Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 9: The Chamhoeyok (1)

The Chamhoeyok, situated in a valley north of Cheonmun Mountain in the Jangga Region.
In the office of Prison Warden Sun Jak, all the senior officials of the Chamhoeyok had gathered for their regular meeting.
The organization of the Chamhoeyok was divided into three departments: the Outer Prison Department, which handled external security under the Prison Warden and Vice Warden; the Inner Prison Department, which managed and supervised prisoners and assigned them to various duties; and the Inspection Prison Department, which oversaw both the Inner and Outer departments.

“This month’s production output is lower than expected.”

Sun Jak, whose bearing was so austere that one might believe he spent his days cultivating the Way in a Daoist temple rather than managing prisoners, set down the documents he had been reading and furrowed his brow.

“Last month was short too. Those old foxes in the Jungmummaeng might just come after my head over this.”

At Sun Jak’s groan, laughter rippled through the room.

“It is only natural that production output decreases when the number of prisoners declines significantly.”

Jin Yong, the Vice Warden who managed the Chamhoeyok’s affairs, was a small-framed man of middle years with dark spots freckling beneath his eyes from the strain of his labor. He released a weary sigh.

“Indeed. The number of prisoners has decreased far too much.”

When Chae Do Bal, the Head of the Inner Prison Department, echoed Jin Yong’s sentiment, Sun Jak’s brow furrowed once more.

“By how much?”
“Thirty men died this month alone. We now have fewer than five hundred prisoners remaining.”

Though five hundred was by no means a small number, the concern was plain on Sun Jak’s face and equally evident on the faces of the others.

“It has certainly decreased considerably. We’ll need to replenish quickly—I’m worried. So, how many are we receiving this time?”

Jin Yong answered Sun Jak’s question at once.

“Twenty-seven.”
“Twenty-seven?”

Sun Jak’s disappointment showed, and Jin Yong offered a bitter smile in return.

“The Vice Warden said the number itself is small, though it happens that a notable figure from the Madoryeon is among them.”
“Ah, yes—I remember now. Everyone’s been making such a fuss about it that I mistakenly thought the group was larger.”
“Still, even that number will be a considerable help for now. The headquarters will be sending more prisoners soon, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
“Hmph! We’re not the ones in need, so they’ll do what they must. In any case—”

Sun Jak turned his head toward Heuk Do Byeong, the Head of the Outer Prison Department.
Heuk Do Byeong had the taciturn bearing of a man who brought to mind a bear—his frame was massive—yet aside from Sun Jak himself, he possessed the finest martial arts skill in the entire Chamhoeyok.

“When are they expected to arrive?”
“Yang Un Wi sent word this morning that they departed at dawn. By now, they should be crossing the Ye Su.”
“If they’ve crossed the Ye Su, they’ll arrive soon. Any problems to report?”
“None. For what it’s worth, we’ve thoroughly searched the surrounding area, and there’s been no sign of suspicious activity anywhere.”
“Good to hear.”

Sun Jak’s expression eased with genuine relief.
Continuous reports had arrived from the Gangnam Chong Ta warning of unusual movements from the Madoryeon, leaving him somewhat anxious. The decision to dispatch a support force had been made to ease that very unease.

“Head of the Inner Prison Department—have the prisoners ready for immediate deployment to their duties upon arrival.”

At Jin Yong’s command, Chae Do Bal’s eyes—which bore a striking resemblance to those of a raccoon—widened.

“Immediate deployment?”

The journey from Gangnam Chong Ta to Chamhoeyok was remarkably long. To throw the prisoners directly into labor without proper rest was a cruelty almost beyond measure.
Many prisoners had come to Chamhoeyok before, but never under such conditions. The standard practice was to let them rest for at least four days before putting them to work.

“Well, let’s have them start tomorrow. Since they should arrive soon, they’ll have sufficient time to recover anyway.”

Jin Yong’s gaze shifted from the command he’d just given toward the documents Sun Jak had placed on the table.
Sensing the unspoken pressure of declining production output, Chae Do Bal pressed the matter no further.
The greatest source of income for the Jungmummaeng—and the most crucial weapon in sustaining their struggle against the Madoryeon—was Junseok.
A drop in Junseok yields was a grave concern. While the Prison Warden could afford to grumble without fear of losing his position, men like Chae Do Bal faced the prospect of severe punishment. Now was not the time to worry about the stamina of mere prisoners.

“Understood. As you say, that much rest should allow them to recover adequately.”
“However, Deung Bi—that one in particular must be kept in isolation.”

When Sun Jak raised his objection, Chae Do Bal asked carefully.

“To the Forbidden Area?”
“That’s right. How many are currently held there?”
“When I last checked a year ago, including Gwi Myeon Sa Sin, there were seven in total. Though I can’t say for certain now. Some of those men were already in poor condition then. It’s possible they’re already dead.”
“Is that so? That’s unfortunate.”

Despite his words, Sun Jak’s expression remained utterly unchanged.
It was only natural. To him, prisoners had always been nothing more than insects—to be worked to exhaustion and then discarded.

“One last thing: see that the Escort Convoy is treated well. They’ve come from afar, and I won’t have anyone saying we were stingy with them. Vice Warden, I’m counting on you to take care of this personally.”
“I shall remember——”
Jin Yong was bowing in acknowledgment of the command when—
The door flew open, and a man with a ghastly pale face burst into the office.

“You, you bastard!”

Recognizing the man as one of his own subordinates, Heuk Do Byeong glared at him while sizing up Sun Jak and Jin Yong.

“Sir, this is grave. Vice Warden—”

But the subordinate’s expression was so grave and earnest that Heuk Do Byeong hesitated before he could scold him further.

“Grave…what?”
“The Escort Convoy is under attack. They’re being attacked by the Madoryeon.”
“What!”

Heuk Do Byeong’s eyes flew wide open.
For days he had scoured the surrounding area for any sign of potential danger. He’d even enlisted the help of the Jangga Region’s elder, the Yang Clan, with whom relations were strained at best, to ensure the search was thorough.

‘An attack from the Madoryeon? That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible!’

Heuk Do Byeong shook his head in denial, even as the office descended into chaos around him.

“You, Outer Prison Department Warden! What are you doing? Move immediately!”

Sun Jak’s voice erupted in fury as he finished reading the blood-stained pigeon letter Yang Un Wi had sent.

“Yes, sir!”

Heuk Do Byeong, his face now hard as stone, immediately leapt from his seat.

* * *

“A little faster. We’re close to Chamhoeyok now.”

Jwa Jong Je moved briskly, spurring on his laboring men.
The prisoners were placed in the center with only twelve guards positioned on either side. Considering that thirty had departed at the start, the devastation inflicted by the Haman Five Killers was evident.
Yet this paled in comparison to the state of Jin Yong’s unit leading the convoy at the front.
Of the twenty personnel, only seven remained, and not a single one of them was unscathed from the fierce battle—worse still, Yang Un Wi, who had commanded them, had fallen.
Supporting one another as they moved, carrying those unable to walk on their backs, their wretched appearance was truly heartbreaking.
The Bokmadan and Milgeomdan followed at the rear. While the heavily damaged Bokmadan suffered great losses, the Milgeomdan—miraculously losing no one—also bore the weight of the pyrrhic victory. Though they had triumphed over the Cheonrangdan, the overall casualties had been catastrophic.
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
The ground itself seemed to shudder, and the convoy halted.
As the Bokmadan and Milgeomdan at the rear quickly moved forward, a large group emerged through billowing clouds of dust in the distance.
In that moment of tension—wondering if this might be another attack—the support unit recognized the newcomers and cried out with all their voice.

“Friendlies! Reinforcements from Chamhoeyok are coming!”

The guards, their faces ashen with held breath, also raised their voices in chorus.

“They’re on our side!”
“We’re alive!”

The reinforcements who closed the distance in a flash were Heuk Do Byeong, head of the Outer Prison Department, and his subordinates.

“Hah!”

Before even exchanging words with the convoy, Heuk Do Byeong caught sight of the pitiful condition of his men who had departed to support them, and a gasp of despair escaped his lips.

“The enemy? Where are those Madoryeon dogs?”

When Heuk Do Byeong asked, a man who had been swallowing back tears answered.

“We’ve repelled them.”
“Repelled them?”
“Yes.”
“How… no, wait.”

In the middle of speaking with his subordinate, Heuk Do Byeong became aware of Jwa Jong Je’s gaze fixed upon him from a short distance, and realized his blunder.

“Vice Warden Jwa, you’ve come through unharmed.”
“It has been some time since we last met.”

Heuk Do Byeong and Jwa Jong Je exchanged formal bows.

“When I heard that the Madoryeon scoundrels had attacked the convoy, I was seized with alarm. I made haste to come, but…”

Heuk Do Byeong surveyed the scene and, seeing the escort unit reduced to something barely worthy of the name, let his words trail away.

“Fortunately, we were able to repel them. But as you see, the losses are severe.”
“Indeed they are. But who exactly were they? Are you certain they were truly Madoryeon?”

Heuk Do Byeong, who had deployed his men to conduct a thorough search of the surrounding area to prevent any unforeseen incident, still found it difficult to believe that Madoryeon had actually attacked the convoy.

“It was the Cheonrangdan of Madoryeon.”
“The Cheon… rangdan?”

At the mention of the Cheonrangdan—one of Madoryeon’s finest elite units—attacking the convoy, Heuk Do Byeong’s jaw fell open.

“But… how was that even…”

Heuk Do Byeong looked around with an expression of incomprehension.
It was not that he doubted Jwa Jong Je’s words about the Cheonrangdan’s involvement, but rather that he could not fathom how anyone could have survived an assault from them at all.

“It was made possible thanks to the sacrifices and prowess of the Bokmadan and Milgeomdan. And of course, the support unit you sent from the Outer Prison Department also played no small role.”
“It is fortunate that they fulfilled their duty as assigned.”

Though Heuk Do Byeong affected a humble demeanor, he didn’t take Jwa Jong Je’s words at face value. The reinforcements he’d sent—aside from Yang Un Wi and a handful of senior officers—were drawn from the lower ranks of the Inner Prison Department’s guards.

‘So it was the Bokmadan after all.’

Heuk Do Byeong’s gaze shifted to the Bokmadan members, whose condition was even more wretched than that of his own subordinates.
He didn’t discount the Milgeomdan, but if there were skilled fighters capable of matching the Madoryeon’s Cheonrangdan, it was these men.
Jwa Jong Je turned to follow Heuk Do Byeong’s gaze, then added an explanation in a subdued tone.

“The Vice Commander of the Bokmadan who came with us has also fallen. Many others have been lost as well.”
“Mm. I see.”

A low breath escaped Heuk Do Byeong’s lips.

“Ah, let me introduce you. This is the Vice Commander of the Milgeomdan—”

As Jwa Jong Je was introducing Jong Gak to Heuk Do Byeong, Dok Go Jin found himself studying the Prison Warden and the guards he’d brought with him in astonishment.

‘Quite formidable indeed.’

Heuk Do Byeong had brought roughly fifty guards with him. Though ostensibly reinforcements and colleagues, the individual strength of each seemed remarkably high—strikingly so for such a disparate group.
While overall skill levels varied, the aura emanating from those who appeared to be senior officers seemed to rival or even surpass the abilities of the veterans from the Bokmadan and Milgeomdan.

‘Most of all, this man—the Prison Warden.’

Dok Go Jin couldn’t help but marvel at Heuk Do Byeong’s overwhelmingly imposing presence, which dominated everything around him.
The subtle force and atmosphere he carried seemed matched to Jong Gak’s in conversation, or even to the Commander Hyeol Lyeon Su himself—it felt as though he would not yield in comparison.

“…The situation being what it is, we had no opportunity to properly gather our dead. The corpses of our enemies matter little—let the beasts have them—but we cannot simply abandon our own fallen. Surely you understand?”

At Jwa Jong Je’s words, Heuk Do Byeong nodded as though the matter were obvious.

“Of course. I will see to it at once, so do not worry yourself further. But for now, the safe transport of the prisoners is our priority. Let us move immediately.”
“Understood.”

At Jwa Jong Je’s affirmation, Heuk Do Byeong gave a hand signal.
The waiting guards dispersed in all directions and began escorting the entire convoy.

“Move out.”

With Heuk Do Byeong’s command given, the convoy resumed its march.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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