The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 7

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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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Episode 7. Measures and Conjecture
Dam In, watching Jeok Sa Jo depart with an anxious expression, turned to the grey-haired elder standing beside him and spoke.
“I did follow the Advisor’s instructions, but I’m not certain we’ve made the right choice.”
To Dam In’s question, thick with unease, Gong Chan—the grey-haired elder and Advisor—replied.
“But we couldn’t keep them at Jeok Myeol Dae indefinitely, could we? Once they felt the heat, they’d jump out crying ‘Ouch, it’s hot!’ Isn’t that precisely why the Director sent them to Jeok Sa Jo, the most dangerous faction within Jeok Myeol Dae?”
“That may be true, but I never intended to give them an actual mission to a hazardous region. I simply thought they’d quarrel with those crude Jeok Sa Jo members until they gave up and walked away.”
“What can we do about it? The mission has been handed down, and it may actually force them to leave all the faster.”
“I hope so. But why did you hide their identities when they arrived? When I learned who they really were, I thought my heart would leap into my throat.”
At Dam In’s exaggerated complaint, Gong Chan chuckled softly.
“They’re all troublemakers from their clans and sects, so sending them here is meant to teach them some discipline. That’s why even the Deputy Alliance Leader took action. As for them, they volunteered for the dangerous Jeok Myeol Dae as a form of rebellion against that arrangement.”
At Gong Chan’s words, Dam In’s head bobbed in understanding.
“Still, even if you’d tried to hide it, the newcomers have impressive credentials. Word spread in just half a day.”
Dam In laughed dryly, then his expression hardened as he asked Gong Chan in a cautious tone.
“But those two—this Yun and Gwak Ki Ryang—who are they? I had the younger ones dig openly, but nothing came up about either of them.”
“I don’t know either. The Alliance Leader hasn’t said anything, and the Iron Pavilion, which oversees military operations for the Cheol Hyeol Maeng, gave no hint whatsoever.”
“Does that suggest they’re secrets?”
“Or perhaps they’re simply not as important as we think, so there’s been no particular concern.”
Dam In was unconvinced by Gong Chan’s words.
If that were the case, they wouldn’t have sent falsified backgrounds for those two, as they had for the other three.
That’s why Dam In’s worry ran deeper. It was a matter of temperament—he hated being caught unaware.
Yet he wasn’t the type to wrestle with unsolvable problems.
He despised getting bogged down in things he couldn’t control and missing what he actually could do.
So after shaking his head to clear away what he couldn’t verify, Dam In asked Gong Chan as though he were simply confirming a detail.
“This operation with Jeok Sa Jo—it really will be simple, as you said?”
“So I’m told. We’re only retrieving those who defected from Gun Ma Rim to our side and went missing during their escape.”
At Gong Chan’s answer, Dam In managed to suppress his unease and nodded.
“Then I’ll trust your word on that and return to my duties.”
……
Dam In cupped his fist in salute to Gong Chan, who nodded silently, then turned his body and headed toward the administrative hall.
Gong Chan watched Dam In recede into the distance, then murmured softly to himself.
“Even when you learn the whole truth someday, I hope you won’t come to hate me. I too had no choice in this…….”
After muttering words of unclear meaning, Gong Chan gazed toward the distant mountains.
“Please, let them return safely.”
Just as Gong Chan was murmuring as though offering a prayer, Yi Hwan, the leader of the Maeng Ui Dan, appeared at his side.
“You seem worried.”
“You’ve arrived.”
Gong Chan smiled awkwardly as Yi Hwan asked him.
“I’m just as concerned as Dam In. Are you truly confident this will be all right?”
“If you ask me whether it’s an easy mission as I told Dam In, I must answer you honestly—absolutely not.”
“Of course it won’t be easy, given that we’re receiving a Myeong Ma defecting to our side.”
Gong Chan spoke to Yi Hwan, who nodded in acknowledgment.
“From our perspective, they know all the core strategic intelligence of the Maeng Ui Dan—they’re at the level of a Susok Cham In. These are not mere members of the Hyeol Gwi Dae that we can simply hand over.”
“That’s precisely why I worry whether they’ll succeed.”
“They must succeed. That’s why we’re deploying Jeok Sa Jo as well.”
At Gong Chan’s words, which suggested there was more to say, Yi Hwan asked as though he already understood.
“Do you truly believe Jeok Sa Jo alone can capture their attention?”
“I’m certain of it.”
“Jwa Ryang’s skill is already well-established, and I’ve sensed to some degree that Jeok Sa is exceptional, but to be honest, I’m far from reassured that he can handle this mission without strain. After all, his true abilities remain unconfirmed.”
“In the Hyeol Gwi Dae, they call Jeok Sa by another name—Sallang. The ghost-eater Sallang.”
“That’s merely rumor circulating among enemies. We have no confirmation that Jeok Sa’s ability truly matches such gossip. I’m uncertain whether we should be pushing them into such danger based on hearsay alone, including those other recruits.”
“We cannot secure even three Myeong Ma for the Hyeol Gwi Dae without bearing such risk, Alliance Leader.”
At Gong Chan’s words, Yi Hwan drew a long breath.
“Hmm……. I did grant permission based on the Advisor’s counsel before, but perhaps my courage is lacking. I find myself unable to shake this unease.”
That was a lie.
The problem wasn’t that his courage was lacking, but that it was far too great.
Gong Chan had been astounded more than once by Yi Hwan’s bold decisions in practice.
That’s why Gong Chan could smile calmly.
“I understand your concern, Alliance Leader. I share it.”
“You too worry, Advisor?”
“Of course. We’ve thrown disciples from the central sects supporting the Cheol Hyeol Maeng into an operation where the danger is plainly visible.”
“Then if they devised such a plan, there must have been a reason for it. What is that reason?”
Yi Hwan’s question drew an answer from Gong Chan.
“It was unavoidable. The danger during withdrawal was simply too great.”
“Withdrawal more dangerous than executing the operation itself? What do you mean by that?”
“Given what we’ve observed of Jeok Sa Jo’s abilities so far, they should be able to endure any losses during the operation itself. But during withdrawal…….”
Yi Hwan pressed Gong Chan, who had trailed off.
“I’m well aware that withdrawal is always difficult. The fact that you sent Jeok Sa Jo with those new recruits included means you believed they’d be useful during that phase, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. That would be correct.”
From the expression on Gong Chan’s face as he spoke, it seemed there was another layer of meaning beneath those words.
But Yi Hwan did not press further.
When Gong Chan harbored such dual meanings and chose not to speak them aloud, it often meant those hidden implications might never materialize in reality.
Recently, unlike before, when such situations arose, Gong Chan would not answer even if asked directly.
Too often, those who knew in advance and took precautions based on that knowledge had only created confusion.
Yi Hwan was not the sort to welcome headaches over events that might or might not occur.
So Yi Hwan chose to understand it simply as Gong Chan having some contingency plan in mind for any dangerous situation that arose.
Even that much eased Yi Hwan’s worry considerably.
His anxiety had run that deep.
He had driven people who shouldn’t be in danger into an operation more perilous than any alternative, and that knowledge weighed on him.
His concern had been heavy, but Gong Chan’s words had allowed him at least some relief.
Satisfied with that, Yi Hwan deliberately shifted his attention away from Gong Chan’s hidden contingencies and changed the subject.
“Speaking of which, this Gwak Ki Ryang and someone called Yun—as Dam In said, I couldn’t get a read on them at all. Do you know anything about them?”
“I made inquiries from various angles, but couldn’t confirm anything.”
At Gong Chan’s answer, Yi Hwan asked in a measured tone.
“Why didn’t you ask the Gae Bang disciple stationed at Cham Myeong Gak?”
“I did.”
The unexpected answer drew a surprised look from Yi Hwan.
“And they still didn’t know?”
“Gae Bang’s disciple answered my inquiry with Geo Hwak.”
Geo Hwak.
Refusal to confirm, plain and simple.
In other words, they could not provide verification.
Cheol Hyeol Maeng and the Martial Alliance were locked in struggle over hegemony, and that struggle centered on Gun Ma Rim.
The vanguard of Gun Ma Rim was the Hyeol Gwi Dae.
And the ones engaged in bloody combat with the Hyeol Gwi Dae day after day were none other than the Maeng Ui Dan.
Even to a military officer of the Maeng Ui Dan, the fact that they would refuse to confirm the identity of such a person left Yi Hwan at a loss.
“So those above have deliberately sealed this off tight……. You truly can’t hazard a guess?”
At Yi Hwan’s question, Gong Chan answered carefully.
“This is purely speculation on my part…….”
“I’ll hear your speculation. Go on.”
Pressed by Yi Hwan, Gong Chan replied.
“I suspect he may be an emissary of the Baek Ui Ryeon.”
Baek Ui Ryeon.
Otherwise known as the Southern Martial Alliance, they were the ones who had built their power safely in the rear while Cheol Hyeol Maeng bled fighting Gun Ma Rim for control of the Central Plains.
Most of the Cheol Hyeol Maeng believed them to be opportunists because of this.
Yet recently, the Baek Ui Ryeon had begun sounding out the possibility that they, too, might join the fight against Gun Ma Rim.
So rumors had spread that negotiations between Cheol Hyeol Maeng and Baek Ui Ryeon on the matter would soon commence.
If Baek Ui Ryeon were to be deployed against Gun Ma Rim, the Maeng Ui Dan—locked in bloody combat with the Hyeol Gwi Dae—would likely be the first place their presence would reveal itself.
It was the fiercest of all the battlefields where Cheol Hyeol Maeng and Gun Ma Rim clashed.
Naturally, a preliminary reconnaissance emissary from Baek Ui Ryeon would likely visit the Maeng Ui Dan.
At this reasoning, Yi Hwan nodded slowly.
“It’s plausible.”
“I think the odds are high. Otherwise, there’s no way such unknown figures would have been assigned alongside Dan Gwang Ma Do, Cham Hon Bu, and even Yeom No.”
“So those three would be acting as escort for the Baek Ui Ryeon emissary.”
“It’s not a shabby assignment to give to troublesome offspring, if I may say so.”
“Indeed. An escort for a Baek Ui Ryeon emissary. Success in this mission would earn them considerable merit.”
“Yes. Which is why I’ve determined they are the emissary of Baek Ui Ryeon.”
“So you threw them into this difficult mission to let them face reality head-on, did you?”
At Yi Hwan’s question, Gong Chan smiled faintly.
“Hardly. The importance of this operation was far too great to move on just that. Though I did think it would be good for them to confront the actual state of affairs here at Sa Ja Pyeong…….”
That much was true.
Given the danger level of this operation, they would likely get a proper taste of what fighting Gun Ma Rim entailed.
Perhaps because of such thoughts, Yi Hwan refrained from saying anything more about it.
Moreover, he had begun to feel that things were turning out reasonably well.
His earlier hope for safety as much as possible had shifted; now he found himself quietly wishing for harshness instead, and Yi Hwan offered a bitter smile at his own changing heart.
After all, it wouldn’t be only those suspected of being Baek Ui Ryeon’s lions who would face such brutal combat.
Because of this, Yi Hwan shook off the thought and murmured to himself.
“Still, I hope they all return safely.”
At Yi Hwan’s words, Gong Chan simply nodded calmly.
***
Sa Ja Pyeong.
A plain in Hubei that bordered Sichuan and Shaanxi on both left and right, pushing deep into the interior.
Stretching three hundred leagues east to west and five hundred leagues north to south, this region contained a mountain range of considerable size spanning nearly a hundred leagues.
The forests were thick, the terrain treacherous beyond measure—a mountain where even masters found it difficult to maneuver.
Because of this, the battles waged here between Gun Ma Rim and Cheol Hyeol Maeng were always more grueling, more brutal, and more savage.
The one mercy was that this place held little strategic value, so neither side felt compelled to seize and hold it, which meant there were fewer occasions to fight here.
Yet despite this, the number of martial artists who had to abandon their difficult lives in these mountains was far greater than one might expect.
Neither Maeng Ui Dan nor Hyeol Gwi Dae had been able to properly recover the bodies of those who fell.
The harsh terrain was one factor, but the real reason was that neither side trusted each other enough to collect the dead in peace.
Whenever one faction sent martial artists here, the other would dispatch their own.
Though the place held little strategic value and there was no need to occupy it permanently, neither could afford to let the other side claim it unopposed.
For this reason, the corpses of the many Gun Ma Rim and Cheol Hyeol Maeng martial artists who had fallen here lay abandoned in these mountains.
So people came to call this mountain the Coffin of the Dead—Sa Ja Gwan.
And it was into Sa Ja Gwan that Jeok Sa Jo now entered.

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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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