Chapter 102 - Desperate Pursuit
A azure glow enveloped Yeon-hoo's entire body. It was a kind of murderous aura born from the killing intent within him.
This unseen and unheard-of power was the ultimate demonic art he had obtained by shattering a millennium's barrier. Combined with his heart technique, it transformed into a weapon of unparalleled lethality in its own right—and there was no one here who could withstand it.
The path he tread was one of death and destruction, and everywhere he passed was stained without fail by the corpses and blood of the fallen.
"Ugh……."
The Jang Family experts who hadn't heard the retreat order in time lost their will to fight in sheer terror. Soon after, those discarding their weapons and surrendering appeared one after another.
"My lord! Jang Cheon is fleeing!"
At someone's shout, Yeon-hoo turned toward the main gate. Jang Cheon was launching himself toward the west gate.
Those pursuing him numbered fewer than fifty. Even those were falling behind, and the stragglers were now being cut down by Yuksoon, Seo-wi-ryang, and Seobaek, who had just charged into the Iron Blood Family grounds, spraying blood as they collapsed.
"Argh!"
"Keurk!"
"Where do you think you're running!"
Boom!
Moving even faster than Yeon-hoo was Song Yeong. At this moment, Song Yeong was no different from a demon.
He hadn't lost his reason to heart demons, but he was undoubtedly in a state difficult to control. Song Gyeom's death had awakened a special power unique to Song Yeong that had lain dormant within him.
Yeon-hoo didn't stop him. He knew that despite Song Yeong's constant grumbling, he had quite liked Song Gyeom.
Boom!
Yeon-hoo kicked off the ground and leaped forward. Though plenty of Jang Cheon's forces still remained inside the Iron Blood Family compound, with the leaders having fled, Sinhwi and the Blood King Army alone could handle them.
His thought was that to end this here, they had to capture Jang Cheon. If Jang Cheon linked up with the Jecheon Army, the war would inevitably drag on.
"We go with the lord!"
"Yes!"
Baek Mu Yeong, Seobaek, and the others followed Yeon-hoo, propelling themselves after him.
It was then.
Creeeak……
The Iron Blood Family's main gate, so steadfast until now, began to slowly open. Sinhwi and the Blood King Army surged in like a tidal wave. Dongbang Ri and Sama Song were with Sinhwi as well.
As the Blood King Army entered the grounds, most of Jang Cheon's diehards who had resisted to the end discarded their weapons and surrendered. Those who chose to flee late were thoroughly trampled by the Blood King Army.
"Keurk!"
"Argh!"
Sinhwi slowly swept his gaze around the Iron Blood Family grounds from atop his warhorse. Sporadic clashes were still occurring here and there, but the war was effectively over.
"No need for us to stay either."
"Will you head straight to face the Jecheon Army?"
"It's impossible for two thousand Northern Legion troops alone to hold them back. We must help until the main Northern Legion force arrives."
"Understood."
Sinhwi turned to Sama Song.
"Family head."
"Yes."
"I leave the cleanup to you."
"Understood."
Sinhwi wheeled his warhorse around. As he charged out first, the Blood King Army followed like an ebbing tide.
"Family head!"
Two young men came running up. They were warriors of the Dongbang Family. Confirming Dongbang Ri's safety, they reddened at the eyes.
"Everyone else is safe, right?"
"Yes, all safe!"
Seok Cheong, manager of the Ancestor Hall, approached Sama Song with reddened eyes as well. When he had been thrown into the prison by Jang Cheon's group, he had thought everything was over.
"Thank you, family head."
Seok Cheong finally shed tears. Sama Song gripped his hand firmly and spoke in a resolute tone.
"Save the gratitude for later. We must handle the aftermath before my lord returns, no?"
"Yes. Let's do that!"
Thus, the brutal and tragic clan strife came to an end.
Looking around, Sama Song let out a sigh.
"Haa……."
The corpses scattered everywhere had been comrades dreaming of Northern reconstruction just moments ago. Among them were a few with whom he had been close—but because they had deceived him by siding with Jang Cheon until the end, Sama Song only realized it now upon seeing their bodies.
Sama Song gazed toward the west, where the pursuit had begun. Faint screams carried on the wind.
Seok Cheong asked, "How many from the Jecheon Army have gathered?"
"Said to be around a hundred thousand."
Seok Cheong couldn't hide his shock. "Incredible. To have raised such a massive force in secret all this time…… As long as they're intact, the rebellion isn't truly over."
"The Jang Family are irredeemable villains we can never let be. Had they supported the main house with the Jecheon Army, the North wouldn't have fallen to this state."
Seok Cheong nodded at the anger in Sama Song's voice.
"Let's wrap up the cleanup quickly and go aid my lord, family head."
"Yes!"
Rumble!Crackle!
A single bolt of lightning tore through the darkness above their heads. The fierce downpour stopped as if it had been a lie.
And shortly after.
The joy of recapturing the main house was short-lived; news of Song Gyeom's death plunged everyone back into grief.
* * *
"Argh!"
Sporadic screams erupted from the rear. But Jang Cheon had no time to look back.
He had to escape alive and reach Jang Un somehow. Linking up with the Jecheon Army would allow them to settle the contest properly.
How did it come to this……
Jang Cheon still couldn't accept reality. Everything had been going according to his will.
Yet he couldn't shake the question of where it had gone wrong.
Equally bitter was that his grandfather Jang Un and the Jecheon Army hadn't joined in time. Jang Cheon could hardly accept that such a massive army had been stalled by a mere ambush.
I should have gone myself. I should have led the Jecheon Army personally. Then……
They said regret bred regret. Even amid this life-or-death chase, Jang Cheon couldn't suppress his resentment and fury.
"Family head! We need to pick up speed! They're right on our tails!"
Elder Ban-go's urgent cry pierced Jang Cheon's ears like a dagger.
Only then did Jang Cheon glance back. Just then, one of the Jang Family experts bringing up the rear was collapsing, spraying blood from a crimson aura strike.
"Argh!"
That guy……!
Confirming it wasn't Yeon-hoo who had mercilessly slain his subordinate but Song Yeong, Jang Cheon was stunned. He had kept an eye on Song Yeong in the Iron Blood Family because Song Gyeom doted on him excessively, but he had never imagined such strength.
On the other hand, Yeon-hoo's absence suddenly filled him with unease.
Could he have overtaken us……?
But he shook his head.
Not even a Martial God could close that distance.
When he had decided to retreat, Yeon-hoo had been at a considerable distance. It was a gap and time buffer that only a Heavenly Expert or worse could bridge.
Flash!Kwang!
"Argh!"
Another Jang Family expert tumbled, his upper and lower body severed by Song Yeong's crimson aura.
"Jang Cheeeon!"
Song Yeong's fury-laden shout rattled Jang Cheon's ears. Grinding his teeth, Jang Cheon ran onward, eyes fixed ahead.
How much farther did they run?
Kwang! Kwagang!Dududu!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
The clamor signaling a large-scale battle ahead reached them. No doubt one side was the Jecheon Army.
But who were they fighting?
The Southern Defense Army is advancing from the south. Then……
The only thing that came to mind was the Northern Legion. But this was southwest of the Iron Blood Family. The Northern Legion wouldn't have passed it to reach here. Even if they had left the Northern Legion at top speed, it would take at least another day to arrive.
The problem was that, ignorant of what lay ahead, Jang Cheon had no leeway to detour.
I must reach Grandfather as fast as possible!
Pa-pa-pat!
Jang Cheon maintained his course. Crossing the ridgeline, a foul stench of blood hit first. Then the chaotic battlefield came into view, two forces fiercely entangled.
"Family head! It's the Jecheon Army!"
"Jecheon Army!"
"Northern Legion!"
Ban-go and the others pursuing right behind Jang Cheon shouted excitedly.
The two forces locked in fierce combat were indeed the Jecheon Army and the Northern Legion. The Northern Legion's numbers seemed similar or slightly fewer, but they attacked relentlessly from higher ground, pushing down without mercy.
"Family head! We must go around the battlefield!"
Ban-go shouted urgently. But Jang Cheon thought differently.
"Detouring would let them catch us. We pierce straight through! The Northern Legion is just vanguard—nothing to fear!"
"Family head!"
"How long will you whine like weaklings!"
Snapping at Ban-go, Jang Cheon plunged straight into the battlefield. It was his best choice.
Better the blind blades of the battlefield than their pursuit.
He judged that using the chaos where friend and foe mingled would make shaking off Yeon-hoo's pursuit easier. And he was confident he could handle the confusion.
"Follow the family head!"
Ban-go and the others had no choice but to chase Jang Cheon into the fray.
* * *
Thud!
"Argh!"
Having cut down one of the pursuing Jang Family experts, Yeon-hoo spotted Jang Cheon leaping into the battlefield and hardened his gaze. He had nearly closed to striking range, but entering the thick of it made pursuit difficult.
Unlike viewing from afar, once inside, distinguishing friend from foe became nearly impossible. Perhaps Jang Cheon had aimed for that.
"You bastard!"
Song Yeong came running from behind.
"Let go!"
Yeon-hoo grabbed Song Yeong's arm and slapped his cheek.
Slap!
"Get a grip, Song Yeong."
Song Yeong, madness gleaming in his eyes, froze for a moment, the crimson glow in them slowly fading.
Tears trickled down his cheek.
Yeon-hoo knew what that meant. But now was the time for cold reason.
"Rush in like that, and you'll slaughter Northern Legion warriors too."
"……."
"Giving up?"
"As if. I'll chase him to the ends of hell and sever his neck."
"Then pull yourself together and follow."
Boom!
Yeon-hoo plunged straight into the battlefield.
"Hey, hurry up."
Baek Mu Yeong passed Song Yeong, pursuing Yeon-hoo. Yuksoon, Seo-wi-ryang, and Seobaek followed.
Song Yeong ground his teeth, wiping away tears.
"Old man, I'll avenge you. Don't leave for the afterlife too soon—watch till the end. Watch how I take revenge……."
Boom!