Palgap's expression told me at once that something urgent had happened.
“What happened?”
“They say Young Lady Hyang-ok is in danger right now.”
“What? Tell me exactly what happened.”
At my question, Palgap quickly explained.
“Young Lady Hyang-ok went to subjugate one of the Forest Bandits' mountain strongholds, but apparently she and the others were surrounded by the enemy.”
“What? They're surrounded?”
“More than half the people who went on the subjugation are trapped. According to someone who barely managed to escape, this all happened because the Hundred-Man Commander Commander leading them refused to listen to anyone and stubbornly pushed ahead.”
Damn. So this was what those Emei Sect disciples had been talking about earlier.
She'd even volunteered to go, only for things to end up like this.
“Is there no response underway? What about the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner are recruiting people for a rescue force.”
The fact that they were recruiting volunteers instead of simply forming a rescue force meant the situation was far from optimistic.
Then there was no way I could sit here doing nothing.
“Palgap. Gather all the Escort Guards.”
“Yes, sir.”
First, I finished writing the letter to Father, then entrusted it to Geumryeong.
“Kui!”
With the letter tied to its tail, Geumryeong set off for Hubei, and I stepped outside the tent.
All the Escort Guards had already assembled, and I addressed them.
“You've probably heard already, but Cousin Hyang-ok is in danger. And I intend to go rescue her.”
I looked at the men silently watching me and continued.
“Will you help me?”
Escort Guard Seo Wu stepped forward at once.
“You hardly need to ask, my lord. Wherever you go is where we belong.”
The other Escort Guards nodded in agreement.
“Thank you for saying that.”
I cupped my hands in gratitude, then turned to Palgap.
“Palgap. You stay here.”
“What? What are you saying, sir? I…”
“Protect Deputy Gwak. If I know you're here protecting him, I'll be able to leave without worrying.”
At that, Palgap nodded.
“Understood, sir.”
Just then.
The members of the Eunpoong Division approached us.
They were the same men who had accompanied us when we came to Sichuan.
Since we'd traveled together with the people dispatched by the Imperial Family, they hadn't had many chances to distinguish themselves, but the reason they'd been included in the relief force in the first place was because we needed martial strength to protect it.
And they'd worked alongside us throughout the relief effort.
It seemed they'd come after hearing that Cousin Hyang-ok was in danger.
“Young Lady Hyang-ok may be a disciple of the Emei Sect, but before that, she is a member of the Eunhae Merchant Group's family. The Eunpoong Division exists to protect that family and the merchant group itself. How could we possibly stand by and do nothing?”
“That's right. We'll volunteer for the rescue force as well.”
“Please take us with you.”
One of the warriors among them spoke to me.
“If it's cutting off our enemies' heads, I'm confident in my skills.”
It was Warrior Min, Captain Yong's older brother.
“Please give us the chance to prove ourselves.”
I hesitated for a moment, but when I saw the look in their eyes, I nodded.
There might be casualties once we clashed with the Forest Bandits, but I couldn't reject them for that reason alone.
Doing so would trample on their pride.
It wasn't as though they'd volunteered without knowing the danger.
“Very well. We'll go together.”
I turned back to Palgap and asked.
“Where is His Highness Prince Seongbo?”
“He's over at the Medical Pavilion helping care for the patients.”
I headed there.
“I'll change your bandages.”
“Your Highness, how could someone of your station personally do something so lowly…”
“How could caring for an injured person ever be lowly?”
“Your grace is beyond measure.”
“Please recover soon.”
Watching Prince Seongbo personally change a patient's bandages, I smiled in satisfaction.
Good. He's doing exactly as I told him.
I approached Prince Seongbo.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah! Deputy Merchant Lord Eun. What brings you here?”
“I believe I need to leave the Qingcheng Sect for a while and head northwest.”
“Has something happened? Why so suddenly?”
“My cousin is currently surrounded in the northwest after falling victim to a cowardly scheme by the Forest Bandits.”
“What? Something like that happened?”
“Yes. My cousin and the rest of the Forest Bandit subjugation force are trapped, so I intend to volunteer for the rescue force being assembled to save them.”
“Will you be all right?”
At his worried question, I nodded.
“Yes. I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me.”
I answered with confidence.
“So I'd like to entrust this place to Your Highness while I'm gone.”
“Very well. Don't worry about anything here. Just make sure you return safely.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After explaining the circumstances to Prince Seongbo and asking for his understanding, I also informed the Sect Leader.
Then I immediately led the Escort Guards and the Eunpoong Division warriors to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.
We soon arrived at the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's location.
It was the Forest Bandit subjugation force's temporary encampment, and as we approached, I saw quite a few Emei Sect disciples.
Cousin Hyang-ok's master, Divine Nun Haecheong, the Merciless Sword, spotted me and approached with a startled expression.
“What! If it isn't the Great Hero, Handsome Young Hero! What brings you here?”
“I came to volunteer for the rescue force going after Cousin Hyang-ok.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
I glanced back at the people who had followed me.
“And every one of them came here for the same reason.”
Her expression immediately brightened.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“Is the situation that bad?”
“It is. Most of our strongest fighters are among those surrounded, so the rescue force simply doesn't have enough martial strength.”
Right. I'd heard that even in my previous life, the campaign against the Forest Bandits resulted in no small number of casualties.
That must mean there are some formidable fighters among them.
I suppose I'll deal with those bastards before I leave.
I said to Divine Nun Haecheong.
“Please take me to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.”
“This way.”
The Crown Prince, who was with the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, noticed me and immediately rose from his seat in surprise.
“What! You!”
“This humble merchant, Eun Seo-ho, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Forget the formalities. What in the world are you doing here?”
“Naturally, I came to volunteer for the rescue force that will save my Cousin.”
“You intend to go personally?”
“Yes.”
“Hah… This is extremely dangerous.”
“I know. But my cousin's life is hanging by a thread. How could I possibly sit still?”
At that moment, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner spoke.
“So you're Handsome Young Hero.”
“This humble merchant greets the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner.”
“Do you truly intend to volunteer for the rescue force?”
“I do. And I won't be going alone. The Eunpoong Division, the armed force of the Eunhae Merchant Group, will accompany me.”
“The people who went to subjugate those bandits did so at my request, only to wind up in danger. I've been at a loss over what to do. If someone with your reputation is willing to step forward, I could ask for nothing more.”
“Then please explain the situation to me.”
At that, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner turned to the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, I know how dearly you regard the Handsome Young Hero, but the situation is urgent. Please allow him to join the rescue force.”
“Please grant me permission.”
When I cupped my hands and bowed deeply, the Crown Prince eventually gave a reluctant nod.
“The situation is too urgent for me to object. Very well.”
“Your grace is beyond measure.”
We expressed our gratitude, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner began explaining the situation.
“First, the Chieftain of the mountain stronghold surrounding the subjugation force is a man known as the Blood-Eyed Sword Demon.”
The Blood-Eyed Sword Demon…
I'd heard that name before.
His eyes were supposedly red because of the martial art he cultivated, which was how he'd earned the epithet Blood-Eyed Sword Demon.
“At present, the subjugation force is trapped inside a cave.”
Then they couldn't move at all. But how did he know that?
“Was someone able to relay their situation to you?”
“The Forest Bandits sent us a letter tied to an arrow in order to threaten us. The letter described the subjugation force's current condition and demanded thirty thousand seok of rice in exchange for sparing their lives.”
Thirty thousand seok of rice?
That was an enormous amount.
Still, it wasn't so much that it would be impossible to procure.
Then there had to be another reason they were organizing a rescue force instead of simply giving the bandits what they wanted.
“I take it that wasn't their only demand.”
“Exactly.”
The Provincial Surveillance Commissioner nodded and continued.
“They also demanded one hundred people they could enslave, along with the right to govern themselves.”
Those lunatics.
I nearly cursed out loud without realizing it.
Those were conditions the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner could never accept.
They were probably making such demands because they knew the Crown Prince was here, but there was no chance the Crown Prince could agree to them either.
“If negotiations are impossible, then we'll have no choice but to rescue the people trapped inside the cave somehow.”
“Precisely.”
“Then we don't need a large force. My people and I will handle it ourselves.”
“Only your people?”
“Yes. However, there's something I need the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to do for me.”
.
.
.
I immediately headed for Chengdu.
There was still some time before the deadline the Forest Bandits had given us.
That was why I'd come here – to prepare everything I needed to rescue Cousin Hyang-ok and the others being held captive.
My first destination was the Sichuan Branch of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“Seo-ho!”
The moment I arrived at the Sichuan Branch, my uncle heard the news and came rushing toward me.
“Oh, Seo-ho! Our Hyang-ok, she…”
“I heard. Please calm down.”
I deliberately kept my voice cold.
Right now, comforting my uncle wasn't what mattered. Preparing to rescue Cousin Hyang-ok was.
I took out a map from inside my clothes and spread it open.
“I'm told Cousin Hyang-ok is currently being held inside a cave here. Do we have anyone familiar with this area?”
“I'll find out immediately.”
“Please do.”
I needed detailed information about the cave where Cousin Hyang-ok was trapped before I could make a concrete plan.
And when it came to finding someone who knew about an obscure cave like that, the merchant group would be faster than the troops stationed in the area.
Our people traveled through places like that themselves, and their connections reached everywhere.
“I'll find someone as quickly as I can. And… thank you.”
Fortunately, it didn't take long to find someone who knew the cave.
He was an herb gatherer employed by the merchant group.
The moment he looked at the map, his expression became certain.
“If it's here, then I'm sure that's the cave I found while gathering medicinal herbs.”
“Have you ever gone inside?”
“Yes. It started raining once, so I went in to take shelter.”
“What is it like inside?”
“The entrance is narrow, but once you go deeper, there's a fairly large chamber. There's also a spring inside. However, I don't think there's any way to obtain food in there.”
That's a relief. As long as they have water, no one should have collapsed from thirst yet.
“And there's one more important thing.”
“What is it?”
“That cave has another passage leading outside. It doesn't have just one entrance.”
I nearly shouted in excitement, but I forced myself to keep my expression composed as I asked.
“Do you remember where that other entrance is?”
The herb gatherer pointed at the map with his finger as he spoke.
“Here. It should be around this area. It's hidden beneath thick brush, so it's difficult to see, and it's so narrow that only one person can barely crawl through at a time. That's probably why no one noticed it.”
“Thank you. That information is extremely valuable. I'll make sure you're properly rewarded.”
The herb gatherer left with a pleased expression, while I sat in the Reception Room and sank into thought.
Finding an escape route was certainly good news, but there was no guarantee we could quietly enter through it and then get everyone out safely.
Do I really have no choice but to use that cramped passage?
“Kui!”
“Ah!”
Geumryeong was flailing its way through the window.
I quickly stood and caught Geumryeong.
“You went to see Father?”
“Kui!”
I untied the letter fastened to Geumryeong's tail and read it.
Father's reply said he would send Geonsang to Sichuan soon.
“Kui! Kui!”
“You want a Silver Tael because you ran an errand? All right, all right. You earned it.”
Geumryeong looked at my face as I held out the Silver Tael, tilted its head, and asked.
“Kui! Kui?”
“Hm? You're asking if something's bothering me? You think I look worried? You heard about Cousin Hyang-ok before you left, didn't you?”
I explained everything that had happened so far, and after listening to me, Geumryeong nodded.
“Kui.”
“Yeah. I've got a lot on my mind.”
“Kui? Kui!”
“Hm? You're saying all I really need to do is reach Cousin Hyang-ok safely? Well, technically, yes.”
“Kui! Kui! Kui!”
“Why am I not using the treasure I already have? What's the point of owning something if I don't use it? What do you mean?”
“Kui! Kui!”
“You mean I plan to leave the Path-Revealing Map sitting around until I can trade it for candy?”
Ah! That's right! I had that!
How did I forget about it?
The Path-Revealing Map was an Artifact that showed the safest possible route to a destination.
Which meant that if it could show me the safest route to Cousin Hyang-ok, it could also show me a safe way back out.
I immediately took out the Path-Revealing Map and unfolded it.
As though complaining that I'd neglected it for so long, one of its corners fluttered irritably.
“It's not like I forgot about you. There just hasn't been a good opportunity to use you.”
Flutter, flutter.
“I'm not making excuses. I mean it. Haa… Anyway, I'm sorry.”
Sway, sway.
Looks like it was a little less upset now.
“Show me the way to Cousin Hyang-ok.”
At my words, the image on the Path-Revealing Map shifted, revealing the terrain around the cave I needed to reach.
Then a red line began appearing across it.
Wait. Doesn't this mean there's a third passage?
Good thing I remembered to take out the Path-Revealing Map.
“Thanks, Geumryeong.”
As I studied the route, a plan rapidly took shape in my mind.
I immediately went outside and addressed the Escort Guards and Eunpoong Division warriors.
“I've found a way. From this point on, follow my instructions exactly.”
Without a single complaint, they immediately sprang into motion according to my orders.
Cousin Hyang-ok.
Please hold on just a little longer.
I'm coming to get you now.
–TL Notes–
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