Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Encounter
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“Make way, make way! This is urgent!”
A young nobleman was sprinting through the labyrinthine corridors stretching between the halls like a maze. He was mounted on a fine steed, a sword strapped to his waist. The dark silk cloak draped over his shoulders fluttered dramatically as he urged his horse to full gallop.
The man’s face was contorted in fury, a stark contrast to his otherwise majestic appearance.
The guards protecting the estate didn’t dare stop him. A messenger could ignore the orders to dismount and unbuckle his sword without issue. Especially since he was direct lineage—no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.
The guards stood frozen in the spot he’d passed, murmuring among themselves.
“Why’s Lord Jeongjun here? I heard he was holding Jeonnyeong.”
“Shandong’s been a mess lately. They say Five Harmony Alliance thugs have snuck in and are causing all sorts of havoc.”
“Heard about it. Three days ago, Seongmu County got hit.”
“Not Jeonnyeong too, surely?”
“No way. That place guards the path to both Gokbu and Jenam.”
Anxiety laced their whispers. Even lowly guards weren’t blind to the clan’s precarious situation.
Huangbo Jeongjun only dismounted upon reaching the Hall of Righteous Truth, the young lord’s office. The steward hurried over in a fluster and took his cloak.
“Is my brother inside?”
“Yes, I’ll send word. Please wait a moment.”
“I have urgent news—no time for formalities!”
He shoved past the protesting steward and stormed inside.
A faint pine scent lingered in the corridor made of red pine. His racing heart calmed slightly. Straightening his robes at the door, Huangbo Jeongjun called out.
“Brother, it’s Jeongjun.”
“Come in.”
With that, the sliding doors parted left and right. Huangbo Jeongjun stepped inside cautiously.
The young lord’s office was spartan. In the vast space, the only furniture was a long table.
Huangbo Myeong, the Mount Tai Giant Bear, sat there reviewing documents without even looking up, greeting his brother indifferently.
“What is it?”
His voice held not a shred of warmth. Huangbo Jeongjun paused, composing himself. He bowed his head, eyes downcast, making himself look as pitiful as possible.
“My apologies. We lost them at Seongmu County.”
It was the tone one used with a superior, not a brother. Huangbo Myeong responded with the contempt reserved for a useless subordinate.
“You came all this way just to report that? They must have scared you pretty bad.”
“N-no! They headed north, so I had to chase them myself—I’m the best rider we have.”
“What did you do with the Shadow Union letter?”
Huangbo Jeongjun’s expression turned grave. He asked suspiciously.
“You didn’t receive it?”
“Receive what?”
“The Shadow Union letter. No reply came no matter how long I waited, so I came myself. I thought there might’ve been a mix-up.”
Huangbo Myeong’s rock-hard face twitched. Unable to hold back, he slammed the table. A deep crack split along the grain.
“Those alliance bastards pulled a trick!”
“We went after their Shadow Union letter, so why wouldn’t they do the same?”
Huangbo Myeong sighed, changing the subject.
“We’ll discuss that later. So, the alliance infiltrators already inside headed north?”
“Yes.”
“They’re aiming for Geya and Dansung, then.”
“Jenam’s in danger too.”
The Huangbo Clan’s forces were spread thin, to keep the Five Harmony Alliance warriors raiding across Shandong in check.
To make matters worse, the Huangbo Patriarch had been summoned to the capital long ago. The Emperor was gathering the heads of rising clans under the pretext of concentrating power.
“And more Five Harmony reinforcements have entered Shandong. Good thing we extended the Heaven’s Net to the edges. We lost several branch members, but it was an acceptable loss.”
“My hunch was right. How many?”
“Two. As you arranged, we sent a letter to mislead them. They’ll fall into the trap soon.”
“Just two? We wasted a big ploy on small fry. I figured at least a dozen.”
Huangbo Myeong ground his teeth. His agitated aura rustled the papers on the table. Ignoring the documents scattering across the floor, he muttered to himself.
“If only I’d brought Master Yeon here to Jenam like I said from the start, none of this would’ve happened...”
Huangbo Myeong clicked his tongue. His clan was mindful of the scorn from the Four Great Houses. If word got out they were oppressing a descendant of the Duke, they’d be branded rootless upstarts forever.
The Patriarch was especially wary of that. He even suspected the Emperor might use them as pawns and discard them.
That’s why they’d compromised by leaving some forces at Gokbu County. The Five Harmony Alliance hadn’t missed the opening.
“Wait—did my order to establish supply lines go through properly?”
“My apologies. It... hasn’t been going well.”
“What? I told you to move supplies from everywhere to Jenam ages ago.”
“The sheer volume has caused all sorts of delays.”
“Those idiots are dragging their feet out of stupid pride. Or the cowards are still testing the waters.”
Normally, escort agencies handled transport. But none would take the Huangbo Clan’s commission, even for a fortune.
They feared getting dragged into war, or they’d bet against the Emperor and rising clans from the start.
This forced them to mobilize not just branches but even private guards. They grumbled about being reduced to lowly porters. That’s why transport lagged.
Some officials dragged their feet too, citing the people’s hardship to avoid trouble.
They feared Prince Yeon. Despite the power gap, many didn’t rule out his victory in the bid for supremacy—thanks to his feats in the north since the previous reign.
Huangbo Myeong closed his eyes, deep in thought. His mind was a whirlwind.
“I’ll have to handle it myself. Time to head to Gokbu County.”
“What about those two who entered Shandong?”
“If they fell for the trap, they’re hitting the wrong spot. Send the ronin we’ve gathered from everywhere. Even if they break through, it doesn’t matter.”
A cruel smile curled Huangbo Myeong’s lips.
“That’s why I’m going to Gokbu. I’ll turn it into their grave.”
“Shouldn’t we inform Father first?”
“Disturb the man summoned to court? Absurd. Handle it swiftly and report cleanly after.”
Huangbo Myeong added firmly.
“You don’t think I’ll lose, do you?”
“Of course not. I know your attainment has reached the Minor Mastery of the Mount Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art.”
Huangbo Myeong’s prowess was top among the rising clans’ younger generation. A true heir to lead the house.
He might’ve matched the alliance’s main forces. But they were focused on seizing Master Yeon.
Huangbo Jeongjun couldn’t imagine the mountain-like figure falling to mere small fry.
“That upstart Yuk Jin-yang’s been making noise lately, but how could he compare to you?”
“Good. Crush the pests rampaging in our territory. You come with me.”
“Understood.”
Huangbo Jeongjun bowed deeply, crying allegiance.
Rain poured all night. The autumn downpour was relentless and venomous, drizzling endlessly without cease.
Yuk Jin-yang flung open the paper-screened doors. Raindrops drummed on the stones under the eaves, ringing clear.
The world was soaked in the furious downpour. Everything gray, thin fog veiling shapes from view.
Rainwater pooled and flowed away. The swirling streams turned the ground to muck. Terrain unfit for long treks, sapping strength quickly.
Yuk Ryul, already up, sighed and muttered.
“Should’ve grabbed some rush hats. It’s really coming down.”
The group set off again. After trudging through rain and fog for a while, faint figures appeared atop a misty ridge—about a dozen, by rough count.
They halted. The others stopped too, eyeing them.
A black-clad warrior in a conical hat stepped forward through the rain. A narrow sword hung at his waist—the assassin’s and ronin’s favored weapon, called the Sparrow Grip Sword.
It was clear these weren’t mere refugees or bandits.
They spoke first.
“Where you from?”
“Seongmu County. You?”
Yuk Jin-yang replied curtly, arrogantly, to gauge their reaction. The black-clad man stroked his chin. Instead of answering, he said something odd.
“Your luck’s good.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ah, my mistake. Just talking to myself. We’re on orders from the Huangbo Clan. Bad luck for you, running into us here. Such a shame.”
The man’s gaze shifted behind them, lingering on the woman in the Imperial Guard uniform. She scowled.
“But it’s not what the report said. No mention of a woman. Which group are you with, miss? Prisoner?”
“...”
“Eh, doesn’t matter. Clear the obstacles first, interrogate later.”
As the black-clad man finished, Yuk Jin-yang kicked off the mud and slid forward like a ghost.
Shlick.
A chilling sword-flash cleaved the pale fog. In an instant, Yuk Jin-yang was behind him, Silver Dew drawn. Blood dripped from the tip.
The man’s head hit the mud belatedly. His comrades froze, mouths agape in shock, eyes locked on Yuk Jin-yang.
Uncle’s jest came from behind.
“Looks like quite a few. Need help?”
“I’ve got this. No worry about wearing myself out on trash like this.”
He dismissed them utterly. Shamed, they flushed and blustered.
“This brat thinks a fast draw makes him invincible.”
“Form the sword formation! Teach him a lesson!”
“Impressive quick-draw, but if you think we’d fear a sneak attack, you’re sorely mistaken.”
Yuk Jin-yang shook his blade, splattering blood on the ground. They flinched back. All talk, no spine. He smirked and declared.
“Yak away while you can. This field will be your graveyard.”