Chương 18: A Trade I Won’t Make

Although the battle was won, the morbid work of figuring out how to survive their victory still remained. The convoy was broken, and before it could move again, a dozen different tasks had to be completed. In the absence of Elder Ma, the Young Master was now the highest-ranking sect member remaining. That meant he was the one who needed to keep everything moving – and make sure this hollow triumph didn't turn into a funeral march. Mu-cheon frowned grimly as he surveyed the results of his orders.

Listless workers moved mechanically across the scene, searching through piles of broken bodies for survivors. Hammers rang out against wood and iron as some of the civilians tried to repair broken wagons. Almost everyone else was helping with the massive – and grisly – task of burying the dead. One of the few exceptions was the group of four men directly in front of him: the remaining members of the medical team, still trying to stabilize the wounded. Mu-cheon was speaking with their leader.

"There's not enough wood to go around, although thankfully we have plenty of salt. Let's keep it to just the two cedar caskets. For Elder Ma, we'll place him on silk bedding and engrave the lid. As for the Eye Demon," the young man spat, "feel free to dump his body and belongings however you like into the box. All we need is for the corpse to be recognizable when we hand it over." The medical captain nodded in agreement as he looked over at the array of injured guards.

After a few moments, he shook his head and sighed.

"Many of these men are going to die, Young Master. We didn't bring enough medical supplies for this degree of devastation. Even if you get the wagons rolling, they might not be able to survive the travel."

"How long do they have left?" The medical captain shrugged helplessly.

"Counting the civilians... eleven have what I would call 'serious injuries.' But there are six more in critical condition. Without immediate medical care, they probably won't make it through the night."

"The closest medical ward is in our branch sect in Yangliu. It's half a day of normal travel, but we'll have to go slower because of the wounded. It's already mid-morning, which means we need to have the convoy ready to depart…"

"Within six hours," Chae-ha finished the thought for him.

"Yeah, something like that. Welcome back, little sister. Did your investigation of the corpses turn up anything?"

"Not much," the young girl replied, holding up a small vial.

"I'm pretty sure this is the Eye Demon's poison – he didn't seem to be carrying an antidote. Oh, also," she added, holding up a tattered piece of green cloth, "I found my missing sleeve."

"I guess a hidden cache of medical supplies was too much to hope for."

"Are we running out?" Chae-ha asked.

"I guess that makes sense. How soon until we run out?" The medical captain sighed.

"We'll use up the last of our bandages within the hour. We've already burned through all the alcohol and alum we had. We do have some vinegar and honey left, but whether it will be enough depends on how many new survivors turn up." Chae-ha nodded, her forehead crinkling thoughtfully.

"Senior brother, may I make a suggestion?" Mu-cheon blinked.

"Of course. What is it, little sister?"

"Send a rider to Yangliu. The convoy might need half a day to get there, but a man on a fast horse can make the trip in under two hours. The rider will be able to carry bandages and alcohol back. He can also ask the local branch to boil water and ready medical beds ahead of our arrival." The Young Master took a moment to process that, before turning around and thundering out the orders. His voice, heavy with the weight of responsibility, echoed loudly across the clearing.

After the rider galloped off, Chae-ha walked up beside him.

"Maybe you should cut back a little on all the yelling, senior brother. I know you're the hero of the day, but your booming voice is getting famous. The men have started calling you the Great Bell of Mt. Tai." Mu-cheon winced.

"I heard. I would like to point out, though, that I also used a sword. I cut down almost a dozen people." He looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Doesn't anyone remember the sword part?"

"No. Just the shouting." The young man sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Great," he replied, before getting back to the business of barking out orders. As the afternoon deepened, Chae-ha tried to prepare for an uncertain future. Her robes were mostly destroyed: ripped in several places. One sleeve torn off. Covered in blood and dirt. She couldn't continue wearing the outfit – but she also couldn't fight without it. Her backup robes were clean and whole, but they lacked the modifications she needed for her techniques.

So now the young girl sat on a wagon bench, working on turning her clean robes into combat gear. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. When she looked up from sewing yet another line of copper coins into the hem, the young girl saw dust being kicked up on the horizon. As the rider approached, Chae-ha frowned. He didn't seem to be carrying any saddlebags. Something was wrong. Where were the medical supplies? Mu-cheon strode out to meet the man.

Chae-ha set down her needle and followed him. By the time she arrived, the Inner Disciple was already shouting in frustration.

"You were turned away by imperial guards?!" The man nodded, exhausted and covered in dust.

"They wouldn't let me down the road to the branch sect. They said in three days, the Imperial Commissioner will be conducting an audit. The branch is currently under voluntary lockdown." Mu-cheon stared at him, disbelief warring with anger.

"You told them that we have wounded? That men are dying here?"

"I tried to argue with them! But they insisted no one could go in or out until the Commissioner arrives." Chae-ha's face turned pale.

"Senior brother," she asked, tugging Mu-cheon's sleeve, "can we please talk in private?" Mu-cheon let out a slow breath. He sent the rider to get some rest, before climbing inside one of the covered wagons with her.

"So…the branch is locked down, both by the Empire and by the Branch Head. We still have no medical supplies. And there aren't even any assassins left for me to punch." The young man smacked his fist into his palm before sighing loudly.

"To be honest, I have no idea what to make of all this, little sister. But it seems like you've got some thoughts."

"I do," Chae-ha replied, sounding slightly nervous.

"The biggest immediate problem is that the Imperials are very likely to expose the Branch Head's corruption."

"We were going there to audit him anyways. If the Empire is doing our job for us, isn't that a good thing?"

"No, senior brother. It's not a good thing. It's a potential catastrophe." She looked at him levelly.

"If an Imperial Commissioner goes into a Tai-shan branch and finds rampant, obvious corruption, what do you think will happen?" Mu-cheon frowned as the pieces started to click into place.

"You're saying we could get dragged into an investigation for treason." Chae-ha nodded.

"At best, the main sect looks negligent. At worst, they think we're complicit. But unfortunately, the problems don't stop there." The young girl sighed, deflating slightly.

"Even if we wanted to do something, this lockdown stinks of someone trying to hide evidence. And unfortunately, the one person who had the authority to overrule it is about to be sealed up in a cedar box. Without High Elder Ma, we have no way into the compound." She grimaced before continuing.

"That said, even if we could get in – do we really want to deliver an entire convoy of witnesses into the hands of a desperate man who is currently engaged in a cover up?" Mu-cheon closed his eyes.

"What a disaster." When he opened them again, however, he looked unshaken.

"But even so, we have to get inside that branch." Chae-ha blinked.

"You still want to go to Yangliu?"

"It's not that I want to go there, little sister – we have no choice. The men need medical care, and they need it now. Tai'an is too far away. Yangliu is the only option." Chae-ha let out an exasperated sigh.

"Even if we count the fifteen injured fighters, we only have twenty-two combat-capable men left. Branch Head Yu has a personal guard of around forty – and is a Lesser Elder himself." Her face hardened.

"High Elder Ma was supposed to deal with him, but that's no longer an option. If we go to Yangliu, and the Branch Head does turn out to be corrupt…we'll be walking into a death trap. We need to retreat! Either temporarily to the Monastery, or else directly to Tai'an. Head back and warn the sect about what's happening." Mu-cheon slammed his fist on the seat of the wagon, causing the entire wooden structure to rattle.

"Look at Jin-woong. Look at Guard Captain Li! If we retreat, they die. I didn't drag these men through hell just to abandon them. If we do as you're saying, we might as well leave them to bleed out in a ditch!"

"They are escort warriors, senior brother. Men who signed up to die for you. Sacrificing their lives to ensure their Young Master survives is a trade they would all make – every single time." Mu-cheon looked down at his hands, still stained with bits of dried blood.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe they would be willing to make that trade." He looked back up at her, determination still in his eyes.

"But I'm not." He stood up, stepping closer to her.

"I'm not letting them die, little sister. I know it's a trap. And I know I'm not smart enough to spring it without getting us killed." He met her eyes.

"But you are."

"That's…not possible," Chae-ha said, shaking her head and gesturing emphatically with her hands.

"I'm an Inspector, not a miracle worker. We need to retreat."

"We need a plan – and you're the only one who can put it together. Please, little sister. You can have anything you want. Just help me find a way to save them! I…" he hesitated, trying to find the right words.

"I owe these men a debt." Chae-ha's eyes widened in surprise as the word hung in the air between them. She tried to respond, but failed. Her raised hand fell listlessly to her side. The young girl closed her eyes, remembering the way they'd first met. She could almost feel the warmth of Mu-cheon's hands closing gently around her own. His words from that day rang loudly in her ears.

"Maybe not everything needs to be a transaction," she whispered. The words of a good man, foreign on her lips. Against her own better judgment, the beginnings of a plan sprang into her traitorous mind. Dangerous, ill-advised thoughts that might get them all killed.

"You think too highly of me, senior brother," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. Chae-ha's lip quivered as she spoke.

"But... okay. I'll try." Mu-cheon left the wagon to give Chae-ha time to think. As he walked, the young man's hand slipped inside his robe, his thumb nervously tracing the sharp edges of the silver fragments hidden in his inner pocket. They reminded him of the childish innocence the two of them had once shared. Things were so much more complicated now. He was fully aware that what he'd just asked of her was unreasonable, and he regretted putting so much on her shoulders.

But the only alternative was to give up on these men – all of whom had refused to give up on him. Mu-cheon went back to coordinating the repairs and trying to get the convoy operational again. A short time later, he noticed that the medical squad had finished sealing up Elder Ma's casket. They were about to begin engraving the lid when Chae-ha stepped out of the wagon. She walked with determination straight towards them. Mu-cheon blinked and hurried to catch up.

"Stop! Don't engrave that box," Chae-ha called out, her voice cutting through the noise of the camp. The medical squad froze, chisels hovering inches from the wood. They looked at her in confusion, and then at the Young Master behind her.

"I take it you have a plan?" Mu-cheon asked.

"Yes. I do." She pointed a finger at the cedar box.

"Please put down your tools, and don't leave any markings. We need that casket to stay anonymous." The medical captain frowned.

"But... it's the body of a High Elder. He deserves –""From now on," Chae-ha interrupted, placing a hand on the unadorned lid, "this box contains the body of a senior steward. Elder Ma isn't dead." She turned to Mu-cheon.

"Not until I say he is."