The Goosebump-Inducing Scheme
Slightly bowed head, neatly clasped hands, and even a cautious gait without a partner. It was the very picture of an eunuch facing the emperor.
Why are those arrogant bastards acting like this...?
Yun Hoe stared in disbelief at the envoys' inexplicable behavior, wondering what on earth was going on.
"Prepare horses. We head straight to the battlefield."
"Understood."
Yun Hoe decided to ask for the full story later and hurriedly readied the horses.
Moments later, Yeon-hoo, the envoys, and Yun Hoe set off toward the battlefield where Northwest Murim had launched its assault. Cheol-u, Gwak Yang, Jang Pae, and the envoys' escort troops joined them.
Dududu!
Yeon-hoo rode at the forefront. Yun Hoe, following close behind, was still filled with questions.
How long had they galloped on? The rugged mountain terrain began.
"Halt."
At Yeon-hoo's command, everyone reined in their horses.
"Is there no shortcut?"
Jang Pae replied, "We could cross that mountain much faster, but we'd have to go on foot."
Yeon-hoo dismounted immediately.
"We go on foot."
The envoys dismounted without hesitation. One of the escort warriors, baffled, cried out,
"Crossing a snow-covered mountain is grueling. Please, just ride."
That was when it happened.
Swaeek! Puck!
"Argh!"
One of the envoys' escorts tumbled from his horse with a death rattle. An arrow was embedded in his head.
Gwak Yang and Jang Pae rushed to Yeon-hoo's side.
"Enemy ambush! Fall back!"
Yeon-hoo silently retreated behind them. Meanwhile, Cheol-u pulled the arrow from the dead warrior's head, examined it, and turned to Yeon-hoo.
"It's an arrow used by Northwest Murim."
Swaeek! Puk!
"Krahk!"
"Urk!"
Two more escorts fell screaming.
"Protect the envoys! Tighten into dense formation!"
The escort warriors leaped from their horses, surrounding the envoys. In the chaos, three more were struck by arrows from somewhere and collapsed.
One escort bellowed with infused inner energy,
"These are envoys from White Night Cartel bearing the Great Earth Sovereign's command! Northwest Murim, cease your attack at once!"
Then—
Pop! Snow dust erupted right beside them. A white-masked figure burst from it, lunging at the envoys.
It happened in a split second; no one could react in time.
Flash!
A streak of light pierced the chest of one envoy surrounded by escorts.
"Guhk!"
The escorts charged the shadow almost simultaneously. But before their swords could connect, it soared twenty jang away and let out a chilling laugh.
"Heh heh heh. I suspected as much, and it was indeed the envoys."
"You bastard! You think you can attack White Night Cartel's envoys and get away with it?!"
One of the surviving envoys roared in fury at losing his comrade.
"What does it matter if we kill them all?"
That was when Yeon-hoo stepped forward.
"Daring to attack White Night Cartel's envoys. Northwest Murim has truly lost its mind. Cheol-u."
"Yes, my lord."
"Capture him."
"Yes."
Pop! Cheol-u kicked up snow and flew toward the assailant like a bird. Their clash began at once.
Kakakang! Papap!
Sparks flew amid a storm of snow dust, blinding everyone. The envoys and escorts gaped at the superhuman speed beyond imagination.
Gwak Yang, watching, stepped up.
"I'll assist."
"You protect me."
"......"
"Hold position, Gwak Yang."
As Gwak Yang fell back, Yeon-hoo turned to the envoys.
"Are you alright?"
"Fortunately, I'm unharmed, but......"
The envoy trailed off in grief. Yeon-hoo added,
"They say Northwest Murim strongly opposes the truce. Seems they're targeting you for that reason."
Grit.
"We'll make them regret today's deeds to their bones."
Kwang!
A thunderous explosion rang out. Snow dust surged like a waterfall, drawing all eyes.
Shwaa...
Cheol-u emerged through the falling snow.
"My apologies. He escaped."
"As long as no further losses occurred."
Yeon-hoo turned back to the envoys.
"There might be more. We should return to camp."
"No! We'll go to the battlefield, convey the Great Earth Sovereign's will again, and force Northwest Murim to agree to the truce."
"To me, the envoys bearing the Great Earth Sovereign's command matter more than any truce. Let's head back."
"......Your concern humbles us beyond words. We'll repay this grace tenfold, a hundredfold. Young master!"
The envoys bowed their heads in gratitude.
To Yun Hoe, it was an unbelievable spectacle.
What in the world is...
"Commander, let's return."
"Yes, young master."
They remounted, leaving the dead behind, and turned toward camp.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind clawed at Yeon-hoo's body. Embedded in it was a playful transmission.
How was my acting?
Is there another assassin with eyes as innocently bright as yours?
Ah... I didn't think of that. By the way, my lord, your acting wasn't great either. Listening to it made my toes curl—I thought I'd go mad.
Seobaek.
Yes!
Go to the river and wash off the blood scent.
Blood scent? I only fired a few arrows.
Wash up. If traces of inner energy use are found while bathing, you're on your own.
......
As Seobaek's presence faded, Yeon-hoo looked down at his hand. Goosebumps larger than mung beans still lingered.
To me, the envoys bearing the Great Earth Sovereign's command matter more than any truce. Let's head back.
What a performance.
* * *
Northwest Murim dispatched assassins to kill the envoys bearing the Great Earth Sovereign's command...
[Omitted]
Twitch.
The blue-robed man's brow furrowed like a blade as he read the report.
"Wall Thunder Family must have gone mad."
"What's it say?"
"Read it."
The blue-robed man handed the report to the white-robed man across from him.
The white-robed man smirked incredulously upon checking it.
"Defying the Great Earth Sovereign's will like this—they must aim to swallow Northern Murim whole this time."
"Their forces have surged in recent years, and now their guts have swollen too. Makes sense; they won't get a chance like this again."
"What will you do?"
"What else? Go to Wall Thunder Family and relay the Great Earth Sovereign's will once more."
"Understood. I'll prepare the men."
"No rush. Finish your drink first."
"Yes."
The blue-robed man incinerated the report with Samadhi True Fire and drained his cup. His name was Cheol Gun-ak, one of White Night Cartel's secret operatives. He was in an inn in a city not far from the Northern and Northwest Murim battlefields.
"Northern Murim must have accepted the Great Earth Sovereign's will gladly."
"They'd be cheering. Already at a crushing disadvantage, and now their lord is gone."
"They might scrape by this time thanks to the Great Earth Sovereign, but how much longer? Rumors are rife that others are eyeing Northern Murim too."
"Naturally. Merging with Northern Murim would catapult anyone to the top of the Eight Great Families. Who knows—maybe the Great Earth Sovereign ordered the truce to prevent any one faction from growing too strong."
"Ah... could be."
Then, footsteps approached from outside.
"It's me."
"Come in."
A young warrior with twin swords slung over his shoulder entered. Cheol Gun-ak asked,
"What did you find?"
"The rumors were true."
"So Blood Prison really broke?"
"Yes. Confirmed multiple times. It shattered months ago."
Twitch.
Deep wrinkles creased Cheol Gun-ak's brow.
"Blood Prison unbroken for a millennium... The Great Earth Sovereign must be deeply disappointed."
"Indeed. After all the time and money poured into cracking it..."
Blood Prison.
It was no mere prison but Murim's absolute forbidden zone and enigma, steeped in a millennium of legend.
Those who enter Blood Prison shall gain invincible power.
This single inscription at its entrance had drawn countless masters over a thousand years, never to return. Among them were absolute experts who vied for the world's best.
Even White Night Cartel's Great Earth Sovereign, said to have reached divine realm, hesitated to challenge it—a realm of death.
Yet it had been breached. By someone.
"Witnesses?"
"Agents are scouring everywhere."
"Report anything immediately."
"Yes."
"Good work. Grab something to eat."
"Thank you."
As the youth left, Cheol Gun-ak downed more cups. The white-robed man, watching quietly, spoke cautiously.
"Once this is settled, you should head back. You've been away too long."
"Worried it'll hinder your promotion?"
"You know that's not it."
Snort.
"It's not like I can go whenever I want. Besides, I'm starting to like this life. No one to watch over me—pure freedom."
"Serious?"
"Half-serious. Anyway, with Iron Blood Family's second young master back, they'll have headaches too."
"Obvious. They'll kill each other over the next lord's seat. Can Iron Blood Family even hold Northern Murim's throne?"
"Tough this time. Their power's waned. Jang Family's grown too big. Second young master's return changes nothing—unless he has the talent to shock the world."
Thud!
Cheol Gun-ak set down his cup and stood.
"Shall we go?"