Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 202: The Appearance of the Demonic Beast
"Still meditating like some damn monk?"
Hwangtae furrowed his brow at Garak's voice drifting in from outside the door. Just as he opened his mouth to reply, Garak continued.
"Your lord sent me, so you might want to come out."
"……."
Hwangtae untied his legs from the lotus position and opened the door. Garak strode in boldly, followed by two Blood Corpses.
Hwangtae's eyes darkened at the eerie aura emanating from the Blood Corpses.
Blood Corpses?
They're barely different from normal people, so call them Ilho and Iho. No one likes being treated like a corpse.
Hwangtae stared at the two Blood Corpses as they presumptuously took seats, then sat down across from Garak.
"These all of them?"
"Our lord said he's moving separately."
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
"He told us to target the moment Yi Yeon-hoo leaves the Iron Blood Family. He'll show up from somewhere if we do that."
"That's the whole plan?"
"If you're that curious, ask those guys."
Hwangtae turned to the Blood Corpses. One of them spoke up immediately, as if waiting.
"We were just ordered to join you."
"……."
Inexplicable. The word floated unbidden into Hwangtae's mind. No matter how specially made they were, they were still Blood Corpses—how could they act so human?
"No other instructions?"
"None."
Their eyes, tone, and demeanor oozed arrogance. But knowing they were Blood Corpses made it less irritating. Hwangtae turned back to Garak.
"When do we move?"
"Right now."
Hwangtae donned the long robe hanging on the wall and grabbed his sword. Then he narrowed his eyes at Garak.
"You smell like blood."
"Heh heh heh. Your senses are no joke. Not even on my clothes, and you pick up the scent."
"Who'd you kill?"
"Not exactly, but you could say so. She bit her own tongue, but I made her do it. Didn't expect an old hag to be that stubborn."
Hwangtae's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't get reckless before something important. This concerns my brother's vengeance too."
This time, Garak's eyebrow arched like a blade.
It twitched. But soon, his signature sinister smile returned.
"Well, with your skills, I can overlook a bit of cheek."
"You clean it up?"
Garak glared at the two Blood Corpses before continuing.
"Those idiots botched the cleanup. Tsk tsk tsk. But no need to worry. She had nothing to do with Murim. Alright, shall we get moving?"
Garak led the way out. The two Blood Corpses followed, and Hwangtae—after neatly folding the blanket and bedding on the couch—finally turned to leave.
A mocking remark slipped from Garak's lips.
"That neat freak streak's still there."
Suspicious individuals have appeared.
They murdered the owner of the tea house...
[Omitted].
I will investigate the surroundings of the city with the agency's warriors and return.
Yeon-hoo closed the missive from Jo Yeong and furrowed his brow.
Suspicious individuals have appeared.
They murdered the owner of the tea house……
[Omitted].
I will investigate the surroundings of the city with the agency's warriors and return.
'Suspicious individuals'...
Something felt off. Normally, Jo Yeong would have called them 'those bastards' or 'the scum,' not 'individuals.' Especially since the victim was the tea house owner he was close to.
"You out there?"
"Yes."
Seobaek opened the door and entered. With Cheol-u gone to Sorimsa, he was guarding Yeon-hoo.
"Take Seo-wi-ryang and check on Jo Yeong."
Yeon-hoo handed over the missive. Seobaek read it, his expression briefly surprised, then nodded.
"Understood. We'll head out right away."
"If the situation looks bad, don't push it—report back immediately."
"Got it."
Seobaek withdrew. Yeon-hoo missed Cheol-u and Baek Mu Yeong's absence. No one else matched them in tracking. Even Akso, with his near-equal skills, was at Baekya-beol.
Yeon-hoo opened the window. Fine snowflakes danced in. Caught by the wind, they adorned his face like petals before melting into droplets.
That's when he spotted Seobaek and Seo-wi-ryang exiting the main gate. He watched the two black specks vanish swiftly, then lightly extended his right hand.
Clang.
The sword propped in one corner flew into his grasp.
Something feels wrong.
Hwangtae led the way toward the Iron Blood Family. Garak followed right behind, the two Blood Corpses bringing up the rear.
Garak stared at Hwangtae's back with a cold smile.
"Once this is done, we need to solidify our relationship."
"……."
"I've overlooked your attitude so far out of respect for your tie to our lord, but no more. Remember that well—for your own future. Heh heh heh."
Hwangtae ignored him completely and quickened his pace.
Then—
"Seems we've got a tail."
One Blood Corpse murmured lowly. Hwangtae, who hadn't reacted to Garak, halted and turned. His gaze on Garak was ice-cold.
"If you screw this up, our relationship will solidify on its own. Remember that well."
Hwangtae threw Garak's own words back at him verbatim. Garak's eyes chilled.
But his mouth still smiled.
"Don't worry. Won't happen."
Garak turned, drawing his sword. Hwangtae seized his wrist.
Crack!
"I'll handle it."
Garak shook him off.
"You think it's because of me? I'll take care of it. Go ahead—I'll catch up. Heh heh heh."
Whoosh!
Garak vanished into the woods. Hwangtae watched briefly before resuming.
Ilho asked.
"Shouldn't we help?"
"He lives off his own ego. Ignore and head straight to Iron Blood."
"Leaving witnesses could ruin the plan. You go with Iho."
Ilho said it and leaped after Garak. Hwangtae was dumbfounded.
Who in the world would believe these were Blood Corpses?
Our lord made monsters.
Jo Yeong tracked the fiends' traces with the intelligence agency's warriors. A local old woman had seen them heading north from the tea house, saving them precious time.
Jo Yeong led, his face flushed red with rage.
Even in his wastrel days as Jo Clan heir, he'd always shown respect to the tea house owner, Mibu. She alone had treated him warmly when everyone else shunned him.
Rage boiled, but Jo Yeong fought to stay calm and sharp. He'd felt their terrifying aura before. Back then, he'd have charged regardless of strength—but now he was different.
Using the tracking arts he'd learned from Baek Mu Yeong, he followed their traces.
How long had they gone? Jo Yeong spotted the forest ahead trembling faintly and raised his hand to halt the pursuit.
If they've spotted us...
Might not be, but he assumed the worst.
No matter how lightness-skilled they are, the enemy surpasses that.
He called lowly to the group.
"We need to head back to the city. Now."
"What? After coming this far, abandon the chase?"
"I saw the forest shake. If they've noticed us, pressing on is dangerous. They're... likely beyond our imagination—peak masters."
"But..."
"Confirming they're heading north fulfills your duty. I'll take responsibility for what follows. Hurry."
The leader hesitated, but Jo Yeong's firm, desperate eyes convinced him. He nodded.
"You not coming?"
"I'll take another route."
"Fine. Meet at the branch."
The warriors leaped back the way they'd come. Jo Yeong pretended to follow, then doubled back.
He slipped into the forest, deploying the stealth arts he'd practiced to mask his presence.
After a few breaths—
Garak appeared where Jo Yeong had stood.
Damn...
Garak's brow furrowed. Ilho emerged behind him.
"Leaving witnesses risks the plan. Chase and kill them all."
"You go first. I'll..."
Garak's eyes flashed murderously at the left forest where Jo Yeong hid.
"Kill this one and catch up."
Jo Yeong's heart iced over. He'd hidden perfectly in the thick brush—yet Garak stared right at him.
Damn bastard.
Boom!
Jo Yeong kicked off the ground and bolted at max speed. His internal energy gave him confidence no one matched; speed and stamina were his weapons now.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
To evade the forest, he ran above the canopy. His improving lightness skill showed marked speed gains.
He'd gotten a head start—enough to shake them, he thought. Still, he ran relentlessly.
When he figured it was safe, he glanced back—and froze in horror.
"……!"
Garak was pursuing. At unimaginable speed.
Their gazes locked across the raging wind and distance.
Garak bared his teeth in a grin.
"Not bad for a rat."
Jo Yeong faltered a moment—the gap closed to twenty jang in an instant.
Boom!
He rebounded off a tree to accelerate. But Garak was faster. In a few blinks, the distance shrank inside ten jang.
Dangerous—soon within sword aura range.
Can't outrun that speed. But for their sake, I have to buy more time.
For the warriors heading to the city, he had to hold Garak here.
Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amid desperation, Jo Yeong stayed cool, seeking escape.
Then—a chilling energy surged from behind.
No time to look; he veered northwest.
Scree!
Thud thud thud!
Sliced branches shot skyward where the whoosh passed.
Scree!
Thud!
The second grazed the tree beside him.
"You know it's pointless."
Incredibly, Garak taunted aloud while chasing. The gap kept closing.
Impossible without overwhelming internal energy disparity.
Jo Yeong knew it—his heart froze again.
Think I'll die easy? Dream on, you bastard.
Fwoosh!
Hot energy erupted from Jo Yeong's body. He whipped around mid-leap, slashing at Garak.
Boom!
The explosion shook surrounding trees. Severed branches filled the air; sparks and smoke rose from sword-clash energy.
Ziiing.
'Ugh!'
Jo Yeong poured all his power to circulate energy and steady himself against the invading shock. The impact hurled him back ten jang before he barely regained balance.
"Time to die."
Garak closed in. Jo Yeong raised his drooping sword, aiming at Garak's brow with a sneer.
That's when—
Jo Yeong flinched. Something streaked past his cheek from behind.
So fast he barely registered—then a ray of light pierced Garak.
Thud!
But Garak's sword was faster than Jo Yeong's eyes. He reflexively turned.
His eyes widened like a calf's.