Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: The Lord Has Changed
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Ghostly figures emerged around the enemy general.
Each one reeked of death. They advanced toward the Hebei Paeng Family warriors guarding Jeong Cheon.
“Hold your positions! Do not leave the general’s side under any circumstances!”
They were the Hebei Paeng Family warriors who had received special orders from Commander Paeng Mu-wi to protect Jeong Cheon no matter what. They formed an ironclad perimeter around him and drew the greatswords’ aggression onto themselves.
That was when the enemy general’s expression twisted oddly.
“General?”
As far as he knew, the Fourth Imperial Prince Yi Hwan was called the Great Prince in the Yeon Kingdom. Yet the Hebei Paeng Family warriors were addressing the man before them as “general.”
‘That’s not him!’
The enemy general finally realized he had targeted the wrong person. He also understood that those he had been fiercely battling were not the Golden Army.
‘Damn it….’
Self-reproach was followed by uncontrollable rage. He had waged this bloody battle against the completely wrong foe, losing nearly half his forces in the process.
This was an unforgivable, irreversible mistake.
Whoosh!
“Who the hell are you?”
“Jeong Cheon.”
“……!”
Jeong Cheon’s fame had already spread even to the north. It was only natural not to recognize him since they had never met.
‘The famous general of the Southern Legion, Jeong Cheon? Then I must at least take his head.’
That was the only way to make up for this colossal blunder and earn forgiveness.
Sizzle.
Blood-red sword energy rose along the enemy general’s twin blades.
Jeong Cheon’s sword was also cloaked in blade energy.
Those positioned to the enemy general’s left and right charged first. Their opponents were not Jeong Cheon but the Hebei Paeng Family warriors.
Clang!
Boom!
Greatswords clashed, erupting in explosive sounds and sparks. Dust billowed from the dispersed energy, obscuring vision, but both sides’ greatswords precisely targeted foes, slicing through the air.
Kaboom!
“Ugh!”
One Hebei Paeng Family warrior staggered with a groan. At the same moment, an enemy crumpled, spraying blood.
As gaps opened on both sides, Jeong Cheon and the enemy general rushed toward each other.
At that exact instant.
“Stand back.”
A single voice bound Jeong Cheon’s body. Simultaneously, seven beams of light flew from somewhere and rained down on the enemy general.
Clang clang clang!
The lights failed to pierce the sword barrier formed by his twin blades and dissipated. But a delayed beam struck, piercing the enemy general’s shoulder.
Thud!
“……!”
The enemy general staggered back for a moment. And someone landed before him.
Jeong Cheon’s eyes widened impossibly.
“Great Prince!”
The enemy general, So Mun-gae, stared at Yi Hwan who had dropped in front of him, his gaze trembling.
He had heard Jeong Cheon’s shout clearly.
‘So it’s him….’
This was the opponent he had sought: Yi Hwan.
Yet something was off.
Those impassive, serene eyes, the overwhelming pressure bearing down on his entire body, and the feral energy emanating from those descending behind him.
No sooner had they touched the ground than they charged at So Mun-gae’s guards like enraged tigers.
Smirk.
“You call yourselves wolves?”
Ju Tae’s sword, Cheol Mu-ok’s greatsword, and Kim Mu-gwan’s crescent blade tore through space and descended.
Crunch!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Even as his guards died around him, So Mun-gae couldn’t tear his eyes from Yi Hwan’s. He feared the man’s sword would fly at him the instant he looked away.
Yi Hwan stared straight at So Mun-gae and asked Jeong Cheon behind him.
“Are you alright?”
“This general is fine!”
“You’ve done well. Catch your breath for now.”
“Take care!”
Step.
Yi Hwan stepped forward over blood-soaked ground toward So Mun-gae. Unconsciously, So Mun-gae retreated.
“You managed to come this far without detection despite such numbers. Thanks to you, we’ve spotted a weakness in our lines—should I be grateful?”
“……!”
“Drop your blades and surrender, and you might live.”
Grip.
Blood trickled from So Mun-gae’s lips as his teeth dug in. He raised his lowered twin blades toward Yi Hwan’s brow and shouted.
“The wolves of the plains never surrender!”
“Is that so? Then you die.”
Flash!
Yi Hwan’s sword sliced through the air toward So Mun-gae’s shoulder. So Mun-gae crossed his twin blades to block.
Boom!
Whoosh whoosh!
So Mun-gae was pushed back amid rising dust. Yi Hwan’s sword fell again toward him.
Boom!
“Urk!”
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
So Mun-gae was pushed back once more.
Boom!
On the third strike, one of So Mun-gae’s blades snapped in two. On the fourth, the remaining one broke.
Drip.
Blood flowed from So Mun-gae’s mouth. The impacts had twisted his insides.
‘No way….’
So Mun-gae’s contorted eyes shook wildly in shock. Power clashes like this were his greatest strength.
Yet he couldn’t withstand just four strikes, suffering fatal damage and losing his beloved twin blades.
In that moment, Yi Hwan was a reaper from the underworld. Though he approached, So Mun-gae couldn’t even twitch a finger.
Flash!
The severed head hit the ground.
Yi Hwan bent down, grabbed So Mun-gae’s head, and handed it to a Hebei Paeng Family warrior.
“Guard it well.”
“Yes, Great Prince!”
* * *
‘He’s faster. And this destructive power….’
Go Mi was thrilled.
This was her first real combat since her internal energy had increased. The results surpassed her wildest imagination.
Not only had the power of her techniques grown incomparable to before, but her movements had quickened beyond her control.
It felt as if only her opponent’s time flowed slower, filling her with unparalleled excitement.
‘Slow!’
A sword flew toward her chest.
Go Mi twisted her waist slightly to deflect the attack, then smashed the foe’s jaw with her sword wave.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Next came decapitation.
Slash!
Another severed head hit the ground.
Go Mi shoved aside the enemy’s headless body and turned to charge at another.
But no enemies remained nearby.
So Mun-gae’s guards had already been felled by the others, littering the ground.
Tweet! Tweet!
Whistles echoed from somewhere on the battlefield. The enemy began to retreat. Word of their general’s death must have spread.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
“Pursue them!”
Waaah!
* * *
Yi Hwan first checked Jeong Cheon’s condition.
Fortunately, there were minor wounds but nothing serious.
“What happened?”
“On our way to the Northern Legion, the enemy ambushed us. It was completely unexpected, so the losses were heavy.”
Jeong Cheon’s face was grim. The unforeseen assault had inflicted significant damage, as he said.
“They were after you, Great Prince.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes. The enemy general you slew was searching for you.”
It was astonishing. To sneak behind the Northern Legion just to kill him.
It was a desperate gamble where detection meant annihilation. What could drive them to this?
Regardless of what the Blue Wolf Tribe had fallen for, the Zhao Kingdom’s schemes seemed the prime suspect.
But nothing was certain yet.
“Rally your forces and hurry to the Northern Legion.”
“You’re not coming with us?”
“I’ll head straight north. Once you relay my words to base, Commander Gwak will handle the rest.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan surveyed the battlefield.
In pitch-black darkness, assessing allied losses was impossible. But they were surely not light.
“If the Blue Wolf Tribe is pushing such reckless tactics, they must be prepared for all-out war. Our casualties will mount from here on, so commanders must steel themselves first.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
Leaving Jeong Cheon regretting his absence, Yi Hwan headed north with his retainers.
En route, they encountered fleeing stragglers, whom Yi Hwan mercilessly slew each time. This delayed them considerably, arriving a day later than planned.
Whoosh!
The forest ended, revealing the great plain. A fierce blizzard raged across it.
Before reaching the allied lines, Yi Hwan and his group rested in a cave at the forest’s edge.
Crackle crackle.
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong roasted meat over the campfire. It was wild boar hunted by Ju Tae.
Ju Tae glanced at Yi Hwan leaning against the cave entrance.
[Doesn’t the lord seem a bit different? Just my feeling, but he’s grown more ruthless than before. Something like that.]
[His words have dwindled too.]
[So he has changed?]
[Yeah.]
Cheol Mu-ok felt the same. In truth, everyone present did.
It was hard to pinpoint when, but if pressed, it seemed after his sword changed.
Whoosh!
A fierce gust invaded the cave, wildly shaking the fire. Hwa Ryeong and Go Mi quickly turned their backs to the wind.
Yi Hwan leaned against the cave wall, lost in deep thought. No one dared speak to him.
Soon, Go Mi skewered some golden-roasted meat on a stick and offered it to Yi Hwan.
“Eat.”
“Any liquor left?”
“One bottle remains.”
Go Mi handed the last bottle to Yi Hwan.
He took one sip before tossing it to Cheol Mu-ok.
“One sip each.”
“Thank you.”
They passed it around, each taking a sip. Circulating energy and liquor were most effective against such cold.
Yi Hwan chewed meat while gazing at the blizzard-swept plain.
A lone tree stood tall amid the endless expanse, shaking violently as if about to snap in the gale.
Yi Hwan’s eyes sharpened upon spotting troops passing behind the tree.
They moved east to west. Likely Blue Wolf Tribe scouts returning or allies heading out to recon.
“I’ll check and return.”
Ju Tae dashed out.
Cheol Mu-ok and Kim Mu-gwan poised to leap out if needed.
But no trouble arose.
Ju Tae returned with about ten warriors. They were allies on recon to the enemy camp.
“It’s the Great Prince. Salute!”
“Yes sir!”
The warriors saluted Yi Hwan. He examined them.
‘Martial artists.’
Yi Hwan asked immediately.
“Planning to infiltrate deep into enemy lines?”
“Yes, sir!”
They wouldn’t form a recon unit solely of precious martial artists otherwise.
“Enemy movements?”
“As of now, both sides focus on intelligence warfare. No other forces?”
“General Jeong Cheon follows with reinforcements, so sit and warm up.”
“We’re fine.”
“At ease. We’ll join your recon.”
“……Yes, sir.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong distributed meat to the warriors. After some time, they all exited the cave.
“We don’t know the terrain, so lead the way.”
“Yes, Great Prince!”
The leading warriors’ faces brightened considerably.
Was it Yi Hwan’s presence? No, more likely Jeong Cheon coming with reinforcements.
Jeong Cheon was a renowned general acknowledged by all in Yeon Kingdom.