immediately.
Xie Linyuan turned around and pushed open the window. He braced his toes on the windowsill and was already on the roof.
The monk's robes fluttered loudly in the night wind.
He darted through the treetops, moving swiftly, landing almost silently.
In the woods.
From behind the bushes, the lead Wa scout urged in a low voice, "Hurry up, or we won't make it before dawn."
The others nodded and winked at each other behind them.
The six men crouched low, hugging the bushes as they retreated deeper into the woods.
The footsteps were so light that they were almost inaudible on the fallen leaves.
They retreated less than ten steps.
The lead scout suddenly felt a tightness in his ankle.
He lowered his head.
A thin golden cord had somehow wrapped around his foot, tightening more and more as if it were alive.
His heart skipped a beat, and he was about to speak.
The other five people simultaneously felt their feet sink as they were all entangled by the golden rope, their knees slamming into the gravel.
"Knock knock knock--"
Muffled thuds echoed one after another.
Knives were scattered all over the ground.
The lead scout looked up and saw a person standing in the treetop ahead.
Moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the person's face, highlighting their distinct features and indifferent expression.
Xie Linyuan stood on the treetop, forming a hand seal with one hand. Golden energy surged in his palm, and eight thin ropes extended from his fingertips, binding the ankles of the six people.
He didn't say anything.
A light flick of the fingertips.
The rope tightened suddenly.
Six people knelt down, their knees dug into the mud, gasping in pain.
The lead scout clenched his back teeth and opened his mouth as if to bite the tip of his tongue.
They would rather die than surrender.
Xie Linyuan didn't even lift his eyelids.
Pointing a finger in mid-air.
A beam of golden light struck the scout's throat, sealing his pressure points. His mouth was open, his tongue stiff, and he couldn't move.
Xie Linyuan leaped down from the treetop, landing silently.
He walked up to the six men, made a grasping motion with his hand, and with a quick pull of his rope, the six men were lifted up like sacks, their feet off the ground, unable to break free.
Xie Linyuan turned and sped towards the camp.
Six Wa spies were dragged along the ground behind him, leaving a trail of mud.
At the camp gate.
The sentry was dozing.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of wind.
He looked up and saw a figure fall from mid-air and land on the open ground at the camp gate.
No, it's the Six Realms.
The sentry was so frightened he almost dropped his spear. Upon closer inspection, he saw six men in black tied up like dumplings and lying on the ground, with a monk standing nearby.
He recognized him.
Xie Linyuan, the young master of the Vajra Sect.
The sentry swallowed hard, then turned and ran inside, shouting, "Quick, go get the general!"
Tuoba Mang rushed out wearing an outer robe, his shirt bare, and his pants not yet fastened.
He saw the spies lying in a heap on the ground, then he saw Xie Linyuan, and he froze.
Xie Linyuan handed over the sketch he had taken from the scout's arms. "General Tuo, there were six scouts in the forest, and this is a sketch."
Tuoba Mang took it and unfolded it.
Under the moonlight, the drawing was crystal clear.
The distribution of camps, the location of sentries, and even where the warships were moored and the water depth were all marked.
Tuoba Mang gasped, turned and roared at his guards, "Quickly, go and fetch the Prince!"
Inside the main tent.
Gu Moran had just told Kim Seon-a to go back and rest when he sat down at the table. Before he could even pick up his teacup, he heard hurried footsteps outside.
He raised an eyebrow.
He lifted the curtain and went outside.
Xie Linyuan stood outside the tent, with six Japanese soldiers tied up like dumplings and thrown on the ground behind him, while Tuoba Mang held the sketch in his hand.
Xie Linyuan clasped his hands in a fist salute. " Prince Yi, there are six Wa spies in the forest, along with a sketch. I have captured them; you may decide their fate."
The tone was polite.
His gaze, however, was fixed on the main tent, as if trying to discern whether Kim Seon-a's presence was still inside.
Gu Moran took the sketch and glanced at it.
He sneered, "The drawing is quite detailed; it seems the Japanese pirates are quite interested in my background."
He turned his head and ordered Tuoba Mang, "Drag the man to the torture chamber and interrogate him personally."
Tuoba Mang responded and ordered his guards to drag the six spies away.
Xie Linyuan stood still.
Gu Moran glanced at him. "Is there anything else, Young Master?"
Xie Linyuan remained silent for a while before asking, "Princess Kim Seon-a, how are you?"
Gu Moran smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master. She is perfectly fine."
He paused, then added, "It's much better than in Goryeo."
Xie Linyuan clenched his fists, and the veins inside his sleeves bulged.
He didn't say anything more.
He turned and walked out of the camp.
Gu Moran watched his retreating figure, clicked her tongue, and turned to enter the tent.
Inside the torture chamber.
Gu Moran squatted down in front of the lead spy, without resorting to torture.
He slowly unfolded the sketch and showed it to the other party. "Your commander asked you to draw this. Is he planning to raid the camp or seize supplies?"
The scout stiffened his neck and remained silent.
Gu Moran smiled.
She stood up and stepped on his right index finger with her toes.
Grind it down.
"Click--"
The bones cracked.
The scout grunted, veins bulging on his forehead, his teeth grinding together until they ached.
Gu Moran released her foot and turned to look at Tuoba Mang: "Beat the other one."
Tuoba Mang stepped forward, grabbed the scout's left hand, and twisted it in the opposite direction.
Xue Huan heated a branding iron red-hot beside him; the tip of the iron was glowing red in the charcoal fire, sizzling and smoking.
The three worked together seamlessly.
Less than fifteen minutes.
The scouts couldn't hold out any longer.
With a trembling voice, he said, "I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Gu Moran squatted back down and patted his face. "You should have said so earlier."
The spy swallowed hard, his saliva stained with blood, and then revealed all of Inukami Jusaburo's plans.
Thirty thousand Japanese troops have completed the encirclement of Hanseong from three sides.
The three gates—east, south, and west—were held at all costs.
Only the north gate was wide open.
In reality, they had set up an ambush ten miles outside the city, waiting for the Goryeo reinforcements to slip in.
The scout also revealed that Inukami Jusaburo had two thousand Tsukushi Ronin and three thousand ninjas under his command, who fought recklessly and specialized in hand-to-hand combat.
If the remnants of the Goryeo army encountered them, they would basically be sent to their deaths.
Gu Moran's face darkened after hearing this.
He turned and strode out of the torture chamber.
As he walked, he instructed Tuoba Mang: "Summon all the commanders of the various camps tonight, and also summon Zhen Meili and Yun Shuyue."
He added, "The military meeting should be moved forward."
Tuoba Mang responded and turned to relay the order.
The lamps were relit inside the main tent.
The map was laid out.
The camp commanders will enter the tent one after another and stand in two rows.
Gu Moran had someone repeat the spy's confession in public.
"The news brought back by Park Roejang is true; the Japanese pirates have indeed set up an ambush."
After hearing this, the generals in the tent looked at each other in bewilderment.
Pu Yunshan gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and cursed, "You Japanese traitors!"
Gu Moran pointed to the red dot on Hanseong: "The north gate is open, and an ambush is set up Inukami Jusaburo. Inugami Shisanro is clearly trying to devour the Goryeo reinforcements in one fell swoop."
He looked up and surveyed his generals. "We can't fall for their tricks."
Mei Boqian spoke up, "Your Highness, shall we take a detour?"
Gu Moran his head. "There's no way around it. South of Hanseong are mountains, east is a river, and west is the main camp of the Japanese army. Only the north gate is accessible."
He added, "Unless we don't try to save them."
The tent fell silent.
Everyone was watching him.
Gu Moran turned to look at Zhen Meili: "How many more days will it take for the warship to be modified?"
Zhen Meili replied, "Give me another day and night, and I guarantee I can go into the water!"
Gu Moran nodded and turned to Pu Yunshan: " Old Pu, on the day of the expedition, you will lead three thousand cavalry south overnight. You are not allowed to engage the Japanese army in a direct confrontation; instead, you will harass their supply lines."
Pu Yunshan clasped his hands in a fist salute. "This humble general obeys the order!"
Gu Moran then looked at Park Roejang: "How many remnants of the army are left on Ganghwa Island?"
Park Roejang began, "About five thousand, all veterans who have seen countless battles."
"Did you and Inukami Jusaburo have any prior acquaintance?"
"Yes, that's the bastard! We Goryeo were fooled by him!"
Gu Moran stared at him. "Old Pu, do you have the guts? Don't you want to turn the tables on me?"
Park Roejang was taken aback.
Then I understood.
He stepped forward and knelt on one knee. " Prince Yi, this humble general is willing to lead the remnants of the Goryeo army to feign surrender to Inukami Jusaburo, thus paving the way for the main army from within and without."
Gu Moran stared at him for three breaths.
Nodding: "Okay."
He stood up. "It's settled then. The warships will be launched and tested tomorrow, and the entire army will launch an attack the day after."
The generals clasped their hands in a fist salute. "Yes, sir!"
After the military meeting adjourned.
Only Gu Moran remained in the main tent.
He stood in front of the map, staring at the red dot Hanseong, his brows furrowed.
The tent curtain was lifted.
Kim Seon-a walked in.
She wore an outer robe draped over her shoulders, and her hair was a little messy.
Gu Moran around. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Kim Seon-a did not answer.
He walked up to the map, staring at the red dot Hanseong, his shoulders trembling slightly.
She reached out, her fingertips landing on the piece of silk.
Tears welled up and dripped onto the painting, soaking a small patch of the silk fabric.
Gu Moran walked over and stood behind her.
He didn't say anything.
Kim Seon-a choked back tears, raising her hand to wipe them away. Her voice trembled as she said, "If Hanseong Gaegyeong, Gaegyeong will be gone. I can't let Gaegyeong fall into the hands of the Japanese."
Gu Moran out and pressed down on her shoulder. "I promised you I would help you get it back."
Kim Seon-a turned to look at him.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her lips were pressed together until they turned white.
Gu Moran sighed and pulled her into his arms, "Don't cry."
Kim Seon-a buried her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling.
She couldn't stop crying.