Chapter 93 - Turbulence in the Iron Blood Clan (3)
Baek Mu Yeong slipped silently over the walls of the Iron Blood Clan. He headed straight for the Martial Hall. As he moved, he scanned his surroundings, but detected no unusual activity whatsoever. There was no commotion anywhere, making him wonder if a rebellion had truly erupted—the place was eerily quiet.
Baek Mu Yeong fixed his gaze on the third floor of the Martial Hall. A single shadow loomed against the lit window.
Who could that be?
From the shadow alone, Baek Mu Yeong could tell it wasn't one of the young trainees cultivating inside. The hair, tied up in a topknot, was a dead giveaway.
Without hesitation, he unleashed his movement technique and leaped onto the roof. Opening his senses, a unfamiliar voice drifted out from the window.
"Foolish idiots. They couldn't even tell heaven from earth and charged in, losing their lives..."
Lost their lives?
It felt like a sharp awl piercing his ear. Baek Mu Yeong could only interpret it as meaning the young men he had trained had recklessly attacked without discernment and died. This was their quarters, after all.
His eyes trembled, filling with brutal killing intent. Then another voice drilled into his ears like an awl.
"If their families and sects find out these bastards are dead, they won't sit idly by... Should've spared them instead."
"They came at us with everything they had—no time for mercy. I'll handle explaining it to the Patriarch, so you lot make sure to clean up properly. We have to make it look like assassins did it—use moves no one would recognize."
"Understood."
Baek Mu Yeong squeezed his eyes shut. The youths' deaths were now certain. Memories of his time with them flashed through his mind like a lantern show. Their talents were lacking, their perseverance abysmal, but their passion to learn had made teaching them enjoyable. Over time, as they began treating him not as an instructor but as a master, he had felt a deep sense of fulfillment.
Of all days, why did it have to be today when I was at the forge...
Regret for failing to protect them bowed his head. He stood motionless for a while. What finally stirred him was a voice from the window.
"This should fool anyone into thinking it was assassins."
"Good work."
Baek Mu Yeong drew a quiet breath. Then, stepping silently through the air, he descended to the window. Peering through the slightly ajar gap, he saw the youths lying dead in pools of blood—and three men in azure robes standing around them.
Baek Mu Yeong's eyes widened as he stared at one youth's face. Gripping the spear he hadn't drawn even once during training, he tensed.
Clank! Clank!
"Huh? What's that noise?"
As one azure-robed man approached the window in alarm, Baek Mu Yeong thrust his spear. It shattered the frame and pierced the man's forehead.
Thud!
The man died instantly without a scream. The other two drew their swords in panic.
Shing!
Baek Mu Yeong vaulted inside at the same moment.
Crash!
Their reactions were quick. But against Baek Mu Yeong, they were laughably slow and clumsy.
Thud!
Another azure-robe's head exploded in a gruesome spray, vanishing without form. The last one didn't even complete his second move before his acupoints were sealed.
"Gurk!"
Baek Mu Yeong seized the man's throat as he doubled over like a shrimp, then hurled him out through the broken window. His destination: the forest behind the hall.
Whoosh!
Ignoring branches clawing at his path, Baek Mu Yeong dashed upward. Splintered twigs gashed the azure-robe's face, blood streaming freely, but Baek Mu Yeong paid no mind.
Moments later, he stopped at a high vantage, tossing the man down like trash.
Thud!
"Urgh..."
Baek Mu Yeong unsealed his mute acupoint with the spear tip.
"Answer every question truthfully, and your suffering might lessen."
"H-hey, instructor! Aaaagh!"
The man's left arm severed at the elbow.
"Just answer."
"You think you'll get away with th— Aaaagh!"
Now his shoulder stump gaped below.
Baek Mu Yeong laid the spear against his right elbow, voice icy. "Why today?"
"Wh-what...?"
"Why start the rebellion today of all days?"
"I-I don't know. We just followed orders— Aaaagh!"
His severed right arm twitched, nerves still firing. The spear moved to his right shoulder.
"I can keep you alive while slicing off limbs and peeling skin strip by strip. Imagine that pain. I'll ask again. Why today?"
"We were supposed to wait until the Second Young Master collapsed on his own... But when we learned the Elder Council Chairman planned to install him as lord by fiat, the Patriarch advanced the plot! It's true! Please... just kill me! Urk!"
Baek Mu Yeong withdrew his spear. No lie there.
"Your legs are fine. Go tell Jang Cheon this: He's opened the gates of hell himself and will soon behold it. He'll weep blood realizing its horrors."
Leaving those words, Baek Mu Yeong turned and vanished into the darkness after a lingering glance at the Iron Blood Clan.
Not long after Jang Cheon moved, dozens of messenger pigeons took flight from the Iron Blood Clan. They weren't sent only to Jang Cheon's allies. A few flew south and north, toward the Northern Legion and Southern Defense Army.
Thanks to Cheol Gun-ak, Yeon-hoo and his group continued their return to the Iron Blood Clan without incident. Yeon-hoo took every shortcut. They arrived in the city a full two days ahead of schedule, just one day from the clan.
"We should check the forge first."
"As you wish."
Entering the city, Yeon-hoo and his entourage headed straight for the forge to inspect weapon production progress.
"The city seems to be thriving day by day."
"Good."
"Soon, the other cities will bustle like this, and taxes will rise steadily."
As Sama Song said, the markets overflowed with people. The only oddity: no warriors in sight, unlike usual. Unaware of the Iron Blood Clan's turmoil, Yeon-hoo dismissed it, as did Sama Song and the others.
That's when, in the market's heart, they spotted a group of warriors ahead. The men glanced their way, then fled like they'd seen enemies.
Sama Song frowned, muttering, "What's with those kids..."
Yeon-hoo sensed something amiss too. They couldn't have failed to recognize him. They should've rushed over, bowing low.
Then—
"My lord!"
A voice rang from the left shop district. Yuksoon emerged cautiously from an alley, glancing about warily. Yeon-hoo intuited trouble from his odd behavior and tense face.
"Let's go somewhere quiet."
Yeon-hoo closed his eyes as Yuksoon spoke.
Why...
Song Gyeom's actions made no sense. Why court such danger in his absence? No reason, no necessity—it was utterly incomprehensible. And the result? It gave Jang Cheon the perfect pretext to act.
Yuksoon continued. "We figured they'd hit the forge first, so we hid in a safe spot, waiting for your return. Now that you're here, just give the order."
Yeon-hoo opened his eyes. A terrifying killing intent flashed briefly, then vanished. His voice, colder than usual, followed.
"What about inside?"
"They've locked it down tight from the main gate, barring outsiders. I tried to infiltrate despite the risk, but Mu Yeong-hyung said to wait for you..."
"Everyone's safe?"
"We're fine, but... Jo Yeong's badly hurt, and the friends training with him..."
Yuksoon trailed off. The killing intent reignited in Yeon-hoo's eyes.
"All dead?"
"...Yes. Mu Yeong-hyung checked that night. They were ambushed by Jang Cheon's men and all lost their lives."
Yeon-hoo strode forward without another word. Sama Song kept pace.
"He's called in all his followers now that it's started. We should contact the Northern Legion and Southern Defense Army immediately."
"It's already done."
"...Pardon?"
"Even if the main house is rotten, if no one there takes basic measures like that in a crisis, we deserve to hand the north to Jang Cheon. Let's trust them."
Sama Song fell silent, sensing Yeon-hoo on the verge of explosion.
"Dongbang Patriarch."
"...Yes."
"Don't worry. Your clan folk are safe. They're no threat to Jang Cheon, so he won't touch them."
Come to think of it, Dongbang Ri had been silent. Her people remained fully in the Iron Blood Clan.
"Thanks. For not saying a word."
"..."
She'd held her tongue for his sake, and he thanked her for it.
"Cheol-u."
"Yes, my lord."
"Advance the plan."
"Then..."
"Call everyone in. Not a single one left out."
"Understood."
"Yuksoon."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Head that way—you'll find Jang Cheon's warriors. Leave one alive and tell them I've returned."
"As you command!"
Boom!
Yuksoon shot toward the fleeing warriors.
"Sama Patriarch."
"Yes, my lord."
"Compile the death list. I'll decide later who lives or dies—just prepare the roster and bring it to me. As fast as possible."
"...Understood."
Sama Song stared at Yeon-hoo's retreating back, drawing a quiet breath. The air felt suffocating, his body prickling—as if one slip could make his heart burst.
Jang Cheon, you've finally opened the gates of hell.