Chapter 223 - Winds and Clouds of Hwangha Suryeon
Hwangha Suryeon Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the grand hall, where Umunjeok and the top leaders had gathered, hung heavy as lead.
Umunjeok sat on the dais, clutching a liquor bottle without letting go, his face flushed a deep crimson. It wasn't just the alcohol.
Gulp, gulp! Crash!
The table before the dais shook violently.
"Why the hell is the messenger taking so damn long?!"
"It should be any moment now, my lord. Just a bit longer."
Everyone in the hall stared blankly ahead, waiting for news of the troops dispatched to reclaim the three lost cities in the northwest.
Ga Hoe's absence was because he had led those forces into battle.
"Acting all high and mighty like he's the smartest one here..."
Who was that resentment aimed at? Just as Umunjeok lifted the bottle to his lips—
The hall's doors burst open, and a messenger rushed in.
All eyes, including Umunjeok's, locked onto him.
"What happened?!"
Under Umunjeok's furious urging, the messenger bowed low and shouted.
"The strategist has ordered a full retreat!"
"...What?"
The hall erupted in murmurs.
Flames sparked in Umunjeok's eyes.
"Did you say retreat?"
"Yes, my lord."
A middle-aged man seated near Umunjeok raised his voice.
"He ordered a retreat without even launching an attack?!"
"The Red Wolf Corps had already entrenched themselves in each city, holding firm. After deliberation among the strategist and the unit leaders, they concluded a retreat."
Crack! The liquor bottle shattered in Umunjeok's grip.
His rage was so intense he trembled, unable to string words together.
Then an elderly man spoke up.
"The Red Wolf Corps is a force renowned across the land. With thirty thousand strong, the strategist must have feared heavy losses to our own troops and ordered the retreat."
"Exactly. Losing cities we've invested in for so long is infuriating, but it's spilled water now. Better to step back and plan for the future than sacrifice men in a hopeless fight!"
"I agree!"
As voices defending Ga Hoe piled on, a murderous glint flickered in Umunjeok's eyes. Yet for some reason, he kept his mouth shut.
Then the middle-aged man closest to him shot to his feet.
"The time and effort poured into those places is beyond measure, even in gold. This disaster stems entirely from the strategist's bungled response—he must be held accountable!"
"Right! If he hadn't pulled the troops from the northwest borders, we wouldn't have handed three cities to the north like fools. The strategist bears full responsibility!"
"Hear, hear!"
Bang! The elderly man slammed the table and stood.
"Shut your mouths! Withdrawing those border troops was an unavoidable choice to defend headquarters from the Red Wolf Corps. How dare you pin it on the strategist?!"
Another chimed in.
"You've all lost your minds! Huddled in here like rats, shivering at the thought of the Red Wolf Corps coming, waiting for reinforcements—and now you dump all the blame on the strategist? Spit nonsense one more time, and I'll rip out your tongues for the dogs!"
"Hold your tongue! What insolence before the lord?!"
"Hmph! Did I say anything wrong?"
The hall boiled over like water poured on a hot pan.
Yet Umunjeok remained silent, lips sealed.
The elderly man turned to him accusingly.
"My lord, why say nothing? You're not siding with these fools, are you?"
Umunjeok bit his lip hard, slowly sweeping his gaze over the assembly. Then, in a sunken voice:
"Withdrawing the border troops was unavoidable. If they hadn't arrived in time, headquarters would have been at risk. No more bickering over that."
"First affirm it's not the strategist's fault!"
"...It was my own incompetence. Not the strategist's."
"Ahem!"
"Enough talk of holding the strategist accountable."
"My lord!"
"Disobey, and I'll have your heads."
"...!"
His voice and expression were utterly subdued, a stark contrast to the hot-tempered Umunjeok of old. The hall fell deathly quiet.
Umunjeok addressed the room.
"The strategist is returning—shouldn't we go welcome him? Who will meet him?"
"I'll go."
The elderly man raised his hand.
Umunjeok eyed the men flanking him.
"You two go as well. He returned from Cheokbyeok without rest and marched out again—unfitting to greet him alone."
"Understood."
"As you command."
"Tell the strategist: I should come myself, but my health prevents it—my regrets."
"We'll relay your words exactly. We'll take our leave first."
The elderly man and the two in azure robes stood and exited the hall.
Watching their backs, Umunjeok continued to the rest.
"No reason to linger—dismissed."
The leaders filed out one by one. But two remained: the ones demanding Ga Hoe's accountability.
"Why haven't you left?"
"The strategist's arrogance and high-handedness have gone too far lately. If we don't act soon, who knows what disasters await, my lord."
"I know—now go."
"...Yes."
Even his closest aides gone, Umunjeok sank deep into the dais, speaking in a voice suppressing fury toward someone unseen.
"See that? How Ga Hoe's lackeys spoke and acted toward me..."
"I saw."
A chilling voice replied as a robed attendant emerged from behind Umunjeok.
Murderous light burst from Umunjeok's eyes.
"I can't take it anymore."
"Shall we eliminate him, then?"
"Handing Cheokbyeok to Geomga wasn't enough—now three northwest cities we've toiled over for years, lost to the north. Anyone can see it's the strategist's fault—plenty of justification."
"True. But if it fails..."
"He'll never suspect I'd move against him."
Whoosh...
Killing intent poured from Umunjeok's body.
"No more living as a worthless shadow, less than a puppet. Even if it costs my life, I'll show them the real Umunjeok."
"Curious. What is your real self?"
"...!"
Umunjeok shot up like lightning. His eyes pierced a figure parting the rear hall's curtain: Ga Hoe.
Umunjeok's eyes bulged.
Ga Hoe met his glare coldly, approaching slowly before turning to the attendant.
"What do you do with a dog that bites its master?"
"Put it down."
Words from the attendant's mouth that made Umunjeok doubt his ears.
"...!"
Then—Bang!
The hall doors flew open. The elderly man and two azure-robed men who had just left to greet Ga Hoe stormed in, swords drawn and dripping blood.
The elderly man grinned, baring his teeth.
"Don't expect anyone coming. Shattered hopes only deepen despair. Heh heh heh."
Bang! Umunjeok kicked the dais aside, retreating to the hall's left wall, drawing his sword with a shing!
Glaring at Ga Hoe, he spat.
"You faked the march to take me out?"
"Need I go that far for trash like you?"
"...What?"
"Honestly, surprised. You, gnawing scraps I tossed, dreaming of shoving me aside to rule Hwangha Suryeon."
Shring. Ga Hoe drew his sword. As the blade cleared its sheath, azure light flooded the hall, tinting the walls blue.
"Even considered using you more. But after that brat from the north humiliated us this time, no chance. As you said, I'm the one with the biggest blame."
"Think killing me erases that blame?! All in the league still see me as lord!"
"We'll figure that out after you're dead. Heh heh heh."
Ga Hoe nodded, and the attendant, elderly man, and others circled Umunjeok from three sides, backs to the wall.
Snort. Umunjeok suddenly laughed. But his eyes boiled with imminent explosion.
"You misjudged me."
"I'll grant that. Never imagined you'd tire of shadows and overreach for the throne. Anyway, you die here. And our Hwangha Suryeon comrades will remember you as the incompetent, cruel tyrant who doomed the league, Umunjeok."
"You can't kill me, Ga Hoe."
"..."
For a moment, Ga Hoe felt an odd chill.
Then—blood light erupted from Umunjeok's body. Followed by a thud, the wall behind him crumbled.
Boom!
"We'll meet again, Ga Hoe."
Bang! Umunjeok burst through the wall. Ga Hoe's sword flashed azure; blood light shot from the attendant's hands like lightning.
Kaboom! Pop, pop!
The shockwave hurled piled snow skyward, shrouding Umunjeok.
Ga Hoe's face twisted like crumpled paper.
'Must catch him, no matter what. If he survives and exposes everything...'
Unthinkable futures flashed by; flames ignited in Ga Hoe's eyes.
Whoosh!
"Pursue! Catch him at all costs!"
* * *
Drip, drip. Blood fell from Umunjeok's body with every step.
Huff.
Blood-crusted lips parted, ragged breaths escaping.
Covered in wounds great and small that could fell him any moment, he pressed on without pause.
He'd shaken off one pursuit; no sign of followers yet. Ga Hoe's elites hunted him, but hadn't found him—stopping even briefly risked capture.
'Can't die like this.'
Amid excruciating pain, Umunjeok couldn't halt.
How far had he gone? A freezing river appeared ahead, vast southern plains stretching beyond.
He paused, scanning around. Then his eyes widened at one spot.
"...!"
A long pole stood at the river path from his position, a severed head impaled at its tip.
Tremble...
Umunjeok shook violently. His legs buckled; he collapsed backward on his rear.
"Ow..."
The head was his brother, Umunhong's.
Trickle. Blood tears traced Umunjeok's cheek.
Then dozens in yellow robes emerged from woods left and right—including the elderly man and attendant from the hall.
Umunjeok rose and walked on.
Whoosh! Fierce sword winds slashed mercilessly, but failed to dim the rage and hatred blazing in his eyes.
'To Geomga... to Geomga. Borrow their blades—crush everything he has.'
Grind.