Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Using the Paeng Family
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Evening, as darkness began to settle.
Paeng Mu-wi dined with alcohol at hand, conversing idly with his close aides.
One aide spoke in a grave tone.
“The merits from the last operation all went to the Great Prince and the Dragon-Tiger Army. At this rate, there’s bound to be trouble with the plan, so we need to find a more certain and swift method.”
“Indeed. After those two battles, the way people see us has clearly worsened even more than at the start.”
Thud!
Paeng Mu-wi, appetite lost, slammed down his chopsticks in irritation.
“The Great Prince was hiding his true abilities, and now it’s out in the open. Of course, it’s not cause for major concern, but we must reassess him entirely from here on. Just to be safe, shouldn’t we report it now?”
Paeng Mu-wi drained his cup and shook his head.
“He’s a prince by name—naturally he’d have that level of skill. Nothing surprising, so don’t make a fuss.”
“Is that wise? The Second Prince ordered reports on even the smallest matters.”
“That bastard! I’ll handle it!”
“……Yes.”
That was when it happened. A warrior opened the door and entered.
“General, the Great Prince is here.”
Twitch.
“What?”
“He’s waiting outside.”
“This guy—what scheme is he cooking up now…….”
Paeng Mu-wi’s face flushed red as he recalled the absurd humiliation from that morning.
But he couldn’t very well ignore the visiting Yi Hwan, so he rose and headed out.
Yi Hwan and Song Hoe stood there.
“Please, come in, Great Prince.”
“Did I interrupt your meal?”
“Not at all. I was just setting down my chopsticks. But what brings you…….”
“You plan to leave us standing?”
“Ah…… Please, inside.”
As Yi Hwan entered, Paeng Mu-wi’s aides bowed their heads and filed out.
“Prepare some tea.”
“Yes.”
Paeng Mu-wi yielded the seat of honor to Yi Hwan and sat opposite. Yi Hwan said nothing until the tea arrived.
To Paeng Mu-wi, the wait was excruciatingly irritating. But he couldn’t show it, so he endured.
Moments later, the tea arrived.
Yi Hwan finally spoke.
“The Hebei Paeng Family once enjoyed great renown. Your ancestor Paeng Do-seong even ascended to the ranks of the world’s Five Great Experts.”
“A faded glory of the past, nothing more.”
He answered evenly, but Paeng Mu-wi was startled inwardly.
‘How does this fellow know that…….’
Paeng Do-seong was a figure from two centuries past, revered in the Paeng Family nearly as a deity. Just as Yi Hwan said, he had earned a place among the Five Great Experts, dominating his era with unmatched fame.
‘Does this man delve deeply into martial history? How did he even learn of it?’
“General.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Truth be told, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor, you say…….”
Yi Hwan drew something from his bosom and set it on the table.
Thud.
Paeng Mu-wi’s eyes drifted naturally to it. Yi Hwan had placed a single map there.
“What is this map?”
“Found it in the command tent. As you know, the tent I’m using belonged to the enemy commander overseeing this sector—he must not have had time to take it in retreat.”
Yi Hwan lied with perfect composure. Unaware, Paeng Mu-wi took interest in the map.
Yi Hwan fanned that interest.
“If I’m right, this is almost certainly a treasure map. It doesn’t look like any military chart, does it?”
“That’s how it appears to me as well.”
Paeng Mu-wi fixed Yi Hwan with a stare. His eyes demanding to know why he was showing it.
“I heard you recently joined my second brother’s command. That makes us all but family—who else could I trust?”
‘On good terms with the Second Prince?’
Yi Hwan pressed on without pause.
“What if we searched for it together?”
“…….”
“If it proves a treasure map with vast riches, you’d claim major merit. With my second brother, of course.”
The word “merit” shook Paeng Mu-wi. Suspicion lingered, though.
‘Handing me a shot at merit? Why?’
Yi Hwan’s next words dissolved that doubt like melting snow.
“Truthfully, I’d love to claim it all solo, but venturing into enemy lines? Not a chance. Nor do I command warriors of your caliber in numbers.”
Paeng Mu-wi’s eyes narrowed.
A reason like that rang true enough. Better to secure his cut than let it go to waste entirely, even if sharing profit.
‘If this truly is a treasure map—if we haul in mountains of wealth…….’
Thump thump.
Paeng Mu-wi steadied his racing heart and asked calmly.
“‘Together’ means you’ll move out personally, Great Prince?”
“A Great Prince meddling in such matters? Hardly. My deputy general will accompany you instead.”
Paeng Mu-wi realized it then. Song Hoe stood in full battle gear.
“You mean now?”
“Strike while the iron’s hot.”
Yi Hwan sipped his tea and continued.
“The Zhao Kingdom’s in chaos after losing their camp. While the enemy scrambles to regroup, your personal lead, General, should ensure easy success.”
“Hmm…….”
“I won’t press if you’re reluctant. Though I’d have to approach Commander Hwang then.”
“No need. I’ll do it.”
Hwang Ho was Paeng Mu-wi’s Achilles’ heel. He needed that man’s post—couldn’t cede merit now.
Paeng Mu-wi asked.
“Success means—what for you, Great Prince?”
What do you want?
Yi Hwan raised three fingers wordlessly.
“What’s that mean?”
“I brought the treasure map. Three-tenths of whatever’s there should be mine, no?”
Paeng Mu-wi sneered inwardly.
‘Not just skills he was hiding.’
Glimpsing Yi Hwan’s avarice, Paeng Mu-wi replied with steel in his gaze.
“Understood. With your trust like this, how could I refuse? We move at once. But should trouble arise, your intervention would be most appreciated.”
“Worry not on that score. I can handle smoothing that much over.”
* * *
Moments later, Paeng Mu-wi and the Paeng Family elites donned martial robes over military garb and slipped into the dark.
Yi Hwan clapped a hand on Song Hoe’s shoulder. Song Hoe had changed into Paeng Family martial attire.
“Stay sharp. Remember what I told you.”
“You sure this is fine?”
“I have plans. You just stick to the mission.”
“Got it. I’ll be off then.”
Yi Hwan eyed Paeng Mu-wi.
“Success or failure—this stays our secret.”
“Naturally. I’ll be off.”
Yi Hwan watched them vanish into shadow, then departed Paeng Mu-wi’s tent.
But not toward his own—instead, the path Paeng Mu-wi’s group had taken.
* * *
Others moved through the dark as well. A man and one in blue robes.
The blue-robed one peered at the woods behind Paeng Mu-wi’s tent and muttered.
“Tracking scent’s heading that way. But slinking like rats at this hour—what for?”
“Doesn’t matter. We head for the Great Prince.”
“I’ll scout first.”
The blue-robed man moved toward Yi Hwan’s tent. The man crossed arms, eyes shut, awaiting return.
‘Did he truly uncover the tracking scent and dose another?’
It nagged at him.
If Cha Jung-kyeong had spilled all, it meant he knew of their pursuit.
Yet Yi Hwan’s demeanor stayed routine—no signs of ambush prep. Had to be intent behind it.
‘Tonight it ends. Yeon Kingdom’s Great Prince or not—if he’s their descendant, no mercy.’
The man hardened resolve, waiting.
Some half-hour passed?
The blue-robed man returned.
“No Great Prince.”
“What?”
“Checked the opposite tent where the scent paused en route too. Left General’s gone, and quite a few others.”
The man’s gaze swung naturally to the tracking scent’s forest path.
“So the Great Prince moved with them?”
“Seems likely.”
The man rose slowly.
“We tail them.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Yi Hwan glided silently through the gloom.
Stealth arts mastered, trailing undetected was child’s play.
‘Hebei Paeng Family—dumb as ever, then and now.’
Amusement bubbled up.
Treasure map or not—that was irrelevant. Enemy valuables meant tight guard, yet merit-blind Paeng Mu-wi swallowed his words whole, blind to it.
Yi Hwan aimed elsewhere, of course.
‘Use Paeng muscle to gauge their prowess.’
Plip plop!
Raindrops fell.
To Yi Hwan, needing perfect secrecy, most welcome.
‘Not bad.’
* * *
Pouring sheets!
Deep mountains flaunt fickle skies at times. Tonight proved it.
Brief shower swelled to torrent. Gale winds howled besides—ideal for Yi Hwan.
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning pierced the black.
Yi Hwan shadowed Paeng Mu-wi from thirty zhang off, flank position.
His true focus lay rearward. Certain his stalkers—the man and blue-robe—would follow.
How much longer?
Faint presence snagged Yi Hwan’s senses from behind. He shifted higher.
Soon, man and blue-robe emerged from dark into view.
‘Banking on storm and gale to mask—no effort to hide further. Naturally—they figure I’m with the group.’
Just as Yi Hwan willed, it unfolded.
* * *
[Heading into Zhao Kingdom!]
[Great Prince first.]
Blue-robe amplified vision via qi, piercing dark to track the movers keenly.
[Thick woods block moonlight, all in same garb—hard to ID. Closer’d help, but detection risk spikes.]
Man pondered same. No backing off now, though.
[Tail till confirmed.]
[Yes.]
They kept prudent distance in pursuit. Storm and blast aided, but too close spelled doom.
Hebei Paeng scorned at peril. Left General Paeng Mu-wi? Past Paeng legend.
Fight? Winnable confidence. But no move sans Yi Hwan sighting.
Rumble!
Crack!
Bolts intensified. Deluge, gusts raged fiercer.
Dense wood yielded to barren plain. Plain? Reeds to man-height—forest proxy.
Man and blue-robe crouched low in cover, tailing. No glances back—luck held.
[Past this plain: Zhao soil. Midnight antics—what?]
[Damn it! Eyes front!]
[……Apologies.]
Then—dark sliced. Incoming: stout branch.
Dropped afore man and blue-robe.
Thud!
“Eh!”
Blue-robe’s yelp escaped. Ahead, Paeng Mu-wi and Paeng warriors whirled as one. Overhead, lightning webbed.
Crack!
Brightness bloomed—snaking trail of man and blue-robe glared vivid.
Paeng warriors froze, pivoted.
“Who goes there!”