Chapter 38

There was no point in struggling.

Yeon Mujin could say crazy things, but he never broke his word.

While the External Protection Troops awkwardly changed into their night outfits, Yeon Mujin slipped into his clothes in the blink of an eye and waited.

“Captain.”

“What.”

“The night-black outfit suits you very well.”

“I look good in whatever I wear.”

“No, I mean—have you done this sort of thing before?”

The question was half a joke, but Yeon Mujin fell silent.

Seo Nak-il felt a chill run down his spine.

“Right? Tell me it’s not true.”

“Who knows. What do you think?”

“Captain, somehow I feel like you really are…”

“Shut up. If you’re done putting them on, let’s go.”

And so the four thieves stepped out into the night around Namsa Lake.

The cool lake breeze, the sounds of drunken brawls, the late-night smells of food — their nervousness evaporated as they ran. Instead of fear, an unexpected sense of freedom washed over them.

“Who would’ve thought I’d be stealing…”

“If my father found out I’d be dead.”

“What’s this feeling? I could get addicted.”

But that thrill shrank the moment the Night Water Clan came into view.

“Silence your presence.”

At Yeon Mujin’s order, the External Protection Troops crouched low, trying to still themselves. It was their first time hiding like this; they were clumsy and awkward.

“No, Deputy Captain. Can’t you put away that cumbersome spear? Who comes to steal while carrying a spear?”

“What, you fool? Did you think I know how to steal? I’m only doing it because the Captain told me to!”

“You could just leave it behind.”

“What about your double-stick, huh? Don’t you think that’s cumbersome?”

“Both of you, be quiet. You’ll be heard.”

“Se-gwang, your head’s shining in the moonlight. Why didn’t you put something on it?”

“These guys are really excited. Did we come here for fun?”

Yeon Mujin flattened himself against the roof and stilled his presence as if by habit. It wasn’t the work of a novice; even something right in front of him would be hard to notice.

“Captain, were you really a former thief?”

“In the turbulent murim world, tricks like these are basic.”

“What kind of life in the murim world did you live…”

“Our Captain is incapable of nothing.”

“Se-gwang. Shut up.”

The Night Water Clan’s headquarters sat on Misan Island, to the south of Namsa Lake — an island ringed by palisades, a kind of lake fortress.

“These guys look like they’ve got something to hide.”

Palisades on an island meant secrets.

It made sense when Yeon Mujin suggested the clan might be holding sect leaders inside.

‘The Captain thinks the missing sect leaders are imprisoned in there.’

“Where do you expect to find them if they hid the sect leaders in such a large place?”

“There’s always a way.”

The External Protection Troops looked at Yeon Mujin with expectant eyes. He wouldn’t have come this far without a plan — there had to be some method beyond their imagining.

They stared hopefully. Yeon Mujin —

Pfft!

He spat into his palm and slapped his hands together with a sharp smack. A thick glob of spit flew off to one side.

“…?

“This way.”

Absurd looks clung to Yeon Mujin as he ran ahead.

“Wait, hold on. This is a joke, right?”

What kind of decision was that?

Yeon Mujin repeated the filthy trick three more times.

Meanwhile, the four of them circled Misan Island and nearly reached its far side. The Night Water Clan’s palisade stretched endlessly; it was far larger than they’d expected.

“Here. Let’s go in here.”

“How do we get in?”

There was, predictably, no entrance. The palisade was tall and steep; climbing it would be noisy.

“How about two people go in and lift one person up?”

“Then Se-gwang, you go up. You’re the lightest.”

“Understood.”

While the others argued, Yeon Mujin stamped the ground lightly and sailed over the palisade like a feather. The remaining External Protection Troops stared at the spot he vanished from, like dogs watching a fleeing rooster.

“Seriously, what the…”

“Then why did we even come along?”

Yeon Mujin cut away a section at the palisade’s base and signaled the others in. He fitted the cut piece back so it wouldn’t be noticed.

“Captain, I think you picked the wrong route.”

At Wi Gon-chan’s remark, Yeon Mujin snorted.

“Be quiet, and look over there.”

They had entered a secluded corner of the island. Where Yeon Mujin pointed stood a small building lit by torches — a tiny structure alone in an otherwise dark, empty space. Four Night Water Clan men kept watch around it. Even at a glance it looked suspicious.

“…Does this make any sense?” Seo Nak-il asked in disbelief.

“How could you pick the right spot like this? The palisade is so wide.”

“Nak-il, the spit-splashing technique has never been wrong.”

“Unbelievable…”

Part of it was luck; Yeon Mujin retained a rough memory of the clan’s layout. He vaguely remembered a prison being on the island’s opposite side.

“There are four of you, so take one each. Don’t kill them — just subdue them. Got it?”

“Yes!”

They answered and spread out, waiting for Yeon Mujin’s signal.

They struck in sync with his movements. Wi Gon-chan used a stick, Seo Nak-il used a spear, Yeon Mujin relied mostly on his fists, and Yu Se-gwang misjudged his strength and hit one guard too hard on the back of the head.

Thud!

While three men went down cleanly, the guard struck by Se-gwang foamed at the mouth and trembled violently.

Seo Nak-il and Wi Gon-chan shot reproachful looks at Se-gwang.

“Se-gwang. I told you not to kill people.”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“The guy who got hit is so pitiful.”

Yeon Mujin’s neat follow-up rendered the unlucky man unconscious.

Yeon Mujin bowed briefly to the fallen guard.

“May the deceased rest in peace.”

“He didn’t die, Captain!”

“If the sect leaders are inside, carry them out one by one. Run along the palisade to the opposite side and return to the shore.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Mujin went in first, and the External Protection Troops followed. Inside was larger than expected, and pitch dark without a single light.

“I can’t hear any sound.”

If people had been here, there should have been signs, but there was nothing.

“Bring torches from outside.”

Yu Se-gwang ran out and returned with a torch from the entrance. Yeon Mujin lit it and revealed the interior.

There were traces people had been here — clothes strewn about, bloodstains on the floor — but the sect leaders they sought were not there.

‘What could have happened?’

In Yeon Mujin’s memory, this had definitely been the place where the sect leaders were imprisoned after being kidnapped.

Then the entrance flared to life.

“I set a mousetrap, and a little mouse has been caught.”

A group of men entered under the torchlight. A low, rough chuckle came from an old man in a black robe who guarded the Night Water Clan leader, accompanied by two men wearing cloth hats.

“Are you Yeon Mujin?”

Yeon Mujin turned slowly and looked at the three men.

“Are you Yeon Mujin?” the black-robed old man asked again.

“Yes,” Yeon Mujin replied.

“A thief who carries himself with some pride.”

“How presumptuous! I haven’t stolen anything yet, so I’m not a thief!”

“Isn’t sneaking over the wall what thieves do?”

“I came in to steal, so I had no choice but to cross the wall.”

“…Then aren’t you calling yourself a thief?”

“You fool! I haven’t stolen anything yet — how can you call me a thief!”

The black-robed old man felt a twinge at his temple. Three simple lines and he already had a headache — what a mouthful this fellow had.

This time Yeon Mujin asked the old man directly.

“Where did you hide the people you kidnapped?”

“Who are you to claim I kidnapped them?”

“You thief’s brat, you steal and then play dumb? You’re worse than me.”

“The way this brat talks…”

He truly had nerves of steel. If one knew the black-robed man’s identity, one would never dare speak like that.

“How dare you blabber without knowing who I am?”

“You, Gu Ma-cheon, old man. Tell us where you hid them.”

At Yeon Mujin’s shout, Gu Ma-cheon’s expression darkened.

“You still opened your mouth like that even knowing who I am?”

The name made the External Protection Troops flinch.

“Gu Ma-cheon, the Great Night Guest!”

Gu Ma-cheon was the most famous thief in the murim world of his time. As a great thief and a martial artist, it was said there was nothing he couldn’t steal if he set his mind to it. He had once kidnapped a woman he loved from the imperial palace in Beijing, killed three palace martial warriors when caught, and fled — the nickname “Great Night Guest” had followed him ever since.

Yeon Mujin nodded.

“Right. That old man is Gu Ma-cheon. He’s the most famous thief in the Central Plains.”

Gu Ma-cheon narrowed his slanted eyes and glared at Yeon Mujin.

“Do you know I’m the second most offended when called a thief?”

“Where are you looking? I’m right here.”

“…”

What Gu Ma-cheon hated most was being mocked for his slanted eyes. He clenched his fist.

Around his fist was an iron knuckle weapon; instead of a forward jutting blade like a fingernail, it had a single spur protruding under the palm — a strange hybrid of knuckles and dagger. Gu Ma-cheon had used it to kill three palace martial men.

“You’ve got guts.”

“I hear that often.”

“I didn’t say it as praise.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment anyway. I’m a positive person.”

“…”

Gu Ma-cheon licked his lips and gripped his peculiar weapon tighter. To any onlooker, he was suppressing a rising murderous intent.

The watching External Protection Troops were tense.

“So when will you answer my question? Where did you hide the sect leaders? You slanted-eye old man — you’re the one who kidnapped them, aren’t you?”

Once, twice — this was the third time. Gu Ma-cheon had tolerated the first two, but he wouldn’t let the third pass.

He surged toward Yeon Mujin, shouting.

“I’ll shove this into your neck and then tell you!”

When Gu Ma-cheon charged with all his might, his speed was terrifying. The wind he generated made the torches flicker like startled straw. He had no doubt his dagger would bury itself in this insolent youth’s neck. Speed was his specialty; once he took the initiative, he had never failed.

But his opponent was Yeon Mujin.

Clang!

Metal met metal.

“No. No way.”

“…!”

Before anyone realized what happened, Yeon Mujin had drawn his sword and blocked Gu Ma-cheon’s dagger.

“I’ll take that as your last words.”