One Revival and One Death
In a manor on the outskirts of the city center, Akso and Baekun followed the warrior inside. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary manor, but as soon as they stepped into the courtyard, sharp auras flickered from all directions.
But Akso and Baekun were not the types to be intimidated by such an atmosphere.
Akso asked the warrior, “Is this place run by Jijeon Palace?”
“I wouldn't know about that.”
That was when the door opened, and Cheol Gun-ak appeared. “Come in.”
Akso and Baekun cupped their fists in salute and bowed their heads slightly.
Moments later, the three sat facing each other across a strangely carved stone table in the center.
Akso and Baekun could sense that Cheol Gun-ak's demeanor was markedly different from usual.
Akso asked, “What is it, messenger?”
“I have a difficult request for the two of you, which is why I summoned you here urgently.”
Unlike outside where warriors stood watch, Cheol Gun-ak treated Akso and Baekun with utmost courtesy. His speech had even shifted to a more deferential tone. And rightly so—A kso and Baekun were guards of Jijeon Palace, but above all, they were important guests sent by Yeon-hoo himself.
“Time is short, so I'll get straight to the point.”
Cheol Gun-ak dove right in. “This morning, at an emergency Round Table meeting convened at the Elder Council's chairman's request, an arrest order was issued for Suzaku Battle Leader Cha So-ryeong. It even passed with permission to kill her if she resists.”
Baekun's eyes widened. “What crime has Suzaku Battle Leader Cha So-ryeong committed?”
“I don't know the details. But the fact that they rushed the arrest order through without even notifying the Great Earth Sovereign beforehand suggests something serious is afoot.”
Akso narrowed his eyes and muttered, “I thought it was strange when Suzaku Battle suddenly announced she was leaving the city on an operation out of nowhere...”
Cheol Gun-ak took a sip of tea and continued. “No matter what, we must find Suzaku Battle before the Elder Council does. We need to get her to a safe place until we uncover the truth behind this.”
“So the request for us is to track down Suzaku Battle and inform her of this?”
“I'm sorry. Though Jijeon Palace has hundreds of guards, you're the only two I can be absolutely certain have no ties to the Elder Council. Of course, the friends here and Night Wolf's leader are trustworthy as well, but they have other duties, so despite my shame, I'm asking you two.”
“If we suddenly leave the city, won't the Elder Council side get suspicious?”
“Don't worry about that. They already know you two don't get along well with the other guards, so if I announce your dismissal, it should deflect any suspicion. In fact, the sudden two-day break I gave you was to provide a pretext for the dismissal.”
“What do you...”
“The other Jijeon Palace guards believe you two grew dissatisfied with your duties and deserted without permission. I made sure the rumor spread that way.”
“Pardon?”
Baekun looked utterly bewildered, while Akso nodded silently with a faint smile.
“Then no one will suspect us even if we vanish right now.”
“I'm truly sorry.”
“No need. When it's the messenger himself asking, of course we'll step up. So, where should we go?”
“Head to Geomga's camp at Cheokbyeok.”
“Is Suzaku Battle there?”
“I don't know for sure. But it's certain that the men sent by the Elder Council chairman headed that way.”
“Understood.”
As Akso stood, Baekun's eyes bulged. “We're going right now? We haven't even eaten since deciding to head out for a proper drink...”
“We can eat on the way down.”
“Sigh.”
Baekun rose reluctantly with a heavy sigh. Akso fixed Cheol Gun-ak with a steady gaze. “If trouble arises and we end up having to kill the men sent by the Elder Council, is that acceptable?”
“Do what you must. But your identities must never be revealed.”
Cheol Gun-ak rose, walked to one side, and returned with two bamboo hats and two human-skin masks. “Wear these while you move.”
Baekun asked indifferently, “Which mask makes me look more handsome?”
“I haven't checked...”
“Pick any.”
Moments later, with the masks and hats on, Cheol Gun-ak pulled a money pouch from his bosom.
“Almost forgot. Heh heh heh.”
Baekun snatched it eagerly and tucked it away.
“Then we'll be off.”
“Wait.”
“What now?”
Baekun asked Cheol Gun-ak. “Do we have to come back to Baekya-beol after this is done?”
Thwack!
Akso's foot connected squarely with Baekun's rear.
“Dismissed men don't come back.”
Soon after Akso and Baekun departed, Cheol Gun-ak watched their receding figures through the window, his gaze darkening.
“If there's something between Suzaku Battle Leader and the Elder Council chairman... and if she fled the city using the operation as an excuse because she felt threatened... then why didn't Cha Battle Leader tell me anything? Could she be hiding some enormous secret she couldn't even share with me?”
Cha So-ryeong had trusted and relied on Cheol Gun-ak greatly. She would confide in him without hesitation, seeking his counsel on things she wouldn't tell anyone else. That made this situation all the more suspicious and bewildering to him.
If the danger from the Elder Council chairman was so great that she had to flee the city in haste, she should have at least told me.
That was when—
“It's me, messenger.”
“Come in.”
The one who entered was Night Wolf's leader, Seok-ho-jin. He looked utterly transformed from his time briefly staying at the Iron Blood Family.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard something strange and rushed over to report it to you first.”
“Strange talk?”
“It seems the Elder Council chairman has mobilized Wolga's experts to track Suzaku Battle.”
“...!”
“I can't confirm it, but I heard from someone on the Elder Council side that it's highly likely. If Wolga's experts are truly moving, then Iron Blood Family's two guards could be in danger.”
Cheol Gun-ak's head snapped toward the open window. But Akso and Baekun were already gone.
His eyes trembled with dismay, but he soon bit his lip and spoke in a resolute tone. “The arrow has left the bow. We trust in them.”
“If they lose their lives... the Northern Lord's master won't let it slide. Is that alright?”
Grip!
“We trust in their abilities. If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility.”
“Here.”
Yeon-hoo downed the medicinal broth Dongbang Ri offered in one gulp.
After about three days, his external wounds had improved noticeably, but the pain that surged with every movement lingered.
Clack.
As Yeon-hoo set down the bowl, Dongbang Ri promptly handed him honey-glazed dried fruit.
Yeon-hoo chewed it to freshen his mouth.
“How is she doing?”
He meant Sohyang.
“She's getting better bit by bit.”
“Not enough time for training, yet you're working so hard alone...”
“It's no hardship. Being able to help my lord like this is a blessing. And I'm training in between, so don't worry.”
Dongbang Ri stood. “See you at lunch.”
Yeon-hoo watched her back as she opened the door and left.
That was when Seobaek entered. “He's regained consciousness!”
In the Iron Blood Family's most secretive small hall—once used in Sword Emperor Yi Yeom's era to confine high-ranking offenders who had sinned, now converted into a secret chamber—Yeon-hoo entered.
Seobaek and Dongbang Ri followed behind him.
Inside, Baek Mu Yeong greeted him. “Welcome.”
Yeon-hoo headed straight to another inner secret room.
It resembled the inner chamber of an ordinary rural home, and there lay Hwangtae.
Dongbang Ri approached first and checked his pulse.
Yeon-hoo stood beside her, gazing down at Hwangtae's utterly vacant eyes.
His consciousness seemed recovered, but his condition remained grave.
Moments later, Dongbang Ri straightened and turned to Yeon-hoo. “He seems to have passed the crisis for now.”
“Good work.”
Then Hwangtae turned his head and stared at Yeon-hoo.
Yeon-hoo looked into his utterly blank eyes and asked indifferently, “Are you coming to your senses now?”
“...Who are you?”
“...!”
“Who are you people, and where... is this?”
Has he lost his memories...?
Yeon-hoo glanced at Dongbang Ri. “Could there be memory issues?”
“With such severe head trauma, we can't rule it out. He's only just regained consciousness, so he might be like this at first. We'll know more after a few days of observation.”
“If he ends up with amnesia, can it be cured?”
“Not with medicine at this stage. Sometimes time heals it gradually if luck is on our side, but even that's beyond what I can guarantee...”
Yeon-hoo felt a pang of frustration. They'd gone to great lengths to capture him alive, only for this.
He pondered what Hwangtae needed most and found the answer quickly.
“Don't you want to see your little brother?”
“Little brother? Little brother... Who am I... Urk!”
As Hwangtae suddenly writhed in agony, Dongbang Ri swiftly sealed his acupoints.
Yeon-hoo looked down at the now-unconscious man with a troubled gaze.
“He needs absolute rest for the next few days, so you should head back for today.”
“Lady of the house.”
“Yes?”
“Use everything at your disposal to ensure he doesn't lose his memories.”
“...I'll do my utmost.”
Dongbang Ri swallowed words about it being beyond her control.
Yeon-hoo left the secret chamber and headed to his quarters, with Baek Mu Yeong at his side. Seobaek and Dongbang Ri stayed with Hwangtae.
“How's your body?”
“Much better.”
“No urgent matters for a while, so rest fully until you're recovered. You haven't had a proper day's rest in ages.”
“Everyone's the same. Anyway, noted.”
Yeon-hoo changed direction from his quarters.
Baek Mu Yeong, who had just suggested rest, gave a wry smile. Yeon-hoo was heading to the Intelligence Hall.
It was currently the busiest place in the Iron Blood Family. Beyond gathering intelligence, Yuksoon's research was underway.
Songhak had returned from Baekya-beol a few days ago with the needed herbs, keeping Yuksoon busier than anyone.
“Loyal!”
The warriors saluted as Yeon-hoo entered.
Soon, he reached the deepest part of the Intelligence Hall, where Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang were.
“You're here?”
“How's it going?”
“I was just about to report. He spilled every method of controlling the eagles. However...”
Yuksoon trailed off, scratching his head before continuing. “I might have overdone the drugs... and he died. We could've learned more secrets of Hwangha Suryeon from him... I'm sorry.”
“As long as we have the eagle control methods, it's fine. When do you start?”
“Today, if possible. We've captured a few eagles already, so if we push hard, we might finish ahead of schedule.”
“Don't overdo it—take care of your health first.”
“Yes, sir!”
Yeon-hoo encouraged Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang, then left the Intelligence Hall with a wry smile.
One man lived but lost his memories; another died but yielded what was needed.
Life truly is unpredictable...
Flutter!
Then a messenger pigeon dove toward the Intelligence Hall's roof. With dozens arriving daily, Yeon-hoo ignored it and continued to his quarters.
After a few steps—
“My lord!”
Seo-wi-ryang came running. “A message from Brother Akso in Baekya-beol!”