Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: The Golden Army's Official Document
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A night with the full moon hanging high.
Go Mi sat on a chair outside her quarters, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Clink.
As she toyed with her teacup lost in thought, a female attendant approached from behind.
“Shall I pour you more tea?”
“Thanks.”
“It’s hot, so be careful.”
Pour.
The attendant refilled Go Mi’s teacup.
“You seem so busy these days. I’m worried you’ll ruin your health, Moon Lord.”
“What can I do? Until the Great Prince secures his position, I have to hustle and bring back every scrap of information I can.”
“Of course, but you need to think about your health too. Truth be told, you haven’t rested at all since joining up with the Great Prince.”
“I’m fine. I’m tough as nails.”
“Moon Lord.”
“Don’t worry. Sit down and have a cup yourself.”
“……Yes.”
Go Mi gazed at the unusually large, bright full moon while savoring the tea’s aroma. Tiny, clear droplets formed on the bridge of her nose from the white steam.
“Still, I’m worried our enemies are multiplying.”
“You mean the Great Prince?”
“Yeah. Now that he’s taken charge of the Golden Army, the Second Prince’s side is on high alert. At this rate, they’ll pull in even more men soon.”
“The Crimson Moon assassins are a concern. To dare summon them into the Imperial Palace after the Imperial Edict disbanded them… Even for Her Majesty the Empress, that’s a bit…”
The attendant trailed off. The Empress was no one she could casually mention given her station.
Go Mi subtly furrowed her brow.
This is getting interesting.
Yi Hwan’s voice echoed in her mind.
Go Mi soon gave a wry smile.
‘It should feel normal by now.’
Yi Hwan’s bottomless nonchalance was still beyond her grasp, beyond getting used to.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
Go Mi brought the teacup to her lips.
That was when her eyes sharpened—she’d spotted something pale flickering in the forest behind the government office.
Go Mi immediately circulated her qi to heighten her vision.
‘A person?’
Atop a massive tree piercing through the forest. There was a figure there. Standing on a branch? It swayed this way and that with every gust of wind.
‘The Second Prince’s people?’
“What are you staring at?”
“There’s a person over there.”
“A person?”
The attendant turned her gaze to where Go Mi was looking. But with her eyesight, she couldn’t make out anyone.
“You can see that far?”
“Not crystal clear, but enough to know it’s a person.”
“Really? Wow!”
The attendant’s eyes went wide. Go Mi’s expression shifted slightly even as she answered.
‘A distance I couldn’t have seen just a short while ago. Has my qi grown?’
The first thing that came to mind was Yi Hwan’s cultivation method. Nothing else explained it.
“Should I send some guards?”
“No need. It’s probably the Second Prince’s side keeping watch. Chasing them won’t catch anything. Let’s just drink our tea.”
Go Mi sipped her tea without taking her eyes off the stranger. After some time passed like that, the figure in the darkness vanished like a ghost.
* * *
The Ghost Valley Lord keenly surveyed the area around Yi Hwan’s government office.
The high walls reminiscent of a fortress and the halls beyond arranged in formation left him inevitably impressed.
‘The halls are laid out so no one can slip in and out easily. That means we have to target the moment he steps outside…’
He sharply scanned the grand hall he suspected housed Yi Hwan’s quarters. Then he spotted two women sitting outside and circulated his qi.
The woman’s face came into sharp focus, as if he were standing right in front of her.
Even across that vast distance, their eyes met, but the Ghost Valley Lord quickly looked away. He dismissed her as insignificant.
That was when it happened.
The Ghost Valley Lord’s eyes flashed again.
‘A presence?’
He sensed someone behind him. Amid the wind’s whisper, human footsteps mingled. The Ghost Valley Lord soundlessly shifted to another tree.
And moments later.
Two black-robed figures appeared like ghosts atop the very tree he’d been on.
The Ghost Valley Lord watched them balance on the slender branch, his gaze steady.
‘Looks like there are others besides me with keen interest in him.’
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be watching Yi Hwan’s office at this late hour.
Then a chilling voice drifted over.
“The entire complex forms a single formation. I wondered why they set up command here instead of the capital, but now I see why.”
“A nightmare for assassins.”
“Indeed.”
“So in the end, we have to wait for him to step outside…”
At that, the Ghost Valley Lord’s eyes gleamed. Just as he’d thought—people after Yi Hwan.
‘No chance. His head is mine.’
His eyes took on a faint crimson glow. A habitual tic that surfaced whenever murderous intent stirred.
That wasn’t all.
His hands glowed faintly red too.
The Ghost Valley Lord raised his crimson hand toward the two black robes.
Flash!
Two streaks of crimson light sliced through the air like lightning.
Thud!
“Urk!”
A stifled groan burst from one black robe. The other drew his sword in alarm.
Shing!
“Who… Ack!”
The head of the sword-drawing black robe flew off cleanly. The Ghost Valley Lord had appeared before him in an instant. He mercilessly decapitated the staggering one too.
Slice.
The corpses hung on the branches instead of plummeting to the ground.
Thump!
“To target him with such meager skill. Tsk tsk.”
The Ghost Valley Lord glanced once more at Yi Hwan’s office before vanishing into the darkness.
* * *
The next morning.
Mun I-jong received a report from his subordinate. The men he’d sent to scout Yi Hwan’s office had been found dead.
“They were quite a distance from the office, so they must’ve let their guard down assuming no patrols. Besides, they’re not kids who’d go down easy to just anyone.”
“Fools.”
“Doesn’t seem like the Great Prince’s guards did it. If they had, they wouldn’t have left the bodies like that.”
“Then who killed them?”
“We’re investigating…”
Mun I-jong shook his head.
“It was the Great Prince’s guards. Leaving the bodies was probably a warning to us. Anyone who tries will end up like this.”
“……Could be.”
“Remind everyone to stay sharp and deploy more men.”
“Understood.”
Mun I-jong brought up something else.
“When will the Golden Army get its personnel reinforcements?”
“As spots open up, they fill them right away, as I understand. But why…?”
“We need to plant our people inside the Golden Army. Keep watch, and the moment a spot opens, slot them in.”
“I hear the Second Prince already has quite a few in there.”
“Not the Second Prince’s—I mean our people. There might be secrets we can’t share with him, so prepare reliable ones ahead of time.”
“Understood.”
“Oh! And while we’re at it, send a few skilled in incitement too. Shake things up from within before he solidifies his position, and it’ll make things easier.”
“Will do.”
* * *
Yi Hwan’s quarters.
Deputy General Son Yeong and Go Mi came looking for him.
Son Yeong spoke.
“We buried the bodies as instructed. But why leave them out for two days?”
“A warning.”
“Pardon?”
“We didn’t kill them, but their side will think we did. Might as well let it serve as a warning.”
“Ah…….”
Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi.
“Anything to identify them?”
“Yes. Their clothes, swords, shoes—all common market fare.”
“No tattoos or anything?”
“No. Clean.”
Yi Hwan sank deep into his chair, narrowing his brow slightly.
“Someone killed the ones watching us. So why was that someone there at that hour?”
“Probably the same goal, right?”
Yi Hwan silently nodded at Go Mi’s words.
“A fight between groups after us… Then one’s likely Crimson Moon.”
“Indeed.”
Son Yeong stepped forward.
“We’ll expand patrols to the forest.”
“No need. If they’ve got eyes, they’ll see at a glance this place is impenetrable. Let them kill each other.”
Go Mi said,
“If one side’s Crimson Moon, identifying the other is key. Dealing with unknown enemies is exponentially harder.”
“No need to waste effort there. Anyone after me will show themselves eventually. I’ll handle them then.”
Son Yeong was struck anew by Yi Hwan’s infinite confidence.
‘To think the Great Prince is like this.’
Like Yu U-seong, he didn’t judge solely by rumors. So when Yi Hwan took command of the Golden Army, he’d wiped away preconceptions and dealt with him squarely.
But as a man, he’d wondered if Yi Hwan could truly lead it.
Many in the Golden Army had thought the same. That Crown Prince Yi So appointed him to use the Golden Army for his ends.
Son Yeong had partly agreed.
But in just days with Yi Hwan, his mind was changing.
“Deputy General.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Have you sent the official documents to the imperial clansmen and high officials?”
“Yes. They should all have them by now.”
Yi Hwan nodded quietly and murmured toward the outside.
“Both of you, come in.”
Creak.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae opened the door and entered.
“They all arrived?”
“Yes. Just moments ago.”
“Ours too.”
“Then get them changed first. Pick one each and bring them to me. They’ll be escorts, so choose ones that fit the role.”
“Understood.”
Once Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae left, Son Yeong asked curiously.
“You’re keeping them in the Golden Army?”
“They’ll take very important roles. Thinking of putting them directly under me… Any procedures needed?”
“No. Your authority covers that. But we should inform the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“I’ll handle that. Don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea and turned to Go Mi.
“I’ll assign two as your escorts, so never move alone.”
“I prefer solo.”
“Deal with it. Once they’re done investigating us, they’ll target you as hard as me.”
“…….”
“No answer?”
“Understood. I’ll follow orders.”
Truth be told, Yi Hwan had summoned many from the Sword King and Blade King lineages to headquarters.
Without grasping the Golden Army’s inner workings, he needed forces he could absolutely trust.
“You’re dismissed. Good work.”
“Yes.”
Not long after Go Mi and Son Yeong left, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae returned with two from their lineages.
Yi Hwan eyed them.
“You two will guard the Moon Lord from today. Treat her like your own life and give it your all.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Yes!”
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
“You think the Second Prince will target the Moon Lord?”
“She’s my eyes and ears. Anyone after me knows that, so they’ll move to take her out first.”
Ju Tae nodded.
“I’d do the same.”
Yi Hwan stood.
“Where to?”
“It’s lunchtime.”
“……Yes.”