Bukgung Cheon Accepts His Fate
Two days later, Yeon-hoo confirmed through reports that Garak had been an elder of the Blood Clan.
An elder, huh...
He had expected Garak to hold a high position in the Blood Clan given his extraordinary skills, but he hadn't anticipated an elder. The question was why someone of Garak's stature had died there.
Did he run into Jeokhon and lose his life to someone on the way?
Garak had been injured in their fight, but not fatally. Yeon-hoo had infused his internal energy into Garak's body, causing excruciating pain, but it shouldn't have been lethal. Moreover, when he heard a report of a woman practicing the Barehand Demon Art, he had inspected Garak's corpse just in case, but found no traces of it.
If a third party is meddling between me and the Blood Clan...
That seemed the most likely scenario at present.
Clink.
Yeon-hoo set down his teacup and leaned back deeply into his chair. At that moment, Seobaek entered.
"A transmission from Ma Uitae has arrived."
Yeon-hoo unfolded the transmission Seobaek handed him.
Geomga and Hwangha Suryeon clashed in a great battle at Cheokbyeok.
Over two days of fighting, neither side could claim victory, suffering massive casualties. Amid the chaos, around a hundred retreating Hwangha Suryeon troops were captured and held for territorial violation.
We seek your instructions on their disposition.
If they couldn't decide a winner, Geomga's losses must be tremendous too.
Yeon-hoo pondered Bukgung So's intentions. Attritional warfare like this was far from ideal. Hwangha Suryeon boasted one of the largest armies among the White Night Eight Great Families, but Geomga, like the Ghost Clan, relied on a small elite force.
Pride?
If he were Bukgung So, he would ally with the North first without hesitation. Yeon-hoo gave a wry smile, recalling Bukgung So's stubborn demeanor.
Seobaek, who had been staring at him blankly, asked, "What's it say?"
Yeon-hoo handed the transmission to Seobaek.
After reading it, Seobaek asked, "Shall I fetch writing materials?"
"Yeah."
Moments later, Yeon-hoo penned a reply. It was exceedingly brief.
Hand the prisoners over to Geomga.
Seobaek rolled up the reply and inserted it into the transmission tube. Then Songyeong entered.
"My lord, Ma Uitae has sent another transmission."
Seobaek's eyes widened. "Another one?"
"This is from Ma Uitae too... You don't think something happened in the meantime, do you?"
"Bring it."
"Here you are."
Yeon-hoo unfolded the transmission from Songyeong.
Geomga has conveyed their desire to meet you, my lord.
If permitted, we await your immediate reply.
Yeon-hoo smiled with satisfaction.
Looks like the damage was severe after all.
"I'll get more paper."
"No need."
Yeon-hoo opened the transmission tube Seobaek held, unfolded the previous reply, and added a short line atop it.
Hand the prisoners over to Geomga.
Meet at Wall Thunder Manor.
He chose Wall Thunder Manor to save time. Yeon-hoo handed the tube to Seobaek and rose from his seat.
"Where to?"
"To the Elder Council."
"Yes, sir!"
Leaving his quarters, Yeon-hoo headed to the Elder Council. Sama Song greeted him warmly. After a lengthy discussion with Sama Song, Yeon-hoo returned to his quarters, changed clothes, and stepped out again.
"Straight to Wall Thunder Manor?"
"I need to see the Blood King first."
He planned to meet Sinhwi before heading to Wall Thunder Manor. Soon after, Yeon-hoo left the Iron Blood Clan with only Seobaek in tow.
"Do you really think Jeokhon is gone?"
"We'll know soon enough."
"Pardon?"
"I've only brought you along. If someone's watching, they'll attack before we reach the Blood King Army camp."
At Yeon-hoo's words, Seobaek's face hardened as he scanned the surroundings. Even the fearless Seobaek couldn't help but fear Jeokhon.
"Isn't this... too dangerous?"
"Scared?"
"Not scared, but worried. I might just burden you, my lord."
"Nonsense."
Yeon-hoo looked up at the sky. Snowflakes still fell, but the distant horizon was clearing. Dawn was breaking. Perhaps because of that, the official road bustled with people—mostly merchants, but some armed warriors too.
Yeon-hoo watched them briefly before turning his gaze to the forest. His impassive eyes darkened ominously.
She might be watching me even now...
The face of one woman flashed in his mind, and Yeon-hoo drew a deep breath.
"Shall we gallop?"
"Yes, sir!"
Thud thud thud!
The warhorses carrying Yeon-hoo and Seobaek bolted like the wind. After riding for some time, the Blood King Army camp came into view. They passed through the gates without incident.
From afar, eyes had watched Yeon-hoo. It was Seorung.
Tremble...
Her large, sunken eyes quivered faintly. She kept her gaze fixed on him, unblinking, until her eyes grew bloodshot. Only when he vanished from sight did she crouch in the underbrush, burying her face in her knees. She remained motionless until sunset.
Cheokbyeok.
Heavy rain poured over the site of the ancient clash between Wei, Wu, and Shu for supremacy.
Whoosh!
Geomga's patriarch, Sword God Bukgung So, stared at Cheokbyeok's blue waters amid the downpour, his eyes calm. Corpses littered the landscape beyond counting, scattered haphazardly. More floated on the water, indistinguishable as friend or foe.
Traces of a bloody battle.
"What weighs on you so?"
Strategist Baek Do-ryang approached. Bukgung So exhaled softly and spoke.
"My heart aches that we cannot gather the warriors cooling in this cold fog."
A glint lit Baek Do-ryang's eyes. The Bukgung So he knew kept such sentiments inside, never voicing them.
"Has the North replied?"
"Not yet..."
"If no reply by today, we'll pretend it never happened. I permitted it for your stubborn insistence, but it still sits ill with me."
"To crush Hwangha Suryeon with minimal losses, allying with the North is best. Future concerns can wait—leave it to me."
Bukgung So furrowed his brow. In truth, allying with the North was Baek Do-ryang and his aides' proposal. Bukgung So had opposed it from the start, only relenting for their face—though he still disliked it.
Then, a tiger-like Janghan entered from behind.
"My lord, enemy troops are massing in the camp again."
"How many?"
"Roughly five thousand more. Upstream, five warships and ten supply ships were spotted."
Baek Do-ryang's eyes darkened at the report.
"Ten supply ships means not just five thousand—more will join later."
Flames ignited in Bukgung So's eyes.
"Let them come."
Baek Do-ryang swallowed his words. Best to stay silent in his heated state.
"Strategist."
"Yes, my lord."
"We can't leave their supply lines be. Form a raid unit and strike."
Before Baek Do-ryang could reply, Janghan spoke.
"The warships are escorting the supplies downstream—raid impossible."
Baek Do-ryang said gravely, "Having suffered early raids, they're prepared. On water, we're at an absolute disadvantage. We'll find another way."
"Quickly."
"Yes, my lord."
"To the command tent."
Bukgung So turned, but halted after a few steps, eyes widening.
Ahead walked Maeong Ho, bodyguard to the great young master Bukgung Cheon. If Maeong Ho was here, so was Bukgung Cheon.
Wrinkle formed on Bukgung So's brow.
"I told him not to come..."
Then Bukgung Cheon appeared behind Maeong Ho. He approached and bowed deeply.
"Your son Cheon greets Father."
"Here to aid your father?"
"You forbade it, but I could not stay away. Please see it as for Geomga."
The air between them remained frigid. As Bukgung So opened his mouth, Baek Do-ryang intervened.
"Welcome. Your presence, Great Young Master, will greatly boost the warriors' morale."
Bukgung Cheon replied with a faint smile. He knew Baek Do-ryang had stepped in to lighten the mood.
"To the tent, my lord."
Bukgung So passed Bukgung Cheon toward the tent. Bukgung Cheon watched his father's back with heavy eyes before following. Baek Do-ryang fell in beside him.
Bukgung Cheon transmitted, [I heard the damage was severe.]
[Yes. Their numbers overwhelmed us—we had no choice. But our brave warriors repelled three times their force.]
[Casualties?]
[Nearing a thousand, including the missing.]
Bukgung Cheon's face hardened. A thousand could defend a region. For elite-focused Geomga, it was grievous.
[Father still opposes allying with the North?]
[No. He permitted it days ago—we've sent to Ma Uitae.]
Bukgung Cheon's expression brightened. He was Geomga's strongest advocate for the North, along with Uncle Bukgung Pae and Baek Do-ryang.
Rumble! Crack!
Lightning struck nearby, igniting flames that the torrent quickly extinguished.
Bukgung Cheon stared at his father's retreating back and bit his lip.
I'll show you clearly—I'm no longer the boy of old.
He recalled Yeon-hoo. Witnessing the protagonist's overwhelming presence as lord of two forces had steeled his resolve.
If fate decrees it, I'll no longer flee. Not as Sword God's son, but as Bukgung Cheon, I'll earn the world's recognition.
He had chosen this Cheokbyeok as the first stage to embrace his fate and defy the past.
"My lord!"
A warrior rushed from ahead. Bukgung So halted.
The warrior bowed and shouted, "Ma Uitae of the North has arrived at camp with Hwangha Suryeon's prisoners!"