Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 89 - An Gong's Tears of Blood
"You fools. To retreat without even thinking to leverage your numerical superiority..."
Wi Yeon Gwang sneered at the vanishing figures of Umunjeok and the Hwangha Suryeon experts. But inwardly, he heaved a sigh of relief. He'd maintained a composed front before his subordinates, but this had been his first true crisis.
"Elder An Gong is arriving!"
Just then, An Gong came charging in at the head of his troops. A chill settled in Wi Yeon Gwang's eyes, erasing his momentary relief. He glared at the approaching An Gong as if he were an enemy, swift as the wind.
Whish!
"My lord!"
An Gong landed before Wi Yeon Gwang. Relieved to see his lord unharmed, he scanned the surroundings. Corpses from Hwangha Suryeon littered the ground here and there, but noticing several of their own missing, An Gong's expression grew grave. He immediately bowed deeply toward Wi Yeon Gwang.
"I'm truly relieved I wasn't too late, my lord!"
"What the hell did you do to clash with Hwangha Suryeon and let things spiral this far?!"
Wi Yeon Gwang demanded without even acknowledging the greeting. An Gong faltered for a moment, struck silent by the icy glare in his lord's eyes. In that split second, An Gong's mind raced.
'If I admit to falling for a divide-and-conquer scheme, it'll only bring greater wrath upon me. I have to insist Hwangha Suryeon provoked us first.'
As An Gong gathered his thoughts to speak—
Swish.
A chill touched the back of his neck. It was Go Taebo's sword.
"...!"
"Save your excuses for when we return to the sect."
Wi Yeon Gwang spoke coldly, then issued a command to those around him.
"Confiscate Elder An Gong's sword and cripple his dantian!"
"M-my lord!"
Thud!
Go Taebo's sword struck An Gong's nape with brutal force. An Gong crumpled forward, losing consciousness. But Wi Yeon Gwang didn't stop there.
"Bind those bastards at once!"
"My lord!"
"Why are you doing this? We gave our all!"
"Shut your mouths! Your incompetence nearly got me killed. And after squandering vast sums of money and manpower, you couldn't even track Yi Yeon-hoo's tail. This crime is beyond what ten lives could atone for!"
An Gong's closest aides were all subdued. Only then did Wi Yeon Gwang descend from the boulder.
"Elder Go."
"Yes, my lord."
"Hwangha Suryeon might try something else. We return at once."
"Understood, my lord."
Wi Yeon Gwang took the lead, surrounded by his guards. Go Taebo watched his lord's retreating back for a moment, then looked down at the unconscious An Gong. A long tear split across his eye and the corner of his mouth.
'To eliminate my greatest rival in my path so easily...'
Unlike his urge to dance in triumph, Go Taebo spoke in a somber tone.
"This is my lord's command—don't hold it against me."
Clang!
Go Taebo sheathed his sword and placed his palm on An Gong's dantian, intending to shatter it and render him unable to use his internal energy. For a martial artist, it was a punishment worse than death. Had An Gong been conscious, he would have begged for death instead.
It was right then.
The supposedly unconscious An Gong lashed out with the back of his head, smashing into Go Taebo's face.
Crack!
"Gah!"
Go Taebo let out a sharp grunt and tumbled backward. At the same instant, An Gong launched himself northward.
"What?!"
"Elder An is fleeing!"
The sudden uproar made Wi Yeon Gwang, who had gone ahead, turn back. Spotting the escaping An Gong, his eyes bulged wide.
"What are you waiting for? Catch him!"
As bloodied-faced Go Taebo tried to pursue, Strategist Yang So shouted.
"No time to chase—fall back!"
Go Taebo twisted midair and landed on the ground. His eyes churned with bewilderment, rage, and humiliation.
"Why stop me, Strategist?!"
Yang So raised a hand to silence Go Taebo's protests, then turned to Wi Yeon Gwang.
"Chasing a determined fugitive like An Gong would be reckless. Your safety comes first, my lord. Forget him for now."
"If that grudge-bearing bastard defects to another faction, won't he become a massive headache?!"
"His family back home will keep him from any foolishness. Leaving this place takes priority."
Wi Yeon Gwang's facial muscles twitched violently. But in the end, he yielded to Yang So's counsel. Still, he didn't turn away empty-handed.
"They'll be future trouble if left alive—cut their heads off!"
Pointing at An Gong's aides, Wi Yeon Gwang commanded. Enraged, Go Taebo personally beheaded them.
Moments later, when all had departed and only the dead remained, An Gong—who they'd thought had fled—reappeared at the scene. Trembling, he gazed down at his cooling aides' corpses. Then, turning southwest where Wi Yeon Gwang had vanished, his entire body shook violently.
"To deny me even the chance to explain after a lifetime of loyalty..."
Tears of blood streamed down An Gong's cheeks. He lifted his head, staring southwest.
Grind.
'I must reach my family first.'
Boom!
Like Noegeom before him, An Gong broke into a desperate sprint to save his family. A deadly race had begun—one that would decide the fates of many based on who arrived first.
* * *
Yeon-hoo and his group pushed northward a full day farther than planned before disembarking on land. It was a precaution against any potential net of Wall Thunder Family forces in the Northwest Murim. Seok-ho-jin had gladly ferried them this far.
"This is where I must bid farewell."
"Serve the Earth Sovereign well."
"I'll serve him until my dying breath—no need for worry. When might we meet again?"
"Soon enough."
"I'll await that day alone. Still, I hope the Northwest Murim's net doesn't reach this far north..."
"No concerns. I minimized the escort with that in mind."
"Ah..."
In truth, Seok-ho-jin had worried about the return trip with so few men. But hearing they'd accounted for it eased his fears completely.
"Then I'll pray to the heavens for your safe return."
Seok-ho-jin bowed to Yeon-hoo, then turned to Cheol-u. Their gazes met oddly. But Cheol-u smirked first.
"Our duel can wait."
"I'll train hard not to lose."
"Think hard training will cut it?"
"Got it. I'll go all out, life or death. Safe travels, then."
Soon after, Seok-ho-jin and the boat faded from sight. Yeon-hoo's mind wasn't at ease. As expected, Somubaek had precious few around him. Nearly all the key figures hovered near Elder Council Chairman Seomun-hoe, and even the serving maids couldn't be trusted. He trusted Cheol Gun-ak, but one man could only do so much.
'The Earth Sovereign must grow stronger himself...'
That was his greatest worry. Somubaek was innately mild-mannered; could he endure even greater chaos? He'd claimed he'd toughen up, but will alone often failed against reality.
'May trials and hardships forge him stronger...'
Whoosh!
A fierce north wind blew. Fortunately, it would speed Seok-ho-jin back to Baekya-beol more easily than anticipated.
'Gained so much, yet my heart's uneasy.'
Of course, it was Somubaek. But he had to hurry. Back home, he'd use the Northwest Murim military intel from Cheol Gun-ak to begin full preparations.
'Abrogating the truce will be an irreversible catastrophe for you, Wi Yeon Gwang.'
* * *
Iron Blood Family.
When Yeon-hoo was away, Song Gyeom handled the lord's duties. Thus, despite his frail state, Song Gyeom attended the grand hall, managing endless affairs. Songyeong was dying under the strain.
Song Gyeom refused to let him leave his side even for a moment. That was how much he trusted the man's abilities. At drunken banquets, Song Gyeom would point to Songyeong, boasting of him as his own Zhuge Liang—that said it all.
But Song Gyeom's boundless faith in Songyeong wasn't all positive. Envy brewed among others, some even allied with Jang Cheon. And Jang Cheon had begun paying attention to Songyeong.
Great Lady Jang Yeong's annex.
Using his injury as an excuse, Jang Cheon had lingered at the main house before returning to Iron Blood Family—and spent nearly all his time here since. It was the safest spot for secret talks with aides.
Today, one of Iron Blood Family's heavyweights visited Jang Cheon's residence. Jang Cheon had urgently requested info on Songyeong. The heavyweight launched right in upon arrival.
Jang Cheon's expression shifted throughout the report. When it ended, he furrowed his brow and muttered.
"Hard to believe even hearing it. For a young pup not even thirty to have such talent... No wonder the old man's so trusting."
"Many praise his abilities. And rightly so—he's dramatically improved not just the lord's household finances but the entire north's in mere months."
"The problem is he's that brat Yi Yeon-hoo's close aide..."
"Indeed. Everyone agrees he's solidifying the Elder Council Chairman's trust in you."
Jang Cheon's eyebrow curved like a blade. His gaze toward the heavyweight sharpened.
The man's face paled instantly.
"Forgive me. I dared call the young master 'lord' before you, the family head."
"You acknowledge that pup as lord too?"
"N-no, absolutely not!"
"Be careful. Especially around me."
"I'll remember."
Clink.
Jang Cheon lifted his teacup. His mind whirred.
'If the bastard's that capable, I need to nip it in the bud before it sprouts. Mess up, and it'll give wings to that pup.'
Thud!
Jang Cheon set down the cup and stared at the heavyweight.
"The other ones the pup brought in."
"The trainer and the new weapon developer catch the eye, but the other two show nothing special."
The other two were Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang. Since arriving, they'd only alternated aiding Baek Mu Yeong and Seobaek—no unusual moves. And Bu Cha with Baek-un's thirty subordinates? Jang Cheon's side didn't even know they existed.
"Watch them without slacking a second. Time for you to move, though..."
"Just say the word."
"Scout reliable killers. Not idiots like Salmun. Money's no object—ensure they're skilled enough to succeed."
"Understood. I'll recruit fast and report back."
As the heavyweight withdrew, Jang Cheon sank deep into his chair, his gaze darkening.
"Bee's contact should be coming soon..."
What Jang Cheon awaited most was word from his agent in the Bee. Through them, he monitored the Bee's situation from hundreds of li away, crystal clear.
A smirk tugged at Jang Cheon's lips.
He'd gifted a man, only to get a harsh scolding from the Earth Sovereign... [omitted]. Many, including the Elder Council Chairman, scorned and mocked him.
Recalling his aide's recent missive.
"Meant to plant eyes in the Bee, but... Soon they'll vanish without a trace. Heh heh heh."