Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 124 - Ironclad Defense
Jang Chu-sam was Jang So's cousin, confidant, and one of Jang Cheon's closest aides. He was one of the few men Jang So, who had fled into exile in the Northwest Murim, could truly rely on. Now, he was moving toward the Northern Murim to carry out a vital mission.
About three hundred men, perhaps? They slipped through the cover of night, their lightness skills swift and silent. Under Jang Chu-sam's command, they plunged fearlessly into Northern Murim territory. After a full day of relentless travel without rest, they reached their destination.
Before launching the operation, Jang Chu-sam ordered his men to rest and caught his own breath. He wet his throat with liquor handed to him by a close subordinate, then stepped to the cliff's edge and gazed at the site where the operation would unfold.
His eyes fell on a cluster of houses lined up in rows, with villagers tending fields here and there.
"Is that really the Northern Central Army's grain depot?"
The man who approached Jang Chu-sam with the question was Hong Gwan, the head of the Wall Thunder Family.
"It is. Those houses are just a facade. Step inside, and the structure is completely different from what it appears—stacked with at least a year's worth of provisions."
"Clever camouflage. No wonder our intelligence network keeps coming up empty. But for a storage site holding that much grain, the guards seem awfully sparse, don't they?"
"Most of the troops are inside the buildings. Quite a few will soon head out to the nearby city, so we'll rest up fully and wait until then."
Hong Gwan grinned with satisfaction at Jang Chu-sam's words.
"Heh heh heh. I have to see that bastard Yeon-hoo's face twist up with my own eyes..."
If Jang Chu-sam was right, the operation would succeed without a hitch. Watching him, Jang Chu-sam asked,
"I hear you've taken quite a beating from that Yeon-hoo fellow lately... Just how bad was it?"
"You don't need to know."
"We're family now. Surely you can share that much."
"Hey, I said drop it!"
"Judging by your reaction, the rumors must be true—you got hit hard."
Hong Gwan's expression darkened instantly.
"As bad as it got for you lot, losing your master and abandoning your homeland in exile."
"What did you say?"
Jang Chu-sam's face twisted in fury. Undeterred, Hong Gwan added,
"You said we're family just now... If you want to be treated like one, prove your worth properly."
Hong Gwan shot Jang Chu-sam a piercing glare before turning back to his men. Jang Chu-sam glared daggers at his retreating back, then shifted his gaze to the disguised village that housed the grain depot. Just then, a large group of warriors poured out from the buildings. Some relieved the field workers, but most headed toward the road leading to the nearby city.
One of Jang Chu-sam's aides narrowed his eyes.
"They're leaving earlier than scheduled."
"Means their discipline's slipped. Prepare."
"Yes, sir."
Jang Chu-sam glanced at Hong Gwan, who had also noticed the troops departing and was now ordering his men to assemble. Moments later, the three hundred-strong force finished resting and gathered.
"As planned, we'll take the right flank."
"Understood."
Hong Gwan led his hundred-odd subordinates stealthily through the woods toward the left side of the operation zone. A fierce wind rattled the trees, making their approach easier, but Hong Gwan was excessively cautious, taking point himself as a scout.
Even so, they'd normally post sentries at this range...
He drew within fifty jang but spotted no guards. Far from reassuring him, it fueled his suspicions. He signaled his men to hold position and crept closer alone. After about twenty jang, the dense bamboo thinned, revealing a massive iron gate that no ordinary village home would have.
Hong Gwan halted, scanning the gate sharply.
"What are you staring at so intently?"
"...!"
The voice pierced his ear like a needle. Hong Gwan's eyes bulged as he drew his sword and spun, slashing wildly. But his blade barely turned halfway.
Slash!
Hong Gwan's head tumbled onto the bamboo-strewn ground. As the head of the Wall Thunder Family, he was undoubtedly a master, but his death was pathetically abrupt—not because he was weak, but because the ambush struck with blinding speed.
"You lot never deviate from the lord's predictions, do you? If you knew the granary was empty, you'd die with eyes wide open in outrage. Tsk tsk tsk."
A clear voice rang out as the bamboo rustled, and a figure emerged—Seo-wi-ryang. He snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The iron gate swung open, and some two hundred warriors in blood-red uniforms poured out silently. They were the Blood King Army, soldiers known as the Reapers of Death. Inside the building they emerged from was utterly barren—no trace of grain anywhere.
Seo-wi-ryang sneered down at Hong Gwan's still-warm corpse.
"Did you think we'd sit idle while Jang So fled into exile? You should've at least anticipated tighter security around key facilities. Heh heh heh."
Jang Chu-sam pressed forward boldly with his men. Familiar with the terrain, his advance was far swifter than Hong Gwan's. Disguised as villagers, they skirted the field workers and circled to the rear right flank—the weakest point, as he well knew.
"Prepare the blinding fire oil."
At his command, his troops drew out gourd bottles and readied fuses.
"When I open the gate, douse it with fire oil and seal it shut immediately. Then eliminate the field workers."
"Understood."
Jang Chu-sam took point himself to breach the gate. His sword sang free of its sheath, already cloaked in sword energy. He planned to decapitate the guards and fling the gate wide in one swift motion.
Whoosh!
He launched at the warriors. Then—
The guard at the gate bared his teeth in a grin.
"You're here."
"...!"
The warrior was Bu Cha, vice-commander of the Demon Corps. His comrades surged from behind him. Ignoring the airborne Jang Chu-sam, they hurtled straight toward his waiting troops.
Something's wrong!
A chill ran down Jang Chu-sam's spine. Bu Cha's gravelly voice followed.
"You dare zone out with me right in front of you?!"
Swoosh! Boom!
Jang Chu-sam parried the brutish axe swing, the impact nearly shattering every bone as he barely landed. Flash! Boom! He withstood a second blow, nearly losing his grip on his sword.
"Not bad for a rat sneaking in for rice. Heh heh heh."
Jang Chu-sam glared at Bu Cha with trembling eyes. Bu Cha strode forward with a toothy grin.
"Northwest dog? Or Jecheon Army dog?"
Jang Chu-sam said nothing, resetting his stance.
"Fine, don't answer. When King Yama asks who sent you, say the Demon Corps vice-commander Bu Cha delivered you personally. Heh heh heh."
The Demon Corps!
Jang Chu-sam's mind reeled. Who didn't know their infamy? And Bu Cha, the Axe Murderer, claimed a huge share of it.
Damn it...
Boom!
He flung himself backward. But Bu Cha was faster than he imagined.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Both of Jang Chu-sam's legs sprayed blood as they flew off. As he toppled off-balance, Bu Cha's axe descended on his head.
Splat!
Blood and brains splattered Bu Cha's face. He spat.
"Pathetic worm."
Wiping his face with his sleeve, Bu Cha looked ahead. The Demon Corps was already clashing with Jang Chu-sam's men. Agonized screams erupted from the left flank too.
"Looks like the Blood King Army moved on time. Shall we go slaughter the rest? Heh heh heh."
Bu Cha kicked Jang Chu-sam's headless corpse aside and strode toward the fray. Clang! Crunch! "Aaaagh!" "Uwaaak!" Screams and the stench of blood pierced the bamboo grove. To Bu Cha, it wasn't foul—it was sweet perfume. He dragged his massive axe leisurely toward the battlefield.
Then—
Hey, pig. Can't you move any faster?
Baek-un's voice, like thunder in his mind, made Bu Cha blurt out,
"I'm running right now, sir!"
Boom!
Whoooosh!
At the cliff's edge, where fierce winds howled, Sin Hwi mounted his warhorse and scowled down at the vast plain. Thousands of cavalry kicked up dust storms, charging northwest.
"They must be panicking, betting everything on Jang So's word only to find no warhorses."
"They're turning back without even scouting the plains properly—probably think it's a trap."
"Maybe."
Sin Hwi's gaze shifted to the northwest edge of the plain. It seemed serene now, but soon it would be a field of blood and death.
"It took half a day after they entered Northern territory for the first report. Cut that time in half through blood, sweat, and training."
"Understood. I'll increase troop numbers."
Sin Hwi frowned.
"Anyone can add bodies. Shrink the time with what you have."
"...Yes, sir."
"No confidence?"
"No, sir! Full confidence!"
His aide snapped to attention like a raw recruit. To the Blood King Army, Sin Hwi was an object of awe—and terror.
"Issue the attack order."
"Yes, sir!"
The aide drew a long signal tube from his bosom—not for messages, but for the Blood King Army's flares. Fwoosh! It streaked skyward trailing smoke, then boomed, painting the heavens red with fire.
Moments later, dust clouds rose from the northwest edge of the plain. Sin Hwi scowled again.
"Too slow reacting to the flare."
"That's incredibly fast, isn't it...?"
"Once the battle's done, you and your brother will have words with me."
"..."
The aide's face paled. He knew exactly what that meant.
We're dead!
Over several days, battles erupted at key Northern facilities against the Northwest Murim forces. The results were Northern victories across the board. The Northwest, trusting Jang So's intel, suffered crushing defeats—only about ten percent of their initial assault forces escaped with their lives.