Chapter 101. Even a Dog in Its Own Yard…
It was a situation that made no sense.
The phrase one man against a thousand came to mind.
Alone, he had pulled twenty-five men out.
After rescuing his battered subordinates, Yeong-u turned his gaze.
At the doorway he had come through stood a man of towering build, holding a ring-pommel greatsword.
Yeong-u muttered under his breath.
"Huh… he wasn't there before…"
Gyeongtaek, close at his side, said,
"He looks strong."
"Strong or not, he'll fall all the same."
"The law… that might be a problem."
Yeong-u spurred his horse forward.
The man swung his greatsword in wide arcs.
It was a display—flourish without reach.
His frame was impressive, but the blade carried no inner force.
Yeong-u drove forward, thrusting his spear wrapped at the tip.
Red and blue cloth coiled as it flew, the thickened end slamming toward the man's shoulder.
The man tried to parry with his sword.
Clang.
The blade struck the wrapped spear, yet it rang like metal on metal.
The cloth, hardened with inner force, held firm.
Though he struck hard, he couldn't deflect it even an inch.
He tried to dodge—too late.
The blow caught his shoulder.
He toppled backward.
Yeong-u set the bladed tip at the man's throat.
The man trembled. Warmth spread beneath him.
"Spare me… I was only…"
His wide eyes stared at a power he had never known.
In alleys, he may have strutted with pride—
but out in the open, he was nothing.
A waste of a body.
Yeong-u swept his spear aside.
Those who had stood to either side broke apart like a receding tide.
Even the reinforcements that had arrived too late opened a path.
He fixed them with a hard stare.
They shrank back, fear overtaking them.
Behind him, the twenty-five of the Fifth Unit poured out.
They looked terrible.
So Cheollyong crawled out on all fours.
Yeong-u said curtly,
"You've got legs. Use them."
"Tch."
Gyeongtaek lifted Cheollyong onto a spare horse.
Yeong-u held the doorway until every last man had come through.
"Not even worth a handful, yet you make this much noise."
"Let's go," Gyeongtaek urged.
The Fifth Unit cut across Kaegyeong.
When they reached a quiet stretch, Yeong-u gave the order.
"Everyone goes home. That's enough."
So Cheollyong lowered his head deeply.
Yeong-u watched each of them disperse.
He hoped they would make it back safely—
though the night felt far from over.
They might gather somewhere, venting their anger until dawn.
As Yeong-u turned to leave, he saw the city gate.
It was closed.
Only then did it strike him—the city guard was also the Geumowi.
"This is bad…"
With no other choice, he headed for Park Geunsu's office.
On the eastern road, five Geumowi guards blocked his way.
"Halt!"
"State your reason."
"We'll conduct an inspection."
"State your reason."
Outwardly firm, inwardly calculating.
If this continued, even the Fifth Unit he had just dismissed might be caught.
"Inspection!"
Yeong-u held out his identification tag.
"Yi Yeong-u, Nangjang of Seonchunryeong."
The guards' eyes flickered as they read it.
Higher rank than expected.
Nangjang. Then Jungnangjang. Then general.
Yeong-u grew impatient.
Did they know what had happened near the south gate?
On the surface, they showed no sign.
"You'll come with us."
"State your reason."
"There's been an incident involving Seonchunryeong forces."
"There is no army without incidents. Yours included. I could take you in and correct that arrogance."
"This concerns order and law. Seonchunryeong troops caused trouble."
Yeong-u asked,
"When the Geumowi cause trouble, do you summon a general as well?"
"This is not comparable. We maintain order."
"We defend the state."
A junior officer raising his voice to a Nangjang—he had backing.
More men appeared behind.
The front was blocked as well.
Yeong-u glanced forward and back.
Then he drove his horse forward.
His mount—and the spare horses—charged together.
The line broke apart.
This time, they were armed.
Armor, weapons ready.
The large man from before stood opposite.
"Still here?"
At Yeong-u's words, the man lowered his head.
A Geumowi officer clicked his tongue.
"That's the one? He beat you?"
"His strength is formidable."
Now it was time to show authority.
Yeong-u drove into the alley.
There were men there too.
"Move. Or be trampled."
Following orders was easy.
They had come to capture him—but not to stake their lives.
Law, organization, comrades—these gave them their posture.
Strip that away, and there was nothing behind it.
Faced with Yeong-u's momentum, they pressed themselves flat against the walls.
Even their collars tightened as they cleared the way.