Chapter 94 - Turbulence in the Iron Blood Clan (4)

Jang Cheon was growing anxious. This was a grand undertaking where everything was at stake. For it to succeed, they needed Song Gyeom's seal. He had been confident that the specially crafted drug would work, but it had failed. Even after resorting to the extreme measure of administering more of the drug at great risk, Song Gyeom kept his mouth firmly shut even as he lost his senses.

His only blood relative was Song Hak, whom he had raised from childhood in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place of his son and daughter-in-law, lost to an unfortunate accident—but even he was in Baekya-beol, leaving no leverage for threats.

"Shouldn't we try torturing him?"

At Jang Hoe's words, Jang Cheon shook his head.

"With the drug's effects still strong in his system, any mistake ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could strain his heart and put his life in danger."

"We can't just sit back and watch, though."

"There are ways even without the seal, so don't be hasty. Remember, if we show impatience, others will grow uneasy as well."

"......Understood."

Jang Cheon lifted his teacup to his lips. With eyes on him, he tried to appear composed, but inside, he was burning up.

That was when it happened.

"Family head, it's me."

Eom Tak's voice drifted in from outside.

"Come in."

Eom Tak opened the door and entered. Jang Cheon forced a calm expression, but his brows furrowed at the sight of the blood-soaked warrior following behind.

"What happened?!"

"......The second young master has returned."

"Did he spot you?"

"Yes. I confirmed he was heading to the smithy and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hid, but one of the men we were looking for suddenly appeared and...... killed all my subordinates. I fought him off and barely escaped with my life."

"Did he see you too?"

"Probably."

"And yet you hid?"

"......"

Jang Cheon's gaze turned icy in an instant. The warrior's pale face trembled, but no more words came out. He had realized his mistake.

"You fool! You've made him suspicious. You should have acted like nothing was wrong and rushed over with your head bowed!"

"......Forgive me. I was shortsighted! Family head!"

"Get out of my sight!"

As the warrior fled in panic, Jang Hoe spoke up.

"If he knows something's happened, he'll avoid coming here and contact the Northern Legion instead. But even if Yun Hoe leads them here, our forces will arrive first, so don't worry too much, brother."

"Indeed. Our main army arrives tomorrow, so until then, just carry on as usual, family head."

With even Eom Tak offering comfort, Jang Cheon's expression finally softened a fraction.

"Once the main army enters the city, we can succeed even without the old man's seal. When the other factions—who've been doubting that young pup—realize we've already seized control, they'll acknowledge the tide has turned in our favor and bow their heads. That leaves him with only the Northern Legion, and no matter how strong they are, they can't reverse a momentum that's already shifted."

"Wise words."

"Still, we must exhaust every option. The lives and fates of our families, our clans, and all who stand with us hang on this uprising!"

Jang Cheon steeled his resolve, deliberately weighing himself down with the burden of everyone's lives and destinies. Only then would his determination harden further.

At that moment, a guard's voice came from outside.

"Family head, the great lady has arrived."

"Escort her in."

Jang Yeong entered, her long robes swirling. Her stride and expression radiated the confidence of one who already ruled the North.

"What brings you here, sister?"

"I trust you, but I couldn't bear not knowing how things are progressing."

"Everything is flowing as we desire, so have no fears."

"How can I not worry? Come in!"

At Jang Yeong's low call over her shoulder, two warriors entered carrying a large chest.

Thud!

"This should be worth at least a hundred thousand nyang in silver. Use it for the cause. It's the least I can do."

Jang Cheon offered a faint smile to his sister, who looked at him with pity.

"Such a fortune...... I'll put it to good use, thank you, sister."

"Then I'll take my leave. Call on me anytime if you need even the smallest help."

"Yes, I will."

Jang Yeong departed immediately. Jang Cheon stared at the chest she left behind, his gaze darkening.

'For this day, she even endured the old man's later wife. Only I know what those years were like. For her sake alone, this uprising must succeed. It must......'

Northern Legion.

Commander Yun Hoe's face flushed red with rage. A letter burned to ashes in his hand, scattering in the flames.

"To think it's come to this......"

"We must lead the full army down immediately, commander!"

"I agree! If we're late, the lord will face Jang Cheon's faction alone! We have to hurry and aid him!"

Jang Pae and Jin Mu bellowed. Everyone in the tent shared their fury.

But Yun Hoe's son, Yun Gwan, alone remained cool-headed.

"I feel the same, but we can't ignore the Northwest forces we're facing right now. We must aid the lord, but first, find a way to move our troops without alerting them."

"If Jang Cheon becomes lord of the North, it'll be like inviting a tiger worse than the Northwest! We can't hesitate—lead the army to the family seat now!"

As Jin Mu stood firm, the tent's atmosphere grew ever more heated.

Bang!

Yun Hoe slammed the table.

"We're stationed here for the North's peace. As Gwan says, we can't ignore the enemy at our front lines. So put your heads together and devise a way to move without them noticing!"

Jang Pae stepped forward.

"Then let me lead a small force ahead. Showing that the Northern Legion stands with the lord will deter other factions from rashly siding with Jang Cheon."

"You're right. Take two thousand and go first. That number shouldn't alarm the Northwest Murim much."

"Understood. See you at the family seat, commander!"

Yun Hoe watched Jang Pae hurry out, his gaze heavy.

'Please stay safe until we arrive......'

Imagining Yeon-hoo isolated and alone made his blood boil. He wanted to march the full army now, but the Northwest left him no choice, fueling his frustration.

That was when it happened.

"Commander!"

A deputy rushed in.

"A falcon dispatch from the family seat!"

"Give it here!"

Yun Hoe snatched and unrolled it. His brows twitched like caterpillars—it wasn't Yeon-hoo's handwriting. It was from Jang Cheon.

Yun Hoe's face twitched in spasms.

'For one who seeks to be lord to stoop so low......'

Whoosh! The dispatch burned to ash.

To prevent unrest, he alone must know its contents. Though anyone could guess Jang Cheon might threaten families, speculation and reality were worlds apart.

"What does it say, commander?"

"Asking us to join his side."

Yun Hoe had no choice but to answer vaguely. Fortunately, their absolute trust left no room for doubt.

"Commander!"

Another deputy entered.

"What is it?"

"A dispatch from Southern Defense Commander Ma Ui Tae!"

"Hand it over."

Yun Hoe felt unease. He prayed it wasn't Ma Ui Tae urging him to side with Jang Cheon.

Yun Hoe's face twitched again—but this time, with relief.

'Heavens, thank you.'

Yeon-hoo and the others had entered the mountainous terrain north of the city. No sooner had they arrived than Yeon-hoo secluded himself in a private space, entering the second day without emerging.

Cheol-u guarded the cave entrance, while the others took shifts monitoring the situation.

Whoosh!

The wind tousled Cheol-u's hair. He glanced at the cave, then walked to the cliff's edge, gazing down at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠world below.

'Pathetic.'

A sneer curled Cheol-u's lips. For a city in rebellion, it was far too quiet.

He looked north toward the Iron Blood Family. It too seemed utterly peaceful, as if nothing had happened. Flocks of birds crossing the sky only amplified the serenity.

Cheol-u sneered again.

'When a brutal bloodstorm beyond imagination descends......'

He recalled the ruthless glint in Yeon-hoo's eyes upon hearing of Jang Cheon's rebellion—the first such savagery Cheol-u had seen since their initial meeting long ago, enough to chill even him.

Rustle.

At the sound behind him, Cheol-u slowly turned. Dongbang Ri emerged from the woods. Her expression was dark and heavy, but amid her usual gaze burned unmistakable fury.

Cheol-u had admired her these past few days.

'A true family head in every way.'

"Why are you out here?"

"Just...... admiring the city of rebellion."

"City of rebellion...... Aptly put. Mind if I join the view?"

Dongbang Ri stood beside him, looking north. Her brows subtly furrowed, a sneer forming.

"Too quiet. It's like the city's saying this fight is ours alone."

"Aren't you worried about the families?"

"I am. My blood's boiling dry. But...... now's the time to trust the lord and wait."

Cheol-u appreciated her candor.

"May I ask something?"

"Go ahead."

"How many are coming?"

"About five thousand."

Disappointment clouded Dongbang Ri's eyes at his answer. She trusted Yeon-hoo's limbs to be strong, but five thousand was too few. Even mid-tier northern families fielded that many. Her own Dongbang family had mustered nearly ten thousand at its peak.

"They must be strong, right?"

"Judge for yourself when you see them."

"I'll take that as 'strong'."

Strong? They're war ghosts—battle-mad fiends. One reason the lord hasn't called them yet is even he can't fully control them.

Cheol-u swallowed the words rising in his throat.