Can we retreat? (4)
“Surochae?”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
Baek Sang’s face hardened for a moment.
‘What an obvious move!’
It was an obvious move, but he hadn’t thought of it. Even the most obvious move becomes a brilliant one if made at an unexpected time.
“What about the Alliance?”
“Orders have not yet been issued. We were just instructed to be cautious as they have entered Anhui…”
“Anhui?”
Baek Cheon’s face turned pale.
Anhui and Surochae. Hearing those two words, he could easily guess what would happen next.
“What about Namgung clan!”
“What?”
“What is Namgung clan doing? What about the Young Lord?”
“That… I don’t know.”
Baek Cheon bit his lower lip.
What was the point of asking?
Namgung Dowi was a righteous man. But he was not a calm person. He might appear as serene as a lake on the surface, but inside, he was a man with boiling fire.
Hadn’t he witnessed with his own eyes how Namgung Dowi was in the past?
Would such a person remain still after hearing that his enemies were approaching? A dragon that had been submerged underwater, unable to move, had now risen to the surface on its own?
If he missed this chance, he might never get the opportunity to slay that dragon with his own hands again. Would he really waste time hesitating?
“Damn it!”
There was no need to guess any further. Namgung had definitely gone to the Yangtze River.
“Alliance…”
It’s impossible.
Even if orders were issued immediately after hearing the news and assessing the situation, it would take at least half a day for them to reach here. Namgung Dowi would have more than enough time to reach the Yangtze River by then.
Even if he retained a but of reason and did not rush recklessly, if they waited for orders before moving…
‘Too late!’
Once they missed the timing, no matter what they did, they wouldn’t be able to change the fate of Namgung and Surochae.
Baek Cheon repeatedly clenched and loosened his slightly tense hands.
His deliberation wasn’t long.
“We’re going to the Yangtze River.”
“S-Sahyeong! We are…”
“I know. That it’s different from our assigned mission. Don’t worry. I’m not so rash as to immediately rush to the Yangtze River to help Namgung clan.”
“Then…?”
“We need to get the orders from somewhere close! That way, we can either stop or help them in time. We can’t do anything from here!”
Baek Sang finally seemed to understand, nodding. Indeed, there was nothing wrong with Baek Cheon’s reasoning.
The problem?
Of course, there is a problem. Currently, each team receives orders through Cheonumaeng’s branches established in each province. The moment they leave the province, that command system will inevitably be thrown into chaos.
‘But…’
Baek Sang bit his lower lip gently.
The reason he didn’t voice that concern was that he agreed it was a very small issue compared to the crisis Namgung was facing.
“Understood.”
“We must depart immediately.”
“Yes!”
Baek Sang nodded vigorously.
If asked what was right, it would be hard to give a precise answer. However, he had complete trust in Baek Cheon’s judgment.
Just then, an unexpected person appeared before them.
“You cannot go.”
Baek Cheon turned his gaze in surprise.
He saw someone approaching to block their way.
“…Yoon Jong-ah?”
Baek Cheon frowned as he saw Yoon Jong leading the group.
“Why are you here…?”
“You cannot go to the Yangtze River.”
Yoon Jong shook his head slowly but firmly.
“You must know this, Sasuk. Unless we receive specific orders, we continue with our original mission. That is the directive we received from the Alliance Leader before we left. Right now, Sasuk is trying to break that directive.”
Baek Cheon’s eyes twitched.
“Hasn’t the situation changed drastically?”
“The communication network exists to prevent arbitrary decisions whenever situations change. If everyone acts as they please, what is the point of the communication network?”
Baek Cheon found himself momentarily speechless. Yoon Jong stared directly at him, showing no sign of backing down.
Baek Cheon spoke.
“Was this your plan all along?”
“I don’t understand what you’re implying. I am merely stating the principles.”
Baek Cheon ground his teeth and glared at Yoon Jong.
“It’s Namgung clan. It’s Namgung’s Young Lord.”
“…”
“It’s obvious that someone like him would recklessly charge into fire carrying firewood. Are you telling us to just watch without even trying to stop him?”
“Even if we know, we shouldn’t jump in with him.”
“Yoon Jong!”
Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh.
“Sasuk, do you know? Your actions right now remind me of someone.”
“…”
“He always prioritized his immediate judgment over orders, commands, and principles. And every time, wasn’t it you who tried to stop him?”
It was undeniable. Baek Cheon had always been the one to stop him.
“But isn’t it strange? When he was around, you would exhaust yourself trying to stop such behavior… Yet, when he’s not here, you act just like him.”
Yoon Jong let out a long sigh, shaking his head, and then looked at Baek Cheon with his sharp eyes.
“Then I have no choice, do I? I have to take on your role, Sasuk. You can’t go. No, I won’t let you go.”
At that moment, Baek Cheon’s face hardened like ice.
“And if you don’t let me?”
“…”
“Will you draw your sword and stop me?”
“Sasuk.”
“Like back then?”
Yoon Jong’s face also stiffened at those words.
“I…”
“Go ahead.”
“Sasuk!”
“Draw it. Try to stop me. Maybe if you cut off an arm, I’ll give up.”
Yoon Jong gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw standing out.
As the two men faced off, their tension rising, Baek Sang, flustered, raised his voice.
“W-Why are both of you acting like this?”
To him, the scene was utterly incomprehensible.
❀ ❀ ❀
Crunch.
The neatly crushed head drops to the ground with a thud.
The body, now headless, convulses for a moment as if it were still alive.
It is truly a grotesque sight, yet no one here feels frightened or disgusted by the corpse.
People may fear a wildcat at times, but no one fears a wildcat when a tiger stands before them.
In the presence of a more terrifying being, the death of someone holds no significance.
“Hmmm.”
Jang Ilso raised his white fingers. He looked at his blood-soaked hand, turning it this way and that, as if admiring his well-manicured nails, then slightly shook his head.
His pristine face was speckled with blood.
“Is there… anyone else with complaints? If there is, raise your hand.”
Not a single person dared to meet his gaze, let alone raise a hand. Heads were bowed, bodies trembling, unable to lie down or remain still. Even the slightest movement could cost them their lives.
While everyone was holding their breath, Jang Ilso clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. So weak-willed.”
He looked down. The corpse had stopped convulsing and was cooling down.
The person who had been loudly voicing their complaints here just moments ago, unaware of Jang IIso’s stealthy approach during his rare patrol.
“Still, this one had courage. I like people like that.”
“…”
“Is there really no one else with complaints?”
No one answered. Jang Ilso smiled brightly.
“Good. Then go. Keep your posts well.”
“Yes!”
Those who responded loudly departed hurriedly, almost as if fleeing.
An eerie atmosphere settled over the place where only Jang Ilso and the corpse remained.
Step.
Ho Gamyeong, who had been watching the scene from a distance, approached. He offered a piece of prepared silk.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hmm. For what?”
“…It’s my fault for not keeping things under control.”
“Tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah. How could there not be complaints when we keep such hot-blooded youths cooped up here? It’s only natural for the tension to build up.”
A momentary look of doubt flashed in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes, silently asking why he killed him if he understood that.
Without hearing the question, Jang Ilso read his mind and responded.
“He said some amusing things. That I am too scared to act, that I am so well-fed now I won’t even fight.”
At that moment, Ho Gamyeong’s eyes grew astonishingly cold. His gaze at the dead body was as if he wanted to slaughter it all over again.
To Ho Gamyeong, Jang Ilso was sometimes excessively merciful.
If Ho Gamyeong had heard those outrageous words, the offender would not have died so easily or cleanly.
“You don’t need to look so angry. I’m not upset at all.”
“…What?”
“It’s actually fortunate that there’s someone like him.”
Jang Ilso laughed softly.
“After all, I intended to make an example out of someone today, and luckily, this one committed a crime. I didn’t have to kill an innocent person. It’s a relief.”
Even Ho Gamyeong was taken aback by this statement.
“…May I ask the reason?”
Jang Ilso walked slowly, leisurely, as if he were on a stroll.
“Because it’s about time they remembered.”
A bright smile spread across his face.
“Who I am. Who owns their lives. Whose orders they follow.”
“…”
“People are amusing – they forget what they clearly know, and today is different from tomorrow. Even if they know, they need to be reminded, and if they don’t, it has to be etched into them. Otherwise, it all turns into chaos.”
Ho Gamyeong, understanding, nodded.
Though their methods differed, it was a tactic he often employed as well.
When the discipline of the sect falters, harsher punishments are given than usual, or those who have committed crimes are sought out on purpose.
“Do you know why people make such mistakes?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“Because people always believe their own thoughts are the most correct, regardless of who the other party is.”
“…”
“Even those fools probably think their ideas are better than mine. They might think, ‘If it were me, I would have already attacked and beheaded the enemy, but Ryeonju is stupid and missed the opportunity,’ or something like that.”
“They think that way because they are fools.”
“And that’s fortunate.”
“…What?”
The corners of Jang Ilso’s mouth twisted upwards. Even after wiping with the silk, the blood was still smeared on his face. Ho Gamyeong felt a chill run down his spine.
“They need to be reminded and made to remember. That all they need to do is follow orders. Then there won’t be any problems. But… think about it. What happens if that reminder isn’t given in time?”
“…Each will believe their own thoughts are the most correct.”
“Exactly. And if, in the meantime, those foolish ones are scattered about?”
“Then…”
Jang Ilso slowly nodded.
“Yes. There will be multiple heads. Each thinking they are the most right, each asserting their own justification. They might even believe it’s for the good of everyone. Isn’t it laughable?”
Ho Gamyeong felt another chill down his spine.
Could it be that…
“A coalition. It’s such a nice word. People with different positions and backgrounds coming together for a single cause.”
“Yes.”
“It’s truly laughable.”
Jang Ilso chuckled softly. His pale eyes glinted menacingly.
“Those who were merely suppressed by the abilities of others act as if they possess some grand ambition. They believe someone else’s choice was their own, someone else’s resolve was their own, but when the blade is at their throat, their true selves are revealed.”
Ho Gamyeong’s gaze naturally drifted north.
“Because they made a choice.”
“…”
“To choose means to weigh values and distinguish right from wrong. Even those who believed they were of one mind will eventually realize their differences if they keep making choices repeatedly.”
“The world calls that division.”
“Indeed, it does.”
Jang Ilso smiled broadly.
“Humans exist to divide. There’s only one way to prevent it.”
Jang Ilso glanced at the cold corpse.
“To let them know they are not beings that choose.”
Ho Gamyeong nodded in agreement.
“But they are not unaware of this situation.”
“Of course, they know. And they’ll try to manage it. But, you see…”
Jang Ilso smiled broadly.
“What happens if those moments of choice come one after another?”
Ho Gamyeong understood the answer clearly.
“So… that’s why you shouldn’t trust people.”
There was a strange heat in Jang Ilso’s eyes.
“Let’s see, shall we? How deeply one can fall into the abyss by relying on such a feeble emotion as trust and letting go of their responsibility.”
Ho Gamyeong found himself trembling faintly.
It was incomprehensible, yet unsettling.
‘Trust…’
He knew, Jang Ilso was a man who had never trusted anyone in this world.
But this deep-seated hatred… What could possibly…
A deep shadow of suspicion fell upon Ho Gamyeong’s face as he looked at Jang Ilso.
________
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