Episode 63. Let Me See the Full Moon.
“How should we crush them so the word spreads? Do we strike first, or do we defend? Speak freely.”
Cha Sung-tae, who’d arrived last and was still catching up, asked, “Who are we fighting?”
“Ilryong Old Army, plus Master Su, and the rest of the dark faction’s riffraff.”
Cha Sung-tae replied casually, “Then we’re talking about at least five hundred men.”
Everyone turned toward him, wondering how he knew that. Even I was a bit curious and gestured for him to continue.
“Go on.”
“Defending will be more fun.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re outnumbered.”
“That’s it?”
“The one who attacks first is usually the villain. We haven’t attacked them, have we?”
I nodded and decided on the overall plan. “Then we’ll defend.”
All eyes turned to me—
their expressions said, That’s it? You decided that fast? But I’m not a man who needs to justify himself.
“I just think defending will be more interesting this time. Anyone got a better idea?”
Hong Shin raised her hand. “Senior?”
“Go ahead.”
“If we’re defending, we should evacuate the servants and the non-martial people. They could get caught in the fight.”
I nodded and called out, “Madam Son!”
She hurried in. “Yes, Master.”
“Gather all servants, the sick, and anyone untrained in martial arts. Prepare to evacuate to Ilyang County. I’ll assign escorts. Make sure everyone’s accounted for.”
“Understood. I’ll begin at once.”
I looked around. “Who’ll handle the escort? We might be attacked tonight, so they must leave immediately. Don’t feel guilty—it’s as important as fighting.”
Hong Shin shook her head. “I’d rather stay and fight tonight.”
Baek Yu, Baek In, and Cheong Jin, who all had grudges against Master Su, said nothing but made it clear they weren’t leaving.
So I turned to Cha Sung-tae. “Want to go, weakling? You won’t be much use here anyway.”
I regretted the words as soon as I said them—his face flushed bright red.
He glared back. “Master, I’m from Ilyang County. I’ll represent it here. Leave me out of the escort. You decide who goes.”
I nodded. “Fine. Since everyone wants to stay, I’ll decide. Commander Byeok.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll lead the escort. Sama-bi’s group will cover the rear. Sama-bi, send scouts ahead to make sure the route is clear.”
“Understood,” they replied in unison.
Sama-bi rose reluctantly, but he was the right man—clever and familiar with the route. The hall grew busy as people prepared to depart. When the evacuation began, I turned to Geum Hae.
“Brother Geum.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“You’ll follow last. Report back if anything happens.”
He stood. “Understood.”
His inner strength was still recovering, but I trusted his judgment. Then I said to one of my subordinates, “We’re staying. Bring some wine—we’ll drink while we wait.”
“Yes, sir.”
By the time the wine arrived, dusk had deepened. After a few rounds, the doors to the main hall burst open. A man dressed entirely in black entered, two dark blades at his waist, his very presence stirring the air around him.
Dokgo Saeng met my eyes. “Zaha, your brother’s here.”
I was too stunned to respond. “This lunatic…”
He turned to the officers behind him. “Greet your commander.”
His men bowed awkwardly and muttered, “Hello, Commander. Been a while. We brought drinks.”
Dokgo waved them off. “Wait outside.” He closed the doors and looked around. “So many experts here. Nice gathering.”
Then he sat down—right beside Cha Sung-tae. He handed Cha an empty cup, and Cha, already annoyed, snapped, “Pour it yourself, idiot.”
Dokgo ignored the insult, poured the drink, and downed it. Cha, already tipsy, kept ranting, “What’s with the ‘your brother’s here’ nonsense? You out of your mind?”
Dokgo said nothing, just pulled out his long black pipe, Mangwoocho. I asked him, “Got a name yet?”
He fiddled with the pipe. “We were the Black Boat, now we’re the Hao Clan. My men are too dumb to name anything, so we stuck with that. We’ve already got ten rules now, and I’m sick of leading.”
It was a brief but perfect report. When he mentioned the Black Boat, Cha Sung-tae’s eyes widened. He quietly turned away and took a sip of wine.
Dokgo exhaled a plume of smoke straight into Cha’s face. Cha swatted the air, scowling.
Then Dokgo’s eyes settled on one man. “And who are you?”
Baek In answered calmly, “Baek In of the Twelve Apostles.”
“Oh, the Great Butcher’s top disciple. Still alive, I see.”
Before Baek In could respond, Cheong Jin cut in, “You should wash once in a while.”
I tapped the table. “Enough. I didn’t call you all to fight each other. Dokgo, how many men did you bring?”
“You said a hundred, right? I brought thirty—picked elites. Thirty worth a hundred. Don’t worry.”
“Good work, you bastard.”
He didn’t even ask who the enemy was. Just smoked and drank. “This wine’s like water. You people actually get drunk on this stuff?”
By now, even my officers and the Apostles had adjusted to his temperament. Silence was the only way to handle him.
When no one responded, Dokgo asked me, “What’s the plan?”
“There isn’t one.”
“We kill them all?”
I nodded. “Kill them all.”
He stood, nodded once. “Good. Wake me when they arrive.” Then he lay down in the corner and went to sleep.
Silence fell again. I turned to So Gunpyeong. “Is the moon bright tonight?”
“Bright. Perfect for battle.”
“Any poison masters among them?”
“None reported.”
I looked to Baek In. “Are Ilryong Old Army and Master Su the strongest?”
“Yes.”
“Compared to the Great Butcher?”
“Different strengths, but on par.”
“Then leave them to me. Fight within your skill range. If you meet someone too strong, fall back. It’ll be chaos out there.”
I took another sip of wine, then looked toward the front. “Open the gates.”
So Gunpyeong infused his voice with energy. “Open the gates!”
One by one, the hall doors, inner yard, outer yard, and front gate all swung wide. I pointed to the display rack. “Bring the masks.”
Baek In, Cheong Jin, Baek Yu, and I donned our Twelve Apostle masks. It’s good to wear one when doing bad things—besides, someone from the Cloud and Rain Society might recognize me.
“Let’s go.”
Dokgo, who’d been napping, sprang up and followed. Outside, his men were sprawled atop the walls. I leapt up and stood on the inner gate’s roof. Just as So Gunpyeong said—the moonlight was dazzling.
At the Black Cat Hall’s perimeter, I could see the glint of weapons and eyes reflecting the light. The Twelve Apostles took their position on the left. So Gunpyeong took the right.
Something sliced through the darkness toward me. Baek Yu swung his steel wire; the hidden weapon spun away in the gust it created.
A voice rumbled from the shadows. “Where’s the bastard who killed our Vice-Master?”
“Not in sight yet.”
Then came Master Su’s voice. “Hey, juniors of the Four Spirits! Bring me the one who killed my Vice-Master, and I’ll forgive you. Even the Great Butcher couldn’t touch me—what makes you think you can? Join me. Ilryong Old Army bears you no ill will. Choose wisely.”
I murmured, “Classic attempt at sowing discord.”
Baek In called back, “It’s been a while, Master Su.”
“Ah, Baek In. Still alive.”
“I’m surprised you’d bow to Ilryong Old Army. If our master saw that from the afterlife, he’d be ashamed. He used to call you his equal.”
Master Su chuckled coldly. “Where’s my sweet little Hong Shin? Don’t tell me she’s dead?”
From the wall, Hong Shin spat. “Ptoo!”
“I’ll spare you,” he said with a low laugh.
Just then, Dokgo climbed up, drawing his twin black blades. “Hey, idiots! I’m the one who killed your Vice-Master.”
His words were ignored by both sides—proof enough of his madness. The enemy forces kept growing. Master Su advanced, with the rest following behind. Then the crowd parted, and a pale old man in a gray robe with long white hair stepped forward.
Even without introduction, everyone knew—it was Ilryong Old Army. Under the moonlight, his face was ghostly pale, and his voice was a rasping, unpleasant whisper.
“Don’t just stand there on that wall. Those who don’t wish to die, come over. The dark world’s loyalties shift like sand. Survival is the only virtue. Let the one who killed my old friend bear my wrath. The rest of you—think carefully. The Great Butcher used to pay me tribute regularly. Remember that before you choose.”
As I listened, I rubbed my palms together. “So many people to kill tonight.”
I whispered to my disciples. “Hey, you lot.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t betray me tonight. The moon makes me… lose control. When I fight under a bright moon, my madness deepens. Don’t get swayed by those old fools. I won’t be able to spare anyone.”
“Understood.”
I turned my back to the enemies and said to Baek In, “Tiger Disciple, interlock your fingers.”
He blinked but obeyed. I placed my right foot on his joined hands. “Throw me as high as you can. I want to see the full moon.”
“Excuse me?”
“Channel your energy and throw me. See you soon.”
Our eyes met. He finally steeled himself. “See you soon, Senior.”
I grinned beneath the mask. “Good.”
He gathered all his strength and hurled me skyward. I pushed off his hands, soaring into the night.
How high did I go? The air was cold and sharp—it felt exhilarating.
“Hahahahaha…!”
Laughter burst from my chest. At the apex of my arc, I gazed briefly at the radiant full moon— then dove toward the ground where the dark ones waited.
Expecting a storm of hidden weapons, energy blasts, and sword waves, I wrapped Flame Incense around my right arm and unleashed the Great Flame Rooster Hand Seal.
Even the moon itself seemed to open its eyes wide.
A giant crimson palm, glowing in the night, descended from the sky— to stamp Ilryong Old Army’s forces into the earth below.