Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The War Has Already Begun
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A few days later.
Yi Hwan's group had advanced to a point just a day away from the Northern Legion and entered the bustling market street of a certain city.
Though small in scale, the market's vibrant row of inns rivaled any major city.
Yi Hwan rented out the entire top floor of the inn.
He wanted to give everyone a proper rest and a good meal today, so he ordered the most expensive dishes and plenty of liquor.
Soon after, the meal began in earnest, and about an hour in, two armored generals entered the inn.
Everyone turned to stare at them.
"By any chance, are you the Muryeong Great Prince from the Imperial Capital?"
The courtesy name Muryeong had been bestowed upon Yi Hwan at birth by the Emperor himself. Back then, the Emperor had doted on Yi Hwan's birth mother.
"Indeed. And who might you be?"
Cheol Mu-ok asked in return.
The two generals stood at attention and saluted Yi Hwan militarily.
"Loyalty!"
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and asked them calmly.
"From the Northern Legion?"
"Yes! That's correct! We have been awaiting your arrival on the Commander's orders!"
"Then sit."
"We're fine! We'll return after you've finished your meal!"
"Just sit. It's fine."
"......Yes!"
Song Cheon-mu fetched two chairs from the adjacent table, and the generals sat there.
"No liquor for you, so at least have some food."
When Yi Hwan personally handed them chopsticks, the generals couldn't refuse and extended both hands.
"No need to be modest in my presence. Eat your fill. Have a drink too."
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, Great Prince!"
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and lifted his cup to his lips. Go Mi filled his empty glass.
*Pour.*
Yi Hwan deliberately avoided conversation to let the generals eat properly. Only after some time passed did he ask his question.
"What's the movement of the Zhao Kingdom's forces?"
"The troops previously stationed there have doubled in recent days. We've also received reports that a large number of martial artists have joined them."
"How do they compare to the Northern Legion?"
"In terms of numbers alone, they're about twice ours, maybe a bit more."
"The Commander must be worried."
"No! The Commander and all the generals are brimming with confidence, ready to repel even ten times our number!"
"Keep your voice down."
"......Yes."
The two generals were as taut with discipline as new recruits—though they weren't low-ranking.
From this, Yi Hwan could gauge the Northern Legion's iron discipline.
'The Northern Legion's Commander, Gwak Chung-mu, is a soldier to the bone, and he's drilled that discipline perfectly.'
Gwak Chung-mu was one of Yeon Kingdom's top fierce and renowned generals, famous as an exceptional commander. Rumors once swirled that he'd become Grand Commander-in-Chief, yet for some reason, he remained with the Northern Legion to this day.
The state of the force he commanded was evident from the generals alone.
One general cautiously asked.
"When will the other forces arrive?"
"This is it."
"......Pardon?"
"You must have thought I'd bring a horde."
"We prepared barracks for at least two hundred or more."
"Think of us as one against a hundred."
"Understood!"
"Eat up. I'm heading up to rest first."
"I'll head up and rest as well."
Jo Gwang and Pa Pa rose too.
The two were completely disguised, from attire to faces. If it came out that Jo Gwang was traveling with Yi Hwan, the Southwest King of Zhao might send a massive army to the Northern Legion, so secrecy was paramount.
"Rest well."
"Great Prince, rest well."
Yi Hwan entered his room.
He shed his outer robe and flung open the window. Snow was falling. The air was bitterly cold.
'Snow already? The north is the north, alright.'
After gazing at the falling snow for a moment, Yi Hwan turned his eyes not north, but west.
Continuing southwest from here would lead to the Western Legion, where Crown Prince Yi So was headed.
'If he's made a deal with the Empress, the Southwest King will likely send his strongest forces to the Western Legion where the Crown Prince is. But what worries me more are the assassins the Empress or Yi Tae-ji might send...'
Yi Hwan worried for Yi So.
Of course, he'd assembled martial artists for protection, but battlefields were places where variables could arise anytime, so concern was inevitable.
'Had I grown fond of him? Or is it his instincts at work?'
In any case, thinking of Yi So weighed on his heart.
He hadn't even seen Yi So before departing the Imperial Capital.
'He'll hold out somehow.'
*Whoosh!*
Snowflakes swept by the wind landed on Yi Hwan's face. The chill as they melted snapped him from his reverie.
Then, the window of the next room creaked open.
*Creak!*
Jo Gwang poked his head out.
Yi Hwan looked at him, and Jo Gwang asked.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Of the war?"
Jo Gwang nodded silently. Yi Hwan smiled faintly and continued.
"War doesn't scare me. Only the fear of those I care for getting hurt."
Jo Gwang hesitated a moment before speaking.
"Why did you hide your skills? With abilities befitting a Great Prince, you could have secured a position above even the Golden Army's commander long ago."
"There are circumstances I can't reveal."
Yi Hwan answered calmly, then asked back.
"I've heard there's a rumor in Zhao Kingdom of a puppet Great Prince. Has the Crown Prince heard rumors about me?"
"There were even worse ones."
*Snicker.*
Yi Hwan let out a wry chuckle.
Well, he'd heard as much roughly when he first captured Cha Jung-kyeong.
"After seeing me and the Northern Legion slaughter Zhao's warriors, do you think you can stomach it?"
"It'll be tough, but what choice? I'll have to endure."
Yi Hwan had realized early on that Jo Gwang was straightforward. That was why he was starting to warm to him.
"Just in case, run scenarios in your head for the worst cases and how to handle them. If you slip even for a moment against Zhao's martial artists, you could lose your life."
"Understood."
"See you in the morning."
*Thud!*
Yi Hwan closed the window and threw himself onto the bed.
Moments later, Jo Gwang closed his too.
*Thud!*
* * *
The next morning.
Yi Hwan and his group headed to the Northern Legion, guided by the two generals.
The snow that had fallen all night had piled up considerably, but fortunately, it wasn't enough to hinder the warhorses.
Song Cheon-mu, bringing up the rear, took in the stark northern landscape—so different from elsewhere—and worked to calm his pounding heart.
'I absolutely won't be a burden.'
He recalled Song Cheon-ho and Yi Yeong sighing with worry for him the day before departure, and he took a quiet breath.
'Don't worry. I'll do my utmost to aid the Great Prince. And I'll return to you both alive.'
*Whoosh!*
The wind grew stronger. The snow intensified with it. After about half an hour, visibility turned a white blur in the blizzard.
The two leading generals turned and shouted back.
"It's snow that'll stop soon—don't worry!"
Ju Tae muttered.
"This isn't the kind that stops soon."
The general grinned.
"It'll clear in about half a shichen. The weather here's a bit like that."
The general's words proved spot on. Roughly half a shichen later, the snow vanished as if it had never been, and the sun rose.
Ju Tae clicked his tongue.
"Not some moody teenage girl."
*Poke!*
Cheol Mu-ok jabbed Ju Tae's side.
[The Moon Lord is right behind you.]
[......!]
Feeling a sudden prickling at the back of his neck, Ju Tae laughed awkwardly.
Their pace was very slow.
In such conditions, horses tired faster than usual. Once tired, recovery took time, so stamina management was key.
"Brief rest."
Yi Hwan called for a break and took out water to drink.
Jo Gwang and Pa Pa settled beside him. Since leaving the capital, Jo Gwang had stuck close to Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan eyed Pa Pa.
[What good is tensing up more than the Crown Prince? Remember, you're the only one guarding him—keep body and mind at peak condition.]
[I'll keep it in mind.]
Pa Pa wasn't tense from fear of war. From the capital to here, she'd never relaxed, unsure when or where assassins might strike at Jo Gwang.
Yi Hwan was pointing that out.
Pa Pa's heart ached.
'Thank you, Great Prince.'
Meanwhile, the others were busy brushing snow from the forest floor so the horses could graze.
*Whoosh!*
*Swish!*
Snow dust whipped up by the wind rose like mist.
Ju Tae let out an admiring sigh.
"Impressive. This place has its own charm."
"You've roamed the world, and you're impressed by this?"
"Snow's always like that. See it every year, but it gets the heart racing every time."
As Ju Tae's eyes grew misty with nostalgia, Cheol Mu-ok subtly furrowed his brow.
"Thinking of first love?"
"That obvious?"
*Snicker.*
Ju Tae gave a strange smile and said no more. Sensing a story there, Cheol Mu-ok didn't press. Meanwhile, the two Northern Legion generals gazed at Yi Hwan's utterly composed profile and exchanged transmissions.
[He doesn't seem tense at all.]
[He led the Southern Legion to repel Zhao's great army. Forget the old rumors.]
[First time seeing him in person, so it doesn't feel real. Still, the Commander seemed really worried. About something happening to the Great Prince. He hoped you'd bring lots of martial artists, but with just this handful...]
[Have faith in the Great Prince's word: one against a hundred.]
It was then.
A warrior of the Sword King lineage burst from the forest like the wind and reported to Yi Hwan.
"Suspicious figures ahead."
Yi Hwan turned to the two generals.
"Do our scouts come this far down?"
"No. This is south of the legion—we don't patrol here. Our juniors will check it out."
The two generals shot to their feet.
Yi Hwan instructed Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok.
"Go with them."
"Yes."
The two generals, Ju Tae, Cheol Mu-ok, and the Sword King lineage warrior who brought the news plunged into the forest.
* * *
There were ten.
They were moving along the mountain base from west to northeast.
One general said to Ju Tae.
"Our forces never come down from that direction. Looks like Zhao bastards."
"If Zhao, that means they've already crossed the border and started scouting."
"The terrain's so rugged, small groups are nearly impossible to guard against. That's why we scout their lines in small units too."
Ju Tae nodded silently and turned to Cheol Mu-ok.
"Kill 'em?"
"Yep."
Cheol Mu-ok rose and told the generals.
"Wait here."
"We'll come too."
"No. Hold position, and if any flee this way, finish them off."
"......Understood. Be careful."
"What's to be careful about? You stay with these gentlemen."
"Yes."
*Whoosh!*
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae dashed into the forest.
The two generals moved forward to a spot with a clear view of the mountain base, the Sword King warrior guarding them.
"Those two will be alright? What if they're Zhao martial artists?"
"Yeah."
One general glanced at the Sword King warrior—then looked baffled.
The warrior was staring elsewhere. Following his gaze, two rabbits played in the woods. He was smiling at them.
'What? Not worried at all?'
"It's starting."
At the general's whisper, the other general and the warrior gathered close.
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok had just launched their attack.
* * *
*Whoosh!*
*Swish...*
Through the fiercely swirling snow dust in the forest beyond, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae emerged.
The generals watching them wore faces mixed with shock and awe.
They'd watched from start to finish.
The time it took Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae to slaughter the suspected enemy scouts was barely half an hour. It was a massacre—a slaughter.
Even more astonishing, they'd captured one alive and dragged him back.
"Take him."
"Yes!"
Handing the captive to the Sword King lineage warrior, Cheol Mu-ok said to the generals.
"Let's head back."
"You two... alright?"
"Not my blood, so no worries."
"......Yes!"
* * *
Yi Hwan stared indifferently at the man writhing in agony, blood gushing from him.
Blood poured from the severed elbow, staining the surroundings red.
"Ju Tae."
"Yes."
"Drag him into the woods and get the intel. If he talks easy, kill him painlessly."
"Got it."
Ju Tae hauled the captive into the forest. Soon after, he returned alone.
"Low-rank. Nothing useful."
Yi Hwan rose indifferently, brushing off his seat.
"Move out."