Chapter 96 - Blood Wind (2)
A single messenger pigeon clutched in Jang Cheon's hand trembled faintly. It had just arrived from the main family estate.
"What's wrong, brother?!"
Jang Cheon handed the fluttering pigeon slip to Jang Hoe. Jang Hoe's face twisted instantly upon reading it.
"Why would the Blood King..."
The message detailed how the Blood King—death's synonym in the jianghu—had attacked their family, with precise accounts of the damage inflicted.
"The Blood King can't possibly be allied with that punk, right?"
"I hope not... but given the timing, we can't rule it out entirely."
"It could be coincidence. Don't worry too much."
Jang Hoe said the words, but he couldn't hide his bewilderment. No matter how he racked his brain, there was no reason for the Blood King to target their family. No entanglements, no grudges—nothing.
So why had the Blood King suddenly struck their clan? And at such a sensitive moment, no less.
That was when it happened.
"Family head! The old lord has advanced to half a day's march with his great army! Hahaha!"
Eom Tak burst in, laughing heartily. Jang Cheon, whose heart had grown heavy at the Blood King's unexpected appearance, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The "old lord" Eom Tak mentioned was none other than Jang Cheon's grandfather. He had practically raised Jang Cheon in place of his ailing father during his childhood—a spiritual pillar for him.
"Brother, you must go greet Grandfather at once!"
"No, that's not wise. In these tense times, venturing out recklessly could invite an ambush and ruin everything. Better to wait here."
Jang Cheon nodded at Eom Tak's words.
"Grandfather will understand. We'll wait here."
"Then stay here, brother. Even so, with Grandfather leading the army himself, we can't have no one to greet him. I'll go escort him."
Jang Cheon couldn't refuse that much.
"Take plenty of guards. Explain things well to Grandfather yourself."
"Yes, brother! I'll be back!"
Once Jang Hoe had withdrawn, Jang Cheon turned to Eom Tak.
"How fares the Elder Council?"
"They're lifelong power-chasers. They'll suspect, but once the tide fully turns our way, they'll flip without hesitation. No need to worry about the council."
"And the Punishment Hall leader and the other division heads—are they under watch?"
"Anyone leaning toward the second young master has already been contained. A few slipped away before things kicked off, but they're no real threat."
"Hm..."
Jang Cheon finally wore a satisfied expression. Everything was flowing overwhelmingly in his favor. At least within the Iron Blood Family, no variables remained.
Grandfather arriving before the Northern Legion was the decisive stroke. No more obstacles to the grand undertaking.
A cool sigh escaped him, as if a decade's worth of pent-up frustration had finally lifted—a sensation Jang Cheon felt for the first time in his life.
"Seeing it all fall perfectly into place, it feels like the heavens themselves side with you, family head! Hahaha!"
Ignoring Eom Tak's laughter, Jang Cheon rose, clasped his hands behind his back, and approached the window. Gazing down at the Iron Blood Family's expanse filled him with fresh emotion. The day he ruled it all drew near.
The North is no weakling. I, Jang Cheon, will prove that to the world.
He swallowed deeply, quelling the swelling pride in his chest with the chill wind.
"Elder Eom."
"Yes, family head."
"Let's have a drink for once."
"Craving liquor? Looks like you've finally eased your mind! Excellent! I'll drink you under the table tonight if need be! Hahaha!"
Eom Tak, who had risen to elder status in his early fifties—a pinnacle position—laughed boisterously for reasons unknown.
* * *
Jang Un set out with his aged body to aid his grandson Jang Cheon's grand undertaking, fearless and unstoppable. A hundred thousand elite troops followed in his wake.
For this very day, Jang Un had secretly raised these formidable soldiers over decades, unknown to anyone in the North. He named them the Jecheon Army.
Now, joining Jang Cheon at their head would guarantee the undertaking's success beyond doubt.
Jang Un ordered a brief rest for his weary troops, who had marched without pause. Even their pleas to rest at the Iron Blood Family fell on deaf ears.
With only half a day's march left, who would dare block a hundred thousand elites? Jang Un brimmed with such confidence.
Wetting his throat with wine from an attendant, he stared north toward the Iron Blood Family.
"We should have done this long ago..."
More than anyone, Jang Un had resented Jang Cheon yielding twice to the unforeseen upstart Yeon-hoo.
"The North finally has a proper lord. Henceforth, none in the world will dare belittle us. Isn't that what every Northerner has dreamed of?"
Emotion welled in his aged eyes. He had dreamed of a mighty North above all—and believed only Jang Cheon could forge it.
With that day now within reach, Jang Un smiled in utter satisfaction.
"Bring more wine."
"Old lord, you've already finished a bottle."
"Fool, we're half a day from arrival—what's to worry? Fetch it quick."
"...Yes."
Jang Un lifted the grudgingly offered bottle to his lips.
That was when it happened.
Screee!
A sharp whistle pierced the air—from who knew where.
Jang Un set down the bottle, furrowing his brow.
"What was that sound?"
"Argh!"
A agonized death cry erupted nearby. Turning toward it, Jang Un's eyes locked on a warrior crumpling with an arrow through his skull.
" felled by a mere arrow..."
"Old lord! Enemy ambush!"
Rustle!
His guards swiftly encircled him.
Thud!
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
Screams burst simultaneously from all sides.
"Enemies! Ambush!"
Dong-dong-dong!
* * *
Whoooosh!
"What the hell is that?!"
Warriors on the Jecheon Army's outskirts gaped wide-eyed. The pleasant breeze had suddenly turned sickly pale green.
The eerie phenomenon soon heralded tragedy.
"Gahk!"
"Cough!"
Those caught in its path clutched their throats, writhing before collapsing one by one.
Realizing it was poison smoke, the others fled against the wind, throwing one thousand-man unit into chaos.
"Poison! Evade!"
"Fire nets! Deploy fire nets!"
"Fire nets! Spread the fire nets!"
The special substance that burned poison—fire nets—cleared the pale haze back to colorless air.
"Enemies in ambush in the woods! Charge in and hunt them down!"
"Search the forest!"
Hundreds of Jecheon troops surged into the woods. Watching with a troubled frown was Yuksoon.
"Who knew these bastards carried something as precious as fire nets. Tsk. This complicates things..."
* * *
A Jecheon Army thousand commander was a post only peak experts could attain. Ho Jung Cheon was one such.
Renowned for his prowess among them and favored by Jang Un, he led the vanguard—everyone's dream.
Resting at the front, Ho Jung Cheon tilted his head at a faint cry carried on the wind, glancing back.
"What was that noise?"
"Did you hear something?"
"Sounded like screams..."
His unit rested at the army's foremost point, far from the rear. Even a peak expert like him couldn't confirm it.
"Who'd dare attack the Jecheon Army? Probably birds scattering."
No sooner had his hundred commander spoken than a clear human scream rang out.
"Argh!"
Not birds—right nearby.
Flash!
Ho Jung Cheon glimpsed a streak slicing through the air. His hand instinctively drew his sword.
Clang!
Thud!
"Argh!"
Blood splashed his face. His close aide's head exploded like a melon.
Kaboom!
Thuds!
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
"Enemies! They've appeared!"
"Left flank!"
"Right side!"
Ho Jung Cheon wiped the blood from his face and scanned the woods left and right. Blocked by allies, he kicked off the ground and leaped high.
There they were—about ten attackers each side. Outnumbered, yet fierce as tigers among sheep.
"Hand over your skulls, you bastards!"
"You dare stink up our turf?!"
"Come on! I'll chew you all up! Heh heh heh!"
Infusing his voice with power, Ho Jung Cheon bellowed.
"Hold your ground! Second line, reform ranks and reinforce the front! Hurry!"
"Hurry? What's the rush?"
"...!"
A thick voice from behind.
Whirrr!
Ho Jung Cheon twisted reflexively at the wind behind him, pouring all his strength into retreating.
Whoosh!
A thin red line traced from his brow to chin. He'd nearly been bisected, but he retreated further without pause.
A massive axe hurtled like lightning, tracking his path perfectly.
Judging evasion impossible, he swung his sword with full force.
Boom!
"Guh!"
A groan escaped him—his last.
Splat!
The axe shattered his head beyond recognition.
Bu Cha emerged, grinning demonically through blood.
"When the King of Hell asks, tell him Vice Commander Bu Cha of the Demon Corps sends his regards. Heh heh heh."
"Commander! Behind! Behind!"
A desperate shout rang out. Bu Cha spun like a top, axe cleaving air.
Splat!
"Argh!"
A hundred commander, witnessing Ho Jung Cheon's death, lunged from behind—only for his chest to split horrifically.
"Pah! Worthless scum!"
That was when it came.
Retreat from here.
Baek Mu Yeong's transmission voice pierced Bu Cha's ear. Bu Cha bellowed aloud.
"Can't we kill more?!"
Lord's command.
"...Yes."
Bu Cha bellowed again, reluctantly.
"Demon Corps! Withdraw!"
Moments later, Bu Cha and the Demon Corps vanished into the woods like raging tigers.
Ho Jung Cheon's unit, battered in the brief clash, stood dazed as if bewitched.
"Why... the Demon Corps..."