Chapter 158 - War's End and a Meal's Worth of Time
The war had ended, and the allotted time was just one mealtime. Though merely the span for a single meal, to Bang Hyo-mun—the decision-maker—and all of Northwest Murim, it was crueler than anything, more eternal than any eon.
"Lower the Wall Thunder Great Banner."
In the end, Bang Hyo-mun chose surrender. But the hardliners weren't about to stay silent.
"Shut your mouth!"
"From this moment, we relieve you of your position as Elder Council Chairman... Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Bang Hyo-mun's close aides suddenly turned on the hardliners. The ambush was so sudden that they collapsed without distinction, spurting blood.
Kwaak!
Bang Hyo-mun bit his lip hard and issued the order again.
"Lower the Wall Thunder Great Banner!"
"Yes."
One aide kicked off the ground, leaped skyward, and hauled down the massive flag symbolizing Wall Thunder Manor and Northwest Murim.
"Open the gates!"
Kkiiiii...
The gates of Wall Thunder Manor—which had never once been breached by outsiders—slowly parted to either side.
Bang Hyo-mun and the rest descended from the ramparts, dropped to their knees on the cold stone, and slammed their foreheads to the earth.
Tududuk.
Tears traced down Bang Hyo-mun's cheeks, soaking the ground.
'Please... may no more blood be shed...'
"Mount up."
Yeon-hoo settled onto the warhorse Dongbang Ri had led forward.
Adorned with ornate trinkets on its full barding, this was a famed steed ridden only by the North's true lord.
Yeon-hoo pressed ahead.
Sinhwi and the others followed in his wake.
The Blood King Army, Red Wolf Corps, and Iron Blood Cavalry Legion under Sama Song resumed their advance on Wall Thunder Manor's main gate.
Clang! Clang!
With every step of the warhorse, metal rang out.
That sound alone was enough to flood every soul in the Northwest with boundless dread.
As Yeon-hoo drew near, Bang Hyo-mun folded the Wall Thunder Great Banner neatly and offered it up with both hands.
"We kneel and bow our heads in surrender. We earnestly beg your mercy—no more sacrifices, we beg again."
Yeon-hoo silently swept his gaze over Bang Hyo-mun and everyone around.
A few dared lift their heads, met his eyes, and hastily bowed again.
Yeon-hoo fixed his stare on Bang Hyo-mun once more.
"Are you the one in charge?"
"...Yes."
"Follow my will, and there'll be no more sacrifices. Show true loyalty—you and all the Northwest toward me and the North—and you'll keep everything you've held until now."
Thud!
Bang Hyo-mun slammed his forehead to the dirt.
Yeon-hoo passed the Wall Thunder Great Banner to Sinhwi.
Sinhwi wheeled about, banner in hand, and thrust it high for all to see.
Woooaaah!
Uwaaa!
The Blood King Army raised their weapons in thunderous cheers.
The Red Wolf Corps bellowed just as fiercely, refusing to be outdone.
But none could match the Iron Blood Cavalry Legion.
What words were needed for their triumph over Northwest Murim—a realm steeped for ages in war, vengeance, blood, and death?
Sama Song wept openly. The Iron Blood leaders with him wailed without restraint.
Sinhwi stepped to Yeon-hoo's side.
"What's the verdict?"
"Just one button fastened. Save the reflections for when the great work's done."
"Naturally. Next up: Blood Family and Golden Merchant Group."
Yeon-hoo nodded wordlessly and glanced back.
Woooaaah!
Uwaaa!
The cheers still shook the earth itself.
His chest swelled at the sight, but he betrayed nothing.
Instead, resolve hardened further.
'Still a long way. I've only forced the world to stop ignoring the North...'
The Blood Family had pulled back upon Yeon-hoo's acceptance of Northwest terms—but Garak, locked in standoff with the Southern Defense Army, stayed put.
The family head had issued him separate orders: annihilate Ma Ui-tae's Southern Defense Army and garrison the site with Blood Family troops.
Secure it early, and they'd claim it boldly in the postwar merit awards. Garak had stayed gladly.
But the northern collapse ruined it all.
Word of Wall Thunder Manor's peril hit; the army abandoned camp and marched north. Garak had no choice but to follow with Blood Family forces.
'Idiots. How the hell did they turn it around...'
His guts boiled like oil on flames as he raced toward Wall Thunder Manor.
One more day, and Blood banners would fly over the North's southern heartlands—fertiler than anywhere.
Garak reined in his fury and snapped irritably at an aide.
"How far to Wall Thunder Manor!"
"One more day's march."
"Send scouts anyway. Probe the surroundings."
"Got it!"
Several Blood Family experts spurred their mounts northward—
"Suspicious riders closing fast from ahead!"
Garak peered forward.
Beyond choking dust, hundreds of horse and rider hurtled closer.
He furrowed his brow.
'No way North dogs pushed this far south.'
Then—a shout from Northwest Murim ranks.
"It's them! Our allies!"
"The lord's cavalry!"
Garak's brows knit tighter.
'Wall Thunder cavalry here? When they were screaming for reinforcements yesterday.'
Moments later, the riders spotted Blood Family and Northwest forces, veered their way.
Garak demanded outright.
"Pushing this far south means things have settled. That right?"
The lead middle-aged man reddened, then bellowed.
"The war's over! Elder Council Chairman Bang Hyo-mun... that mad old bastard handed the Wall Thunder Great Banner to Yi Yeon-hoo and surrendered!"
"...What?"
"The hell!"
Garak's eyes bulged.
All around mirrored him.
Some Northwest men nearly toppled from their saddles.
The man pressed on.
"Turn back now—it's suicide ahead. Blood King Army, Red Wolf Corps, Iron Blood Cavalry Legion are inside the manor!"
"Your lord! What happened to him for Bang Hyo-mun to hand over the banner!"
"Our lord... kuhk! Slain by Yi Yeon-hoo... in your residence!"
"...!"
Garak's slit eyes gaped impossibly wide.
'In his own damn house?'
Unbelievable. Wi Yeon-gwang was brutal, rash, prone to blunders—but a martial monster.
For him to die in his private quarters?
"How many Northern troops did their lord bring to kill him inside Wall Thunder Manor!"
"Him and one guard. That was it."
"...!"
Garak's jaw dropped unwittingly.
Shock after shock.
Two men storm the tiger's den, take Wi Yeon-gwang's head?
'That Northern pup's that good?'
As Garak failed to mask his stun, an aide sidled up.
"This changes everything. Time to withdraw."
"Hmph."
Garak eyed Northwest Murim lines, brow creased.
A middle-aged man met his gaze—Bae Yeom, fresh Southern Army Commander pre-war.
Garak called out.
"Surrender's real? Then join us."
To the Blood Family, he meant.
Bae Yeom shook his head.
"We're staying. Verify the truth first."
"Not planning to surrender..."
"Mind your tongue."
At Bae Yeom's edge, Garak's sticky grin spread.
"Choose wisely. Who backs your future. Farewell."
Garak turned toward his Blood Family elites.
An aide murmured.
"Useless without numbers... They'll fold anyway."
"Already did. Resistance is pointless... Families back home? High odds."
"Just watch? Those troops intact in North hands—they'll bite us later."
Pfft.
"How? Outnumbered tenfold. Clash now, you own it?"
"......"
"Don't wanna die here? Quit yapping. Prep to bounce."
"......Understood."
Garak glanced north mid-stride.
The sky—ordinarily meh—loomed vast, vividly blue today.
His brow wrinkled anew.
'North devours Northwest... World's in for chaos.'
Golden Merchant Group First Branch, Northwest Murim.
Daily silver stacks brought fulfillment, joy—until Northwest's fall hit like thunder from clear skies.
"Pack silver, jewels! Hurry!"
"Today's interest incoming—what about it?"
"Moron! Pennies matter now? Gear up to scram—pigeon other branches too, stat!"
"......Got it!"
Frantic exodus prep—then intruders.
Jang-han, hauling pricey porcelain, yelled.
"Closed today! Beat it!"
"Got something to collect."
"Said we're closed! Quit bugging busy folk—scram!"
"Eh, fleeing's busy work."
"Wait, you little... Heuk!"
A razor edge lanced at his brow; Jang-han flung up hands in panic.
Porcelain shattered.
Pasak!
"You worthless shit! 'Be careful'—how many times... Uhk!"
The raging middle-aged man fossilized.
A ghost blocked him from porcelain-wrecker Jang-han.
Jo Yeong.
He scanned the chaos slow, locked icy eyes on the man.
"You the boss here?"
"Y-yeah, but who... who..."
"Guess."
"...!"
Middle-aged face drained white.
Identity clicked.
Pok pok!
Jo Yeong prodded the man's gut with his blade-tip.
"Ledgers?"
"Y-yes!"
"Hand 'em."
Thick ledger emerged, passed over.
Jo Yeong skimmed, spoke.
"Unload the carts now. Warning: mismatch one coin with these books... you get it?"
Siiik.
"A-alright!"
Pale, staggering, the man bolted.
Jo Yeong's voice rang final.
"Back-door siphons too. All of it."