Deployment-2
At the Hao Clan branch located in Seonwi, Guizhou Province, we were able to obtain information regarding the Giant Demon Horse.
Or rather, to be precise—it was information about why we could not find his whereabouts.
The Twelfth Unit Leader Man Jongrim muttered like a groan.
"Hmm… so you're saying they disguised themselves as wanderers?"
According to the intel, the western region of Guizhou was currently clouded with the signs of war.
The conflict was between the Justice Alliance, which held power in Sichuan, and two of the Eight Great Families of Guizhou—the Yun Clan and the Mountain Sword Sect. A battle had already taken place, and things were expected to escalate further.
Because of this, most of the wanderers in Guizhou were heading that way, and everywhere one could see penniless wanderers clustering together and traveling in carts.
The Hao Clan explained that if the Giant Demon Horse and his group had mingled among them, then of course it would have been impossible to track their movements.
They also swore that the enemy could not possibly have entered Seonwi.
With most martial artists leaving town, any outsiders entering Seonwi would have been impossible to miss.
Captain Do Mugon of the First Squad of the Twelfth Unit asked with a darkened expression:
"So they went into Guizhou after all. What do you intend to do, Leader?"
Man Jongrim ground his teeth as he replied:
"What else? We must follow them! I will never let them escape!"
Then the Sword Hero Je Won-yeong asked:
"But where exactly do you intend to follow? If they've already traveled into Guizhou disguised among wanderers, they could have gone in any direction after that. How will you chase them?"
"Hmm…."
At this, Man Jongrim had no answer. Even he couldn't deny the validity of Je Won-yeong's question.
But my thoughts were different.
"No… it's most likely they went toward either the Justice Alliance or the Yun Clan."
Everyone turned to me with curious eyes.
Je Won-yeong asked:
"You think so? And why is that?"
Suddenly, memories from my past life surfaced.
The time when families were enthralled by the Blood Sect, when no one knew friend from foe—chaos and confusion everywhere.
With sharp eyes, I looked around at them and spoke.
"It's no coincidence that the Giant Demon Horse crossed the frontline precisely during a clash between such great powers. And then, so conveniently, at the entrance to Seonwi, they joined the wanderers and slipped into Guizhou. Doesn't it strike you as far too smooth, too perfectly arranged?"
Most people didn't understand what I meant, only frowning.
Only Lady Cheongyeon seemed to realize something, asking me directly:
"You mean it was planned from the start? And that there are more of them?"
As expected, Lady Cheongyeon.
I smirked and nodded.
"I believe it's one of three possibilities."
"Couldn't it be two?"
"From the circumstances, I doubt it's both."
"Hmm… then it must be one of the two."
"Most likely."
At that, Lady Cheongyeon gave a helpless laugh and shook her head.
"So the non-aggression pact was meaningless after all. If only I could turn back time to hear what was truly discussed back then."
Listening blankly, Je Won-yeong asked Bisa-yeong in a whisper:
"What in the world are they talking about? Am I the only one not following?"
Bisa-yeong grinned and replied:
"Don't worry. I don't understand either. But just wait a bit—our friend here will translate it into human language soon enough."
That made the others laugh and nod in relief, like monks who had reached enlightenment.
I began to explain.
"My thought is this: everything that has happened so far doesn't look like the Giant Demon Horse acted on impulse. Rather, it appears to be a carefully orchestrated plan."
Man Jongrim frowned and asked:
"Orchestrated? What do you mean?"
"Someone must have arranged for the Giant Demon Horse to appear at Seonwi at just the right time, and from there, had them transported immediately."
"…What—what are you saying? Who would do such a thing?!"
"Who else? The Blood Sect's forces to the north of the frontline. Or perhaps we should call it their forward base."
"What?!"
At my words, everyone looked stunned.
Man Jongrim stammered:
"H-how is that possible? How could they establish a foothold north of the frontline?!"
I, too, had once wondered the same in my past life.
When, and how, had the Blood Sect established strongholds all across the north of the frontline?
I felt I was only now finding the answer.
"Until now, we assumed that those Blood Sect lords leaving Yunnan did so out of discontent with the Blood Demon's rule. Some even thought it was the Blood Demon's scheme of killing with a borrowed knife. But what if not all of them left for that reason? What if some left Yunnan on the Blood Demon's orders?"
"Th-that's…."
Everyone's faces went pale with shock.
Captain Seolpung was the first to regain composure and asked:
"So the 'one of three' you mentioned earlier—what did you mean?"
"If my guess is right, then the Giant Demon Horse is moving because his strength is needed somewhere. Which means that among the three factions currently in conflict—the Justice Alliance, the Yun Clan, or the Mountain Sword Sect—one of them must be serving as their forward base."
"Mmm!"
After finishing, I gave them time to process, until it seemed they had digested the reality.
Then I asked Man Jongrim:
"So, Leader, what will you do? If my prediction is correct, we'll need to advance north into central Guizhou to pursue them. And even then, there's no guarantee we'll find them. Worse, if we do, it will mean their numbers and strength are far greater than we anticipated."
But despite my warning, Man Jongrim replied without hesitation.
"Hmph! I've already sworn to Heaven that I will never let them live! Even if their strength is far greater than expected, do you think I'd give up?!"
I gave a faint smile and nodded.
"I see. Very well."
There was nothing more to say.
For in truth, I intended the same.
Even if he had refused, I would have persuaded our squad to go on regardless.
At first, I had thought of this deployment as nothing more than a picnic.
I expected we would lose the trail and abandon the chase.
But now, knowing the Blood Sect had already extended its reach north of the frontline, and that we had caught hold of that thread, there was no turning back.
For the sake of the future, that thread had to be pulled until the root was exposed and destroyed.
Thus, we decided to head together to Inhoe, in northwestern Guizhou, where the air of war was already thick.
But our progress was not smooth.
Man Jongrim, his face twisted with displeasure, spoke to me—
"It is only natural, as frontline soldiers, that we report what we discover and how we move to the Alliance. Why are you telling us not to report?"
This time, his reasoning was undeniably sound.
But I wanted to stop that reasonable action at all costs.
"As I said, if it's just to report the facts and return as we are, then I don't mind. But if we report that we intend to advance north into Guizhou, the Alliance will undoubtedly try to stop us."
Yes. In my past life, the reason the delegates returned was because the Alliance had forbidden them to march north. This time would be no different.
But without my memories of a past life, Man Jongrim asked in disbelief:
"What nonsense is this? Why would the Alliance try to stop us?!"
I wanted to tell him they might not just block us, but even kill us if necessary. But to him—who knew nothing of the Shadow Unit, let alone my past-life memories—such words would mean nothing.
Realizing there was no way to persuade him, I sighed.
"If you truly believe so, then go ahead and report. But if things turn out as I said, I ask that you listen to me next time."
With a disapproving glare, he shot me a look before sending off a message hawk—one reserved for unit leaders—to report our situation and decision to the Martial Alliance.
It was unfortunate, but unavoidable.
And as expected, that very afternoon, just as we were leaving Yunnan and entering Guizhou, Alliance warriors appeared and blocked our path.
"Halt!"
Before us stood eleven figures clad in black, wide bamboo hats pulled low over their faces.
We had seen such attire before. Our squad recognized them instantly.
The Shadow Unit.
They asked,
"Are you the Twelfth Unit Leader of the Flying Dragon Division, Master Man Jongrim?"
The moment he heard them, Man Jongrim, who had already half-drawn his blade in caution, froze, his eyes narrowing.
"So you know me. Who are you?"
The one who seemed their leader stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said,
"It is an honor to meet you. We come from the Alliance."
"The Alliance? You mean, Alliance warriors?"
Relieved, Man Jongrim let down his guard and even looked pleased.
But the black-hatted man ignored his joy and went straight to the point.
"We received your report. The pursuit of the Giant Demon Horse will now be handled by us, the Alliance warriors. Master Man, you and the Flying Dragon Division may return."
Man Jongrim's eyes widened in shock.
"What? What do you mean? You're telling us to go back?!"
Just as I had expected.
But for Man Jongrim, who had never imagined such an outcome, the shock was clear.
The Shadow Unit leader answered in an icy tone:
"Matters beyond Yunnan Province are for the Alliance warriors to handle. You and your men need only concern yourselves with maintaining the frontline."
His words were polite in wording alone—the tone was hard, forceful, even oppressive.
Glancing briefly at me with a face darkened in anger, Man Jongrim snapped at them:
"You must already know—they slaughtered nearly twenty of my men. I swore to Heaven I would not return until I had torn them limb from limb!"
But the Shadow Unit's stance did not waver.
"The Flying Dragon Division's duty is to defend the frontline. Anything beyond that, we will take care of. As long as you are affiliated with the Alliance, you will follow its rules."
"You—!"
The unyielding response seemed to leave Man Jongrim speechless.
I cast a quick glance toward Lady Cheongyeon.
There she was—tucked discreetly behind Bae Jonggwan's large frame, trying to avoid the Shadow Unit's notice.
Confirming her position, I finally stepped forward without worry.
"How strange. This sounds less like rules, and more like trying to cage the Flying Dragon Division at the frontline. Isn't that so, Leader?"
The black-hatted man looked briefly startled, then answered:
"Not at all. These are simply the Alliance's regulations—"
"And why should we follow the Alliance's regulations? We gathered here voluntarily, out of a desire to resist the Blood Sect. That makes us more like volunteers, not official Alliance soldiers."
"…Don't be absurd. Didn't you all sign an oath upon joining the Flying Dragon Division?"
"Yes, of course. A secrecy oath. But was that an oath of membership in the Alliance? I don't recall any such clause. Nor was there anything about restricting movement beyond the frontline."
This time, it was the black-hatted man's turn to be at a loss for words.
From beneath the hat brim, his eyes glared at me, and I could feel the murderous aura rising in them.
After a pause, he spoke again.
"I'll say it once more. These are the Alliance's rules. If you refuse to comply, then we will have no choice."
No choice.
Those words smelled of blood.
His aura was fierce, but I only smirked and answered just as fiercely:
"We are on our way to avenge our fallen comrades. Since when was there a rule in the martial world higher than vengeance? If you want to stop us, then give us a reason we can accept. Stop repeating 'rules' that even frontline soldiers know nothing about. When, and why, were such rules ever made?"
Then I turned to Man Jongrim.
"Don't you agree, Leader?"
"Wh—what? O-of course! Naturally!"
With their attention briefly shifted toward Man Jongrim, I smiled faintly and delivered the final blow.
"I can understand that you must follow orders from above. But if you blindly obey without questioning whether those orders are right or wrong… can you still call yourself martial men? No, not even men—merely dogs and pigs. Is that how you see yourself?"
Stung by the provocation, the Shadow Unit leader glared at me with killing intent, but in the end, he only spat out one last line before turning away.
"You'll regret this."
A little disappointing.
I had half-hoped he would snap and attack right then.
But even if not here, I knew the time wasn't far off.
Watching their retreating backs, I thought to myself with a sly smile—who would regret this in the end remained to be seen.