Jang Cheon's Concession
"It seems there's a misunderstanding. When we heard that the young master had headed straight to the Punishment Hall from the battlefield, we brought the commander's carriage. Of course, it was to deliver it to you."
The words Yeon-hoo had anticipated slipped from Jang Cheon's lips. He had deliberately sent a transmission to provoke this exact response. At the very least, the warriors gathered here would now know that Jang Cheon had bowed his head to Yeon-hoo.
He must be brimming with confidence that he could crush someone like me at any moment. That's why he's making these concessions.
Yeon-hoo had pierced straight through Jang Cheon's intentions. And he exploited them thoroughly. Whether Jang Cheon realized it or not was his own affair.
"If that's the family head's will, then I am grateful."
"In that case, please board the carriage at once."
Yeon-hoo glanced at Cheol-u and Seobaek. Seobaek stepped forward in a single stride, looking up at the warrior on the driver's seat with a grin.
"Get down already."
"……."
The warrior dismounted reluctantly, and Seobaek climbed up to take his place.
"My lord. Please board."
"Wait."
Yeon-hoo turned to Cheol-u.
"If you'd been caught off guard once before, you should have prepared for it."
"This time, it wasn't acting alone... He died suddenly without any warning. Even after his acupoints were sealed."
Died without any warning?
Yeon-hoo narrowed his eyes. Committing suicide with sealed acupoints? It was impossible by any common sense. Some strange trick had clearly been at play.
They truly are an unusual bunch.
Yeon-hoo turned back to Jang Cheon.
"Then I'll be on my way. Please handle the disposal of this corpse."
"Understood. We'll take care of it, so don't worry and be on your way."
Jang Cheon bowed his head once more.
A moment later, the carriage carrying Yeon-hoo began rolling northward through the marketplace. Watching it go, a furrow creased Jang Cheon's brow.
One of his close aides approached and asked, "That insolence has gone too far. Why does the family head keep yielding to him?"
"He's the commander's legitimate heir, isn't he?"
"Even so, handing over the carriage itself..."
"It's the commander's carriage too. What choice is there when he asks for it?"
Unlike his fuming aide, Jang Cheon appeared utterly at ease.
"Still, it feels like too much concession. I'm worried the Second Young Master might start deluding himself that he's truly the lord now."
"Delusion... Those who fall from great heights always crash the hardest, huhuhu."
His aide couldn't comprehend Jang Cheon, who wasn't angry but instead wore a strange smile.
"It seems you don't trust me."
"How could I dare? It's just that the family head is humbling himself so much, I find your intentions puzzling."
"I understand your feelings, so let's go."
"I'll fetch a horse from the stables."
"No. Since we've come this far, let's walk slowly, enjoy the scenery, and take in the sights of the people."
"We still have two full days of travel ahead."
"What's two days? Enough with the fussing—lead the way."
"......Yes. Escort the family head!"
"Yes!"
Jang Cheon took the lead. His aide let out a quiet sigh and followed, while the Jang Family warriors quickly surrounded him for protection.
Soon after, people began crowding around the corpse. Among them was Noegeom. Dressed in utterly ordinary clothes, he stared at his dead subordinates amid the throng, his gaze darkening.
One of his close aides said gravely, "It was the perfect opportunity. And yet we were overpowered without a fight. It seems he's even stronger than we anticipated."
Noegeom nodded silently. In truth, he was deeply shocked himself. His subordinates were assassins who had succeeded in dozens of missions without fail. And yet, in that fleeting moment, they had charged in with perfect timing—close enough to touch with an outstretched hand. Not only had they failed to land a single scratch, but they had all been subdued in an instant.
What was even more astonishing was that one had been captured alive in that chaos.
Pfft.
Suddenly, a peculiar smile tugged at Noegeom's lips.
It's been a while since I met a worthy opponent.
Noegeom could clearly feel it. His heart, cold and stagnant for so long, was heating up fiercely.
Someone was watching Noegeom. It was Jang Cheon. As he strolled leisurely through the marketplace before suddenly turning into an alley, he fixed a meaningful smile on the enigmatic figure blending into the crowd.
He's with the ones who attacked the Second Young Master.
What should we do, family head?
A single transmission voice wormed into Jang Cheon's ear.
No need for us to intervene. Just leave them be.
The Second Young Master might suspect the family head.
Let him.
[......]
Wall Thunder Family must have made their move by now. In that case, he might crumble before even reaching the Punishment Hall. Huhuhu.
Jang Cheon turned away with a triumphant smile. Then, his expression shifted to one of realization.
I left the gift for the Great Earth Sovereign behind...
For the first time, dismay clouded Jang Cheon's face, which hadn't faltered even before Yeon-hoo's arrogance. Along with it came a rising unease.
That, I can't yield...
* * *
The carriage interior was the pinnacle of luxury. Tiger skins carpeted the floor, and sculptures adorned the walls—each one visibly rare and exquisite at a glance.
But what most captured Yeon-hoo's attention was a large golden box placed to one side.
Yun Hoe said, "It seems to be a gift for the Great Earth Sovereign."
Yeon-hoo opened the lid of the golden box. A dazzling light pierced his eyes and spread outward.
And there, revealed, was a single orb. It looked as if a dragon's eye had been plucked out whole. Yun Hoe let out an exclamation.
"A dragon's eye stone this large... I never imagined."
The dragon's eye stone resembled a cat's eye gem in shape but was priceless beyond comparison. Especially one the size of a child's fist—its value in silver taels was beyond imagination.
But Yeon-hoo had no interest in wealth and little knowledge of it.
"Is this thing that impressive?"
"At this size..."
Yun Hoe explained the stone's value in detail. When he finished, Yeon-hoo couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief.
"Did my father send gifts like this to the Great Earth Sovereign as well?"
"It's customary for any of the Eight Great Families to present gifts to the Great Earth Sovereign at major events. Of course, not to this extent, but the commander did so consistently. And with this Grand Assembly coinciding with the sovereign's sixtieth birthday, the gifts are bound to be even more lavish."
"Better to call it bribery."
Clack!
Yeon-hoo snapped the lid shut.
Perfect timing. I was just worried about arriving empty-handed...
Yun Hoe wondered at Yeon-hoo's intentions.
Don't tell me he's planning to take the dragon's eye stone...
But he didn't want to ask. From what he'd seen, once Yeon-hoo made up his mind, he never went back on it. Nor was he the type to be swayed by intervention—and Yun Hoe himself had no desire to lecture the Jang Family on ethics.
The Jang Family amassed their wealth through unjust means, riding on the Grand Lady's influence. Their rise is inextricably linked to our lord's house—the Iron Blood Family's—decline.
Yun Hoe had long believed the Jang Family bore significant responsibility for the Iron Blood Family's fall. Many in Northern Murim shared that view.
Yun Hoe gazed quietly at Yeon-hoo, who had leaned against the carriage wall and closed his eyes. The sight stirred memories of the commander and the eldest young master, who had departed this world harboring deep resentment, churning his gut.
This is the strong lord I dreamed of.
Gwak Yang's voice echoed in his ears—the passionate words he'd spoken upon finding Yeon-hoo on the battlefield one day.
Please... let it be so.
* * *
He finally drifted into uneasy sleep, but the screams of those who had died by his hand jolted him awake not long after.
Damn it...
He looked around—his body was drenched in sweat. Still inside the carriage, but Yun Hoe was gone. Yeon-hoo quenched his thirst with water from a bottle and opened the window.
Whoooosh.
He surrendered to the chill wind for a moment. Yun Hoe approached the window from outside. He had been riding alongside to avoid disturbing Yeon-hoo's sleep.
"My lord, we'll have to spend tonight in that city ahead."
Yun Hoe pointed forward. The city's nightscape, ablaze with lights, bloomed like a massive flower rising from the darkness.
"Very well."
The carriage sped straight toward the city.
How long had they traveled? The carriage began to slow.
Soon, Seobaek's voice rang out.
"There's a checkpoint ahead."
Yeon-hoo leaned out to peer forward. At the city's entrance along the official road, people stood in lines. Armed warriors stood vigil everywhere, ensuring no one strayed off the road.
Yun Hoe said, "It looks like the White Night Cartel is conducting inspections."
"Does the Punishment Hall do that too?"
"Yes. From what I know, it's a recent measure. Once you're within a certain distance of the cartel's main headquarters, everyone must declare their identity, and weapons are only allowed with the cartel's permission."
"Even the Eight Great Families?"
"Yes, that's what I heard. Oh."
Yun Hoe turned mid-sentence, his eyes sharpening as he looked back. Yeon-hoo, who had naturally turned as well, saw two carriages approaching through the darkness, escorted by dozens of mounted warriors.
Yeon-hoo's eyes gleamed at the massive flag fluttering atop one carriage, emblazoned with the characters for "Jang Family."
The Jang Family...