Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Crisis (2)
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Northern Legion command post.
Go Mi, who had returned at Yi Hwan's command, immediately relayed his thoughts to Gwak Chung-mu.
"The Great Prince thinks that way?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Hmm..."
Gwak Chung-mu promptly instructed his deputy general.
"Send out scouts in three directions immediately to grasp the enemy's movements! Make sure they take plenty of messenger pigeons, as it might be urgent!"
"Understood!"
The deputy general dashed out, and Gwak Chung-mu asked Go Mi,
"How fares the battle?"
"Up until I left, they were gaining the upper hand thanks to good use of the terrain. The Great Prince is unharmed."
Go Mi bowed her head toward the relieved Gwak Chung-mu and promptly left the command post.
Outside, Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-kyeong were waiting for her.
"Heading back right away?"
"Rest a bit first, then go. Grab something to eat."
"Understood."
"We can leave immediately!"
"If you're drained, you'll be useless when it's time to fight. Listen to me."
"...Yes."
The three headed straight for the barracks.
* * *
It was about half a shichen later.
A general burst into the command post.
"Commander! The Southwest King of Zhao is personally leading a great army up from the southwest!"
"What?!"
"The enemy's forces number nearly two hundred thousand!"
Gwak Chung-mu and everyone else leaped to their feet. They had received Yi Hwan's concerns through Go Mi, but no one had imagined the Southwest King of Zhao would lead the main army himself.
"The Great Prince's fears were spot on. That means the enemy's vanguard was just bait for disruption."
"Hurry to your defensive lines and prepare for battle!"
"Yes!"
As the generals rushed out, Gwak Chung-mu grabbed his helmet and sword and followed. The remaining generals trailed behind him in unison.
Gwak Chung-mu immediately climbed to the watchtower.
From this high vantage, the view stretched to the horizon beyond the mountainous terrain, but it was too far to spot the enemy with the naked eye.
Moreover, with the snow cover, no dust clouds rose to pinpoint their position.
Grip!
Gwak Chung-mu's heavy gaze ignited with fire.
"If they come, we'll fight. That's all there is to it."
Ding-ding-ding!
Boom-boom-boom!
Bells and drums rang out clamorously from the front lines. Soon, alarm bells signaling enemy incursions echoed from various points in the main camp.
The troops began to move.
Warriors resting in barracks throughout the camp hurriedly rushed out and hurried to their units.
Gwak Chung-mu gazed northwest.
That was the direction Yi Hwan and the vanguard had gone. The sky there was a piercing blue.
‘Please stay safe...’
The vanguard that left with Yi Hwan numbered thirty thousand. The enemy vanguard was fifty thousand.
With the enemy main army approaching, they could no longer send reinforcements even if Yi Hwan was in danger. Though Go Mi had reported he was safe, there was no relaxing until he returned.
The deputy general said,
"We must send a messenger to the vanguard at once to order a retreat! If the enemy main force sends troops toward the Great Prince's position, they'll be caught between hammer and anvil!"
Gwak Chung-mu nodded.
"Send the messenger immediately."
"Yes!"
One general hurriedly descended the watchtower.
Gwak Chung-mu turned back to the southwestern horizon. Snowflakes swirled in the air.
The enemy advance must be shaking the snow-covered forests.
‘Come as much as you like, Jo Yun.’
* * *
Western front, Western Legion.
The Zhao forces, who had seemed poised to attack at any moment, simply withdrew, allowing the Western Legion a moment's relief.
But Yi So could find no such ease.
Word had come that the Southwest King of Zhao was leading a great army toward the Northern Legion.
Yi So spent the entire next day holed up in his barracks, agonizing over the situation. When the moon and stars rose, he summoned Gwan Ji-baek.
Gwan Ji-baek entered.
"You called for me, Your Highness."
"There's something you must do."
"Give the order, Your Highness."
"Take a small elite force and attack the northern regions of Qin. First, head to the site of the recent battle and disguise yourselves in Zhao army uniforms."
"You plan to draw Qin in to force Zhao's retreat?"
Gwan Ji-baek immediately grasped Yi So's intent.
"I've thought it over, and this seems the only way. Whatever the consequences later, we must end this war now."
"Understood. Then this general will stir up such a ruckus that Qin has no choice but to intervene, and return!"
"Be careful, Ji-baek."
"Worry not. I will return alive without fail!"
Gwan Ji-baek left the barracks.
Yi So flung open the windows and drew in a deep breath of cold air.
He then gazed toward the northern sky.
Thinking of the Northern Legion, now likely a brutal battlefield, tore at his heart.
‘I pray this plan succeeds...’
* * *
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan ran like a madman, pushing onward relentlessly.
He didn't even notice the growing distance from his pursuing aides; his mind was consumed with reaching the main camp as fast as possible.
‘If the Zhao main army raids the camp, the martial artists with them will be on another level. We have to be there to hold out!’
Rumble!
Thunder boomed.
The sky had long turned pitch black, but Yi Hwan hadn't noticed even that. All he cared about was averting the disaster from his misjudgment.
Pour!
It began to rain—not snow.
Yi Hwan finally realized the weather had changed.
He looked up at the sky while running. Thick storm clouds blanketed everything in darkness.
‘Even heaven isn't on my side this time?’
In the current situation, rain was a disaster.
The Northern Legion's main camp sat on relatively high ground, where the accumulated snow would greatly aid in battling the great army.
But if the rain melted it, that advantage would vanish.
Pour!
The downpour grew fiercer.
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning webbed across the nearby sky. It was a dangerous situation, but Yi Hwan had no intention of slowing.
Meanwhile, Hwa Ryeong's breathing grew labored as she followed. Having fought the enemy in her imperfect state, then racing full tilt without rest, her stamina was depleting rapidly.
Just then, Ju Tae, who had glanced back at her, swiftly pressed his palm to her back and infused her with qi.
Even in that moment, Hwa Ryeong flashed a pouty smile.
"I'll pay you back double later."
"Don't even think about it."
"Of course. Thanks anyway."
Hwa Ryeong took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on Yi Hwan, already fifty paces ahead.
‘He was never my match from the start. Should I be grateful to those guys now?’
The canyon battle.
She had seen it clearly then: Yi Hwan's terrifying power and brutality, beyond her imagination.
‘Killing that bastard so easily. He was hiding even more strength.’
She couldn't deny it after witnessing him mercilessly slay Unhochu, who had matched her.
So she was grateful for the two the Empress had sent. Without them, she might be dead by Yi Hwan's hand by now.
Chill!
Hwa Ryeong shuddered and shook her head vigorously.
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning struck nearby again.
Suddenly, Hwa Ryeong gave a wry smile.
‘My life's turned into a wild rollercoaster all of a sudden.’
* * *
Pour!
It was an unusually heavy rain for winter.
Southwest King Jo Yun disliked this rain. In mountainous terrain battles, torrential rain could introduce major variables.
"If only it would just melt the snow..."
He had welcomed it at first. But as the rain intensified, that feeling faded.
"Bring the map."
"Here it is."
Jo Yun unrolled the map.
It detailed Yeon Kingdom's Northern Legion and the surrounding terrain meticulously.
Jo Yun's brow furrowed.
"This rain will favor the Yeon dogs."
"With the Northern Legion on high ground, the mud from the rain could hinder our attack."
"The cavalry will be useless."
"Even without rain, do we need cavalry? Infantry alone can finish them."
Jo Yun's aide was confident of victory.
In fact, everyone felt the same.
Jo Yun did too. But he was extremely cautious by nature and pursued perfection, never letting his guard down.
"Complacency is forbidden. Approach like a tiger hunting a rabbit."
Jo Yun handed the map back to his aide and gazed ahead. They still had a long way through the vast mountains.
"First, send an envoy to demand Jo Gwang. Tell them if they refuse, we'll slaughter every last dog in the camp."
"What if they hand over the Young Lord willingly?"
"They're not the type. They know handing him over would make them a laughingstock. If they do anyway, tell them we'll show mercy."
"Understood."
Moments later, the envoy spurred his warhorse and galloped off like the wind. Jo Yun watched his receding figure, frowning slightly.
"I wonder if that boy's doing well."
"Don't worry too much. The Young Lord has more experience than anyone; he'll handle it."
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning spiderwebbed overhead. Jo Yun didn't blink as he kicked his warhorse's flank.
"Increase speed."
"Increase speed!"
Thud-thud-thud!
* * *
"Hoo!"
Hot breath escaped Yi Hwan's mouth.
Having run an immense distance without pause, even he couldn't avoid ragged breathing.
Yet he didn't slow.
How much farther did they go?
At last, the Northern Legion camp came into view. Yi Hwan finally glanced back.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae trailed twenty paces behind. Beyond them were Hwa Ryeong and the Yi Wang lineage warriors.
Yi Hwan peered further.
Fortunately, no sign of the Zhao troops who had detoured around the canyon toward the main camp.
Yi Hwan halted briefly.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae landed beside him.
"Hoo!"
"I'm dying!"
The two bent at the waist, gasping heavily.
Steam rose from their bodies, evidence of their grueling sprint.
Moments later, Hwa Ryeong and the Yi Wang warriors landed nearby. No sooner had she touched down than Hwa Ryeong collapsed onto the rain-soaked grass.
"Hah-hah-hah!"
"I'll go ahead. Catch your breath and follow."
Yi Hwan kicked off again.
Cheol Mu-ok moved to pursue but glanced at Hwa Ryeong and took a low breath.
"We rest one gak, then move."
"Aaah!"
Hwa Ryeong screamed and flopped flat on her back. Her rain-drenched clothes clung transparently to her ample bosom, prompting Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae to discreetly avert their eyes.
Ju Tae leaned against a tree and said,
"She seems pretty pissed."
"Yeah, she does."
"Is it because he scrapped the surprise attack for delay tactics?"
"Probably. It was the right call then, but it played into the enemy's hands in the end."
"Can we really hold out? If they're hitting the main camp with a disruption ploy, their numbers are huge, and the martial artists with them will be leagues beyond what we've faced."
At Ju Tae's words, Cheol Mu-ok's eyes grew heavy. He shared the concern.
"We hold somehow."
Ju Tae suddenly gave a wry smile.
"Ever since meeting the lord, my life's gone totally off the rails. Never imagined living like this."
"What life did you want?"
"What kind? A true martial artist's life, unbound by anyone."
"I'll tell the lord exactly that."
"You're joking, right?"
"Dead serious."
"Damn!"
Rumble!
Crack!
"Why the hell is this lightning keeps striking?"
Ju Tae grumbled, his breathing now steady. Cheol Mu-ok glanced at Hwa Ryeong again.
She lay there still, panting heavily.
That's when it happened.
"Someone's coming."
Ju Tae murmured lowly, hand on his sword hilt.
The bushes beyond the woods rustled. Moments later, figures emerged.
Ju Tae lowered his hand from the hilt.
It was Go Mi, Song Cheon-mu, and Cha Jung-kyeong. Go Mi's eyes widened as she asked,
"Where's the Great Prince?"
"He went ahead to the camp."
Confirming Yi Hwan's safety, Go Mi sighed in relief and eyed Hwa Ryeong sprawled on the wet ground. Hwa Ryeong grinned cheekily from her prone position, and Go Mi promptly turned away.
‘What a pain in the ass that girl is.’