Chapter 100: Blood Wind (6)
Jang Cheon forced down his boiling rage and let out a cold laugh.
"You fooled us well with your petty tricks, but they're useless now. If you thought that meager force could break through this place, riddled with formations everywhere, you're gravely mistaken. Heh heh heh."
It was no bluff. The Iron Blood Family's perimeter was always layered with dozens of formations. In times of crisis, they could deploy and turn it into an impregnable fortress. That was why, despite countless invasions over the years, no enemy had ever set foot inside the Iron Blood Family.
Jang Cheon's primary goal in seizing the Iron Blood Family first stemmed from that very formidable defensive power. He valued it not just as a symbolic seat of the clan lord, but as a key military stronghold.
Sinhwi stared at Jang Cheon impassively.
Jang Cheon fired off another barb. "Looks like your master didn't tell you about that. Just sent you to fight and die, huh? Heh heh heh."
"Don't play mind games. We're not the type to waver that easily. And it seems you're the one who's confused..."
Tzzzt.
The blade of Sinhwi's sword slowly took on a blood-red glow of internal energy.
"Do you really think there's anyone in the world bold enough to command the Blood King as a mere subordinate?"
"...!"
Everyone's faces, including Jang Cheon's, changed in an instant.
Blood King. In the murim ruled by the White Night Cartel, there were countless powers operating outside its domain. Among them, the most fearsome in terms of individual prowess was the Blood King. Known as the emperor of blood who reigned over death and terror, Sinhwi had appeared before them.
Even Jang Cheon, who had already heard reports of the attack on his clan, felt a chill run down his spine upon facing the Blood King for the first time.
"A word of warning: the Jecheon Army you trust like iron won't make it here. Surrender now. At least you'll keep your lives."
Shiver...
Jang Cheon's eyes trembled. Sinhwi's warning had struck a raw nerve. And for the sake of his allies' morale, he needed to push back hard.
"Shall we see if the mighty Blood King lives up to the hype?"
"Don't rely too much on those formations, Jang Cheon."
Tzzzt.
The blood-red energy cloaking Sinhwi's sword grew ever thicker. Behind him, the Blood King Army surged forward. They had completely demolished the first line of defense—the wooden barricade.
In unison, they hurled something toward the towering walls of the Iron Blood Family, which rose like castle fortifications.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thud! Boom! Boom!
Cleaving through the darkness were the severed heads of the Jang Family experts who had entered the Iron Blood Family ahead of the Jecheon Army to aid Jang Cheon.
"How could they do something so barbaric..."
Everyone shuddered in horror.
Killing intent flashed in Jang Cheon's eyes.
"You insolent dogs! Aren't you ashamed of that 'king' in your title?"
Snort.
"Pathetic. A usurper who rebels for another's throne dares lecture me on righteousness?"
"Another's throne? The seat of the lord has always belonged to the strongest—and the one who claims it proves they are the strongest!"
"Always belonged to the strongest...? Heh heh heh. Why don't you say that to his face later?"
A flash of light erupted from Sinhwi's body, as if it were radiating from every pore. Then, an explosion rocked right in front of Jang Cheon's nose.
Boom!
Jang Cheon had already drawn his sword and blocked Sinhwi's internal energy.
Szzzt...
Sparks flew like fireworks, swept away by the rain into clouds of steam that shrouded Jang Cheon's form in white mist.
Zzzt...
Jang Cheon felt the powerful shock traveling up his arm to his wrist but didn't let it show.
That was when the Blood King Army launched their assault.
"Waaah!"
Screeech!
Arrows darkened the sky from behind the troops leaping toward the walls.
Clang! Clang! Boom! Boom!
Explosions erupted alongside bursts of flame. These were no ordinary arrows.
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
Jang Cheon bellowed, channeling his internal energy. "Hold your positions!"
"Don't fall back!"
Jang Cheon's forces stood firm without retreating an inch. Leveraging their geographic advantage, they effectively repelled the Blood King Army's waves of attacks. The formations around the walls activated as well, making the defenses even more solid.
Jang Cheon was confident. 'The Southern Defense Army's mere thirty thousand won't hold back Grandfather's great host. All we have to do is endure, and we win.'
He glared at Sinhwi. For some reason, the man wasn't joining the assault—he was just holding his ground.
Jang Cheon shouted boldly. "If you're so confident, come up here!"
Sinhwi didn't reply, only flashing a strange smile.
In that moment, an odd sensation gripped Jang Cheon. 'Come to think of it... these bastards are pouring all their attacks on this spot with just five thousand troops!'
Not even all five thousand were attacking. Focused solely on the area around the main gate, the confined space meant nearly half weren't even participating.
"Elder Eom!"
Jang Cheon called for Eom Tak. But the already-dead Eom Tak couldn't respond.
Jang Cheon turned. Fortunately, another elder was nearby.
"Leave this to me and take your men to the north gate! Hurry!"
"Understood!"
Sinhwi watched the hundred or so troops vanish quickly, then looked up at Jang Cheon with a cold smile.
"Finally feeling that itch at the back of your neck?"
"...!"
"Too late, Jang Cheon. The tiger's already slipped inside. Heh heh heh."
No sooner had the words left Sinhwi's mouth than agonized screams erupted from behind.
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
Jang Cheon's head whipped around as if it might snap.
The troops heading to the north gate were falling like leaves in an autumn gale.
And there stood Baek Mu Yeong.
Sinhwi's mockery continued. "I might not know the formations here, but that guy does. He's your lord's predecessor, after all—surely he knows them better than you. Heh heh heh."
"Ugh..."
Elder Ho Gwang groaned as he staggered back. His chest had been split wide open, gushing blood.
Life rapidly draining from his eyes, they fixed on Baek Mu Yeong's face with utter disbelief.
"To think you... were this strong."
"As your instructor, of course I have to be."
Tat-tat!
Raindrops hitting the internal energy at the tip of Baek Mu Yeong's spear sparked like fireworks.
"Someone who's lived that long should know to pick the right side if they want an easy life."
"Shut your mouth! This old man... has always been with the Jang Family!"
"Such a proud look. Heh heh heh."
"Urghaa!"
Ho Gwang roared and charged. But his movements were feeble, while Baek Mu Yeong's spear struck like lightning.
Thud!
The severed head soared high before tumbling down beyond the wall.
"At least you had a bit of a warrior's scent about you."
"Gah!"
"Argh!"
Screams burst from the rear as well. Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang landed to Baek Mu Yeong's left and right.
With their arrival, the troops following Ho Gwang froze in terror and began retreating hesitantly.
Baek Mu Yeong approached them slowly and asked quietly, "You from the Jang Family too?"
No one answered.
"Can't speak, huh? Guess that means yes. In that case..."
"We kill them all?"
"We can't let rebels live. Especially not Jang Family to the bone."
"Understood. Leave these to us, then."
Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang stepped forward.
"Don't get complacent just because they're weak. Stay focused."
"Of course."
"No need to tell us twice."
Baek Mu Yeong took a step back, lowering his spear, and cast his gaze north. Toward where they suspected Elder Council Leader Song Gyeom was imprisoned.
'Who could possibly withstand my lord's wrath...'
Song Gyeom wasn't held in the dungeon but in a separate, secret space known only to a handful in the Iron Blood Family. Even there, Jang Family experts stood guard—not those who had long resided in the Iron Blood Family, but reinforcements sent after Jang Cheon began his plot.
Their mission was to protect Song Gyeom. So despite the ceaseless battle cries outside, they held their posts without budging.
"Sounds like a pretty big fight out there... Surely the Northern Legion hasn't arrived?"
"Impossible. Unless they're birds, they couldn't get here this time of night."
"Then what? It sounds like a major clash..."
"Must be from the Second Young Master's side. Don't worry about it. Without the Northern Legion, it's just a handful anyway."
"You fool! That's the kind of racket you make when thousands swarm in—not a handful!"
"Why are you snapping at me? If you're so curious, go check yourself! But if the family head finds out you left your post later, don't drag me into it!"
The bickering men suddenly perked up their ears.
Footsteps echoed from outside.
Thud. Thud.
"Who's there? Anyone supposed to come?"
"I didn't hear about that..."
"No one can enter here. If someone's coming anyway, it must be from the family head... or else..."
Shing! Shing!
Sensing danger, they all drew their swords and clustered before the iron door.
Yet the footsteps continued straight toward it.
Thud. Thud.
"Wait. They're making no effort to hide—could be one of ours? You'd normally conceal your presence."
"True."
"You idiots. If it were ours, they wouldn't stroll in so casually with all that fighting outside."
Their expressions hardened again.
Then Jang Han called out lowly. "Who goes there?!"
Thud. Thud.
"Hey! I said, who is it?!"
The footsteps stopped abruptly.
Followed by light knocks on the iron door.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Hey! Quit the ghost games and state your identity! Or we'll sound the alarm!"
Jang Han's shout reverberated through the sealed space.
As the echo faded—
Bang!
"Gasp!"
The iron door flew open violently, slamming into Jang Han, who stood closest.
He barely dodged, stumbling but regaining his balance—only for his eyes to bulge in shock.
"...Y-Young Master Yi!"