.”
“No, carrying’s fine, but there’s something to do first.”
“What…?”
I pointed at the Man nyeonto-ung.
“???”
Ilgak still looked clueless. Raised cushy at Shaolin, huh? Doesn’t know what to grab?
Guys raised without hardship are no good.
“We hunted it, so we gotta take the naedan.”
“……”
“What’re you waiting for?”
“……Are you telling a monk to gut an animal?”
Ah, yeah, that’s a bit much.
But what could I do? I had no strength left to move.
I shrugged.
“Right now, you’re not Jeongdohoe’s Ilgak—you’re Sahwal-dan First Captain Ilgak, right?”
“……”
“Chain of command first, then?”
“Earlier you…”
“Just think of it as borrowing your hands. The naedan’s mine anyway.”
Thank goodness Ilgak came. Anyone else would’ve demanded a share.
#
No naedan came out of the Man nyeonto-ung’s belly. Not even a fingernail-sized one.
“……Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Unbelievable, so I had him pull out all the guts and searched from scratch, but still nothing.
“Goddamn, goddamn, goddamn.”
I even suspected Ilgak had secretly eaten it.
“Namua Amitabul……”
But Ilgak showed no changes. Plus, his arms were covered in blood—if he’d eaten it on the sly, there’d be traces.
“Amitabul.”
“Shut it!”
“Captain Jin is louder. Please stop cursing. Human habits follow the words one repea—”
“Wouldn’t you be pissed? Risked my life for the Man nyeonto-ung, and not even a speck of naedan. This is bullshit!”
“It’s all the Buddha’s profound will…”
“Don’t bring up Buddha right now! Even he’d be pissed.”
“……”
Truth be told, I wanted to comb through it all night, but we couldn’t delay anymore. Straying too far from the squad might cause issues for Sahwal-dan.
“Captain Jin, hop on.”
Thanks to Sahwal-dan clearing the path, tracking them was easy. Without a trail, even Ilgak couldn’t have come alone.
We moved at a good clip, yet it barely jostled. Should’ve been bumpy up and down, but it glided smooth like on ice.
Who knew Golden Bell Iron Cloth had this perk? Central Plains martial world’s pinnacle for a reason—Shaolin arts are something else.
Admiring away, the pace slowed slightly.
“What, tired already?”
His shiny scalp vibrated as a grave voice came.
“Who are they, I wonder?”
Of course he’d ponder that now. That’s why you don’t give thinking room on the battlefield. Tsk.
“What do you think, Captain Jin?”
“Who knows… Does it matter?”
“……”
This ride was comfy enough—I didn’t want to shake his immovable mind.
But.
“Right now, surviving comes first, no?”
As expected, Ilgak’s form wobbled a bit. My comfy perch started bouncing too.
His steps betrayed his heart—Shaolin arts are tricky like that.
A trembling voice matched his shaky heart.
“Captain Jin… you know, don’t you?”
“If I did, I’d have crushed them already.”
“……That’s not how you handle things.”
Thought he was a clueless monk, but no ordinary guy.
Ilgak’s words came steady.
“You grasp the cause, twist the outcome to craft the answer you want. The best answer.”
Best answer, huh…
“So moving without knowing the cause or the enemy? That’s not like you.”
When’d he analyze me this deep? Even acting like a stubborn bear, his mind’s sharp as ever.
I pressed his vibrating shoulder firmly.
“Sometimes you need that. Sometimes you don’t.”
Ilgak took the pressure and asked lowly.
“……And now’s a ‘don’t need’ time?”
“Knowing won’t make them go easy on us.”
Tried brushing it off, but his form shook harder.
Not even on a horse and I’m getting seasick.
“Quit overthinking? I’m the injured one here?”
“……”
The vibrations eased a bit, but steps still unsteady.
Why so much angst? Wasn’t he always like this before?
In his past life, he was just a Jeongdohoe puppet, following orders.
“Could it be… because of the Murim Alliance?”
What now?
“Worried they’ll use them for their own gain?”
Hidden in One Shadow’s shade, Ilgak was still a key Jeongdohoe figure. And one who followed orders.
But lately, irreverent thoughts toward his own group.
Why?
“You must’ve felt it too, Captain Jin.”
“Speak plainly…”
“Demonic qi.”
“……!”
“That’s what they used, right?”
Ilgak hadn’t faced demon cultists before.
His slowing steps finally halted.
“Every encounter, this nauseous feeling won’t stop. I unconsciously recite the Reverse Muscle Meridian in my head, and looking at them, all I see is pitch black from head to toe.”
“……”
“You cultivate Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force—you’d feel it too.”
This guy’s a fox playing bear. Or turned fox?
“They’re… Demonic Cult, aren’t they?”
No point hiding now he’d sussed it out.
I answered straight.
“Yeah. That’s what I think.”
“!”
Ilgak whipped his head toward me, eyes wide like a rabbit’s.
Expected it, so why so shocked?
I turned his head forward from his burdensome stare.
“So what? Knowing their identity changes anything?”
“B-but…”
“What? Tell the academy kids the Demonic Cult—hiding five hundred years—hunts us as sacrifices, and they’ll rally with courage?”
“……”
Ilgak’s scalp twitched. He was agonizing, for sure.
Just start moving again already. Worried about the squad.
But he was persistent.
“That’s not your real worry.”
His voice sank heavier than ever.
“……You don’t trust the Murim Alliance that much?”
Murim Alliance, Murim Alliance… Ugh, sick of hearing it.
“Why lump it all on the Murim Alliance?”
“……”
“Face reality properly, or keep playing dumb puppet like always. Pick one.”
Contradictory. Harsh words to the guy carrying me, the one helping.
Yet my memories never blur.
His current self overlaid his past, stirring emotions I couldn’t contain.
“What I care about is Jeongdohoe. Baekdohoe too, and the Twelve Bongseong. They’re always the ones wielding politics against enemies.”
“……Not all of Jeongdohoe does that.”
“If you’re so confident, don’t hide behind ‘Murim Alliance’ instead of ‘Jeongdohoe.’”
His slumped shoulders, downcast head—still, words wouldn’t stop.
Cowardly non-choosers just get swept by the majority.
“In Akyang, Jeomcheong wore the ‘Demonic Cult’ mask for their dirty deeds. Known publicly as some lay sects’ fault.”
Ilgak fell silent at the truth from my lips.
“When there’s no ‘real’ one, it’s routine…”
He doubts Jeongdohoe but can’t leave.
So I can only make him face reality.
“What happens when the ‘real’ one appears?”
Same chaos as past life. Leaders seeing opportunity.
Murim Alliance’s botched response, powerless sacrificed.
That’s why I’ve poured endless effort to avoid repeating it.
“……So, hide it?”
“Who’s hiding? Just means I won’t stir chaos from my mouth. And I won’t let those exploiting it slide.”
“……”
Comfortable ride till now, but dumb questions.
Guess piggybacking in this situation feels off?
“Set me down. I can walk now.”
“N-no. Let’s keep going.”
His form moved again. Still jerky.
Acting like nothing happened looked awkward as hell.
At this rate, I’d puke, so I finally spoke.
“Think like when you joined Sahwal-dan. Not what benefits your sect or group. What choice saves the most people.”
“That’s what you want, right?”
“……”
No answer, but the faint vibrations vanished.
Handful, this guy.
#
Wonder if we dawdled too long or they pushed hard, but rejoining Sahwal-dan took quite a while.
“Set me down now.”
“No. Your body hasn’t recovered…”
“Squad morale holds if the captain can’t even walk right?”
“Ah…”
Ilgak gently lowered me and checked every inch.
Then his eyes bulged.
“What in the…”
“Why? Big wound somewhere?”
I checked myself, wondering if I missed something.
“No… your wounds have healed.”
“Healed?”
I parted my torn uniform to check. The severe gashes near my rag-like arms were mostly mended.
I’d circulated via wondrous channels during movement, but no time for full recovery.
Even if, just enough to follow Sahwal-dan.
Eerily fast healing. Like…
Man nyeonto-ung…
That monster’s recovery power came to mind. During Azure Dragon Ring use?
Ilgak asked worriedly.
“Something wrong?”
I played it cool, changing subject.
“Maybe snuck some bear bile just in case. Worked, huh.”
“B-bear bile?”
“It’s a bear. Gotta grab the bile.”
I actually had some in my robes.
Ilgak muttered in disbelief: ‘Raw… from a freshly killed beast…’
Good, he bought the wound recovery excuse.
A bit further, presences stirred.
Ilgak and I approached cautiously; Eighth Squad rearguards spotted us and cheered.
“C-Captain! Captain’s back!”
“For real?”
“How’d you pull it off?!”
“No way!”
Like they’d hoped I’d die, intense greetings(?) from all sides.
“Don’t break formation, idiots.”
I snapped, but academy students swarmed, refusing to let go.
“Captain! You okay?”
“Thought you were really dead this time!”
“Why’s the commander up front…!!”
After their pieces, they returned to line.
A smirk slipped out at the sight.
“Keep up the good work.”
Heading front, one grabbed my shoulder.
“Going front again?”
“Gotta clear the path.”
His grip tightened at my calm reply.
“……Take this at least.”
He pulled a robe from his pack and handed it over.
“Yours looks more rag than clothes.”
True, parading this was weird.
“Thanks.”
Slipping through ranks, students stepped aside one by one.
As Ilgak and I passed, words came.
“Just command this time. Don’t almost lose our commander twice.”
“No commander, and we can’t fight carefree!”
“Heard they’re all here. Past Magyeong too—no need to push. You’ve done enough as promised.”
Different sects, affiliations—wary at first.
But now.
Somehow, fervor filled their midst.
I walked silently, wrapped in that heat.
Passing those calling out, exchanging glances.
Reached Fifth Squad with the group.
“……”
They saw me but didn’t greet like others.
Their complex gazes made words hard.
I chose to move on. Front was my spot anyway.
Just then.
“……Eldest senior brother.”
Hong Saryeon called.
“Please don’t send bad news to Father.”
“……”
“You… can do that, right?”
Anxiety and fear trembled in her voice.
Only words I could give.
“Don’t worry. Won’t happen.”
Hong Saryeon, others added nothing.
Pushing past to vanguard.
Those who saw me sighed.
“Worst commander ever.”
“Never wanna join a unit like this again.”
“Why? I’d do it twice.”
Grumbling academy students. Yang Japyeong welcomed me.
“Good thing. Can report well to Captain.”
“Good news?”
“Almost there.”
Eyes flashed.
“There?”
“Yes. End of Magyeong.”
Finally, finally.
Another half hour, spirit vein qi faded sharply.
Not just Magyeong—even compared to Mukrim, faint.
Natural formations long gone.
Another half hour.
We escaped Mukrim too.
Out of longed-for Mukrim, but no cheers yet.
Final goal: break enemy encirclement.
Safe only after last hurdle, Jo-ryong-bak Gorge.
“Hold.”
At the central gorge path, I halted Sahwal-dan.
As Yang Japyeong said.
If encircled, they’d be right behind.
I closed eyes, scanning innards.
Oddly, recovery sped with steps—body over half healed.
Detouring Magyeong might’ve helped.
Issue: end well too?
We were fast enough. Detourers can’t beat us even rushing.
Plan failed when we entered Magyeong.
So better abandon us than chase and risk exposure.
……Overly optimistic. Since when do I see the world this rosy?
Ridiculous even to me.
If rational, no Central Plains conquest madness.
So coldly face facts.
We ran our best.
Step forward.
Always, ahead.
Thud- thud- thud-
Danjeon sense swept front.
Whoever, handle like Mukrim passage.
Plan failed. Reaching here reveals them to Central Plains.
That instant.
Halt.
Sinister sense snagged at sense’s edge.
Up small hill, vast space below.
Fuck…
My guess half right.
They couldn’t encircle via Magyeong detour.
But.
Thud.
Not all failed to outpace us.
Pausing at hill, three figures with wild individuality waited.
“Didn’t think you’d really pass through there…”
I eyed them.
Center one: recent face.
The lunatic who killed Bukdu Sword Master hunting a ring.
Left woman: unknown. Right man…
“Grotesque. A jiangshi?”
Torn clothes patched mismatched—face, limbs different skin.
Stitched scars made it uglier.
“Kekeke, truly clueless? Or pretending?”
Woman and center man giggled amusedly; jiangshi-like trembled.
Come to think, face familiar.
Familiar…?
Sensation I lack—impossible with absolute memory.
No uncertain recalls exist.
Except special like Moyong Sangwon.
Yet ‘familiar’?
Then.
Immense killing intent exploded from rag-man.
And he.
“Jin— Sowoon—”
Called my name in horrific metallic voice.