Chương 8: The General Comes to the Prison

Lee Hee-song came to the prison, but he did not enter. He had no desire to cross that narrow passage just to meet a prisoner.

"Bring him out."

"Yes, sir." Park Geun-su hurried inside, then returned almost at once. Park Cheol-gu, following behind, asked sharply,"Why are you back already?"

"One of the Immortals is with him. I did not interrupt."

"Which Immortals?"

"Baek In-gyeom and Han Ji-un." Park Cheol-gu frowned.

"What, are they higher than me now?"

"Not higher," Park Geun-su answered carefully.

"But it seemed wiser not to disturb them. I thought it would be better to wait." Lee Hee-song exploded.

"So they are above me, then."

"That isn't what I meant—""We came here to work. Are we here for a social visit? Should we share a drink with them too?"

"Understood." Park Geun-su hurried back again. The Immortals were sensitive to qi. They had already heard every complaint and muttered curse outside. Baek In-gyeom remained silent. So Han Ji-un stood up instead.

"That lunatic bastard…" Baek In-gyeom closed his eyes. Before them, a physician was removing an arrowhead from Yeong-woo's leg. With a stick clenched between his teeth, Yeong-woo endured in silence. His fingernails dug into his palms as the physician cut into raw flesh. A numbing paste had been applied, but only in small amounts. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The medicine contained datura and processed aconite-root compounds —both poisonous if overused. He must not have realized the arrowhead was still inside him while he fought. He had not even noticed it after reaching the prison. If it had remained much longer, the flesh might have rotted.

"He must have been in quite a rage," the physician muttered.

"The flesh could have gone bad." Baek In-gyeom sighed. Inside, a wounded boy endured agony in silence. Outside, grown men played politics. A squad leader became a company leader. A company leader became a lieutenant. A lieutenant became more. Why did they cling to such things so desperately? He himself had come down from the mountains to help as a wandering martial man. What was there to value so highly in these ranks? Baek In-gyeom finally spoke.

"Go."

"Speak with them properly."

"Yes, Senior." Han Ji-un lightly leapt across the moat.

"The general has come?" Lee Hee-song folded his hands politely.

"I heard there was a man who earned merit today. A reward should be given. Yet I hear he is in prison."

"He protested that the gate was not opened during the retreat." Before the Immortals, Lee Hee-song took a more careful tone.

"Well… such things do happen in war. I take it he reacted rather strongly?"

"He believed he had been betrayed."

"At such a young age… naturally." Han Ji-un blinked once. If Lee Hee-song truly knew nothing, how could he already call the soldier young? The man had snakes in his belly. Han Ji-un continued calmly.

"He is being treated right now. An arrowhead is being cut out of his leg. It is painful work. At least a physician was sent, so treatment is underway." Lee Hee-song nodded with great courtesy.

"And what brings an Immortal to such a filthy place?"

"We fought the South Gate battle together today. That makes us comrades, does it not?"

"Certainly more so than those who shut the gate behind him."

"I felt sorry for him, so I came to offer comfort." Lee Hee-song lowered his eyes. The Immortals always claimed not to interfere in worldly affairs. And yet here they were. The act of moving at all was already intervention.

"Is he badly hurt?"

"Most of the blood on him comes from cuts and bruises. But the arrow in his leg is worrying. The physician says it touched bone. The situation is not good. It would be better to see him another day. He is in too much pain to meet anyone."

"Tsk."

"Still, we are grateful for the concern and cooperation of the Immortals." Han Ji-un bowed slightly.

"We should not interfere, one way or another. But the sight of a young life like this was too painful to ignore."

"Please do not worry," Lee Hee-song replied.

"You care for our soldiers. For that alone, we are grateful. Better this than throwing a man into prison simply because he displeased someone." Hearing the rebuke, Park Cheol-gu turned his head away. Jealousy clung to him like a bad smell. A man with such a nature could not help but poison everything around him. At last Park Cheol-gu lowered his head.

"I am sorry. The disturbance was severe. I had no choice."

"Do not overdo it," Han Ji-un said.

"Yes, sir." Lee Hee-song did not address Park Cheol-gu again. Instead he turned to Park Geun-su.

"When he is fit to stand, bring him to me."

"Yes, sir." Park Geun-su hesitated.

"And, General… the prison?" Lee Hee-song answered at once.

"He made a protest, that is all. If we punish a man who has rendered such service, who will fight with heart tomorrow?"

"Release him immediately."

"Yes, sir!" Lee Hee-song turned and left. Seo Ui-taek and the other staff officers followed behind him. Park Geun-su lingered awkwardly and spoke to Park Cheol-gu.

"I'm sorry." Park Cheol-gu snapped.

"Oh, so you think you're so righteous now? Fine. We'll see."

"I'm sorry. Even so… prison did not seem right."

"You've done everything already. What am I supposed to do now?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry is enough, is it?"

"I'm sorry."

"Damn it!" Park Cheol-gu shouted once more, then stormed off toward his quarters. Left alone, Park Geun-su bowed to Han Ji-un.

"Thank you. You saved our men." Han Ji-un shook his head.

"I did nothing."