Book 29 Chapter 7

The wheels of war begin to turn

—The anguish of Yeomdo and Binggeom

Flap!

A hawk with large wings folded its wings and landed on a woman's arm.

"Good. You did well, Sahyeok."

Gahyorin, the fourth of the Shinma Palsseonja, gently stroked the feathers of Sahyeok, one of the many carrier pigeons she raised at home, and smiled faintly.

"It's from Yukmae. Let's see, let's see."

However, as soon as she detached the message tube tied to the leg of the carrier pigeon that had landed and glanced at it, another carrier pigeon landed as if it had been waiting. Judging by its appearance, it wasn't sent from the main family, nor from her sisters.

"Why is the Alliance's carrier pigeon here?"

Syaaeaeaeak!

Without waiting for Sahyeok to fly away, the Alliance's carrier pigeon descended towards Gahyorin. Gahyorin quickly sent Sahyeok away and extended her arm to receive the Alliance's carrier pigeon.

"You rascal, you need to wait your turn."

Gahyorin chided the descending carrier pigeon and then took out the message from the message tube and began to read it.

And a moment later.

After finishing the message, the fourth daughter, Gahyorin, waved her hand urgently and started running.

"Unnie! Unnie! Third Unnie!"

"Why are you making such a fuss, Sa-mae?"

Third sister Gahyo-hye, who spotted her fourth sister, asked with a glint in her clear eyes.

"I just received word from Yukmae."

"She said the bait was well-placed?"

"Yes, they're going to pursue them from now on."

"Right, as expected of Min, she handles things flawlessly."

However, that wasn't all Gahyo-hye had to hear.

"More importantly, Gwangcheon has moved! Towards Mudang!"

Even Gahyo-hye, known as Yeo Jegal, seemed quite surprised by this, as if she hadn't expected it.

"The Sibcheongun (Ten Great Generals), you mean?"

"Yes."

"How could this be without the approval of the second son, the Daebukcheonjang? Who decided on a full-scale war? Did the elders arbitrarily overstep their authority?"

Gahyorin's expression darkened.

"Well… it was approved by the Hukcheon Ssangryongin…"

Gahyo-hye snorted as if she couldn't believe it and said,

"After our eldest brother passed away and our father, the Taesang Maengju, is gone, who dares to use the Hukcheon Ssangryongin, the seal of the Maengju… Only someone in that position… Ah, could it be him…?"

Gahyorin, who had been fiddling with the message while watching the anger spread across her third sister's face, hesitated.

"Well… well…"

Even the fearless and rebellious twin fox sisters were afraid of this third sister. She knew how much deeper her sister's smile would become if she revealed it, so she found it very awkward to show it.

"So, it's the Macheongakju, isn't it?"

After hesitating for a long time, Gahyorin widened her eyes and retorted,

"…Unnie, how did you know? That's right, Macheongakju-nim is temporarily…"

"Temporarily what? You're frustrating, give it here."

"H-here…"

Hesitantly and awkwardly, Gahyorin extended the message forward, and Gahyo-hye snatched it away.

A moment later…

"Hehehe… Hehehehehe!"

A seductive smile bloomed on Gahyo-hye's face. It was an incredibly bright smile that had started to appear frequently lately. Gahyorin even found her sister frightening.

"Never mind that Macheongakju, whose inner thoughts are unfathomable. Even the elders seem to have lost their minds. To decide on such an important matter in the absence of the Taesang Maengju! And to deliver news with just one message when our mothers are here?"

Hyorin knew well that a great anger was simmering behind that beaming smile.

"Well, I don't know, Unnie."

"Heh, if they want post-mortem approval, they should receive post-mortem approval."

When she said "post-mortem approval," the laughter blossomed even more, reaching its peak. Hyorin had never seen anyone who had offended her third sister's temper and not suffered afterward.

"Let's resolve the post-mortem approval issue at the Alliance. A full-scale war…"

'If it's for my brother's revenge, I could even annihilate this Baengdo, but this sudden movement is unsettling.'

Gahyo-hye frowned, sensing another unseen hand at play.

However, at that moment, no matter how much she pondered, there was nothing clear about it.

"Macheongakju Euncheonpleak, was he always this hasty?"

The Macheongakju Euncheonpleak she knew was, as his name suggested, like a lightning bolt flashing intermittently from a thickly cast dark cloud. He was unfathomable, and there was no one else who could exert such influence, but he was by no means someone who would move so recklessly like this.

"What a coincidence that the temporary Maengju is him…"

Of course, his abilities were outstanding. Her eldest brother, the Hukcheon Maengju, Gal Jungcheon, even called him teacher and showed him respect, so that spoke volumes.

However, if asked if he was trustworthy, Gahyo-hye couldn't help but tilt her head.

After all, she had never seen his true face even once.

"Have you seen what's under the mask?"

The face beneath the Macheongakju's mask was a matter of utmost interest to both the Hukdo and Baengdo, so Gahyo-hye had once asked her father, Musinma Gal Jungheok, about it.

"Of course. Not just me, but your eldest brother has also seen it."

"What was it like?"

The answer then was,

"You'd rather not see it."

"Is it that terrible?"

"No, it's quite the opposite."

"Opposite?"

"Yes, he's an incredibly handsome man, so beautiful that Song Ok and Ban An would weep."

"W-what? You're joking, right?"

"Hahaha, is it a joke or the truth?"

"Besides, even if that were true, it was a story from a hundred years ago. He must be old by now, right?"

"Hahaha. Well, is he old, or not old?"

What was the meaning of those words?

Gahyo-hye was still confused as to whether her father's words were a joke or the truth.

Although those two might have seen it, she herself had not. She had only heard about it. She couldn't trust someone who didn't show their true face. Especially as a leader, as their head, and as a replacement for her father, Gal Jungcheon.

Even though the word "temporary" was attached, war could be considered an extreme emergency within emergencies. It was unknown when and under what pretext the two words "temporary" would be removed.

'How dare he…! That position already has an owner! An owner designated long ago!'

Even the Macheongakju could not be given the Maengju seat. Moreover, it was too dangerous for the Macheongakju to also serve as the Hukcheon Maengju because there would be no checks and balances, making it impossible to stop him later.

'I cannot easily give that position to anyone else.'

She had raised someone as a king's talent since childhood. In terms of talent, he was a genius among geniuses, surpassing even her brother Gal Jungcheon.

Because he had no desire for power and was considerate of his elder brother, he was currently in hiding, but if they were looking for the next Hukcheon Maengju, the only person who could fill that position was the one she had nurtured as a leader since childhood.

'Is it finally time? Time to call the second son!'

She had been waiting all along.

For a guide who would lead them to Na Baekcheon, who had hidden himself so well.

For the time when that guide would finally lead them to their sworn enemy.

For the time when they could plunge a sword into the enemy's heart.

And for the day when the king's talent she had nurtured would ascend to the pinnacle of the martial world.

Meanwhile, Yeomdo and Binggeom, who were held captive nearby, couldn't help but be surprised by their conversation.

How could they not know about the Sibcheongun! And Gwangcheon!

The meaning of Gwangcheon's advance, they knew its true meaning all too well. That was why their voices, unable to hide their agitation, were trembling faintly.

"Where is Gwangcheon heading then?"

Binggeom's voice was very serious. At first glance, his expression seemed to maintain composure, but that was merely a superficial phenomenon due to the effect of the Binggyeol Simbeop. A great storm of unease was raging in his heart.

"Are you truly asking because you don't know, or are you asking because you do know?"

Gahyo-hye's question, still with a smile, made Binggeom's brow furrow.

"It's Mudang, isn't it?"

Gahyo-hye smiled again and said,

"Wouldn't it be anywhere else?"

Binggeom's face contorted in despair.

'I thought it was unlikely, but I hoped it wouldn't be that place…'

If Gwangcheon had been mobilized to pursue Na Baekcheon, the Jeongcheon Maengju, who was currently being chased, they would not have been this desperately disheartened. The meaning of this series of armed actions was that significant.

"A blood wind will sweep through the martial world."

'Do I have to see that horrific sight with my own eyes?'

Binggeom sighed deeply and muttered.

"Sigh, how pathetic."

It was a dejected tone filled with a sense of powerlessness.

"Hey, Ice Pop! Did the sky fall or the ground collapse? You, who normally wouldn't even bat an eyebrow if the sky fell, why the sigh? Bad luck. Don't rest!"

Yeomdo, who was being held captive next to him, asked in a gruff tone.

"Who are you calling Ice Pop? You're the one walking around with a red face. Don't you think you're pathetic?"

Yeomdo shook his head seriously.

"Me? No."

Perhaps it was because he had spent too much time with Bilyeon, but Yeomdo's face had become incredibly thick-skinned.

"Hmph…"

He had nothing else to say when she shamelessly pretended not to know. Binggeom, who suddenly couldn't stand it, yelled,

"You might not think you're pathetic, but I think I am. Are you satisfied now?!"

"No, why are you yelling like that today, Ice Pop? You're going to scare me to death!"

Yeomdo frowned and opened his mouth as if he couldn't believe it.

"Hey, Ice Pop! I hate you, but I've never thought you were pathetic. You're just a damn bastard."

It seemed like he was trying to comfort him, but Binggeom was dumbfounded.

"Are you calling that comfort? Or is it just plain teasing?"

"Of course it's teasing."

Yeomdo spat out curtly, as if asking why he was asking such a thing.

"Pathetic, truly pathetic. To be tied up and unable to do anything at such a crucial moment, when the fate of the martial world is at a crossroads! If that's not pathetic, then what is?"

To Binggeom's grumbling lament, Yeomdo retorted,

"Wait! That means I'm pathetic too, just like you!"

"Of course. You've always been pathetic. There's nothing new about it now, is there? But I'm different. I'm different!"

"You bastard! If these ropes were untied, I'd kill you!"

Yeomdo wished the ropes binding his hands were gone.

"I've heard you say that a hundred times, but I'm still alive. Such bravado."

Hearing Binggeom's retort, Yeomdo struggled and roared while bound by the Yeo Isak.

"You bastard! You bastard! You bastard!"

Pak! Pak! Pak!

Thinking that necessity is the mother of invention, Yeomdo kicked with his bound feet.

But it was short.

Sadly, the range of motion for his legs was short, so his angry kicks couldn't reach his opponent.

Although not as tightly bound as his hands, his legs were tied so they couldn't spread wider than shoulder-width, making Yeomdo's kicks look pathetic. Binggeom, with a pathetic expression, dodged Yeomdo's short kicks with Banwolbo.

"How is it? Will you stop? It's unsightly. Seeing your pathetic state, I think I can forgive myself now."

Yeomdo exhaled sharply and shouted,

"Just you wait!"

"Anytime. I'll accept it anytime the ropes are untied."

By now, Binggeom seemed to have fully recovered his energy.

"Yes, if these ropes were untied…"

The problem, of course, was the Yeo Isak that bound their bodies tightly. As long as this remained, there was not the slightest change in their powerlessness. In this state, they would be mere obstacles, not masters of history.

This was not what their respected master had wished for them.

To become guides of history. To be those who measured the river of history so that the tide of history could flow in the right direction. And to be those who prevented this martial world from going down the wrong path at crucial moments, that was what the master had wished for them.

But they were still stripped of their freedom and in the palm of Gahyo-hye, the Sibjiseonnyeo.

'What a disgraceful sight! How pathetic our retired master would find this!'

Binggeom lamented inwardly again.

'Damn it! With this, I can't face our master's spirit in the afterlife!'

Yeomdo couldn't help but lament inwardly.

Yeomdo and Binggeom's eyes met. In an instant, with a flash like lightning, a miraculous understanding occurred between the two who were like enemies.

'Do you have a good idea?'

'Yes. What do you say?'

'…I don't believe you.'

The deep river of distrust was not easily dried up. Still, the two were in a situation where they had to try to resolve their conflicts and distrust.

'Believe me, there really is. Thanks to our young master, I learned something. Do you want to do it?'

'Alright. Let's do it.'

'Good. Annoyingly, just this once.'

'That's what I should say. Joining forces with you is a humiliation I only need once in my life!'

'What, you ice pop!'

'Do you want to try, fire pop?'

Just as the seeds of conflict were about to sprout again.

'Let's stop. Anyway, just this once.'

'Of course! Who would do this twice!'

Yeomdo and Binggeom succeeded in compromising to the best of their ability. They had to stop enduring such a shameful situation and being dragged around like dogs, so the negotiation was dramatically concluded.

It was a historic moment when ice and fire, two people, were about to join forces for the first time in their lives. That is, if it went well.

When you try to do something unfamiliar, it often goes wrong.