Chapter 26 - Battle of the Hounds
Murim warriors wielded weapons of dozens of varieties. Most favored close-combat arms like swords or blades, leaving archers like Seobaek exceedingly rare. To masters who had reached a certain level, arrows were useless anyway, and with their poor rate of fire, there was no defense once the first volley failed and the enemy closed in.
But as with all things in the world, exceptions existed.
Thwuck!
“Kuhk!”
One of the Black Cloaks heading toward Noegeom's house staggered with a sharp cry. A single arrow protruded from his shoulder.
“What!”
Clang clang clang!
The other Black Cloaks drew their swords in unison, spreading out their formation. Even caught off guard by the sudden assault, their reaction speed was phenomenal, their positioning swift and precise.
“An arrow...”
Spotting the shaft embedded in their comrade's shoulder, the Black Cloaks revealed their disbelief. None of them could have fallen to something as trivial as an arrow.
The wounded man shouted, “It didn't even make a whistle. Everyone, stay sharp.”
At that moment, the Black Cloak on the far left twisted his body in haste. Simultaneously, an arrow tore through his robe and embedded itself in the building across the way.
Thwuck!
“Over there!”
One Black Cloak pointed to the bamboo grove on the right. Something pale flashed amid the dense stalks before vanishing swiftly behind the thicket.
Three Black Cloaks launched themselves in pursuit. The remaining one stayed behind due to his injured comrade.
Surveying the surroundings, he frowned at the man groaning in pain. “Hit the bone?”
“Seems like it. Damn it...”
“Could get worse. We need a physician right away.”
The wounded Black Cloak grimaced at his comrade reaching out to help him. “You go ahead. Wait here—fetch Noegeom's sister quick.”
“You sure you'll be okay?”
“I can hold. Don't worry—just go.”
“Got it. Hang on; I'll be right back.”
As his comrade sped off toward Noegeom's house, the Black Cloak pressed his acupoints to dull the pain, then leaned back against a roadside boulder and sat.
The boulder moved.
Thwuck!
“...!”
The Black Cloak's eyes bulged wide as his head slowly tilted downward. A sword tip pierced through his chest, a vivid drop of crimson blood beading on its end.
“Don't blame me.”
At the icy voice, the Black Cloak's eyes widened further. “Noe...”
His lips moved toward his distant fleeing comrade. But the pierced heart stopped him far swifter than expected.
Thud.
* * *
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Seobaek raced north. The Black Cloaks pursued with unerring precision. The distance closed steadily until, upon reaching a dense forest, one blocked his path, ending the chase.
The Black Cloaks swiftly encircled Seobaek on three sides. One raised his sword to point at Seobaek's brow, voice chill. “Do you even know who we are?”
“Who else? Wi Yeon Gwang's hounds.”
“...What?”
Smirk.
“Chasing without a thought screams hound through and through. Heh heh heh.”
Seobaek bared his ivory-white teeth in a broad grin. He slung his bow over his shoulder and casually flicked both wrists.
Click. With a metallic snap, twin swords appeared.
Flash!
The blades caught the sunlight, bathing Seobaek's face in white.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Tell 'em you're the hound of the one who'll drag your Wall Thunder Manor to hell. Heh heh heh.”
“What?”
“Alright then—shall we hounds have a proper scrap?”
* * *
Noegeom's eyes trembled.
Seobaek was approaching. With his signature bright smile, no less.
'Three of them chased him...'
Lure them away. Take your sister and wait in the woods behind the official shrine north of town.
He'd thought success impossible. But to save his sister, he'd followed Seobaek's plan. Thankfully, he'd retrieved her safely, though he'd assumed Seobaek wouldn't return.
'Shook them off? Or...'
Noegeom dismissed the latter. Killing all three bordered on the impossible—especially with Seobaek's weapon being a bow.
His intact return only bolstered that certainty.
“What's with that look?”
“What happened to them?”
“Don't worry. I cut their throats clean.”
Seobaek answered nonchalantly, flashing his bright smile as he waved to a girl. “Hey.”
“H-Hello...”
Late teens, perhaps? The girl with a face too youthful for a woman was Noegeom's sister.
[Blood sister for real?]
“...”
[Good thing. Doesn't take after you.]
Thwack!
“Time to get going, yeah?”
Noegeom stared at Seobaek's retreating back with distrust.
'Killed them all? Those three?'
Then he spotted it—a sword peeking from Seobaek's sleeve. Bloodstains marred the uncleaned blade.
'Not the bow... that sword.'
That moment—
[Gonna stand there forever? Wanted to give your sis a thrill of the chase?]
“...”
[Saw on the way you left that corpse uncleaned. To think that skill aimed for our lord... tsk tsk tsk.]
“...”
* * *
“The young master has returned.”
At the warrior's report, Song Gyeom set down his chopsticks and dabbed his mouth with a cloth.
“How was the mood?”
“Nothing unusual.”
“Did the Jang family head come too?”
“With the young master and chief steward, plus two guests.”
“I see. So they didn't arrive together. Makes sense—they're not close enough for that. He'll come straight to this old man soon enough, so clear the table.”
“Well... he said he was tired and went straight to his quarters. Even ordered the guards not to let anyone in until morning.”
Twitch.
Song Gyeom's brow arched slightly, displeasure flickering across his face.
“No matter how weary, he should greet his elder first upon return...”
“Quite right. But, estate lord, the young master brought the Azure Dragon Hall Lord. He looked beaten black and blue—terrible shape. Something must've happened en route.”
“The Dongbang household asked about lodging, and sure enough, trouble on the way. Go find out what. Check on the others too.”
“Understood.”
“And from now on, call him lord. Best not provoke him until everything's settled.”
“...Yes.”
As the warrior withdrew, Song Gyeom resumed eating. Appetite gone, he soon set down his chopsticks and rinsed his mouth with a sip of liquor.
“Estate lord, it's me.”
“Come in.”
The entrant was chief steward Hong Myeong. He flushed red the moment he entered, venting his grievance.
“I heard the young master dragged my cousin to the cells. What in the world is going on?”
Hong Myeong was cousins with Azure Dragon Hall Lord Hong Mun. The hall's rapid growth owed much to Hong Myeong funneling lucrative ventures their way.
“Watch your mouth. Young master?”
“...My apologies. It's hard to stomach calling him lord.”
“True political strife begins now. Mind your actions and words—doubly so. As for the Azure Dragon Hall Lord, we'll discuss after the full story's known.”
Song Gyeom's tone toward Hong Myeong was icy. Quick-witted as he was, Hong Myeong grasped the intent.
'Says strife begins, so he'll step back and watch like a fox, that old schemer...'
Hong Myeong rose abruptly, bowed, and stormed out. Anxiety gnawed as he headed to his quarters.
'If the hall lord's in that state, someone should've sent word...'
Hong Myeong veered toward the cells. He had to see Hong Mun and learn what happened. Anxiety quickened his steps.
Moments later, warriors greeted him at the cells.
“Welcome, chief steward.”
“Mind if I go in? Got someone to see.”
“Sorry, but the lord ordered no visitors.”
“Just a moment—move.”
“Please leave.”
“You really gonna do this?”
“We follow the lord's command. Keep pushing, and we'll report it.”
“...”
Faced with their resolve, Hong Myeong turned away. His steps to his quarters felt leaden.
The money from deals with Hong Mun was no trifle. Exposure meant disaster. It might be unrelated, but he couldn't help worrying.
'Need to contain this before it blows up...'
* * *
Yeon-hoo lay down to sleep. But as always, nightmares jolted him awake.
His body dripped cold sweat, a sinking heaviness like a thousand-catty boulder crushing him.
Yeon-hoo stared blankly at the ceiling from his bed, unmoving for a time.
How long passed?
“Lord, Song Yeong here.”
At the voice, Yeon-hoo drew a deep breath and sat up. “Enter.”
Song Yeong opened the door and bowed to Yeon-hoo.
“Came running the moment I heard you returned.”
“You handled what I asked?”
“Yes. Secured three fine buildings—plenty of rooms for a hundred men easy.”
“And the Elder Council Chairman...”
“No worries. Made sure he'll fawn over me like a fool. Everything else you ordered is ready—just say the word.”
“One more task.”
“Name it.”
“Hand you the Azure Dragon Hall Lord—strip him bare. Note every name from his mouth, no exceptions.”
“Got it. I'll wring out even what he doesn't remember.”
Song Yeong had many talents. Among them, torture that could pry open a god's lips.