Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Blood Ghosts' Objective
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Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok departed, and the meeting soon adjourned.
The generals returned to their posts, but Jeong Cheon remained by Hwang Ho's side.
Jeong Cheon spoke.
“I still can’t believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes. How can a person change so much overnight?”
“The Great Prince, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t changed a bit yourself. It’s been quite some time—shouldn’t you be over the shock by now?”
“When I think back to the Great Prince of old, how can I not be amazed?”
Hwang Ho nodded silently and continued.
“It’s not a change—he’s simply revealed his true face. Naturally, he’s been concealing his true strength all this time.”
“You view the Great Prince’s transformation positively, General.”
“Though not the rightful heir, he is still this kingdom’s Great Prince. If he’s changed for the better, we should welcome it.”
Jeong Cheon brought up another matter.
“I neglected to report this, but lately, the Great Prince has met with the Left General several times. In his own quarters, no less.”
“Has he now?”
“Yes. Isn’t it strange? The Great Prince, who refused all visitors while in his tent, has summoned the Left General repeatedly.”
At those words, Hwang Ho’s gaze sharpened.
A single meeting could be dismissed as a courtesy, but repeated encounters were indeed suspicious, given Yi Hwan’s demeanor thus far.
“If the Left General is scheming to use the Great Prince, we can’t overlook it.”
“Have you placed someone near the Great Prince?”
“Yes. I assigned children skilled in such matters—they won’t be detected.”
“Remove them at once!”
“. . . Pardon?”
“You know what surveilling the Great Prince implies. If the Left General catches wind of it, he’ll use it to slit our throats.”
“. . .”
Hwang Ho pressed on firmly.
“Our heads can roll for all I care. But if it brings harm to His Highness the Crown Prince, I’ll never rest in peace, even in death. Withdraw them immediately!”
“I failed to consider that far. I’ll pull them off right away.”
Jeong Cheon bowed and left.
Hwang Ho drained a bowl of cold water and flung open the tent flap.
‘His Highness ordered me to look after the Great Prince. But if the Great Prince should ever side with the Second Prince . . . ’
A flicker of anguish deepened in Hwang Ho’s narrowed eyes, then faded.
* * *
Paeng Mu-wi returned to his tent after the meeting. He furrowed his brow, thinking of Cheol Mu-ok.
‘His face is definitely familiar . . . ’
The moment he’d seen Cheol Mu-ok, the sense that they’d met before hit him hard. Yet no matter how he racked his memory, no one came to mind.
He even recalled those with similar features, but none matched.
“Deputy General!”
“Yes.”
The deputy entered.
“That man from earlier.”
“Yes?”
“The one the Great Prince sent to scout the enemy camp!”
“Ah, yes.”
“Have you seen him anywhere before?”
“First time for me. But why . . . ”
“I feel the same—first sight, yet like I’ve met him somewhere.”
“Is that so?”
Gulp, gulp!
Paeng Mu-wi downed some cold water and continued.
“Something feels off. We need to investigate his identity thoroughly.”
“Understood.”
Once the deputy left, Paeng Mu-wi sank deep into his chair, his gaze steadying.
‘That look in his eyes—it’s familiar.’
* * *
“You’re scouting the Zhao Kingdom’s camp? Alone, as the leader?”
“That’s the order, so no choice.”
Gong Son-tae looked baffled.
“No matter our fated lord-retainer bond, isn’t this too much? Sending our leader into that danger alone?”
“You bastard! Watch your mouth!”
“Do I look like I’m in the mood to? Dangerous foes have suddenly appeared in the Zhao camp. What if something happens to him alone?”
“Are you worried about me, or do you doubt me?”
“Of course I’m worried—that’s why!”
“Don’t. I’ve survived worse.”
“Fine. Then I’m coming too.”
“No need. I move better alone.”
“Leader!”
It was then.
“May I come in?”
Yi Hwan’s voice drifted from outside. Gong Son-tae smoothed his expression and opened the door.
“. . . Please, enter.”
“A cup of tea, if you would.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan sat in Gong Son-tae’s chair.
“Shall we discuss the corpses in depth? Couldn’t say much earlier with the warriors around. Same for you.”
“Did you see it?”
“Yes. Traces of powerful demonic energy.”
‘That’s not something easily spotted . . . ’
Here, Cheol Mu-ok grew suspicious.
‘Did he perhaps hold back against the Zhao general? If that was his full power, spotting demonic traces on the corpses wouldn’t make sense.’
Suspicion turned to confusion.
“What’re you thinking?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Gong Son-tae returned with tea, pausing the talk. Yi Hwan savored the aroma, took a sip, then continued.
“Tonight, I’m going too.”
“I can handle it alone.”
“I won’t be the kind of fated lord who sends his subordinate into the jaws of death alone.”
“Cough!”
Gong Son-tae hacked violently.
Cheol Mu-ok sighed and said.
“He’s got a loose tongue, but he’s invaluable otherwise. Forgive him.”
“. . . Sorry.”
“Anyway, may I see your sword?”
Cheol Mu-ok handed his sword to Yi Hwan. Yi Hwan examined it, murmuring.
“If you infuse it with enough internal energy, it turns into a broadsword, right?”
“Yes.”
No sooner had Cheol Mu-ok spoken than the sword hummed, its blade widening.
Clank, clank!
“Won’t this reduce durability?”
“No. The gaps act as buffers, making it stronger.”
“Does your whole clan use these?”
“Yes. We disguised them as swords to hide our identities.”
“I see. But no need to hide anymore. The Sword King and Poison King’s descendants might show up if they see this.”
“Couldn’t enemies come instead?”
“We’ll risk it.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan returned the sword and sipped his tea.
Cheol Mu-ok asked cautiously.
“Shouldn’t we find the ronin quickly?”
“There’s something to handle first, remember?”
“Tell us what, and we’ll help.”
“I’ve already answered that.”
“. . .”
Yi Hwan stared at Gong Son-tae.
“I have a task for you.”
“Command me.”
“Watch Paeng Mu-wi closely. Who he meets, who he’s unusually friendly with, anyone like you who shows up suddenly—report anything to me regularly.”
“Got it. But may I ask why?”
“Don’t.”
“. . . Yes.”
Yi Hwan finished his tea and stood. As he reached for the door, he turned back.
“You two.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for staying alive.”
* * *
Yi Hwan left.
Gong Son-tae clutched his chest.
“My heart’s acting up suddenly.”
“Moved by our lord’s words, I see.”
“It’s touching. Like he’s watched over us all along. My doubts vanished, and loyalty’s surging—doesn’t it move you at all?”
Cheol Mu-ok didn’t reply, lifting his cold tea.
‘Unfathomable man. Sometimes endlessly carefree, other times radiating untouchable dignity. Which is his true self?’
* * *
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan climbed atop his tent, gazing at the sunset dyeing the world red. There, he reflected on his brief time since reincarnation.
‘I need to separate past, present, and future.’
Since reincarnating, Yi Hwan had focused solely on Daye Fortress’s fall and finding the Three Kings’ descendants.
It was a step purely toward the past.
But now, his mindset was shifting.
‘Shouldn’t I look only backward, ignoring new life and bonds?’
Realizing Song Hoe and Song Cheon-mu here were precious marked the start.
He still burned to uncover Daye Fortress’s destruction and right any wrongs.
Yet letting the present slide in that pursuit increasingly confused him.
‘If I can’t return to the past.’
Once all was settled, he must live this life. And now, he was Yeon Kingdom’s Fourth Imperial Prince Yi Hwan, not Daye Fortress’s Martial Emperor Yi Hwan.
Whoosh!
Wind brushed Yi Hwan’s face.
Cheol Mu-ok joined him, snapping him from reverie.
“Deep in thought?”
“Searching for answers about myself.”
“Found them?”
“Not yet.”
“Whatever it is, I pray you find it soon.”
Yi Hwan met Cheol Mu-ok’s eyes. Their unusual glint puzzled him inwardly.
“Have you never wished to escape the fate of upholding your ancestors’ will?”
“Thousands of times, sure. But now that I’ve met my lord, no more. My only wish is to quickly find others born to our fate, wandering the world. Though one question lingers.”
Cheol Mu-ok steadied his breath and asked Yi Hwan.
“What do we do once the Three Kings’ descendants gather?”
“I’ll tell you then.”
Cheol Mu-ok sighed softly at Yi Hwan’s evasion.
‘Always dodging straight answers like this.’
Whoosh!
As wind softly swept over them, sunset faded, darkness settling.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
It was then.
“Great Prince!”
Song Hoe climbed up, face grim.
“A messenger just arrived from the capital. His Highness the Crown Prince has suddenly collapsed!”
* * *
Yi Hwan sat facing Hwang Ho.
Hwang Ho’s mood was beyond somber—positively gloomy.
“What happened?”
“According to the relay, he collapsed suddenly. They haven’t identified the cause yet.”
“Is his life in danger?”
“They can’t say anything for sure now.”
Hwang Ho looked a decade older.
“Must I go myself?”
“Of course you must! It’s His Highness the Crown Prince, Great Prince!”
Hwang Ho raised his voice sharply. Gone was his usual calm—pure agitation remained.
‘Troublesome.’
Yi Hwan had no intention of leaving yet. But with the palace’s urgent summons to return, he couldn’t refuse.
He had zero plans to stir issues before perfecting himself. From that view, imperial palace troubles could escalate most acutely.
“Understood for now.”
Yi Hwan headed to his tent.
En route, he pondered deeply. Something struck him, sharpening his gaze.
‘Before the palace, I’ll check there first.’
Soon at his tent, Yi Hwan sought Cheol Mu-ok.
“We go to the Zhao camp as planned.”
“I heard from General Song—you’re heading to the capital?”
“Something first.”