Chapter 225 - Umunjeok at Life's Edge
Crack!
Umunjeok's right hand clamped around Janghan's throat.
Crunch. As the neck bones shattered, Janghan's breath cut off instantly. Another Janghan lunged at Umunjeok from behind.
Whoosh!
Umunjeok retreated, kicking up a blizzard of snow. Janghan's sword struck the spot where he'd stood, and at the same moment, five streaks of bloodlight shot from Umunjeok's left hand.
Splat splat splat!
"Gah!"
Five holes gaped in the tumbling Janghan's face.
"Huff!"
Umunjeok drew a deep breath and staggered back. Blood poured endlessly from wounds all over his body, making him look no different from a blood man. His lips were crusted with clotted gore, his eyes hazy—it was a sight so gruesome that his death at any moment would surprise no one.
"Stubborn bastard…."
Two Hwangha Suryeon warriors trembled as they approached him. Just days ago, they had served him as their lord.
One of them spoke heavily. "Give it up now. The longer you hold out, the greater the humiliation."
"Heh heh heh. What greater humiliation could there be than this? Huff!"
Umunjeok exhaled raggedly and raised his drooping sword toward the two men. The bloodlight flickering at its trembling tip was faint indeed.
"I'll ask you something."
"Ask away."
"Were you on Ga Hoe's side from the start?"
"We were. And most of the people you trusted probably were too."
Squeeze.
Blood dripped from his lips, crushed between clenched teeth. As Umunjeok's face twitched in spasm, one Hwangha warrior sneered coldly.
"That's what you get for dreaming beyond your station…."
The warrior couldn't finish. Umunjeok's sword, which had looked ready to drop from his grip, sprayed bloodlight as it flew forward.
Flash!
The warrior twisted reflexively, swinging his own blade. But Umunjeok's sword was faster than the eye could follow.
Thud!
"Gurk!"
Blood fountained from the body pierced by the sword. It splashed the warrior beside him, and in that instant, Umunjeok moved again.
The second warrior's sword sliced empty air. This time, his blade was faster. Umunjeok's reckless charge seemed certain to send his head flying.
But then came the reversal.
"…!"
The warrior's eyes bulged. Umunjeok had plunged straight into the sword's arc.
It was mutual destruction, plain for anyone to see.
Spurt!
Blood sprayed from Umunjeok's back. At the same instant, his sword pierced the warrior's throat.
Thud!
"Keurk!"
No one survived a blade through the neck. The warrior toppled forward, blood tears streaming from his wide eyes.
Splat!
"Kraaagh!"
Umunjeok howled, curling into a shrimp. Another wound on top of his limits left him without even the strength to stand on his own legs.
Yet he didn't fall. He staggered southward.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Each step choked him with ragged breaths. Unbearable agony wracked his body, clouding his mind—but Umunjeok never stopped.
Moments later, he spotted the mouth of a gorge hidden in the snow-shrouded forest and plunged inside. Even at his limit, he summoned his scant remaining internal energy to leave no trace on the snow, evading pursuit.
Then—
Screee!
A shrill horn pierced the air from somewhere. Without looking back, Umunjeok pressed deeper into the gorge.
"Ga Hoe…."
He muttered the name endlessly. Even beyond his limits, the hatred and thirst for revenge against Ga Hoe had kept him moving.
"Urk!"
Splat splat!
He vomited a basin's worth of blood and collapsed limply. But like a worm, he writhed upright and resumed walking.
How far did he go? Thick steam and sulfur stench halted his steps—impenetrable mist.
Twitch.
Was it a smile? Umunjeok's lips quirked.
"Hot spring…."
A legendary hot spring, famed for healing external wounds, shimmered faintly through the steam.
"Heaven aids me, Umunjeok. Urk!"
He spewed blood again but pushed through the sulfur and steam toward it. There, he sat cross-legged to circulate his energy.
"No time for that, I think."
"…!"
At the sudden indifferent voice, Umunjeok snatched up his sword from the steam and leaped to his feet.
Someone stood beyond the mist.
Tremble….
Umunjeok's eyes shook.
'Damn it….'
Then the steam parted, revealing a figure.
As Umunjeok poured his dwindling internal energy into his sword for a final strike, his eyes widened.
The stranger wasn't a Hwangha Suryeon expert pursuing him. It was a face he'd never seen.
The man was Akso.
"You're Umunjeok?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Someone who can kill you—or save you."
"…!"
"Want to live?"
"Save me."
Umunjeok begged outright. At his limit, survival was his only thought. If this man was a devil, he'd sell his soul to live.
For revenge, of course.
"What can you offer in return?"
"…Take me to Cheokbyeok, where Geomga's camp is. I'll pay you enough gold to last a lifetime."
"Why Geomga? Planning to seek asylum there?"
"Someone I must kill. To do it, I need Geomga's power. So take me there."
Akso sensed things might go smoothly. He read Umunjeok's desperate will to survive.
'For my lord, I need the information in this man's head. Force won't work—he has to come willingly.'
Akso continued. "Geomga just fought a war against your Hwangha Suryeon, losing thousands of warriors. And their Sword God is arrogant and prideful beyond measure. Would he accept an enemy leader like you? Possible, but unlikely. And if not… your revenge ends in smoke."
"…!"
Umunjeok's face spasmed. Akso's words shook him.
"Reveal yourself! Who are you to sway me?"
"You're mistaken. Do I look like I'm saving you from your men?"
"…!"
"I have every reason to kill you. I could take your head right now. But someone who desperately needs your hatred for Hwangha Suryeon wants you alive, Umunjeok."
Akso stared into Umunjeok's rigid eyes. "Here's a proposal. Call it a deal."
"…!"
"There's a surer place than Geomga. Their lord will gladly accept your asylum, guarantee your future, and crush Hwangha Suryeon more brutally than you could dream."
"Heh heh heh."
Umunjeok laughed suddenly. Fresh blood trickled from his mouth, madness gleaming in his eyes.
"Reveal yourself first. Then maybe I'll try believing you."
"Yacha-wang."
"…!"
Umunjeok's eyes bulged. Even he, teetering on death's edge, knew the weight of that name.
"Surer than Geomga… where?"
"Northern Murim."
"…!"
* * *
The next day, at Cheokbyeok.
After riding nonstop, Baekun arrived far earlier than expected and headed straight for Geomga's camp.
"Halt!"
Geomga warriors shouted coldly at him. Perhaps his aura was too fierce. Two placed hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw.
"From Northern Murim."
"…!"
"Got urgent business. Mind passing word to someone high up?"
"Wait here."
One dashed inside. Baekun perched on a nearby rock, scanning the camp.
"Impressive…."
It looked like any camp at a glance, but the sharp energies and taut tension everywhere drew his admiration.
"Not called Geomga for nothing."
Baekun swung his right hand lightly. Snow piled nearby flew into his grasp on its own. He quenched his thirst with it, eyeing the warriors.
When eyes met, he flashed his signature rough grin. The Geomga men averted their gazes.
Even Geomga warriors couldn't withstand the gaze of the Demon Leader Baekun.
Soon, the messenger returned with another man—strategist Baek Do-ryang.
"Hail to the strategist!"
The warriors bowed. Baekun's eyes lit with interest.
'That's Geomga's strategist Baek Do-ryang.'
Unexpected. He'd asked for someone high up, but not the strategist himself.
'Means the North's rep has grown that much. Heh heh.'
Baekun hopped down, cupping fists. "Baekun from the North."
"Baek Do-ryang, holding the strategist's post."
Normally, Baekun would've joked, 'Which Baek?' But Baek Do-ryang wasn't the type.
"Here on important verification. Spare some time?"
[About Jujakjeon?]
Baek Do-ryang's transmission voice furrowed Baekun's brow. How did he know?
Baek Do-ryang gestured inside. "To my tent."
Soon, in Baek Do-ryang's tent—the second-in-command's quarters after the Sword God—Baekun smirked at the lack of guards.
'Cocky with confidence. And polite as hell for a strategist. No arrogance anywhere.'
"The Iron Blood Clan Lord sent a letter. Said someone from the camp would come—send them straight to Iron Blood if so."
"…."
Baekun frowned.
'Brother Akso detailed it in his letter. Lord got it and sent here—means Jujakjeon is at the main house now?'
Only possibility. He probed casually. "Jujakjeon pass through here?"
"Yes. A few days ago, briefly."
"Know where they went?"
"Escorted to Wall Thunder Manor, but after that, no. With Dark Demon God along, probably Iron Blood…."
'Damn, he knows too much. And why's brother with Jujakjeon?'
Baekun fixed his gaze. "Everyone in Geomga know this?"
"Not all, but many…."
"Punishment Force coming soon. If they ask about Jujakjeon, just say escorted to Wall Thunder. Can you?"
"Don't know the why, but that's all we know. No worries."
"One more thing."
"Ask."
"You said Dark Demon God was with Jujakjeon. How'd you recognize him?"
"Clashed with Hwangha Suryeon en route to Wall Thunder. Guessed from his prowess."
"Eyes like this, nose and lips like that… carrying a steel rod?"
"Yes."
"That's him, then…."
Baekun muttered, utterly baffled. Baek Do-ryang stared, inwardly shocked.
'"That guy"? Who is this, calling the world's Dark Demon God "that guy"?'
"Lend a tent? Waiting for someone."
"Of course."