Hwangtae’s Second Failure
As dusk began to paint the evening sky in hues of sunset, Hwangtae crossed through the grand gates of the White Night Cartel.
As he entered, another member of the Blood Family departed the cartel.
Impressive.
Even Hwangtae, who seemed unflinching as if the sky itself could crumble without batting an eye, couldn’t hide his awe before the majestic might of the White Night Cartel.
Two men in blue robes approached him. They were Blood Family members stationed at the cartel.
Having already received word, they bowed deeply toward Hwangtae.
“Welcome, Division Leader.”
“Where is the Guest Hall?”
“Why do you ask...”
“Do I need to explain every reason?”
“...My apologies. The Guest Hall is over there.”
Hwangtae turned his gaze toward where the blue-robed man pointed.
He sharply scanned the grand, ornate facade of the Guest Hall.
His eyes flashed coldly when he spotted the flag symbolizing the Iron Blood Family.
Each residence flew the banner of one of the White Night Eight Great Families, but now there were only seven.
The White Night Cartel had officially acknowledged the fall of Northwest Murim by lowering the Wall Thunder Family’s flag.
Yet the Iron Blood Family’s banner hadn’t taken its place.
That was because the cartel hadn’t yet publicly declared Yeon-hoo as the overlord of both forces.
“We’ve prepared a modest banquet, so please proceed.”
Under the guidance of the blue-robed men, Hwangtae headed toward the Blood Family’s quarters.
As he walked, he keenly observed the surroundings of the Guest Hall.
He paid especially close attention to the Iron Blood Family’s residence, as if determined not to miss even the path of an ant.
“The trial regarding the mediation between the North and Golden Merchant Group was supposed to be tomorrow?”
“It was planned that way initially, but for some reason, it was held today.”
Hwangtae’s eyebrow twitched like a blade.
“Held... you mean it’s already over?”
“Yes. We confirmed Golden Merchant Group Leader Wang-jeok departing with his escorts just moments ago.”
“And Yeon-hoo?”
“We haven’t seen him leave yet.”
“Mobilize every possible method to confirm if Yeon-hoo is still here. Report to me immediately if he is.”
“...Understood.”
One of the blue-robed men hurried off elsewhere.
Hwangtae entered the Blood Family’s quarters under the guidance of the remaining man.
Everyone who saw him bowed, but Hwangtae’s mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of Yeon-hoo.
He couldn’t have left already, could he?
Hwangtae grew anxious.
If Yeon-hoo had already departed, the plan would fall apart.
Everyone’s letting their guard down, expecting tomorrow...
Even his subordinates waiting outside didn’t know the schedule had changed to today.
In this situation, if Yeon-hoo slipped away quietly, tracking him would be nearly impossible.
Hwangtae entered the assigned room, downed a bowl of cold water, and waited for the blue-robed man to return with news of Yeon-hoo’s whereabouts.
About half an hour passed.
“Division Leader.”
The blue-robed man returned.
Hwangtae’s face twisted in fury at what came next.
“Yeon-hoo has already left the cartel.”
Yeon-hoo has left White Night Cartel.
Pursue immediately...
[abridged]
Rip!
The falcon post was crudely crumpled.
Janghan’s face contorted in rage.
“Damn it! Why did the schedule change from tomorrow to today all of a sudden?!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Because of the schedule change, Yeon-hoo already left the cartel. Everything’s gone to hell. Damn it!”
Bam!
Janghan stomped the ground in frustration and shouted around him.
“Division Leader’s orders are to track his movements—everyone, hurry!”
“Won’t the Division Leader join us?”
“He said he’ll follow once we’re ahead. The problem is we don’t know if he’s heading to Iron Blood Family or Wall Thunder...”
“We’ll take the road to Wall Thunder.”
“Good! If you find any traces, contact via falcon post immediately, and one of you stay here to escort the Division Leader!”
“Yes!”
The gathered men split into two groups and scattered swiftly.
One blue-robed man remained alone to wait for Hwangtae.
“How are we supposed to catch them moving in small groups...”
The blue-robed man leaned against a tree with a bored expression and slumped down.
“Exactly.”
“...!”
The half-reclining man shot up like lightning, reaching for his sword.
But the blade wouldn’t budge.
Thud!
A sword pierced the blue-robed man’s chest from behind, right through his heart.
He collapsed without even a scream.
Cheol-u emerged from behind the fallen man.
Yeon-hoo and his entourage followed.
“Dispose of the body properly.”
“Yes.”
Seobaek and Jo Yeong handled the corpse.
Dongbang Ri watched them drag it into the woods, then turned to Yeon-hoo.
“Will you head in another direction?”
“We’re chasing them now, so it doesn’t matter which way.”
“True. But what about the assassins from Golden Merchant Group?”
“They’ve likely received the withdrawal order by now—no need to worry.”
“Wang-jeok isn’t exactly trustworthy...”
“This time, you can trust him.”
Seobaek and Jo Yeong returned quickly—they’d handled it fast.
Yeon-hoo turned first.
“Let’s go.”
Jo Yeong’s eyes widened.
“You’re just letting these bastards go? Shouldn’t we chase them down and crush every last one?”
“We don’t know what might happen on the way back. No wasting energy on unnecessary fights without my orders.”
“...Yes.”
Yeon-hoo walked ahead.
Looking up at the sky, a rare clear heaven stretched out.
The drifting clouds were exceptionally white and pure.
Everything looks beautiful when I’m in a good mood.
A faint smile ghosted across Yeon-hoo’s face, glowing white in the sunlight.
I didn’t expect it to go this well...
Things had gone better than planned.
He’d even gained something unexpected.
That was why the world seemed more beautiful today.
Central Plains South.
A bloody melee raged over a river a hundred zhang wide.
Clang!
Kaboom!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
The river soon turned red from the blood of the falling dead, and smoke from several ships blotted out the sun.
“Don’t let a single one escape alive!”
“Sword Family mongrels! Tear them apart!”
“Raaargh!”
“Uwaaak!”
The ones locked in this deadly slaughter were the Sword Family and Yellow River Lily.
Behind the river where the battle raged was one of Yellow River Lily’s bases, from which desperate death cries echoed endlessly.
The Sword Family was ruthless.
Yellow River Lily fought like savage beasts.
Yet the tide was slowly turning toward the Sword Family.
Even in enemy territory, with numerical superiority, Yellow River Lily’s ferocity couldn’t match the Sword Family’s overwhelming strength.
They had the numbers, but a shortage of true experts proved fatal.
Of course, the Sword Family’s losses were far from light.
Yellow River Lily were beastly foes who knew no retreat, swarming two-on-one or three-on-one in fierce resistance, seeking a reversal.
“Tenacious bastards.”
A Sword Family expert trembled with rage.
His white robe had lost its color, stained crimson with blood, wounds oozing from his shoulder and chest.
“Look behind!”
At his subordinate’s shout, the white-robed man whipped his head around.
Five ships approached rapidly.
The massive flag fluttering in the wind was unmistakably Yellow River Lily.
Shiver...
I should’ve ended it faster...
The white-robed man’s eyes quivered.
Judging by the ships, at least two hundred troops.
“Enemies approaching from the north too!”
Another shout turned his head westward.
There, over a hundred men charged through the reeds.
“Any more delay, and we’ll be surrounded! Decide quickly!”
The surrounding Sword Family experts all looked to the white-robed man.
Grit!
He bit his lip and scanned the area.
With enemies closing from three sides, retreat meant only south was viable.
Even retreating, it should be north...
Going south meant uncertainty ahead.
This area extended far south under Yellow River Lily’s direct influence.
Northward, Northwest Murim’s domain began not far off—now Northern territory.
Retreating there would be safest.
But the northern path was completely blocked by five ships and over a hundred foes.
“...Retreat south!”
Piiik! Piiik!
With his decision, horns blared.
Sword Family experts battling fiercely on all sides began pulling back.
“Family Head! Go now!”
“We’ll cover the rear!”
The white-robed man leaped south.
Two Yellow River Lily experts blocking him were bisected mid-air in gruesome deaths.
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Several Sword Family experts who couldn’t retreat in time fell under the swarming Yellow River Lily assault, spraying blood.
“The strategist is here!”
“Sword Family scum fleeing! Pursue!”
Watching the battlefield flip in an instant with cold eyes was Yellow River Lily’s strategist, Ga Hoe.
His icy gaze followed the white-robed man and Sword Family experts fleeing south.
“Perfect block on the north—they’re running straight into our home turf! Hahaha!”
“Those dogs! Now we just lop off their heads!”
Ga Hoe’s aides laughed gleefully.
But Ga Hoe’s expression didn’t change.
He glanced at the chattering men and issued orders rearward.
“Capture that white-robe at any cost. Go.”
“Yes.”
Several black-cloaked men leaped from the stern into the river.
They skimmed the water like flat ground and vanished from sight in moments.
“Oho!”
“As expected!”
Admiration erupted everywhere.
Ga Hoe coldly commanded them.
“What are you waiting for? Pursue the enemy.”
“Yes!”
“Aye!”
The men on deck leaped into the river as one.
Only one black-cloaked man remained at Ga Hoe’s side.
Ga Hoe fixed his flashing eyes on the vanishing white-robe of the Sword Family.
“Attacking while revealing your identity means you underestimated us that much. Soon, you’ll regret your arrogance and shed bloody tears, Bukgung Pae.”