Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 2: Those Who Welcome and Those Who Do Not
Yeon-hoo slowly crossed the grand hall. He paid no mind to the discomfort laced through the gazes fixed upon him.
"Is that really you, Young Master?"
Yeon-hoo turned to the man whose voice trembled with shock. It was Sama Song.
"Do you recognize me?"
"How could I ever forget you, Young Master?"
Yeon-hoo regarded Sama Song's face, brimming with heartfelt emotion, for a moment before ascending to the upper dais and seating himself upon the empty throne. It was a seat reserved solely for the lord of Northern Murim.
No matter that Yeon-hoo was the only legitimate heir; even he had no right to sit there casually. Sama Song, who bore him no ill will, paled dramatically.
In the stunned silence that gripped the hall, Jang Cheon fixed Yeon-hoo with a steady gaze and spoke in an even tone.
"Even you, Young Master, cannot sit there lightly. Please step down."
Yeon-hoo stared silently at Jang Cheon. Then, as if tossing out a casual remark, he said,
"It's been a while, Uncle."
"……."
"No matter what, shouldn't you at least greet your long-lost nephew with some warmth?"
"My greetings are in my heart."
In Jang Cheon's stead, a middle-aged man bellowed.
"Mind your manners, Young Master! No one, not even you, may sit there casually. Get down at once!"
Yeon-hoo's gaze shifted to the man.
"If you're going to speak to me, state your position first. Isn't that the propriety you're preaching about?"
"……What?"
"I've been gone so long, I can't quite remember who everyone is."
"……."
As the atmosphere grew tense, Jang Cheon intervened.
"You arrived so suddenly that our greetings were delayed."
He glanced at the middle-aged men, who reluctantly introduced themselves.
"……I am Chief Protector Hong Son-pae. Ahem!"
Yeon-hoo's eyes turned to the last middle-aged man. He hesitated, gauging the mood, before speaking up.
"I am…… the chief steward, Hong Myeong!"
Hong Myeong, overwhelmed by the oppressive air, had shouted without realizing it.
Sama Song, watching, was inwardly astonished.
This can't be.
The heavyweights gathered here were all prideful souls whose self-esteem pierced the heavens, their martial prowess surpassing the super peak realm. Yet they were buckling under Yeon-hoo's mere presence.
It might be due to his status as Young Master, but to Sama Song's eyes, at least, it looked like raw intimidation.
"Sama Family Head."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I heard you've gathered to select the next lord…… Is that true?"
"Given the circumstances, we merely assembled for discussion. But now that you've returned, there's no need for it anymore."
At that moment, Jang Cheon stepped forward.
"Of course, it's natural for the legitimate heir to succeed. However, that principle does not apply to you."
"We'll sort out principles later."
"There is nothing more important than that, Young Master."
"If it's more important than your lives, then do as you please."
"……!"
"Come in."
At Yeon-hoo's low command, Cheol-u opened the door and entered.
Clank, clank.
All eyes locked onto the grotesque figure being dragged in behind Cheol-u, bound in iron chains. Then, spotting Gwak Yang entering after, they furrowed their brows.
"Gwak Yang."
"Yes, Young Master."
"On the day my brother passed, which family was in charge of security?"
"The Jang Family."
Yeon-hoo turned to Jang Cheon.
"Is that right?"
"……Yes."
Jang Cheon remained utterly composed from start to finish, as if daring Yeon-hoo to do his worst.
Yeon-hoo met his gaze steadily and continued.
"My brother was the one meant to succeed our father as lord, no different from your own to you all. Failing to properly serve him warrants punishment, wouldn't you agree? What say you, Jang Family Head?"
Tremble…….
For the first time, Jang Cheon's eyes flickered faintly. But he was no pushover.
"That matter has already been forgiven by the former lord."
"What if I can't forgive it?"
"That sounds like you'd defy the family laws established by the former lord himself."
"Father himself amended the laws set by our ancestors, so I see no issue in doing the same. Don't you agree?"
"Then ascend to the lord's seat first. I'll gladly accept punishment afterward."
"Everyone, remember the Jang Family Head's words well. But before that……."
Yeon-hoo trailed off and glanced at Cheol-u. With a nod, Cheol-u yanked off the cloth covering the grotesquery's head.
A mangled, horrific face was revealed, beaten beyond recognition.
Shing.
Yeon-hoo slowly drew his sword. In that instant, a terrifying chill swept through the hall.
Gulp!
Someone's dry swallow echoed like thunder.
Right then—
Whoosh!
Yeon-hoo hurled his sword straight at Jang Cheon. Jang Cheon caught it effortlessly, but his eyes held a mix of surprise and veiled fury.
Yeon-hoo smiled coldly and addressed the captive.
"You should tell them who you are."
"I am…… the one who killed the Iron Blood Family's eldest young master……."
Thud!
"Guh!"
Cheol-u's fist slammed into the man's gut.
"Again."
"Urgh…… I am the one who killed the Iron Blood Family's eldest young master……."
Crunch!
"Arghhh!"
Cheol-u snapped the man's right arm. Bone pierced flesh in a gruesome spray, drawing grimaces from all. But Cheol-u's face remained utterly emotionless. He placed a hand on the man's left arm and said icily,
"Again."
"I am…… Salmun's leader Yeom Gong…… who assassinated the Iron Blood Family's eldest young master."
"……!"
"What?!"
Everyone was stunned speechless.
Yeom Gong, leader of Salmun—no martial artist who lived by the blade could be ignorant of the name.
"I caught him on the way here as an offering for my brother's spirit. A proper sacrifice must spill blood to be efficacious…… So I'll give the Jang Family Head the honor of taking his head. That way, I'll have a bit of face left when I meet my brother in the afterlife."
Tremble…….
Jang Cheon's composed face twitched.
This was humiliation. Utter disgrace.
The one blemish on his otherwise flawless ascent was failing to protect the eldest young master. Though forgiven by the former lord, it remained an indelible scar.
Jang Cheon stared at Yeom Gong. Despite his battered face, unrecognizable even by features, the man grinned mockingly at him.
"Heh heh heh. Even a hundred scum like you couldn't stop me."
Nothing stung quite like mockery from a man on death's door.
Fwip.
A murderous glint erupted from the depths of Jang Cheon's pupils. His sword cleaved the air.
Thud!
Yeom Gong's head hit the hall floor. Blood should have sprayed, but the stump was frozen white as hoarfrost. Not a drop marred Yeon-hoo's sword either.
Jang Cheon approached Yeon-hoo, sword in hand. Gwak Yang tensed, hand on his sword hilt, but flushed red soon after.
Yeon-hoo himself watched Jang Cheon's advance with utter indifference.
"Here is your sword."
Contrary to Gwak Yang's fears, Jang Cheon placed the blade atop both palms, bowed, and offered it.
Tremble…….
Gwak Yang's eyes shook. His lips flushed with surging passion.
This is it. The true lord I've longed for…….
Gwak Yang's heart raced at the overwhelming presence he'd never seen in former lord Yi Yeom.
"Do you have more to say?"
"No."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Don't make me commit the filial impiety of slaying my own uncle with these hands.
Tremble…….
Jang Cheon's eyes quivered. But only briefly. A faint smile curved his lips as he sent back a transmission.
I'll watch if you have what it takes to rule Northern Murim. Show us ability worthy of all our recognition, and I promise nothing like this will happen again.
Jang Cheon exited the hall first. Hong Son-pae and Hong Myeong followed belatedly. Gwak Yang let out a bizarre chuckle.
"Heh heh heh."
Sama Song frowned and scolded him.
"You! What insolent behavior before the Young Master!"
"Feels like ten years of pent-up indigestion just vanished. Sorry. Heh heh heh."
"Hey!"
"What can I do? The laughter just keeps coming."
"Hah……."
Sama Song could only chuckle wryly, at a loss for words.
"Sama Family Head."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Prepare a map that lets me grasp the war situation with Northwest Murim at a glance."
"Understood. I'll have it ready by tonight. Now, please rest."
"No. I need to return to the Ancestor Hall."
"You've already been there, haven't you?"
"With three days until the funeral, I want to stay by Father's side until then. Bring the map to the Ancestor Hall when it's done."
"Yes. As you command."
Yeon-hoo headed to the Ancestor Hall. None of the passing warriors recognized him. If anything, they wondered who this man emerging from the grand hall might be.
Well, fifteen years is no short time, after all.
Yeon-hoo soon sank into thought.
Looking back, those fifteen years had been a hellish existence.
Because of you, your brother is in danger. So you must leave. Someday far in the future, you'll understand your father's heart.
Fifteen years ago. At the tender age of fifteen, those words from his father were the sole reason he'd been cast out from Iron Blood Family—everything to him.
What followed was hell itself.
To survive, he'd done anything and everything, facing countless brushes with death along the way. Fifteen grueling years.
In the end, Yeon-hoo survived and gained immense power. Through indomitable will, tenacity, and obsession, he'd claimed a legend of the jianghu unbroken for a millennium.
And the first news upon his return to the jianghu? The deaths of his father and brother.
His brother had passed years ago; his father less than a hundred days prior.
Yeon-hoo recalled his father from the day of exile. The memory still boiled his blood with uncontainable rage.
Did it have to be that way?
If his father stood before him, he'd demand to know if there truly had been no other choice.
But both father and brother were gone. With no other siblings, he alone remained—the sole bloodline of the family that had ruled Northern Murim for two centuries.
Whoosh!
A cold wind carrying snowflakes clawed at Yeon-hoo's body.
"Welcome."
The Ancestor Hall warriors bowed deeply. Yeon-hoo regarded them briefly.
They trusted him implicitly upon his return after fifteen years. Thanks, of course, to that middle-aged man.
"Shall we partake again?"
Middle-aged Seok Cheong, manager of the Ancestor Hall, had always held special affection for Yeon-hoo before his exile.
The hall operated independently, free from interference by the lord or high council, allowing Seok Cheong to admit Yeon-hoo.
"I wish to keep vigil by Father's side for three days."
"Do so."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. That our Young Master has returned safe and sound is blessing enough from the heavens. Come, enter."
Seok Cheong opened the doors. Amid the hazy incense smoke stood Yi Yeom's portrait.
Watch, Father. The world of Iron Blood Family that the son you cast out will forge…….