Heading to the Battlefield
Whoosh. A blizzard raged through the rugged mountains. The relentless downpour of snow over the past few days had transformed the world into a pure white expanse, yet a band of white-robed warriors emerged undeterred. Even in the bone-chilling cold where their breath froze into ice on their mustaches with every exhale, their eyes burned sharp and fierce, like predators hunting prey. The word Northern emblazoned on their chests revealed their identity.
"My dick's completely shriveled up. Damn it."
"Yours was tiny to begin with—what's the difference if it shrinks more?"
"What? You son of a bitch."
"Deputy Commander, this bastard just called me a son of a bitch!"
"Shut it."
The lead warrior's sharp rebuke silenced the group, leaving only the howl of the wind. Having scolded his men, he glanced at the man striding ahead. Jang Pae, the iron-fisted leader of the Iron Blood Family's Baekdojeon—Hundred Blades Hall—exuded an aura so ferocious it made him seem like a living tiger.
Deputy Commander Hwang Chan asked cautiously, "Are we pushing all the way to the border?"
"We're already here. Might as well."
"Understood."
"Before that, shut those mouths first. Enemy scouts could be anywhere."
"Yes, sir."
How much farther did they go? Jang Pae raised a hand, halting everyone, then stepped forward to the cliff's edge. He scanned the abyss beyond with piercing eyes.
Hwang Chan sidled up beside him. "They couldn't have come this far up, right?"
"After getting beaten like that, and you're still talking like that?"
"......"
"These aren't normal bastards. Remember that—we have to predict and prepare for everything beyond common sense."
"Yes, sir."
After scrutinizing the surroundings a while longer, Jang Pae addressed the group. "Rest here. Ration the liquor for the way back."
"Yes, sir."
"Ugh."
Thud thud! At the rest order, the Baekdojeon warriors flopped into the snow, cooling their overheated bodies.
"Care for some?"
Jang Pae wet his throat with the liquor Hwang Chan offered.
"I heard rumors that the White Night Cartel is stepping in to mediate. I hope it's true."
"When have you ever seen the White Night Cartel meddle in family wars? They've always backed the stronger side. Strongest Survive—that's the unbreakable rule of the White Night Cartel for centuries."
"True, but......"
"You're scared, huh."
"I'm not afraid of death. It's just... losing to those damn Northwest Murim bastards. That's what terrifies me."
"Lose? Who's losing? Cut the crap and rest."
"......Yes, sir."
Flames flickered in Jang Pae's eyes. He turned his gaze back to the blizzard-whipped void beyond the cliff.
That was when it happened.
"Commander!"
A warrior shouted urgently. It was the one who'd gone into the woods to relieve himself.
"What is it?"
"There's a body here!"
"What?"
Jang Pae and Hwang Chan rushed to the spot the warrior pointed out. Sure enough, two corpses lay there.
Hwang Chan examined them quickly. "Enemy scouts, looks like. Fresh kills—not long dead."
Jang Pae's brow furrowed. Enemy scouts reaching this far was bad enough, but who had killed them?
He bent down to inspect the bodies himself, soon identifying the cause of death—and couldn't hide his shock. A small hole pierced each chest; flipping them over revealed exit wounds several times larger on their backs.
An arrow piercing through wouldn't make holes this big...
"Commander, more bodies here!"
Another warrior's voice called from nearby. Jang Pae moved to the spot. Two more corpses, identically wounded front and back.
Do we have any masters in our ranks who leave marks like this?
As doubt clouded Jang Pae's mind, Hwang Chan murmured softly.
"Commander."
Jang Pae looked up. Hwang Chan nodded toward the opposite cliff.
Turning, Jang Pae saw figures emerging from the treeline, stabbing into his vision like daggers.
Blood Ghosts...
Recognizing them instantly, he called out lowly to his men. "Everyone, up."
At his quiet command, the Baekdojeon warriors sprawled in the snow sprang to their feet in unison.
"Blood Ghosts!"
"Those damn bastards really made it up here."
Hostility erupted from the group. The blood-robed Blood Ghosts were the Wall Thunder Family's infamous shock troops, ruthless killers true to their name.
Jang Pae had clashed with them countless times here over the years, slaying so many that every enemy knew his name.
"Heh heh heh. What brings the mighty Hundred Blades Commander Jang Pae all the way out here?"
A mocking voice drifted over. A blood-robe at the cliff's edge sneered, leading a hundred Blood Ghosts. He'd crossed blades with Jang Pae before.
"Thought you were dead. Tough bastard."
"I won't die till I take your head."
The blood-robe bared his teeth, pointing to the scar raking across his face—Jang Pae's handiwork.
"Wait for it. When war resumes, I'll come for your neck."
"I'll be waiting."
Then—
Boom! A firework burst in the sky. A Wall Thunder signal flare.
"That's it for today."
The Blood Ghosts vanished. Jang Pae watched them go, his eyes hardening. With the young lord's death halting the war, it would resume now. How many more would die? Gloom settled in.
Even more troubling was who would become Northern Murim's new master.
The Jang Family head lacks the vessel to rule...
Jang Pae didn't trust Jang Cheon. Many shared his view, but more backed him—threatening to fracture Northern Murim.
If only the young master lived...
With a sigh, Jang Pae turned to Hwang Chan. "Return."
"Yes, Commander."
Jang Pae stepped off first—but froze after one pace. A massive tree towered from the forward woods. Atop it stood a youth like a ghost.
His long black hair whipped in the wind; he carried a greatbow twice the size of most.
Jang Pae drew his greatsword from his shoulder. "Who are you?"
Only now spotting the stranger, the Baekdojeon warriors gripped their blades, forming ranks.
Shick shick shick!
"You come all this way and just leave? What's the rush?"
A boyishly bright voice.
"State your identity first."
"Not an enemy, so relax."
"Those bodies over there... your work?"
A grin. "Bad luck—they crossed my path just as I spotted them. Had no intent to kill, but they drew steel and charged."
Jang Pae eyed the youth's greatbow. The young man continued.
"Set up a outpost here, station guards. High ground, open sightlines—perfect for ambushes."
"Who. Are. You."
A grin. "You'll find out soon enough. See ya."
Whoosh. The youth vanished like a specter.
"Huh? Gone!"
"Where'd he go?"
The warriors gawked. All missed his movement, but Jang Pae stared in the direction he'd fled, brow narrowing.
Incredible lightness skill... Who? Says not enemy, but not one of ours either...
* * *
In the end, leaving a few men at the new outpost, Jang Pae returned straight to camp. Tens of thousands endured the cold amid woods and thick tents.
He headed for the Baekdojeon command tent. A youth ran up.
"Commander!"
"What's the fuss?"
"An envoy from the White Night Cartel!"
"......From the Cartel?"
"Yes. Here to mediate between us and Northwest Murim!"
Jang Pae could hardly believe it. The Cartel never intervened in family wars.
The youth added, "Folks say it's because this year marks the Great Earth Sovereign's sixtieth birthday."
Jang Pae's face lit up—welcome news. Anything to end this bloody war.
If it's his birthday year, it makes sense.
"Oh! And there's even bigger news."
"Spit it out."
"The second young master is back."
"Which family's?"
"Who else? Our lord's house. He's heading here now—should arrive by tomorrow afternoon at latest."
"......!"
Jang Pae was more stunned than by the envoy news.
The second young master... truly returned?
Yeon-hoo, the Iron Blood Family's sore spot. Exiled just for potentially hindering the eldest son, many who'd loved him wept—including Jang Pae, barely twenty then. The pain lingered deep.
Don't die. Live. We'll meet again someday.
Those were Yeon-hoo's parting words to Jang Pae, who'd snuck out to see him off.
Has he really come back?
Thump thump. His heart raced.
"Heh heh......"
"Commander, what's suddenly funny?"
Suppressing excitement, Jang Pae entered the tent. His eyes reddened.
* * *
Whoosh. As the allied camp neared, the weather worsened. Snow resumed amid gale winds, eyes barely openable—yet Yeon-hoo's gaze forward remained utterly indifferent.
Ssssh... Snowflakes flying at his eyes scattered like mist, repelled by an invisible force. Again and again.
How long? A shadow appeared ahead.
Cheol-u smiled faintly. "It's him."
Gwak Yang drew his sword.
Clang!
"Suspicious figure approaching."
"My retainer. Sheathe it."
No sooner said than the shadow Gwak Yang eyed dropped right before them. Incredibly, it was the youth from before Jang Pae and Baekdojeon.
He bowed to Yeon-hoo. "Welcome, my lord."