Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 228 - Mysterious Death

The next morning, Seobaek visited Yeon-hoo's residence early.

"The Beggars' Sect sent a messenger pigeon."

Yeon-hoo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was puzzled. Nothing came to mind that would warrant a direct message from the Beggars' Sect to him.

"Shall I read it?"

"Read it."

Seobaek unfolded the note.

"Oh? It's from Akso hyungnim."

"Akso?"

"Yes. Looks like he borrowed a pigeon from the Beggars' Sect branch. Read it yourself."

Yeon-hoo took the note from Seobaek's hand.

He's bringing Umunjeok...

Even Yeon-hoo couldn't hide his surprise at the contents. A rebellion in Yellow River Lily was shocking enough, but Umunjeok seeking asylum at the Iron Blood Family? It was hard to believe even seeing it written.

"What's going on?"

Instead of answering, Yeon-hoo handed over the note. Seobaek's eyes widened in astonishment as he read it.

"Whoa... These hyungnims hit the jackpot! If Umunjeok defects, we get all of Yellow River Lily's key intel just sitting on our hands!"

Yeon-hoo nodded silently. The same thought had crossed his mind the instant he read it.

"He said which direction they're coming from, so should I send people there?"

"I'll go myself."

"Your body's not fully recovered yet. Let us handle it."

"I'm already fine."

As Seobaek's eyes bulged, Yeon-hoo rose abruptly, donned his long robe, and headed out.

Dongbang Ri was just entering with his medicine when they crossed paths.

"Where are you going?"

"Something important came up."

"You still can't move around freely..."

"I'll be careful."

"You're not going alone again, right?"

Seobaek stepped forward with a grin.

"I'll escort him."

"At least drink this before you go."

Yeon-hoo downed the medicine Dongbang Ri offered in one gulp and left the residence.

"Take care."

"It might take a few days, so focus on the young master and don't worry about me."

"Got it."

With Dongbang Ri seeing him off, Yeon-hoo headed toward the Blood King Army camp alongside Seobaek.

As they traveled, Yeon-hoo began sketching plans in his mind.

If I hand the intel we get from Umunjeok to Geomga...

Yeon-hoo thought of Sword God Bukgung So and smiled faintly.

A Sword God whose pride is already shattered won't sit still.

* * *

Whoooosh!

A fierce north wind swept over the piled snow, kicking up a blizzard as always.

Neigh!

The powerful gusts quickly exhausted even the horses pulling the carriage.

Neigh...

"Damn wind means it'll take forever to reach the lord's place. Hope that pigeon made it through this mess."

Baekun grumbled.

But Akso sat with arms crossed, eyes closed, unfazed by the gale.

He looked like he was sleeping, drawing a smirk from Baekun.

"You asleep?"

"You gonna keep bothering me?"

"Ah, yes. Sleep tight then."

About half a shichen later?

"Goddamn it. What's that now?"

Baekun yanked the reins, scowling.

A tree lay across the road ahead, felled by the wind.

Akso's eyes remained shut.

Baekun glanced at him and leaped from the carriage.

That's when it happened.

"Someone's there."

At Akso's voice, Baekun turned.

Akso had opened his eyes, drawn his sword from his chest, and was staring leftward along the road.

Baekun's gaze followed to the forest on the left.

But all he saw was trees thrashing in the wind, all he heard was the howling gale like wailing ghosts.

"You sure? Maybe you misheard?"

"I'll check."

Whoosh!

Akso shot into the air from his seated position.

Baekun half-drew his greatsword, scanning sharply for threats.

No signs of life anywhere.

Swish.

Akso returned.

"Clear the tree."

"What was it?"

"...A wild boar."

"Hahaha. Even you slip up sometimes, hyungnim."

Baekun cleared the tree, and they resumed.

Right after they left, a group of riders emerged where the carriage had stopped.

Elder Council experts.

Thud thud!

Faster than the carriage, they quickly caught up.

Baekun glanced back, eyes flashing.

"Those bastards tailing us?"

"Ignore them. Keep going."

"Annoying as hell... Wanna just kill 'em now? No one'd know out here."

"Can't fight blind. If even one escapes, it gets messy."

"Tch."

Baekun smacked his lips.

Meanwhile, the white-cloaked assassins closed right in.

Baekun laid his greatsword across his knees, grip turned for a quick draw.

Come on, give me an excuse.

But his hopes dashed—they just passed the carriage.

"Guess they don't know we came from Cheokbyeok. Thought they were chasing us on purpose."

"They probably do."

"Heh heh."

Whoooosh!

The north wind grew fiercer.

The white-cloaks vanished ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from sight.

"Hyungnim! Road's getting worse—detour?"

"Told the lord the direction. Straight on."

Whoooosh!

Rumble...

The carriage slowed further. Winds aside, fallen trees littered the path.

Another half shichen passed. They'd covered less than half their usual distance.

Thump thump!

Umunjeok pounded the carriage wall.

"What?"

"Gotta take a piss."

Akso furrowed his brow.

"Stop a moment."

"Fussy bastard."

The carriage halted, and Umunjeok stepped out.

His injury slowed him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠badly.

Baekun said flatly,

"Big one's coming? Go behind the windbreak."

"Wipe my ass for me."

"Might take your head off instead."

Umunjeok headed roadside.

Akso ignored him, so Baekun frowned.

"Shouldn't we watch?"

"Where's he gonna run in that state?"

"Could be faking."

That's when—

Rip...

"Ah, that damn prick."

Soon, they moved again.

But barely a few shichen later, they stopped once more.

Bodies lay ahead—some of the white-cloaks they'd passed.

"Who killed these?"

Akso examined the corpses silently.

His eyes flashed at a wound on one white-cloak's chest.

More precisely, chest and back.

Fist mark...

The chest bore a clear fist imprint. The back had a massive hole, surrounded by frozen flesh and bone shards.

Baekun's eyes widened.

"Fist wound, right?"

"Fist qi, to be exact."

"Fist qi? Not many in the martial world can channel qi into fists like that..."

Plenty mastered fist, palm, or kick arts, but few reached qi-infused levels.

Most focused on weapons—swords, sabers, spears—treating barehand arts as secondary.

That's when—

"Ugh..."

A faint groan from roadside woods.

Easy to miss amid the wind.

Akso dashed in, finding a white-cloak half-buried in snow, moaning.

He pressed his palm to the man's acupoint, infusing qi.

The fading pupils brightened slightly.

"Who killed you?"

"Wh...o?"

"Elder Council sent us to find Jujakjeon on orders."

Akso calmly reassured him.

"M-monks... fought bitches..."

Monks?

"Devils... like demons..."

Dying, the man babbled incoherently, then expired.

Monk and demon-like ones—two? Or just describing the monk?

Akso pondered as he returned to the road.

Baekun asked,

"Learn anything?"

"Fought monks and bitches, apparently."

"Monks? Monks beat these dogs like that?"

"Seems so. Maybe more than one."

Akso climbed beside Baekun.

"Let's go."

"Getting juicier by the minute. Road to the lord's won't be boring, heh heh."

Then Umunjeok's voice from inside:

"What happened? Yellow River Lily chasing?"

"Mind your own and sleep."

* * *

Yeon-hoo headed for the city with the Gu Ryong Guest Inn Akso mentioned.

Two days from Iron Blood Family at lightness skill pace.

Pa pa pat!

Seobaek eyed Yeon-hoo's back ahead, frowning slightly.

Really fine? Then why take Dongbang Lady's full care till yesterday?

Just yesterday, Yeon-hoo was the picture of a patient under her treatment.

Now, perfectly normal movement.

Faking it...?

That's when—

"Falling behind?"

"Ah..."

Seobaek sped up to match.

Without rest, they reached a spot one day from the city.

"Spend the night there."

"Yes, sir."

They entered the market.

Harsh weather left early evening streets deserted.

Few inns open.

Soon, Yeon-hoo and Seobaek settled in a decent one.

Only two tables occupied, but cozy vibe.

"Be right back—gotta handle something."

As Seobaek went to the back, Yeon-hoo scanned the patrons.

His eyes sharpened on three white-cloaked men in the corner.

Crescent moon metal ornaments marked them as Wolga.

Yeon-hoo recalled Cheol Gun-ak's note, lifted the bottle the waiter brought first, and filled his cup.

Glug glug.