Chronicles of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 92: Turbulence in the Iron Blood Family (2)
The city lay shrouded in darkness. But the forges on the outskirts blazed like midday, spewing hot steam into the night.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Hiss!
Dozens of artisans hammered away at glowing red-hot iron without respite, while Iron Blood Clan warriors dispatched to assist stacked the finished weapons in piles, sweating through the final touches.
Song Yeong pitched in to help.
"I came for a drink, and now this? Tch!"
"Just a bit more, then we'll drink properly, brother."
"That 'bit more' has been going on for an hour already."
He hadn't touched a drop of liquor. For the past hour, he'd been sweating buckets, his hands never stopping. Despite the complaint hanging from his lips, his movements were faster and more precise than anyone's, leaving piles of arrows before him several times higher than the others'.
Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang sat at his sides, their hands flying just as busily. Having practically lived in the forges from the start, their skills rivaled the artisans' in speed and accuracy.
But the most diligent were elsewhere—Bu Cha and his men, who had come with Baekun but stayed in the city. They handled the heaviest task: hauling the iron. Grunting with each heave, they moved like they were in training.
"Hup!"
"Come on, you bastard! Put your back into it!"
Song Yeong watched them, tongue clicking in amazement.
"No matter who you pick for subordinates, you always end up with guys who look just like you."
"Tell me about it."
"Hahaha."
Yuksoon and Seo-wi-ryang burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, Baek Mu Yeong was chatting with Seobaek. They had stepped out of the sweltering forge into the cool night breeze.
Seobaek stared southwest, his brow furrowing slightly.
"He should be back by now... Wi Yeon Gwang won't just sit still, right?"
"You know he's not someone that fool can handle."
"True, but... I won't relax until I see him safe. Anyway, brother."
"What."
"Have those guys improved any?"
He meant Jo Yeong and the others. Baek Mu Yeong nodded.
"Faster than expected. Especially Jo Yeong—that one's got the makings of something special if shaped right."
"But isn't he arrogant and prickly?"
"It was a flaw at first, but as his skills grow, it's turning into a strength. Arrogance and bravery are only a paper's thickness apart."
"And countless peak experts have vanished without reaching the absolute realm because of that thin sheet, like stars in the night sky."
"Fair point."
"You trust that kid, don't you, brother."
"That obvious?"
"Yeah. Your eyes change when you talk about him. Some master-disciple bond or something?"
Pfft.
"Enough. Let's head back and lend a hand."
Baek Mu Yeong patted Seobaek's shoulder and turned. But Seobaek grabbed his arm.
"Brother."
"What now."
"Over there..."
Seobaek pointed into the pitch-black market street. Baek Mu Yeong peered where he indicated. Amid the lightless road, a single figure staggered toward them.
Assuming it was a drunk, Baek Mu Yeong channeled his energy to sharpen his vision—just in case. A faint face emerged. In an instant, he kicked off the ground.
Boom!
"What's he doing?"
Seobaek tilted his head, then followed suit.
Baek Mu Yeong already had the stranger in his arms.
"Hey! What the hell happened?!"
Seobaek landed beside him, eyes wide. In Baek Mu Yeong's embrace lay Jo Yeong, gasping for breath.
Jo Yeong clutched at Baek Mu Yeong's robe, forcing out words.
"J-Jang Cheon... has rebelled."
"...!"
"The Elder Council Chairman... already... f-fallen..."
Jo Yeong trailed off, slumping unconscious in Baek Mu Yeong's arms.
"Rebellion...?"
Seobaek muttered in disbelief.
"Take him to the forge and treat him first. I'll head back and find out what's going on."
"If it's a real rebellion like he said, going alone is dangerous. We should all go together."
"Jang Cheon's no pushover. If we all charge in, we might botch it. Tell everyone the situation, move to a defensible spot, and wait for my return."
Boom!
Baek Mu Yeong shot into the darkness. Seobaek watched his retreating figure, his gaze hardening.
"If the rebellion's real, they'll come for us here first. To Jang Cheon's supporters, we're thorns in their side."
Seobaek scooped up Jo Yeong. That's when Song Yeong, Yuksoon, and the others came running—they'd stepped out to cool off and spotted him.
"What happened?"
"Huh? What's wrong with this guy?"
"Jang Cheon's rebelled, apparently. Says the Elder Council Chairman's already gone..."
"What?"
Everyone froze in shock. Song Yeong's eyes bulged.
"The old man's... dead?!"
"Didn't get details. Just said rebellion broke out, Chairman's down, then passed out."
"Wake this bastard up!"
"Calm down. Brother Mu Yeong's gone ahead, so we wait and watch. Shut the forge and move to safety for now."
Yuksoon nodded gravely at Seobaek's words.
"If it's true, they won't leave this place alone. Not just the weapons—us first. Especially you, brother Song Yeong. You're top priority, since everyone knows you're the Chairman's favorite."
"Guess I gotta go check it out. See what's really happening."
"Song Yeong!"
Seobaek gripped his arm hard.
"Things have changed. From now on, we think and move only for the lord. Right now, that means no casualties. We all need to stay alive to help him!"
His eyes trembled.
Seobaek was right—everything from here on was for Yeon-hoo. That meant shelving personal feelings for Song Gyeom as petty sentiment, not the greater cause.
Song Yeong ground his teeth and turned away.
'Damn old fool. Why'd you go and die like an idiot.'
* * *
Jang Cheon gazed down at the darkened Iron Blood Clan stronghold, exhaling softly. Jang Hoe approached.
"No one's caught on, fortunately. There was a bit of fuss over Jo Ga-jang's eldest son, but we passed it off as dealing with an intruder. They bought it."
"The old man."
"Safely tucked in the secret chamber behind the brain prison. But his resistance is fiercer than expected. He should be delirious from the drugs by now, but he's still holding steady."
"Stubborn old bastard..."
"We need a document recognizing you as next lord under the Chairman's authority before dawn... Should we dose him more?"
"Foolish talk. If he dies, it's all for nothing. No rash moves until we get that seal—keep that in mind."
"...Understood."
"Sent troops to the forges?"
"Yes. Right after starting the coup—they should be arriving soon."
"Double-check for gaps. Report anything off immediately."
"Got it."
"I'll check on the old man."
Jang Cheon headed for Song Gyeom's prison. Jang Hoe followed, adding,
"Can't believe we waited this long for something so easy. If we'd done this sooner, no headaches from that punk."
Jang Hoe's face held a smug grin, as if victory was assured. But Jang Cheon felt different.
'Why this unease?'
Everything was unfolding too smoothly, which gnawed at him. In truth, hearing through Eom Tak that Song Gyeom planned to wield authority had sparked this impromptu coup. No time to rally allies.
They'd sent couriers north after securing Song Gyeom, but reinforcements would take a day to three. If they couldn't forge the document with the seal recognizing him as next lord—and worse, if Yeon-hoo returned first—the aftermath was obvious.
Yun Hoe's Northern Legion was the immediate threat. Learning of the rebellion, he'd abandon the northwest front and march the full force south without hesitation.
Ma Ui Tae's Southern Defense Army worried him too. Neutral for now, but unpredictable. If they sided with Yeon-hoo, success was doomed.
'I sought the throne with everyone's blessings...'
He bit his lip.
No turning back now—he was committed.
'No choice but to see this through, whatever it takes. Failure ends everything.'
Moments later, Jang Cheon entered Song Gyeom's chamber. The elder's eyes snapped open, blazing with fury.
"You bastard Jang Cheon—have you no fear of heaven?"
His voice held rage, but no strength.
"If I feared heaven, I wouldn't have started. Success will make heaven my ally, no?"
"Coup, you say? Traitor's tongue wags boldly."
Drool trickled from Song Gyeom's mouth—the poison's work. Jang Cheon frowned.
'Stubborn old man—even now, holding his will...'
Song Gyeom spat one more barb.
"Without the Chairman's seal, you're powerless. Tear my body apart—you'll get nothing. Dream not of success."
"Refuse, and blood will flow—not just in Iron Blood Clan, but all the north. Is that what you want?"
"Enough nonsense. Kill this old man. My ghost will curse you."
More drool pooled on the floor. His eyes clouded, but his words still stung. Disappointment turned to anger.
"If you hadn't meddled needlessly, this wouldn't have happened. I wanted the throne with blessings, but you ruined it. Everything now is your fault, old man."
Jang Cheon spat coldly, then barked over his shoulder.
"Bring the poison."