Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Youth, Yang Chan
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A small village near the capital of the Zhao Kingdom.
Yang Chan stood atop the ridge overlooking the village, unable to conceal his conflicted emotions.
It was a village where he had lived for quite some time. Though not his birthplace, it felt no different from a hometown, and the neighbors had treated him like family.
Yet that village had been transformed into a military camp.
Traces of the village lingered here and there, but the newly erected barracks and hundreds of warehouses lined up in rows bore no resemblance to the village etched in his heart.
‘Southwest King….’
The one responsible for this change was none other than the Southwest King. He had driven out all the residents and established a camp, and now they were expanding it by carving away at the mountains. All of it had happened while he was away in Yunnan Province.
Yang Chan sat down on a rock. He took a swig from the bottle in his hand.
Gulp, gulp!
Whoosh!
The wind blowing after the rain was quite chilly. Yet Yang Chan’s chest burned hotter with each passing moment.
“I was so pleased to have completed Ancestor’s Poison Technique…”
Yang Chan kept his eyes fixed on the village until the bottle was empty.
How much time passed?
Rustling sounds came from behind, and figures emerged from the forest, pushing through the brush.
They were armed warriors.
Yang Chan didn’t even turn around. One warrior spotted him and shouted coldly.
“Are you from that village?”
Yang Chan gave no reply.
The warrior’s gaze sharpened as he stepped forward, placing a hand on his sword hilt.
“State your identity!”
Yang Chan finally regarded the warrior.
“I’m from that village, yes. So just be on your way.”
“Travel permit!”
Yang Chan pulled out his travel permit and held it out.
“Yunnan Province?”
“That’s my hometown.”
The warrior scanned Yang Chan from head to toe. Then he barked coldly once more.
“You’re coming with us. Get down here now.”
“Where to?”
“A murder happened nearby a few days ago. We’re hunting the culprit. We’ll question you, and if it’s not you, you go free.”
Yang Chan slowly eyed the other warriors. Another spoke in a menacing tone.
“Hey, staring down government warriors like that could get you flogged. Get down here!”
At that, Yang Chan finally descended from the rock.
One warrior leveled his sword at Yang Chan’s throat.
“Try anything funny, and your head rolls!”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
* * *
As Yang Chan entered the military camp, he surveyed his surroundings. Warriors trained everywhere, and among them were a fair number of martial artists.
A general bellowed.
“Hey! You catch the killer?”
“Found him loitering nearby. Taking him in for questioning!”
“Don’t let your guard down. Last thing I want is getting poisoned over nothing!”
“Yes, sir!”
One warrior muttered under his breath.
“That bastard’s really laying into the curses.”
“Didn’t he say he’s shipping out to the front soon?”
“Three days from now. Guy’s about to leave and still drilling like mad. No wonder he’s such a weirdo. Heh heh.”
“That’s why they call him blockhead.”
“Damn right. Heh heh.”
“Kee hee hee!”
Moments later, Yang Chan followed the warriors into a building. The instant he stepped inside, a nauseating stench of blood assaulted his senses.
Yang Chan’s eyes shifted upon seeing several corpses strewn carelessly in one corner. They were half-covered with burlap sacks, but sloppily so, with dried, blood-crusted limbs protruding.
Yang Chan asked impassively.
“Why are they dead?”
“Lie, and you’ll end up the same. Answer the investigator truthfully.”
“These folks got dragged in for questioning like me and wound up like that?”
“Kid’s got some smarts.”
“Move it!”
That was when it happened.
“Who’s that?”
A thick, gravelly voice rang out as a hulking man shoved open the door and strode forth. He was bare-chested, his upper body slick with blood, a whip studded with iron spikes gripped in his hand.
“Greetings, Investigator!”
“Who is he, you idiots!”
“Caught him wandering nearby. Claims he lived in the village, but his permit says Yunnan. Suspicious type—give him a good going-over.”
“No time right now. We deploy soon, so gear up quick!”
“Deploy where?”
“Heard our unit’s reinforcing since they let Yeon Kingdom’s Fourth Imperial Prince slip away. His Highness is livid. Anyone gotta piss, do it now and fall in!”
“What about this one?”
“Toss him in the brig for now.”
“Roger.”
Meanwhile, Yang Chan stared off at an unexpected spot—the roof of the camp’s tallest building.
Crack!
The burly man seized his nape with crushing force.
“Inside!”
* * *
“Did he spot us?”
“Who knows.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong frowned as they watched Yang Chan get hauled into the building. Just before, he had stared right at them.
Hwa Ryeong cocked her head.
“Angle from there shouldn’t reach us at all.”
“Captured guy. Forget him.”
“Right.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong soon began scouting the camp. Moments later, troops poured in from the south side.
“Why the rush?”
“Most aren’t in heavy armor, so probably not off to fight. We move for real once they clear out.”
“Got it. Ah! Nice.”
Hwa Ryeong abruptly sprawled out, gazing at the sky. To Go Mi, she seemed to be enjoying the whole affair.
‘Is she gutsy or just reckless?’
Go Mi turned her gaze back to the building Yang Chan had entered.
The men who brought him were hurrying out, dozens more surging behind.
‘Screams coming from there nonstop. Must be where they torture or lock up criminals…’
That was when it happened.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae appeared atop the roof of Yang Chan’s building.
‘When’d they get up there?’
Ju Tae grinned and waved; Go Mi flushed awkwardly and looked away.
‘What’s his deal.’
* * *
Clang!
Yang Chan was thrown into the prison.
He peered through the bars, scanning the cells. Agonized groans echoed from all around. Across from him, two men lay sprawled—no movement at all, likely dead.
Then a guard-like warrior entered the corridor. Yang Chan called out at once.
“Hey.”
“What!”
“Those guys arrested for the murder too?”
“None of your business. Shut your trap till I say otherwise.”
“Fine, but check on them. Been like that a while.”
“Quiet!”
Bang!
The warrior smashed an iron hammer against the bars, the clang reverberating down the hall.
“One more peep, and you’re first! Got it?”
Yang Chan retreated wordlessly and sat on the floor. The warrior shot him a venomous glare before moving on.
Yang Chan leaned against the wall with a bitter smile.
‘For that peaceful place to turn into this…’
Memories of the serene village flooded back. His resentment toward Southwest King Jo Yun, who had evicted the villagers and turned it into a camp, grew ever stronger.
Yang Chan lay flat on the floor.
Then he recalled the camp warriors’ earlier chatter.
‘Why chase Yeon Kingdom’s Fourth Imperial Prince?’
Yang Chan had heard the rumors about Yeon Kingdom and Fourth Imperial Prince Yi Hwan. Word that he’d beheaded Zhao’s peerless general Han Seom had spread across the kingdom.
But Yang Chan didn’t buy it.
‘Just talk. Han Seom’s no imperial princeling could take down. Now, what to do here?’
That was when it happened.
“Hey.”
Yang Chan sat up. A man stood beyond the bars of the cell to his left across the way.
Yang Chan’s eyes went wide.
“Village Head!”
The elder was this village’s headman—the one who’d always doted on Yang Chan like a son.
“Oh! It really is you!”
“Why’re you locked up here, Village Head?”
“Went to demand our promised payout and ended up like this. But you—how’d they snag you?”
Yang Chan countered.
“Where’re the other villagers?”
“Chased off to the bamboo groves. You know as well as I—no place for people. But swords at our throats? Had to go to survive.”
“The kids—all safe?”
The village head shook his head feebly.
“Butcher shop’s two boys charged the warriors and got killed. Kids that age, cut down like animals. Sigh…”
Tremble…
Yang Chan’s gaze quivered.
The butcher’s sons were just twelve and fourteen—always trailing after Yang Chan, whom he cherished like little brothers.
“Grief over the boys drove the butcher couple to take their own lives. Five days ago. Heaven’s cruel. How’s a monster like that gunning for our throne? Sigh…”
He meant Southwest King Jo Yun.
Yang Chan squeezed his eyes shut.
That was when it happened.
“Hey, old timer!”
A coarse voice barked as three warriors approached the village head’s cell. One shoved an iron cudgel through the bars, smashing the village head’s face.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
“Words won’t work on this geezer. Open it!”
“Yes!”
The warrior who struck approached Yang Chan, growling.
“Told you to shut it and stay put. Hey! This one too!”
“Yes, squad leader!”
Even as another unlocked the door, Yang Chan stared at the village head—sprawled, bleeding, motionless.
“Hands on head! Out!”
Yang Chan stepped forth. He moved straight for the village head.
The warrior reaching first crumpled bonelessly. The door-opener clutched his throat, staggering; the squad leader’s face melted away.
“Gaaah…”
Yang Chan scooped up the village head.
He was already unconscious.
“What’s going on!”
“Freeze!”
Warriors burst from the corridor’s end. But they spewed blood and dropped before closing the distance.
“Gack!”
“Koff!”
Thud!
Crash!
Yang Chan carried the village head outside.
Unlike the trip in, it was quiet. Most warriors had sortied after Yi Hwan.
Not every last one, though.
“Hey, who’re you!”
“Prison break!”
Warriors swarmed from all sides.
Deep in Yang Chan’s icy pupils, a glint of murder intent bloomed. But it didn’t ignite into slaughter.
Priority one: get the village head out.
Bang!
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
Yang Chan’s phenomenal lightness skill left the charging warriors gaping at empty air—a realm beyond their wildest dreams.
“Wh-who dragged a master like that here?”
* * *
“Hm?”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae’s eyes flashed as Yang Chan rocketed skyward from the roof.
“Incredible lightness skill.”
“Why’d a master like that get caught here? How’d they even catch him?”
“Wasn’t caught. Walked in himself.”
As they voiced their puzzlement, Yang Chan shrank to a black speck, vanishing into the distance.
Ju Tae whistled.
“Seeing lightness skill like that here of all places. World’s vast, full of freaks like sand on the shore—truth indeed.”
“Hope you learned something.”
“Meaning?”
“You thrash about ignorant of the world’s breadth or heaven’s height. Had me worried.”
“Says you.”
Snicker.
“Let’s go. Moon Lord’s calling.”