Chapter 73 - The Aftermath of the Five Shadows
A massive blaze erupted through the roof of Gwanje Temple. Shards caught in the explosion scattered across the night sky like flower petals.
Jeong-ryong's wide eyes pierced by the flames captured the sight of Han Song and Han Yu-hwa rising amid the inferno, stabbing like daggers.
At the same time, guards burst out from around the temple. In the chaos, two screamed and collapsed, while the three ambushers who struck them were cleaved in half by the other guards' swords.
"Argh!"
"Kaaak!"
"How dare you!"
Han Song's roar exploded, his hand igniting with crimson flames. The blaze slammed into the bamboo grove behind, followed by agonized death cries.
Boom!
"Kaaak!"
"Uwaaak!"
Whoosh!
Han Song and Han Yu-hwa landed behind Jeong-ryong. The guards swiftly encircled them, forming a sword barrier.
Jeong-ryong rushed over.
"My lord!"
"I'm fine. Focus."
The flames licking Jangpo's robes everywhere were swiftly extinguished by the downpour, leaving only smoke. Beyond it, Han Song's flashing eyes were terrifying, chilling to the bone. He stared at Han Yu-hwa.
More precisely, at her waist. Blood gushed steadily from there, yet Han Yu-hwa showed not a hint of panic, tearing her Jangpo to bind the wound.
Sizzle!
"Just grazed by debris. Don't worry, Father."
Tremble...
Han Song's face twitched with fine spasms. Everyone, Jeong-ryong included, knew the fury of seeing his beloved daughter bleed.
"Stay out of it."
Leaving those words for Han Yu-hwa, Han Song stepped forward. He drew his sword.
Shing.
As the blade emerged, raindrops hitting it froze white—an astonishing sight. An unimaginable demonic art.
"Jeong-ryong."
"Yes, my lord."
"Protect Yu-hwa."
"...!"
Before Jeong-ryong could respond, Han Song vanished into the darkness. He landed where the jeers had flown at Jeong-ryong moments before.
Flash!
Krraaack!
"Kaaak!"
"Kaaak!"
Bloody flashes and explosions chained into agonized screams. Jeong-ryong's eyes burned red from the crimson glow.
Gwi-ryeong Qi. The source of all martial arts for Gwiseongga's direct descendants—a secret unleashed only against strong foes or in extreme rage.
Known to kill weaker opponents in excruciating agony from a mere graze. A vivid display of Han Song's wrath.
Jeong-ryong yearned to help but couldn't. Protect Yu-hwa—an absolute command he dared not defy.
Rumble!
Crack!
Thunder roared savagely. The flashing lights and screams faded into silence.
Moments later, Han Song reappeared, gripping the throat of a Black Cloak writhing in pain, arms severed.
Sizzle.
"Kaaa!"
How had he done it? The stench of searing flesh rose acridly from the stumps.
"I need to know who sent you."
"Kaaa!"
The Black Cloak endured. Then his left arm began freezing white. Frost climbed from the stump toward his neck; he rolled his eyes back, foaming at the mouth.
"Kuuuuh..."
"No fainting or dying until you confess."
"I-I'll talk! Kaaah."
Han Song released him; the Black Cloak crumpled limply. Staring up with lifeless eyes, he rasped.
"Fr-from... Wall Thunder Family."
"Did Wi Yeon Gwang order my death?"
"A m-misunderstanding. We thought... you were Iron Blood Family's Yi Yeon-hoo and his guards..."
Twitch.
"What?"
Han Song's eyes curved like blades. Jeong-ryong and the others wore baffled expressions. All this from mistaking them for Iron Blood Family?
"F-forgive me. We really thought... Ir-Iron Blood..."
Thud!
The Black Cloak's head vanished without form. Brain and blood splattered toward Han Song's face but halted at an invisible barrier, pouring to the ground with the rain.
Splash.
Only then did Han Yu-hwa slip through the formation to approach him.
"Are you alright?"
"Father's fine. Find shelter from the rain and treat your wound first."
Jeong-ryong shouted to the guards.
"Quickly find a place fit for the young lady!"
"Yes!"
Two guards shot left and right. Jeong-ryong stared at Han Song.
'The young lady's hurt, so mistake or not, it doesn't matter now. Fools... You've made Northwest's greatest enemy.'
* * *
Pour...
Yeon-hoo gazed at the raging downpour from under a gently curving cliff wall, waiting for Cheol-u and the others.
Now that he thought about it, only Dongbang Ri, Sama Song, and one female warrior brought for her were with him.
Sama Song said worriedly.
"They're too late."
"Don't worry. If they set their minds to it, they'll return alive even from hell's heart."
Before his words finished, three shadows emerged from the dark: Cheol-u, Akso, and Baekun.
Yeon-hoo quickly scanned their bodies. No signs of combat—fortunate.
Cheol-u approached.
"They chased the wrong carriage."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. When we lured them toward the city, there was a carriage and riders on the main road. They went after them. Seems they assumed it was our diversion."
"Innocents about to bleed."
"Glanced as we passed—they didn't look ordinary either."
"If there was a carriage, you saw the banner?"
"No banner. And they all wore tall hats pulled low—couldn't guess their origin."
Yeon-hoo had suspected as much. Paths might overlap with some of the Eight Great Families by now. But no banner meant probably not them. Unlike him, those desperate for fame wouldn't travel without one.
"Other intel?"
"Interrogated one... Wi Yeon Gwang ordered a dragnet. He's personally overseeing it."
Snort.
"He's dead serious."
"Stay extra vigilant until we reach safety."
"We will. Good work. Moving in about an hour—rest."
"Yes."
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning webbed down, whitening Yeon-hoo's face.
'Stung once, so they'll come harder. But until White Night Cartel, you won't even touch our shadows.'
Yeon-hoo had anticipated Wi Yeon Gwang's ferocity and prepared countermeasures. But a variable arose: the enemy chasing total strangers.
Northwest would be confused chasing them for a while—a favorable twist for Yeon-hoo.
Soon, they resumed. No carriage or horses—they'd been mere decoys from low-rank warriors' mounts.
Pour!
The rain intensified.
Meanwhile, Dongbang Ri followed right behind Yeon-hoo. Thin bamboo leaf raincoat or not, the gale soaked her undergarments. Her thighs chafed with each step, but she followed silently without complaint.
'Can we make it safely?'
Hearing of Northwest's dragnet, worry surged. Especially with Wi Yeon Gwang leading—who knew what might happen.
Hoo.
Dongbang Ri steadied her breath, scanning left, right, behind. Cheol-u, Akso, Baekun, Sama Song—each face calm, untroubled.
Her cheeks burned. She alone fretted.
Clench.
White teeth pressed her lip gently.
'Get it together, Dongbang Ri. Just do your part.'
* * *
A massive mountain loomed, halting their march. Past midnight, Yeon-hoo deemed rest necessary, ordering a shelter search before pulling a liquor flask from his bosom to wet his throat.
"Give me a sip too."
"It's strong."
"I'm fine."
Dongbang Ri grimaced at the burn down her throat but savored the warmth, taking another sip before returning it.
"Manageable?"
"Treating it as training."
"Good attitude."
"Not worried?"
"About what?"
"Northwest's dragnet. And Wi Yeon Gwang himself..."
"If worrying solved it, I'd agonize a hundred times over."
"..."
Seeing Yeon-hoo's faint smile, Dongbang Ri realized even this iron-willed man fretted over the pursuit. She smiled unwittingly.
"Why smile?"
"You look different."
"How before?"
"Like someone without blood or tears. Good meaning—no misunderstanding."
"So now I seem human?"
"A little."
Sama Song, who'd listened, chuckled softly.
"Our family head seems utterly unconcerned."
"That's how it looks to you? Truth is, I'm tense as hell. Worried I might burden you..."
Dongbang Ri trailed off as Akso and Baekun emerged from the woods, having scouted.
"Change direction."
"Why?"
"Ahead—suspected Northwest Murim forces gathering."