Chapter 220 - Ominous Clouds Over the White Night Cartel
A full moon hung high above the Iron Blood Family stronghold, its pale light turning the snow-blanketed sky into a sea of pure white.
Cha So-ryeong left the window of her quarters open, letting the chill wind wash over her as she savored a rare moment alone.
Even now, this place feels just like the Dragon Lake Tiger Vein.
It had been barely an hour since she'd received Yeon-hoo's permission in the Wall Thunder Family stronghold and ascended to the Iron Blood Family. In that short time, she'd felt the atmosphere shift dramatically from her first visit.
The most striking revelation was the building layout—not a single formation as she'd assumed, but a complex web of multiple interlocking arrays.
What if I tried to infiltrate this place?
A shiver raced through her, making her eyes flicker. Just thinking about it is terrifying.
Whoosh!
The biting wind clawed at her face. Cha So-ryeong brushed back the hair tickling her cheeks and turned her gaze to the main gate of the Iron Blood Family.
Only two warriors stood guard at a gate grand enough to rival a fortress city's entrance. It was a scene that revealed the clan's unshakeable pride and confidence—no intruder could breach them.
Some might see it as arrogance, but Cha So-ryeong believed they had every right to it.
Then, a face flashed in her mind: Seomun-hoe, the Elder Council Chairman scheming to claim dominion over the world by propping up a puppet Dae Ji-jon.
Her eyes instinctively hardened with chill intent. It won't go the way he wants. Never...
Her gaze, now laced with outright hatred, suddenly widened.
She'd spotted someone crossing the main gate: Yeon-hoo.
Cha So-ryeong narrowed her eyes slightly at the two warriors and two horses following him, and the figure slumped like baggage over one of the saddles.
Suddenly, people poured out from all directions toward the gate, blocking her view.
She left the window open and waited. She knew Yeon-hoo would have to pass right by her building on his way to his quarters.
And sure enough, moments later, he appeared before her.
The crowd had dispersed, leaving only Baek Mu Yeong and Seobaek with him. A man lay limply over Seobaek's back, as if dead.
As Cha So-ryeong clasped her hands to greet him, her eyes widened again.
He's injured...
A deep stain of blood darkened Yeon-hoo's chest.
At that moment, Yeon-hoo met her gaze.
"Pay your respects to the family head."
Cha So-ryeong immediately cupped her fists in salute and bowed her head slightly.
"Are your quarters to your liking?"
"More than we deserve. The young lady is quite pleased as well. Thank you again for your consideration, my lord."
"Glad to hear it. Then."
Cha So-ryeong's eyes followed Yeon-hoo's retreating back until it vanished from sight.
That wound doesn't look minor...
As doubt creased her brow, she suddenly let out a wry smile.
There's probably no one else in the world as indifferent as him.
This was only her third time seeing Yeon-hoo since their first meeting, and their conversations across those encounters had been exceedingly brief.
Perhaps that very detachment inspired even greater trust in her.
Cha So-ryeong despised talkative people the most—especially those who pried incessantly, whom she loathed outright.
So far, at least, it's far from bad.
As she reached to close the window, she caught sight of Dongbang Ri hurrying past.
Dongbang Ri was heading straight toward Yeon-hoo's quarters.
He must be badly hurt.
"It's me."
Seobaek opened the door at Dongbang Ri's voice.
Stepping inside, Dongbang Ri's face hardened at the sight of Yeon-hoo's robe, stained red in places. His pallid complexion only heightened her anxiety.
"I'm fine—tend to that fellow first."
"No. I'll see to you first, my lord."
"He's a very important friend to us."
Only then did Dongbang Ri glance at Hwangtae, lying motionless in one corner of the quarters.
"Who is he?"
"I'll explain later. Check his pulse first."
"Understood."
Dongbang Ri immediately began examining Hwangtae.
Yeon-hoo watched her as he shed his robe and then his tunic, revealing the wound.
"My lord!"
Seobaek's eyes bulged in shock—the gash was perilously deep.
"Go fetch some hot water and clean cloths."
"Yes, sir."
Dongbang Ri straightened up, but upon seeing Yeon-hoo's injury, she rushed over.
"The wound's too deep! What on earth happened...?"
"Can you save him?"
"I'll do my utmost, and I think I can. But the head wound is so severe, I can't guarantee what aftereffects there might be."
"Do your best."
"I will—just sit down right now."
"A bit of golden wound salve should suffice..."
"Hurry!"
"..."
Yeon-hoo stepped down from the chair and sat cross-legged on the floor.
Dongbang Ri examined him closely, sighing repeatedly at the extent of the internal damage.
"There are so many experts around you—why do you keep handling everything alone? Now that you're lord over two major factions, you need to be even more cautious! If you keep this up and something goes wrong..."
Her eyes reddened at last.
Yeon-hoo remained silent.
[It's best if you stay quiet, my lord.]
Baek Mu Yeong's transmission voice.
Seobaek entered just then with the hot water and cloths, his expression darkening at Dongbang Ri's teary eyes. He assumed Yeon-hoo's condition was dire.
Dongbang Ri turned to him.
"I'm sorry, but could you fetch the golden wound salve and acupuncture kit from my quarters?"
"Right away!"
As Seobaek dashed out, Baek Mu Yeong asked cautiously,
"How is it?"
"Fortunately, the bone is intact... but he'll need at least ten days of bed rest."
Dongbang Ri continued as she soaked a cloth in the hot water Seobaek had brought.
"And that's factoring in my lord's rapid recovery. Keep strain off the wound and minimize movement until then."
"...Understood."
Soon Seobaek returned, first aid was complete, and Yeon-hoo donned fresh clothes handed to him by Baek Mu Yeong.
"Mu Yeong."
"Yes."
"Prepare the most secluded quarters for that fellow. No one approaches without my permission."
"Understood."
Everyone was curious about Hwangtae's identity, but Yeon-hoo deemed it not yet time to reveal the matter of the Blood Jade.
He simply described Hwangtae as an assassin from the Blood Family who had come for him.
Baekya-beol.
Akso and Baekun, who had entered Baekya-beol on Yeon-hoo's orders to assist Dae Ji-jon Somubaek, finally enjoyed a moment of respite.
Unable to leave the Jijeon Palace even for a single day since arriving, the pair headed to a nearby city to make the most of their rare break.
"It's been forever since I breathed outside air, brother!"
"Yeah."
"With this downtime, we oughta drink till our noses go crooked, right?"
"Don't get too excited like a kid. You'll cause trouble."
"No worries. I'm not some child. Heh heh heh."
As Akso said, Baekun was buzzing with excitement. Confinement in the rigid palace life felt like prison to someone who hated restraints more than anyone. Without Yeon-hoo's command, he'd have bolted from Baekya-beol a hundred times over.
"Hm..."
Akso inhaled the crisp air and gazed north.
The snow had stopped after days of falling, revealing a piercingly clear blue sky.
Faces of Yeon-hoo and his comrades flickered across that sky in his mind.
The lord's great undertaking is about to truly begin... how long must we stay separated like this?
As longing softened Baekun's eyes,
Thud thud thud!
Hoofbeats thundered from behind.
Three riders barreled toward them, kicking up snow.
Baekun's brow furrowed slightly.
"Elder Council bastards."
"Step aside."
They moved to the road's edge.
Baekun muttered,
"Those fools lost their minds? What're they doing on this narrow path?"
"Ignore it, Baekun."
As if hearing him, the Elder Council experts slowed and approached.
One asked,
"What brings Jijeon Palace guards out here?"
"Heading to the city on business."
Akso replied calmly.
"Men who should guard the Dae Ji-jon—what business could pull you away?"
Akso's eyes narrowed coldly.
"Do we have to report that to you?"
"Just curious... Sorry if it offends. Let's not meet in the city then. We're off to enjoy some rare rest ourselves. Heh heh heh."
"Hyah!"
Thud thud thud!
Akso watched them speed off, brow creasing.
Then—a pebble flew from Baekun's hand.
It struck the last horse's leg silently and precisely.
Neigh!
The horse collapsed with a scream, but its rider flipped through the air, landed gracefully, and stood.
Akso glared at Baekun.
Baekun grinned, teeth bared.
[Don't cause trouble.]
[Heh heh heh.]
They ignored the baffled Elder Council experts and walked on.
How much farther did they go? Spotting a shortcut to the city on the left, Akso and Baekun turned toward it.
Baekun, mischief gone from his face, said,
"The Elder Council Chairman's moves have been suspicious lately. Word is some folks presumed to be from the Moon Family visited the Elder Council secretly, after the Blood Family did... If they leave without preventive measures for the Dae Ji-jon like last time, that's definitely fishy, right?"
Akso nodded silently.
"Cheol Gun-ak's already on edge over it."
"Rumors are swirling that the Chairman's after the throne... If true, that's serious. Right now, Jijeon Palace has no way or power to check him."
"Hm..."
Akso sighed softly, brow furrowed.
Then—his eyes flashed.
At the same instant, Baekun swung his greatsword from his shoulder and whirled toward the woods behind.
"Who's there!"
"It's me."
The woods rustled, and a white-cloaked guard from Jijeon Palace emerged—one who lived and served alongside Akso and Baekun.
Akso relaxed his gaze; Baekun slung his sword back over his shoulder.
Akso asked,
"You got rest too?"
The guard belonged not to their First Shift but the Second.
"No. I'm here on Cheol Gun-ak's orders to escort you two."
"The envoy wants us brought to him?"
Akso and Baekun exchanged glances.
Cheol Gun-ak had seen them off at the palace gate when they left.
Did something happen in the meantime?
Akso suppressed his rising doubt and turned.
"Let's head back."
"Damn."
As Baekun grumbled in disappointment, the guard continued,
"No. The envoy didn't call you to Jijeon Palace—he's waiting elsewhere."
"...!"
"He's at a hideout in the city now. I'll take you there."