Got You, You Bastard (2)

“I almost didn’t recognize you. What on earth happened?”

It was the first remark from the escort, Jeon Chung, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Upon arriving, he kept exclaiming in surprise at Wang Sa-pyeong’s gaunter appearance.

“It’ll take a while to explain. I’ll tell you the details as we go.”

“Where are you heading off to as soon as you arrive?”

“Two fiends like yaksha are watching me from somewhere over there. If we don’t leave quickly, who knows what harm they’ll do.”

It seemed the appointed time had passed a little, so there was no time to hesitate.

“Could it be… the Yin Yang Twin Monster is on that mountain right now?”

Wang Sa-pyeong nodded, and Jeon Chung wore a displeased expression.

He probably didn’t much relish meeting them again.

It was a natural reaction; it felt like only yesterday he had been beaten unconscious by the Yin Monster.

It was his first defeat in his life and his most harrowing memory.

“Don’t worry. For now our goals align, so they won’t harm us.”

“Goals?”

“There is a grave incident, so we’ve agreed to conduct a joint investigation.”

A joint investigation with the Yin Yang Twin Monster? It was something reason couldn’t comprehend.

Jeon Chung’s face was full of questions, but he kept silent.

Then Wang Sa-pyeong, ready to depart, pointed at someone.

“You said your name was Bang Hwil, right?”

Bang Hwil, pale-faced, was sweating profusely.

He had exerted his light footwork desperately to bring Jeon Chung within an hour.

“I need talents like you nearby. If you’re interested, come to Kaifeng Prefecture in ten days.”

“Thank you, sir. I will definitely come.”

The checkpoint was dismantled, and Wang Sa-pyeong climbed the rear hill with his escort.

After hearing the events, Jeon Chung bowed his head and said.

“You’ve been through a lot. My ability was lacking and I couldn’t protect you.”

“There’s no need for guilt. You’re alive — what’s the problem?”

“Honestly, I thought you’d been tortured. I never imagined you’d return looking so healthy.”

“Well, that’s how it turned out. Your scrofula was healed, after all.”

At that, Jeon Chung, glancing at him, spoke cautiously.

“Perhaps the Yin Yang Twin Monster aren’t that evil after all.”

Wang Sa-pyeong looked at Jeon Chung as if stunned.

“Tell me why you think that.”

“Even on the day of the great disturbance in Kaifeng Prefecture, no one was seriously injured. They had plenty of chances to kill me, yet they only knocked me out.”

“They even cooked nutritious special meals for you after abducting you. Where in the world are such villains?”

Suddenly Wang Sa-pyeong began to laugh uncontrollably.

Holding his belly, he laughed for some time before he could speak.

“Hohoh! Do you really think that?”

“Yes, sir. From the circumstances so far, it seems so.”

“Alright, you’re entirely correct. Then I can’t help but reward you.”

“A reward, all of a sudden?”

A meaningful smile crossed Wang Sa-pyeong’s face.

“When you meet the Yin Monster, I’ll ask them to let you try their special meal. I don’t think they’ll refuse.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ve wanted to taste a martial artist’s cooking once.”

“Thanks, my foot. Try it — I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste. Once you taste it…”

Wang Sa-pyeong’s voice trailed off because Jeon Chung suddenly raised his scabbard.

“I know you’re there, so come out quickly.”

A small child appeared from behind a tree a dozen paces away.

It was Yu Jinsan, who had been waiting here for Wang Sa-pyeong.

He approached leisurely, hands clasped behind his back.

“You brought an escort. Guess we didn’t seem very trustworthy, huh?”

Wang Sa-pyeong replied as if it were only natural.

“How could I trust you? I should have at least one safety measure.”

It was something he had partly expected.

Whether he brought escorts or not didn’t matter; there was no reason for them to fight right now.

Yu Jinsan muttered as he looked at Jeon Chung.

“Well, that’s good for us. From now on, you take care of your safety.”

He meant they would no longer worry about Wang Sa-pyeong’s safety.

“Very well.”

After answering, Jeon Chung glanced around.

He couldn’t see the Yin Monster who had subdued him earlier.

Naturally, it worried him.

Yu Jinsan snorted and revealed the answer.

“So you’re looking for the Yin Monster. It’s right above you.”

Jeon Chung unconsciously tilted his head up and flinched in surprise.

Long hair swayed above his eyes.

The Yin Monster hung upside down from a branch, grinning — directly above him.

Since when had it been doing that?

“Hee hee. You said you wanted to try the meal I made?”

Jeon Chung froze as if he’d seen a ghost.

Then, as if bewitched, his mouth moved of its own accord.

“Ye-yes……”

Yu Seol’s dimples appeared on her face. She seemed pleased.

“All right. I’ll let you eat it after we’re done. But you mustn’t leave any leftovers.”

“Th-thank you.”

At that moment Wang Sa-pyeong looked at Jeon Chung with pity in his eyes.

“Let me be clear: I said nothing. It was your request alone.”

“What do you mean?”

He took a breath, then whispered in a low voice.

“Do you happen to… like braised mole?”

“…Whaaat?”

While Jeon Chung was flustered, Yu Jinsan called them over.

“Everyone, gather here. There’s no time — we must depart immediately.”

From here to Marun Mountain, it would take about an hour at a leisurely pace.

Considering the setting sun, they had to hurry.

Somewhere on the mountainside of Marun Mountain with the peak in sight.

Stepping out of the palanquin, Wang Sa-pyeong stretched his stiff body and asked.

“Why am I being dropped off here? You expect me to walk all the way up there?”

Yu Jinsan nodded toward the summit.

“From here on, you and your escort go up. It’s not good for you to appear with us.”

“Well, can’t be helped. What do you want me to do when I get there?”

“You said you wanted to ask the son-in-law something. Do whatever you wish.”

“What if I tell them to run away?”

Yu Jinsan waved him off, as if it didn’t matter, and motioned for him to go.

“Do as you please.”

Wang Sa-pyeong glanced alternately at the Yin Yang Twin Monster, then turned his back.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir. If it’s too tiring, I’ll carry you.”

“No need. I’ve been running around so much lately, this climb is nothing.”

Jeon Chung led the way, widening the path with his sword.

After walking for a while, he asked a question casually.

“I heard the broad strokes earlier. Do you really think Information Control Courtyard has been taken over by the Blue Dragon Troops?”

“How could I be sure? We’ll have to go and confirm it ourselves.”

“If it’s true… the whole nation might already be at their mercy.”

“All we can do is hope that’s not the case.”

They fell silent again, for the summit’s basin was drawing near.

After a bit more walking, a shabby pavilion appeared in the distance.

A secret state organization handling foreign intelligence — likely the headquarters of Information Control Courtyard.

At that moment Jeon Chung raised a hand with a grave expression.

“Wait a moment, sir.”

“What is it?”

“There is no sign of activity inside.”

That wasn’t all — there was also a fishy, foul scent of blood.

Jeon Chung kicked open the pavilion’s door.

The scene inside was a spectacle.

Some twenty officials lay sprawled, covered in blood.

Wang Sa-pyeong, aghast, held his nose.

“What, what is this? Why are all these people dead?”

Jeon Chung was already examining the corpses one by one.

He had abundant experience leading investigations with Kaifeng prefecture constables.

Perhaps that’s why his eye for detail missed nothing as he surveyed the scene.

“The blood still has warmth. Judging from its congealed texture, they died quite recently.”

“So someone ambushed this place before we arrived?”

Jeon Chung shook his head.

“Judging by the wounds, the killers are not one or two. And look at how they fell.”

Many were sprawled over tables or slumped in chairs.

Not a single corpse clutched a weapon.

“Were they taken utterly by surprise?”

“Yes. There’s no sign they tried to defend themselves. They were killed without knowing why while off guard.”

“So a simultaneous multi-point ambush? How could that be possible?”

“If the attackers were comrades and overwhelmingly strong, it’s entirely possible.”

Given the circumstances, there was no reason to doubt Jeon Chung’s deduction.

If so, the killers had already revealed themselves.

“The Blue Dragon Troops who hid here have shown their true colors.”

“It appears so. They must have started acting when they saw us approaching.”

Wang Sa-pyeong examined each corpse carefully.

Among them, there was no sign of his son-in-law.

Then one of the killers who struck here must be the culprit.

“…How could we have let that damned bastard slip away?”

“We haven’t completely lost him yet, it seems.”

“What do you mean?”

Jeon Chung fell silent and slowly scanned the area with his head.

Only birdsong filled the air, but his keen senses had detected something.

A faint but unpleasant killing intent — that was certainly present.

The problem was they couldn’t pinpoint its location.

“It seems we were bait laid by the Yin Yang Twin Monster.”

“Bait?”

“When you exposed the Blue Dragon Troops, they lay in ambush to wipe them out in one stroke…”

It was then that a tremendous crash suddenly echoed from not far away.

Boom-!! Kraak-kraak-!!!

“It seems the battle between the Yin Yang Twin Monster and the Blue Dragon Troops has begun.”

“Let’s hurry and go.”

Wang Sa-pyeong leapt out of the pavilion and, despite his heavy body, began to run.

Jeon Chung accompanied him closely, trying to restrain him.

“It’s dangerous. Sir, wouldn’t it be better if you stayed behind?”

They couldn’t just come this far and only watch the outcome.

And there was something he himself needed to do.

“I must question him before he dies!”

They had not ventured far into the forest when it happened.

Dozens of trees were snapped as if a violent gale had swept through.

At that moment Wang Sa-pyeong caught sight of someone.

The figure flew through the air like a kite in a gale, coughing up blood as they went.

The official who hit a tree back pitched forward, eyes rolling, and crumpled down.

Wang Sa-pyeong turned his head again to look in the direction the person had come from.

He saw a young girl with her fist extended.

She was the martial artist who had single-handedly knocked down Kaifeng’s top swordsman right before his eyes.

The terrifying Yin Monster cried out in a voice of regret.

“Five!”

The tone sounded like the sigh one makes when savoring delicious food.

Now only five officials remained.

Despite their numerical advantage, they hesitated — the opponent was beyond their capacity.

Then one of them whispered urgently.

“We’ll hold the Yin Monster’s ankle for a moment. Commander, you should flee at once.”

At that moment, Yu Jinsan, who had been watching from behind his granddaughter, opened his eyes wide.

The Blue Dragon Troops’ deputy commander — they had finally found a leader of the organization they’d been searching for.

It was at the moment Yu Jinsan gripped the Dragon Slaying Spear.

Somewhere, Wang Sa-pyeong’s furious roar erupted.

“Im Cheon-ho, you bastard!!!”

Everyone’s gazes turned to one spot.

One of them answered with an awkward expression.

“…Father-in-law?”