In Nanzhou (4)
At the chieftain's command, they grabbed their weapons and rushed to the spot Cheonggwan had indicated.
But when they arrived, all that met their eyes was still-warm charcoal embers and the bones of a half-eaten deer.
"What the hell? Where'd they all go?"
"Didn't he say they were here?"
Then someone shouted.
"Footprints lead that way."
"They fled in that direction?"
"You think they got word we were coming?"
"From who?"
"That storyteller bastard, Cheonggwan."
"No way! That guy's not the type to play both sides. He's too much of a coward."
After a moment's thought, the chieftain spoke.
"From the tracks, it's only about ten men. Just like Cheonggwan said. And even if they bolted fast, these rugged mountains won't let them get far. We'll catch 'em, beat the truth out of 'em, and find the traitor."
He made his decision.
"Follow the footprints."
"Yes, sir."
I approached the mountain stronghold.
I'd confirmed about a hundred men had left it.
Extending my senses inside, I sensed roughly another hundred remaining.
Cheonggwan must've warned against complacency, so they'd taken most of their forces.
Ah, thanks for that.
Right now, the only ones headed to this stronghold were me and my group.
The elders and Seokbaek were non-combatants, so their escorts had to stay behind to protect them.
That left our eight to rescue the four.
Judging from the builds and habits Bang Nosanim had described of the five at the safehouse, one had to be Cheonggwan.
So, four to save in total.
"What's the plan?"
"We'll slip in as quietly as possible and slip out the same way."
Myeongjong warrior asked at my words.
"Avoid clashes as much as we can?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Of course, I'd love to slaughter the lot. And I could. But we can't risk the Gold Guard daehyeops' lives. Remember—our top priority is rescuing them."
"Understood."
"Got it."
I gave further orders.
"If we get separated, pair up like this: me with Palgap; Yeo Eung-am warrior and Ipil warrior; Seo-u warrior and Myeongjong warrior; Jin Yu warrior and Cheongun warrior. Rendezvous at the spot I mentioned after the rescue."
"Got it."
"And though our goal is the Gold Guards, your lives come first. Honestly, I feel bad dragging my escorts into this."
"Don't think like that."
"Thanks for saying so. Stay safe, then. Let's move."
At my signal, we entered the stronghold.
Jin Yu warrior took point, Seo-u warrior the rear.
Jin Yu's assassin experience made him perfect for stealth and sensing foes.
He moved like the wind, snapping a black道 thug's neck silently.
He propped the body against the wall so it looked like it was just leaning there.
In a flash, we were inside.
I focused my senses, searching for the unique aura of imperial palace arts.
Palace techniques had a distinct energy, and since I'd trained in them too, it was easy to pinpoint.
"Found them."
I led the group underground into the stronghold. Descending stone steps revealed a sturdy subterranean chamber.
Or not quite—it was the entrance to a cave system built beneath the ground.
Fortunately, the cave wasn't too vast.
And its twisting layout was perfect for hide-and-seek.
It was a prison.
Skinny, emaciated children stared blankly into space with resigned eyes.
Kidnapped, no doubt.
Sorry, but we couldn't save them now. Escaping safely with kids in tow would be impossible.
We forced ourselves to look away and hurried on. Soon, we reached the Gold Guards.
Crack! Crack!
"Urk!"
"Useless. You won't get a word out of me... anyway... eek!"
"Tough bastard! Gold Guard through and through, huh?"
The voice was hoarse but familiar. Jin Yeong daehyeop.
"Fine! Let's see how long you last!"
Sizzle!
"Grrraaah!"
No more torture. We crept closer.
Four men hung from the wall.
Hard to tell if they were even human anymore.
To reduce people to that!
Rage surged, but I stayed cool, scanning guards, counting them, gauging their realms.
We could take them clean. I sent a sound transmission.
—Now!
We struck as one. Blades plunged into every body there in an instant.
Thud!
Thunk!
Simple, silent kills. We lowered the bodies without a sound.
"Jin Yeong daehyeop, you okay?"
"Y-you!"
"Shh! Quiet."
He nodded. Seo-u warrior sliced the chains binding the Gold Guards with his sword.
His sword aura more refined now—it cut cleanly.
The others gaped, but Jin Yeong, knowing Seo-u's skill, stayed calm.
We applied golden wound salve, wrapped their wounds in cloth.
To prevent infection and blood trails.
Then, two-by-two, we carried one each and moved out.
Cautiously, as before.
No sense poking the hornet's nest.
But if unavoidable, we cut down foes.
Exiting the cave, we checked surroundings.
The pursuit party hadn't returned yet. Good.
We faked tracks leading over a cliff to buy time.
They'd waste hours searching below.
We slipped from the stronghold and headed to our rendezvous—the house I'd bought for this.
Hard to snag a remote mountainside place quick, but extra coin did the trick.
Official business, so His Majesty would look the other way on expenses.
"Success!"
Bang Nosanim greeted us as we entered.
"Yes, mission accomplished."
"You're more capable than I thought!"
"Me?"
I couldn't forget how his eyes had gleamed at me last time.
Just like the Emperor's—my instincts had screamed warning.
"No way it was just me. All thanks to my escorts."
I credited them fully.
"Anyway, we should get the daehyeops on beds."
Jin Yeong spotted Bang Nosanim, eyes widening in shock. He bowed painfully.
"B-Bang Sangseo? Gold Guard Jin Yeong at your service."
Sangseo—head of a ministry, rank of Jeong-i-pum.
That high up? Wow.
Bang Nosanim waved it off with a tsk.
"Just a retired old man. Skip the formalities. Rest up. Tsk tsk."
We laid the four on prepared beds, wiped them down with wet cloths.
No servants, so hands-on it was. That's when we realized.
They were alive by miracle alone.
Brutal torture.
Trained in martial arts, sure—normal folk would've died.
But enduring that? Incredible. They hadn't suicided because they believed rescue was coming.
And they had vital info to relay.
"This'll hurt, but bear it."
Palgap and I cleaned Jin Yeong with cloths.
Reapplied salve, wrapped wounds in long bandages.
Full-body coverage needed—scars everywhere.
Treatment done, Jin Yeong relaxed.
Rescue sinking in.
He turned quietly to Bang Hyo-myeong.
The ex-Minister of War had resigned seven years ago, retiring to the countryside at the Emperor's feet? No—he'd submitted it.
Why was a man like that here with Eun Seo-ho?
"Bang Sangseo, what brings you here? I knew you were nearby in Nanzhou, but..."
"Oh, that?"
Bang Hyo-myeong pointed at Eun Seo-ho.
"Kid brought a letter. From His Majesty—asking me to save you lot."
"What?"
"His Majesty?"
The Gold Guards gawked.
"As you know, His Majesty never abandons his own."
The Emperor he knew spotted talent sharp, squeezed every drop from it.
Grueling on body and soul, but impossible not to follow.
Total trust and backing if he deemed you "his."
And never discarded.
That's why he'd retired—to avoid dying at court...
Damn it! Can't refuse a royal summons!
Anger flared briefly.
But no scene before them.
"Rest up proper. Gotta thank His Majesty in person, right?"
"Urk!"
"His Majesty!"
"Hrngh..."
Eyes reddening, they swallowed tears.
Truth was, the Gold Guards had endured on loyalty alone.
And pride—no way the Emperor's hands and feet would break.
Even when pain begged for death, no suicide.
Info to deliver.
But that was it. Full faith? Not quite.
Loyalty and belief weren't the same.
Yet hearing the Emperor sent letters even to a retiree? They were moved.
In that moment, they vowed utter loyalty—body, heart, soul.
Meanwhile, Bang Hyo-myeong eyed Eun Seo-ho, smacking his lips.
Prime talent.
Is this how the Emperor feels spotting one?
A bit more polish, and usable.
Train him up, stick him in the palace for me?
Eun Seo-ho would've freaked.
A sudden chill hit me; I rubbed my arms.
"What's up?"
I shook my head at Palgap.
"Nothing. Just got cold."
"You? Cold?"
Even I knew that didn't track.
I tilted my head at the Gold Guards' gazes toward Bang Nosanim.
Pure reverence.
Sure, sangseo rank warranted respect, but this?
Anyway.
"One thing I wanna ask."
"Shoot."
"I don't know the others' skills, but Jin Yeong daehyeop's are first-rate. Palace arts give peak power bursts."
"True."
"So how'd you get caught so easily?"
He ground his teeth.
"Cheonggwan! That bastard!"
Cheonggwan's corruption—Jin Yeong pressing him started it.
Cheonggwan poisoned the Gold Guards; following black道 thugs overwhelmed them.
"Knew it! He was the key."
"Did you meet this Cheonggwan?"
"We did."
Jin Yeong tried rising, winced in pain.
"Th-then... how... if he spilled about this place... big trouble..."
"Relax."
I grinned.
"He doesn't know about it."
"Doesn't?"
"Yeah. Bang Nosanim sniffed him out on sight, so we acted."
I explained how we'd played Cheonggwan and the black道.
"Whoa..."
"That bold?!"
"Stronghold's probably chaos now. Cheonggwan's lucky to save his own skin."