Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Approaching Crisis
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There were those watching Yi Hwan's procession heading toward the Imperial Capital. They had already been tailing his procession for several days.
An old man asked,
"Is that the Fourth Imperial Prince who has taken command of the Golden Army?"
"Yes, that's him."
The old man's eyes, fixed on Yi Hwan, gleamed with a chilling light like those of a serpent.
"The Golden Army has been volunteering to guard the high officials and nobles, causing us considerable losses. At first, we chalked it up to carelessness and deployed stronger forces, but we've failed in most operations so far."
"We can always make them pay for their losses."
The old man flashed a fierce glint in his eyes and continued,
"But here's the thing. Who leaked the information that he was coming here? It was spread through the streets as if they wanted us to hear it."
"Perhaps the Second Prince's side? Rumor has it they're quite wary of him."
"So they're planning to use us to eliminate him."
"That seems likely."
Whoosh!
The wind swept past the old man's hair. He brushed away the strands tickling his face and muttered coldly,
"Still, bringing only that many troops means he's that confident..."
"His escorts are said to be incredible masters. But with the Society Leader here in person, he'll regret not bringing more forces."
Even at his subordinate's confident tone, the old man remained cautious.
"We have plenty of time before reaching the capital. If we act rashly, we could fail, so pass the word: no one attacks until I give the order."
"Understood."
Moments later, messenger birds flew off in all directions. The old man straightened his hunched body.
"Let's head back for now."
"Yes, Society Leader."
* * *
After some time had passed, two men in black robes appeared like ghosts at the spot where the old man had been.
They were Crimson Moon assassins.
"They're on the move, as expected."
"With rumors spread so openly in the streets, it'd be weirder if they hadn't heard."
"This makes our job easier."
"We can only hope plenty of them show up."
One black-robed man stared at Yi Hwan's group and smiled coldly.
"Coming with just that handful of troops. This operation might wrap up even smoother than anticipated. Heh heh heh."
"Indeed. No matter how strong the Great Prince's escorts are, that number poses no problem. We might even catch two rabbits with one stone."
"Our top priority is Jo Gwang, not the Great Prince. We'll go for the Great Prince depending on the situation."
"Of course."
* * *
At Yi Tae-ji's residence.
Mun I-jong met with him privately.
Yi Tae-ji asked abruptly,
"How did it go?"
"We spread the rumors in the streets, so they must have reached their ears. They're probably moving by now."
"How many troops did he bring?"
"Just a few of his usual escorts and about a hundred Golden Army soldiers."
"Hmph!"
A cold smile curled at Yi Tae-ji's lips.
"He knows there are multiple factions gunning for him, yet he only brought that many? He's been on a winning streak lately and doesn't know his place, getting all arrogant."
"Isn't that fortunate for us?"
Clink.
Yi Tae-ji took a sip of his tea, calmed his gaze, and brought up another topic.
"Killing Jo Gwang is more important than him, so make sure it's done right. We must kill Jo Gwang no matter what to put the Crown Prince's Palace in a bind."
"Don't worry. Our Crimson Moon's top assassins are on it, so we'll deliver the results you want."
"I'll spare you the details on what to do if you fail by some fluke."
"If we fail, we'll die to keep the secret, so have no fears."
Mun I-jong answered while chuckling inwardly.
*Your own father feared Crimson Moon's top assassins. With them stepping in personally, failure is impossible.*
"Grand Overseer."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Why did things sour with His Majesty? I heard you were called his shadow..."
"......"
Mun I-jong couldn't answer the sudden question right away. But the pause didn't last long.
"His Majesty suddenly ordered the Crimson Moon disbanded without a single word of explanation. I still don't know why."
"You haven't seen him once since the disbandment?"
"No."
"Do you resent His Majesty?"
At the question laced with subtle meaning, Mun I-jong gave an even more enigmatic reply.
"The past is forgotten. I serve only Her Majesty the Empress and Your Highness."
Yi Tae-ji's eyes narrowed.
He understood the implication in Mun I-jong's answer.
"You've done well. You may go."
"Yes. Then."
Leaving Yi Tae-ji's residence, Mun I-jong headed straight to his own quarters. A close aide followed.
"Have the kids left?"
"Yes. We selected two as instructed and sent them off. They should be watching the Great Prince's group by now."
"Any movement from the Crown Prince's Palace?"
"Still nothing unusual."
"The Crown Prince is an unfathomable man. We must keep a close eye until this is over."
"Understood."
Moments later, Mun I-jong suddenly stopped in his tracks. He quietly gazed in a certain direction.
It was toward the forbidden zone of the Imperial Palace, accessible only to the Empress.
*Are you there, Your Majesty?*
Muttering words no one could understand, Mun I-jong recalled one man's face. A hazy killing intent settled in his eyes.
The being who had once been his everything: the Emperor.
* * *
Rumble!
Rain suddenly poured down.
Yi Hwan, traveling far from the city, ordered his group into the forest to avoid it.
Fortunately, a fairly large roadside shrine was nearby.
Yi Hwan, Jo Gwang, and the key figures entered the shrine, while the Golden Army warriors sheltered under the dense woods.
"Care for a drink?"
"Thanks."
Jo Gwang didn't refuse the liquor Yi Hwan offered.
"After stopping by the palace, you'll head straight to Golden Army headquarters."
"Why headquarters?"
"The Golden Army's command post has been set at the Crown Prince's residence."
"......!"
Jo Gwang was quite taken aback by Yi Hwan's words. Pa Pa was too. Given Jo Gwang's status, staying at the palace was the natural assumption.
"Why stay at Golden Army headquarters instead of the palace?"
"The Crown Prince's Palace decided it that way."
"Is the Crown Prince's Palace handling this?"
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
"The Empress and Second Prince aren't exactly thrilled about you lot. So they entrusted this to the Crown Prince's Palace, and the Crown Prince asked me to ensure your safety."
Yi Hwan slightly altered his words.
Jo Gwang's expression grew heavy. Of all people, entrusting his safety to Yi Hwan, with whom relations were most strained.
"Don't worry. I'm not one to dwell on past grudges."
As he spoke, Yi Hwan looked at Pa Pa.
She couldn't meet his gaze and lowered her head.
Rumble!
Crack!
Thunder and lightning raged fiercely.
The wind joined in, sending rain through the shrine's weathered windows.
"Mu-ok."
"Yes."
"Strengthen the perimeter watch."
"Understood."
"It'll take time, so get some shut-eye."
Yi Hwan leaned against the wall after speaking. Pa Pa watched him with a strange look in her eyes.
*He looks like a completely different person up close compared to watching from afar.*
Traveling with him here, she felt an oppressive pressure unlike any she'd known. Even the Emperor of Zhao or the Southwest King hadn't exuded this much.
Jo Gwang felt the same.
Having suffered greatly at Yi Hwan's hands before, he'd expected differences from the rumors, but not to this degree.
*Every casual word carries immense pressure. And those eyes—even martial world masters don't have them...*
That wasn't all.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae, sitting with arms crossed in one corner of the shrine, radiated such a chilling aura that no one dared glance their way.
*Maybe it was only natural for Pa Pa to give up and return.*
Jo Gwang steadied his breathing quietly and leaned against the wall.
At times like this, the Southwest King inevitably came to mind.
Thinking of him should have filled Jo Gwang with uncontrollable rage.
That was when it happened.
Creak!
A Golden Army officer pushed open the door and entered.
"Great Prince, suspicious figures are approaching from the north."
"I'll go check."
Ju Tae stood.
Yi Hwan straightened from the wall.
Jo Gwang asked with a hint of unease in his eyes.
"Is this something to worry about?"
"Things might get troublesome on the way. I have a lot of enemies, you see."
"......"
Yi Hwan answered calmly, then turned directly to Pa Pa and continued.
"If fighting breaks out, leave the Crown Prince's guard to the old lady."
"Understood."
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning struck nearby with a deafening roar. Through the shrine's half-broken window, they saw a tree engulfed in flames.
But the fire quickly died under the heavy downpour.
Splash.
The silence, suffocating to some, dragged on agonizingly slow. How much time passed?
Creak!
Ju Tae returned.
"About two hundred men are approaching the shrine. Doesn't feel good."
"Looks like it'll be a rough time."
Yi Hwan met Jo Gwang's eyes and continued.
"Do your best to protect yourself."
"......Understood."
Jo Gwang drew the sword at his waist.
Shing!
A brilliant glow emanated from the blade as it left its sheath—an impossible sight in this rainy weather without a treasured sword.
"Is that the sword symbolizing the Crown Prince?"
"Yes."
"If you dream of a comeback, you'd better be prepared for that sword to break."
Yi Hwan rose slowly.
Behind him, Go Mi, who had kept silent until now, drew her sword.
Shing.
"It'll be a brutal fight. Don't let your focus slip for a second."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan finally drew his sword and spoke to Jo Gwang.
"Staying inside will be riskier. Beyond those approaching, someone else might target you."
"The Southwest King's martial artists couldn't reach here in time, even if they left to kill me."
"I told you. The Empress and Second Prince don't welcome you."
"......"
"Your death would trouble the Crown Prince's Palace most. That's what they want, so follow my lead."
"......Understood."
Ju Tae opened the door.
Yi Hwan stepped slowly into the raging storm. Jo Gwang and Pa Pa followed.
Pa Pa reassured Jo Gwang.
"Worry not, Your Highness. I'm by your side."
Splash!
"Great Prince! Too many are approaching."
Deputy General Son Yeong, who had been waiting outside with the Golden Army, approached. The Sword King and Blade King lineage warriors guarding the roof dropped down around Yi Hwan in unison.
Yi Hwan looked straight at Son Yeong and asked,
"Have you drilled the defensive formation?"
"Yes!"
"Then switch to defensive formation now."
"Understood!"
Son Yeong returned to the Golden Army. They split into three groups, forming a circular defensive formation—optimized for few against many, known for maximum effect in tight spaces.
As Yi Hwan stepped forward, Go Mi said,
"It's dangerous ahead. Stay behind the formation."
"Can't do that with over twice our number coming. You stay back instead, Moon Lord. So I don't have to worry."
"Then I'll go forward too."
Clack!
Yi Hwan placed a hand on Go Mi's shoulder.
"It's not that I underestimate you."
"......!"
"I won't die. So you can't either. That way, I can keep relying on you. Like I said, you're a vital asset to me. And you're meant for more than you imagine, so I can't lose you here."
"......!"
Go Mi couldn't press further. Yi Hwan's eyes held pure sincerity.
In the end, she stepped back.
"Be careful."
Yi Hwan slowly advanced to the front of Son Yeong's defensive formation.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae guarded his flanks.
Jo Gwang watched Yi Hwan's back, his eyes trembling.
Tremble...
Yi Hwan's figure now was exactly what he'd dreamed of his whole life.
A lord charging ahead against the enemy for those who followed him. He'd bled in every aspect—martial arts training included—to become such a leader.
But he had failed, and now, having lost everything, Pa Pa was his only loyal retainer.
Boom!
Crack!
Lightning shattered the darkness.
In that instant, the approaching figures beyond the underbrush flashed white before vanishing into shadow.
That was when it happened.
Seven lights rose from Yi Hwan's body.