Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 123: Hyeon-jin's Choice
Thud thud thud!
The riders charged relentlessly toward the village, their hideous faces twisted in malice as they brandished axes, swords, and massive cleavers. They were warriors of the Yellow River Lily.
Ting! Whoooosh!
Two arrows sliced through the air. But unlike the first, they missed the villagers entirely and flew off into the distance.
"Hey! There's a carriage over there!"
"Oh ho! A carriage in this backwater dump!"
Two of them spotted Yeon-hoo's carriage at the village entrance and wheeled their horses around.
"Heh heh heh! Hope it's stuffed full of gold and jewels!"
"I want a pretty girl!"
"Both would be perfect!"
"Uhahaha!"
Thud thud thud!
The horses carrying the brutes closed in on Yeon-hoo's carriage in an instant. One leaped from his saddle mid-gallop, landing atop the carriage roof.
Or rather, just as his feet were about to touch down—
Weeeeng!
A strange whirring sound rang out, and the brute sensed something hurtling toward him. He whipped his head around.
It was a flat, disc-like beam of light.
"What the—?"
Splat!
The brute's head exploded like a watermelon.
"Gah!"
His companion yanked the reins in shock. But a beam of light flew at him too.
Having witnessed his partner's death, the brute swung his sword to block it. Yet the light evaded the blade like a living thing and struck his throat squarely.
Splat!
The severed head shot high into the air. Just as it began to plummet, Yeon-hoo appeared atop the carriage.
The others belatedly realized their comrades were dead and turned their horses toward him.
But Yeon-hoo looked elsewhere.
A villager lay felled by an arrow. Hyeon-jin was descending beside him.
A faint gleam of admiration flickered in Yeon-hoo's eyes.
Hyeon-jin's lightness skill was astonishing, even to him.
Still the same as ever.
Hyeon-jin knelt, head bowed, gently caressing the dead villager's face. A thick killing intent emanated from him, reaching even Yeon-hoo.
I hope that rage isn't directed at me...
Yeon-hoo glanced back. Yuksoon stood at the village entrance, with the young man who called Hyeon-jin "master" beside him. The youth gripped a longsword.
Yeon-hoo turned back to Hyeon-jin. He was rising now, looking his way. Their gazes locked once more.
"Don't you get it yet? What kind of man you are!"
"You're misunderstanding. They're not after me."
Whoosh!
Yeon-hoo ignored the oncoming riders and launched himself toward the group in the rear. Hyeon-jin, conversely, flew at the eight brutes ahead.
Black smoke billowed thickly from his hands. His eyes turned pitch-black as ink.
"These filthy demonic spawn... This is no place for the likes of you."
Shoooo!
The black smoke engulfed the brutes. The Yellow River Lily warriors, faced with this bizarre sight, wildly swung their swords to dispel it—but the smoke spread wider, blinding them.
Hyeon-jin plunged into the midst.
Kwah kwah kwak! Thud splat!
"Gaaargh!"
"Kwaaak!"
Agonized death cries echoed from the smoke.
At the village entrance, Yuksoon gaped wide-eyed. Even he had never seen anything like this.
"What... the hell is that...?"
"Devil's smoke..."
The youth beside him muttered like a man possessed.
Yuksoon turned to him. "Devil's smoke? Hey, what do you mean?"
"About a month ago, bandits attacked the village. That smoke appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered them all. It was so terrifying and eerie, we called it the devil's smoke..."
"And you, his disciple, knew nothing about it?"
The youth just shook his head.
Yuksoon turned back to the gruesome scene. His eyes widened again.
"They're all... dead."
The eight riderless horses scattered in panic. In that brief moment, all eight were gone.
Yuksoon's gaze naturally followed Hyeon-jin slicing through the air. He landed amid the slaughter Yeon-hoo was unleashing.
The "devil's smoke" rose again, trapping those fleeing Yeon-hoo. They collapsed with wretched screams.
"Gaaak!"
"Kwaaaak!"
The youth turned to Yuksoon. "Shouldn't we help?"
"I'd like to, but my mission is to ensure not a single one passes this point."
"No one seems like they'll make it through anyway..."
"Still, I have to guard it. Lord's orders."
The Yellow River Lily warriors began fleeing. But their numbers had dwindled to less than half. Over twenty had perished in moments.
Yuksoon muttered dazedly, "The world is full of monsters."
"Who're you calling monsters?"
"Can't you see? Those two...?"
"Then aren't you one too?"
"Me? Well..."
Smack!
"Watch who you're calling 'that guy.' Show some respect to your elder."
Yuksoon had flicked the youth's forehead, feigning anger—when two fleeing Yellow River Lily warriors veered straight toward them.
Yuksoon's expression hardened instantly. He'd had no intention of letting any live; he'd already channeled his Golden Diamond Wall from the start.
The warriors lunged at Yuksoon and the youth, swords flashing wildly.
"Out of the way, you bastards!"
Yuksoon moved at the same time.
Splat!
"Guhk!"
The first strike sent one tumbling in a spray of blood.
The second shattered the other's sword.
Clang!
As Yuksoon's diamond-hard hand met the blade, metal rang out. Then came the head.
Splat!
The blood and brains flying at Yuksoon halted mid-air, repelled by an invisible force and scattering harmlessly.
Yuksoon looked down at his hand and muttered again, "Do the weak see me as a monster too?"
"Probably..."
Smack!
* * *
A fleeing Yellow River Lily warrior collapsed, blood gushing. His left leg had been cleanly severed below the shin.
Hyeon-jin swooped in, seizing his throat.
Crack!
"Keurk!"
"Were you chasing him?"
Hyeon-jin jabbed a finger at Yeon-hoo as he interrogated.
"W-we... a-about a m-month ago, our b-brothers vanished n-near here... guhk!"
"What?"
His eyes trembled.
About a month ago, bandits had appeared here—vicious ones that threatened the village. Unable to stand by, he'd unleashed his hidden power and wiped them out.
Which meant he had drawn these men—not Yeon-hoo, but himself.
"So those bandits back then were your gang?!"
"Kekeke. Calling the mighty Yellow River Lily bandits?"
"...!"
"Don't get cocky just because you beat us. You're skilled, sure... but some escaped alive. Soon, not even an ant will survive here. Kekeke!"
Drip drip.
He'd bitten his tongue? Black blood poured from his mouth, and his head lolled.
Thud!
Hyeon-jin stared blankly at the ground, stunned.
No matter how reclusive, he knew the Yellow River Lily. They wouldn't let this slide twice.
I brought these monsters here... I did...
"There's still time to save everyone."
Hyeon-jin looked up at Yeon-hoo.
Yeon-hoo continued impassively, "I'll give them a new home in the North. Right by my main base—the safest spot."
"And you think I'll follow you because of that?"
"The Yellow River Lily won't sit idle after two defeats. If you're confident you can protect them alone, do as you please."
His eyes quivered again.
Now Yeon-hoo was certain. Hyeon-jin's greatest weakness was these villagers.
"Stay by my side and watch. If the path I walk doesn't suit you, leave then. I'll not stop you. And regardless of your choice, I promise to protect the village."
Yeon-hoo turned and walked toward Yuksoon.
After a few steps, Hyeon-jin's breathing grew ragged.
"Promise me!"
"Name your terms."
"Even if I leave your side later, guarantee their safety!"
"I just did."
"Swear it!"
"I keep my word. You know that better than anyone..."
Yeon-hoo kept walking. He sensed Hyeon-jin following, but didn't stop or look back.
Even if he held the weaker hand, he had no desire to grovel. If need be, he'd eliminate the threat entirely.
That's how he'd lived—how he always would. No matter who stood in his way.
"Good work."
As Yuksoon bowed in greeting, the youth—Ju Cheon Dong—rushed to Hyeon-jin.
"Master!"
Hyeon-jin stroked his head.
"Were you scared?"
"...Yes. I feared for the villagers... and for you, Master."
"Cheon Dong."
"Yes, Master."
"It seems we must leave this place."
"Pardon? What about the villagers?"
"They come with us."
"Ah... Yes. Then where to?"
"Somewhere safer than here."
Hyeon-jin closed his eyes. Memories of Yeon-hoo from their past flickered through his mind.
The man he'd seen was a devil incarnate. He'd slain all who blocked his path, sparing no one—man, woman, or child—once deemed an enemy.
In the Great Plains of Da-mak, he'd butchered three hundred attackers, then razed their homes, leaving not even an ant alive amid the ashes.
That's why he'd left. Regretting even a moment by such a devil's side, he'd hidden in seclusion, praying for the dead.
Yet here he was again. And he wanted Hyeon-jin.
Is it my fate to never escape his side?
Crunch.
He bit his lip until it bled.
Then Yeon-hoo's indifferent voice struck his ear.
"Enough moping. Decide quickly. The Yellow River Lily are far tougher than you think."