Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Return Journey (2)
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Zhao Kingdom's capital.
Yang Chan stepped into an inn on a bustling market street around evening.
This place, close to the Imperial Palace, had suffered less damage from the earthquake than elsewhere, so several intact inns remained. It was packed with people who had come for the martial conference but couldn't leave in time.
Yang Chan drank.
Without touching any side dishes, he downed more than four bottles. People glanced at him. His entire body was caked in dirt.
Yet Yang Chan paid no mind and kept refilling and emptying his cup endlessly.
That was when it happened.
Five warriors entered the inn. They took seats at the empty table next to Yang Chan.
"Did you hear? Our unit's not joining the rescue efforts. Starting tomorrow morning, we're launching a full-scale search."
"With the conference canceled, those damn rebel scum are probably long gone by now. How are we supposed to find them?"
"It's not rebel bands."
"What? Then who are we looking for?"
One warrior lowered his voice.
"A buddy guarding His Highness's palace overheard it while passing a general's restaurant. His Highness issued a strict order to find the descendants of Daye Fortress or whatever."
"Descendants of Daye Fortress? You mean that Daye Fortress from a hundred and twenty years ago?"
"Probably."
"But why all of a sudden?"
"How should I know? Anyway, that's why a ton of terrifying masters have flooded into His Highness's palace."
Yang Chan's hand, endlessly tilting his cup, froze for a moment.
The gloomy light in his eyes flickered once, due to the next warrior's words.
"Word is, some guy carved 'Golden Horse Command' on the palace wall, killed one guard, and vanished. Maybe that's why?"
"I heard too. Supposedly an insane master. Hell, he took out the guard called His Highness's shadow in one strike."
"One strike?"
"Yeah, one strike."
"Is that even possible? How strong are those guys?"
"Someone at the scene said it, so it's gotta be true. First the rebels make noise, then an earthquake hits, and now these Daye Fortress folks show up. God knows what's becoming of this country. Sigh."
Yang Chan began tilting his cup again. Only after draining the rest did he stand.
Leaving the inn, Yang Chan trudged along. Reaching a quiet spot, he launched into the darkness like a gust of wind.
A good while later, he arrived at the Golden Army's regional headquarters—the place where he had stirred up a storm of bloodshed before.
* * *
Operation control room.
In the Golden Army's intelligence hub, two generals conversed with grave expressions.
"Instead of jumping into rescues when we're already short-handed, searching for Daye Fortress descendants? His Highness must be really on edge."
"No choice. Someone brazenly carved 'Golden Horse Command' on the wall of the palace where His Highness resides. And a full inch deep, no less."
"An inch deep?"
"You didn't know?"
"I knew about the carving, but an inch? What kind of profound inner power lets you etch letters that deep into such a sturdy wall?"
The general opposite replied heavily.
"That's why His Highness has no choice but to be tense. Even more shocking—they've been watching us from right under our noses all this time. Actually, His Highness dismissed Yeon's Fourth Imperial Prince as a Daye descendant and paid him no mind. But learning the intruder at the palace didn't even know who Yeon's Fourth Prince was seems to have left him even more rattled."
The general finished speaking and lifted his cup.
Thud!
"Night's deep, so let's wrap up for tod……."
The general trailed off, eyes widening. The one opposite lay face-down on the table, utterly still.
That was when it happened.
The window opened, and Yang Chan entered. The general stared at him with bulging eyes. Veins bulged on his neck.
But no voice came out.
Yang Chan stood silently behind the motionless general.
"From now on, answer my questions honestly. Lie, and you'll experience your five viscera and six bowels melting slowly in hell. And don't think of calling anyone. The moment your voice escapes, the pain begins."
Yang Chan snapped his fingers. The general's blocked throat cleared instantly.
"Everyone's saying Yeon's Fourth Imperial Prince is a Daye Fortress descendant. Start with the reason."
"……!"
The general glanced at his comrade slumped like the dead, then gave up. He answered in a tiny voice.
"During the war with Yeon, His Highness clashed with Yeon's Fourth Imperial Prince at the Northern Legion. That's when he used Daye Fortress martial arts."
"No doubt?"
"His Highness confirmed it himself, so no doubt. We invited him to the martial conference to eliminate him, but he vanished clean on the way."
"Vanished?"
"Yes. We suspect Yeon's Empress killed him, but nothing confirmed."
Yang Chan's eyes flashed.
"Why would Yeon's Empress kill her own son?"
"You must not know Yeon's situation."
"Just answer."
"The Fourth Prince is a bastard from the rear palace. Until recently, he was a puppet Great Prince with no presence. Then suddenly, he started rising……."
The resigned general spilled everything he knew. As he spoke, Yang Chan's expression grew heavier.
"That's all I know."
Moments later, the general bowed his head.
"I want to die without pain. Please."
No reply came, only a breeze. When the general looked up, sensing something off, Yang Chan was gone.
* * *
Yang Chan walked through the darkness.
Daye Fortress, Daye Fortress, Daye Fortress……
The general's voice wouldn't leave his mind. It felt like the fate he had tried to sever was binding his body again.
But it felt different this time.
Two hundred years of waiting and searching, yet no one appeared, no one found. Now, they had finally shown themselves.
'Are they looking for me too?'
'Should I dive back into fate?'
'To continue as the Poison King's descendant, shouldn't I retrieve the sacred relic buried in Yunnan?'
'Or just ignore fate and vanish into the remote mountains?'
Yang Chan questioned himself endlessly. Finding no answers, he walked deeper into the dark.
* * *
"Driving me nuts."
Ju Tae grumbled, staring outside the cave. Torrential rain and fierce winds made the whole mountain sway like it was dancing. They were stuck spending the night here.
The female warrior gathered dry branches scattered in the cave and lit a fire.
Everyone leaned against the walls and sat.
After nonstop travel, all were exhausted. They hadn't eaten properly since setting out—a full day ago—so fatigue peaked.
"Eat this."
The female warrior offered Yi Hwan some hardtack. Everyone sated their hunger with it.
After about fifteen minutes.
Ju Tae, at the entrance, said quietly to the group.
"Someone's coming up."
The female warrior swiftly removed her wet robe to smother the fire, then waved her hands to keep smoke from escaping.
"Brother, seriously. Not a single peaceful day."
Hwa Ryeong grumbled.
Click.
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok unlatched their sword sheaths.
Rumble!
Crack!
As thunder and lightning bleached the outside white, Cheol Mu-ok's transmission voice flowed into Yi Hwan's ear.
[Two of them. Judging by direction, heading straight for the cave.]
Yi Hwan stood and moved deeper in. A bit inside, he found straw mats, blankets, a few bowls, and a rice jar.
'People were living here.'
Yi Hwan returned, sending a transmission.
[Seems like the residents. Don't draw swords rashly.]
[Understood.]
Moments later, two yellow-robed men entered the cave. Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok moved like the wind to subdue them. But their reaction exceeded expectations.
Clang!
Drawing swords, the yellow-robed men pressed backs together, checking Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok.
Yi Hwan asked calmly.
"Are you the ones living here?"
The yellow-robed men turned to Yi Hwan. Only then did they realize there were more people, like him. Their faces hardened like stone.
But with Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok blocking the entrance, they couldn't advance or retreat.
"Wh-who are you?!"
"Just passing through, rain forced us in. Put away those swords first."
"……!"
The yellow-robed men hesitated to sheathe. Then Yi Hwan's eyes gleamed briefly.
"You're injured."
"……!"
"Were you with those who attacked Yeon's Empress?"
"Shit!"
Exposed?
The two yellow-robed men lunged like lightning at Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok. But the tight space restricted movement, and in that gap, Pa Pa swept in like wind, twisting one man's arm.
"Argh!"
Simultaneously, Ju Tae's sword touched the other's neck.
"That's far enough?"
"……!"
Drip.
Slightly nicked, blood trickled from the yellow-robe's neck. Yi Hwan continued.
"We're not with the Empress, so stop. Pa Pa, let go of his arm."
Pa Pa stepped back, and Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok took their swords.
Yi Hwan flicked his hand lightly; a sword by Hwa Ryeong flew to his grip on its own.
Yi Hwan tossed it before the yellow-robed men.
Clatter!
"Is this your comrade's, by chance?"
Tremble……
Their eyes shook violently. That was answer enough.
"Don't get ideas. We just found it by chance on the way."
"……."
Yi Hwan nodded at the opposite side. After hesitating, the two sat across from him.
"I'll relight the fire."
"I'll do it."
Pa Pa stepped forward.
Hot energy rose from her palms, instantly reviving the embers.
Yi Hwan examined their faces.
Both had rugged features, temples bulging—clearly external art practitioners.
"First, why you attacked the Empress."
"Let us go if you're not involved."
"Correction. I'm not uninvolved— I hate that woman plenty. So I need the reason."
"Who are you?"
"None of your business."
"Won't say a word without your identity."
Then Ju Tae spoke up.
"Should we just beat these bastards?"
Thwack!
Cheol Mu-ok smacked his head's back.
As Ju Tae grimaced clutching his head, Cheol Mu-ok warned gravely.
"You'd better tell everything truthfully. Or we might leave you to this guy. No one could stop him then."
"……."
As the yellow-robed men shut up, Hwa Ryeong chimed in.
"Let me handle the torture. Trust me?"
"Stay put."
Go Mi pulled Hwa Ryeong's arm.
Yi Hwan chewed hardtack casually.
"Keep your mouths shut like that, and I'll have to think differently."
As he finished, light rose from Yi Hwan's body.
"Wonder what happens if this enters your bodies?"
"……!"
* * *
At Third Prince Yi Seong-ji's residence, Gong Ya-un sipped tea. Across from him, a young man refilled hot water cautiously.
"When will Your Highness emerge from seclusion?"
"Who knows. When he gets what he wants, I suppose. How long that takes depends on him alone, so we wait."
The lamp reflected in Gong Ya-un's eyes burned red. As the youth moved to ask more.
A voice came from outside.
"It's me."
"Come in."
One yellow-robed man entered.
Gong Ya-un nodded for the youth to leave. Once gone, the yellow-robe reported.
"Communication's cut. Something's gone wrong."
Clink.
Gong Ya-un set down his cup, staring at the man.
"Double-check. Report back once confirmed."
"Understood."
As the yellow-robe left, Gong Ya-un rose and went to the window. Throwing it open, stars filled the sky like they might pour down.
"Bound to fail. Unknowns with the Empress—not even His Highness knew them."
Muttering cryptically, Gong Ya-un's eyes gleamed strangely.
"The Empress's suspicion will point squarely at the Crown Prince's Palace. That's enough. Heh heh heh."