Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 226 - Official Document from the White Night Cartel
That evening, Baek-un sat alone in his tent, enjoying a meal with some drinks on the side. The reward Baek Do-ryang had bestowed upon him was quite generous.
Glug, glug.
Clink!
"It's about time..."
He was starting to worry a bit about Akso, who still hadn't shown up. Of course, he trusted the man's skills, but given the circumstances, it was only natural to feel some concern.
'For a strategist to incite a rebellion to oust his lord... Does this mean Hwangha Suryeon is slowly heading toward its downfall?'
A rebellion in one of the White Night Eight Great Families, no less—the aftermath wouldn't be trivial. In the history of the martial world, no lord of the Eight Great Families had ever been toppled by an internal revolt.
Glug, glug.
Clink!
"This booze tastes like shit..."
Baek-un set down his cup and stepped out of the tent. The Geomga warriors gathered nearby scattered quietly at the sight of him.
'Maybe I'll go check out Cheokbyeok.'
Baek-un headed toward Cheokbyeok, steeped in the legacy of ancient battles. Though strict security nets were deployed everywhere along the way, he paid them no mind.
Moments later, upon reaching Cheokbyeok where green waters flowed leisurely, Baek-un furrowed his brow. The air reeked of the stench from rotting corpses.
'They still haven't cleared the bodies properly. Well, with thousands dead, that's hardly surprising.'
His interest in sightseeing at Cheokbyeok for the first time evaporated. Baek-un turned back toward his tent.
But then his eyes sharpened, and he halted. He spotted white-robed figures entering the Geomga camp—the very same ones he'd seen on his way down.
'They've finally arrived.'
Convinced they were envoys from the Elder Council, Baek-un resumed walking but deliberately approached close to them. One of the white-robes glanced at him briefly before looking away.
Baek-un stroked his face with his hand.
'Bunch of stiffs.'
In truth, he was wearing a human skin face mask. Akso was doing the same. Cheol Gun-ak had given them the masks before departing, wary of running into Elder Council affiliates.
'Say something, you bastards.'
But the white-robes followed their Geomga escort in utter silence, without so much as a word of conversation.
Soon after, Baek-un confirmed they were entering military strategist Baek Do-ryang's tent and narrowed his eyes slightly.
'He'll keep his promise.'
He turned back toward his tent. But he stopped again and grinned.
Sneer.
Akso was approaching with one of the Geomga warriors.
Baek-un spoke the moment Akso drew near.
"We need to leave right away. My lord sent a messenger order saying if we come here, head straight up to the main headquarters... Looks like the Suzaku strategist is there too."
"Hm..."
Akso's eyes darkened as if deep in thought, then he added,
"We'll need to borrow a carriage."
"A carriage? On this snowy road, wouldn't walking be faster?"
"Someone to bring along."
Baek-un caught on at those words.
"You mean Umunjeok?"
"Yeah. And those white-robes just now... the ones we saw on the way down?"
"Yep. That's them."
"Then we hurry."
"To get a carriage, we'll have to ask the Geomga strategist..."
Baek-un glanced at Baek Do-ryang's tent. With the white-robes just having gone in, it would take a while.
"Might take some time, so come to my tent first and grab a bite."
Baek-un led Akso to the tent he'd just been using. No sooner had they entered than Baek-un relayed what he'd heard from Baek Do-ryang.
"The Suzaku strategist stopped here then headed back up to Wall Thunder Manor. And it seems Mu Yeong is moving with her."
"Reliable intel?"
"Why would the Geomga strategist lie to me?"
"Why's that guy tagging along with the Suzaku strategist?"
"Who knows? Something we don't. Anyway, how'd you catch Umunjeok? Not the type to go down easy."
"Made a deal."
"...Pardon?"
"I'll explain on the way up. Go watch the strategist's tent."
"...Yes, sir."
Baek-un stepped out. About two hours later, he saw the white-robes emerge from Baek Do-ryang's tent and headed straight there himself.
Fortunately, Baek Do-ryang readily provided a carriage. As Baek-un expressed his gratitude and turned to leave, the strategist asked,
"May I inquire as to your honorable name?"
"Nothing that grand..."
Sneer.
"Folks call me the Demon Leader."
"...!"
* * *
Iron Blood Family.
For the first time in days, the ever-changing skies cleared of dark clouds, revealing a dazzling sun. Yeon-hoo, who had been focusing on recovery while sporadically planning ahead, flung open the windows to bask in the sunlight.
'They should be well on their way up by now.'
Thinking of Akso and Baek-un, Yeon-hoo gazed south. Then he sensed movement in the corner of his vision and turned.
Dongbang Ri was approaching. Yeon-hoo checked her expression first.
She met his eyes, frowned delicately, and shook her head.
"His condition isn't good?"
"Seems he's completely lost his memories."
She meant Hwangtae. Yeon-hoo couldn't hide his regret. With amnesia, his plan to extract key Blood Clan intel from Hwangtae was ruined.
"No way to restore them?"
"Beyond my abilities."
"If someone with superior medical skills came along?"
"We'd have to ask. But every medical text I've seen says lost memories can't be recovered..."
Yeon-hoo, who had hoped otherwise, gave a wry smile in disappointment. Meanwhile, Dongbang Ri hopped through the window.
She could now scale about ten zhang with a single leap, effortlessly.
"Sit. I need to check the wound."
Yeon-hoo sat, removing his upper garment.
"How's the pain?"
"Mostly subsided."
"Still, it's a sensitive area. Be careful a few more days."
"Understood."
Dongbang Ri applied her personally made golden wound salve and changed the bandage. Then Songyeong's voice rang from outside.
"It's me, my lord."
"Come in."
Songyeong entered.
"Oh? The family head's here."
"What is it?"
"Couple things to report. Should I come back later?"
"No, sit."
"Yes."
Songyeong scratched his head and sat, holding two thick ledgers.
"Then, my report. First, the two iron mines have begun full-scale mining. We should have commercial-grade iron in at least two months. The merchant group and escort agency under main headquarters oversight are fully prepared too."
Songyeong's report went on for quite a while, mostly on northern key ventures. Yeon-hoo was especially pleased about the iron mines going operational. He believed those two would generate immense wealth for Iron Blood Family and the North.
In this era where wealth directly translated to military might, they were the North's lifeblood.
"Congratulations, my lord."
"Thanks."
"One more thing..."
Songyeong scratched his head again.
"Bad news?"
"Well... Your sword broke again. Tried fusing it with top-grade iron at the break, but the strength won't hold. Did my best, but I'm outmatched... Sorry, my lord."
"Good work."
"Yes. I'll take my leave."
As Songyeong rose and reached for the door,
"It's me, my lord."
Seobaek's voice drifted in. Songyeong opened the door, and Seobaek entered.
"A messenger hawk from the Cartel. The seal looks like an official document."
Yeon-hoo unfolded the letter Seobaek handed him. But the seal wasn't Somubaek's—it was Elder Council Leader Seomunhoe's.
'Now he's openly acting like the Cartel's master.'
Official documents should bear Somubaek's seal, especially to the Eight Great Families.
Yeon-hoo read on. His eyes grew heavier with each line, prompting Dongbang Ri and the others to exchange puzzled glances.
"Want to read it?"
"Yes."
Yeon-hoo handed the document to Dongbang Ri and sank deep into his chair. Moments later, Seobaek and Songyeong read it too, their eyes widening in shock.
Dongbang Ri asked,
"This has to be a lie, right?"
"Probably."
"How could they? Framing the Suzaku strategist for treason wasn't enough—they're even issuing a bounty."
Indeed. The document claimed the Suzaku strategist had plotted rebellion, got exposed, killed Cartel warriors, and fled. It promised rewards for her capture or death.
No mention of Sohyang, though.
'If true, Cheol Gun-ak's messenger would've informed me first.'
Even without that, Yeon-hoo trusted Cha So-ryeong.
Songyeong spoke cautiously.
"With this, we must tighten information security. If word gets out she's here..."
Seobaek cut in.
"No worries there. Only a handful in our ranks even know they're the Suzaku strategist."
"Shouldn't we tell Lady Cha?"
"I'll handle it personally."
Yeon-hoo stood. Dongbang Ri fetched his long robe from the wall and handed it over. Seobaek and Songyeong exchanged meaningful looks at the sight.
Leaving his quarters, Yeon-hoo headed to the annex. Cha So-ryeong, out in the courtyard basking in the sun, came to the gate to greet him.
"My lord."
Following his words, she used "my lord" instead of "family head." Her Suzaku operatives saluted like any other Iron Blood warrior.
"Something to tell you."
"Come in."
"The back courtyard."
Yeon-hoo and Cha So-ryeong went to the annex's rear yard. There, he relayed the document's contents.
Tremble...
Cha So-ryeong's eyes quivered as she bit her lip hard. They said overwhelming injustice brought tears first. The eyes of this ever-resolute woman reddened.
"You'll reclaim your honor someday. Bear it."
Trickle.
Tears finally traced down Cha So-ryeong's cheek. She spat through gritted teeth,
"We've staked our lives in countless secret ops for the Cartel..."
Her rage made her breath ragged; she couldn't finish.
"For now, address the practical issues."
"What do you...?"
"I'll have human skin face masks made for you, Sohyang, and all Suzaku members. Until then, no leaving for nearby cities, even if it's stifling."
"Thank you."
"And keep it from Sohyang for now."
"...Yes. I will."
Thinking of Sohyang, Cha So-ryeong burst into fresh tears. They were wronged, but the girl—cast out innocently from her birthplace—could never return. Her heart shattered.
Yeon-hoo gazed at her and said,
"Sometimes rage forges greater strength. This is your moment, Lady Cha. No matter the fury or injustice, bide your time until the Elder Council Leader reveals his ambitions. Grow stronger. I'll help if you wish."
Grip.
"Yes, my lord."
Her ivory-white teeth sank into her lip, drawing blood.