Book 22 Chapter 16

Uninvited Guests

—Attack on the Bridge

The last thing Yeonbi and Na Yerim did before leaving the Ring of Conflict was sign the "Mutual Combat Agreement for Official Submission." The gist of the agreement was a pledge that any injuries or even death sustained during the duel would not be held legally responsible, as it occurred by mutual consent. Without this document, even the most skilled fighters would be apprehended by the authorities for murder and—assuming, of course, that the fighter didn't make a swift escape or offer fierce resistance—end up in prison. In severe cases, their heads could be severed on the executioner's block.

"Would you also like to write a will?"

Unlike the agreement, this was optional. And it was surprisingly free.

"The shipping fee is free. It's an added benefit."

If it was a substitute for funeral donations, it was certainly cheap. The will would be sent to the designated location only if the fighter themselves died.

"I don't think I'll need one. I'm going to win anyway."

Yeonbi firmly refused.

"I won't write one either. I haven't even found my sister Ling yet, so I can't die here."

Na Yerim also refused.

"Don't worry. That will never happen."

Yeonbi's tone was unwavering. Yeonbi was trustworthy in times like these. Just like that person.

"What do we do now, Yeonbi?"

Their schedule had unintentionally extended, requiring new arrangements.

"Since I got permission for an overnight stay anyway, it's best to find lodging first. I've already told the Captain of Stinginess that."

"Stinginess? Ah, you mean Captain Namgung."

Yeonbi uttered the subtle word so naturally that Na Yerim almost didn't understand it for a moment.

"Aren't you returning to Macheongak, Yeonbi?"

"It doesn't feel like the right time to return yet. Besides, the true meaning of this invitation hasn't been revealed, and I need to scout for people suitable to participate in the tournament. And furthermore…"

Yeonbi trailed off as she considered what lay ahead.

"Why? Is something bothering you?"

Yeonbi seemed lost in deep thought.

"No. I just have someone I need to meet."

"Someone you need to meet? Do you know anyone here?"

"No, not here, of course. But no matter where I go in this world, it's a persistent, annoying connection that follows me."

Na Yerim had plenty of experience with such things, and all of it very negative. Worried that Yeonbi might be in a similar situation, she asked with concern.

"Who is it?"

She thought she would offer her strength if necessary. However, Yeonbi's answer was a little different from what she imagined.

"Trial!"

Yeonbi replied. It was not a person's name.

"Trial?"

Yeonbi nodded, a bitter, sweet taste lingering on her lips.

"Nothing else comes to mind right now except that. If possible, I'd like to never meet them again, but I suppose I can't. I guess there's a limit to how much you can run away. Rather than being ambushed, I'd rather go to them!"

As she spoke, Yeonbi's amber eyes shone with a calm but resolute determination.

"Shall I go with you?"

Na Yerim's consideration touched Yeonbi deeply, but Yeonbi shook her head.

"No. This is something I have to bear alone. I appreciate your feelings, Rin, but this is not a burden to be shared."

No matter how painful, no matter how overwhelming, there are paths one must walk alone. Yeonbi stood at the threshold of such a path.

The Northern District, where decent and respectable lodgings were concentrated, was quite a distance northeast from the arena. The area around the arena in the Western District was eerily empty, devoid of shops, like an isolated island. This was because the entire vicinity belonged to the domain of Geumjeoksin Donwang. Therefore, no one dared to build new structures or start businesses there. It was a wise decision. Attempting to do so would likely result in a visit to the bottom of Dongting Lake before even the foundation stones of the new building were laid. Thus, Yeonbi and Na Yerim, who had no inclination for homelessness, had to walk west.

However, from a distance, unseen by ordinary people, there were those who were watching the movements of these two. They were all clad in dark blue martial attire, and a common feature was a special mark stamped on their cheeks. The mark resembled a palm.

These individuals, who persistently followed and watched Yeonbi and Na Yerim, were holding a precious item from the West—a thousand-mile mirror—to their right eyes, never taking it off. It was an act that could be considered criminal in its intensity.

The thousand-mile mirror. This curious object, made by fitting two specially cut pieces of glass into a long tube, allowed one to see distant objects and was a rare item not easily obtained even with money. However, being sailors, they had more active trade with foreign countries and could obtain such rare items more easily than others. The thousand-mile mirror was very useful for navigating long distances.

"Damn, how is it, the woman in the black umbrella on the right, are you sure?"

Il-gang, the leader of the Ten Dragons of the Yangtze, asked, enhancing his inner vision. By using internal energy to heighten his vision, he could see objects more than twice as far away with clarity. Moreover, sailors naturally had keen eyesight, often gazing beyond the unobstructed horizon. With the thousand-mile mirror as an aid, there was no difficulty in observing. Even though it was now dim dusk.

"Yes, Captain. The description matches. I could never mistake such a beautiful woman. But it's good that she's pretty, though, why an umbrella in the middle of the night…"

Il-gang replied, rechecking the scroll he held in his hand. Indeed, there wouldn't be many crazy women walking around with umbrellas on a clear day like this.

"It's a bit of a shame, though, *chup*!"

"Why again?"

"Because they are both slender beauties. I wish there was also a short and seemingly younger… but very cute one next to her."

"You have a taste for children? You beast!"

Il-gang criticized I-gang in a tone of disappointment, as if he hadn't expected this from him.

"Beast! Let's not talk about taste differences, we're both beasts!"

I-gang, who had bristled, retorted. The two of them had something in common, regardless of the age difference of the subjects.

"Why would I be the same beast as you?"

Il-gang seemed unwilling to accept I-gang's statement. He demanded an explanation, as if he wouldn't let it go without a satisfactory one.

"Tell me honestly. Are you the black type or the white type? Which one?"

"Hmm, I'm the black type! I prefer those who seem a bit feisty! It's like the thrill of conquest."

Il-gang, blissfully unaware of the reality that he might end up beaten like a dog on a summer day, until dust flew on a rainy day, until his bones and flesh became thick, until he was forced to sign waivers of physical and personal rights and provide lifelong unpaid labor, was happy in his ignorance. In such moments, ignorance can indeed bring happiness. Even if it's as fleeting and short as a midsummer night's dream.

"See. All men are the same, aren't they? We're all beasts. So let's put aside taste differences and just be true to our instincts."

"R, really…"

Il-gang could only nod with lingering doubt, lacking the knowledge or justification to correct I-gang's hasty generalization.

"Well, anyway, we finally found them. Now I won't get scolded by the young lady."

Il-gang sighed deeply, stroking his cheek. He wasn't the only one rubbing his cheek. All ten of them had bright red handprints on their cheeks. They were all the work of their fiery young lady, Hae-eohwa.

The reason was simple: tardiness.

*Slap!*

With a resounding slap, Il-gang's head snapped to the side. He was the last. The other nine of the Ten Dragons were holding their stinging cheeks with their palms.

"Why are you so late, huh?! What are you doing showing up now! She's already left this island!"

Hae-eohwa, still seething with anger, yelled, breathing heavily.

"Young lady, it's just that we…"

Il-gang felt the need to make an excuse. They were truly wronged. If they didn't explain, their past three days of rushing at full speed to Dongting Lake, day and night, would be in vain. They had driven themselves to the point where all the rowers were too exhausted to stand, yet their reward was a harsh slap that felt like their cheek would fall off. However, this fiery young lady didn't seem inclined to care about such trivial matters.

"Shut up! Silence! You were late and missed her!"

Hae-eohwa's face flushed and paled with displeasure at the mere thought of Yeonbi. Her emotions kindly displayed themselves as colors on her face, making her current mood impossible to miss.

"…"

Even though they were the children of the Chaeju, they held a certain position in the Janggang Suochai. Such rude and abusive behavior was incredibly ill-mannered, truly disrespectful and thoughtless. However, they had no place to protest. This was because their formidable father, who unconditionally doted on his children, had their backs.

"Rush to Gangho Island immediately! Go and eliminate her! If you even glimpse her disembarking at this dock, I'll tell Father! Understand?"

Hae-eohwa screeched with a venomous voice, like an angry cat bristling its fur and hissing.

"Yes, Young Lady. We understand."

The Ten Dragons of the Yangtze, true to their name, had to break out in a cold sweat.

"Then leave immediately! Right now!"

It wasn't just the noble that wanted to avoid danger. Even though they were closer to villains than noblemen, their desire to avoid high-risk situations was the same. Not wanting to endure the fiery young lady's rampage any further, they hurriedly departed.

"Oh, right! You have to take the descriptions, you fools!"

Hae-eohwa's voice, shouting from behind them as they hastily prepared to set sail, was still so vivid that they shivered.

"By the way, Captain?"

"Why?"

Il-gang asked in a dazed voice.

"The more I look, the more I realize how incredibly beautiful they both are! Hehehehe!"

I-gang exclaimed with a beaming face, not even bothering to wipe the drool. He stared so intently at the backs of the two women that one suspected the thousand-mile mirror might be digging into his right eye.

"I know that much!"

Even their supposedly outstanding young lady was like a firefly in front of the bright moon compared to these two. It was simply incomparable.

"Chup, I can understand why the young lady is so agitated."

Not many people are broad-minded enough to readily acknowledge someone superior to them. Moreover, their young lady was particularly jealous and cruel. Raised with indulgence at home, believing she was the best in the world, she couldn't possibly accept such overwhelming pressure from reality.

"Watch your mouth, younger brother. If you want to keep all your limbs."

Il-gang advised with good intentions. He didn't want the Ten Dragons of the Yangtze to become the Nine Dragons due to some trivial verbal offense. Replacing missing members was quite a hassle.

"Hehe, then, how about we catch them for some fun…"

Sam-gang, lacking experience and thus the thousand-mile mirror, stared with bloodshot eyes, enhancing his inner vision, openly exuding his surging desires.

If that were to happen, it would be the minimum, no, the maximum reward for such a futile effort. Just then, a hawk flew in.

*Thwack!*

"Damn, you brat, what are you thinking!"

Il-gang smacked Sam-gang on the head and said something.

"Ah, you were clearly tempted too, Captain!"

Sam-gang protested.

"Huh? When was I?! You insolent brat, now you're even slandering me!"

Il-gang was furious. How dare he try to climb over him like this? In such situations, he had to quickly show him the error of his ways and maintain his authority and dignity as the captain.

"Ah, then what's that drool around your mouth? Is it rain, or tears?"

Jin-gang, startled, quickly wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

'Gasp! When did that happen!'

Clumsily, without realizing it, something must have dripped from his mouth. He frantically wiped it with the hem of his sleeve, but it was too late. The authority and dignity he had diligently defended as captain had been shattered.

"Th-this is just…"

He desperately waved his arms, trying to find an excuse.

"What is it?"

"What is it?"

If he didn't say something, it would be dangerous. He couldn't let them challenge his authority like this. However, waving his arms didn't seem to increase his intelligence.

"It's just snot!"

"…"

A deathly silence followed!

Of course, its persuasiveness was infinitesimally close to zero, with no need for measurement.

There was a brief internal debate, but since they didn't like to overexert their brains by spending too much time on agreement, the conclusion was surprisingly quick. In fact, it was a hasty conclusion. The haste was evident. Desire is always fast, while reason is slow, it seems.

For now, they decided to prioritize desire over orders. While their stern young lady seemed to want their complete annihilation, they valued life and decided to settle for them serving them.

Although they bore the title of "brave warriors," they lacked the virtues of bravery, love, and passion. They were originally from the dark path, so they had always kept their distance from morality and justice—a perfectly upright lifestyle for those of the dark path. Such hesitation would only hinder their business. Even if their blood ran hot, the uncontrollable heat of that blood would only lead to bloodshed.

"Then what should we do? Should we attack head-on?"

To Sam-gang's question, Il-gang shook his head.

"No, let's go with 'Ten Sides Ambush'!"

Then everyone looked surprised.

"Do we really need to use the Ten Sides Ambush formation to catch just two women?"

'O-ha,' who held a long spear, whose tip and shaft were integrated, resembling a giant iron pillar at first glance, seemed very displeased.

"Damn, you're complaining without thinking!"

Il-gang chided him.

"That fiery young lady, do you think she would have pestered the Chaeju and called us without making any moves herself?"

"That… is true…"

O-ha answered immediately. Given her temper and disposition, it was reasonable to assume she had already made several attempts. However, the results must have been disastrous. In fact, Il-gang's guess was almost entirely accurate.

"Damn! She was skilled enough to be selected for the Cheonmu Academy delegation and come to Macheongak, so she wouldn't be ordinary. There's no harm in being cautious. We just need to achieve our objective."

After all, the ethics of the martial world were none of their concern. Although their objective had transformed, they had never lived lives focused on a clear goal. If they had had a proper objective in the first place, they wouldn't have ended up in this line of work.

"Chup, well, that's true. What the Captain says is indeed correct."

O-ha seemed convinced.

"Do you understand now?"

Il-gang said with a triumphant expression.

"You all remember the location for activating the Ten Sides Ambush and your respective positions, right?"

Once the plan was formulated, Il-gang confirmed once more.

"Of course."

*Click! Click! Click!*

Il-gang and I-gang folded their thousand-mile mirrors and tucked them into their belts, then raised their weapons. Sam-gang's weapon was the same, a 'no' (弩: crossbow). It was a type of crossbow, but it looked different from existing ones. The difference was that there was a long, tall case where the arrows were fired, and next to the case was a handle that could be turned by hand. By quickly turning this handle, they could quickly fire the crossbow without the trouble of reloading. The weapons they held were indeed 'yeonno' (連弩: repeating crossbows). Moreover, they were specially modified versions with a range more than twice that of existing yeonno.

"Well then, shall we begin the hunt?"

A cruel smile formed on the excited Il-gang's lips.