Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 54: The Wrath of a Man More Terrifying Than Yama the King of Hell
Yeon-hoo shot toward the source of the fireworks like an arrow.
After running for about the time it takes to eat a meal, the dense forest that seemed endless finally gave way to a vast grassland.
Ka-ga-gang!Kwa-ji-jik!
"Kraaak!"
"Kraaaak!"
A fierce battle raged across the grassland. It pitted warriors clad in blood-red uniforms embroidered with the characters for Red Wolf on their chests against those bearing the insignia of the Northwest Murim.
Yeon-hoo leaped lightly onto a high branch for a better view.
"Whoa! It's intense, huh?"
As Seobak said, the fight was beyond fierce—it bordered on a bloodbath. The Northwest forces outnumbered the enemy by far, yet the battle hung in perfect balance, refusing to tip either way. If anything, more Northwest warriors were collapsing in sprays of blood.
Group combat specialists, Yeon-hoo thought, inwardly admiring the Red Wolf Corps' tactics. At a glance, they seemed to fight chaotically, but a closer look revealed organic coordination that minimized enemy strikes while delivering sharp counterattacks for heavy casualties.
What the...?
Yeon-hoo's eyes flashed as he scanned the battlefield and spotted a cluster of people trembling in fear off to one side. About twenty young men in mismatched attire.
Seeing them reminded him of the mysterious corpses he'd found just before arriving.
No way...?
A suspicion flickered through his mind. Yeon-hoo wasn't one to let doubts linger.
"Seobak."
"Yes, my lord."
"Go check their identities. Don't engage."
"Understood."
Seobak vanished like the wind, skirting the melee to reach the youths.
Cheol-u, watching, narrowed his eyes. "From their vibe, it looks like they've been kidnapped."
Yeon-hoo nodded silently. He'd thought the same.
"If they're Northern Murim youths from a nearby city..."
Cheol-u trailed off, frowning deeper. Given their position, the kidnappers weren't the Northwest forces—it had to be the Red Wolf Corps. If Northwest had taken them, the youths would be behind their lines.
This is trouble...
Cheol-u's gaze darkened. If those were Northern youths, it was serious. The Red Wolf Corps was Yeon-hoo's top recruitment target. Kidnapping Northerners turned them from allies into enemies.
He glanced at Yeon-hoo.
No matter how vital they are to the grand cause, he won't let this slide...
Knowing Yeon-hoo's temperament better than anyone, Cheol-u prayed the youths had no Northern ties and waited for Seobak's return.
Seobak soon reappeared.
"Northern Murim youths! The Northwest nabbed them, but Red Wolf spotted it and sparked this mess!"
Whew... Cheol-u sighed inwardly in relief.
"We should help, right...? Huh?"
Seobak's eyes widened mid-sentence. Yeon-hoo was already airborne.
"Bro's still not fully recovered—stay put... Huh?"
Cheol-u shot after him.
"That temper of his."
Seobak slung down his massive bow, nocked an arrow, and grinned wolfishly.
Whose skull should I blow off first?
Gwan-ryang, captain of the Red Wolf Corps' Thousand Unit and Gwan-baek's nephew, was a force of nature—blessed with prowess, bravery, and his uncle's trust, plus the adoration of his men. Young but battle-hardened, his tactical genius had won countless victories, positioning him as the next leader since Gwan-baek had no heirs.
Now, Gwan-ryang's face flushed red, like the ancient general Gwan-u in legend.
En route to their objective, they'd clashed with Northwest forces—this was their second bout.
Shweeeek!Thud!
"Kraaak!"
Gwan-ryang cleaved an enemy's head and charged the densest cluster. He was a tiger—fearless, unrelenting, slashing whatever appeared and barreling toward the next.
Thump!
"Kraaak!"
"Kraaaak!"
Bathed in blood, he pressed on. Overwhelmed, a few foes backed away.
Thump!
"Kreeeak!"
"Kraaaak!"
Those retreating from him crumpled in blood. A hulking brute emerged like a bear, bellowing.
"Flee before the enemy and die by my hand! Charge!"
Their eyes locked across the air.
Gwan-ryang grinned.
The brute bared his teeth. "You fools chased us this far without a thought. Heh heh heh."
His massive axe rose slowly toward Gwan-ryang's brow.
Gwan-ryang steadied his breath, lowering his sword. "So you feigned defeat to lure us?"
"Or maybe we're not the Northwest Murim to flee bandit scum. Heh heh heh."
Then it happened.
Troops poured from the forests on both flanks—about a hundred, radiating savage auras. The vanguard's middle-aged leaders reeked of elite mastery.
Gwan-ryang's eyes trembled.
He'd fallen for the bait, just as the brute said.
Damn it...
Crisis. Already outnumbered, this reinforcement made survival uncertain.
The brute pointed his axe. "Gwan-ryang, I'll deliver your head to Gwan-baek!"
Huuu.
Gwan-ryang inhaled deeply.
If I can't escape, take the head first.
Tough opponent, but full power could claim him.
Wuuung.
His sword hummed.
Then—
"...!"
Gwan-ryang's eyes bulged. The brute boasting of severing his head had his own lopped off, fountain spraying.
A man's figure etched clearly in his wide eyes.
Who...?
A chilling voice pierced his ear.
If you don't want total annihilation, withdraw your forces northeast immediately.
Having mercilessly decapitated the brute, Yeon-hoo scanned the field in the brief lull. The flanking Northwest troops needed a moment to join.
They must withdraw before merging.
He glanced back. Seobak approached, having smashed a head with his bow.
"Seobak."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Buy time so they can't link up."
"Got it."
Ka-boom!
Seobak vaulted to the tallest tree, loosing arrows at the charging Northwest vanguard.
Twaang!
The shaft streaked like lightning at a lead middle-aged man.
"Hmph!"
The man snorted, swatting it with his sword.
Seobak grinned.
Knew it.
Ka-boom!
"Kraaak!"
The man exploded in blood, a massive hole in his chest.
Twaang!
Another arrow flew. A second middle-aged man dodged instead of deflecting, seeing his comrade's fate.
Seobak grinned again.
Right on cue. Heh heh heh.
Thud!
"Kraaak!"
"Kreeeak!"
Two followers behind him collapsed from one shot.
Shweeeek!
Two arrows now.
Ka-boom! Ka-boom!
Flames and smoke erupted before the Northwest warriors, pillars of fire soaring. Some flailed aflame; the rest halted and retreated in shock.
"Perfect."
Seobak looked back. Cheol-u was herding the youths northeast. No sign of Yeon-hoo.
"Kreeeak!"
"Kraaaak!"
Seobak turned to the battlefield's heart, where death danced. Though unseen, he knew Yeon-hoo was there. A flash of light, and heads flew; blood mist followed.
Seobak grinned.
You idiots. Fight Red Wolf fair—why kidnap innocent Northerners? Now you've pissed off someone scarier than Yama.
It was slaughter beyond "leaves in autumn"—pure carnage.
What the hell is that...?
Gwan-ryang couldn't tear his eyes from Yeon-hoo. Not curiosity about his identity, but the horrific scene unfolding.
Do you plan to butcher all your innocent men?
Two Hundred captains approached.
"Know who that is?"
"No clue."
Gwan-ryang finally looked away, pointing northeast. "Retreat there."
"Retreat? Now?"
His aides' eyes bulged. Their Gwan-ryang never yielded before foes, even unto death.
"Can't let my stubbornness kill you too. Move!"
"...Yes!"
"Understood!"