Chapter 98 - Blood Wind (4)
Shwaaa! The pouring rain didn't just snag the Jecheon Army's ankles. Sin Hwi and his five thousand troops charging toward Yeon-hoo were also drastically slowed by the sudden downpour.
"General! The horses are exhausted! Shall we rest a moment?"
"Our lord awaits."
"……."
That single phrase silenced any objections. To them all, Yeon-hoo was the heavens—more than that.
Sin Hwi narrowed his eyes, staring ahead.
'That was a massive blaze... Please, let it not be a fire from battle...'
Just before the torrent began, the sky had been thick with smoke. Fearing Yeon-hoo might have clashed with Jang Cheon's forces, he'd already sent his younger brother Sin U ahead to scout.
Rumble! Crackle!
Lightning webbed across the sky overhead. When it pierced the darkness, illuminating the plains ahead, a single rider barreled toward them like a gale—Sin U.
"The deputy commander's returning!"
Sin Hwi prayed to the gods that it wasn't bad news.
"Brother, Jang Un—the old man's grandfather—is marching with a huge army. We captured and interrogated one; their numbers are nearly a hundred thousand."
"A hundred thousand?"
"Yes. They were advancing on the Iron Blood Family when they got hit by a surprise attack. Apparently, Jang Cheon's cousin got killed in the chaos."
"Did our lord launch the ambush?"
"They didn't seem to know that much. Anyway, Jang Un's lost his mind over it."
"Losing a nephew could do that. Still, a hundred thousand... Jang Cheon's gathered quite the force."
Sin Hwi lifted his gaze northward. Only someone with Yeon-hoo's guts would ambush an army that size.
"Little brother."
"Yes, brother."
"Head to the rendezvous first and inform our lord we've arrived."
"Understood. See you there."
Hyah! Thud thud thud!
Sin U spurred north again. Strangely, while other horses slogged through the mud, his seemed utterly unaffected.
Sin Hwi turned back, infusing his voice with inner energy as he bellowed.
"Our lord awaits! Pick up the pace!"
"Blood King Army! Full speed ahead!"
"Full speed!"
Overlooking the Jecheon Army as it resumed its march, Sama Song smiled in satisfaction. The operation had been a resounding success. They'd bought nearly half a day, plus burned a massive haul of supplies and transport.
"If only the rain had held off a bit longer..."
Dongbang Ri voiced her regret.
"No casualties and gains like these? That's a grand triumph, wouldn't you say?"
"True, but..."
Dongbang Ri trailed off, glancing back. For the last incense stick's worth of time, she'd been staring north, lost in thought—not at the Jecheon Army.
"Facing a hundred thousand head-on without a flicker of doubt... Truly remarkable. Heh heh heh."
Sama Song's admiration for Yeon-hoo deepened by the day.
"Our lord doesn't seem satisfied right now."
"...You think so?"
"We haven't heard back from the Northern Legion or Southern Defense Army yet. Even if they replied, we're out here now, so we'd never receive it. Those two are the only ones who can face the Jecheon Army head-on, and with no idea where they stand, half a day feels too short."
"Hm..."
The smile faded from Sama Song's face. She had a point.
'Is he already plotting the next move?'
Sama Song itched to ask Yeon-hoo directly but held back. Something about that stillness felt sacred—unbreakable.
Rumble. Crackle!
Lightning sprawled like a spiderweb, bathing Yeon-hoo in white. He didn't flinch. To Sama Song, he looked like a god general dropped from the heavens, stirring his heart.
Grip!
Sama Song clenched his fist.
'I'll stake my life to aid you, my lord. Overcome this crisis, I beg.'
Then—
Bang!
A firework burst in the night sky. Amid the sheets of rain, it formed a living dragon before fading away.
"What's that?"
"A signal flare, maybe..."
Dongbang Ri watched Yeon-hoo. The man who'd stood motionless finally turned slowly. Sama Song swallowed dryly without realizing.
"Cheol-u."
"Yes, my lord."
"Fetch him."
"Understood."
Cheol-u vanished into the dark. Baek Mu Yeong and the Demon Corps, scattered and awaiting orders, drew near. Their smirks suggested they knew the flare's meaning.
Unable to hold back, Sama Song asked.
"My lord, whose signal was that?"
"Looks like the friends I've been waiting for."
"Ah..."
Moments later, Cheol-u returned with Sin U.
"My lord!"
Sin U dropped to one knee, pressing his right fist to his chest and bowing his head.
"And the others?"
"They're on their way. Now that we've spotted you, another flare and they'll be here in half a shichen."
"Something delayed you. Or you should have come faster."
"Well... We passed the Jang Family estate on the way up and decided to stir up some chaos to muddle Jang Cheon's head. That set us back a bit."
"You attacked the Jang estate?"
"Yes. Just a hit-and-run—nothing serious. The Blood King Army took zero losses."
Yeon-hoo couldn't reprimand them. Hitting the Jang estate would only further tangle Jang Cheon's plans.
"Fire the signal first."
Pheew! Bang!
Another flare lit the night. Sama Song watched, mesmerized. Amid this grim tension, crafting a dragon from fireworks was astonishing.
On the other hand, he wondered.
'Blood King Army... Even the name chills the blood.'
How strong could they be? Everyone Yeon-hoo brought was exceptional. Cheol-u went without saying, and Baek Mu Yeong, Seobaek—they'd proven their prowess firsthand.
Then—
"My lord, look there."
Baek Mu Yeong's voice. Yeon-hoo turned to where he pointed.
A group of riders raced south from the north. Even in pitch black, Yeon-hoo gauged them at around two thousand. They skirted well clear of the advancing Jecheon Army, heading straight here.
Northern Legion? Too few. Yeon-hoo waited until they were close enough for banners.
And soon enough—
Northern Legion banners confirmed it. His brows furrowed. The force was pathetically small.
"My lord! Northern Legion!"
Sama Song shouted excitedly, realizing late. But even he hardened quickly.
"Why so few...? I'll go fetch them!"
Whoosh!
Sama Song leaped into the dark, returning soon with Jang Pae.
"My lord!"
Jang Pae saluted Yeon-hoo crisply.
"How'd you know we were here?"
"Kept scouts active on the way down. Got word this afternoon of a Jecheon Army ambush nearby—figured you'd be here."
"Northwest Murim held you back, I see."
"Yes. I came ahead; the commander’s finding a way to slip their watch before bringing the rest."
Yeon-hoo nodded silently. He understood Yun Hoe's caution. He'd do the same.
"Ah! Commander Ma sent a messenger hawk... He's bringing the Southern Defense Army up. Said you'd go first to aid our lord, and we should secure defenses against Northwest before moving."
Sama Song's eyes widened.
"Commander Ma truly said that?"
"Yes, family head. I saw the note myself—crystal clear."
"My lord! That's it! With the Southern Defense Army too, we can crush those insolent dogs!"
Sama Song couldn't contain his emotion, eyes reddening. Dongbang Ri exhaled in deep relief.
Yeon-hoo glanced south. In the night sky, he faintly pictured Ma Ui Tae's stubbornly honorable face.
'With this, I forgive all disloyalty to my father.'
His heart lightened. He'd hidden it for morale's sake, but the hundred thousand had weighed heavily. If they seized the Iron Blood Family and dug in, the war would drag into a protracted siege, victory or not.
The issue lingered. Even a day's delay from the Southern Defense Army made blocking their entry near impossible.
'Need more time.'
That was his focus all along—and he'd found the way. Perfect timing: Blood King Army arrived, Jang Pae with two thousand.
"Cheol-u."
"Yes, my lord."
"Gather everyone."
"Yes."
Cheol-u signaled; all approached Yeon-hoo. He swept his gaze over them slowly before speaking.
"Once the Blood King Army arrives, we launch the interception battle. Remember: we must tie their feet for at least another day to have a chance. Memorize every order I give now."
"Yes!"
"Understood, my lord."
Yeon-hoo's plan was this: In about one shichen, the Jecheon Army would narrow their formation. The path to Iron Blood Family grew steeper and tighter. A detour would add half a day, so they'd stick to the main route.
A narrow, steep path meant a long tail for a hundred thousand. Miles long, no doubt.
Yeon-hoo aimed to exploit that.
"Even a hundred thousand can only commit maybe ten thousand max in tight quarters. We use that."
Detailed orders followed at length. Sama Song marveled throughout.
'Not just buying time—he's planned beyond...'
Yeon-hoo wasn't merely delaying; he eyed something greater. Success could reverse the tide, but failure spelled disaster. Still, Sama Song was certain: Yeon-hoo would succeed.
As orders wrapped, a figure crested through the rain—Sin Hwi.
Yeon-hoo and Sin Hwi's gazes locked across the void. Then, they both smiled.