The Gift from the Red Wolf Corps
An Gong turned to Wi Yeon Gwang and shouted.
"My lord! It looks like they've entered the city!"
"No need for hysterics. It's obviously a ploy to distract us, so just send some rear forces."
"Understood!"
Wi Yeon Gwang didn't waver in the slightest. He was certain the Red Wolf Corps had spotted his massive army and sent only a token force to the rear as a diversion. He would have done the same in their shoes.
"Increase the march speed!"
Bwoooong!
As the trumpet blared, even the central army picked up the pace.
By the time they reached the outskirts, Wi Yeon Gwang finally sensed something was off.
Why is it so quiet?
The vanguard had already pushed deep into the neutral zone. A battle should have broken out by now. Yet there were no signs of combat—not even a whisper beyond the howl of wind and rain.
Then it happened.
Kagagang!
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
Piercing death cries sliced through the storm from far ahead.
Wi Yeon Gwang, who had felt a flicker of unease, now smirked coldly.
"An Gong."
"Yes, my lord."
"Split off ten thousand each to the left and right flanks and advance!"
"As you command!"
Bwoooong!
The trumpet sounded again, and twenty thousand troops peeled off from the center, surging into the neutral zone's flanks like a tidal wave.
A sneer curled Wi Yeon Gwang's lips once more.
You never dreamed I'd come myself. With this, you and your Red Wolf Corps will vanish into the dustbin of history without a trace, Gwan Baek.
It was a pity, too. Like all powers under heaven, he had wanted the Red Wolf Corps under his command. With them, he could have seized total control of northern Northwest Murim and swept it clean in one stroke.
If I can't have them, no one can.
Craaaack!
Lightning split the sky nearby, bleaching Wi Yeon Gwang's face ghostly white.
Kagagang!
Kwaaakwa!
"Gaaah!"
"Keurk!"
The agonized screams from ahead grew steadily closer.
"Cheon Hwa."
"Yes, Father."
"When you lead the Northwest one day, take today's lesson to heart in how you deploy your forces. Learn how foolish it is to isolate yourself against a foe stronger than you. Understood?"
"Yes. Then allow me to scout the front and report back."
"It's dangerous. Send one of the others."
"With thirty thousand fearless vanguard warriors ahead, what danger could there be? Send me, Father. If I stay back here doing nothing, who will follow me in the future?"
Wi Yeon Gwang's brow twitched faintly.
But he soon relented to his son's resolve.
"Very well. Go."
"I'll be back!"
Dudududu!
Wi Cheon Hwa charged forward with a hundred mounted warriors.
A twinge of unease stirred in Wi Yeon Gwang, but trusting the thirty thousand troops as his son had said, he shook it off.
An Gong approached again.
"My lord, that smoke rising from the rear doesn't look good."
Wi Yeon Gwang turned. Just as An Gong said, smoke pierced the storm like inky clouds swallowing the sky. In this weather, such a blaze meant a massive fire.
Did they lure us here to strike the rear city's granaries?
Wi Yeon Gwang's eyes darkened. His initial certainty—that the main force was here while a detachment ran a diversion—began to crumble. Doubt turned to anxiety.
I should have kept the strategist close...
Yang So's absence weighed heavily now.
Then—
Dudududu!
Dozens of riders raced back from the front like the wind. It was Wi Cheon Hwa and his escorts, returning from scouting.
Wi Yeon Gwang strained his eyes, focusing first on his son's face. Seeing the grim set of Wi Cheon Hwa's features, his gaze hardened again.
"Father! We've been lured into a trap!"
"What makes you say that?"
"The enemies who engaged the vanguard numbered only a few dozen! The warriors scoured the area, but no sign of the Red Wolf Corps!"
"...!"
Wi Yeon Gwang's head snapped toward the rear.
The massive smoke cloud blotting the sky. Lightning forking through it like spiderwebs.
His hands trembled faintly.
"The whole army—retreat!"
Bwoooong!
* * *
Kwaaa!
A colossal blaze pierced the storm, coiling skyward like an ascending dragon and staining the heavens red.
"Kwaaak!"
"Grak!"
The furious Red Wolf Corps warriors slaughtered every living thing in sight, dancing a mad blade ballet.
Gwan Baek's face glowed crimson in the firelight.
A middle-aged man approached him—Heo Jeong, known as the Red Wolf Corps' brains and Gwan Baek's trusted confidant.
"This should starve the Northwest Murim's hundred thousand northern army for months. Luckily, they had all their farm tools and seeds stockpiled there too, so we've doubled the blow."
"Well done."
"By now, Wi Yeon Gwang's figured it out and turned his forces. We should withdraw, Division Leader."
"A shame. I wanted to see that bastard's face..."
"You'll see it again someday. Linger too long, and our retreat could be cut off. Give the order, sir."
Gwan Baek nodded silently, slowly surveying the inferno around them. In flames too fierce for even the downpour to quench, warriors writhed in death. Hundreds of cattle lowed in panic, trapped in the smoke. Hell itself.
Gwan Baek looked to the blackened sky.
Will this ease your grudge...? For today, this must suffice. One day, I'll take Wi Yeon Gwang's head to atone for failing to protect you, my brother.
Gazing at the dead sky with eyes thick with regret, Gwan Baek turned to Heo Jeong and issued the command.
"We're pulling out."
"As you command!"
Bwoooong!
Gwan Baek wheeled his horse amid the retreat trumpet, and as if celebrating their triumph, a massive bolt of lightning spiderwebbed overhead.
Kwarung!
Craaaack!
* * *
One hour later.
Yeon-hoo's command tent.
Commander Ma Ui Tae and his deputy Gwak Hong rushed in.
"A report from our scouting warriors."
Yeon-hoo unfolded the missive Ma Ui Tae handed him.
Wi Yeon Gwang had marched his hundred thousand into the neutral zone, only for the Red Wolf Corps to raid and torch the Northwest Murim's northern granaries...
—end of report.
"Heh heh heh."
Yeon-hoo chuckled with satisfaction. If true, Gwan Baek had landed a solid blow on Wi Yeon Gwang. For the proud Wi Yeon Gwang to suffer this even after leading in person—perfect.
"Care to read it?"
Yeon-hoo passed the report to Sama Song.
Sama Song's voice trembled with excitement as he scanned it.
"The Red Wolf Corps has done something monumental. Those northern granaries feed the enemy army facing us. If they're gone, the bastards will be paralyzed for a while. And harvesting new crops? At least five months minimum."
Spot on. Spring was brutal for all who lived off this land—the end of winter stores. For an army living on rations, losing supplies was catastrophic.
Yeon-hoo asked Ma Ui Tae, "How many enemy troops are stationed here?"
"We estimate around a hundred and fifty thousand."
"Plenty going hungry soon. Heh heh heh."
Yeon-hoo thought of Gwan-ryang. Before parting, he'd boasted of a grand send-off.
You weren't kidding. Thanks to you, the Southern Defense Army can breathe easy from Northwest incursions for a while. Does that mean I owe the Red Wolf Corps now?
Yeon-hoo felt good. An unexpected windfall. And through Gwan-ryang, a firm tie to the Red Wolf Corps—one he'd eventually bend to his will.
"Eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
"Join me here, then."
"As you wish."
Gwak Hong stepped forward. "I'll tell the cooks to bring more."
Soon, the meal began in Yeon-hoo's tent. The mood was excellent. Even the usually stoic Ma Ui Tae beamed.
As they ate, Yeon-hoo spoke. "The Red Wolf Corps bought us time. We must cherish it."
Ma Ui Tae replied, "Solve our funding quick, and I'll arm the troops with stronger gear. We'll secure funds ourselves too, of course."
"I'll handle the money, so don't burden the people scraping by day-to-day. Never forget: the Southern Defense Army's top priority is safeguarding every life in this south."
"How could we? We'll trust your word and await it."
"And one more thing."
Yeon-hoo set down his chopsticks, drained a bowl of cold water, and pulled a slim booklet from his robes, placing it on the table.
Tak.
"I've noted techniques suitable for the warriors. Tactics and formations specialized for group combat too. Train them diligently, without slacking a day."
"...!"
Ma Ui Tae couldn't hide his shock. Sama Song, watching warmly, gaped wide-eyed.
"When did you prepare this?"
"I've been jotting it down since the main house. With five months of grueling training, they could reach the desired realm—and make the Southern Defense Army far stronger than before."
"Thank you, my lord."
Ma Ui Tae clutched the book to his chest with both hands, bowing deeply with genuine gratitude. Then he met Yeon-hoo's eyes squarely.
"One question."
"Ask."
"I heard punishing Northwest Murim is your goal. Is it true?"
Yeon-hoo glanced at Sama Song instead of answering.
Sama Song looked sheepish. "My apologies. I did mention that to the Commander once."
"You must have misunderstood, Sama family head."
"...!"
"My ambitions reach far higher. I can't reveal it yet, but in time, all of the North will know."
Gulp.
Gwak Hong swallowed hard—the sound like thunder. His racing heart made his chopsticks rattle.
"Can we believe you?"
Ma Ui Tae asked again, his voice faintly quivering.
Yeon-hoo answered calmly. "Believe."
A plain tone, yet heavier than a mountain.
Ma Ui Tae rose. He stepped from his chair, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.
"Commander Ma Ui Tae swears unyielding loyalty to my lord until my dying day."
Sama Song and Gwak Hong stared in astonishment at the unforeseen act.
But Yeon-hoo remained utterly composed.
"Can I believe you?"
"Believe me."
"Then never speak of death before me again. Even in death, live to see my dream—our North's dream—fulfilled."