Chapter 650
Chapter 650
Chapter 650. Finishing Up (3)
A cave.
Inside it were dozens of people.
Their appearances were so wretched that they could not be called good even as empty flattery.
“What are we supposed to do now?” (Emei Sect Disciple)
“They’re guarding the front, so we can’t even get outside……” (Emei Sect Disciple)
“At this rate, we’ll starve to death inside this cave.” (Emei Sect Disciple)
At the words of the Emei Sect disciples, the other martial artists also wore somber expressions.
And all at once, they looked at someone.
He was the commander who had led them, the person in charge of the nearby White Tiger Office.
Normally, he would have stood with his hands clasped behind his back and ordered his subordinates around, but this time, not only King Seongbo, who would establish a princely residence in Sichuan, but even the Crown Prince had come.
So he could not push the work onto his subordinates as he usually did and had gone into the field himself.
But as the saying went, when the commander was incompetent, his subordinates suffered, and because of White Tiger’s greed, they had fallen for the Green Forest Bandits’ scheme and ended up in this situation.
“Why? What? Did you think I knew this was a trap?” (White Tiger)
Like a guilty man getting angry first, White Tiger flared up and shouted.
His adjutant let out a small sigh and said.
“I told you several times already that it was a trap.” (Adjutant)
“Who did?” (White Tiger)
“The disciples of the Emei Sect did.” (Adjutant)
“…….” (White Tiger)
“The disciples of the Qingcheng Sect and the people of the Sichuan Tang Clan also gave you advice several times. But you insisted on pushing in, and this is what happened.” (Adjutant)
“Are you now daring to lecture me?” (White Tiger)
He was about to roar at his adjutant when someone’s clear voice stopped him.
“What use is there in arguing over right and wrong in a situation like this?” (Hyang-ok)
The one who approached while saying that was none other than Hyang-ok.
“What we should do from now on is more important.” (Hyang-ok)
At that, White Tiger said.
“Well said! As you say, from now on is what matters.” (White Tiger)
“But because people are people, we regret things. Had I known this would happen, I should have simply broken both your leg bones or something and kept you out of the battle.” (Hyang-ok)
“……Hm?” (White Tiger)
“You looked stupid and incompetent from the moment I first saw you, so I had a bad feeling.” (Hyang-ok)
Unlike her clear voice, the chilling words that came from her mouth pierced deeply into his chest like daggers.
“Are you going to keep acting as commander even after driving your subordinates into a deathtrap?” (Hyang-ok)
“Hmph, that is my duty!” (White Tiger)
“What a fine duty. When all this time, you dumped your leftover work on your subordinates and acted as though you had done it yourself.” (Hyang-ok)
“…….” (White Tiger)
He had nothing to say. Because it was true.
Soon, Hyang-ok’s words grew even sharper.
“If you had even a little brain, you’d know what I’m saying this for, but do you not even have that much of a brain? If that head of yours worked as well as your lower half, I wouldn’t have to waste my breath like this.” (Hyang-ok)
“…….” (White Tiger)
“If you inherited the White Tiger post thanks to your bloodline, then you should at least have listened carefully to the words of wiser people, but instead, without even having the ability, you stubbornly insisted for no reason and caused this mess! Wow! How shameless. Shameless! You’re the sort of man who’d drink lye out of stubbornness even if people warned you it was lye!” (Hyang-ok)
“Wh-what……” (White Tiger)
Hyang-ok asked with a cold gaze.
“And yet you still intend to command?” (Hyang-ok)
“Th-that is……” (White Tiger)
“State your opinion.” (Hyang-ok)
And then, smoothly, she unfastened her scabbard and grasped it in her hand.
“Why are you unfastening your scabbard?” (White Tiger)
“If you say you’ll continue to take command, I’m going to break your leg bones.” (Hyang-ok)
“Hiiik!” (White Tiger)
At her words, White Tiger’s face turned pale.
“Ah, I’m not such a cold-hearted bitch, so don’t worry. I’ll still give you the right to choose whether it’s your left leg or your right leg.” (Hyang-ok)
“H-how dare you, a mere martial artist, speak and behave like that toward a White Tiger who commands troops by His Imperial Majesty’s order! Insolent!” (White Tiger)
Watching him roar despite trembling, perhaps because of his pride, Hyang-ok said in a calm voice.
“Insolent or whatever else aside, after driving people into a deathtrap like this, what exactly are you so proud of that you’re raising your voice? Do you think His Highness the Crown Prince will praise you for doing well after seeing this?” (Hyang-ok)
“…….” (White Tiger)
“I think you should consider yourself fortunate if you aren’t dismissed from office for this offense.” (Hyang-ok)
Hyang-ok continued speaking.
“My cousin said that the type of official His Imperial Majesty hates most is an incompetent official.” (Hyang-ok)
“…….” (White Tiger)
“You don’t like this situation, do you? Then don’t just bark like a frightened dog, come at me. But I won’t go easy on you either. I’ll tenderize you thoroughly, leaving only your life intact.” (Hyang-ok)
“Kugh……” (White Tiger)
For some reason, the people felt as if they were seeing an illusion.
An illusion as if an invisible hand were striking White Tiger’s head over and over.
Otherwise, there was no way White Tiger would have such an expression of having lost all will to fight.
And the people realized that although Hyang-ok was now called the Gale Fairy, her former alias had been Snow Sword Heroine.
“S-scary. That poisonous tongue……” (Someone)
“So that was why she was called Snow Sword Heroine.” (Someone)
Hyang-ok asked again in an even voice.
“So, what will you do?” (Hyang-ok)
Just then, the adjutant quietly approached and whispered to him, and after hearing those words, White Tiger’s face grew even paler.
“……I will hand all command authority over to you.” (White Tiger)
“You’ve made a wise decision. If you later try to deny ever saying that, then I really will just—!” (Hyang-ok)
“Hiiik! N-no! That will absolutely never happen!” (White Tiger)
Having taken command authority from White Tiger through her poisonous tongue, Hyang-ok calmly began giving orders to the people.
She did not know for what purpose the Green Forest Bandits who had driven them into this place had yet to make any notable move, but it was certain that their lives were on the line.
Even so, the reason Hyang-ok did not give up was that her younger cousin, Eun Seho, was nearby.
“Because he’s the sort of guy who finds a hole to rise through even if the heavens collapse.” (Hyang-ok)
So she had to do what she could here.
“First, have the wounded rest inside, and please treat them as much as possible.” (Hyang-ok)
“Yes.” (Disciple)
“How much food do we have left at present?” (Hyang-ok)
“About enough for two days.” (Soldier)
“Let’s save as much as we can.” (Hyang-ok)
“Yes.” (Soldier)
“And let’s see whether there is anything edible in here.” (Hyang-ok)
“Yes!” (People)
Before long, one of the people from the Sichuan Tang Clan shouted.
“Fairy Hyang-ok! The moss here is edible moss.” (Sichuan Tang Clan Member)
At those words, she was relieved.
“That is fortunate!” (Hyang-ok)
At that, one of the soldiers asked with a puzzled face.
“What! Moss can be eaten too?” (Soldier)
The one who answered was a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect.
Because among the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect, those who could fight had gone out to subjugate the Green Forest Bandits.
“That is so. Moss is one of the ingredients in the fasting pills we eat when we train.” (Qingcheng Sect Disciple)
“Of course, it tastes filthy.” (Qingcheng Sect Disciple)
“Then, Masters of the Sichuan Tang Clan, please look after the wounded.” (Hyang-ok)
“Understood.” (Sichuan Tang Clan Member)
“The other soldiers, please gather the moss, and the people of the Qingcheng Sect, please watch the movements of the Green Forest Bandits near the entrance.” (Hyang-ok)
“We shall do so.” (Qingcheng Sect Disciple)
Just then, White Tiger cut in.
“Why are you assigning that work to the Qingcheng Sect rather than the soldiers? Are you perhaps deliberately making us do menial work?” (White Tiger)
“The Qingcheng Sect’s movement art, Willow Drift Step, allows them to swiftly scout the enemies and return. But did you not say you would hand command authority over to me?” (Hyang-ok)
“Th-that is right.” (White Tiger)
“That’s a relief. If you had forgotten, I was going to remind you. If you nitpick one more time, then I will tie up your tongue and bind you to that pillar.” (Hyang-ok)
“Hueek!” (White Tiger)
White Tiger backed away in fright.
And so, once the brilliant Hyang-ok became commander in place of the stupid White Tiger, they moved very systematically.
The Qingcheng Sect martial artists took turns watching the entrance, but the Green Forest Bandits’ side only kept watch outside the cave and did not send anyone inside.
When they had first been trapped here, they had cut off the heads of the three Green Forest Bandits who came in and thrown them outside, and after that, no one had come in.
They were probably waiting for them to collapse from exhaustion.
About two days passed like that.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
From one wall came a sound like someone striking the wall with a hammer.
At that, the soldier guarding that place immediately reported it to Hyang-ok, and Hyang-ok headed there.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
The sound kept continuing.
At that, Hyang-ok cautiously approached with her sword in hand and struck the wall.
Tang, tang, tang!
“…….” (Hyang-ok)
Soon the sound of the wall being struck stopped, and from beyond it came someone’s voice.
“How old is the oldest fish among the fish in Eunseokyeon?” (Eun Seho)
A familiar voice.
It was Eun Seho’s voice.
And she could understand the intent behind that question as well.
Because Eunseokyeon was a small pond in the inner hall of the Eunhae Trading Company’s main headquarters.
It was called Eunseokyeon because the stones surrounding that pond looked silver when they caught the sunlight, and among the people of the Eunhae Trading Company, it was information that those who could not enter the inner hall would not know well.
“How would I know that? The one who made that pond was our great-grandfather.” (Hyang-ok)
At that, a voice was heard.
“It really is you, Noona. Please step back for a moment. And no matter what happens, do not be startled.” (Eun Seho)
At that, Hyang-ok quickly stepped back.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
The sound of the wall being struck was heard again.
Crack.
The wall blocking the two of them collapsed, and dust rose thickly.
As the dust gradually settled, the figure of an extremely handsome young man was revealed.
“Noona Hyang-ok. I’m here.” (Eun Seho)
I waved toward Noona Hyang-ok, visible beyond the wide-open passage.
“Seho!” (Hyang-ok)
Seeing that, I recalled the path we had taken to get here.
We headed down the path indicated by the Hyunro Diagram, but strangely, a wall blocked us midway.
But there was no way the Hyunro Diagram would show us the wrong path.
In other words, that meant this wall was also part of the path.
At that moment, the Yeoeungam warrior who had been tapping on the wall said.
“Liege, this wall is a bit strange.” (Yeoeungam Warrior)
“Yes?” (Eun Seho)
“Let’s see……” (Yeoeungam Warrior)
The Yeoeungam warrior took out a dagger, scratched the wall, and then said.
“This isn’t granite. It’s limestone.” (Yeoeungam Warrior)
Come to think of it, one of Sichuan’s specialties was lime.
In other words, it meant there was a lot of limestone.
And lime had the property of dissolving well in water.
This wall, too, had probably become considerably thinner as it dissolved in water.
Tok, tok!
When he struck the wall with the back of the dagger, it began to crumble weakly.
Only then did I think I understood why the Hyunro Diagram had shown us this path. Who would think we would enter through this place?
And so, after breaking through the wall, I finally came face to face with Noona Hyang-ok.
“Are you unharmed? Noona.” (Eun Seho)
“Yes. Everyone is still safe for now.” (Hyang-ok)
“Then let’s escape through this passage.” (Eun Seho)
Through the Hyunro Diagram, I had already found out that escaping through this passage would be safe.
But then something odd caught my eye.
It was because I saw someone tied to a stone pillar that touched the floor inside the cave.
Moreover, a gag was in his mouth, and looking closely, his tongue had been tied and the gag placed in his mouth.
“Judging from his clothes, he seems to be the one in charge of the soldiers, so why is he like that?” (Eun Seho)
“He is Lord White Tiger.” (Hyang-ok)
“Yes?” (Eun Seho)
“And he is the reason we are trapped like this.” (Hyang-ok)
“I’ve heard that and know it, but why is he in this state?” (Eun Seho)
“I warned him repeatedly, but he forgot his own position and kept nitpicking, so I did that to him.” (Hyang-ok)
“Ah…… I see.” (Eun Seho)
When I approached, he writhed his body and sent a look begging me to untie him.
“Noona, you are far too softhearted.” (Eun Seho)
“Hm?” (Hyang-ok)
“He is the man who put everyone here in danger of almost dying. And do you know what the Green Forest Bandits demanded in exchange for your lives as collateral? Thirty thousand seok of rice, one hundred slaves, and autonomy.” (Eun Seho)
“What?” (Hyang-ok)
“Even if he returns alive, this man will have difficulty avoiding severe punishment anyway.” (Eun Seho)
At that, White Tiger’s eyes widened in horror.
I threw a punch toward his stomach.
Thud!
“Keok!” (White Tiger)
He fainted on the spot.
I glanced at him once and looked toward the entrance.
“There happens to be a lot of stone near the entrance.” (Eun Seho)
“That’s right. We prepared them in case they tried to push in with numbers, to hold them in check or block them.” (Hyang-ok)
“Well done. I needed them anyway.” (Eun Seho)
“Then do we just leave now?” (Hyang-ok)
“No. Please wait a moment.” (Eun Seho)
About fifteen minutes passed like that. Then sounds came from outside.
“Waaaah!” (Soldiers)
Boooo! Boooo!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A thunderous clamor, the sound of horn trumpets, and even drumbeats.
This tremendous noise was something I had asked the Provincial Inspector for, to turn the Green Forest Bandits’ attention in that direction.
I had asked him to draw their eyes by making it seem as if they were advancing on them.
“Now let’s go.” (Eun Seho)
After pressing White Tiger’s paralysis acupoint and rendering him unable to move, I slung him over my shoulder.
He was hateful, but we had to return with him alive.
Because we needed to hold him responsible for this incident and needed a place for that anger to be directed.
It was not as if he were some innocent scapegoat; this had happened due to his wrongdoing, so that anger was his share to bear.
And so everyone began escaping outside through the passage I had made.
It was then.
“What, what is this! You bastards! What are you doing right now!” (Green Forest Bandit)
When I looked back, the Green Forest Bandits were entering the inside of the cave.
Since we had made it look as if the government army was advancing, they must be coming in to eliminate the people inside the cave.
Fortunately, because of the stones piled up in front, the speed at which they approached was slow.
Tap! Taat!
I sent telepathic messages to the guards and immediately moved.
Because they could not be allowed to leave alive.
Slash!
Swoosh!
As my weapons and my companions’ weapons swung frantically, we brought down the Green Forest Bandits.
Among them, the one who stood out the most was none other than Warrior Min.
His skill in cutting down the enemies’ necks while using only the exact movements needed was enough to draw admiration.
As expected, he was a warrior specialized for real combat.
Like that, we annihilated all the Green Forest Bandits who had entered the cave and bought time.
“Hurry.” (Eun Seho)
“Yes.” (People)
Everyone left the cave in orderly fashion.
After clearing away the debris from breaking through the passage, we covered the passage with gray cloth prepared in advance and nailed it in place.
This much should serve as a brief deception.
I led everyone along the path the Hyunro Diagram showed me, and we safely descended the mountain.
“Young Master Eun!” (Crown Prince)
Seeing me, the Crown Prince hurriedly ran over.
“Are you unharmed?” (Crown Prince)
“Yes. We are safe. Then please send the signal to the Provincial Inspector.” (Eun Seho)
“Very well.” (Crown Prince)
When the Crown Prince gave an order to the signalman, the signalman shot a whistling arrow into the air.
Piiiiiiik!
It was a whistling arrow ordering retreat.
But this did not mean forgiving the Blood-Eyed Sword Ghost and the Green Forest Bandits.
It was merely because they could only be subjugated with certainty once the hostages had been safely rescued.