Chapter 64 - A Bland First Meeting
The man who emerged from the forest was Gwan-ryang. He glanced at Cheol-u and the others before clasping his hands in a formal salute toward Yeon-hoo.
Yeon-hoo asked calmly, “Were you waiting for me?”
“There is someone who wishes to meet you.”
Yeon-hoo didn't need to ask who it was.
'Gwan Baek wants to see me...'
Yeon-hoo had high expectations. Why would Gwan Baek wait here to meet him?
That was when Gwan Baek appeared from behind the trees, mounted on a white horse. Yeon-hoo clearly remembered the man's face from their brief encounter in the past.
Their gazes clashed across the open air.
Whoosh.
A strange tension filled the clearing with the sound of the wind. Now, the question was who would speak first. In such situations, pride often collided.
But that didn't happen.
Gwan Baek saluted first. “I am Gwan Baek.”
“Yeon-hoo.”
“I heard you helped this child. I came to express my gratitude.”
“It wasn't help. We simply fought together.”
In that fleeting moment, a faint glint passed through Gwan Baek's eyes.
This time, Yeon-hoo spoke. “On your way back after ending the war?”
“The war isn't over. I'm just postponing it for a bit.”
“The Northwest is a formidable foe. I wish you success in achieving what you desire, Captain.”
“I wish you success in becoming the lord of the North.”
And with that, the historic first meeting between Yeon-hoo and Gwan Baek concluded.
Gwan Baek departed, and Yeon-hoo headed north as if nothing had happened.
After traveling some distance, Seobaek couldn't hold back his curiosity. “Why did you just let him go?”
“Should I have begged him to join my side?”
“No, but still... it ended too blandly...”
In truth, everyone felt the same as Seobaek.
Gwan Baek wasn't someone you met easily. They had all thought they should have tried harder to engage him in deeper conversation and win him over.
Yeon-hoo rode on silently.
Everyone gazed at his back with the same look as Seobaek.
Then Yeon-hoo spoke. “Next time we meet, I'll make him dismount and greet me on foot.”
“...!”
“What I want isn't an alliance. I intend to bring him under my command. That will take time.”
His cryptic words left them furrowing their brows in half-understanding.
Seobaek tilted his head and scratched it. “Could you explain it more simply? I don't quite get...”
Dongbang Ri spoke up. “You're saying you'll wait, no matter how long it takes, until the Iron Wolf Unit bows its head first?”
“Something like that.”
Snap!
Cheol-u smacked the back of Seobaek's head. “Stop spinning that thick skull of yours and scout ahead.”
Seobaek rubbed his head and moved forward.
Yeon-hoo gazed at the scenery with a faint smile.
Then, absentmindedly turning to the left, his eyes sharpened.
A lone rider stood atop the left peak.
It was Gwan Baek.
The smile on Yeon-hoo's lips slowly turned cold.
'This is the last time you'll act arrogant in front of me, Gwan Baek.'
Gwan Baek watched Yeon-hoo's retreating figure heading north, his eyes darkening.
Gwan-ryang approached. “What do you make of him?”
“He was unexpected.”
“In what way?”
“I can't tell if it's confidence or arrogance, but he's brimming with faith in himself.”
“He does have that air about him...”
Gwan-ryang furrowed his brow and tilted his head. Gwan Baek's gaze toward Yeon-hoo had been oddly peculiar.
“Are you displeased?”
“A little... but also quite intriguing.”
“If he becomes lord of the North, we won't be entirely unconnected. Wouldn't it be wise to strengthen ties, especially with a war against Northwest Murim ahead?”
“Are you suggesting 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'?”
“Not full friendship, but an alliance wouldn't hurt.”
“An alliance...”
“Northern Murim harbors even greater grudge against Wi Yeon Gwang than we do. Forming an alliance shouldn't be hard.”
Gwan Baek listened, his eyes sinking deeper.
'If I saw right, he's not one to settle for a mere alliance. That look in his eyes when he gazed at me... it was like a king looking down on a vassal.'
Snicker.
A sly smile crept onto Gwan Baek's lips.
'Intriguing. To think there's someone in this world bold enough to try claiming me, Gwan Baek, as his subordinate...'
A few days later, at the Iron Blood Family.
“Ugh... I'm beat.”
Songyeong stretched grandly after wrestling with ledgers all day and flopped onto his bed.
“One hundred thousand nyang, one hundred thousand nyang...”
Muttering about the one hundred thousand silver taels like a madman, he soon began snoring.
When he opened his eyes, night had fallen.
Gurgle.
His stomach rumbled loudly for food, so Songyeong threw on his outer robe and stepped out.
He stopped upon spotting a figure standing motionless at the hall's railing.
It was Seok-ho-jin, head of the Night Wolf Unit.
His wounds had fully healed, yet he hadn't left for White Night Cartel.
'What? He came back already?'
Songyeong approached. “You said you were going to the market, but you're back so soon? Let's grab a meal together then.”
“No appetite. Eat plenty.”
“Ah, yes. Then.”
Songyeong hurried to the dining hall.
Seok-ho-jin stared at his back, a deep sigh escaping his lips.
His eyes grew heavier.
The atmosphere in the Cartel is far from normal. The Elder Council Chairman, who sought to enthrone the Young Master as Great Earth Sovereign, suddenly postponed the Great Assembly indefinitely via Round Table Conference. And the Young Master and Iron Lion Envoy have vanished after leaving the Cartel.
He had gone to the market to meet a subordinate from Night Wolf.
The reports were all grim.
'Postponing the Great Assembly... Did the Chairman change his mind?'
The Round Table Conference was White Night Cartel's supreme decision-making body.
Originally meant to curb the Great Earth Sovereign's absolute power, it had gradually corrupted over time, evolving into an executive body wielding power beyond the Sovereign's authority.
Once decided there, all must obey—defiance meant death.
Thus, major figures schemed viciously for seats, even assassinating rivals.
'I should go back...'
He yearned to return to White Night Cartel.
But he couldn't.
Somubaek had given him a separate order: Stay by his side and assist until he solidly claims his position. Request aid from the Cartel if needed, and contact me immediately if anything urgent arises.
He could have refused.
Night Wolf answered only to the Great Earth Sovereign. Somubaek, not yet ascended, had no right to command him.
Yet Seok-ho-jin had gladly promised.
He was certain Somubaek would become Great Earth Sovereign.
He knew Somubaek harbored special feelings for Yeon-hoo.
Iron Lion felt the same.
'What's really going on here...'
Seok-ho-jin sank deeper into confusion.
Whoosh.
A chill wind clawed at his face.
In that instant, his eyes flashed.
He sensed a faint presence in the wind.
Then.
[It's me.]
“...!”
[I returned because I have something to report.]
Moments later, Seok-ho-jin faced a young man in the forest behind the Iron Blood Family.
His subordinate—the same one he'd met at the market that morning.
But there was another. Also from Night Wolf, under Seok-ho-jin.
“What brings you here?”
“I was coming to relay a message and ran into this friend on the way down.”
“If you came yourself, it must be important.”
“Yes. The Young Master will finally ascend to the throne of Great Earth Sovereign.”
“...!”
Seok-ho-jin was stunned. The morning report had said the Great Assembly was postponed indefinitely.
“Right after this friend left, the Elder Council Chairman convened the Round Table and officially proclaimed it. I sent an express messenger, but worried about mishaps, so I came in person.”
“Did you inform everyone about the Great Earth Sovereign and Young Master's incidents?”
“Yes. The Cartel's in utter chaos, like a kicked beehive.”
Seok-ho-jin closed his eyes tightly.
Once the incidents spread across the world, the aftermath would be unimaginable.
Not even the Eight Great Families' reactions could be predicted.
'If they try to break free from the Cartel's restraints...'
The world would plunge into a maelstrom of chaos.
“The Chairman had no choice. He couldn't enthrone the Young Master while hiding the truth.”
Seok-ho-jin fell silent.
It was inevitable, as expected—but facing reality left his mind blank.
Then he recalled something forgotten. “I heard the Young Master and Iron Envoy vanished after leaving. What of them?”
“Both attended the Round Table. I saw them from afar before leaving—both looked healthy.”
“Truly unharmed?”
“Yes. Tense, but no anomalies.”
Seok-ho-jin sighed inwardly in relief.
But his heart remained heavy.
“Shouldn't you return to the Cartel now?”
“I serve the Young Master—no, the Great Earth Sovereign's command. I want to, but can't. You two hurry back and support him.”
“Any message for the Deputy Commander...?”
“Tell them to lead Night Wolf in my stead until I return, and to stay as close to the Great Earth Sovereign as possible, no matter what.”
“Understood.”
“Sorry we can't share a drink after your long ride.”
“It's fine. Buy me one when you return. We'll head back now.”
Seok-ho-jin watched the two vanish into the darkness, then vaulted the Iron Blood Family's wall.
Right then.
“Why climb the wall when there's a perfectly good front gate? Picked up some weird hobby while we haven't seen each other?”
A cold voice from ahead.
But a welcome one.
Seok-ho-jin asked toward the voice's owner. “Has he returned too?”
“If I'm here, of course he has.”
The voice belonged to Cheol-u.