Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Great Catastrophe
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“Great Prince!”
Go Mi jumped to her feet upon seeing Yi Hwan enter the room, his face as pale as wax. Pa Pa and Hwa Ryeong also looked him over in alarm.
“It’s nothing. No need to make a fuss.”
Yi Hwan sat on the edge of the bed. Cheol Mu-ok brought him a bowl of cold water.
He drained it in one gulp, then leaned against the wall and spoke.
“Security around the tournament grounds will be even tighter tomorrow. So don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”
“Tell us what happened.”
At Cheol Mu-ok’s words, Yi Hwan turned to Hwa Ryeong and Pa Pa.
Pa Pa asked,
“Is this something we shouldn’t hear?”
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan looked at Hwa Ryeong. She gave him an incredulous look.
“Does that glance mean you don’t trust me?”
When Yi Hwan said nothing, Hwa Ryeong glared at him with hurt eyes and turned away sharply.
“Then I’ll step out.”
“If you promise to keep it secret, I’ll tell you too.”
At that, Hwa Ryeong turned back.
“Want to pinky swear?”
A chuckle escaped him.
“Got any liquor?”
“Liquor’s bad for your internal injuries.”
“I’m fine. Bring it.”
Go Mi fetched a bottle from the corner of the room. Yi Hwan emptied it in one go and began recounting the secret history from two hundred years ago.
As the tale of the martial world’s hidden past unfolded, the three women’s faces filled with shock. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae listened silently.
Yi Hwan shared much, but he kept his identity as the Lord of Daye Fortress hidden. Who would believe in reincarnation anyway?
Cheol Mu-ok spoke in a grave tone.
“If they believe we’ve taken root in Zhao and that we’re descendants of the Poison King, we might be able to keep Jo Yun’s movements in check to some extent.”
“If he’s as capable as I imagine—or more—it could backfire. We’ll have to watch how he reacts and hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Yi Hwan reached for the bowl of cold water. But it was already empty.
Hwa Ryeong quickly brought the pitcher and poured more. As Yi Hwan lifted it to his lips, his fingertips trembled faintly.
It was the aftereffect of his internal injuries.
Thud!
Yi Hwan stared at Hwa Ryeong and asked,
“You can keep a secret, right?”
“Of course.”
Just then, Pa Pa bowed her head.
“Thank you for trusting me, Great Prince.”
“I’m grateful too. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.”
Pa Pa and Hwa Ryeong were moved. Sharing the martial world’s secret history spanning two centuries meant Yi Hwan trusted them that much.
Especially since both women had once been his enemies—their gratitude ran even deeper.
Go Mi said with a worried expression,
“You need to tend to those internal injuries first. If you miss the right time, they could worsen.”
“I’ll circulate my qi. Everyone, head back to your rooms.”
“We’ll stay by your side.”
“No need.”
Everyone left the room.
But not one returned to their own quarters. They waited in the corridor for his meditation to end.
It wasn’t until dawn that the qi circulation finished.
* * *
The next morning.
Woo Mun-sul sought out Jo Yun.
It was the day of the tournament, and Jo Yun had risen early, busy with preparations.
“I have a report.”
“Is it something that can’t wait?”
“Yes.”
Jo Yun sat in his seat of honor, and Woo Mun-sul began relaying what his subordinate had reported overnight.
When he finished, Jo Yun’s face was even more rigid than Woo Mun-sul’s had been the night before.
“To think they’ve been watching us all this time...”
“It might not be true.”
“What?”
“We can’t rule out that they let one survivor go deliberately to sow discord. If he truly inherited the Lord of Daye Fortress’s will, he’d be capable of such a ploy.”
“Linking it to the poisoning incidents makes it more likely, doesn’t it?”
“...”
“Assume it’s true. In situations like this, we prepare for the worst. Understood?”
Woo Mun-sul brought up another point.
“May I offer one more word?”
“What is it?”
“What if we cancel the tournament even now? If their goal is to disrupt the martial conference, we could face an unimaginable disaster.”
“Out of the question!”
Jo Yun shouted firmly.
“Canceling now would turn public sentiment against us again. The realm doesn’t know about Daye Fortress or our secret history. They’d think we’re cowering before rebel scum and mock me for it!”
“You must consider the backlash after failure. If envoys from Qin or Yeon come to harm, it would be worse than losing the people’s hearts—the worst outcome imaginable.”
“Worrying over what hasn’t happened yet? That’s not like you, Woo Mun-sul.”
“Please see it as loyal counsel for Your Highness alone.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. Speak of it no more.”
Despite Woo Mun-sul’s frank advice, Jo Yun remained unmoved.
He asked in a stern tone,
“Have all our children been gathered?”
“Yes. They’re assembled at Huijeong Palace.”
“Deploy them all to guard the tournament grounds. And I said no more mentions from here on.”
“...”
“Move, Woo Mun-sul.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
In the end, Woo Mun-sul left the hall without persuading Jo Yun. Jo Yun watched his retreating back, his gaze steadying.
‘A fate buried for two centuries won’t stop me. Descendant of the Lord of Daye Fortress? Show yourself before me again, if you dare.’
* * *
Everyone prepared breakfast on the first floor of the inn, waiting for Yi Hwan to come down.
Hwa Ryeong had been humming since morning.
She was always bright and untroubled, but today she seemed especially cheerful.
Pa Pa smiled and asked,
“Was the Great Prince’s trust that pleasing last night?”
“You liked it too, didn’t you, Granny?”
Poke!
Go Mi jabbed Hwa Ryeong’s side.
“How’s this face a granny’s? Focus.”
“Oh! Sorry. Forgot we’re in disguise.”
Just then, Yi Hwan descended the stairs, and everyone rose to greet him.
Go Mi checked his complexion first.
It looked much better than last night, but still not fully normal.
Yi Hwan frowned at the bowl set before his seat.
“This mine?”
“Just in case, I prepared some congee separately. Even just for today, ease your stomach—no straining.”
At Go Mi’s words, Yi Hwan picked up the spoon. With that, breakfast began as he took his first bite.
Ju Tae asked,
“We’re just spectators today, right?”
“We’re going elsewhere.”
“...Pardon?”
“Where to?”
Everyone stared at Yi Hwan with wide eyes. He said calmly,
“Once the martial conference ends, they’ll launch a massive search. To make them certain we’ve been staying nearby, we need to leave some false trails.”
“...”
“I have a plan, so eat.”
Yi Hwan set down the spoon and took up chopsticks. He snatched a piece of meat from Ju Tae’s plate and called to the serving girl.
“Go to the kitchen and ask for another one just like this. Bring a bottle of liquor too.”
“Yes.”
“Great Prince!”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Liquor’s absolutely no. You have to hold off until you’re fully healed.”
Faced with Go Mi’s firm stance, Yi Hwan reluctantly gave up on the liquor.
“...Fine.”
Go Mi turned to the serving girl and added,
“Ask them to cook the meat thoroughly.”
“Yes.”
As the girl started to rise,
Rumble...
The entire inn began to shake, followed by dust falling from the ceiling.
“E-earthquake!”
“Out! Get outside!”
“Argh!”
The other diners fled in panic.
Rumble!
Hwa Ryeong shot to her feet.
“We should go too!”
Everyone rushed out to the market street.
Then—
Boom!
Crack!
“Argh!”
“Eek!”
Buildings collapsed all along the street. The inn directly across from theirs crumbled with a roar.
It was the one where Yang Chan had been staying.
Crash!
Snap!
“That way!”
Yi Hwan and his group leaped to a wide open square beyond the street. Moments after they landed, their own inn collapsed in a cloud of dust.
Boom!
‘Such an immense earthquake...’
Even Yi Hwan of the realm felt a chill before nature’s fury.
“Look over there!”
Ju Tae pointed east and shouted. Everyone turned that way.
Crack!
Rumble!
With a sound like the world splitting in two, one side of the mountain collapsed. They watched in stunned horror as a massive landslide swallowed the village below.
Crack!
“The ground’s splitting!”
“Go north! I saw a dense bamboo grove there!”
At that, everyone flew toward the city’s north side.
Beyond the market street stood the bamboo grove, tall as horses. Crowds were already fleeing there.
Boom!
Rumble...
The earth shook. As the city crumbled, a colossal dust cloud blanketed the sky.
Finally, the tremors stopped. People stomped in despair, gazing at the devastated ruins.
Hwa Ryeong sank to the ground.
Dizziness overwhelmed her. Go Mi said grimly,
“Zhao is prone to earthquakes. But I’ve never heard of one this powerful.”
Yi Hwan stared heavily toward the Imperial Palace of Zhao.
Dust rose thickly there too. But the distance was too great to tell if the palace had collapsed.
‘This means the martial conference is definitely canceled...’
No one would proceed with the tournament amid such devastation. Jo Yun wouldn’t be fool enough to try.
Yi Hwan thought coolly at this point.
‘The other cities near the capital have shoddier buildings. The damage there must be far worse. No need to plant false trails after all.’
The unforeseen natural disaster had aided him. Yet before the horrific scene, Yi Hwan felt no joy.
“Everyone, help with rescues.”
“Pardon?”
“We save the innocent people.”
Go Mi stepped forward then.
“Aftershocks are highly likely in cases like this. Better to wait a bit before helping.”
Yi Hwan, knowing little of earthquakes, decided to heed her.
* * *
Roooar...
Jo Yun was speechless before the catastrophe unfolding around him. He had finished breakfast and headed straight to the tournament grounds when the quake hit.
He could only watch as the grand arena, built at great expense, crumbled before his eyes. At least the palace halls were intact.
But the arena wasn’t the only thing destroyed.
‘Why is this happening...’
Clench.
His lip turned blue where his teeth dug in.
He had no choice but to abandon the martial conference he’d prepared so ambitiously.
His plan to use it as a turning point, regain the people’s hearts, and complete his grand undertaking was shattering.
“Your Highness!”
Woo Mun-sul landed beside Jo Yun. He sighed in relief at his safety.
“Check on Yeon’s Empress and Qin’s Great Prince first.”
“They’re all safe. I confirmed on my way here.”
Jo Yun squeezed his eyes shut.
Woo Mun-sul watched him, his own heart equally devastated. Though he’d mentioned cancellation last night, his hopes for the conference had been just as high.
‘Even heaven is indifferent.’
Woo Mun-sul swallowed a rising sigh.
Tremble...
Jo Yun’s gaze wouldn’t steady.
Woo Mun-sul silently watched in shared despair. Moments later, a bitter command escaped Jo Yun’s lips.
“Cancel the martial conference. Mobilize all troops near the capital immediately for rescue operations!”
* * *
Zhao Kingdom, 22nd year of the Zhen calendar.
A massive earthquake struck near the capital, toppling tens of thousands of homes and claiming tens of thousands of lives.
Whispers spread among the people.
It was heaven’s punishment for the Southwest King’s treason.