“Well… I haven’t seen Commander Gwangho today.”

With Dae-bok’s vague response, Biyeong asked a question.

“Did Soldier Hong drink a lot by any chance?”

“Well… that’s…”

With Dae-bok’s lukewarm response, Biyeong felt an uneasy intuition.

Yeonwoo got drunk on a cup of plum wine at Biyeong’s barracks last time.

Whether it was a lot or a little, Biyeong, who knew her drinking capacity, worried if Yeonwoo had properly returned to the unit.

What if he passed out somewhere before meeting Gun?

As the day was getting darker, wolves or tigers could emerge in the mountains.

Biyeong’s expression became serious.

“Where did you drink? Where?”

“We drank at the dish flower habitat outside the barracks…”

Before Dae-bok could finish his sentence, Biyeong ran towards the place where the three of them had drunk.
When they arrived at the dish flower habitat, they noticed a headband and droplets of blood on the nearby soil. The headband clearly belonged to Yeonwoo. Although the amount of spilled blood wasn’t significant, judging by the traces, it seemed like it hadn’t been long since it happened.

The blood droplets led into the mountains.

Biyeong’s expression immediately stiffened.

“Na-ri, what happened?”

Reading the uneasy atmosphere from Biyeong, Dae-bok, who followed, also froze as he saw the blood droplets on the ground. It was evident that something had happened to Yeonwoo.

With a calm but swift tone, Biyeong spoke up.

“I will follow the bloodstains. You quickly go and find Commander Gwangho.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Before the words could fully drop, Biyeong swiftly ran along the bloodstains without a break.

The cold mountain wind rudely slapped Biyeong’s cheeks.

“Yeonwoo…!”

The desperate call for Yeonwoo’s name flowed earnestly from Biyeong’s lips. All that occupied his mind was Yeonwoo’s safety and concern.

“Please be safe…!”

Hoping that his inner anxiety wouldn’t be confirmed, Biyeong continued to run.

Not long after, the bloodstains on the ground ceased.

When there were no more traces to follow, a man’s scream echoed from nearby.

“Argh!”

“!”

Approaching the source of the sound, a small cave came into view.

Entering the cave, a few months ago, Chuncheol, who had been expelled from the Gwangho Army unit, was visible.

Chuncheol clutched his lower abdomen and crouched down. Beside him, Yeonwoo, with her mouth gagged and hands tied, showed signs of dried blood on her torn forehead.

Witnessing the situation she was in and the blood that had dried on her forehead, Biyeong’s blood boiled in reverse.

Unaware of Biyeong’s arrival, Chuncheol, who hadn’t noticed him, awkwardly stood up and approached Yeonwoo.

Then, raising his arm towards Yeonwoo’s cheek, he raised his voice.

“What is this place!”

Biyeong’s reason abruptly halted.

He immediately grabbed Chuncheol’s arm, which was about to strike Yeonwoo’s cheek.

—Thud!

Without a chance to look back, Biyeong seized Chuncheol’s arm and twisted it, all in one motion.

“Kuahh!”

Along with Chuncheol’s scream, the sound of bones snapping was heard.

Biyeong continued to twist, pulling Chuncheol’s throat and choking the life out of him.

“Cough…!”

Chuncheol collapsed right there. Biyeong pushed Chuncheol aside and rushed towards Yeonwoo.

“Yeonwoo!”

“Ugh! Umm!”

In a swift motion, Biyeong, who reached Yeonwoo in a moment, removed the gag from her mouth.

Just as he was about to untie the strap around her wrists, Yeonwoo urgently shouted.

“Orabeoni! Behind you!”

—Thud!

Without a chance to turn around, Gapdol’s iron club struck the back of Biyeong’s head.

“Orabeoni!”

At Yeonwoo’s urgent call, Gapdol let out a wicked laugh.

“Orabeoni? Hah! It seems it was a woman after all. But what to do? Your savior, the commander, seems to be out of commission. What will you do?”

At that moment, under normal circumstances, Biyeong, who should have collapsed, turned around.

Then, he swung the iron club at Gapdol.

—Clang!
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air.

Gapdol skillfully blocked Biyeong’s sword with his iron club.

Biyeong, having easily deflected the iron club, swung his sword low, striking Gapdol’s leg.

“Cough!”

As Gapdol lost balance and began to fall, Biyeong’s blade swept like the wind, grazing his arms.

—Clang!

The iron club that Gapdol had been holding fell to the ground.

Biyeong faced Gapdol with a fierce glint in his eyes and spoke.

“You’re nothing.”

Biyeong’s energetic voice carried anger towards those who had brought Yeonwoo to this state.

Yeonwoo realized for the first time that such a spirited voice could come from the usually gentle Biyeong.

Biyeong’s next target was Gapdol’s heart.

—Thud!

“Cough!”

As the blade accurately pierced its target, Gapdol let out a pained groan.

Biyeong clenched his teeth and exerted force on the arm holding the sword.

“How dare you…”

“Cough, cough!”

As he twisted the sword, blood poured from Gapdol’s mouth.

Even amid Gapdol’s agony, Biyeong’s rage showed no sign of stopping. Pulling out the sword, Biyeong swung it violently like a wild beast.

“Who dared to touch her?!”