Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 16: An Unexpected Incident
‘Do highborn people always act like this?’
The inn’s atmosphere was so quiet it bordered on deathly silence. Everyone was eating their meals with alcohol and dishes, but aside from the minimal clatter, no one exchanged words.
That silence shattered the moment the Geomga people entered.
Yeon-hoo glanced toward the entrance on instinct and felt a spark of pleasant surprise at the sight of Bukgung Cheon and Bukgung So-hye. Though their bond had been forged through hypocrisy and pretense, they felt worlds apart from the likes of the Byeokryeokga or Jeonga folk.
‘But why do they look like that?’
Then, Yeon-hoo’s eyes caught a middle-aged man entering behind them. With features strikingly similar to Bukgung Cheon’s and a razor-sharp aura rivaling anyone from Jeonga, it was easy to guess he was Geomga’s patriarch, Bukgung So.
‘The Sword God Bukgung So.’
In today’s murim, overflowing with powerhouses enough to call it the world of Absolute Realm masters, his name ranked among the top five. His mere presence shifted the inn’s mood in an instant—from quiet to oppressively heavy.
Pfft.
‘Look at those stares.’
Yeon-hoo stifled a smirk. These were the Eight Great Families, hailed as the White Night Cartel’s guardians, yet the way they eyed one another was cold and ruthless enough to pass for enemies.
‘Well, they’re always waiting for a chance to devour each other, so it makes sense. Just like us and the Northwest Murim…’
Yeon-hoo lifted his cup to his lips while fixing his gaze on Bukgung Cheon. But the man’s expression wasn’t just grave—it was downright gloomy.
Their eyes met in midair. Yet Bukgung Cheon merely nodded faintly before walking past Yeon-hoo without a word. Bukgung So-hye did the same.
Yeon-hoo sensed Bukgung So’s deeply sunken eyes sweeping over him but paid it no mind, simply refilling his empty cup.
Pour.
The Geomga group took seats at the deepest spot in the inn. Not a single person greeted them or acted like they knew them.
Yeon-hoo turned to Yun Hoe.
“Is it always like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“The way they look at each other like fighting cocks.”
“Not always, but Geomga, Jeonga, and Byeokryeokga don’t get along. Especially Geomga and Jeonga—they’ve fought localized skirmishes so many times they’re sworn enemies now. Probably because their territories overlap somewhat.”
As he listened to Yun Hoe, a thought crossed Yeon-hoo’s mind.
‘What if the Eight Great Families united their power against Baekya-beol?’
But the answer was a bitter smile. The families, desperate to tear each other apart, uniting was impossible in the first place.
That was when it happened.
Clang!Crack!
Suddenly, the clamor of combat erupted outside the inn, followed by dying screams.
“Argh!”
“Gahk!”
The unexpected cries sent everyone inside rushing to the windows.
“What!”
A Jeonga warrior let out a startled shout. He turned to Jeok In-hoe and yelled,
“It’s our escort squad!”
* * *
In front of the inn, on the road.
Two corpses lay bleeding amid some twenty Jeonga warriors who had formed a sword formation, surrounding the white-robed figures. The white-robes were Noegeom and his men. One of Noegeom’s subordinates was badly wounded, gasping and bleeding.
“Do you even know who we are…?”
A Jeonga warrior in his mid-thirties aimed his sword at Noegeom’s group and snarled coldly.
‘Damn it.’
Noegeom found the situation utterly bewildering. As they left the inn, one subordinate had bumped shoulders with someone. Already fuming because their prepared plan had gone up in smoke, he couldn’t hold back and slit the man’s throat.
Of all people, it had to be a Jeonga warrior.
‘Shedding blood in the lord’s domain is strictly forbidden, no matter who. If our identities are exposed, it could put my lord and his family in dire straits.’
They absolutely could not be found out. Exposure would ruin relations with Jeonga and surely draw the wrath of the Great Earth Sovereign.
‘I need to escape before this blows up.’
But it wouldn’t be easy. Forget himself—even his subordinates lacked the skill to break Jeonga’s encirclement. They’d all die.
This was Jeonga, after all.
Whoosh.
A figure dropped into the fray on a gust of wind. Jeonga’s young master, Jeok Yong.
“What happened?”
“They killed our comrade out of nowhere.”
A warrior approached and answered Jeok Yong’s question. Flames erupted in Jeok Yong’s eyes as he slapped the man across the face.
Smack!
“Then you should’ve killed them right then.”
“…My apologies.”
Jeok Yong’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Already infamous for his cruelty across the land, the air froze colder still as he slowly drew his sword.
Shing.
“To dare harm Jeonga warriors. I wonder where you’re from to have such guts.”
Flash!
The moment his words ended, a streak of light burst from Jeok Yong’s body. It shot toward Noegeom like a beam—only to veer at the last instant and engulf one of his subordinates.
Thud!
“Gahk!”
The white-robe’s head vanished without a trace.
“Reveal your identity. Do, and I’ll kill you painlessly.”
Blood from the spray painted his face red, but Noegeom held his breath, staring straight at Jeok Yong. His eyes still burned with life, yet despair was already gnawing at his core.
In a place suited for stealth, maybe. But breaking through Jeonga’s net in this wide-open space, with Jeok Yong himself present? Impossible.
‘Damn it…’
A moment’s hesitation had cost him his escape.
Only two paths left: fight to break out, accepting death, or hope Wi Yeon Gwang intervened.
Noegeom chose the former.
‘I can’t burden my lord. I’ll try to break through. If it fails… I’ll take my own life to guard the secret.’
That was when it came.
[Fool. To let things spiral this far…]
A voice pierced his ear via transmission. Wi Yeon Gwang’s.
[If your identity’s exposed, the backlash on our family will be severe. Even you, who loved it more than anyone, wouldn’t want that. So leave now. I’ll take good care of your brother—don’t worry.]
Tremble…
Noegeom’s flickering eyes began to change.
* * *
‘To think things would unfold like this…’
Yeon-hoo peered out the window with a faint smile. He already knew the white-robes surrounded by Jeonga were the ones who’d tried to assassinate him.
That’s why he’d watched them since entering the inn and taken measures against one as he passed.
Yeon-hoo glanced at Wi Yeon Gwang. But the man acted oblivious to the commotion outside, silently sipping his drink. No one from Byeokryeokga moved to intervene.
‘They’re abandoning them? Makes sense—if their identity leaks, it’d be a disaster. They’d face Baekya-beol’s investigation, and relations with Jeonga would sour.’
Yeon-hoo looked back down. Just then, the cornered white-robe glanced up. Yeon-hoo clearly saw the despair and rage in his eyes.
‘Abandoned, as expected.’
The sorrow and fury of the discarded. Yeon-hoo knew that feeling better than anyone. It lingered as an indelible wound deep in his chest, one he’d never forgotten for a single moment, no matter how he tried to erase it.
That white-robe’s gaze mirrored his own from back then.
‘Guess I’ll have to revise the plan.’
“Seobaek.”
Seobaek turned to Yeon-hoo. Yeon-hoo gave him brief instructions. Seobaek rose first and slipped out of the inn. Yeon-hoo followed, standing.
“Gonna use the outhouse.”
* * *
Noegeom felt his world crumbling.
If Wi Yeon Gwang had said nothing, he’d have gladly given his life for Byeokryeokga—for Northwest Murim. He’d resolved to do so.
‘After all I’ve done for you and the family…’
Betrayal shook him to his core. He couldn’t accept Wi Yeon Gwang forcing death upon him while scolding him.
A single “sorry” would’ve made him offer his life willingly.
Whoosh.
Fierce energy erupted from Noegeom’s body, drawing a cold laugh from Jeok Yong.
“If you’re asking for pain, so be it. We’ll capture you and pry your mouth open.”
Hummm!
Jeok Yong’s sword gleamed with azure light. Sword aura, the hallmark of masters.
Noegeom bit his lip staring at it.
‘I’ll escape alive, no matter what.’
Blood dripped from his clenched lips.
That was when it came.
A indifferent voice shook his ear.
[Want to make a deal…? Blink twice if yes. Then you live.]
“…!”
Noegeom didn’t care who it was. Didn’t wonder what deal. If it meant surviving, he’d sell his soul to the devil.
‘If I can just live…’
He blinked twice.
[Good. Deal’s on.]
Noegeom wanted to scream, Just start already!
[On three, leap left and run like hell without looking back. Someone’ll be waiting.]
One, two… three.
Screee!
Something hurtled between Noegeom and Jeok Yong with a sonic boom. An explosion followed, blood-red smoke billowing.
Boom!
Noegeom kicked off with all his might, veering left. Jeonga warriors stationed west—beyond the smoke’s reach—charged him.
As Noegeom’s sword surged with energy.
Flash!
He glimpsed two crimson beams erupting behind the Jeonga men. Like living serpents, they sliced through the air and impaled the warriors.
Splat!
“Guhk!”
“Argh!”
Noegeom burst through the blood mist into the shadows.
“Chase him!”
“He’s heading west!”
Jeonga’s elites pursued in unison. Jeok Yong led, his eyes churning with venomous killing intent after witnessing his men die up close.
“You dare…”