Chapter 101 - Death, and Rage
The Demon Subduing Cave. This was a place where only the most heinous criminals among the prisoners were singled out and locked away separately. It was said that once confined here, no one emerged until they died and their souls departed—and the last inmate had perished a full decade ago.
Ignoring the guards who stumbled backward with swords drawn, Yeon-hoo fixed his gaze beyond them. Through the rusted iron bars, he could see Song Gyeom lying as still as death.
Yeon-hoo closed his eyes tightly at the sight of the elder sprawled on the frigid stone floor, without even a bed or blanket to soften his end.
At that moment, two men charged like lightning bolts. Their blades flashed murderously toward Yeon-hoo's chest and waist.
But they had slashed only an afterimage.
Thud! Thud!
"Gah!"
"Kek!"
The other two, unable to join the assault in the cramped space, collapsed with strangled cries. The last one spun in terror, but Yeon-hoo's left hand clamped his throat first.
Crack!
"Gurk!"
Crunch!
"Gaaahhh!"
As his comrade writhed in agony, bones shattering, the two charging warriors paled. In the blink of an eye, Yeon-hoo had slain three.
Only then did he turn to them.
"Open it."
"……!"
Flash!
Splat!
The head of the warrior on the left vanished in a mist of blood and bone.
"Open it."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Clank! Clank!
The survivor fumbled with his key ring and flung the door wide. Yeon-hoo sealed the man's acupoints before slowly approaching Song Gyeom.
The elder's face was ashen, drained of all color; his pulse faint, his breaths mere whispers at Yeon-hoo's nostrils. Life clung to him by a thread.
"Did you poison him?"
"Y-yes."
Yeon-hoo first infused his internal energy. Song Gyeom exhaled softly and opened his eyes. Those dull pupils, devoid of spark, feebly tracked something unseen.
Yeon-hoo's heart tore.
He knew little of medicine, but even he could tell recovery was impossible.
"My lord…… is that you?"
"Yes. It is I."
"Heh heh…… I knew you would come here…… I believed, so I endured…… without dying until now. Then the rebellion…… has it been…… crushed?"
"Soon."
Squeeze!
Whence such strength? Song Gyeom gripped Yeon-hoo's hand fiercely.
"Tear up the floor…… in my quarters…… Inside, you'll find…… the Elder Council Chairman's seal…… that Jang Cheon so desperately sought."
His voice weakened. His eyes clouded.
Song Gyeom's time was measured in heartbeats. Yet Yeon-hoo could do nothing.
"Please…… be a…… wise ruler."
Tears trickled down Song Gyeom's cheek.
"And our Hak-i…… that child…… please, take him…… under your wing…… I beg……."
Thud.
Song Gyeom's head lolled aside.
Yeon-hoo cradled the elder's face gently. He held him until every trace of warmth fled the body.
How much time passed?
"My lord! You're not in the thunder prison……."
Songyeong burst in. Having searched the prison for Song Gyeom, he froze at the sight of the elder's serene face in Yeon-hoo's arms.
Clang.
His sword slipped to the floor.
A figure blocked Baek Mu Yeong's path: an elderly man radiating a razor-sharp aura, like a honed blade.
Ban-go, another elder allied with Jang Cheon—a renowned expert across the North for a decade.
Close to Eom Tak, slain by Sinhwi, he burned with rage at the loss.
His eyes blazed as he glared at Baek Mu Yeong.
"Were you in league with the Blood King!"
"Something like that."
"Very well. Then I'll sever your head to ease Elder Eom's grudge, if only a little!"
Baek Mu Yeong's brow arched like a knife edge.
"No confidence to face the Blood King who took Elder Eom's head…… so you'll settle for mine instead?"
Snort.
"Do I seem that laughable?"
Whoosh!
Baek Mu Yeong moved. In an instant, dozens of afterimages trailed, bewildering Ban-go's eyes.
Boom!
Spear and sword clashed in sparks and thunder. The shockwave swept outward; Jang Family experts with Ban-go dared not approach, retreating hastily.
Slash!
Ban-go's robe hem sheared away.
Crash! Crash!
He dodged onto walls, but stone dust erupted relentlessly, washed away by rain.
This bastard's this strong……?
Ban-go's eyes widened in shock. He knew Baek Mu Yeong was no ordinary foe, but he'd assumed superiority.
Yet reality proved otherwise. Despite wielding a spear—despised by most experts—Baek Mu Yeong pressed him in close quarters, where Ban-go's sword should dominate.
Flash!
Baek Mu Yeong's spear unleashed qi. Ban-go poured twelve stars' full power into his blade, smashing the incoming blast.
Bang!
"Urk!"
Ban-go groaned. Baek Mu Yeong merely staggered once, his expression icy and impassive.
Yet Baek Mu Yeong was equally surprised. Over thirty exchanges, despite his initiative—the clashes jarred his innards, disrupting his breath.
As expected of the lord's elder. He has to be this strong.
Baek Mu Yeong halted, exhaling deeply.
"Huuu."
His spear grated, morphing—not into a sword, but a cavalry blade.
Click! Click!
His attacks match mine. Then speed will break him.
Baek Mu Yeong eyed Ban-go squarely. Spear mastery offered no edge against a Peak expert favoring the swifter sword.
"Changing weapons means I acknowledge you. And that the real fight starts now."
"……!"
Ban-go's gaze flickered. Not even his best yet?
Impossible. Even trained from the womb, time's gap is double…….
Then—Ban-go's eyes bulged.
Yeon-hoo emerged from the darkness behind Baek Mu Yeong, darkness swirling like a typhoon in his wake.
And from the north gate, rebels poured in—opposition experts freed from the thunder prison.
Ban-go trembled. The Blood King was bait to distract us!
Baek Mu Yeong's indifferent voice snapped him back.
"No time to gawk."
Boom!
Ban-go kicked off like thunder, soaring toward Jang Cheon at the main gate.
Simultaneously, Baek Mu Yeong's spear—no, now blade—sliced the air.
Whoosh!
Blood sprayed from Ban-go's leg. A graze; he didn't stop, fleeing Baek Mu Yeong's reach.
Baek Mu Yeong was stunned. Peak experts rarely fled mid-battle.
Then—a terrifying killing intent from behind made him whirl.
Yeon-hoo approached. But the malice emanated from Songyeong trailing him, eyes blazing demonic red in the gloom.
Why him……?
Songyeong harbored a secret: pure as a child normally, but fury transformed him into another being. Only Yeon-hoo could rein him in then.
Baek Mu Yeong met Yeon-hoo's gaze. Seemingly unchanged, yet his serene eyes betrayed profound rage.
In the end……
Song Gyeom was dead.
Yeon-hoo turned to him. Baek Mu Yeong blinked involuntarily, as if a blade pierced his pupil.
"No time for leisure, Mu Yeong."
"Yes."
Passing, Yeon-hoo drew his sword.
Shing.
The blade gleamed azure. Baek Mu Yeong's eyes tinted the same, staring down.
Even gods can't stop him now.
"Family head!"
Jang Cheon whipped around at the urgent cry from behind.
Ban-go raced toward him. Jang Cheon's gut twisted at the elder's grim face.
"That bastard…… has breached the inner compound!"
Jang Cheon's features contorted.
"Then fight and kill him—why flee like a dog?!"
"The opposition from the thunder prison is swarming! Escape now and link with the Jecheon Army before it's too late!"
"Silence!"
"Family head! One breach, and the Blood King charges through! We'll lose our escape!"
Ban-go screamed, blood flecking his lips.
Tremble……
Jang Cheon's face spasmed. Logic warred with denial; entrapment loomed.
Everything flowed my way…… how did it unravel?
Too smooth a path made acceptance bitter.
Then—
Crash!
"Arghhh!"
"Kaaaak!"
Screams rent the north. "The opposition comes!"
"Krak!"
"Urk!"
Jang Cheon saw azure flashes shredding the dark—like lightning laced with bloody sheen. Beneath, his experts fell, spraying gore.
"Family head!"
"Flee now! With the Jecheon Army, we reverse this—order it!"
Aides, including Ban-go, pleaded through bloodied lips.
Blood dripped from Jang Cheon's mouth—teeth tearing his lip.
Squeeze!
Tears glinted through clenched lids.
Then, the bitter retreat order escaped.
"……All forces, withdraw."