The Grand General's Whereabouts
When Lee Hee returned to the annex, the training ground was still burning with heat.
The Baekryongdae were deep in practice, sweat and breath thick in the air.
He entered the small room assigned to him and closed the door.
The clamor outside faded, separated by a single wooden panel.
The heavyset soldier who had volunteered for duty slipped in behind him.
"Shall I bring tea? Your complexion does not look well."
"Does it show?"
"The men are waiting. They say they've reached a point they cannot advance without guidance. Earlier they were asking where the General had gone. Now they're asking when he'll return. They've taken a liking to this."
Lee Hee gave a small nod.
"And you? How goes it?"
The man shifted awkwardly.
"Yes…."
In truth, his training was not going well.
Volunteering for duty had been a way to escape the harsher drills.
The stillness inside the room clashed strangely with the raw noise outside.
Lee Hee felt a quiet satisfaction.
His intention had not been mistaken.
If they trained with genuine focus, even if they did not reach great mastery, they would rise beyond mediocrity.
If they could only infuse inner force into their blades, even once, close combat would change.
He cut off his thoughts and issued an order.
"There is work to be done. First Squad, First Unit—five men. Assemble at once. Send for the sub-captain as well."
The heavyset soldier hesitated.
"First Unit?"
"Yes."
Only after speaking did Lee Hee realize what he had done.
He was still using the old military structure.
First Unit had once been the vanguard—sent first into danger.
Many had died. Many had been wounded.
So Sam remained in Haran. Jeong Hyeon had fallen in battle.
Who was even left?
Moments later, five men stood before him.
The First Unit.
Gunmyeong stood in So Sam's place.
Dongil stood where Jeong Hyeon once had.
Soun was there.
And the heavyset soldier who had claimed duty now stood at the rear.
"Who arranged this?"
"Deputy Captain Ga did."
"You call yourselves First Unit?"
"Yes. Baekryong First Division, First Unit."
The names remained, even if the faces had changed.
First Unit had been remade.
Lee Hee drew a breath and spoke.
"We search for the Grand General. We trace his movements since the first night and comb these mountains. One shijin. Full gear. Horses ready. Three days' provisions."
The five men stiffened.
Searches usually required two or three.
Five meant the possibility of combat.
"Spearmen."
Two raised their hands.
"Archers."
Two more.
"Blade."
The heavyset soldier raised his hand.
Two spears, two bows, one curved blade.
A classic Baekryong formation.
Deputy Captain Ga Gyeongpil entered late.
"Deputy Captain. Are you memorizing well?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"More than half."
A faint laugh escaped Lee Hee.
He had given him the thickest manual, yet the man persisted stubbornly.
He had nearly told him to stop—but the seriousness in his face made him swallow the words.
"I take First Unit to find the Grand General. You hold this place. If something unavoidable happens, withdraw quietly. Secure an escape route. Do not clash with the estate's martial men."
"Yes."
The orders were simple. The concern beneath them was not.
Lee Hee mistrusted the estate's intentions—and whatever lay behind them.
The Grand General's continued absence gnawed at him.
The pressure he had felt in conversation with Princess So-hye only deepened that unease.
He questioned himself.
It was not about politics.
It was about life and death.
Had the Grand General, burdened by all sides, chosen some extreme path?
If his disappearance would free others—his family in Henan, the Baekryongdae, even Princess So-hye—had he considered such solitude?
Lee Hee shook his head sharply.
Imagination was poison.
And yet the urgency would not leave him.
He gathered the men in the yard.
"I go to find the Grand General. Within three days I will return. Until then, devote yourselves to training."
"Yes."
At the gate, the five waited.
Soun smiled brightly, already fully armed.
Three spare quivers hung at his back.
Just as they prepared to depart, Princess So-hye stepped forward.
"Where are you going?"
"To find the Grand General."
"If this is because of my request, you need not hurry."
"It is not that. This absence is longer than usual."
The Grand General had often vanished for days at a time.
But this had passed three full days.
"The mountains are dangerous."
"We are more at ease there."
Soun saluted.
"We will return."
The princess watched him quietly.
"I had hoped Soun might remain."
Lee Hee answered simply.
"My apologies."
He turned his horse.
For now, this was the only choice he could make.
The sound of hooves struck against the stone at the estate gate as they rode out.