Chapter 99 - Blood Wind (5)
Upon hearing the news of Jang Hoe's death, Jang Cheon trembled with grief and rage for a long while.
"Yeon-hoo, you bastard...."
Blood dripped from his lips where his teeth had bitten deep, and his bloodshot eyes shook violently, as if on the verge of shedding bloody tears.
He had been Jang Cheon's cousin, with whom he'd spent his entire life—a splendid comrade, sometimes a friend, and more loyal than anyone. To think that such a man had met a gruesome end, his body not even properly recoverable... Jang Cheon's heart felt like it was collapsing.
The atmosphere in the hall was one of utter gloom. Everyone bit their lips, breathing heavily amid their shared sorrow and fury. They could only watch Jang Cheon in his anguish, knowing full well that no words of comfort would suffice.
The wave of grief and rage dragged on for quite some time. After about fifteen minutes had passed,
"Family head, a messenger has arrived."
At the voice drifting in from outside, Eom Tak rose and opened the doors of the grand hall. There stood the messenger sent by Jang Un.
"Tell me the contents."
"No, I'll hear it myself."
Jang Cheon finally spoke. As Eom Tak stepped aside, the messenger strode forward and dropped to one knee before him.
"The elder has dispatched five thousand elite troops first. He instructs you to use them to guard the rear and prepare for enemy ambushes."
"Just five thousand?"
"Well, now."
The assembly stirred uneasily. From an army of one hundred thousand, sending a mere five thousand ahead was enough to raise eyebrows for anyone.
"Quiet."
Jang Cheon raised his hand, and the murmurs died down. He turned to the messenger.
"Is the enemy ambush so fierce that it's tying down the entire one hundred thousand?"
"It's not just the ambush. We've received word that thirty thousand troops led by Ma Ui Tae from the south are advancing northward at high speed. It's confirmed they've already inflicted heavy losses on our supply trains trailing behind. Thus, the elder has ordered them blocked from advancing further, and five thousand troops have sortied separately to intercept."
"...!"
Jang Cheon's face hardened. The hall buzzed once more.
"It's definitely the Southern Defense Army?"
"Yes, confirmed as the Southern Defense Army. They clearly identified Ma Ui Tae himself leading the vanguard."
Crack.
The armrest of Jang Cheon's throne snapped off and clattered to the floor. Thick veins bulged on the back of his trembling hand.
'Ma Ui Tae... so he's finally sided with that bastard?'
He had preemptively sent letters threatening the families in the Iron Blood Family stronghold. Yet for them to mobilize so swiftly...
Eom Tak stepped forward.
"The Jecheon Army's advance is delayed beyond expectations. With the Northern Legion potentially striking at any moment, it would be wise to have the five thousand elites swiftly fortify defenses around the Iron Blood Family."
"Indeed. This place is optimized for defense—even five thousand elites could hold off the Northern Legion for days!"
Everyone voiced their agreement.
Jang Cheon's insides boiled. Just moments ago, he'd been confident there were no more variables, but Yeon-hoo's ambush had stalled the Jecheon Army, and now the Southern Defense Army's emergence was shifting the momentum strangely.
"Where have the five thousand elites reached by now?"
"They should be nearly here. Then, with your leave, I'll withdraw."
"Wait."
The messenger, rising to depart, knelt once more.
"Tell my grandfather that his worthless grandson apologizes for failing to assist him, and to please preserve your noble self."
"Understood."
As the messenger departed, Eom Tak stood.
"I'll go greet the elites. How should we deploy them?"
"Bring the unit commander first. We'll discuss deployment with him."
"Understood."
Eom Tak exited the hall, and Jang Cheon sank deep into his throne, closing his eyes.
'If Ma Ui Tae is moving, I should have received word from our people in the Southern Defense Army long ago...'
No contact from the family's men there—not even once. Jang Cheon had overlooked this until now.
It was the moment when an ominous premonition began to rear its head deep within him.
* * *
Whoosh!
"Damn this rain!"
Eom Tak pushed through the relentless downpour and ascended the watchtower beside the Iron Blood Family's main gate. From there, he gazed down the official road leading to the stronghold.
The five thousand elites were not yet in sight.
A close aide who had climbed with him remarked,
"I thought everything was going too smoothly, but it seems we'll face a crisis after all."
"It's a fine chance to test if Jang family head has what it takes to lead the north."
"Pardon? What do you—"
"Here they come."
The aide, puzzled by Eom Tak's cryptic words, turned his gaze forward. Troops were charging through the darkness.
"Let's go down."
Eom Tak descended the tower at once and headed to the stockade at the road's end. Jang Cheon had erected sturdy stockades along the approach to the Iron Blood Family as a precaution, manned tightly by his supporters.
As Eom Tak approached, a middle-aged man shouted,
"Elder! Armed troops are approaching!"
"These are the elites from the Jecheon Army sent by the elder—open the gate!"
"Pardon? We received no such orders."
"The elder's messenger just left. The family head approved it himself—open the gate now!"
"Yes!"
Creeeak...
The sturdy stockade, rivaling a castle gate, slowly parted left and right.
Eom Tak watched the approaching troops through the rain, a pleased smile on his lips.
"The cream of the crop, indeed—their momentum is extraordinary. Heh heh heh."
"Something feels off."
"You think they look like enemies?"
"It's just... trusting the messenger's word alone to confirm they're from the elder bothers me. What if Yeon-hoo's side disguised one as a messenger to deceive us...?"
"That's your problem. Always handling things like fragile glass—how can you achieve great things that way? No wonder you're lagging behind your peers. Tsk tsk tsk."
"......"
Thud!
The fully opened stockade halted with a heavy boom. By then, the troops were nearly upon them.
That was when Eom Tak's confident gaze shifted.
'Too... fast!'
At this distance, they should have slowed. But they seemed only to accelerate.
"...Too fast!"
his aide cried. Eom Tak shouted simultaneously,
"Close the stockade! Hurry!"
The warriors rushed to the open gates' sides. Then—
Thwip!
A sharp whistle cut the air. Eom Tak spotted the arrow slicing through the dark, erecting his body-protecting aura and drawing his sword. But the arrow veered suddenly, piercing another's forehead.
Thunk!
"Argh!"
"Sound the alarm!"
"Enemies! Ring the alarm now!"
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The clamor shattered the night's silence. Eom Tak's face twisted in horror.
'Fallen for such an obvious trick...'
Crash!
"Arghhh!"
"Gaaah!"
The lead cavalry smashed through the stockade, felling the defenders in sprays of blood. Then one hurtled toward Eom Tak. His face twisted again upon recognition—the messenger from the hall.
Sneer.
"You opened the gates so nicely for us. Whatever shall I do to thank you?"
The grinning "messenger" was none other than Bu Cha, vice-commander of the Demon Corps. In his right hand swung not the Jecheon Army banner, but a massive axe. Trailing him were not Jecheon elites, but Sin Hwi's five thousand Blood King Army.
And at their fore rode Sin Hwi.
Whoosh!
He leaped from his warhorse, landing before Eom Tak.
"He's not your opponent, Bu Cha."
"I could smash his skull!"
"Stand down."
"Tch!"
Bu Cha retreated with a grumble, charging the others like an enraged bull. Sin Hwi advanced on Eom Tak.
Eom Tak raised his sword, pointing it at Sin Hwi as he bellowed,
"Sent by Yeon-hoo?"
"Why else would I be here? And..."
Hiss...
Crack!
The rain around Sin Hwi froze in an instant. Eom Tak recoiled from the terrifying yin energy.
"You should have called him my lord."
Whoosh!
* * *
Dong! Dong! Dong!
At the sudden clamor, Jang Cheon and the others leaped up, rushing to the windows.
Clang!
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Roars, clashes of metal, and agonized screams piercing the rain hardened Jang Cheon's expression.
'No way...'
He recalled the recent messenger. Realization dawned, twisting his face.
Someone shouted,
"Looks like the Northern Legion's here!"
"Impossible for them to arrive so soon!"
"Then who the hell are they?!"
Bang!
Shatter!
Jang Cheon smashed the window with his fist and roared,
"Stop panicking and prepare for the enemy attack at once!"
Everyone hurriedly fled the hall. Jang Cheon followed with his guards.
His troops were assembling near the main gate. Jang Cheon hastened there, climbing the wall to survey the breached stockade where combat raged.
Tremble...
Unbelief shook his eyes. In that short time, the stockade had fallen, its defenders fleeing in disarray.
'Even with Elder Eom there... how did they breach so fast?'
Then, someone approached the gate leisurely. Sin Hwi.
"Gasp!"
"Elder Eom's down...?"
Many around Jang Cheon gasped in shock, seeing Eom Tak's severed head in Sin Hwi's grasp.
Sin Hwi strode within throwing range, looking up with utmost calm.
"Hey, which of you up there is Jang Cheon?"