Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Pursued
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The bustling market streets of the splendid city.
Yi Hwan and Pa Pa entered a shabby inn on the outskirts of the market street.
Though only a short distance from the city center, the street was so rundown and deserted that scarcely a soul could be seen. An old woman dozing off at the counter greeted the two.
"Welcome."
"One boiled chicken and a bottle of rice wine."
"Yes, yes."
Yi Hwan and Pa Pa took seats where they had a good view of the outside. Yi Hwan asked,
"Did you come here on purpose?"
"It's a place where the warriors who followed Your Highness would occasionally gather. That old woman just now is one of them. She simply didn't recognize me because I'm in disguise."
In truth, they had changed their destination from a rural village to here because of Pa Pa.
Yi Hwan nodded silently and carefully scanned the interior of the inn. Cobwebs hung everywhere, a sign that hardly any customers came by.
Just then, the old woman brought the wine first.
Her hunched back and wrinkled face made it impossible to see her as a martial artist, but Yi Hwan had noticed from the moment they entered that she was a martial artist who had cultivated internal energy arts.
"The fire's just been lit, so please wait a moment."
"No rush—take your time and cook it well."
"Yes, yes."
The old woman left.
Yi Hwan asked again.
"Is there a special reason you haven't revealed your identity to the old woman?"
"I can't trust her yet."
"You're worried she might have turned."
"Quite a few have betrayed us. The ambush by the Southwest King's forces was likely due to traitors leaking information beforehand."
It was fully understandable.
Nothing hurt or tormented like betrayal. Pa Pa continued,
"I'll stay the night and gauge her true intentions. If I judge her trustworthy, then I'll call in the warriors."
"They'd better be useful."
"There are several who could be of help. That is, if they haven't fled or betrayed us."
"I'll keep my expectations in check."
"Have a drink."
Pa Pa uncorked the bottle and poured into Yi Hwan's cup. Glug glug.
"Drink up."
"I don't drink."
"If you don't want to arouse suspicion, at least pretend to. That old woman might have turned, you know."
"......Understood."
Yi Hwan glanced outside.
His eyes sharpened when he saw a group of warriors passing by. All armed, they were hurrying somewhere.
'Something must have happened.'
At that moment, two men entered the inn.
They were burly men in ordinary attire, the kind easily seen anywhere in the market streets. No sooner had they sat than they began grumbling.
"The streets feel damn ominous. Shit!"
"I heard there's been a murder case. Dozens killed in just a few days, and yesterday there was even a prison break from the military camp. Quite a few warriors died there too, apparently."
"Such things happened?"
"Stuck in the brothels day in and day out, no wonder your ears are deaf. Tsk tsk tsk."
"So that's why warriors are swarming every street to catch the culprit?"
"Even the Black Dragon Hall Leader got hit. Right in his own residence. No wonder everything's in an uproar. Everyone knows he's one of the Southwest King's money sources."
"Whoa! If the Black Dragon Hall Leader's dead, the killer must be some insane master!"
"That's how it looks."
Pa Pa sent a transmission to Yi Hwan upon hearing the burly men's conversation.
[The death of the Black Dragon Hall Leader is a major incident. As they say, he was providing financial support to the Southwest King.]
[It could be your side's doing. If they know the purpose of the All-Heavens Martial Conference, even I wouldn't sit idle.]
[I hope so.]
Pa Pa was encouraged.
If it was an act by the forces loyal to Jo Gwang, as Yi Hwan suggested, then there was still hope. In truth, on the way here, she had been worried they might all have scattered.
'Please, don't have lost your resolve.'
It was Pa Pa's earnest wish.
The burly men's conversation continued.
"But they say most of the dead were poisoned. Especially the Black Dragon Hall Leader—his face melted down to the bone. Hit with some viciously potent poison."
"Maybe they killed him and dusted him with Bone-Melting Powder?"
"Bone-Melting Powder would've dissolved the bones too, you idiot."
"Right. So definitely the work of a poison technique user."
"That's how it seems. That's why the uproar's even worse. Think about it—with the martial conference just days away, what if a poison-using martial master shows up and unleashes hell there?"
"God, just thinking about it makes me dizzy."
Yi Hwan asked Pa Pa,
[Was there a poison technique master in the Zhao Kingdom?]
[First I've heard of it. Other kingdoms are the same, but Zhao strictly bans poison techniques. That's why the Sichuan Tang Clan was wiped out by the court.]
It was true.
Even Yeon Kingdom controlled poisons as strictly as gunpowder. Even small amounts in circulation were closely monitored by the authorities, and violators faced harsh punishments.
'I wonder if his descendants have properly maintained their lineage.'
Yi Hwan thought of the Poison King's descendants, who had yet to appear.
With all kingdoms strictly controlling poisons, their lives must be harsher than anyone's. Their line might even have died out.
Yet a poison technique master had appeared in Zhao. Right before the All-Heavens Martial Conference, with the eyes and ears of the world focused on it.
'If even the Blood Demon's descendants are intact, his descendants would be absolutely essential......'
Even in his own era, the Poison King's presence had been absolute. Because if he moved in earnest, he could annihilate most forces, there had been many who feared him more than Yi Hwan.
'From anywhere, please let someone be carrying on his legacy.'
Yi Hwan emptied his cup, recalling the Poison King who always smiled brightly at him.
Clink.
Just then, the old woman brought the boiled chicken and two bowls of rice.
"I've got another one boiling, so let me know if you need more."
"Bring another bottle of wine."
Yi Hwan and Pa Pa began eating.
In truth, since crossing into Zhao territory, they hadn't had a proper meal due to evading pursuers. This was their first meal of the day.
Pa Pa tore off a chicken leg and placed it on Yi Hwan's plate. As Yi Hwan stared at her, she smiled faintly and said,
"I've been ordered to serve you well. And it's my heartfelt wish."
"......"
Yi Hwan started to say it wasn't necessary but stopped. Pa Pa then poured more wine into his cup.
Glug glug.
"No need to go to Mount Emei?"
"I want to, but it's too far......"
"No disciples active near the Imperial Palace?"
"There were quite a few, but they're all dead. Thanks to their sacrifice, Your Highness was able to reach Yeon Kingdom."
Pain flickered in Pa Pa's eyes. Yi Hwan felt unnecessarily sorry for probing the wound.
Losing one's sect disciples must be like losing family.
After finishing the meal, Yi Hwan and Pa Pa went up to the second floor. There were only four rooms total, but unlike the shabby first floor, they were fairly clean.
Yi Hwan's eyes sharpened at the sight of the door handles.
All four handles were blackened with soot, yet gleamed with polish.
"Quite a few people have been coming and going recently."
"I'll check when I get the chance."
Pa Pa opened the door to the room where Yi Hwan would stay. It was the largest and most tidy.
"Rest a bit too, Pa Pa."
"Yes. Rest well, Great Prince."
"The title."
"......My apologies."
Yi Hwan entered the room, shed his outer robe, and lay down on the bed. The softness made fatigue crash over him suddenly.
* * *
[Great Prince.]
At Pa Pa's voice, Yi Hwan opened his eyes. Darkness had already fallen thick outside the window.
'How long did I sleep?'
He flicked his hand, and the door opened on its own as Pa Pa entered.
"You must have been exhausted. You slept so soundly I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
"How much time has passed?"
"About one hourglass."
Yi Hwan was dumbfounded. No matter how tired, to sleep for a full hour oblivious in enemy territory.
"We should move."
Yi Hwan was about to ask why when he spotted blood on Pa Pa's finger and furrowed his brow.
"She's turned."
"Yes. And I've confirmed this place is a hunting ground for martial artists supporting the Crown Prince. Southwest King's warriors will arrive soon—hurry."
Yi Hwan donned his outer robe and stepped into the hallway. The door at the end was open. Glancing in on the way down, he saw the old woman collapsed, bleeding.
'To sleep so deeply through something like this.'
Yi Hwan was dumbfounded once more.
"Anywhere to go?"
"None. This was our last hope."
Deep despair colored Pa Pa's voice. Yi Hwan started to comfort her but headed down the stairs.
It was then.
Bang!
The sound of the first-floor door opening rang out.
[Out the window!]
* * *
Yi Hwan watched the inn from the rooftop of the opposite building. Through the window of the room where the old woman lay dead, he saw figures clad head to toe in blood-red robes. Even from this distance, their thick demonic aura was vividly felt.
[The ones called the Shadows of the Southwest King.]
[No more detailed information?]
[They serve only the Southwest King, so everything about them is shrouded in mystery.]
'Blood Demon's descendants?'
His first guess was them.
If they were so favored by the Southwest King, the likelihood was high.
'Kill them first and see?'
As Yi Hwan pondered, Pa Pa urged,
[We must leave quickly, Great Prince.]
Yi Hwan shook off his hesitation.
[To the rendezvous point.]
[Yes.]
* * *
One more day remained until the meeting with Go Mi's group. But with Pa Pa's plans disrupted, Yi Hwan had no choice but to head to the rendezvous a day early.
The two cut through the darkness toward the rendezvous. Checkpoints were everywhere along the way.
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow, recalling the murder case he'd overheard at the inn.
"Better hide for a bit and move."
"Over there."
Pa Pa pointed to the left side of the city.
"Retired generals live there, so they won't checkpoint that far."
Not wanting to cause a commotion, Yi Hwan headed where she indicated.
They had to sneak past two more checkpoints on the way. Soon, they reached the destination and climbed to the back of a grand hall as majestic as a palace.
It was a dense bamboo grove.
Yi Hwan sat in a spot thick with fallen leaves, Pa Pa a little to the side.
Yi Hwan looked straight at Pa Pa's heavily downcast face and said,
"I'll find a way to gather your comrades, so shake it off."
"That woman was our only contact. Now we have no way to reach them."
"Were you someone who gives up so easily?"
"......"
"For the Crown Prince's sake, at least, don't give up so easily."
"My apologies. I lost control of my emotions and showed a pathetic side. I'm sorry."
Pa Pa bowed her head and bit her lip.
Whoosh!
Rustle!
The wind blew, shaking the bamboo grove.
Leaves lifted by the wind swirled up, blocking Yi Hwan's view.
It was then.
In that fleeting instant, Yi Hwan caught movement beyond the leaves. Figures in blood-red robes, just like those at the inn.
They were flying straight toward where he and Pa Pa sat.
"Looks like we've been spotted."
Pa Pa shot to her feet.
"Follow me."
Pa Pa!
Pa Pa dashed north, and Yi Hwan followed, glancing back.
Five in total.
All pursuing with exquisite lightness skills.
'How did they track us?'
Reviewing his memory, he hadn't left any traceable signs.
Then Pa Pa changed direction. Yi Hwan followed, drawing the latch on his sword sheath.
Click.