Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 227 - Kingdom of Monsters
Thud thud thud!
A single carriage barreled down the official road, kicking up a blizzard in its wake. It was Akso and Baek-un, heading from Geomga's camp back to the Iron Blood Family. Riding with them inside was Umunjeok.
Thud thud thud!
The carriage raced along at a decent clip. Fortunately, the snow wasn't piled too high on the road compared to other areas, allowing them some speed, but it was far from satisfying for the pair.
Baek-un spoke up. "Hey, that guy—we cool leaving his internal energy unsealed?"
"All that's left in him now is his thirst for revenge against Ga Hoe. Desperate enough to seek asylum with Geomga, of all places, the very clan he warred with over Hwangha Suryeon. Even if he bolts, we just grab him again. No need to worry."
"Hmm... yeah, you've changed."
"What has?"
"What do you think? Never figured the Yaksha King, poster boy for terror and brutality, would be this optimistic."
Akso smirked faintly.
"Sun's about to set anyway. Let's hole up in the nearest town for the night. We can handle it, but this guy's gonna need a physician and some meds, right?"
Akso nodded silently, eyes scanning ahead. Just then, the outskirts of a town came into view not far off.
"That'll do."
Thud thud thud!
Moments later, the carriage rolled into the town's bustling market street. Baek-un glanced around and suddenly widened his eyes.
"What the hell is that?"
"What's got you?"
"Over there..."
Baek-un pointed to the left side of the market street. There hung a large portrait alongside a bold proclamation poster. The words scrawled beneath the portrait darkened Akso's gaze.
Jujakjeon Leader
Suspected of high treason against the White Night Cartel.
"Looks like that portrait's owner is Jujakjeon Leader Cha So-ryeong."
"Figures."
"Framed good and proper, huh."
"Even when those bastards pin a frame job, they can't make it halfway convincing. What power does Jujakjeon have to plot rebellion? Tch, their schemes are pathetic."
Baek-un clucked his tongue and tilted his head. "Why's the Elder Council Chairman going this far to nab Jujakjeon? What's the deal?"
"Something we don't know about."
"Think Cheol Gun-ak's messenger knows?"
"Who knows."
"Damn it! We gotta know what's going on."
Meanwhile, the carriage pulled up outside an inn on the market's edge.
"You go fetch a physician and bring 'em here."
"Got it. Spotted one on the way—be right back. Order something for me too while you're at it."
Akso watched Baek-un dash north through the market, then opened the carriage door. Umunjeok lay on the floor, groaning in agony. Akso had administered basic first aid, but the pain was beyond that.
"Physician's on the way. Wait in a room."
"Urgh!"
Umunjeok gritted his teeth and barely stood, shoving off Akso's offered hand. Pride still lingered, it seemed.
Soon after, Akso settled Umunjeok in a room and headed downstairs to claim a table. He was just lifting a bowl of cold water to his lips when—
Creak.
The inn's door swung open. In strode three men clad in snow-white robes—the very White Cloaks presumed dispatched by the Elder Council.
'Took a detour to avoid overlapping routes...'
Akso calmly brought the bowl to his mouth. The White Cloaks glanced his way once before settling in a dim corner.
Then Baek-un entered with the physician. Spotting the White Cloaks, he eyed Akso.
Third floor, first room.
After escorting the physician to Umunjeok's room, Baek-un returned and sat across from Akso, sending another transmission.
They tailing us?
Doesn't seem like it...
Annoying bastards. Just kill 'em all? They probably masked up anyway—who'd know if we bury 'em?
Pretend you didn't say that.
Right on cue, the server arrived with their ordered dishes and liquor.
"Enjoy your meal!"
"Bring another bottle while you're at it."
"Right away!"
Baek-un uncorked his bottle first; Akso picked up his chopsticks. Ignoring the White Cloaks, they ate on casually.
About half an hour later—
Creak.
The door flew open, letting in a blast of cold wind. Two Gray Cloaks stepped inside. Baek-un's liquor cup trembled slightly in his grip, spilling a drop.
Drip.
'What the hell are these guys?'
Baek-un's eyes grew heavy, but Akso kept eating in silence. Still, from the moment the Gray Cloaks entered, his focus sharpened.
Then—
Jingle.
As the Gray Cloaks sat, a faint metallic chime rang out. It came from the crescent ornaments dangling from their sword hilts.
Brother, you see that?
Akso nodded silently.
'Wolga...'
Wolga, one of the White Night Eight Great Families, shrouded in as much mystery as Ghost Family. Known for their experts—all ranks adorned with crescent ornaments, colors be damned.
Wolga teaming up with the Elder Council Chairman?
Who knows.
Wolga had secretly visited the Elder Council recently. For them to track Jujakjeon all the way to Geomga's camp suggested an alliance with Chairman Seomun-hoe. Circumstantial, but damning. Still, no hard proof—they couldn't act rashly.
Akso resumed eating as if disinterested. Baek-un sipped his liquor, stealing glances at the Wolga experts.
Those guys as tough as the rumors say?
Don't even think it. We need to hustle Umunjeok back to the lord's side ASAP.
Clack!
Akso set down his chopsticks and stood. "Gotta leave at dawn. Let's head up."
"Liquor's left."
"Take it with you."
"What, lug the bottle?"
Gulp gulp!
Baek-un downed the bottle straight, popped a last bite of food, and rose. Coincidentally, the Wolga experts sat right by the stairs. Akso and Baek-un passed without a glance from them and climbed up.
That night.
Baek-un hit the bed and was snoring deeply in seconds, exhaustion from days of relentless marching hitting peak. Akso, meanwhile, flung open the window, scanning the market shadows. He shared the room with Umunjeok; post-physician, the pain had eased enough for him to eat the food Akso brought.
Whooo!
The wind howled fiercely, chill turning the room icy in moments.
"Hey, Yaksha King."
Umunjeok called out. Akso, gazing at the night sky, replied, "Told you not to call me that casually."
"Then give me your name."
"..."
Come to think of it, he hadn't. No need before.
"Akso. That's me."
"Doesn't match the moniker at all."
"Chattier means you're feeling better."
"Got a question."
"Shoot."
"The Iron Blood Family head... you serve him 'cause you're weaker?"
"Naturally."
"You fought?"
"Naturally."
"Mind how you lost?"
"Want the honest truth?"
"Obviously."
"Got utterly smashed."
Umunjeok looked incredulous. If the Yaksha King got smashed that bad, how monstrous was Yeon-hoo?
"Don't hype your lord—truth."
"First clash, held two hundred exchanges. Second? Five breaths."
"...!"
Akso turned. Looming over the stunned Umunjeok, he continued. "Heard you got cocky at the White Night Cartel assembly. If not for the venue, you'd be dead."
"Don't underestimate me."
"Underestimate the head of a Great Family? Just saying he's that terrifying—curb any bravado now."
"Hmph!"
"Dark Demon God's there too."
Umunjeok's eyes bulged. "Dark Demon God ... in Iron Blood Family?"
"You'll see soon. Don't act rash around him either. Mild normally, but snaps and kills without hesitation."
"Dark Demon God's under the Family head too?"
"Yes."
Umunjeok shook his battered head in disbelief. Blood King's presence in Iron Blood was public knowledge—shocking enough. Yaksha King and Dark Demon God too?
"Curious about the snoring brute?"
"Another big shot?"
"Demon Leader. His moniker."
"...!"
Clack!
Umunjeok dropped his chopsticks. "Goddamn Kingdom of Monsters."
"Know why I'm telling you?"
"Bragging needs a reason?"
"Not bragging. North's that strong—drop the worries, cooperate fully."
"Relax. Lived as a villain, but never broke my word. You lot keep yours."
"One more thing."
"What now!"
Umunjeok snapped irritably. Akso thought of one man. "A shadow by the lord's side. Even irreverent glance might bring a blade—watch it."
"..."
Clack!
Akso shut the window. "Dawn departure—sleep."
"Pain's keeping me up."
"See you morning."
Thwip thwip!
Two streams of hidden force struck Umunjeok's blood points, plunging him into deep slumber.
Yeon-hoo held a single messenger scroll. From Cheol Gun-ak.
It detailed Jujakjeon matters, the request to Akso and Baek-un to track her, and more in lengthy script. Most was known, but not the end.
Confirmed Wolga moved to pursue Jujakjeon immediately after the two departed.
Believed the Family Head should know, hence this scroll.
Should harm befall them, I take full responsibility...
[Remainder omitted]
Yeon-hoo set the scroll down and lifted his teacup.
Clack.
'Wolga's moving...'
Akso and Baek-un wouldn't know. Cheol Gun-ak learned right after they left—no way to inform. Hence the accountability vow.
'Akso and Baek-un together? No worries.'
Yeon-hoo rose and opened the window. "You there?"
"Yes, my lord."
Seobaek's voice came from the roof. Despite warnings, he guarded like Cheol-u.
"Send men along the path from Cheokbyeok to find Akso and Baek-un. Alert the Beggar Clan too."
"What to tell them?"
"Wolga's pursuing Jujakjeon."
"Understood."
Seobaek's presence vanished from the roof. Yeon-hoo gazed at the moonlit world.
'It's time...'
Cheol-u surfaced in his mind. The one dispatched to Shaolin had yet to return.