Chronicles of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 97: Blood Wind (3)
The Jecheon Army lay ravaged by a ferocious gale. Over a hundred soldiers had fallen to the unexpected ambush, including two Thousand Commanders and five Hundred Commanders. For an army of a hundred thousand, it was negligible damage—but considering the size of the raiding force, it was considerable.
That wasn't all. Spotting smoke rising from the peaks ahead, Jang Un confirmed enemy ambushes in the mountains and immediately ordered three combat units to attack. He also shifted the vanguard from marching formation to defensive, bracing for follow-up strikes. This derailed their original plan to arrive in half a day—precisely what Yeon-hoo wanted.
But he wasn't satisfied. "This isn't nearly enough."
"Shall we hit them again?"
"They've been burned once. It won't be as effective. We need a different approach."
Yeon-hoo glanced at the sky as he spoke. Everyone instinctively followed his gaze. The heavens were a piercing blue, the sun blindingly fierce. A cool breeze swept through—weather utterly unfit for a blood-soaked battle.
Then came words that stunned them all from Yeon-hoo's lips. "A fire attack would be perfect."
"My lord! In this weather, setting fires will turn the whole world into an inferno! And with the wind at the enemy's back, the flames won't reach them—they'll sweep toward our northern mountains instead!" Sama Song leaped up in alarm.
But Cheol-u and Baek Mu Yeong nodded silently, aligning with Yeon-hoo's judgment.
That was when it happened. "The wind will shift soon, bringing rain. Of course, we'll have to endure the fire damage for about two hours."
All eyes turned to Dongbang Ri. Admiration flickered in Yeon-hoo's gaze. She has this talent too?
Yeon-hoo shared her certainty. Otherwise, he never would have considered fire. As Sama Song said, it could engulf everything.
Sama Song asked Dongbang Ri, "......Have you studied the heavens?"
She nodded quietly and fixed her eyes on Yeon-hoo. "Did you see it yourself?"
"I did."
"Then let's begin."
"My lord! Are you truly certain?"
"If our ancestors' wisdom holds true, rain will pour in two hours. The wind will change before that. Actually, it's already shifting."
As Yeon-hoo said, the breeze now blew from behind them. He slowly scanned the group. "You might die in agony, denied even hell. Still willing?"
"If it's your will, my lord, we obey."
"Just give the order, my lord."
Bu Cha went further. Whoosh! "I'm dying to see what's worse than hell. Heh heh heh."
"Kee hee hee."
"Kuh ku ku!"
The entire Demon Corps laughed.
Yeon-hoo turned toward the Jecheon Army. Nearly ten thousand troops were already charging toward the mountain base.
"Set the fires, then regroup at the cave."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Got it!"
They kicked off the ground and soared away. Yeon-hoo watched their wind-like descent, his eyes hardening. His command had been resolute, but his heart was far from calm. A fire attack at this juncture was that difficult a choice.
Yes. A place worse than hell might be worth seeing.
Shing.
Yeon-hoo drew his sword. He planned not to set fires himself, but to target high-ranking foes among those plunging into the mountains.
"You're there. Come out."
Cheol-u emerged from the left forest. He'd anticipated this and stayed behind instead of setting fires.
"Don't overdo it."
"Yes."
"Then let's start."
"My lord, look there."
Cheol-u pointed north. At the pass toward the Jecheon Army's position, a group of riders hurtled like a gale.
Yeon-hoo's eyes flashed. "Jang Cheon's brother, I think."
"Yes. That's him. Probably coming to greet the main force."
"I'll take him."
"Be careful."
"Don't overdo it, I said."
Yeon-hoo smirked. "As long as you live, my lord, I won't die."
* * *
"Looks like a big fire!"
"Whoa! Check out that smoke!"
The Iron Blood Family members gawked in shock at the smoke-choked southwestern sky. The sheer scale suggested an unimaginable blaze.
Jang Cheon watched too. His eyes, fixed on the southwest like storm clouds, clouded over. An inexplicable unease gripped him the moment he saw the smoke-veiled sky.
Grandfather's route...
Then Eom Tak entered. About to mention the sky, he saw Jang Cheon already staring and approached. "It's a major fire."
"Send a lightness expert to scout."
"I already did, since it's on the route with the old lord and the army. No need to worry. Who would dare attack the hundred-thousand-strong Jecheon Army?"
Jang Cheon nodded silently. But the unease lingered. What troubled him more was how rarely such instincts proved wrong.
Yeon-hoo's face naturally surfaced. No. Even a puffed-up fool couldn't challenge a hundred thousand with mere dozens.
That was when it happened. Crack.
Unconsciously gripping too hard, his teacup shattered, staining his sleeve. Jang Cheon's eyes wavered.
* * *
Thud thud thud!
Jang Hoe raced like the wind. Fifty guards trailed him. He smiled at the curving ridge ahead. Just beyond, his grandfather Jang Un and the Jecheon Army awaited—he yearned to reach them faster.
For this moment, we secretly raised the Jecheon Army over long years. I dare say even the Northern Legion can't match them. Heh heh heh.
Thud thud thud!
As if sensing his excitement, Jang Hoe's horse galloped faster than usual. Pleased, he stroked its mane. "Good boy. I'll feed you all the beans you want later—give it a bit more!"
Thud thud thud!
In his elation, Jang Hoe didn't notice the growing gap with his guards.
"Slow down, sir!"
Only at a guard's shout did he realize he'd surged ahead and gently reined in.
Right then, the brush ahead rustled, and someone emerged.
"......!"
Jang Hoe's eyes widened. It was Yeon-hoo.
Jang Hoe was an expert too. The instant he spotted Yeon-hoo, he vaulted into the air—not toward him, but back to his approaching guards.
A cold sneer curled Yeon-hoo's lips. "Wise choice. But......"
Flash!
His sword flew from his hand. Imperial Flight Swordsmanship—the domain of Absolute Realm masters—unfolded.
Jang Hoe sensed the chilling aura at his back and whipped around. Spotting the sword hurtling at impossible speed, he twisted midair and swung his own blade desperately.
Clang!
By a hair's breadth, Yeon-hoo's sword was blocked. But rebounding amid sparks, it didn't fall—instead, like a living thing, it looped back for Jang Hoe.
"Ambush!"
"Abandon the horses—use lightness skill!"
His guards leaped skyward simultaneously. But Yeon-hoo was faster. While Jang Hoe parried the sword, he'd closed in right before him.
"......!"
"Go wait ahead. See how many follow you to hell."
Thud!
Yeon-hoo's hand pierced Jang Hoe's chest.
"Gurgle......"
Jang Hoe choked, dying suspended in air. Yeon-hoo's sword then cleaved his body vertically.
Thud! Splatter!
Yeon-hoo coldly shouted at the charging guards. "Tell Jang Cheon this: He'll see hell soon—keep his eyes wide open."
* * *
Pour......
As dusk fell, rain began pouring. Until moments ago, the sky had been clear, so women rushed out to gather laundry. Farmers scrambled to cover fodder lest it soak. Children hurried home from play.
Rumble. Crackle!
The downpour soon brought thunder and lightning, raging fiercely. The flames devouring vegetation couldn't withstand it and gradually died out.
The Jecheon Army under Jang Un sighed in relief at the fading blaze. They still hadn't entered half-day range—no, they'd retreated ten li from their rest plain.
The fire had been that fierce, claiming dozens of supply wagons, hundreds of oxen, mules, and horses.
Shiver......
Jang Un's eyes trembled. A fire attack was utterly unforeseen. No matter how vital the lord's seat, torching an entire city was something anyone would hesitate to do.
Even more shocking: rain fell just before the flames spread to the dense mountains.
Mastery over nature's harmony too?
Jang Un never believed the tale of ancient Shu's strategist Zhuge Liang using wind and fire at Red Cliffs with Zhou Yu to rout Cao Cao's army. If true, it was mere luck.
"How old is the young master of the Lead Province?"
"Not sure exactly, but under thirty."
Rumble. Crackle!
Thunder crashed fiercer.
"Old lord, we've delayed too long. With the fire out, we must advance."
"Sound the advance horn."
"Advance! He's ordering advance!"
Bwoooong!
The Jecheon Army marched again. The ground had turned to mud; even dry patches sank to ankles, slowing them.
How far had they gone?
"Old lord!"
A man burst through the guards from the forest—one of Jang Hoe's. He knelt, head bowed. "The Chief Steward...... the Chief Steward fell to the enemy ambush......"