Chapter 65

The day of the execution dawned in October, when the Cold Dew began to ripen.

It was an hour when everyone except the watch should have been asleep.

Un Ji-kang sat in the lord’s chamber of Solitary Cloud Manor.

He sat in the lord’s seat with his eyes closed.

The moon poked its head out like a fish breaking the surface.

Un Ji-kang opened his eyes and looked up at the empty Taesa’s seat.

On the head’s seat lay a luxurious leopard-skin cover of fine cloth.

“Ah.”

He let out a low sigh.

“The world is unfair. Some are born holding a golden thread and sit in leopard-skin chairs the moment they open their eyes, while others spend their whole lives touching dirt and will never sit even on a dog-hide stool.”

Ah, the world is unfair.

“Some live on feasts without ever working a day in their lives, while others bleed through labor and must gnaw on coarse grain.”

Ah, the world is unfair.

“Bi-beom, you met a good father and can live stupidly yet be treated as the manor lord, while I am branded a villain of the murim world, pointed at by people, hiding my name and living like a beast.”

Bi-beom, I’ve never told you this before, but.

“To be honest, I’m envious of your life.”

So.

“I will make what you have as mine.”

Shouldn’t you also experience having something taken from you at least once in your life?

Isn’t that right?

“Because that’s what fairness is.”

Un Ji-kang rose from his seat.

In the brief moment the moonlight was obscured, a presence approached behind him.

“Chief Commander. All preparations are complete.”

“…Very well.”

Let’s go.

Before the sun rises today, Un Ji-kang will reclaim the seat that should rightfully be his.

Until today’s sun rises.

“What about the fake corpse of the manor lord?”

“We hid it in a wagon carrying horse provisions at the end of the procession. It should be sleeping within Flying Swallow Manor by now.”

“The manor lord?”

“Two days ago we sent him to Hebei to avoid attention. He should be riding along the main road by now.”

“And the gold assassins?”

“Except for the two transporting the fake corpse, everyone is waiting outside. Once we receive your order, we are ready to carry out the plan immediately.”

“Is everything perfectly prepared?”

“Well…”

Un Cheon-mok faltered in his answer to Un Ji-kang’s question.

Un Ji-kang’s sharp gaze turned toward him.

“What is it? Is there a mistake?”

“No. There was a report that a cart left Flying Swallow Manor in the early hour of the Tiger.”

“At this dawn?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a regularly scheduled cart. I’m a bit concerned about the passengers and the destination…”

“Report.”

“The cart had the lord of Flying Swallow Manor aboard, and it’s said to be heading to Glorious Flower Manor.”

“…At this dawn?”

“Yes. We could not determine the purpose of the trip.”

“Any companions? Surely the captain of the External Protection Troops wasn’t aboard?”

“No. It appears the lord of Flying Swallow Manor went alone.”

For reasons unknown, this was fortunate for Un Ji-kang.

His target was the captain of the External Protection Troops, the lord’s enforcer, and the annihilation of the entire External Protection Troops.

He had no intention of touching the lord of Flying Swallow Manor himself—that would cross a line.

“If she disappears of her own accord, all the better. The grand plan will be executed without a hitch.”

“Yes.”

The manor lord’s quarters were silent.

A silence without so much as a bird’s chirp or an insect’s buzz.

Yet this very silence testified to the skill of the sixteen gathered here.

“Assemble.”

At Un Ji-kang’s command, the gold assassins rose from the darkness.

Those assembled were all gold assassins who had inherited a certain lineage.

For secrecy and speed, they hadn’t even summoned the lower-ranked silver members or other warriors.

“Our target is the ten members of the External Protection Troops, including their captain. In half an hour, eliminate ten inside, secure the bodies, and return. On the way back, show the fake corpse to as many people as possible.”

The sixteen gold members nodded in unison.

Un Ji-kang gave his final order.

“The world has forgotten a name for too long. Go and make clear who we are. For the family.”

“For the family…!”

It was a morning thick with dawn mist.

Un Ji-kang and the External Protection Troops scaled the wall of Flying Swallow Manor.

To their surprise, the infiltration succeeded all too easily.

From the entrance past the outbuildings to the heart of the manor, they met no one.

Could it be breached this easily?

‘No.’

Un Ji-kang thought.

‘No matter that it’s Flying Swallow Manor, this level of sloppiness is abnormal. No servants, no watchers on duty—no one in sight.’

As if they had been expected.

—What happened to the gold members who infiltrated first?

He sent a silent message to Un Cheon-mok.

—They were supposed to join us here… I can’t determine their whereabouts.

It felt ominous.

It felt like playing a game of Go with the moves already read.

—What shall we do, Chief?

—Abandon any laggards and infiltrate for now.

—Yes!

Un Ji-kang quickened his steps to shake off the foreboding.

They already knew the layout of Flying Swallow Manor completely.

Even if it was a trap, it didn’t matter.

The manor’s forces could never stop the seventeen of them present here.

—Chief!

—What is it?

—There’s someone over there.

There was indeed a person in the middle of the unarmed courtyard.

It was the first human figure they’d encountered since breaking into the manor.

And that figure’s identity was.

—Found him. Captain of the External Protection Troops, Yeon Mujin.

Yeon Mujin stood alone in the unarmed courtyard with his sword planted in the ground.

‘Is it a trap?’

They kept their distance and scouted the surroundings, but there was no one.

They couldn’t stall forever; everything had to be finished before the sun rose.

—Only a few follow me; the rest wait at your current positions.

Un Ji-kang approached Yeon Mujin accompanied by four gold members.

Five of them emerged from the thick fog.

“Ah, you’ve come.”

Yeon Mujin greeted them without flinching.

As if he had been waiting for them.

…Or perhaps his attitude was one of calmly accepting death.

“Captain of the External Protection Troops, what are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was taking a walk.”

“At this hour?”

“A man’s stroll is not something governed by time.”

“…”

Un Ji-kang glanced at the sword stuck in the ground.

“You take strange walks—armed as well.”

“I heard there are many thieves in this neighborhood these days. It’s for self-defense.”

“Impossible. This is inside the walls of the greatest family under heaven.”

“Exactly. This is inside the walls of the greatest family under heaven.”

“…”

Yeon Mujin’s words carried a double meaning.

As if he was treating them like thieves.

—There is no one around. He truly is alone.

A silent message came from the gold members surrounding the training ground.

But Yeon Mujin showed no sign of being flustered or afraid despite being alone.

And the thick fog surrounding them.

Un Ji-kang had been irritated by this fog for some time.

There were rarely days with such dense fog in Taewon.

“Where are the others?”

When Un Ji-kang asked, Yeon Mujin replied with incredulity.

“You don’t even know how to tell time?”

“…What?”

“Of course it’s a time when everyone is asleep. Only three kinds of people are awake at this hour.”

“Who are they?”

Yeon Mujin spread three fingers and folded them one by one as he spoke.

“Thieves, killers, and men taking walks.”

“…Madman.”

Truly, there was no other way to describe the man.

“The rest are suffering nightmares.”

“Nightmares?”

“Nightmares of clueless thieves sneaking into their houses, killers coming to take lives, or getting ambushed by thugs while out for a walk.”

“Captain of the External Protection Troops, are you drunk?”

“A man does not drink. You idiot.”

“What on earth does that have to do with anything…”

Un Ji-kang stopped mid-sentence and shook his head violently.

The more he spoke, the more he felt swayed by the man’s rhetoric.

He calmed himself and collected his thoughts.

Don’t be swayed—what’s the point of conversing with someone about to die?

“Captain, did you know I was coming?”

Yeon Mujin nodded readily.

“So that’s why the manor is so quiet. The retainers and the warriors all fled and only you remain? You evacuated the lord and stayed behind alone. Such loyalty, such loyalty indeed.”

Then Yeon Mujin said with a bitter smile.

“Do you truly think I’m alone?”

“…”

“Actually, I am alone. How did you know? Chilling, isn’t it?”

“You still have the nerve to swagger in this situation? I’ll admit your guts.”

“But doesn’t one question remain? How on earth did I know? Shall I tell you where the information leaked?”

Un Ji-kang couldn’t answer and stammered.

Yeon Mujin raised a finger and pointed over his shoulder.

“I’ll tell you. The man standing right behind you is my spy.”

Un Ji-kang’s head turned back without his will.

Behind him stood Black Fang’s leader Un Cheon-mok, the person Un Ji-kang trusted most.

“Absolutely not. This is his divide-and-conquer trick, Chief.”

“It is a trick. If I were truly left alone, I’d do something. I won’t just die like this.”

“You’re something else… sigh. No.”

Un Ji-kang felt a headache wash over him.

He raised his right hand to eliminate Yeon Mujin.

Then Yeon Mujin cried out.

“Wait!”

“What?”

“Are you going to order my execution now?”

Un Ji-kang looked at Yeon Mujin.

“Yeon Mujin, captain of the External Protection Troops, you’ve irritated me too much.”

“Wait a moment, hear me out.”

“A final will?”

“Let’s fight fairly, one-on-one. Let the others only watch.”

Un Ji-kang was not some chivalrous wanderer.

That plea could not possibly be accepted.

“I do not wish to soil my hands with the filthy wanderer’s blood.”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

“What now?”

“I have nothing much to say, but I’m stalling for time. I’m about to die—can’t I at least do this?”

Saying that, Yeon Mujin lifted his sword and scratched his head with the pommel.

“If I surrender, will you spare me?”

“…If you seal your Dantian yourself and cut your limb meridians, then crawl on all fours through my legs, I’ll consider it.”

“Do you think any man couldn’t even do that?”

His bold attitude left him speechless instead.

“No, on second thought that’s impossible. Just die.”

“Wait! Really, just a moment! One last moment, really!”

“What now, for goodness’ sake!”

“I’ll say one last thing before I die.”

Yeon Mujin’s expression turned quite serious.

“What nonsense will you spout now? I won’t listen anymore.”

“It’s not nonsense, Un. Just hear one line.”

“What on earth?”

“Have you ever seen such dense fog in Taewon?”

Yeon Mujin pointed his sword tip into the air.

Everyone’s gaze caught on the tip of his blade and then returned to Yeon Mujin.

“…Is that what you wanted to say?”

“Shut up! I’m not finished—don’t cut me off. Un Ji-kang, do you know the Three Clamities Sword?”

“The Three Calamities Sword Technique? Who doesn’t know that?”

Even on street corners, you could buy a manual of the Three Calamities Sword Technique for a few coins.

Though, of course, no one actually bought it.

“You fool. Not the Three Calamities Sword as in Three Talents, but Chaos Sword as in Three Calamities. It’s the name of the sword skill I learned.”

“You’ve learned quite a bizarre sword, haven’t you?”

Surprisingly, Yeon Mujin nodded instead of bristling.

“Exactly. The Three Calamities Sword consists of only three moves, as its name implies: Heavenly Thunder, Fierce Wind, and Yin Fire.”

“…And what of it? Do you want to leave behind some insight before you die?”

“Hehehehehe.”

Yeon Mujin laughed darkly.

The sound of his laugh was so eerie it would put a sorcerer to shame.

“Ji-kang, you foolish Un member.”

Yeon Mujin met Un Ji-kang’s eyes and spoke.

“Was there such fog at Solitary Cloud Manor when you departed?”