Chapter 88 - A Precious Gift
The morning sun rose over the horizon. The plaza bustled with activity from early on, as warriors swarmed out to dismantle the structures set up for the grand banquet. Even the warlords gathered there, eager for one last glimpse of the Eight Great Families of White Night Cartel before they departed after the event.
But unlike their arrival, no one could catch sight of them leaving this time. All the families had slipped away from Baekya-beol in secret, and White Night Cartel had kept their departure times and routes under strict confidentiality to guard against any intrigue.
Whoosh.
A fairly strong gust swept through Yeon-hoo's hair. He brushed aside the strands tickling his face and gazed at the crowded plaza teeming with people. The spot where he stood now was one corner of Baekya-beol. Defying everyone's expectations that they would be the first to leave due to fears of an attack from Northwest Murim, he and the Iron Blood Family were still lingering in Baekya-beol. Of course, it was a closely guarded secret, and they were hidden not in the guest halls but in a most secluded location.
Yeon-hoo's complexion was a touch pale as he overlooked the plaza. The aftereffects of the Shrinking Bones Technique he had unleashed the night before were hitting him belatedly. The cause of these aftereffects stemmed from the mandatory use of demonic qi whenever deploying the technique. That was why, despite being the ultimate demonic art optimized for assassination, the Shrinking Bones Technique could not be used recklessly.
"Why do you think they asked us to stay?"
"We'll find out if we wait."
The reason they hadn't left was a secret letter delivered by Cheol Gun-ak the night before. It instructed them not to depart first thing in the morning but to wait for him at a certain location.
Whoosh.
The wind battering the massive fortress grew increasingly fierce. How much time passed like that? A figure emerged from the woods—Cheol Gun-ak.
"My apologies. The Elder Council Chairman suddenly came to see the Earth Sovereign..."
"It's fine."
"We've confirmed that Northwest Murim requested the Elder Council Chairman to withdraw the armistice treaty. The Earth Sovereign is currently discussing the matter with him... but I can't even presume to predict the outcome."
Yeon-hoo took the news calmly, as it was something he had half-expected. The others did the same.
"And the Earth Sovereign asked me to deliver this to you."
Cheol Gun-ak drew a long scroll from within his robes. It was quite thick, suggesting it would unfurl to a considerable length.
"What is this?"
"It's the military intelligence on Northwest Murim that Baekya-beol has been keeping."
"...!"
Yeon-hoo was stunned. Cheol-u and the others reacted similarly.
"He said it was all he could give and to convey his apologies."
"Is it alright to hand over something like this?"
"Don't worry. It was copied in secret well in advance for a day like today. Reviewing the Eight Great Families' military intelligence is the Earth Sovereign's exclusive authority, so as long as the copies aren't discovered, there's no issue at all."
"Will the secret hold?"
Cheol Gun-ak smiled at Yeon-hoo's question.
"I made it over nearly a month, all by myself with no one around."
A pang tugged at Yeon-hoo's chest. This military intelligence on Northwest Murim was invaluable to him and the North.
"Thank you. Please pass on my gratitude to the Earth Sovereign as well."
"Not at all. Compared to the capable people you've sent us, this is nothing. Now, if you'll follow me."
Everyone trailed after Cheol Gun-ak. Baekya-beol was so vast that even after walking a good distance, the forest showed no sign of ending. How much farther did they go? A sheer cliff suddenly loomed before them.
"Go down here and row upriver for a day. You'll save at least two days compared to traveling by horse. Ah, the boat is prepared at the base of the cliff."
Regret shadowed Cheol Gun-ak's face as he spoke. Yeon-hoo felt the same. Once they parted now, who knew when they might meet again.
"Hold on, and hold on some more. Then someday, I'll come to your aid."
"You are the sole mountain the Earth Sovereign can lean on. I will pray to the heavens without end that the North becomes a power no one dares challenge."
Moments later, Yeon-hoo and his group descended the cliff. Waiting at the river below was Seok-ho-jin, head of the Night Wolves. Cheol Gun-ak remained rooted to the spot until Yeon-hoo and his party vanished completely from sight.
An Gong had deployed his entire force at the passes beyond the mountains to capture Yeon-hoo, undeterred even by the clash with Hwangha Suryeon. At the same time, he remained on high alert for their attacks.
Someone sowed discord. Hwangha Suryeon needs to know about this...
Two days after the conflict with Hwangha Suryeon, he realized something was amiss, but it was already too late.
If I fail to catch him on the way back, my life is over...
An Gong grew anxious. With everything on the line, he had to seize Yeon-hoo at any cost. Yet no reports of spotting him came in even after a full day.
Did we miss him after all?
Unable to shake his unease, An Gong sent his trusted aides to scour each pass again and quenched his parched throat at a nearby stream. That was when it happened.
"Elder!"
One of his aides came rushing up.
"What is it!"
"Disaster! Ten li away, the lord and his escort are under attack from Hwangha Suryeon!"
"What!"
An Gong was aghast. Hwangha Suryeon attacking Wi Yeon Gwang? In that instant, he intuited it was the result of him falling for the wedge-driving scheme.
"Mobilize the entire force to the lord's location! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
"How dare you bastards..."
Wi Yeon Gwang's face flushed red first when enraged, and right now it burned like a freshly picked apple. They were en route from Baekya-beol to link up with An Gong when Hwangha Suryeon suddenly attacked out of nowhere. At first, he dismissed it lightly, but as Umunjeok and Umunhong joined in, he was forced to flee nearly ten li from the initial assault point.
Though they held the edge in individual prowess, the enemy outnumbered them, and more peak experts whose victory was uncertain poured in, plunging them into crisis. In the process, two mid-level elders from the family had lost their lives. The only reason they had held out this long was thanks to military strategist Yang So's formidable formations. His terrifying illusory formations had bought them time to escape, allowing them to reach this spot ten li away where a few could hold off many.
Screeech! Boom! Boom!
The pitch-black hidden weapons flying in couldn't pierce the rock walls and trees jutting up like shields, scattering in all directions. The few that slipped through were easily blocked by Wall Thunder Family's experts.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Looking down, Wi Yeon Gwang bellowed in a voice thick with killing intent.
"Umunjeok! You think you'll get away with this unscathed?!"
"Once I take your head here, I won't have to worry about the aftermath. You scurried like a rat with its tail on fire, but no more, Wi Yeon Gwang. Heh heh heh."
Umunjeok bared his teeth in a grin. Wi Yeon Gwang suppressed the urge to charge down and sever his head on the spot.
Yang So spoke up.
"Elder An's forces should arrive soon from their positions around the mountains. If we hold until then, we'll escape this crisis easily."
Wi Yeon Gwang downed the liquor Yang So offered to calm his boiling gut. But it wouldn't settle, and his rage turned squarely on An Gong.
"That fool dragged things to this mess."
He assumed Hwangha Suryeon's attack stemmed from the clash beyond the mountains. The guard killed at the martial tournament didn't seem reason enough, no matter how he thought about it. That was when it happened.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
Screams of agony erupted from the front. Two Hwangha Suryeon experts stealthily cresting the ridge had been spotted by Go Taebo and other experts, their heads sent flying.
Wi Yeon Gwang scanned Go Taebo's form. He had faced the most enemies during the initial ambush, bearing wounds all over.
"Hold on just a bit longer, Elder Go!"
"Don't worry. No matter what, I'll hold this position."
Go Taebo was formidable. He wielded sword aura—the pinnacle of swordsmanship—at will, and against weaker foes, he switched to the lesser sword energy to conserve power, adapting on the fly. Thus, he had endured without so much as a ragged breath. It was a display befitting one of Wall Thunder Family's proud experts alongside An Gong. Yet his expression seemed oddly off.
Why do those bastards keep sending me these weird transmissions...
Indeed, ever since the fighting broke out, whenever they drew close, Umunhong had sent strange transmissions.
[I'll launch a full assault the moment you give the signal.]
At first, he thought he'd misheard. But the same message repeated several times, and each time, they were unmistakably looking right at him. Then it came again.
[Listen, Hero Go. If An Gong brings his forces, everything goes up in smoke. Give the signal quickly!]
Twitch.
Go Taebo's eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars.
"You bastard, Umunhong! What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier?!"
Umunhong's face twisted hideously for a moment.
"That bastard..."
Umunjeok standing beside him felt the same, his expression turning grave. Ga Hoe, two steps behind, sharpened his gaze at that moment. He closed his eyes briefly, then spoke heavily.
"It seems we've fallen for their scheme. Otherwise, he would've given the signal at least ten times over by now."
"Grrr..."
Umunjeok growled, sparks flying from his eyes. Ga Hoe continued.
"An Gong is nearby, so we should prioritize safety and withdraw. If we're surrounded due to delay, it's all over, Alliance Leader."
"That Go Taebo..."
"Before blaming him, blame yourself for falling for it. Now the fallout will land squarely on our Hwangha Suryeon."
Words no strategist should utter to his lord flowed unabashed from Ga Hoe's mouth. Umunhong vented his frustration.
"We should launch a full assault right now, brother!"
Ga Hoe spoke before Umunjeok could.
"Do you want to stake everything on Wi Yeon Gwang's head? It's just one mistake—nothing if we brush it off. So turn back now. If Baekya-beol sends investigators later, I'll handle it."
Grind.
Umunhong gnashed his teeth but couldn't retort further to Ga Hoe, merely swallowing his rage. Umunjeok asked Ga Hoe.
"I'll heed the strategist's words. But turning back like this will make my blood boil, so as my brother suggests, shouldn't we at least try one final all-out attack?"
"Time is short, Alliance Leader."
"...Damn it all!"
Bam!
Umunjeok stomped the ground hard and turned away. Ga Hoe coldly eyed his retreating back before turning to Go Taebo. In that instant, a chilling bloodlight flickered deep in his pupils—enough to make Go Taebo, who happened to be looking, flinch.
"Tell Wi Yeon Gwang this: From this moment on, Northwest Murim is an enemy of our Hwangha Suryeon."
"You bastard! There's a limit to impudence! You dare attack our Northwest lord first and then spout what?!"
"Doesn't seem like something the one who insulted our Alliance Leader with dirty tricks should say..."
"What?"
"Just wait and see. The suffering you'll endure ahead. And one warning in advance... From now on, all Northwest cargo will travel solely by land, rain or snow. Waterways? Best not dream of them if you value your life. Heh heh heh."
Ga Hoe turned and left. Go Taebo stared at his vanishing figure into the woods, furrowing his brow deeply.
"Dirty tricks to insult Umunjeok? What the hell is that bastard talking about...?"