Chapter 108 - The Blood Winds Subside
Thud thud thud! The Blood King Army charged forward, shaking the earth beneath their hooves. At the forefront rode Yeon-hoo and Sin Hwi side by side.
Having burst out of the rugged mountains and entered the plains just moments ago, they were confident they could soon catch up to the rear of the Jecheon Army. But there was a problem. The warhorses, having galloped without rest, were thoroughly exhausted, meaning they would need a break before engaging in battle.
Sin Hwi's aide shouted, “General! The horses are too worn out! We need to let them rest, even if just for a bit, before the fight begins!”
Sin Hwi held off on replying and glanced at Yeon-hoo instead. Staring straight ahead, Yeon-hoo said, “It's not too late to rest once we spot the enemy.”
“Push on a little farther!”
“Yes, sir!”
Thud thud thud! The Blood King Army's mobility was astonishing. Less than half a day had passed, and traces of a massive force passing through began to appear here and there ahead. At this rate, overtaking them was only a matter of time.
How much farther did they ride? Finally, the tail end of the Jecheon Army came into view.
“From here to fifty li southwest, it's all open plains favorable to cavalry, so this is a good spot to rest.”
“Agreed.”
Moments later, the Blood King Army halted for a break. Surrounded by plains, there was plenty of grass for the horses to graze, and a small but plentiful stream nearby made it an ideal resting spot.
Yeon-hoo quenched his thirst with the liquor Songyeong had brought. Glancing at him, Songyeong's expression was still dark, but the demonic energy within him seemed somewhat stabilized.
“I'm alright now.”
“To truly make it your own martial art, start by learning to control your emotions.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Go rest.”
As Songyeong departed, Sin Hwi casually asked, “That mad bastard you mentioned who was there when you beheaded Jang Un—is he that guy?”
“He picked up a demonic art, but without controlling his rage, it left some weird aftereffects. Not full heart demon territory, but I'm looking for a way to fix it. Not easy.”
“Sounds like you've got some expertise in demonic arts yourself.”
“I just happened to learn one, and look what it did to me.”
“Not you. Him.”
Sin Hwi jerked his thumb at himself, and Yeon-hoo chuckled dryly before taking another swig.
That was when Baek Mu Yeong approached. “My lord, look over there.”
Yeon-hoo turned toward where Baek Mu Yeong pointed. From the southwest across the plains—the direction the Jecheon Army was heading—a single rider kicked up clouds of dust, racing toward them at full gallop. Surprisingly, the figure on horseback was Seo-baek.
“He shouldn't be back yet... Did something happen?”
“We'll know when he arrives.”
Soon after, Seo-baek leaped from his horse before it even stopped, landing in front of Yeon-hoo. Only then did the messenger behind him come into view, hidden until now. Everyone stared curiously between Seo-baek and the messenger.
“My lord! Big trouble's hit back there—real big trouble!”
“Quit panicking and spit it out.”
“Jang So killed Jang Cheon and is fleeing to Northwest Murim for asylum!”
“...!”
Yeon-hoo and everyone else froze in shock. Jang So killing Jang Cheon was stunning enough, but seeking refuge in Northwest Murim was even more jaw-dropping. Individual defections had happened before, but a mass exodus like this was unprecedented—not just in the North, but anywhere in the jianghu.
Yeon-hoo turned to the messenger. “Is this true?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Seo-baek continued, “You mustn't attack their rear guard. They've already discarded them as disposable pawns!”
“Using them to stall us while they escape—classic ploy.”
“Exactly!”
The unforeseen turn left Yeon-hoo's mind reeling. But one thing was clear now: there was no time to stop Jang So's defection.
Returning to Jang Family territory was one thing; heading to Northwest Murim was entirely different.
Sin Hwi spoke up. “Should've brought the Northern Legion and Southern Defense Army too...”
Yeon-hoo felt like he'd taken a solid hit. As Sin Hwi said, five thousand Blood King riders alone couldn't handle the Jecheon Army's tens of thousands of elites. Guerrilla hit-and-runs could buy time until the main forces arrived, but the losses to the Blood King Army would be devastating—and unacceptable.
The Blood King Army has big roles ahead. I can't lose them in a scrap like this.
Learning of the Jecheon Army's retreat, Yeon-hoo now regretted not bringing the Northern Legion. But with Iron Blood Family's security paramount, it had been unavoidable.
Yeon-hoo ended his brief deliberation. “At this point, we can't stop Jang So or the Jecheon Army from fleeing.”
“We could if we pushed hard...”
“Can't risk the Blood King Army against mere rebels. You don't want that either.”
Sin Hwi nodded silently.
Yeon-hoo turned to the messenger. “You said the rear guard warriors are just mercenaries who joined for pay to survive?”
“Yes. And many were brainwashed by the Jang Family since childhood. Please show mercy...”
Yeon-hoo cut him off firmly. “I'll take your word for it. Surrender, and I'll accept them. Resist, and I won't hold back.”
Thud!
“Thank you! Thank you, my lord!”
Seo-baek collapsed in relief too. He'd braced for an attack order—Yeon-hoo was the type to give it without hesitation.
Baek Mu Yeong stepped forward. “They might surrender to survive now, but it could breed future problems.”
“Mu Yeong.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“The old me would've attacked without a second thought. But you can't judge the current me by that standard. As lord of the North, I must prioritize the region's peace. Same for all of you.”
“...”
“The rear guard numbers at least twenty thousand. Add their families back in Jang territory, and it's sixty thousand at minimum—maybe more.”
Whoosh! The wind clawed at Yeon-hoo's face.
“You want me to slaughter them all, don't you?”
“...”
“We're not demons. Remember, my dream—and the path we're forging together—isn't just reclaiming the Northern throne. It's beyond that.”
The Iron Blood Family, scarred by a tempest of bloodshed, now turned to healing its wounds—a task for the survivors. Everyone bustled about, and after three days, a semblance of normalcy had returned.
No one was busier than Dongbang Ri. Though military physicians existed, her skills outshone theirs, leaving the critically wounded entirely in her care. Today, too, she'd been tending patients in the infirmary since dawn.
Among them was Jo Yeong.
“Only you can heal your heart's wounds, so let go of the past and focus on positive thoughts.”
“...Yes.”
This wasn't the usual Jo Yeong. His vacant eyes and feeble response held no trace of his former arrogance or fire.
As Dongbang Ri moved to another patient, Jo Yeong rose from his bed and shuffled to the window. The sky today was an exceptionally vivid blue, stretching endlessly high. A sky-lover by nature, Jo Yeong stood frozen, gaze lost in its depths.
Tone it down, Jo.
You're making us suffer too.
What makes you think you can look down on us?
If we'd been born into a great house like yours, swallowing spirit pills and heavenly herbs, we'd be peak experts by now.
The hallucinations, quiet for a while, now echoed in his mind again. Visions of the slain youths tormented him like nightmares. Right before the incident, he'd treated them with contempt. It had seemed natural then, but now, with them all dead, it festered as an indelible scar of regret.
That wasn't my true heart...
Never once had he shown them his real feelings, and that gnawed at him deepest.
Squeeze! Jo Yeong clenched his eyes shut.
Then—
“Yeong-ah!”
At the familiar call, he opened his eyes. His father, Jo Chung, entered the infirmary courtyard, followed by the fathers of the dead youths rushing in. As their faces morphed into those of the slain boys, Jo Yeong's eyes quivered violently, hot tears streaming down his cheeks.
“...I'm sorry. Truly sorry.”
Jo Chung sat face-to-face with Sama Song. His expression shifted repeatedly as he listened.
“Young Master Jo's merit was immense. Without him, we might've slept through till morning, oblivious.”
“My boy survived, but the others...”
“They fought valiantly without surrender and died heroes. The lord and all the North will never forget them.”
“As it should be.”
Jo Chung drew two ornate golden boxes from his bosom.
“Dragon's Eye Stones, carved from diamond by a master artisan over fifty years. Worth at least a million nyang in silver. Use them for the lord's reconstruction.”
“Merchant Lord, this treasure...”
“My son told me. The lord truly wishes for his strength and treats him sincerely. He even said, with unyielding resolve, he'll become a true expert and a proper Northerner.”
“Did he?”
“He's found his dream—a true warrior's dream. What are mere gems compared to the lord giving my once-worthless son that? House Jo will serve the lord and the North till our last breath!”
Sama Song seized Jo Chung's hand.
“Thank you. You'll be a great boon to the lord.”
Then, a warrior's shout drifted from outside.
“Family Head! The lord returns!”
Jo Chung shot to his feet first. Sama Song smiled faintly.
“Let's go welcome him.”
The entire Iron Blood Family poured out to greet Yeon-hoo as he passed through the main gate. Parting the crowd, he headed straight for the infirmary, the leadership trailing behind.
Soon, his eyes met Jo Yeong's at the window.
Jo Yeong bowed deeply. Yeon-hoo strode right to him. He remembered clearly: Jo Yeong sobbing before the corpses at the grand drill grounds, then risking his life to escape and expose Jang Cheon's rebellion.
They faced each other in silence. After a moment, Yeon-hoo placed a hand on Jo Yeong's shoulder.
“The instructor said you were magnificent that night.”
“...!”
Tears trickled down Jo Yeong's cheeks.
Jo Chung, watching from behind, reddened too.
“You're at your best when you're cocky and acting tough—so get better quick.”
Yeon-hoo turned away. But one final word lingered.
“Thank you. We held this place because of you, Jo Yeong.”