Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Those Targeting Cha Jung-kyeong
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Kyaarung.
The fox bared its fangs at a bird flitting through the air.
“Quiet.”
The blue-robed man stroked the fox’s head and frowned as he turned to the man.
“It’s been days without a single move.”
“We wait until he does.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to act at night?”
“The generals are all peak masters who’ve reached profound realms. Evading all their eyes is no easy task, so no rash ideas.”
The man spoke calmly. But inwardly, he was far from it. It had already been days since they arrived here. Yet Yi Hwan hadn’t budged from his hall the entire time.
‘Still, entering the camp is too risky. No reason to stake our lives on a gamble when we don’t even know if he’s foe or ally.’
The man pulled a sake bottle from his bosom and wet his throat.
That was when it happened.
Rustle.
A presence stirred from the forest behind them.
The man and the blue-robed figure reflexively hid themselves beyond the trees.
Moments later, figures emerged, parting the underbrush.
About ten of them? All clad in Yeon Kingdom army uniforms.
The blue-robed man sent a transmission.
[Zhao Kingdom Black Tiger Squad.]
[You’re sure?]
[Yes. Yeon Kingdom army garb, but the sword ornaments are unmistakably their style. Why would they come this far?]
[Routine patrol, probably.]
[For a patrol, they’ve come too deep.]
[We watch for now.]
The man crossed his arms and stared at the Black Tiger Squad passing by ahead.
That was when it happened.
“Cha Jung-kyeong—did that bastard really steal secret documents from the general’s tent and defect to Yeon?”
“Honestly, I don’t see him having the guts. But the general said so, so we investigate.”
“According to his comrade at the time, when the battle started, he broke off alone in the wrong direction. Looks suspicious enough.”
“Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter. Orders came down to grab him, so we grab him by any means. Kill him if we have to, and complete the mission.”
The blue-robed man glanced at the man, eyes widening slightly at the overheard conversation.
[Must’ve stolen something big.]
[Not our business.]
The presumed Black Tiger Squad passed the pair’s hiding spot and vanished into the forest beyond.
Moments later, the man and the blue-robed figure emerged from the woods and climbed to higher ground. Looking down, they saw the group heading toward the Yeon Kingdom camp.
The man’s gaze darkened as he spoke.
“Did the Black Tiger Squad have guys like that?”
“What is it?”
“They’re no mere soldiers. Every one carried a vicious, murderous aura.”
“You mean sapa experts?”
“Zhao’s been recruiting sapa masters for years now—no surprise. Still, if they get tangled up, it could get messy.”
“Shall we kill them all now?”
The man pondered briefly, then shook his head.
“We watch for now.”
“What if we delay and the Great Prince gets hurt?”
“He’s no easy mark. If my eyes aren’t wrong, he’s...”
The man trailed off.
The blue-robed man asked curiously.
“If your eyes aren’t wrong?”
“...a master even I couldn’t handle.”
“Come on.”
The man flicked the smirking blue-robed man’s forehead.
Smack!
“Still got that habit of judging people lightly. Remember: masters always lurk where we least expect.”
“......Yes.”
“We track their movements. The Great Prince’s tent is isolated from the main camp—if they learn Cha’s there, they’ll make a move for sure.”
“Understood.”
* * *
It was an exceptionally clear morning.
Song Cheon-mu prepared morning tea alongside Cha Jung-kyeong. Cha Jung-kyeong boiled the water while Song Cheon-mu ground the leaves.
Thud thud thud.
Song Cheon-mu’s grinding was uneven. Cha Jung-kyeong spoke up.
“Grind like that, and it’ll taste bitter later. Mix evenly and make it as fine as possible.”
Song Cheon-mu showed no reaction, so Cha Jung-kyeong fell silent.
An awkward silence passed before Song Cheon-mu suddenly asked.
“Heard it was the Black Tiger Squad. How’d you get captured?”
“Ask the Great Prince. He’s the one who nabbed me.”
“Really caught by the Great Prince?”
“You don’t buy the rumors, yet you don’t think it’s far off either?”
“......”
Song Cheon-mu faltered, his thoughts pierced.
Cha Jung-kyeong continued indifferently.
“Yeah. On the battlefield, the Great Prince charged me out of nowhere. I fled and got caught.”
“No thought of resisting?”
Snort.
“You think I went quietly? If so, I’d have bitten my tongue by now. Captured or not, I’ve got some warrior’s pride.”
“No shame in losing to someone stronger?”
“Right.”
‘Doesn’t seem the type.’
Cha Jung-kyeong poured the boiled water into the kettle and approached Song Cheon-mu.
“Needs more grinding.”
“I’m doing it.”
Thud thud thud!
Cha Jung-kyeong stared openly at Song Cheon-mu’s handsome face before blurting out.
“One thing: it’s not just the bad rumors that are wrong—the good ones are off too.”
Song Cheon-mu stopped and met Cha Jung-kyeong’s eyes.
“What’s that mean?”
“The day I was captured, word is a few Black Tiger Squad died by the Great Prince’s hand—but that’s not it. A good number fell to him, even some of their top elites.”
That was when it happened.
Song Hoe’s voice drifted in.
“Tea ready yet?”
“Almost done!”
Cha Jung-kyeong scooped the ground leaves into the pot and stood, adding one more line.
“Breakfast right after tea, so wash the rice.”
Song Cheon-mu watched Cha Jung-kyeong’s retreating back into the tent, frowning.
‘What’s the truth? If he’s right, the Great Prince is a monster.’
Some cursed him as utterly incompetent, others praised his skill. And from the mouth of his own captive—no way it was lies.
‘Living together, I’ll find out.’
* * *
Yi Hwan stared at the white steam rising from his teacup and asked.
“What’s the kid up to?”
“Preparing breakfast.”
“From lunch on, others’ll handle it—so keep his chores light.”
“Others...”
“Requested some warriors. Cook included.”
Song Hoe brightened.
Till now, Yi Hwan had shunned company, leaving only Song Hoe in the tent. Days of grueling solo chores for him.
“The general’s sending them?”
“Any moment.”
No sooner said than Song Cheon-mu opened the door.
“Warriors outside.”
* * *
Zhao Kingdom camp.
Across a vast plain stood thousands of tents, with a few grand halls rising prominently in the center.
In the largest and tallest, two men faced each other, tilting their teacups.
The blue-armored general spoke cautiously to the one at the head seat.
“If he handed that to the Yeon Kingdom army, we’re in deep trouble.”
“Haven’t located him yet. Even if he did, deciphering what it points to’ll take time. No need to panic.”
“Still, we prepare for the worst? If the palace learns of the leak, you’re at risk.”
At the blue-armored general’s words, the head figure’s gaze darkened.
“The worst case...”
“We must find Cha Jung-kyeong, somehow. Suggestion: call in murim folk? Heard some excel at tracking.”
“Murim folk...”
“We avoid them when we can, but desperate times. Give word, I’ll handle it.”
The head general fell silent briefly. But not for long.
“Palace’ll send Blood Ghosts soon. With them, no need for others—it’d just complicate things for us. Pursuit stays with the Black Tiger Squad.”
“The Black Tiger Squad up to it?”
“Worst comes, we ask the Blood Ghosts. Anyway, that’s my call—withdraw.”
“Yes. Then.”
The blue-armored general bowed and exited, tilting his head in confusion.
‘One slip, and his head rolls—why refuse murim help?’
* * *
Yi Hwan pushed aside the cloth blocking the sunlight.
‘Night already?’
He’d been immersed in his heart method all day, unaware of time.
Overcast?
A moonless, starless world wrapped in pitch-black darkness. Even the insects, noisy every night, were deathly silent today.
Clack!
Yi Hwan closed the window and stepped out.
Unlike the sweltering day, the night air carried a chill.
Whoosh.
He surrendered his fever-hot body to the wind, surveying the darkened corners of the camp.
Warriors stood guard everywhere, torches aglow.
Snort.
A wry smile tugged at him.
His tent alone had no sentries around.
‘Fitting for the Great Prince—pitched deepest in camp.’
To reach it meant breaching multiple layers of defenses, so no extra guards assigned.
‘But for a master skilled enough to slip every net, it’s ideal—quiet kill, clean escape.’
Yi Hwan recalled the past.
Once, he’d infiltrated a Qin Kingdom camp of a hundred thousand elites alone and taken a general’s head.
That place’s security dwarfed this one. At this level, any decent stealth practitioner could breach it.
Of course, triggering an alarm mid-assassination made escape dicey—so such attempts were rare.
Whoosh!
The wind blew stronger.
It was then, lost in reverie, that Yi Hwan’s eyes subtly shifted.
* * *
In the darkness, eyes watched Yi Hwan.
Yeon Kingdom army uniforms, but they were Zhao Kingdom warriors hunting Cha Jung-kyeong.
Before coming, they’d nabbed a Yeon sentry on outer patrol, interrogated him about Cha, and slipped in covertly.
“Pathetic. Captured by that guy?”
“Maybe not captured—defected?”
“Nah. The one we grilled said the Fourth Imperial Prince dragged him in.”
“That weakling’s strong? Doesn’t look it.”
“Rumors off, or some other angle. Just wish he’d head inside already.”
The Zhao warriors waited for Yi Hwan to enter. Couldn’t move while he was out. One wrong step, they’d die here.
“Just kill him too?”
“No go without orders—can’t off a Yeon prince. Wait till he’s in, then hit Cha hard.”
Disfavored or not, he was imperial blood.
Enraging the Yeon emperor could spark full-scale war, not skirmishes—benefiting Qin alone.
If that blew up, blame’d wipe out clans entire.
That was when it happened.
“Clouds are clearing.”
“Damn...”
The overcast slowly parted, moon emerging. Pitch darkness receded, surroundings faintly lit.
“Might miss our shot.”
As conflict settled in the leader’s eyes.
“Hey! He’s gone!”