Who Is This Person Now?
“Whoa, whoa!”
Sin Hwi pulled back on the reins, slowing his warhorse. He stroked its mane and narrowed his eyes at the approaching procession.
White Night Cartel...
The flag fluttering atop the carriage roof unmistakably bore the White Night Cartel's emblem. Sin Hwi turned his gaze to Cha So-ryeong. Her blood-red breastplate and pauldrons, the long spear draped over her horse, and the greatsword at her waist made an impression even on him.
That was when it happened.
Baek Mu Yeong suddenly emerged from the rear of the group, and Sin Hwi frowned again.
Why is that guy here...?
Baek Mu Yeong approached and asked, “What brings you here without notice?”
“Ah, I had some business to discuss with my lord... But who are these people?”
“The Suzaku Hall of the White Night Cartel.”
Only then did Sin Hwi realize Cha So-ryeong's identity.
At that moment, Cha So-ryeong offered a greeting.
“Cha So-ryeong, at the service of the Blood King.”
“Sin Hwi. Pleased to meet you.”
Sin Hwi slowly scanned the entire Suzaku Hall contingent. The members, catching his eye, cupped their fists and bowed their heads.
Sin Hwi turned back to Baek Mu Yeong. He was deeply curious why Baek Mu Yeong was traveling with them. Guessing the meaning in his gaze, Baek Mu Yeong smiled faintly.
“My lord ordered me to assist them.”
“You alone, Brother Baek?”
“Yes. That's how it turned out.”
[Would it be troublesome if I pry further?]
[I know almost nothing. But it seems like it'll take quite some time.]
Sin Hwi nodded silently and returned Cha So-ryeong's fist-cup with one of his own. She bowed her head in response.
“Let's have a drink when you get back, Brother Baek.”
“Sounds good.”
“Then.”
Thud thud thud!
Sin Hwi soon spurred his warhorse into a gale-like gallop toward the Iron Blood Clan stronghold, while Baek Mu Yeong returned to his position.
Cha So-ryeong's eyes widened slightly in surprise as she watched him go.
To think the Blood King of the world treated him with such courtesy... What an extraordinary man.
Just as her curiosity about Baek Mu Yeong deepened, her eyes caught the long iron rod hanging from his waist.
A plain rod that could hardly be called a weapon. Yet Cha So-ryeong reacted as if she'd laid eyes on a peerless divine sword.
No way...
A figure from the jianghu leaped into her mind—one she'd never seen but whose name rang in her ears endlessly. The Dark Demon King, or Dark Demon Emperor to some; others called him the Spear King. A terrifying warrior of legend.
No, it can't be. He's known for bowing to no one in the world...
“Hall Leader.”
At her deputy’s voice, Cha So-ryeong steadied her gaze and lightly kicked her horse's flank. The march resumed.
Meanwhile, oblivious to Cha So-ryeong's turmoil, Baek Mu Yeong retreated to the rear, leaning back against his warhorse and closing his eyes. With every movement of the horse, the iron rod at his waist clinked and rattled.
No one paid it any mind, but to Cha So-ryeong, the sound grated endlessly.
Under Jeokhon's orders, Hwangtae—forced to postpone his brother's vengeance—entered a small city half a day from the Iron Blood Clan stronghold. Garak accompanied him.
They ducked into an inn on the city's outskirts and sated their hunger with liquor and food.
“Care for a drink?”
“I'll pass.”
Hwangtae polished off a bowl of beef noodle soup in short order and switched to tea.
“Do you know who's coming and how many?”
“No idea. I just got the lord's order to hold you back and came running.”
Garak had a hearty appetite. He finished his beef noodles and a plate of pork belly, then reached for the boiled chicken, smacking his lips.
“Do you think the lord might come himself?”
“If it's about the Blood Jade, it's possible. Or they might move instead.”
“They? Who do you mean?”
Garak set down the chicken leg, now just bones, and fixed Hwangtae with a stare.
“Do you know why the lord allied with the Golden Merchant Group? To tap their vast wealth and create ancient human weapons. You've heard of them—the Blood Corpses.”
“Did you just say... Blood Corpses?”
“They must be impressive, judging by how even the great Hwangtae is startled. Heh heh heh.”
“The lord knows how to make Blood Corpses?”
“I'd say so. If he didn't, he wouldn't have ordered me to procure children for it.”
Hwangtae's eyes trembled.
Blood Corpses weren't undead but living flesh tempered through special methods into bodies stronger than even the Golden Bell Ironclad. Unlike common jiangshi, they could communicate, retained full intelligence for independent missions, and at their peak, no weapon in the world could slay them—or so the legends said.
“Is this certain?”
“Beats me. If they're deployed in this operation, success. Otherwise, unfinished. Oh, and a heads-up: don't ask the lord about Blood Corpses later. He hates it. Heh heh heh.”
“But how do you know so much?”
“I told you—I gathered the kids needed for it myself. Though that's all I know. Enough questions; have some of this.”
Garak snatched up a chicken leg. Hwangtae shot him a look of disgust and lifted his teacup.
Moments later, Garak devoured the entire chicken like a game of hide-and-seek, sucking his fingers clean before asking, “So why chase him all the way to the Iron Blood Clan? No chances before?”
“Strange folk got involved.”
“Strange folk?”
“It happened.”
Garak didn't press. He knew better than anyone that Hwangtae wouldn't answer if he shut down like that. Instead, he probed elsewhere.
“Mastered the demonic art to its peak?”
“Mind your own business.”
“Looks like you only picked up the Arrogant Divine Art. Same old rude attitude as ever. Heh heh heh.”
Garak stood, brushing off his seat.
“I'm heading up to sleep. Rest up—you too. Who knows what'll happen; get body and mind in top shape.”
Garak climbed straight to the third-floor rooms. Left alone, Hwangtae slowly drained his tea and headed to his own room. Snores already rumbled from the next door over.
It was absurd, ridiculous—but a part of him envied Garak's nonchalance.
Clunk.
Hwangtae flung open the window.
Whoosh.
A cold wind carrying sleet blew in, but he took a deep breath and gazed at the darkened marketplace below. The fierce sleet had emptied the streets; only a few staggering drunks remained.
Did he really awaken the Blood Jade?
Hwangtae hoped not. If Yeon-hoo had truly awakened it, vengeance for his brother was lost. If Jeokhon took Yeon-hoo personally, he'd have no choice but to stand down. Vengeance mattered, but defying Jeokhon was impossible.
Snore. Snore.
Garak's snores grew louder.
That was when it happened.
From the north end of the marketplace, a group of riders appeared in Hwangtae's view. Casually glancing that way, he spotted the flag on their carriage roof and his eyes flashed.
White Night Cartel...
Hwangtae sharply observed the riders. Then he frowned.
A unit of women... must be Suzaku Hall. But what brings a White Night Cartel combat force to this backwater?
As Hwangtae pondered, the group drew closer to his inn. They passed it slightly, halted, and all filed into the inn across the street.
Hwangtae's eyes gleamed as he spotted a man in a deep bamboo hat. The man removed it and turned toward him. Their gazes locked through the pouring sleet.
But only for an instant.
Hwangtae stared at the man's retreating back as he entered the inn, his eyes blazing. When their eyes had met, something inexplicable stirred deep within him.
Well, if he's from the White Night Cartel, he's no ordinary man.
Baek Mu Yeong brushed off the sleet and entered the inn. Cha So-ryeong had already gone upstairs with her female attendant. He deliberately took a seat by the window overlooking the marketplace.
And stared at the inn across the way.
The man whose gaze he'd met earlier still stood by his window, watching this side.
Not the sort to linger in a place like this...
They said experts recognized experts. When their eyes locked, Baek Mu Yeong had sensed it instantly: the man was a tremendous master. It irked him. Something inexplicable welled up from within.
He'd faced countless foes in his life, slain innumerable enemies, but he'd never seen eyes like that.
That was when Cha So-ryeong came down. She headed straight for Baek Mu Yeong.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Please do.”
“Same for us, please.”
“Yes, Hall Leader.”
“And a bottle of liquor.”
“Shall we? One bottle of liquor here, too.”
Cha So-ryeong sat across from him. That was it. Until the food and drink arrived, they neither looked at each other nor spoke.
“Dig in.”
“You too.”
Cha So-ryeong ate without hesitation—like a man, her movements rough; her grip on the liquor cup forceful.
“Another round?”
“Just one more.”
Glug glug.
“Come to think of it, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Cha So-ryeong.”
“Baek Mu Yeong.”
Baek Mu Yeong?
A name she'd never heard. Naturally so. Baek Mu Yeong had never used his real name in all his activities. His fearsome moniker was coined by the world; he himself couldn't care less. So even if he announced it anywhere, only his comrades in the Iron Blood Clan would know who he was.
“If it's not rude, may I ask your moniker?”
“Don't have one.”
Glug glug.
Clink.
“The patriarch must trust you greatly. Truth be told, I never imagined it'd be just one man helping us. Anyway, thank you. Looking forward to working with you till it's done.”
“I'll ensure I'm no burden.”
“Should I call you Great Hero?”
“Whatever suits you.”
“Great Hero it is, then. Not just me—the squad needs a title for you too, for convenience. See you at dawn.”
Cha So-ryeong rose without delay once the meal ended. Baek Mu Yeong watched her back as she climbed the stairs, smiling faintly.
She's quite curious about my identity.
Glug glug.
Baek Mu Yeong drained cup after cup. He finished the last of the liquor and headed upstairs to his room.
Coincidentally, his room was positioned closest to the inn of the man who'd irked him—same floor, where opening the windows would let them see each other at an angle.
The man's room was already dark.
Baek Mu Yeong parted the window curtain slightly for any contingencies and removed his outer robe. But he kept his boots on—a personal rule, an old habit.
He folded the blanket, piled a pillow atop it, and lay diagonally across it. Through the slightly parted curtain, he could see the opposite window.
In that position, he closed his eyes.
He dozed off briefly, then snapped awake at a presence, silently approaching the window to peer out.
Men were entering the opposite inn. Five in total. All exuding a sinister aura.
As they entered, the light in the irksome man's room brightened.
Suspicious bunch...