Chapter 61 - Wi Yeon-gwang's Fury
As Gwan-ryang's explanation continued, Gwan Baek's eyes shifted several times. And when Gwan-ryang finished speaking, a faint smile crept onto his lips.
"It's been quite a while since I've seen that look in your eyes."
"...Pardon?"
"Back when you told me about that child you once cherished like your own life, your eyes were just like that. Like an excited kid... "
"Was I like that?"
"So immersed you don't even realize it yourself?"
"...Pardon?"
"The lord of the North."
Gwan-ryang looked embarrassed. But he soon answered the question.
"I felt something similar to when I first met you, Uncle. How should I put it... He has this magnetic force that no one can resist... Anyway, he was quite an impressive man. Completely different from Father Yi Yeom in nature."
"Yi Yeom was no slouch either. Holding his ground among the White Night Eight Great Families of Baekya-beol with the weakest forces—that alone earns him respect."
"I thought he was incompetent..."
"He had more incompetence than competence, true. But you... how long do you plan to rampage around like a thunderbolt-headed fool?"
"..."
"Don't think everything will go your way just because you're my nephew. Remember this: if the warriors don't acknowledge you, you'll never succeed me. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"Go wash off that blood stench first."
Gwan-ryang bowed his head and turned away. Though scolded, his expression wasn't dark.
'I thought I'd get chewed out worse...'
In truth, this operation had been his solo decision. Moving without Gwan Baek's permission and letting his men take losses— no one in the Red Wolf Corps would have walked away unscathed.
As Gwan-ryang walked toward his subordinates, Jeokryong blocked his path.
"Rampaging like a wild colt again?"
"When will you realize that loose tongue of yours is losing its flavor?"
"Only me?"
"Shut it. How'd it go?"
"Wiped 'em all out, obviously."
"Just weaklings, then."
"See that?"
Jeokryong pointed behind him. At the tip of his finger stood a great tree with two severed heads hanging from its branches.
"What are those?"
"Wall Thunder Family's division leaders."
Gwan-ryang twitched.
"Stupid bastards. No one they couldn't beat, yet they lose to trash like this."
"Get anything good?"
"Unlike you, I value quality over quantity."
"What?"
"Wi Dong-hoe. Cut his head off. Sent all the dogs he led straight to hell too."
"You took down Wi Dong-hoe's head?"
"Looks like the bragging itch is gone. Don't believe me? Look over there."
This time, Gwan-ryang pointed somewhere. On a great tree to the right hung a head dangling— unmistakably Wi Dong-hoe's.
Having said that, Gwan-ryang felt inwardly uneasy. In truth, it was Yeon-hoo who had beheaded Wi Dong-hoe.
"Stupid bastard. No one he couldn't beat, yet loses to trash like this."
Jeokryong threw it right back at him.
"Ain't that the truth."
"Admitting you're stupid?"
"Only me?"
Gwan-ryang laughed. Jeokryong laughed too. Though they bickered every time they met, the two were the closest of allies.
"Hey, worm."
"What."
"Let's go grab a drink somewhere."
"Sounds good. But who were you talking about earlier?"
"The lord of the North."
"The North's lord is dead."
"I mean the second son of the Iron Blood Family, exiled long ago. Yi Yeon-hoo..."
Gwan-ryang trailed off, gazing north where Yeon-hoo would be, a faint smile on his lips.
'He really fell for him, huh?'
* * *
The sky over Wall Thunder Manor darkened to pitch black before rain began pouring down.
Whoosh!
The grand hall's atmosphere was just as heavy as the heavens.
Lord Wi Yeon-gwang stared down at the severed head caked in lime powder, his eyes trembling. It was Wi Dong-hoe's head.
Just a short while ago— barely a quarter of an hour— it had been found in a box at Wall Thunder Manor's main gate. Inside the box, along with the head, was a single letter.
The grudge of the Red Wolf spans a thousand years.
A middle-aged man swallowed his rage and spoke.
"In the last report from Division Leader Wi, he said Gwan-ryang had appeared and vowed to bring back his head. It must be Gwan-ryang's doing."
Wi Yeon-gwang spoke.
"The troops who went with him."
"...None returned."
Thud...
Wi Yeon-gwang closed his eyes. At the same moment, smoke rose from the hilt of his great sword.
The smoke soon filled the hall in a hazy veil.
The grand hall fell into a suffocating silence once more. Everyone watched with rigid expressions, waiting for what Wi Yeon-gwang would say.
How much time passed? Wi Yeon-gwang opened his eyes.
His voice, thick with killing intent, issued a command to all.
"Relay my orders to the elite vanguard at once. I will lead them personally— prepare for immediate departure."
"Understood!"
Everyone swiftly exited the hall. Only two remained: Wall Thunder's heir, Wi Cheon-hwa, and strategist Yang So.
Wi Cheon-hwa cried out resolutely.
"This son wishes to fight at Father's side! Please permit it!"
Yang So stepped forward.
"We fear enemy attacks targeting the young master. For this battle, it would be best if you stay behind."
"No."
"..."
"We go together. Watch closely as your father crushes these vile bandits."
"Thank you, Father!"
Wi Cheon-hwa dashed out. Wi Yeon-gwang said with a stern face,
"Strategist."
"Yes, my lord."
"I have a special mission for you."
"Command me."
"Lead the White Ghosts separately and target Gwan Baek's head. Can you do it?"
"The White Ghosts must guard my lord's side."
"Don't worry. Which of those bandit scum dares harm me?"
"...Then this subordinate will surely bring you Gwan Baek's head."
Wi Yeon-gwang rose. The sword hilt he had gripped was charred black, smoke still billowing from it.
* * *
Whoosh!
The rain had turned into a downpour. Rumble! Crackle!
Lightning webbed down not far away, but the Northwest forces marching to strike the Red Wolf Corps showed no sign of stopping.
Watching those Northwest troops were three from the Red Wolf Corps: leader Gwan Baek, Gwan-ryang, and Jeokryong.
Gwan Baek's lips curled slightly.
"Wi Yeon-gwang's finally stepping up."
"Wi Dong-hoe's head did its job well. And they've brought quite the numbers."
"Means he's properly pissed."
"Shame. I wanted to see that bastard's face twist up."
"Imagine it. How twisted it must be."
As Gwan-ryang showed regret, Jeokryong chimed in. Gwan Baek looked up at the blackened sky.
The entire heaven was dead, but faint white clouds were pushing in from the distant west.
"We'll return to our base before this rain stops."
"Shall we start right away?"
"Move when the enemy center reaches the neutral zone's entrance."
"Understood."
The three entrusted themselves to the wind and rain, waiting for the moment.
Soon after, as Wi Yeon-gwang's center force neared the entrance, Gwan-ryang spoke.
"It's time."
"Send the signal."
"Yes."
At Gwan Baek's permission, Gwan-ryang pulled something from his bosom and fired it into the sky.
Boom!
Red smoke bloomed in the heavens. But hidden by the high peak, the marching Northwest troops couldn't see it.
"Then we'll be off."
"Be careful."
"Yes!"
Gwan-ryang and Jeokryong bowed and vanished like the wind.
Left alone, Gwan Baek turned his gaze back to the Northwest forces.
An army numbering over a hundred thousand, by rough estimate. Their feral aura reached even this distant spot.
Yet Gwan Baek's eyes didn't waver. If anything, they grew colder.
Rumble. Crackle!
Lightning struck above Gwan Baek's head. His face paled white in its flash.
"You can look forward to the horrific consequences this feud with me will bring you and your Northwest Murim, Wi Yeon-gwang."
* * *
Wi Yeon-gwang glared at the neutral zone emerging in the distance, eyes flashing.
Still some time before arrival, but the vanguard had already passed the entrance.
'By today, the Red Wolf Corps will vanish from the earth. I'll make it so.'
His murderous gaze soon filled with irritation and rage.
Not long ago, in the marketplace, one of Wall Thunder's mid-level experts had killed a few in a brawl. At first, it wasn't even reported to him— a trivial matter.
Even when the report came, he paid it no mind. But when the victim turned out to be Gwan Baek's sister, the mood shifted dramatically, sparking all-out war.
They'd lost thousands since. The Red Wolf Corps still camped in the neutral zone, raiding the Northwest outskirts sporadically and inflicting heavy damage.
Yet Wi Yeon-gwang hadn't moved. To him, they were mere feral bandits. But kin Wi Dong-hoe's death finally dragged him to the battlefield.
Whoosh!
Sudden fierce winds whipped the rain, soaking Wi Yeon-gwang's robe. His guards quickly raised bamboo umbrellas.
"Stand back."
Disliking the obstructed view, Wi Yeon-gwang pressed on through the downpour toward the neutral zone.
By then, the vanguard— nearly twenty thousand strong— had passed the entrance and delved deeper.
Wi Yeon-gwang sought Yang So.
"Strategist."
But Yang So, off on special orders, wouldn't answer. Instead, Wi Cheon-hwa and an elderly man approached.
The elder was Wall Thunder's elder, one of the Northwest's top experts and a renowned master. He was guarding Wi Yeon-gwang in place of the departed Yang So and White Ghosts.
"What are your orders, my lord?"
"Scouting confirmed?"
"Yes. Reports come constantly. The latest, just a quarter-hour ago, said no sign of the Red Wolf Corps leaving the neutral zone."
"Then they're still camped there."
"Indeed. We must annihilate these bandits this time and show the world the might of our Northwest, my lord."
"So we shall."
"Fear not. With our Northwest elite legion deployed, none of the Red Wolf Corps will see tomorrow's dawn."
The elder's bold proclamation still hung in the air.
"Hey! Look over there!"
A startled shout rang out.
The elder asked, "What is it?"
"Elder! Over there..."
A warrior pointed behind them. The elder, An-gong, turned and his face hardened instantly.
In the distant western sky, fireworks burst one after another— an emergency signal of enemy attack.
"No way..."