Mole Hunt (9)
The soldiers moved with frantic urgency. We were nearly at our destination, and that was precisely why the enemy’s pursuit had intensified once more. Knowing this was their final chance, the enemy troops chased us with desperate ferocity. To hold them back, Sun Quan’s forces had no choice but to accept considerable losses each time.
Fortunately, after this latest wave, the enemy seemed to ease their pursuit for a moment. But judging from the situation so far, it was clear that a final, all-out assault would soon follow. The officers drove the soldiers forward, urging them to cross the bridge as quickly as possible.
“When do you think they’ll get here?”
“Hard to say. But one thing’s certain—at least once before we board the ships, we’ll have to look at those ugly faces again.”
“That’s a poisonous thing to say. It hurts my ears.”
Sun Quan was directing the soldiers as they crossed the bridge toward the island where the ships were scheduled to arrive. While issuing orders to her officers and calculating how to handle Ye Gwan’s impending pursuit, she still found the leisure to toss jokes my way. It was a sight I could never have imagined from myself just ten days ago. Watching her overcome every trial and grow so completely, I couldn’t help but feel genuine admiration.
“They say the pupil surpasses the master…”
“What?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing. I was just muttering to myself about when the ships might arrive.”
“They’ll be here soon. This spot is downstream from where the ships were originally anchored, so they’ll arrive quickly once they follow the current. But since the enemy is practically breathing down our necks, we won’t have time to leisurely dock and transfer. We’ll have to abandon all heavy equipment and swim to the ships. You’d better prepare yourself.”
“Swimming? I’m not very good at that…”
“If it really comes to that, there are plenty of strong swimmers around. If necessary, I can just hold you and swim myself.”
“Even if it’s a joke, I appreciate the thought.”
“It’s not a joke. Don’t you remember? I told you I would protect you.”
Sun Quan spoke with a perfectly straight face. I looked at her and smiled gently.
“Of course I remember. In the past it might have been empty words, but in the current situation, I know she can truly keep that promise.”
Ever since Ju Tae had died trying to save her, Sun Quan had transformed as if she were a different person. She had calmed the shaken soldiers, cleverly blocked several waves of pursuit with masterful tactics, and managed to bring nearly half of the original force this far. She had grown tremendously.
“Then I’ll gladly rely on you later, so please don’t pretend you don’t know me when the time comes. I’ll trust only in you, Lady Sun Quan, and go finish this.”
“Right. Hold on just a little longer. Don’t overdo it.”
With those words, Sun Quan confirmed that the last line of soldiers had crossed the bridge, then followed after them. She needed to command the boarding process.
And so I remained alone. I stepped onto the now-empty bridge and gazed at the cloud of dust approaching from afar.
“Ye Gwan…”
Over the past few days, things that had been unclear were slowly becoming sharp and distinct. In the process, I realized how many misconceptions I had held.
For example, I was not part of Sun Quan’s army. And I was certainly not an ordinary soldier.
The truth was this: I was Jin Hwan. The leader of the warlord faction that controlled both Xuzhou and Yangzhou. Due to certain events, I had lost my memory and drifted all the way here. I had been fighting my own subordinates without knowing who I was, and even now I was trying to stop them.
“What kind of idiotic farce is this?”
I couldn’t help but sigh. If I still didn’t know my identity, that would be one thing. But now there was no reason to act this way. All I had to do was raise my hands, reveal who I was, and return to my rightful place. Even if the common soldiers didn’t recognize my face, the officers certainly would. And if I met Ye Gwan, she would confirm my identity without fail. It wouldn’t be difficult at all.
Yet… for some reason, I didn’t want to do that.
“At least until the ships leave… is that it?”
I smiled bitterly. In truth, this was something I should never allow to happen. It was no different from throwing a massive spark behind me and walking away. But for some inexplicable reason, a useless emotion called sentiment had taken hold of me, and I was about to do something truly inefficient and meaningless.
Damn it. Could I even stop half of the troops gathered over there?
I began counting the soldiers who had already closed in right before my eyes, then quickly gave up and gripped my short spear. Since the conclusion that I couldn’t stop them was the same either way, there was no point wasting time and stamina on counting.
“I don’t want to see blood. I’m warning you—don’t come any closer.”
They laughed at my words.
What a bunch of pathetic bastards.
Slightly offended, I took a proper stance. The ones who sensed from my posture that my words were not the ravings of a madman stopped laughing and immediately tried to break through the bridge. Two at a time. They seemed to be planning a rotating attack—maintaining numerical superiority while using numbers small enough not to hinder each other’s movements.
That was fine with me.
Thinking that, I thrust my short spear first, piercing the shoulder of the man charging at me in one swift motion. I immediately shifted my stance and blocked the next attacker who was trying to slash upward at my waist with a long cut.
But right after, the third and fourth soldiers came in from slightly different angles.
As expected, I trained my men well.
I felt a strange sense of satisfaction watching the soldiers strike according to the established patterns, yet at the same time I had to figure out how to block their precise attacks.
Ah, damn it. I should have left at least one weakness in their training.
With that thought, I continued blocking the dizzying barrage of spears and blades while slowly retreating.
Twelve. Fourteen…
To avoid a low, sweeping attack that seemed to scrape the ground, I had no choice but to leap, even though I knew it would create an opening. There was simply no other way to dodge it.
And then, as if they had been waiting for exactly that moment, a powerful thrust followed.
Truly, the student has surpassed the master…
I paid my respects to the soldiers who had become far stronger than when I had commanded them, and twisted my body, prepared to take a hit somewhere. It was a desperate prayer of “please, just not the guts,” and perhaps the heavens heard me—my internal organs were spared.
“…?”
And nothing else hit me either.
Instead, the sound of metal clashing rang out.
I opened my narrowed eyes wide and looked in that direction. Then I cried out in shock.
“Why?!”
“I said I’d protect you. Why are you asking something so obvious?”
Sun Quan answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then swung the two blades in her hands again, breaking through the tightening encirclement. I supported her and asked urgently once more.
“The ships! What about the ships?!”
“They’re all aboard. They’ve probably already set sail by now.”
Even in the heat of battle, when I glanced back, I could see the ships faintly disappearing into the distance. They really were fast.
But that wasn’t the issue right now.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Sun Quan, blocking the enemy’s approach, I lashed out at her sharply.
“Do you not understand why I’m doing this here?!”
“I do. That’s exactly why I came.”
“What the hell does that…”
“You see, I don’t really like the idea of throwing away my life or sacrificing myself just because I like someone. If I truly like them, then living together, and dying together—that’s what I want. If I have to die, I want to die protecting the person I love. I’ve already sent the soldiers back and preserved my sister’s and Ju Tae’s honor. Now I’m going to do what I want.”
Having said that, Sun Quan poured even more strength into her attacks, cutting down several more soldiers and pressing forward. But even at a conservative estimate, over a thousand troops were waiting beyond the bridge. No matter how much of an advantage we held for the moment, there would be a limit.
Moreover, having seen the ships depart, the enemy was attacking with renewed venom.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time.
I watched Sun Quan, who had been charging forward with vigor but was now gradually losing strength, and finally let out a sigh. I made up my mind.
“I wanted to leave only good memories…”
“It’s fine. Loving someone means embracing even the things you hate about them!”
Sun Quan spoke as if she didn’t care at all and fought with even greater vigor. But I shook my head at her words and said,
“It’s not a problem on that level. Still… I really don’t want to see you die. In the end, I suppose I should throw away even these small selfish desires.”
With those words, I gathered every ounce of strength in my body and shouted toward the soldiers of Ye Gwan’s army gathered beyond the bridge.
“YE GWAN!!!! Where is Ye Gwan?!”
"Ye Gwan!!!!"
"Where is Ye Gwan?!"
My shout, delivered with full power, carried such force that the very air seemed to tremble. It had been quite exhausting and had drained a considerable amount of my mental strength, but as a result, I was able to see Ye Gwan step forward from among the soldiers in response to my call.
“What business do you have? Do you have any last words before you die?”
“Ye Gwan, do you not remember me?”
I took a step closer and asked the woman who had questioned my purpose. Ye Gwan approached a little more to examine my appearance, then spoke in a voice filled with disbelief.
“……My lord?!”