Chapter 107 - Seobaek's Prayer
It was a piercingly clear day. Jang So, who had set out on the path of exile postponing his grand ambition, looked up at the sky and let out a quiet sigh.
"Hoo..."
For the sake of completing his great undertaking and to avoid the annihilation of his clan, he had made the final decision to flee, but his heart was filled with complicated emotions.
'Will Wi Yeon Gwang accept the exile?'
'What if he demands too much?'
'When word of the exile spreads, will there be forces that refuse?'
He had already sent an envoy to the Wall Thunder Family. But it would take more time before a reply arrived.
Moreover, not everyone in the Jecheon Army knew the truth about the exile. Only the key leaders who were firmly on his side were aware; most commanders believed this was merely a tactical retreat for a future advance.
"Your complexion looks dark."
"No, I was just lost in thought..."
Jang So brushed it off vaguely, but Chu Yun Gwang was not one to miss his inner turmoil.
"Now that the decision is made, you must look only ahead. Remember, once you start looking back, even feasible plans can fall apart."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
Jang So placed absolute trust in Chu Yun Gwang. Since childhood, Chu Yun Gwang had taught him in place of his father, Jang Cheon. Though not formally his master, their bond was no different.
"I have a few concerns."
"Speak them."
"What if Wi Yeon Gwang demands too much?"
"No need to worry about unlikely matters in advance... but if he makes demands we cannot accept, then the Yellow River Lily could be another option."
"Ah..."
At Chu Yun Gwang's response, the stuffiness in Jang So's chest eased.
"What else troubles you?"
"I'm not sure if the entire Jecheon Army will follow our will."
"No need to worry about that either. Most of the Jecheon Army's leaders come from families and factions long oppressed and demoted. We took up swords for our great cause, but they follow us for revenge. Desertion will be negligible. Any other concerns?"
"No. Hearing you has swept away all my worries. I'll charge ahead without looking back."
"As you should. Haha."
Jang So drew a deep breath and looked up at the sky again. As his turbulent heart calmed, the piercingly clear blue seemed even clearer.
That was when it happened.
"Commander! The envoy to the Wall Thunder Family is returning!"
A soldier ran up to Chu Yun Gwang, shouting. After Jang So became head of the Jang Family, Chu Yun Gwang had taken the role of Jecheon Army Commander in place of the deceased Jang Un.
Dududu!
Jang So and Chu Yun Gwang stared ahead. A single rider was charging toward them like a gale.
Jang So swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Moments later, the envoy dismounted and bowed before Jang So.
"I see you, Young Master!"
"What news?"
"The Wall Thunder Family head sent this!"
The envoy handed over a sealed tube. Jang So pulled out the tightly rolled letter and unfurled it.
We welcome the Jecheon Army.
I shall personally come forth to greet you.
— Wi Yeon Gwang
The letter was brief, but it contained exactly what Jang So had hoped for. As his face brightened, Chu Yun Gwang smiled contentedly without even needing to read it.
"He wants Yeon-hoo gone from this world as much as we do. He had no choice but to accept. Heh heh."
"The Northwest lord will come personally to greet us."
"Oh ho! Is that what it says?"
"Yes."
Jang So handed the letter to Chu Yun Gwang, who confirmed the contents and smiled again in satisfaction.
"Then! Let us increase the march speed."
"Yes!"
The halted advance resumed.
And after some time?
Dududu!
Another rider charged from the rear, shouting.
"Commander! Yeon-hoo and the Blood King are leading forces toward our rear guard!"
"What?"
Chu Yun Gwang's face twisted. Jang So asked urgently.
"How many troops?"
"About five thousand, all cavalry. Elder Son of the rear guard requests cavalry reinforcements quickly, as they will soon enter the plains!"
"Young Master, we must send ten thousand cavalry to aid the rear."
But then, Jang So shook his head firmly.
"Impossible."
"...Pardon?"
"The rear guard's role is to block the enemy's pursuit. Their best use is to buy time for the main force to reach Northwest territory safely."
At the unexpected words, Chu Yun Gwang was momentarily speechless. Jang So continued.
"Yeon-hoo knows the Jecheon Army's size. He wouldn't come with just five thousand cavalry. No doubt the Northern Legion and Southern Defense Army are pursuing us too. If we engage and suffer heavy losses, we lose our bargaining chip with Wi Yeon Gwang."
"So you're saying abandon the rear guard?!"
The messenger's eyes bulged as he shouted.
"Wait!"
Chu Yun Gwang stopped the messenger and pondered briefly. But the decision came quickly.
Crack!
Chu Yun Gwang placed a hand on Jang So's shoulder, eyes gleaming.
"A most wise judgment. Very well! We shall follow the family head's will!"
"Commander!"
"Sending you back would only demoralize the rear."
Thwack!
The messenger's head fell limply. Having beheaded him, Chu Yun Gwang turned to a subordinate and issued a firm order.
"Go to the rear yourself and relay this: Reinforcements are coming soon—hold desperately until then!"
"Understood!"
Chu Yun Gwang watched the subordinate gallop north, then turned to Jang So with a smile—as if immensely proud.
"Your resolve has grown remarkably strong. Not a decision anyone could make easily. Haha."
"I think only of the greater cause."
"The day our house's great cause blooms under you draws near. It will surely come to pass."
* * *
"Beheading his own messenger..."
Seobaek, who had been observing the Jecheon Army, was stunned as Chu Yun Gwang mercilessly decapitated the man. Seeing another rider head north, he leaped onto his warhorse that had been grazing.
"Capture him and we'll know what's up."
Dududu!
Seobaek pursued the Jecheon Army messenger like a gale. His warhorse was renowned even in the North for its speed. The enemy's mount was no slouch, but Seobaek waited for bow range and kicked his horse's flank.
Thud!
"You've eaten your fill—now run, you beast!"
Dududu!
How long had they run? The messenger noticed the pursuit and whipped his horse mercilessly. But the distance closed, and after about fifteen minutes, Seobaek drew his bow from his shoulder.
Kikikiki...
Tang!
The arrow flew like lightning—not at the messenger, but his horse.
Thwack!
Neigh!
The horse, struck in the rump, screamed pitifully and tumbled forward.
Seobaek twisted mid-air, grinning at the falling messenger.
"Care to talk?"
Whoosh!
Using lightness skill, Seobaek landed lightly before him like a bird.
Clang!
"Who are you?!"
"Curious? Drop the sword first. Or I might start by taking an arm."
Seobaek strode forward. Overwhelmed, the messenger retreated, sword aimed at his throat—then lunged like lightning.
The forceful strike pierced toward Seobaek's chest. At the same instant, Seobaek's bow sliced the air.
Clang!
With a sharp metallic ring, the sword snapped in two and flew off. Unable to withstand the shock, the messenger fell on his rear, eyes wide.
Seobaek held half the broken sword and grinned.
Thud!
"Argh!"
The messenger's left forearm severed cleanly below the elbow.
"I warned you. Might take an arm to start."
Seobaek rested the blade on the man's right shoulder.
"I saw him behead the messenger... I need to know why. Last warning: Lie, and I'll skin you alive and toss you in an ant hill."
He pointed left—to a massive anthill rising like a grave mound.
Writhing in pain, the messenger was already broken.
As expected.
"I'll talk."
"Speak clearly, enunciate."
"Yeon-hoo is attacking our rear..."
Slap!
Seobaek struck his cheek with the flat of the blade.
"Call him lord."
"L-Lord is attacking our rear... The young master ordered no reinforcements—instead, for them to hold and buy time as long as possible."
"So he sacrificed the rear guard as a delay tactic... is that it?"
"...Yes."
"Vicious bastard. Wait—what did you call him? Young master? Why is Jang So issuing orders, not Jang Cheon?"
"The family head..."
The messenger hesitated; the blade pierced his armor into flesh.
"You want the ants to devour you alive."
"The family head is dead!"
"...What?"
"The young master poisoned him and became the new head! He's now exiling to Northwest Murim with the Jecheon Army."
"...!"
Seobaek was speechless at the shocking revelation. Jang So poisoning Jang Cheon was stunning enough—but fleeing to Northwest Murim, their mortal enemies?
"That mad..."
"Since it's come to this, one request."
"A dying man with requests?"
"I joined the rebellion against the Iron Blood Family out of grudge... but this is wrong. Killing one's own father and exiling to the North's arch-enemy? Unacceptable!"
Tears like chicken droppings streamed down his cheeks. Seobaek's heart softened unexpectedly.
"The rear guard differs from the main force of vendetta clans. Most joined to feed their families. They didn't even know of the rebellion before coming. Spare them. If forgiven and accepted, they'll serve your lord loyally."
"..."
"Ten thousand elite soldiers. With families waiting, nearly eighty thousand lives. You can't slaughter them all."
Deep furrows creased Seobaek's brow.
'Ten thousand veterans aren't few. If I could bring them under my lord... it would be a great boon.'
"Please, speak well to your lord..."
"Shut up. Let me think."
Seobaek pondered, then his eyes gleamed.
"Come with me."
"..."
"You'll tell your comrades yourself what Jang So did. Most effective way to make them surrender. First, stop the bleeding."
Seobaek applied first aid, then tore cloth to bind the stump.
"If you'd cooperated from the start, you'd still have your arm."
Having changed his mind, Seobaek felt oddly guilty about the amputation.
Soon after, Seobaek mounted with the messenger and galloped north.
As they rode, he prayed to the heavens.
May this warhorse run swifter than a thousand-li steed. My lord shows no mercy. I must relay this before they're all massacred.