Chapter 56 - Yeon-hoo's Intentions
Having finished his first meeting with Ma Ui Tae, Yeon-hoo sat facing Sama Song and Dongbang Ri.
There, Sama Song asked with an expression of utter incomprehension.
"Why did you do that, my lord?"
"What do you mean?"
"You treated Commander Ma too harshly."
"I merely held him accountable for what needed addressing. And the support of the incompetent is unnecessary."
"The kidnapping was undoubtedly Commander Ma's responsibility, but that doesn't make him incompetent by any means. He must have been fully focused on the war unfolding in the neutral zone—that's why it happened."
Yeon-hoo lifted his teacup to his lips, then quietly set it down as he stared straight at Sama Song.
"I understand the family head's feelings. But let's leave it at that for now; we should observe a bit more."
"……."
Sama Song reluctantly closed his mouth. He was deeply curious about Yeon-hoo's intentions. At the same time, a strong doubt arose in him.
Could it be that he didn't come here to secure Commander Ma's support?
Dongbang Ri harbored the same doubt as Sama Song.
It was then.
"My lord, it's me."
It was Seobaek's voice.
"Come in."
Seobaek entered the tent.
"As ordered, I've assigned escorts and sent everyone back to their homes."
"Good work."
Yeon-hoo rose from his seat.
"I need to inspect the camp. You two come with me."
"Yes, my lord."
"Yes."
Leaving the tent, Yeon-hoo sought a spot from which he could overlook the entire camp. Spotting a watchtower not far off, he headed straight there.
Sama Song asked, "What do you think of the camp?"
"It seems they've laid it out very solidly overall, based on the Eight Trigrams. I fully acknowledge that aspect."
Moments later, as Yeon-hoo approached the watchtower, warriors came forward.
"Loyalty!"
"May I go up?"
"Yes! Please, go ahead!"
Yeon-hoo climbed the ladder to the tower top. The sentries on guard there saluted him sharply and bowed their heads.
"Loyalty!"
"At ease."
After reassuring the warriors, Yeon-hoo began surveying the entire camp. From above, the solid aura emanating from the whole setup was unmistakable.
This is on par with the Northern Legion—no shortcomings there.
It was then.
"These arrows are pathetic. With junk like this, you couldn't even hit an enemy's low-rank warrior. Tsk tsk tsk."
Seobaek frowned as he examined the bows and arrows used by the sentries.
"That bad?"
"Yes. The tip design is an outdated style, so the range is short, and the impact on hit is disastrously low."
At Seobaek's words, Yeon-hoo turned to a warrior and asked, "Where do you get your weapons supplied?"
"There are a few forges in nearby cities that produce or repair the gear we use."
"Seobaek."
"Yes, my lord."
"Go to those forges yourself and teach the smiths properly."
"Right now?"
"Of course."
"Yes! Understood! While I'm at it, I'll tune up the other armaments too!"
Beyond his exceptional archery, Seobaek had another specialty: profound knowledge of every weapon in the world.
Seobaek said to the warriors, "Someone needs to come with me, yeah?"
No one stepped forward, hesitating, until Yeon-hoo pointed at one.
"You, go with him."
"Forgive me, but... I can't leave my post during sentry duty."
"I'll inform the commander."
"……."
The warrior still hesitated, and Seobaek scowled.
"Hey. You planning to defy the lord's order?"
"……Understood. But first, I have something to say."
"What?"
"Among those you rescued was my younger brother. Thanks to you, my lord, I didn't lose my only remaining family. This grace—I swear I'll never forget it until the day I die."
"You've already repaid it."
"……Pardon?"
"Fighting the enemy here all this time is repayment enough. Now go."
"Yes!"
In the end, the warrior descended the tower with Seobaek.
Yeon-hoo watched the warrior's retreating back, inwardly satisfied.
Discipline is properly instilled here, at least.
About two hours after Seobaek left for the city with the warrior?
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Suddenly, the bells rang out clamorously.
Yeon-hoo asked a warrior, "What's this bell for?"
"It's the emergency signal!"
"Emergency?"
"Yes! Sometimes Northwest Murim forces stray beyond the neutral zone into our territory, and we dispatch troops to drive them out!"
As the warrior said, forces were gathering at the camp's main gate.
"Carry on."
"Loyalty!"
Yeon-hoo descended the tower and headed to the gate. As always, Cheol-u appeared like a ghost at his side.
"You stay back and tend the wounded."
"They'll heal on their own once they move."
"Stubborn as ever."
"Learned from you, my lord."
"……."
Yeon-hoo glanced at Dongbang Ri. Before he could speak, she stepped forward.
"You said experience matters, so I'll go too."
"It could be dangerous."
"I'm prepared for that."
"Very well."
Moments later, Yeon-hoo and Cheol-u reached the gate. Around a hundred troops stood ready, awaiting someone.
Just then, Ma Ui Tae and Gwak Hong appeared.
Spotting Yeon-hoo, Ma Ui Tae approached and said, "Northwest Murim forces have encroached on our western sector."
"You're going too, Commander?"
"Yes. They say it's a sizable force this time, so I should go myself."
"Good. Then we'll go together."
"My lord, you'd best remain in camp. Any clash will be minor in scale—no need for you to go personally. If the enemy learns you're here, who knows what they'll try next."
"Don't worry about me. Are these elites?"
"Yes. We've elite-trained them long ago for such contingencies. Each is worth a hundred men, with ample combat experience."
Yeon-hoo slowly scanned the assembled warriors. Their sharp eyes betrayed rigorous training.
"We'll see their skill firsthand... Let's move."
Yeon-hoo led the way out the gate. Ma Ui Tae watched his back with a peculiar gaze, then followed. Gwak Hong shouted to the warriors,
"Advance!"
"Chasing us beyond the neutral zone... Does Northern Murim mean nothing to them?"
Gwan-ryang narrowed his eyes at the enemies entering Northern Murim territory. They advanced without hesitation.
"Looks like they're dead set on taking out our captain this time."
"Hm……."
Gwan-ryang was troubled. The enemy numbers were overwhelmingly high—four times theirs at a glance. And there were unfamiliar new faces among them.
Even their lightness skills mark them as experts...
Fight, and they'd lose. But retreating would make it twice they'd fled, which grated on him. It would shatter the reputation they'd built.
"We fight?"
"No."
"Pardon? Then we're retreating again?"
"I won't die a dog's death for a reputation flimsier than a sandcastle. We survive to the end and aid the captain. That's our greater cause."
"……Understood."
In the end, Gwan-ryang chose retreat. His gut churned, but for his men's sake, it was unavoidable.
Gwan-ryang glanced northeast.
They won't dare chase deeper here.
A bit further up was the Northern Murim camp—the safest bet for his subordinates' security.
"All northeast!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
Gwan-ryang and the Red Wolf Corps warriors leaped northeast in unison.
Moments later, Northwest Murim forces arrived at their former position. Leading them was an elderly man with an unusually large head.
He glared coldly at Gwan-ryang's vanishing figure and muttered, "No matter what, today I'll have your head, Gwan-ryang."
"Further up is the Northern Murim camp... You sure about this?"
"No worries. They're scared of all-out war, so they'll just watch like always. What are you waiting for? Pursue!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
About to crest the ridgeline, Yeon-hoo spotted the chase unfolding below and raised a hand, halting everyone.
Ma Ui Tae approached. "What is it?"
"Look down there."
Ma Ui Tae peered where Yeon-hoo pointed and widened his eyes.
"Looks like our scouts are being pursued."
"Not ours—the Red Wolf Corps."
"How did you...?"
"The ones we met rescuing the kidnap victims."
Ma Ui Tae's eyes widened further. The distance from the peak to the pursued was so great even he, with his profound inner energy, couldn't make out faces. He'd assumed at first it was his own reconnaissance team, but Yeon-hoo had identified them at a glance.
No matter how deep his energy, he couldn't recognize faces from here. Must've guessed from their attire.
"Commander."
"Yes."
"How have you handled it when they've encroached before?"
"Most times, if we didn't respond, they just left."
"You just let them be?"
"What they want is a pretext for war. If we engage and casualties occur, Wi Yeon Gwang would use it as justification for invasion."
"You fear war?"
"War itself holds no fear, but the sacrifice of countless lives is terrifying beyond words. Especially against the far stronger Northwest Murim—non-response was our best option."
"Showing such weakness is why innocents get kidnapped and slaughtered, isn't it?"
"……."
Ma Ui Tae's face hardened. The kidnapping was an indelible scar, a humiliation beyond excuse.
"I'm not blaming you. But from this moment on, respond to every provocation without fail. If they kill one of ours, kill two of theirs; if two, kill ten. Show that resolve, and they won't dare underestimate us again."
"That's exactly what the enemy wants, my lord."
"What they want is your fear like that. Show you're ready to clash whenever they desire war, and they'll think twice. True peace isn't enduring one-sided beatings—it's achieved when you warn that touching us means grave injury to them too."
"……!"
In that instant, Ma Ui Tae recalled the rumor: if Yeon-hoo became lord, war with Northwest Murim would erupt. He'd dismissed it as nonsense when first hearing from Jang Bo, but seeing Yeon-hoo's demeanor now, he realized it was no rumor.
Too dangerous to entrust Northern Murim to. Can't rule it on hot blood alone.
Gwak Hong's words—not to judge with prejudice—shattered in that moment.