Step, step.
"Huff…! Huff…!"
By now, the sun had fallen.
In the forest, where the darkness made it nearly impossible to tell what lay ahead, a man stumbled forward in a panic.
A man missing one arm, one eye, and one ear.
It was none other than the Mad-Blood Sword (Gwanghyeolgeom).
As if something were chasing him, he pushed frantically through the forest, cold sweat streaming down his face.
Behind him, Cheon Wuha's chilling voice rang out.
"Your pace has slowed."
"…!"
"Don't you remember the way?"
"Ah… n-no! It's just… it's too dark, I can't see the path clearly!"
"…You can't see?"
Repeating Gwanghyeolgeom's words in a low murmur, Cheon Wuha raised his head to the night sky.
Ironic, really—tonight, a bright full moon illuminated the mountain path well enough that one could see it clearly, despite the darkness.
"Ah, no…! With such dim light, it's nearly impossible to find the way on a mountain path like this. Please, believe me!"
"..."
"A-and besides, this path is one few people have ever set foot on, so…"
Gwanghyeolgeom rambled on, desperately trying to defend himself.
Truthfully, if he had been in normal condition, the darkness wouldn't have posed much of a problem.
But with one eye missing, his body utterly exhausted, and that monster behind him who could snatch away his life at any moment…
His head had gone completely blank, making it impossible to concentrate on finding the route.
Of course, he couldn't speak those truths aloud, so he cautiously offered a suggestion.
"If we had a torch, perhaps it would be easier…"
"No."
Cheon Wuha shook his head dismissively.
After all, in the dark forest, nothing would give away their position more easily than a torch.
"Find it as you are."
"T-then give me some time. I swear I'll do my very best—"
Shrrk—!
"…One hour."
"…!"
"If we don't arrive within that time, I'll cut off your left arm."
As he drew the sword at his waist and spoke, Gwanghyeolgeom's face turned ashen.
He had already learned enough to know: this was a man who carried out every word he uttered.
'Damn it…! Is there really no way out…?'
His true intention had been to stall for time and watch how things unfolded.
Sure, this Young Merchant Master (Sosang Gaju) was a monster, but the Black Serpent Leader (Sahuk Danju) was no pushover either.
And the place they were heading—there were over seventy Black Serpent subordinates lying in wait.
If the Young Merchant Master fell to, or was captured by, the Black Serpents, then Gwanghyeolgeom, as their guide, would surely be branded a traitor.
As these tangled thoughts filled his mind and he trudged onward—
"One more thing."
"…?"
"If my teacher is harmed in any way by the time I arrive… then know this: not a single person involved in this matter will die an easy death. You included."
"Ah…"
"Go."
His tone was flat, stripped of emotion, and yet—
That was what made it more terrifying, sending chills crawling down Gwanghyeolgeom's spine.
Abandoning all further scheming, he quickened his pace toward the hideout.
'Yes… just close enough. I'll take him close, then slip away…'
Whether that would work or not, he wouldn't know until he tried. But right now, that was his only chance.
How long had they walked?
At last, when they were about a quarter hour's distance from the hideout—
Step, step.
"Stop."
"Hm? What do you—"
Rustle.
Suddenly, Cheon Wuha strode past him.
Then, as if melting into the forest's shadows, he vanished.
Gwanghyeolgeom froze, unsure what to do.
Thud.
Slump.
"…Hm?"
From deep within the forest came the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground.
'Could it be…?'
Turning toward the sound with a doubtful expression, Gwanghyeolgeom soon saw Cheon Wuha emerge from the darkness.
"Keep walking."
"Wait… did you just deal with the sentries?"
"Did I ever grant you the right to ask questions?"
"…."
"Walk."
…Gulp.
Those eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
The oppressive weight of that aura pressed into the very core of Gwanghyeolgeom's heart. He swallowed dryly.
'…No doubt about it.'
Even without an answer, the blood dripping from the sword in Cheon Wuha's lowered hand told him all he needed to know.
In this forest, where even seeing a single step ahead was difficult, he had located the hidden sentries—and silently killed them all.
'Is he… really human? Or a monster?'
Things incomprehensible by any normal standard, he carried out as naturally as breathing.
If that was the case—
Gwanghyeolgeom gathered his thoughts and bowed his head slightly, speaking with forced respect.
"I'll guide you as quickly as I can. Please, follow me."
Rustle.
Picking up his speed noticeably, Gwanghyeolgeom moved forward.
If he had to choose an enemy to survive this night, then at least… he would not make the mistake of opposing this monster.
Behind him, Cheon Wuha followed through the darkness, his eyes growing ever colder.
*
"Yaaawn…"
In the dark forest, about thirty jang (≈90 meters) from the hideout, a man stretched lazily atop a massive tree.
One of the Black Serpent band's sentries, his face showed boredom and drowsiness.
'Ugh… I'm gonna die of fatigue.'
Perhaps from drinking too much the night before, his shift hadn't even been long, yet already his eyelids were heavy.
He'd even bribed someone to put him on reserve duty for tonight, but instead, here he was stuck on sentry detail.
'Sorry about that. But since it's an inner sentry post, it won't be that hard.'
The squad leader, who had pocketed his bribe, had consoled him like that.
And it wasn't untrue—
Those on the outermost perimeter had to report every little thing and often lost sleep, but inner sentries like him only needed to pass along any alarm signals from outside.
'Not that there'll ever be such a signal.'
After all, who would intrude on their hideout, deep in this desolate place, in the middle of the night?
'I'll just close my eyes for a bit…'
He relaxed, about to drift off—
Thud.
"…Hm?"
From near the tree where his fellow sentry was posted came the sound of something falling.
Did his partner doze off and fall from the tree?
Tilting his head in puzzlement, he stood and called out.
"What's going on? Did you drop a flask or something?"
"..."
"Hey, can't you hear me? Are you asleep?"
Whooosh…
No reply.
Only a cold breeze stirred the silence—and in it, he caught a faint whiff of blood.
Thwack!
"Gahhh!"
A flash of steel streaked from the darkness, piercing his shoulder.
"Khh… W-what the—?"
There were so many outer sentries. How had an intruder made it this far?
Had every last one of them been wiped out without so much as firing a signal flare?
"I-it's an intruder! An intruder!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
But no response came from anywhere nearby.
In a panic, he reached for the flare at his belt.
"Ugh…!"
His shoulder was skewered, his arm wouldn't move.
Gritting his teeth, he clamped the flare's cord in his jaws and yanked down.
Fwoooosh!
Bang!
The flare shot into the sky, bursting into light and momentarily illuminating the forest.
And in that glow, he saw it—
The cold face of a young boy standing before him.
"Ah…!"
Thwack!
Cheon Wuha's fingertip flashed like lightning, piercing through the man's throat.
"…Ggrrk."
Thud.
The sentry collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Unlike his fellow, who had died without a sound, at least he had managed to alert the hideout before his end.
*
Tap, tap.
"Ugh… huh?"
Woken by someone patting his shoulder, Go Seokjeong realized he had drifted into sleep.
The cave was darker and colder than before.
There, a pair of clear eyes stared at him.
"It's you…"
"Get up."
"Y-yes… Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
His voice came out rough, his breaths heavy like scraping metal.
His frail, aged body had clearly suffered much in just a single night.
Still, even while trembling, he asked after the girl's well-being.
Surprised for a moment, her eyes widened—then she shook her head.
"We have to go now."
"Yes… We must get out… and then I'll be sure to rescue—"
"No."
Even as he tried to reassure her, she shook her head again.
"We have to leave now. They all left when the alarm was raised."
"Th-then… we must think of a way—"
Slice, slice.
In his half-dazed state, his words faltered—
And suddenly, the ropes binding his wrists and ankles fell slack.
Rustle.
"…Hm?"
His eyes widened.
The severed ropes rolled on the stone floor, and in the girl's hand was a worn dagger.
"You… That's…"
"Shh."
She pressed a finger to her lips, then gestured toward the prison door.
"This way."
…Gulp.
Senses returning in a rush, Go Seokjeong swallowed hard.
Whatever had brought this about, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"…Do you know the way?"
She nodded.
Without hesitation, she slipped through the prison door, and he followed, determination etched on his weary face.
Rustle, rustle.
They crouched low, silencing even their breathing as they crept forward.
Before long, a rounded exit appeared in the distance—
Beside it lay two collapsed Black Serpent bandits.
"What's wrong with them?"
"They won't wake. At least not for an hour."
"..."
"Come."
As he followed, he glanced down at the bandits.
They still breathed faintly, cups and bottles scattered beside them.
"…Did you drug them?"
"I dried mushrooms and mixed them into the wine."
"..."
"It makes them sleep. For a long time."
"…I see."
Indeed—
Their faces were blotched red, foam bubbling at their lips.
'…They might never wake at all.'
Well, what did it matter?
Men like these deserved death anyway.
Dash!
Whooosh!
"…Ha."
At last, they emerged from the cave.
The open night sky stretched above, the forest before them—
And from not far away, the sounds of clashing steel and screams pierced the air.
Clang, clang!
'Aaaagh!'
'Ughhh!'
Go Seokjeong's face tightened.
"Let's go. We'll be discovered any moment."
"Yes… Let's go."
Nodding together, the two of them sprinted into the forest—
away from the battle.
*
"What did you say!"
Crash!
Iron Pae (Cheolpae) shoved aside his stone chair and leapt to his feet, glaring with bulging eyes at Galpyeong, who had brought the report.
"Say that again! What did you just say!"
"A-an intruder, sir! From what we know, it seems to be only one person… but he's already taken down the inner sentries!"
"You worthless—! Being pushed around by a single man? And why the hell are you only reporting this now!"
His furious roar thundered in the chamber, making Galpyeong flinch, his face pale.
"M-my apologies! It seems the outer sentries were cut down before they could fire their signal flares!"
"Useless bastards!"
Grimacing in frustration, Cheolpae grabbed the great saber hanging on the wall.
"Fine! Bring that old man here! Whoever this intruder is, let's see if he still dares rampage with a hostage before him!"
"Th-th-that's…"
Galpyeong began trembling like a leaf.
Seeing his look, Cheolpae's face stiffened.
"Don't tell me…"
"B-before I came to report… I went to check the hostage's condition… and…"
"No…!"
"T-the two guards were poisoned, collapsed on the ground… a-and the cell… was empty…"
"You… damn fool!"
Boom!
Crash!
"…Kehh!"
"Find them!"
With a single kick, Cheolpae shattered Galpyeong's ribs, then roared, eyes blazing.
"Find them before that intruder does! Mobilize everyone if you must—but bring them back!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Clutching his broken ribs, Galpyeong scrambled away.
Grinding his teeth, Cheolpae steadied his breath. Then, hefting the massive saber onto his shoulder, he strode out.
"Damn it all… I can't rely on those idiots anymore."
Despite his bear-like bulk, his hurried strides were swift and sharp.
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