Chapter 128 - Mo-yong-seong's Miscalculation
Yeon-hoo filled his cup with liquor. Drip, drip. He sipped it deliberately slowly.
Mo-yong-seong assumed Yeon-hoo must be inwardly flustered. His own counterattack had been sharp and exquisitely timed, after all—or so he thought.
Thud!
"What is it you want to say to me? No, better yet—what is it you want?"
Mo-yong-seong spoke as if he'd been waiting for the question.
"Grant us autonomy."
"Autonomy?"
"Until now, we've defended our lands from foreign invaders on our own, without anyone's help. Acknowledge that, my lord, and from this day forward, not only our Mo-yong family but everyone north of Yoyeong Province will follow you and your house."
As he spoke, Mo-yong-seong watched Yeon-hoo's reaction through narrowed eyes. But contrary to his hopes, Yeon-hoo showed not the slightest change. If anything, a chill was rising from the depths of his pupils.
"It sounds like you're saying you won't follow unless I grant you autonomy. Is that it?"
"I firmly believe you'll understand our earnest plea."
Mo-yong-seong adroitly sidestepped the tricky question.
"Hm..."
Yeon-hoo gripped his cup and furrowed his brow. He fell silent for a long moment. To Mo-yong-seong, it looked like utter bewilderment.
He's still young. Tough on the outside, but green inside... A little more pressure, and I can get what I want.
Mo-yong-seong finally eased his tension.
"Allow me to offer a toast, if I may."
Yeon-hoo waved a hand dismissively.
Mo-yong-seong continued calmly. "I've set aside plenty of time, so take as long as you need to decide. I'll wait gladly."
"No need to drag it out..."
"If you decide quickly... I'll only be grateful."
"Aren't you curious what I'm pondering?"
"Well, from what I said..."
"Seems like you're under some delusion."
"...!"
A foreboding chill swept over Mo-yong-seong. It soon became reality.
"I'm debating whether to kill you here or spare you. That attitude of yours—refusing to follow unless you get what you want. It's blatant blackmail. Threatening your lord? I could sever your head right now, and no one would bat an eye. Am I wrong?"
His tone shifted with his gaze. Mo-yong-seong's mind went blank. He'd never imagined this scenario. His composure shattered beyond bewilderment, and raw fear surged—that he might truly die.
But Mo-yong-seong was no weakling. He trusted in his clan's power over Yoyeong Province and the north.
He wouldn't dare make enemies of all northern Yoyeong—not unless he's mad.
Regathering his thoughts, Mo-yong-seong pressed on. "I spoke only as the voice of Yoyeong and all its northern people. How could that be blackmailing my lord? Please reconsider."
"First, I need to verify if your Mo-yong family truly represents Yoyeong and the north. That'll take time, so you'll stay at the main house until then."
Before Mo-yong-seong could respond, Yeon-hoo snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Cheol-u approached from Mo-yong-chan's table—Mo-yong-seong's nephew.
"Take him back to the main house."
"Understood."
"Are you placing me under arrest?"
"Interpret it as you will."
"My lord!"
Swish.
Cheol-u drew his sword and pressed it to Mo-yong-seong's throat. Sheathed or not, the icy aura seeped into his body. Cheol-u's voice was even colder.
"Want to be dragged like a dog?"
"..."
"Stand nicely while I'm being polite."
Meanwhile, Mo-yong-chan couldn't even rise. Seobaek grinned at him.
"Best not to act rashly—for your own good, yeah? Heh heh heh."
"...!"
Seobaek added one more jab. "Count yourself lucky your neck's still attached. Honestly, I was dead sure your uncle or whatever was done for. Guess our lord's gone soft from all that official business. Tsk tsk tsk."
* * *
Golden Merchant Group.
Wang-jeok's face drained of color. The man who feared and envied nothing in the world trembled as his pudgy hands—veins invisible under the fat—touched his son Wang-ho's deathly cold cheek.
Since returning from his kidnapping, Wang-ho had writhed in agony once a day, screaming for months. Wang-jeok had summoned every renowned physician in the land with mountains of gold, but to no avail. This morning, he'd finally breathed his last.
"Kuh..."
Plip, plip!
Tears rolled down Wang-jeok's cheek and onto his son's face. The boy's final pleas to be saved had been more agonizing than anything in the world.
The Golden Merchant Group's leaders stood behind him, eyes reddened. None dared offer comfort, holding their breath.
All but one.
Garak spoke in a somber tone. "It's late to say this now, but the young master went mad trying to rescue the children sold into slavery just days ago. Even in his torment, he said he'd die if he couldn't save them. Looks like his kidnappers used some seal and threatened him to do it."
"Why speak of this now?"
"He begged me not to tell you, master. Said everything would work out fine."
Wang-ho had believed obeying would lift the seal.
Tremble...
Wang-jeok's face twitched. Garak continued. "Tracking the culprits led us to two suspects."
"Who?!"
"Hwasan Sect and Mudan Sect. We suspected them after they hit our escorts this year. Investigating the kidnapping, we confirmed some involvement. Daoists from both sects were spotted at the scene the day he was taken."
"Those crazy bastards!"
"Give me your orders, master! I'll take men and rip those daoist scum apart!"
The room erupted. Then one voice countered.
"They told the young master to go to Wall Thunder Manor to lift the seal, right? We can't rule them out."
This had been debated before. Garak repeated himself.
"I said it then, and I'll say it now: that was a lie to confuse our pursuit and buy time. The real culprits are exposed—drop it."
Wang-jeok spat his agreement. "I think the same. The northwest's coffers are the richest among the Eight Great Families. No reason for them to risk eternal enmity with us over this. Besides, they'll be our allies soon enough!"
Whoosh...
A killing chill swept the room—from Wang-jeok himself. Astonishing. He was known for only basic martial skill. Even Garak flinched at the terrifying yin energy.
"Elder Ga!"
"Yes."
"Lead men to Mudan Sect yourself. Burn it to ash, but drag back anyone linked to the kidnapping—alive."
"It shall be done."
"Who'll handle Hwasan?"
"Leave it to me."
The volunteer was a one-eyed middle-aged man radiating sword-like sharpness: One-Eyed Sword Heo-hui. Wang-jeok had recruited him at great cost; before joining, he'd been a top-five unorthodox master.
"Remember what I told Elder Ga!"
"Understood."
Soon, Garak and Heo-hui departed for Mudang Mountain and Hwasan.
Wang-jeok ordered all branches closed for five days to mourn. Despite the massive losses, it was the only way to dull his grief.
* * *
Bamboo Grove Village.
Yeon-hoo entered the village adjacent to Iron Blood Family. Even from afar, the dense bamboo groves marked it as the heart of bamboo craftsmanship. Skilled artisans' wares sold not just north but across the world, bringing wealth far beyond neighboring towns.
"Rich villages stand out from the gate. Look at those totem poles—shiny as hell. Damn..."
Songyeong pointed at the imposing totems at the entrance, joking.
Carved wooden totems weren't special, but Bamboo Grove's were gilded at eyes, navel, and nails—to ward evil and draw fortune.
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
"Cut it out. Jealous? Make bamboo crap here yourself."
Seo-wi-ryang kicked Songyeong's rear. Yeon-hoo strode past their bickering into the village.
He had come for Hyeon-jin, who lived here. His followers had made it their home too.
"Welcome, my lord!"
"The lord's here!"
Villagers bowed to Yeon-hoo. To these non-martial folk, he was no sovereign but a noble.
Ju Cheon Dong ran up from ahead.
"Welcome!"
"Is your master here?"
"Yes, teaching the children at his home."
"Bad timing."
"No, he'll finish soon—go on."
Yeon-hoo followed to the village's south. Houses brimmed with glossy wares symbolizing their prosperity.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned. Someone dashed in like the wind—Yuksoon.
Yeon-hoo frowned. The urgency spelled trouble.
Whoosh!
"What happened?"
"Intel: Mudan and Hwasan Sects attacked by Golden Merchant Group—utterly destroyed. Happened days ago. Multiple daoist corpses, presumed from Mudan, found in Gwangpyeong."
Yeon-hoo's eyes hardened. He couldn't ignore this.
So it came out after all.
His conscience pricked. The sects weren't unrelated—he'd used them to kidnap Wang-ho and reaped a fortune.
"Gwangpyeong?"
"Yes. Looks like Golden Merchant's chasing survivors into our north."
Gwangpyeong was northern Murim's southernmost city. Yeon-hoo closed his eyes. Faces of Mudan's true experts and Hwasan's lightness masters flashed by.
"Tell Elder Council Leader: Issue search orders in all southern cities. Aid any Mudan or Hwasan survivors immediately. Authorize combat with Golden Merchant."
"Got it."
Yuksoon vanished. Yeon-hoo's steps to Hyeon-jin's grew heavier than lead.