Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Operation Steps Forward Again
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Yi Hwan and Hwang Ho sat facing each other.
“Thank you for sending the warriors.”
“Not at all. If the Great Prince hadn’t refused, we should have done it long ago.”
“I have one more request.”
“Please speak.”
“From now on, I intend to participate in all operations.”
“……!”
Hwang Ho’s eyes widened.
Not long ago, when Yi Hwan had vanished from the battlefield, the entire camp had been thrown into chaos.
He had been fortunate to survive that time, but there was no guarantee it would happen again.
“Great Prince, that…….”
“I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve finally come to my senses. Without General Hwang’s help, I’ll end up living as a useless wretch forever. Do you want that for me, General?”
“How dare I? It’s just that I…….”
Yi Hwan stared straight at Hwang Ho’s flustered face and added one more thing.
“You’ve probably already noticed, General, but I’ve been hiding my skills all this time. Even if we face enemies worse than the Black Tiger Squad, I can protect my own life, so don’t worry. Enjoy your dinner.”
“……!”
With that, Yi Hwan left Hwang Ho’s tent.
Hwang Ho watched Yi Hwan’s retreating figure and shook his head slowly.
‘Was that a request, or a declaration?’
A wry smile tugged at Hwang Ho’s lips.
Meanwhile, as Yi Hwan stepped outside, he rubbed his stomach with his hand. Saying words he wasn’t used to had left him feeling queasy. Still, he had avoided Hwang Ho’s refusal, so he was satisfied.
As Yi Hwan headed back to his quarters, he thought of Song Cheon-mu.
‘With that level of skill, he won’t have to worry about dying anywhere. Should I give him the opportunity he wants?’
Song Cheon-mu’s talent was impressive. If he kept growing like this, he could become a master unmatched among his peers in the future.
‘For now, let’s watch a bit more.’
* * *
“You’ll participate in all operations from now on?”
Song Hoe’s eyes went wide.
“Select a hundred capable men. Include all the captains.”
“Understood.”
Cha Jung-kyeong cut in.
“I’ll naturally go along, right?”
“Of course. But wear a mask until we get the human skin mask.”
“Yes.”
Song Cheon-mu’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ll go too.”
Yi Hwan stared straight at Song Cheon-mu.
Song Cheon-mu’s eyes burned with resolute determination.
“You two, step out. You, sit there.”
Song Hoe and Cha Jung-kyeong bowed their heads and left. Then Yi Hwan spoke.
“Aren’t you afraid of death?”
“I am. But…….”
“But?”
Song Cheon-mu couldn’t continue.
In that moment, Yi Hwan sensed he was hiding something.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Crunch.
Song Cheon-mu bit his lip and continued.
“My family’s situation isn’t good. So I need to rack up achievements somehow. That’s the only thing I can do for them.”
“Is there a problem with your family?”
“When I came here, two branches had already closed. If things have worsened…….”
Yi Hwan was inwardly surprised.
Even if Princess Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho were in love now, their marriage had started as a political alliance. A family worthy of marrying into the imperial family naturally held corresponding status.
Yet a family tied to the imperial house wasn’t rising higher but falling?
Song Cheon-mu let out a deep sigh and continued.
“Several years ago, places we’d traded with for a long time suddenly cut ties for some reason. Father and Brother have done their utmost to find new partners, but they couldn’t clear out the warehouse stock…….”
Building trade partners is extremely difficult.
More precisely, it’s hard to build reliable ones.
Commerce can suffer massive losses from a single failure, so vetting partners thoroughly across various channels is crucial.
Finding reliable partners might be the most important and toughest part of business.
Yet for them to cut ties all at once?
It was impossible to replace them in the short term.
If the massive stock usually kept in warehouses went unsold and spoiled, the damage would be incalculable.
Yi Hwan thought of Song Cheon-ho.
‘Even in that situation, he never showed it…….’
They’d only spoken briefly, but judging from Song Cheon-ho’s character as Yi Hwan had seen it, he clearly hadn’t wanted to burden him.
“Hmm…….”
As Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed, Song Cheon-mu pleaded earnestly.
“Please let me join the operations! I won’t cause trouble for the Great Prince out of greed for achievements! If I do, I’ll never ask to come along again!”
Having finished his deliberations, Yi Hwan nodded.
“You don’t need to guard me starting tomorrow for a while.”
“……Pardon?”
“You never know when we’ll head to the battlefield, so train like hell starting tomorrow. If you don’t want to be a burden, you’ll have to work even harder.”
“……!”
Finally understanding, Song Cheon-mu bowed deeply and shouted.
“Yes, understood!”
* * *
Swoosh!
Thud! Thud!
Dull thumps echoed nonstop in the rear courtyard. It had been like this for days now.
Ever since Yi Hwan gave permission, Song Cheon-mu had thrown himself into training all day. Yi Hwan occasionally helped.
Song Hoe was just as busy, handling the training of the hundred men for the operation.
He’d only been scolded while guarding Yi Hwan, but as a disciple of the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, his skills were more than enough to lead a unit.
The Dragon-Tiger Army’s morale was sky-high.
The moment it was decided they’d finally see combat after so long, they trained even into the late night.
Yi Hwan watched the Dragon-Tiger Army’s training from time to time. But he didn’t step in personally.
‘Should I have done this sooner?’
His participation was purely for his own goals. Yet seeing the Dragon-Tiger Army so thrilled made his feelings complicated.
‘What the hell was the Great Prince thinking all this time?’
“Hah!”
“Tuck your waist in more!”
“Swing light and loose!”
The warriors’ shouts reverberated through the camp.
Warriors from other units looked on the Dragon-Tiger Army’s fervor unfavorably. Some even mocked them openly.
“They’ll tuck tail and run like dogs in real combat anyway.”
“I’m worried they’ll piss themselves if they run into the Black Tiger Squad. Please don’t let them join our operations.”
Everyone still shunned the Dragon-Tiger Army. In life-or-death operations, teaming with the inexperienced put everyone at risk.
In any case.
Time flowed like running water.
For a fortnight, no operation was decided. It was boring—for Yi Hwan, the Dragon-Tiger Army, and someone else.
* * *
“I’m going crazy from boredom.”
The man in green robes spoke with a listless expression. The other man sat with arms crossed, eyes closed, not moving a muscle.
“How long are we supposed to wait?”
“If it’s to find the Sword King’s descendant, we might wait a lifetime.”
“…….”
“Stop acting like a child and wait patiently.”
“Ugh…….”
It had already been twenty days since they arrived.
In that time, Yi Hwan hadn’t budged from his tent. He’d only visited Hwang Ho’s tent and the training grounds a few times.
No, once more. When the Black Tiger Squad had come targeting Cha Jung-kyeong.
But Yi Hwan had moved in the opposite direction, leaving them no choice.
Rumble!
Thunder cracked, and rain began to pour.
“It’s raining. Let’s head into the woods.”
The man finally opened his eyes and stood. He twisted his body vigorously.
Crack!
“At this rate, my body will produce more pops than a high monk’s.”
“Quit griping.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m fine.”
The man entered the woods. The green-robed one glanced at Yi Hwan’s tent and followed.
Rumble!
Whoosh!
The rain grew fiercer.
“Boss.”
“What.”
“When can we escape the shadows? Or even our generation?”
“We’ll have to try.”
“Ugh! At least the enemy’s in the same boat, right?”
“Focus on us.”
Caw caw.
A fox poked its head out.
The green-robed one pulled something from his sleeve and fed it to the fox. Finely chopped meat.
“This one’s suffering too.”
Caw caw.
“Tired?”
Caw caw.
“Sorry.”
He glanced back at the man, but he still had his eyes closed.
Then.
Kyarrng!
The fox suddenly let out a low growl.
The green-robed one’s eyes lit up.
“They’re finally moving!”
The man opened his eyes. He swiftly climbed the cliff and looked down at the camp.
The green-robed one joined him. A large contingent of Yeon Kingdom troops was heading west.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
* * *
Whoosh!
The rain poured fiercely.
Yi Hwan moved at the rear with the Dragon-Tiger Army.
“Of all days, an operation in this weather.”
Some Dragon-Tiger soldiers grumbled.
Song Hoe scolded them.
“The enemy’s guard is laxest in weather like this.”
“Ah, right.”
Song Cheon-mu buzzed with excitement. The operation he’d longed for was finally underway.
Yi Hwan glanced at him and said,
“Are you going on a picnic?”
“…….”
“Fix your face first.”
“Yes.”
Rumble!
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan looked up at the sky. The pitch-black clouds spelled trouble.
He turned his gaze forward.
Paeng Mu-wi and Hebei Paeng Family warriors were joining this operation too. The commanding general was Jeong Cheon again.
“Did it have to be this weather?”
Paeng Mu-wi demanded of Jeong Cheon.
Jeong Cheon replied calmly.
“We’re in an operation. No chit-chat.”
“…….”
Yi Hwan smiled faintly at Jeong Cheon’s stubbornness. Since gaining his new life, Jeong Cheon was the one he’d watched most closely.
Seeing him brought his old subordinates to mind.
His speech, expressions, and how he treated Hwang Ho—all reminiscent of the Three Kings. It stirred emotions he’d suppressed.
“Damn it.”
Beside him, Cha Jung-kyeong grumbled. His mask clung wetly to his face, annoyingly so.
“Deputy General.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Stay sharp and don’t stray from my side.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
Yi Hwan slowly scanned the surroundings.
‘They’re probably tailing us from somewhere.’
He still had half a dose of tracking scent on him.
He could use it to divert attention elsewhere, but Yi Hwan had no intention of doing so. If they were his subordinates’ descendants, it would mean throwing away his own chance.
‘Everything will resolve once I regain my power. Until then, we won’t meet.’
Whoosh!