Yeon-hoo's One Move
“Hahaha!”
“Hohoho!”
Laughter echoed endlessly through Jang Yeong's residence. Jang Yeong, who had long felt persecuted, filled the tables to overflowing with every delicacy under the sun, as if determined to wash away years of resentment at this rare banquet. Jang Cheon put on a show of laughing and enjoying himself more than usual, as if to comfort his sister, but inwardly he was meticulously plotting his next moves.
'First, eliminate all risks stemming from Hong Mun.'
A few individuals still lingered in the Iron Blood Family who were entangled in his and Hong Mun's corruption. From Yeon-hoo's demeanor, it seemed he was unaware of them, but that didn't mean Jang Cheon could let his guard down. The surest way was to remove them completely. With Yeon-hoo gone and Song Gyeom bedridden, this was the perfect opportunity.
“Brother, what are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Nothing.”
“Have a drink.”
“Very well.”
Glug glug.
Jang Cheon downed two cups in quick succession that Jang Hoe had poured for him.
'I thought I'd been struck by some upstart, but changing my perspective has made everything feel so refreshingly light...'
Looking back, his inability to leave for the south had turned into a blessing in disguise.
“Sister, another drink?”
“Of course, if it's poured by our family head.”
It was then.
One of his close aides opened the door and entered.
“Family head.”
“What is it?”
“Someone asked me to deliver this to you.”
“Is that so? Where is that person now?”
“Well... they delivered it and vanished.”
Jang Cheon narrowed his eyes slightly as he uncorked the small tube his aide handed him.
Flutter...
In that instant, Jang Cheon's eyes twitched violently. Inside the tube lay a tightly rolled letter and something else—a ring, as ornate and dazzling as the one he himself wore.
Jang Cheon hurriedly unrolled the letter.
You've probably guessed the situation from the ring.
If you don't want to see your precious little brat die, prepare fifty thousand nyang in silver taels.
I'll send the next contact to the Jang estate, so get moderately wasted and hurry home with your eyebrows dancing.
Oh! Just in case, here's a warning: pull any funny business, and I'll start by chopping off one of the kid's fingers.
Shudder...
Jang Cheon trembled violently, like a man gripped by malaria. Thick veins bulged across his flushed face like a spider's web.
“What happened, brother?!”
Jang Hoe rushed over in alarm, read the letter, and his eyes widened as if they might tear.
“B-Brother! What in the world is this?!”
Whoosh!
Fwoosh.
The letter crumbled to ash in Jang Cheon's hand.
“Grrrr...”
Just like with Jang So, Jang Cheon had a fatal weakness: his boundless love for his son.
* * *
After leaving the Iron Blood Family, Yeon-hoo had pushed on relentlessly for two days with almost no rest. Only when the horses began to falter did he finally call for a break.
“Here.”
Yeon-hoo quenched his thirst with the liquor Seobaek handed him. He turned to ask Dongbang Ri if she'd like a sip, only to chuckle. She was chugging straight from the bottle—the very one she'd brought herself.
Sama Song approached. He had originally planned to stay behind at the Iron Blood Family to keep an eye on Jang Cheon, but he'd had no choice but to follow when Yeon-hoo insisted he come along.
“Care for a sip?”
“Thank you.”
“Still worried about your uncle?”
“Yes. No matter how I think about it, it might have been better if I'd stayed. With even the garden master unwell, if the Jang family head tries anything suspicious, there's no one to rein him in...”
Sama Song trailed off and took a hearty swig from the cup Yeon-hoo offered.
Yeon-hoo smiled faintly at the sight.
“Don't worry. He won't be able to do a thing.”
“How can you be so certain? Have you prepared some countermeasure?”
“Of course. Do you think I'd bring the one man who can check your uncle—the head of the Sama family—without a plan?”
“That countermeasure... am I not allowed to know it?”
“It's a bit underhanded, so it's hard to say right now. You'll find out everything when we return anyway, so hold your curiosity.”
“Pardon?”
Sama Song's curiosity multiplied tenfold at the words underhanded method. But Yeon-hoo flopped back onto the grass, cutting off further questions, so he returned to his spot. Strangely, just hearing that a plan was in place melted away all his worries.
'One word from him, and my anxieties vanish like melting snow... I'm hopelessly devoted to my lord.'
Sama Song gave a wry smile and shook his head. He sat down beside Dongbang Ri, who leaned against a tree, lost in thought as she gazed into the distance. He started to speak but thought better of it and lay down in the grass instead.
Meanwhile, Dongbang Ri lifted her gaze from the south to the sky. Fluffy clouds drifted lazily across the vast blue expanse, so clear it seemed you could scoop it up with your hands. The gentle spring breeze stirred an impulse to let everything go.
Dongbang Ri brushed back her wind-tossed hair and glanced at Yeon-hoo. Tall grass hid his face, revealing only his legs propped on his knees. Staring at him summoned a flood of memories from their first meeting to now, pulling her into a mire of reflection.
'Days like hell...'
The dignity of the Dongbang family had long vanished. It had been nothing but desperate struggles for survival, with no small number of retainers dying along the way. Had she not met Yeon-hoo—or had he not returned to the Iron Blood Family—their lives would still be mired in hell.
'Not bad so far.'
At first, distrust of Yeon-hoo had run deep. Resentment toward former garden master Yi Yeom, who had thoroughly ignored the Dongbang family under the pretext of curbing relatives' influence, had projected onto Yeon-hoo. But he was different from her expectations. At least until now.
Whoosh.
Dongbang Ri deeply inhaled the spring breeze tickling her face.
It was then.
To you, a single moment may be a lifetime to others. So don't just sit there—practice visualization training at least.
“...!”
Dongbang Ri turned toward Yeon-hoo. But his face remained hidden by the grass.
I haven't learned any forms yet.
* * *
'So that's it. We started training but had to drop it.'
Yeon-hoo gave a wry smile at Dongbang Ri's sound transmission. They had just begun when news of the Red Wolf Corps clashing with the Northwest Murim forces arrived, forcing them into action.
Have you perfectly mastered the Three Dongbang Forms?
Not perfectly, but...
Everything must be perfect.
No further response came.
Yeon-hoo stared at the sky. What had been overcast until yesterday now stretched endlessly high, like an autumn heaven.
'I wonder if things are going well.'
Yeon-hoo thought of Somubaek. His fate would dictate Yeon-hoo's own path. If Somubaek ascended to the throne of Great Earth Sovereign without issue, it would be as good as giving Yeon-hoo wings.
'For the great cause, I'll use anything.'
Yeon-hoo steadied his breath softly and rose.
“Shall we move?”
“We've rested enough. Time to go.”
“Understood.”
Cheol-u called out to everyone.
“We're moving out.”
The march resumed. This time, it was another two days of grueling travel—one meal a day, no real breaks. Yeon-hoo meticulously matched their pace to the warhorses' condition. Rest when they tired; press on otherwise.
Five days later, they reached a spot one day from their destination.
Sama Song pointed ahead.
“That's the last city.”
“Then we'll spend the night there.”
“Understood.”
The group headed toward the city. Sama Song spoke up.
“It's close to the Northwest Murim, but well-developed transport makes it a hub most merchants from across the world pass through. Ah, many families of the Southern Defense Army have settled there too.”
“The Northwest Murim hasn't attacked?”
“Not yet. The Southern Defense Army's might has kept them at bay so far. But since the former garden master departed, reports of suspicious movements have trickled in.”
Yeon-hoo listened to Sama Song's explanation as they entered the city's outskirts. Unlike from afar, the marketplace bustled vibrantly. Inns lined both sides of the broad streets, overflowing with people in every sort of garb. The sight of even colored-folk rare in the Central Plains confirmed Sama Song's words—this was indeed a crossroads for the world's merchants.
“Tonight, spare no expense. Feed everyone till they're stuffed.”
“Understood. I'll secure inns first.”
At Sama Song's order, one warrior spurred his horse into the market. Moments later, as Yeon-hoo and his group entered the street, passersby glanced sidelong and parted to either side.
From their eyes and expressions alone, Yeon-hoo could tell they greatly feared warriors.
“Does Ma, the commander, oversee this area too?”
“Yes.”
“He rules them harshly, it seems.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Look—they're so afraid of us they can't even look straight and hurry to get out of the way.”
Sama Song smiled faintly.
“It's not harshness; it's strict discipline. Commander Ma has trained even non-warriors in military drills as reserves. In case our forces fall into disadvantage, he'd deploy them to the front.”
'Reserves...'
The idea piqued his interest. It was something he hadn't considered.
'This man is growing on me. More curious by the minute.'
On the other hand, doubts swelled. From Sama Song's account, Ma Ui Tae seemed highly capable. So why the bad blood with his father? Was Father's judgment flawed? Or was Sama Song misjudging Ma Ui Tae?
Yeon-hoo leaned toward the former. If Father had a keen eye for people?
'The Northern Murim wouldn't have fallen this far.'
Yeon-hoo shook off the thought with a quiet exhale.
It was then.
“Halt!”
Suddenly, a group of warriors appeared ahead. Young men in their mid-twenties, clad in uniforms embroidered with “Northern Division” across the chest. No doubt Southern Defense Army troops.
Yeon-hoo quickly scanned them.
'Impressive.'
He approved. Their eyes, their stance—clear signs of proper training.
Sama Song stepped forward.
“Southern Defense Army?”
“This isn't a place to strut around armed! State your identities!”
The warriors didn't recognize Yeon-hoo's group. No symbols of the Iron Blood Family or Northern Murim adorned them.
“I am Sama Song, head of the Sama family leading the garden master's household.”
“What?!”
“Loyalty!”
“Loyalty!”
The warriors saluted in shock. Sama Song continued.
“This is your lord. Show proper respect.”