Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 164: The Urgent Message from the Sword Family

White Ghosts had been a terror to the surrendered officials of the Northwest, but Yeon-hoo had wiped them out in one fell swoop. In the process, he discovered a critical flaw that demanded immediate attention—a weakness all martial artists knew of but could easily overlook. Assassins' abilities plummeted in open spaces where stealth and concealment were impossible. Even the formidable White Ghosts proved pathetically fragile in such environments. The two Black Cloaks from the Blood Clan, stronger still, fared no better.

Yeon-hoo immediately summoned Baek Mu Yeong, Cheol-u, and Noegeom to discuss the issue. They talked at length, ultimately entrusting Noegeom and the Special Mission Unit's training to Baek Mu Yeong. No one was better suited to improve their capabilities in both offense and defense.

Noegeom's face subtly hardened. He'd heard from his recent friend Jo Yeong just how brutal Baek Mu Yeong's training methods were.

Cheol-u glanced at him, guessed his thoughts, and smirked faintly.

Clink. Yeon-hoo set down his teacup with a chuckle. "Didn't you see it yourself at the Flower Spirit Village? How they crumbled so pitifully."

"……."

"It'll make you stronger in other ways too. Lighten up."

"Ah, yes. Of course. I... welcome it."

"Your face says otherwise."

"What's wrong with my face...?"

Baek Mu Yeong chimed in. "You look ready to bawl like a little girl. Don't worry. I won't kill you."

"No, I truly welcome it. Please make me and my men strong."

"You mean that?"

"I do."

"Good. At least I won't let you end up half-baked like those White Ghosts."

Baek Mu Yeong turned to Yeon-hoo. "We start today?"

"The sooner, the better."

"Understood."

Moments later, Baek Mu Yeong and Noegeom departed. Seobaek entered with a letter in hand.

"It's from the main family. That guy sent it."

"What does it say?"

"His eyesight's coming back bit by bit."

"That's a relief."

"He has plenty to do once he's recovered."

Yeon-hoo planned a special role for Yuksoon upon recovery. While Noegeom's Special Mission Unit specialized in assassination, Yuksoon would build a poison-focused force.

"If it goes as you wish, it'll be the most terrifying unit imaginable. Nothing beats poison for mass slaughter."

"We'll have to trust him."

"It's more than possible."

Cheol-u trusted not Yuksoon, but Yeon-hoo. He already knew his lord was sketching the grand design. With the Northwest annexed, resources and manpower overflowed. Yeon-hoo would forge an impregnable North, then steadily pursue his dream. Cheol-u believed it without doubt.

Thus, as Yeon-hoo plotted his grand vision post-annexation, storm clouds gathered in an utterly unexpected quarter.

From southern Hunan Province down to Guangdong in the south, and Yunnan in the west—Geomga's domain rivaled the North in vastness. In population, the key to absolute power, it dwarfed the other White Night Eight Great Families. Yet like the North, it suffered from underdeveloped regions and constant clashes with foreign invaders, accumulating material and human losses.

The Tianzhu-Shijiang alliance, and Dongyeong raiders crossing the sea at whim, posed existential threats to Geomga. Thus, much of its forces garrisoned the west and south, leaving the northern border—abutting the Northwest—relatively vulnerable.

But the North's annexation of the Northwest eased that worry. Geomga rated Yeon-hoo higher than Wi Yeon Gwang, at least.

Still, disaster struck from an unforeseen angle. A single urgent missive arrived for Geomga's patriarch and the South's absolute ruler, Sword God Bukgung So.

Flutter... Bukgung So's eyes trembled faintly as he read. Beneath the quiver burned deep fury.

The letter contained what should never have been written.

Military strategist Baek Do-ryang asked, "What does it say?"

Bukgung So handed it over wordlessly and pressed a hand to his forehead. Baek Do-ryang scanned it hastily, his face hardening, eyes widening in shock.

"How in the world...?"

The contents were shocking. Heir Bukgung Cheon, en route to the Northwest under Northern Murim's control, had clashed with Yellow River Lily men and was now being pursued. No more messenger birds available, so he'd leave traces only Geomga could recognize at the specified location.

In truth, Bukgung Cheon had departed days earlier to represent Geomga in congratulating Yeon-hoo on the annexation. They'd planned to send another, but his insistence forced approval—and now this.

"Those Yellow River Lily bastards dare..."

Sizzle. Acrid smoke rose from the chair's armrest where Bukgung So gripped it.

"Send experts first to investigate. If Yellow River Lily pursues knowing his identity, it's gravely serious."

"If word spreads, it'll harm his future standing. Send forces in secret?"

"Naturally."

"These wretched..."

Bukgung So swallowed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rage with a full bowl of cold water. Baek Do-ryang ventured cautiously, "The location's near the Northwest border. Request aid from the North's lord first?"

"Yellow River Lily, of all foes. He knows what lurks there—think he'll help us easily?"

"We must try everything. Given your past bond with him, we need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a way. Leave it to me."

"……."

"Patriarch!"

"...Fine. To you, strategist."

"Yes. Then I'll go."

Bowing, Baek Do-ryang hurried to his office, ordering close aides to gather en route.

After a few steps, Bukgung So-hye spotted him and trotted over.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, miss."

"Don't lie. You wouldn't rush to Father at this hour, ignoring duties, if it were nothing."

"Haa..."

Baek Do-ryang sighed. Bukgung So-hye had a knack for sensing things, dubbed divine intuition. Denying it would only worsen matters.

"Truth is, the young master..."

He summarized briefly. Shadows fell over her face.

"What did Father say?"

"Find a way, fast."

"This'll just deepen his disappointment in brother. Things were already straining..."

She trailed off. Baek Do-ryang comforted her. "The young master will be fine. Don't worry too much."

"You'd say no if I offered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to help?"

"Forgive me, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but... for the patriarch's sake, stay put."

"Got it. I'll trust you then."

She headed straight for Bukgung So's quarters. Watching, Baek Do-ryang sighed softly again.

"As the miss said, I fear this widens the rift between them irreparably. Haa..."

The feud between Bukgung So and Bukgung Cheon was Geomga's greatest headache. Bukgung So already disapproved of his son; Yeon-hoo, a peer in age, annexing the Northwest poured oil on the fire. Inevitable comparisons arose. Perhaps every family with a young heir like Yeon-hoo faced the same.

Baek Do-ryang shook his head and proceeded. Soon after, a messenger bird flew from his quarters toward the North.

Flutter, flutter! Over Wall Thunder Manor, the Iron Blood Family's massive banner billowed in the sky.

Embroidered by Jo Yeong's mother herself, it dwarfed the old one in grandeur.

Jo Yeong furtively wiped a tear. Seeing it moved him to weep. Every Northerner there shed tears of emotion and exhilaration—Yun Hoe reddened his eyes, and the famously teary Sama Song needed no mention.

Northwesterners, meanwhile, hid bitter expressions. Great expectations for their new lord Yeon-hoo couldn't erase defeat's sting.

Sinhwi muttered, gazing at the banner. "How many more will we hang?"

Gwan Baek pondered, then grinned fiercely. "Just one big one, right?"

"One big one..."

Sinhwi trailed off, eyeing him. "You've already glimpsed that friend's dream?"

"He seems capable. I hope so too."

"The world had dreams?"

Gwan Baek chuckled, shaking his head. "Mine and the Iron Wolf Unit's came true—our lord granted it. Now we advance for his."

"Good man."

"Not the Blood King?"

"Huhu."

Sinhwi only smiled enigmatically; Gwan Baek looked puzzled.

"I'll just fight for that friend. If his dream manifests, great; if not, time with him suffices."

"How'd you two become brothers-in-arms?"

"Fought like hell."

"...Pardon?"

"Then we liked each other. Hahaha."

Gwan Baek burned with curiosity, but Yeon-hoo approached.

Gwan Baek bowed. "Congratulations, my lord."

"Thanks."

"Overwhelmed with emotion, I imagine."

"Eh, not really."

"What? Even the Northwest doesn't satisfy?"

Yeon-hoo smirked silently. Songyeong rushed up, proffering a small message tube for birds.

"My lord! You must see this. From Geomga—went to the North first, rerouted here."

"Geomga's missive..."

Yeon-hoo opened the tube and unrolled the letter.