Chapter 52
Up until now, it had been Ilbi doing the threatening and tormenting. That was why Shina’s warning felt so unfamiliar to him—and why it frightened him.
Ilbi clenched his teeth subtly and shoved Shina’s hand away.
Shina scoffed.
She found it amusing that Ilbi, despite being scared, kept up appearances as if he were strong.
Shina brushed her hands off as if she had touched something disgusting and greeted them.
“We’ll go first. Let’s try not to run into each other.”
Shina left the pavilion with Cheondo and Mugyeol in tow, her back light and carefree.
The remaining two stared fixedly at Shina as she walked away, laughing as if their warning meant nothing.
“Let’s see how long you can keep smiling. Ilbi, you know the plan, right?”
Mando gave a meaningful smile. Ilbi nodded.
“You just stay put. Jin Pyo-sa and I will handle everything.”
Jin Pyo-sa was there this time to protect Ilbi and Mando.
He was someone Baekrim had specially assigned—a man who would do anything for money.
“Father, who is this person?”
“He’s your Pyo-sa, assigned to be in your group for the Jangjasu exam. Among the Yuwon-gak Pyo-sa, his skills are unmatched.”
Mando recalled Baekrim repeatedly warning him to stay close to Jin Pyo-sa and follow his instructions in any situation. From a distance, he waved at the approaching Jin Pyo-sa.
“Jin Pyo-sa, over here! Why so late? Let’s get moving!”
Although Mando acted nonchalant in front of Shina, inwardly he worried about falling behind.
Whether they were guarding the pyo-mul, stealing it, or doing nothing and spending three days in the forest, securing a favorable position was clearly advantageous.
“Let’s move slowly. If we go too early, we might run into trouble.”
Jin Pyo-sa gave a meaningful smile.
Before the rooster’s first crow, Cheonrim quietly got out of bed.
‘Has Cheondo already left?’
Being their first pyo-haeng, he had wanted to see them off personally, but Cheondo had already left Biwon-gak in haste the previous night.
Thankfully, he had at least said goodbye the night before.
Cheonrim paused and looked toward the sleeping quarters of Cheondo and Shina.
With the children gone, Biwon-gak felt unusually large and lonely—as if no one lived there.
‘They’ll be back soon.’
Cheonrim soothed his aching heart and moved again, stepping so quietly that not even the rustle of his clothes could be heard.
He stopped in front of Chipung’s room and carefully opened the door.
Snore, snore.
Chipung was sleeping soundly on his back, so much so that he could easily be mistaken for a bum rather than a Taoist.
‘Deep asleep.’
Cheonrim approached Chipung’s knapsack and began rifling through his scattered belongings.
“What are you looking for?”
Cheonrim flinched, letting his hand drop.
A ghostly presence.
“When did you wake up? At least give a sign if you’re awake.”
Chipung, pulling back the blanket, scratched his stomach and lit a candle.
“Who are you to say that? What’s the point of trying to sneak around?”
He sniffed at the air and approached Cheonrim.
“If you needed something, why not just ask? What could I refuse you?”
Cheonrim had anticipated this reaction from Chipung.
Yet he had a reason for needing Chipung’s things without telling him.
‘Young Mistress said never to help. If she finds out, she’ll be at a disadvantage.’
Cheonrim recalled Danmi’s voice conveying Shina’s instructions.
Though he had promised Danmi he would obey Shina, he couldn’t remain idle.
She told him not to help, but not to avoid seeing what happened.
‘I’ll just watch secretly from behind.’
But even that, if discovered, could cause trouble.
So he couldn’t tell Chipung either, even though he needed Chipung’s items.
“Let’s pretend I didn’t see you today.”
“That won’t do. You’re here because you need this, right?”
Chipung held up a black piece of clothing. Cheonrim’s eyes lit up at the sight of the dark garment, as black as a moonless night.
“How did you know?”
Cheonrim reached for it, but Chipung was faster.
A tug-of-war ensued between the one trying to take it and the one refusing. Both were serious, and their hands moved too fast to follow.
Chipung was the first to admit defeat.
“Fine, fine. Take it!”
What started as a game turned serious, and they ended up sweating in the early morning.
Cheonrim took the clothes Chipung handed him and hesitated briefly before asking,
“Is there a mask?”
Ha! Chipung let out a short laugh.
He found a black mask from a corner of his knapsack and handed it over.
“You’re going to see Shina, aren’t you?”
Black clothes, black mask.
Chipung already knew what Cheonrim intended.
“I’ll just watch.”
Chipung, observing Cheonrim’s determination, spoke his mind.
“It may look like you’re making a fuss, but my instincts tell me something’s off. So act as if you don’t notice.”
“You mean be blindfolded in plain sight? Easy enough. But I’ll go with you too.”
Chipung made a bombshell statement and changed clothes in an instant, patting Cheonrim’s shoulder as he stood stunned.
“What, not changing clothes?”
Cheonrim held another night outfit in his hand.
“How many of these do you even have?”
Why did a disciple of the Hwasan sect carry multiple night outfits when wandering the martial world openly? Cheonrim wondered anew.
“What does it matter? Let’s move. We might lose the kids.”
And yet, he seemed strangely pleased about secretly watching them. Cheonrim couldn’t understand Chipung at all, even though he was a close friend.
“So we just wait here and ambush them?”
A man hiding behind the bushes pulled up his mask.
“That’s right.”
“Just three kids, and yet six of us? It’s not even a kidnapping, just to grab a knapsack.”
The man with a beard readjusted his hand axe.
“Orders are to avoid major injuries.”
It’s easier to kill than to slightly injure someone. And since they were assassins, not thieves, this was especially true.
“Is it something valuable? Why hire six people for it?”
He considered pocketing it himself for a moment.
“Mind your business. Just do what you’re told and collect your pay.”
The leader of the group spoke.
Sensing tension, another man asked,
“Who’s the client?”
“No idea. That’s why we need to be extra careful.”
The Mugol-dan were a small but skilled band of assassins.
To leave no trace while delivering the job order and down payment silently meant the client was extremely capable.
And the advance was ten gold pieces—equivalent to ten geumwonbo.
‘A wealthy and skilled client. We must catch them!’
That was why the Mugol-dan leader had brought six top members all the way to the treacherous mountains of Seomseo.
“Prepare carefully. No mistakes.”
From afar, they sensed movement.
The leader signaled, and two moved up into the trees, two across the path.
Scanning with his qi, the leader frowned.
‘So these are the kids? Not bad.’
Three approached, each at least first-rate martial level.
Though not a threat to him, sending unskilled men could have backfired.
The leader gave a signal to alert the others.
The approaching group, unaware of the ambush, chatted cheerfully.
‘Your fun won’t last long, poor things.’
The man’s eyes glinted fiercely.
