Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 90: Jang Cheon Moves
Jang Cheon lifted his teacup with evident satisfaction. That was when it happened.
"It's me, brother."
The voice of his younger brother, Jang Hoe, drifted in from outside.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing Jang Hoe and an elderly man in his twilight years.
Jang Cheon's brow furrowed at the sight of the old man. "What brings you here, Elder Eom?"
"I have urgent matters to discuss."
"Urgent business at this hour... I doubt it's good news. So, what is it?"
The elder, Eom Tak, spoke in a grave tone. "The Elder Council Leader is using his personal authority to alter the membership of the Grand Council."
Jang Cheon's eyebrow twitched like a sharpened blade. "What?"
Jang Hoe jumped in. "That old fool's scheming to put some upstart kid on the lord's throne. If he swaps just three members for his own cronies, he'll ruin everything, brother!"
"Indeed. If we let this slide, it could leave a legacy of regret. We must act swiftly."
"That scheming old bastard... after all this time..."
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
What Jang Hoe and Eom Tak had said was a critically important matter. As they'd implied, replacing just three Grand Council members with Song Gyeom loyalists would hand the decision for the next lord to Song Gyeom's whims. It was already clear that Song Gyeom backed Yeon-hoo, leaving Jang Cheon with no choice but to feel a profound sense of mortal crisis.
"I held back twice, hoping the brat would slink away on his own without bloodshed..."
Crack!
The teacup shattered in Jang Cheon's grip, the tea inside flash-freezing into a solid white block. The chill was so intense that Jang Hoe and Eom Tak's faces quickly paled blue.
"If that's how it has to be, then so be it. I'll make the first move."
Flash.
A gleam of azure light flickered in Jang Cheon's eyes. "We launch the first operation immediately. Brother, relay orders for all forces to converge on the Iron Blood Family at once. Elder Eom, secure the Council Leader's person without delay."
"Understood."
"Yes, sir!"
As Jang Hoe and Eom Tak withdrew, Jang Cheon strode to the window and flung it wide open. His cold gaze fixed unerringly on the dwelling of Elder Council Leader Song Gyeom.
"If blood must be spilled, then I'll oblige."
Thud!
"Ugh..."
Songyeong set down his brush and stretched grandly.
Crack!
From dawn till dusk at his desk, wielding the brush without cease—his joints popped noisily in protest. He wiped the tears pricking at his eyes and shook his head ruefully.
"If I'd trained in martial arts this hard, I'd be a Heavenly Expert by now."
Grumbling to himself, Songyeong downed a bowl of cold water, threw on an outer robe, and stepped outside. More work awaited.
He needed to check the city forges—where new weapon production never slept—on remaining iron stocks. If low, he'd have to replenish them. Settling the artisans' wages fell to him too. All money matters were his domain, leaving no room for slacking.
Of course, it was all under Yeon-hoo's strict orders.
"Already this late?"
Sunset loomed. The forges ran day and night regardless, but trekking dark mountain paths alone felt uneasy. Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang were already there helping Seobaek, so he'd go solo.
"Should I ask Brother Mu Yeong to come along?"
Not keen on going alone, Songyeong headed for the training grounds. A few steps in, shouts of exertion and clanging metal echoed faintly.
"Training under Brother Mu Yeong all day... those lucky bastards."
Moments later, entering the grounds, Songyeong held back to avoid disturbing Jo Yeong and the others deep in sword practice. He muted his presence and watched.
'Oh ho! Not bad.'
Admiration lit Songyeong's eyes. Jo Yeong and the young men moved far swifter than before. Their eyes burned with life too. Normally, they'd be gasping ragged breaths by now.
That was when it came.
"Come here."
Baek Mu Yeong's voice.
'Ghostly senses on this guy.'
Songyeong stepped forward. All halted training to stare. Wrinkling his nose at the pungent sweat, he approached Baek Mu Yeong.
"Spar with them once."
"Me?"
"Who else is there?"
"Don't mess around. You know I don't hold back even in spars, brother."
"No need to. Give it a go."
"For real?"
Whoosh!
Baek Mu Yeong tossed a wooden sword. Catching it deftly, Songyeong sighed and eyed Jo Yeong.
"You gonna rush me?"
Jo Yeong glanced at Baek Mu Yeong, who nodded. Sheathing his live blade, Jo Yeong drew a wooden one and advanced.
"Use your live sword."
"...Pardon?"
Jo Yeong scowled back at Baek Mu Yeong, who continued. "Do as I say."
Jo Yeong's eyes twisted in wounded pride.
Songyeong smirked at him. 'Still got that temper.'
[Time to crush that ego a bit.]
[He still doesn't listen well, huh?]
[Not quite, but for his own good, he needs a proper humbling.]
[Got it. Break an arm or two, and that'll deflate him nicely.]
Songyeong raised his wooden sword, aiming at Jo Yeong's brow. "Let's see how much you've improved."
"Don't blame me if you get hurt."
"What, you gonna baby everyone? Come on, attack already."
Swish.
Jo Yeong stepped into his footwork, gliding like over water—clear progress from before.
Songyeong's brow twitched faintly. 'Charging straight ahead like that... exactly why he needs humbling.'
He saw it instantly: Jo Yeong brimmed with overconfidence, bordering on recklessness. Otherwise, he'd flank cautiously instead of striding forward.
Flash!
Jo Yeong lunged, swift and sharp as a diving eagle on prey.
"Whoa!"
"Nice!"
The onlookers gasped in awe.
But the outcome shattered expectations.
Jo Yeong's blade sliced empty air; follow-ups all blocked by Songyeong's wooden sword.
Clang!
"So impatient."
Swish.
Now Songyeong attacked. First two strikes parried, but the third unbalanced Jo Yeong, retreating. The fourth struck his left arm true.
Thwack!
"Kuh!"
A dull thud and groan erupted together.
Songyeong sheathed his wooden sword, eyeing Jo Yeong clutching his arm and staggering back.
"Not done yet!"
"That's enough."
"No way!"
"Enough."
Baek Mu Yeong intervened, addressing the fuming Jo Yeong in his signature flat tone. "If he were the enemy, you'd be dead. Sure, you'd claim you didn't go all out since he wasn't. That it?"
"...Yes."
Pfft.
Songyeong was incredulous. Claiming half-measures was no light excuse.
"Hey, think you're the only one with pride? Fine, how about a real deathmatch with live blades? No grudges if you die."
His tone sharpened; the youths' faces stiffened. Jo Yeong flinched too.
"Training ends here."
"I can't let this slide, brother."
Truly irked, Songyeong reached for his own sword nearby. It floated up into his hand with a rattle.
Clink!
But inwardly, it was all show. [This enough?]
[Good work.]
Songyeong added one last barb, as if drawing steel. "Skulking with brushes all day made you look soft, huh? You picked the wrong mark."
"Enough, Songyeong."
Only then did Baek Mu Yeong's icy command make Songyeong relent with feigned defeat. Jo Yeong slunk back too.
"Training ends here. Review today's forms with wooden swords back home."
"Yes!"
"...Yes."
Jo Yeong's voice was markedly subdued. Baek Mu Yeong watched him leave, frowning subtly.
"Fix that temper, and he'd grow even more."
"Still, solid progress, right? If I'd been the enemy, he'd have played cautious from the start and lasted at least thirty breaths."
"Thirty breaths?"
"What? That's generous."
Smack!
"Kuh!"
"What if you said that before the lord? Straight to hellish training."
"Just talking... I could smash him in ten breaths flat... ugh..."
"Anyway, what brings you here?"
"Heading to the forges. Join me? Long time for drinks together. Gotta enjoy while the lord's away. Ow, my head."
"I'll wash up. Wait."
"Not like you to fuss over washing. Let's go."
Smack!
Song Gyeom, sleep evading him tonight, ordered tea from his guard and sent for Songyeong. But Songyeong had just left for the city forges.
Waiting, Song Gyeom opened the window for cool air.
"Feeling off tonight. Hope nothing's happened to the lord."
He gazed west. Jewel-like stars faded as dark clouds gathered.
"Your tea."
The guard entered with it. Song Gyeom pulled his eyes from the sky and sat. The familiar brew tasted unusually potent. He gulped half in one go—unlike his usual savoring sips.
Thud!
"Another cup."
"No. Tastes off tonight."
"Still, have one more."
"I'm fine. Go rest."
"You should rest, Council Leader."
"...What did you say?"
Creak.
The guard grinned, teeth bared. Sensing wrongness instantly, Song Gyeom tapped emergency acupoints to stem spreading poison.
Then the door opened. Elder Eom Tak entered, tasked by Jang Cheon to secure Song Gyeom.