Ah! The Namgung Clan – Episode 007
007. Let's Return Alive (1)
Namgung Ganghae, who had been walking with Sanggwan Irok, looked back. They had already come quite a distance, and the reeds were so dense that Namgung Joseok could not possibly be visible, yet it was an unconscious act.
"Are you worried about him?"
"No."
Namgung Ganghae shook his head. His uncle was a strong man. When he had said he would lure the bandits away alone, he must have had something in mind. So there was nothing to do but trust him.
They completely left the reed forest behind and entered the woods. Trees stretched straight up from the ground, surrounding them on all sides.
"Are you alright?"
The warrior supporting Sanggwan Irok asked. It was because Sanggwan Irok's condition was very poor. Though he had stopped the bleeding, as he kept moving, blood seeped from the gashes on his side and leg, and perhaps because of that, his face was pale.
"I am fine."
"How about resting for a bit before we continue?"
"Hmm……"
Sanggwan Irok frowned slightly and looked at those who had come with him. The warriors with serious injuries were struggling as if they might die at any moment. Those with minor injuries were also exhausted from supporting them.
"Let us rest for a moment."
It was a reluctant decision. They had not yet left the territory of the Janggang Yukjeok. So they had to go even a little further. But everyone was in such a state that he could not keep pushing them.
While the wounded tended to their injuries again, two uninjured men stood guard.
"I will go take a quick look over there."
"Do not go far."
"Yes."
Namgung Ganghae quickly backtracked the way they had come. It was because he thought Namgung Joseok might be coming. To him, who had roamed the mountains, this forest path was nothing. Moving nimbly and sprinting swiftly, he soon saw the reed forest they had passed through earlier.
But Namgung Joseok was not there. Instead, bandits were parting the reeds as they approached.
What had happened?
Had something happened to Namgung Joseok?
Namgung Ganghae shook his head to dismiss the bad thoughts. It could not be. Namgung Joseok could not have been taken down. Looking a little longer, he saw a man with a scar on his face giving orders to the bandits. He was their leader.
Namgung Ganghae took out his bow and nocked an arrow. He probably could not kill the bastard, but he could distract them.
Swish!
The swiftly flying arrow reached right in front of the leader. Startled, he ducked. The arrow passed him and lodged in the shoulder of a bandit behind him.
"Uwaack!"
As the bandit screamed, his comrades around him drew their weapons.
"Over there! After him!"
The leader shouted, accurately pinpointing Namgung Ganghae's location. The bandits swarmed toward where he pointed, but Namgung Ganghae was already running away with his tail between his legs.
Namgung Ganghae was so fast that even when Namgung Joseok used qinggong, he could barely keep up. Shaking off the bandits was nothing. When he arrived at the place where the group was resting, Sanggwan Irok spoke as if scolding him.
"Where did you go, only to arrive now?"
"I went to see if my uncle was coming."
"You did not meet him, then."
"No. More importantly, the bandits have come close. I lured them in another direction, but they will be here soon."
Hearing Namgung Ganghae's words, Sanggwan Irok's face visibly hardened. If the bandits had already caught up, did that mean Namgung Joseok had been taken down?
"How many are there?"
"About thirty. A man with a scar on his face is leading them."
"A scar?"
"It is definitely Yukjeok Jang Isang."
Hearing the words of the warrior supporting him, Sanggwan Irok nodded. If there was a scar on his face, it was him.
The youngest of the Janggang Yukjeok, Yukjeok Jang Isang!
He was famous for his swordsmanship and his cruel nature. Whether he was mentally unsound or not, he would toy with his opponents, tormenting them to his heart's content before killing them.
"Let us hurry! If we delay, we will be caught by them."
"Understood."
Sanggwan Irok took Sanggwan Morang's hand and stood up. The others also prepared to leave, but those with serious injuries did not move.
"What are you all doing?"
"Sir. We are nothing but a burden. So please go on ahead."
"What nonsense is this?"
"Although our relationship was formed through money, how could we forget the kindness you have shown us? We wish to repay you in this small way, so please go quickly."
Sanggwan Irok was a man of more sentiment than a merchant ought to be. Therefore, even though he often suffered losses, he took good care of his people.
Whenever his subordinates had weddings, funerals, or other matters, he helped them, and when they or their families fell ill, he would call a doctor or send medicine.
Thus, everyone here had received great and small help from Sanggwan Irok. Therefore, even if they died for him, their lives would not be wasted. They worried about their families, but he would take care of them. As he always had.
"Do not speak such suffocating words!"
Sanggwan Irok could not hold back his anger and trembled. He was grateful for their loyalty, yet on the other hand, his heart was heavy. It was suffocating. So was the current situation, and so was how easily they were giving up on life.
"Sir. Think of the young lady."
Only then did Sanggwan Irok become aware of Sanggwan Morang, who was holding his hand tightly. Her small hand, cold from the chill, was pitiful. Tears seemed about to form in the eyes looking up at him. He knew. What they were trying to do.
"Haah……"
Sanggwan Irok let out a deep sigh. Honestly, taking them along was impossible. This was for the best. Consoling himself thus, he took steps with the support of the warrior beside him.
"I shall not forget you."
"Haha. Buy us a drink later."
"We'll drink until our noses are crooked then."
As if trying to forget that they were facing death, the remaining warriors shouted brightly.
With those seriously injured left behind, their movement speed increased. After walking briskly for about half a shichen, the forest ended, and an official road could be seen in the distance. An official road was a road managed by the state. Therefore, it was good for horses and carriages to travel on.
Sanggwan Irok briefly worried whether to follow the official road or go around through the forest.
If they took the official road, the bandits would catch up quickly on horseback. But if they were lucky enough to catch a passing cart or carriage, they could escape this place quickly. In comparison, the forest path would be arduous, but the bandits would not catch up to them immediately.
"I think it would be best to take the official road."
At the words of the supporting warrior, Sanggwan Irok nodded and moved toward it. It was then. A desperate scream echoed from afar. Though the distance made it hard to hear, he could tell it was from those they had left behind.
The warrior supporting Sanggwan Irok gritted his teeth and clenched his fist tightly. He was furious. How could Sanggwan Irok not know that feeling? He, too, was furious.
But there was nothing to be done now. They had to survive so that their deaths would not be in vain.
"Let us go."
They continued walking along the official road. No one spoke. It was because of the screams they had heard earlier. Their hearts were heavy, their steps slow.
Just then, a cart approached. An old villager was driving a cart loaded with bundles of rice straw.
"Stop for a moment."
"Hm? What is it?"
As the warriors blocked the way and stopped the cart, the old villager asked with a frightened expression.
"There are injured people, so sell me this cart."
"I-I cannot sell this."
"This amount of money should suffice."
Saying so, Sanggwan Irok held out a purse full of money. Then the warrior supporting him took it and gave it to the old villager.
Checking it with doubtful eyes, the old villager was startled. What was inside was not copper coins but silver. And a pouch full of it. This much would allow an ordinary commoner family to live for a year.
"So much……"
"It is urgent, so hand over the cart."
"H-here, take it."
The old villager, having pocketed the money, quickly jumped down. Sanggwan Irok climbed onto the cart with the help of the warrior beside him, and just as Sanggwan Morang was about to follow.
Bandits poured out of the distant forest, spotted them, and came running with loud shouts.
"Hurry and get on!"
With the situation urgent, the warrior who had been supporting Sanggwan Irok shouted. While Sanggwan Morang got on, the injured also climbed aboard. The cart became cramped. Naturally, with seven adults and two children on it.
"Go!"
The cart galloped along the official road. The ox ran as if crazed, so its speed was tremendous. The distance from the bandits gradually increased. And yet the bandits chased them with all their might.
"After them!"
"Catch them!"
The sound of their shouts grew distant. They thought they had gotten away. But dozens of men were blocking the official road. Centered around a burly man with a huge build holding a wolf-tooth club.
Sanggwan Irok's expression darkened at the sight of him. He was Ijeok Wang U, one of the Janggang Yukjeok. His strength was Herculean, and he wielded a metal wolf-tooth club as if it were chopsticks.
With Ijeok Wang U in front and Yukjeok Jang Isang behind, they were truly trapped in a desperate situation with no way forward or back.
"Keep going like this!"
One of the injured shouted. The warrior driving the cart looked at him. As their eyes met, he immediately knew what he was thinking.
"Damn it!"
A curse slipped out of his mouth before he knew it. They were trying to jump off the cart to attack the bandits in order to send Sanggwan Irok and Sanggwan Morang to safety.
The injured drew their swords and exchanged glances. Sanggwan Irok, realizing it too late, shouted in surprise.
"What are you trying to do?"
"It would have been a shame to send only those friends earlier."
"Sir Sanggwan. Please survive at all costs."
"You all……"
"Go!"
As Sanggwan Irok tried to stop them, the cart had already reached right in front of the bandits. The bandits, afraid of being hit, scrambled aside, but only Wang U raised his wolf-tooth club. He intended to strike down the ox pulling the cart.
But the injured warriors were faster. They leaped from the cart; one grabbed Wang U's body, and another caught his arm as he tried to swing the club.
"Kuk!"
No matter how Herculean Wang U's strength was, he could not remain unscathed after colliding with two men who had jumped from a running cart. His body was pushed backward, and he ended up falling together with the bandits on that side.
In that time, the cart passed the bandits, but the ox was wounded by spears and knives thrown in pursuit. The ox, feeling pain, ran madly but could not go far before collapsing. Because of that, the cart overturned, but thanks to the warriors' help, no one was hurt.
"Catch them!"
"The cart is broken! Chase them!"
The bandits shouted and ran from afar. Seeing this, Sanggwan Irok's group fled desperately. But there were still two injured men with them, and Sanggwan Irok was the same. As the distance to the bandits gradually closed, the two injured men stopped and drew their swords.
"What are you doing?"
"Go! Sir! Leave this to us."
How could they possibly block so many bandits? Even if they gave their lives, they could at best buy a little time. Sanggwan Irok tried to stop them. But the warrior supporting him from the side would not allow it.
"You must go. Do not make their deaths be in vain, Sir."
"But……"
"Sir!"
He gripped Sanggwan Irok's hand tightly as he supported him. He, too, found this situation deplorable. Yet if they tried to save those men, they would all die.
"Go."
Sanggwan Irok walked on, looking back with reddened eyes. Then he saw the backs of the two men standing boldly to block the road.
"Hahaha! Come at me, you bastards!"
"You won't take a single step past this point!"
Shortly after, the bandits swarmed them. The two knew they were going to die anyway. They didn't even hope to survive. Therefore, they threw away their lives trying to kill even one more.
But there were too many bandits. In the end, the two fell while spraying blood.
Now only two remained. Though slightly tired, they were uninjured. However, Sanggwan Irok was seriously wounded. He was a burden to everyone. If this continued, they would all die. In the end, even Sanggwan Morang would die. A decision had to be made here.
Sanggwan Irok tried to shake off the hand of the warrior supporting him. Then the warrior met his eyes and spoke.
"No. You must keep moving."
"If it goes on like this, Morang will die too. If you go now, you two can take the children and escape this place."
"That cannot be. If we must die, we die first; it will not be you, Sir."
"Such suffocating……"
A strange light flickered in Sanggwan Irok's eyes as he sighed. It was because a familiar figure was riding a horse toward them from afar. It was none other than Namgung Joseok.