Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Toward the Northern Legion
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Namgung Jang-cheon had chased the Ghost Valley Lord all the way to the Yeon Kingdom's Southern Legion before turning back.
On his way to his personal training space for some proper practice after a long time, he received word of the Zhao Kingdom's declaration of war against the Yeon Kingdom.
Namgung Jang-cheon gave up on training and headed straight for the Imperial Palace. 'Things are chaotic.'
He could clearly see the tension on the faces of the people coming and going. Though it was a war between Yeon and Zhao, the Qin Kingdom couldn't afford to relax either—the borders they shared with those two nations were far too extensive.
"Young master!"
Someone called out to Namgung Jang-cheon from behind.
Turning around, he saw a young general approaching.
"I figured you'd come, so I've been waiting. Let's head to the Crown Prince's Palace right away."
"His Highness is waiting for me?"
"Yes. Young Master Danri is already there."
Namgung Jang-cheon made his way directly to the Crown Prince's Palace. Moments later, as he entered, Danri Mok greeted him with a smile.
"You came after all?"
"As if I had a choice. But what's got you here?"
"His Highness summoned me, so here I am."
Namgung Jang-cheon gazed toward the Crown Prince's chambers. The door, guarded by two generals, was firmly shut.
"A guest just arrived, so you can't see him right now. Let's go over there."
The two headed out to the gardens of the Crown Prince's Palace.
They took seats at a table off to one side of the garden, and warriors brought them tea.
Danri Mok asked,
"How'd it go on your trip?"
"Just whatever."
"Come on, what're you hiding between us?"
"Hiding? I wasn't. Just wandered around here and there, that's all."
"You went all the way there and came back empty-handed?"
"Not a kid asking for souvenirs."
"Not souvenirs—information. Information."
At Danri Mok's words, Namgung Jang-cheon immediately pictured Yi Hwan's face. The only gain from crossing into Yeon Kingdom was confirming Yi Hwan's abilities, which were nothing like the rumors.
"You've heard of Yeon Kingdom's puppet Great Prince?"
"That nominal Great Prince from the western outskirts? Yeah, of course. But why bring him up?"
Namgung Jang-cheon gripped his teacup and continued.
"The rumors are totally off. Not a puppet—a tiger. Maybe even more than that."
"Oh ho. If you're saying that much, he must be the real deal. How impressive was he, exactly?"
Namgung Jang-cheon described watching Yi Hwan and nearly getting caught. Of course, he omitted peeking at Go Mi's naked body.
Danri Mok's eyes widened.
"You're serious? That level?"
"I really thought we'd end up fighting, no escape."
Namgung Jang-cheon took a sip of tea.
'Did they change the tea?'
The aroma was slightly different from what the Crown Prince usually drank.
Danri Mok took a sip as well.
Clink.
"Ah! You hear that news?"
"What news?"
"All the Yeon Kingdom princes are heading to the front lines. Even their Crown Prince. They have that custom, sure, but sending the Crown Prince to the battlefield? Pretty shocking, right?"
"Cool."
"Cool?"
"Princes at the pinnacle of power leading by example. We could learn from that. No matter if it's law, it's never easy."
"True. But splashing their shit on us? That's a bit much."
Pfft.
Namgung Jang-cheon chuckled softly, Yi Hwan's face flashing in his mind again.
'Where will he go?'
Just then, a general approached.
"You can go in now."
* * *
Namgung Jang-cheon met with the Crown Prince and left the Imperial Palace as dusk began to settle.
Danri Mok walked out with him.
"Damn it. Of all places, the northern front."
Danri Mok grumbled. Moments ago, the Crown Prince had ordered them both to head to the northern front and stand by. With no telling how the war between the two kingdoms might spill over, they were to prepare for contingencies from there.
The northern front bordered Zhao to the west and Yeon to the northeast—the foremost region. It wasn't far from Cheolsu, where they'd recently clashed fiercely with Zhao.
"Why can't they just live in peace and start a war? Why?"
Danri Mok clearly disliked going to the northern front. Namgung Jang-cheon, by contrast, was calm. He was still thinking about Yi Hwan.
'If he goes back to the Southern Legion he was at before, maybe we'll cross paths again.'
Qin Kingdom's northern front wasn't all that far from Yeon Kingdom's Southern Legion. So if Yi Hwan headed there, they might meet again.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Oh, this and that."
Namgung Jang-cheon stopped walking and turned to Danri Mok.
"I've got business at the clan. See you at the front later."
"Aw, I was hoping for a drink."
"Important stuff."
"Fair enough. Just don't be too late. Word is the Commander there's a real tiger."
"Got it."
After parting with Danri Mok, Namgung Jang-cheon mounted up and rode straight to his clan.
The important business was getting his sword repaired. The blade had taken heavy damage in the battle with Zhao, so it needed work before heading to the northern front. Namgung clan swords were made with special methods no ordinary smithy could handle.
'Might as well ask for the family heirloom sword while I'm at it?'
Namgung Jang-cheon thought of the family treasure sword.
But he soon shook his head with a wry smile.
'No way they'd give it. They still see me as a kid. In that sense, I'm still far off. The world calls me a genius, but to my clan, I'm just an unproven youth they won't acknowledge.'
Thinking of his father, Namgung Jang-cheon let out a quiet sigh and spurred his horse.
"Hya!"
Thud thud thud!
* * *
Southern Legion.
Word spread that the princes were heading to the front lines, so Commander Paeng Mu-wi, Jeong Cheon, Song Hoe, and Paeng Mun gathered. Paeng Mun, patriarch of the Hebei Paeng Family, had stayed by Paeng Mu-wi's side instead of returning north.
Paeng Mu-wi spoke gravely.
"Even so, sending His Highness the Crown Prince to the front? Her Majesty the Empress has crossed the line—properly crossed it."
"A lamentable affair!"
Jeong Cheon was furious.
"It'd be great if our Great Prince came here..."
At Paeng Mu-wi's words, Song Hoe shook his head with a heavy expression.
"Her Majesty won't send him here on purpose. She'll likely send him to the toughest spot."
"That's my take too. Which worries me more."
Jeong Cheon agreed.
Paeng Mun, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
"The harshest place is where His Highness the Crown Prince is most likely headed. Her Majesty and the Second Prince's goal is to bring him down, after all."
Thud!
Paeng Mu-wi slammed the table with his palm.
"To think I aligned with those sorts—it's shameful; I can't even lift my head. If the Great Prince hadn't set me straight, even late, I'd have become an eternal traitor, dragging the entire Paeng Family down with me."
Paeng Mun closed his eyes slowly.
Looking back, he'd once been certain the Empress and Second Prince would oust the Crown Prince and seize power. Had they joined hands then and dealt with Yi Hwan, the Hebei Paeng Family would never escape her shadow.
Sure, power and glory would follow if they took control, but that wasn't what Paeng Mun wanted.
'No matter that history belongs to victors, as a martial artist of the jianghu, I can't side with injustice.'
Paeng Mun had no regrets about choosing the Crown Prince and Yi Hwan.
Just then,
Paeng Mu-wi's deputy entered.
"Commander, a letter from the Imperial Palace."
Paeng Mu-wi immediately opened the letter his deputy handed him. Disappointment mixed with a puzzled tilt of his head followed.
"The Third Prince is coming here?"
"The Third Prince is coming to the Southern Legion?"
"Yes."
Song Hoe asked urgently.
"Where's our Great Prince headed?"
"Not mentioned."
They'd half-expected it, but confirmation Yi Hwan wasn't coming left them unable to hide their disappointment. Song Hoe even sighed.
Paeng Mun asked,
"What kind of man is the Third Prince?"
Jeong Cheon answered.
"He's the Empress's son, but little's known about him. That's what worries us—no info means no countermeasures."
"Hmm."
Paeng Mu-wi said, eyes gleaming.
"What countermeasures? We just do our duty to the best of our ability. No shrinking because he's a prince."
"Of course."
He said as much, but Paeng Mu-wi felt uneasy.
'Where on earth is our Great Prince going...'
* * *
A single dispatch was in Northern Legion Commander Gwak Chung-mu's hand.
"Hmm..."
"What's it say?"
"The Fourth Imperial Prince is coming here."
"Ah! Really? That's great."
"Why great?"
"Wouldn't it be awkward with the Second or Third Prince? Her Majesty would be watching every move."
"Whoever comes, we stick to our roles. Quit the useless thoughts and inspect the camp—no weak spots."
"Yes, Commander."
With his deputy gone, Gwak Chung-mu walked to the window and flung it open. From the highest tent, the entire camp lay in view.
Tension hung taut over the whole camp. Since Zhao's ultimatum, he'd imposed maximum alert on the army, preparing for war.
Surveying the camp, Gwak Chung-mu's fierce eyes flickered like flames for a moment.
"Sending His Highness the Crown Prince to the front? Her Majesty the Empress has crossed the line—way past it."
Her extraordinary measure had already reached even here.
Some warriors cheered it as a bold, precedent-free decision, but most saw it as excessive. Gwak Chung-mu was among them.
The Crown Prince, next emperor, was second only to heaven in nobility.
'Where is this nation heading?'
Whoosh!
As wind brushed his face, Gwak Chung-mu thought of Yi Hwan. He'd seen him once, long ago. Back then, Yi Hwan had been endlessly frail and timid.
Yet he'd transformed into a completely different man, and recently word came he'd become head of the Golden Army—a key post among key posts.
*It felt like facing a tiger.*
Gwak Chung-mu recalled a general who'd supported the Southern Legion and returned.
'I'll see how he's changed when I meet him. But where's His Highness the Crown Prince headed...'
The flicker in Gwak Chung-mu's eyes soon filled with regret and anguish.
* * *
The weather was exceptionally clear today.
Clouds drifting across the deep blue sky resembled white swans gliding over a lake, and the vast heavens beyond seemed graspable by hand.
Clank. Clank.
Yi Hwan let his body sway with his warhorse's gait, eyes on the passing scenery.
He was now en route to the Northern Legion with his close aides. He'd spent the night at Yi Yeong's residence, soothing her worries, and set off for the Northern Legion this morning.
His entourage was so sparse, onlookers might call it shabby. Even combining Yi Wang-il's warriors and Moon Pavilion agents, they numbered under fifty.
Most of Yi Wang-il's warriors had stayed in the capital, per Yi Hwan's orders.
Clank! Clank!
Before reaching the official road, passersby recognized the imperial prince's procession and bowed their heads.
Yi Hwan had grown used to such sights.
"How far to the official road?"
"Just one more incense stick's time, and we'll reach it."
They pressed on toward the official road.
How much time passed?
A group of monks appeared ahead—about fifty, all in blood-red robes, armed warrior-monks.
Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi and asked.
"You said Shaolin sided with the Third Prince?"
"Yes. Per our intel. They're probably heading to the Southern Legion with him."
The warrior-monks were Shaolin Arhat Monks.
Yi Hwan eyed them with a smirk.
"The Buddha must be rolling in shock."
Shaolin had stayed out of worldly affairs since Yi Hwan's era ended—until now, joining the Third Prince. Hardly welcome news for Yi Hwan.
Clop clop! Clop clop!
The Arhats headed toward the Imperial Palace, opposite Yi Hwan's group, closing the distance.
Cheol Mu-ok called out lowly to them.
"The Great Prince of the imperial house! Halt and bow!"
Swish swish!
At his shout, the Arhats stepped to the roadside and lowered their heads.
Yi Hwan passed them, locking eyes with one—their leader, dressed differently from the rest.
Their gazes met, and Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
The Arhat clasped hands and murmured a chant.
"Amitabha Buddha."
"Is this all the force supporting the Third Prince?"
"Yes."
"Do your best out there."
"......"
Yi Hwan soon looked away.
The Arhats waited until his group passed. Moments later, the one who'd spoken to Yi Hwan asked the others.
"That's the Fourth Prince who's now head of the Golden Army?"
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
The Martial Uncle furrowed his brow slightly.
"What a meager force. One wonders if they can even manage escorts."
"No Golden Army means Her Majesty forbade it."
"Well, numbers don't decide everything. They must have something up their sleeve. Come! Let's go. The prince awaits."
"Yes!"
The Arhats resumed their journey to the Imperial Palace.