Chapter 31 - Jin Mu's Heart Ignites
A place where forest and sheer cliffs blended in exquisite harmony. There, dozens of tents stood arrayed in perfect formation.
It was the main camp of the Northern Murim forces, mobilized to eradicate the bandit hordes. Yeon-hoo arrived as the sun began its descent in the evening.
Having received prior word, Subjugation Army Commander Seomun Gyeom escorted him directly to the command tent perched at the highest point. Before that, Seomun Gyeom had ordered all unit leaders—and every soldier—to address him not as young master, but as lord.
He had heard in advance of the chain of events that had unfolded in the Iron Blood Family since Yeon-hoo's return.
"The tea is rather humble, as befits a makeshift war camp."
"It's fine."
Yeon-hoo took a sip of the tea Seomun Gyeom had personally brewed. The aroma was as modest as promised, but since he wasn't fond of tea anyway, it posed no issue.
Clink.
"Have any nearby sects sent word?"
"Regrettably... none have contacted us yet."
Anger flickered across Yun Hoe's face.
"When our lord has issued the summons by military decree..."
"We still have a day left. Let's wait."
Yeon-hoo took another sip and fixed Seomun Gyeom with a steady gaze before asking something else.
"How are our supplies holding?"
"Fortunately, contributions from several sects have left us with enough to last a full month. We've also replenished damaged weapons, so operations should proceed without hindrance."
"Understood. You're dismissed. I need some rest."
"Rest well, my lord."
Seomun Gyeom bowed and withdrew. Yeon-hoo drained the still-hot tea in one go, then sat on the bamboo-woven cot, shedding his outer robe.
"Commander, you should rest as well. You too—stand down."
"Yes, my lord."
Yun Hoe promptly exited the tent, but Cheol-u did not. His eyes lingered on the bloodstain marring Yeon-hoo's waist before he spoke.
"You could have easily avoided it. Why take the blow?"
He referred to Wi Ji-cheol's strike.
"You'll understand in time. Now go."
As Yeon-hoo lay back, Cheol-u stared at him a moment longer, bowed, and stepped outside. Instead of the tent beside the command post, he slipped into the rear woods, climbing to the top of the tallest tree.
A hidden vantage. As always, Cheol-u's post was the closest and most discreet to Yeon-hoo.
From there, he scanned the main camp's perimeter. His first duty: identify the most covert approaches toward Yeon-hoo's position.
'Why didn't he dodge the bastard's attack?'
Cheol-u frowned faintly, replaying the moment. Yeon-hoo's decision to take Wi Ji-cheol's strike unhindered still lingered as a profound enigma.
Then, a few warriors appeared—patrols circling the camp.
"You hear about it?"
"What?"
"They say our lord charged ahead of everyone in the fight against the enemy. Took a wound in the thick of it, too."
"I heard. Didn't believe it at first, but once confirmed... made me see him differently. Honestly, opinions on him weren't great. Lots of criticism about him stirring up trouble right after returning after fifteen years."
"I don't care about that. Just the fact he's fighting alongside the likes of us—that's enough for me to back him. Isn't it kinda cool? No highborn's ever led from the front like this. And it's our lord doing it, charging in fiercer than anyone the moment he arrives. Exposing those bandit scum as Northwest Murim mongrels while taking a hit in the process."
"True. I'm decided—backing him from today."
"Me too."
"Shouldn't we watch a bit longer? It's not just anyone—it's choosing our lord."
"What more watching? You see it, don't you? If it's the same no matter who becomes lord, why not support the one who fights with us?"
"Fair, but... slaughtering all the surrendered foes? That's harsh."
"What nonsense? They faked surrender to assassinate our lord! Of course you wipe 'em out!"
"...Yeah?"
The warriors passed Cheol-u's tree and vanished elsewhere. Listening, Cheol-u gazed toward the command tent.
'Could he have intended this... on purpose?'
Wall Thunder Family's lead vanguard Go Gwang emanated a razor-sharp aura like a freshly honed blade as he glared down at Wi Ji-cheol's severed head. His wavering eyes soon darkened with murderous intent.
"Wang-jeok surrendered?"
"Yes. Because he surrendered, we lost any chance to escape the battlefield. Our vanguard lord faked surrender and gave his all, but in the end..."
The man bowing and weeping before him was Wi Ji-cheol's sole surviving subordinate.
Go Gwang closed his eyes tightly. Silence stretched on.
"I clearly heard Northern Murim's Northern Army Commander Yun Hoe call him lord."
Go Gwang's eyes snapped open.
"No doubt—lord?"
"Yes, no mistake."
"Then Jang Cheon has come."
"That's the odd part... he didn't look a day over thirty."
"What?"
At that moment, a yellow-robed figure who had stood silently behind Go Gwang spoke cautiously.
"Word is Iron Blood Family's second young master has returned... If he's young, it must be him, not Jang Cheon. Besides, Jang Cheon isn't the type to lead from the front."
"Definitely not Jang Cheon. I watched closely in case of a face-obscuring disguise—his voice was too youthful."
Go Gwang closed his eyes again. The yellow-robe and the head-bearer fell silent.
Then, presences stirred from the canyon mouth. Go Gwang opened his eyes and stared. They widened suddenly; he shot to his feet and bowed.
"We see the elder."
"We see the elder."
All the guards bowed to the diminutive, unremarkably plain elderly gray-robe: Jo Jung-bo, one of Wall Thunder Family's elders. His gaze never left Wi Ji-cheol's head as he approached.
"What happened?"
His voice grated like steel on stone.
"Well..."
Go Gwang relayed the subordinate's report verbatim. Unexpectedly, Jo Jung-bo's response was calm.
"I thought him a mere whelp, but he's got some skill."
"You're certain it's Iron Blood's second son?"
"The reason this old man came here was to claim his head. The moment I heard he'd headed this way, I rushed over..."
Jo Jung-bo trailed off, placing a hand on the head.
"You gave your all to the end. Leave vengeance to us—go in peace."
The air grew solemn; some shed tears. After a moment of mourning, Jo Jung-bo turned to the head-bearer.
"He was wounded?"
"Yes. I clearly saw blood spraying from his waist after taking our vanguard lord's blade."
"Strange."
Jo Jung-bo furrowed his brow. Go Gwang looked puzzled.
"What's strange, elder?"
"Our lord came to me personally. Ordered his head at all costs... Even with a fake surrender, taking a hit from Vanguard Lord Wi means no need for this old man to step in."
The logic checked out; all nodded in agreement. Jo Jung-bo was among Wall Thunder's top experts, prideful enough to act only against equals.
"Seems our lord overestimates him. Doesn't warrant you personally."
"What can we do? Orders are orders."
Jo Jung-bo straightened. He eyed the head-bearer.
"Why do you think he spared you?"
"..."
"To flaunt his authority through you. Thus, you should have died there."
"...Elder!"
Thud!
The man crumpled lifelessly with a dull sound. The air froze. Knowing Jo Jung-bo's brutality, none dared intervene.
Then, chilling presences entered—figures cloaked head to toe in drab gray robes, arraying like shadows behind Jo Jung-bo. Known as his shadows, they matched his savagery.
Even Go Gwang swallowed dryly.
"Where's the enemy's main camp?"
"About ten li north."
"Troop strength?"
"Until recently, one forward unit and three main detachments... but the second Iron Blood son—his forces are unknown until scouted."
"Reinforcements arrive in two days. Scout their numbers till then. Attack immediately upon arrival—grant all two days' rest."
"Understood."
Bi-ryong Corps Leader Jin Mu and the other leaders gathered. There, Jin Mu questioned Yang Mu-seok, who had returned with Yeon-hoo.
"How'd you head straight there?"
"Told you—followed where the lord led."
"I mean, how'd the lord decide on that spot—not even the main camp?"
"Flock of birds."
"What?"
"Mid-journey, a flock took flight. We thought nothing of it, but the lord watched intently. When another flock rose, he ordered us there. Even we wondered why until we arrived... and it fit perfectly."
Yang Mu-seok beamed as if his own feat.
Jin Mu shook his head in disbelief. Redirecting on bird flight patterns? Unthinkable.
Yang Mu-seok continued. "More amazing: the moment we arrived, he unfolded the plan like scripted. We just followed orders, and it all wrapped up."
Jin Mu recalled battlefield Yeon-hoo: crushing the fearsome Wang-jeok's unit in moments, then obliterating Wi Ji-cheol and his men.
'He plunged into the enemy's heart first.'
That ignited Jin Mu's chest hottest. No one ever had. Not Northern Murim leaders, not even former lord Yi Yeom—they hung back, intervening only at the end. It had seemed natural.
But Yeon-hoo charged first, crushed foes with astonishing might, and forced surrender from Northwest's vicious vanguards.
'What if it were Jang Family head?'
Jin Mu thought of Jang Cheon. He'd favored him as next lord of Northern Murim.
"Deep in thought?"
"...Nothing. You say 'lord' so naturally now."
"Spend even a moment with him. Anyone would. Heh heh."
Then, a deep voice boomed from outside.
"Corps leaders—the lord summons you."