Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Assassination War (1)
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In war, assassination is the most efficient tactic. Deploy a small force to take out an enemy general or leader, and you could turn the tide in a single stroke.
That was why, from the ancient empires to the present day, every nation threw all their efforts into protecting their key commanders whenever war broke out.
Especially after the Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World shattered and martial artists flooded into the armies, assassination battles grew even fiercer. Thanks to that, those martial artists could at least partially restore their wounded pride.
They wielded a power that could decide the fate of a war in one blow, which elevated their status and treatment in every nation.
Be that as it may.
Whoooosh!
Shwaaa!
Gale-force winds rattled the forest wildly.
The warriors of the Yeon Kingdom's camp sheltered behind the fortress walls, ears pricked for any sign of enemy movement as they braced against the wind.
Yi Hwan climbed to the watchtower and gazed out at the enemy lines.
Jo Cham spoke up.
"As expected, it seems the enemy cavalry has no intention of descending, just as the Great Prince anticipated."
"Have you strengthened the guards for the key generals?"
"Yes. As instructed, I've distributed the camp's martial artists evenly among them."
Yi Hwan had already ordered top priority on protecting each general when Tae Mu-rang's main force joined them. He'd even assigned two of Haedong's champions to the most vital one, Jo Cham.
"That must be Tae Mu-rang."
Yi Hwan stared at the enemy's watchtower, his eyes calm. Jo Cham asked in surprise.
"Can you make out his face from here?"
"I've never seen his face, so I can't judge by that alone. But the armor is distinctly different from the others, and the wolf emblem etched on his chest gives it away."
"……!"
Jo Cham was astonished once more.
'He can even identify the chest emblem from here. Just how profound is the Great Prince's internal energy?'
No matter how much he strained his own qi, Jo Cham couldn't make out the emblem on the chest.
That was when it happened.
"It's snowing."
Snowflakes were falling. A quick glance at the sky showed it wasn't just a brief flurry.
Yi Hwan murmured while still eyeing the man he suspected was Tae Mu-rang.
"They'll make a move before the snow piles up."
"Indeed. If Tae Mu-rang doesn't want a prolonged battle, he'll have to act soon."
"Let's head down."
"Yes, Great Prince."
After descending the watchtower, Yi Hwan immediately summoned his close aides to his tent. Park Ji-mun and Haedong's champions joined them as well.
"You'll move once the sun sets."
"An assassination?"
"Shall we bring back Tae Mu-rang's head?"
Far from tense, they all reacted as if eager to charge out right then. Haedong's champions even exchanged grins, as if they'd been waiting for this moment.
"Tae Mu-rang will be tough. The north's strongest warriors will be guarding him."
"Then……."
"Doesn't matter if they're low-ranking—just take a few generals' heads. That alone will shake the enemy a bit."
"Understood."
"Leave it to us. This is what we've done our whole lives. We've got this."
Park Ji-mun exuded strong confidence.
Yi Hwan met his gaze squarely and continued.
"This isn't your war. You okay with that?"
"It's our friend's war, isn't it? Of course we'll help."
Park Ji-mun grabbed Cheol Mu-ok's shoulder and shook it with a grin.
Yi Hwan thought that smile was truly cool. At the same time, their presence—joining him in this situation—felt all the more reassuring.
"I'll come with you."
"Pardon?"
Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
"Just leave it to us. No need for our lord to go out there himself."
"I agree. Entrust it to us."
Even Ju Tae tried to dissuade him.
But Yi Hwan shook his head firmly.
"Got it? Rest until sunset."
"……Yes."
* * *
As Park Ji-mun left Yi Hwan's tent, he turned to Cheol Mu-ok.
"Does he usually prefer to lead from the front?"
"Pretty much. And the results are always good."
"Fair enough. It might be risky, but with us around, what could go wrong? Honestly, I'm thrilled to finally see the Great Prince in action."
"Same old you."
"What?"
"That confidence."
Heh.
"It's backed by skill."
Snort.
"Go get some sleep. You turn into deadweight without it."
"Who talks like that to an enemy? Well, a good rest wouldn't hurt. See you at dinner."
"See you this evening, brother."
Park Ji-mun and Haedong's champions headed into their tents.
Ju Tae spoke up.
"I'm really curious about those guys' skills. Or should I say, Haedong martial world's prowess?"
"Still curious after seeing Brother Kim?"
"Not everyone's the same."
That's when Kim Mu-gwan chimed in.
"Ji-mun's one of the top experts even in Haedong, so it's hard to gauge Haedong martial world by him alone."
"How does he stack up to you, Brother Kim?"
"We've clashed once, and it was a draw."
"Oh ho!"
Ju Tae reacted with surprise. To match Kim Mu-gwan, who had reached the realm of wielding sword-gang, meant he was a top-tier master anywhere in the Central Plains.
"Let's head in."
* * *
Go Mi shared a tent with Hwa Ryeong. Their tent was right next to Yi Hwan's.
Hwa Ryeong stood by the window, peering out with a delicate frown.
"The snow's picking up. At this rate, the enemy will move soon."
"Nervous?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. This is my first battle on this scale."
"Weren't you with the Northern Legion during the war with Zhao Kingdom?"
Go Mi's words drew a wry smile from Hwa Ryeong.
"Back then, I was too busy with my crazy scheme to think about anything else. Looking back, I should've died a dozen times over. But thanks to that, I ended up on the same side as the Great Prince and Lady Moon Lord."
Go Mi smiled faintly as she poured hot water into a teacup.
"Have some tea."
Hwa Ryeong hurried over and sat down.
"Is this the Dragon Well tea from the Princess?"
"Yes. She gave plenty, so drink up."
The tent soon filled with a rich, fragrant aroma. The falling snow outside blended with the warming stove fire to create a poetic atmosphere, but neither woman had the leisure to savor it.
Go Mi's expression grew a bit stiff as she spoke.
"Be extra vigilant once the sun sets. If I were Tae Mu-rang, I'd attempt an assassination before the main battle."
"They'll target the Great Prince, obviously?"
"General Jo Cham might be the priority. At least here, he's a bigger threat than the Great Prince."
Go Mi set down her teacup and drew her sword.
Sring.
A brilliant blue glow flowed along the blade, tinting her face azure.
"Once war begins, I'll serve not as Moon Lord's of Moon Pavilion, but as a warrior of Yeon Kingdom. For this nation, His Imperial Majesty, and the Great Prince……."
Hwa Ryeong's eyes sparkled. This was a new side of Go Mi.
'Her growth in martial prowess has changed her as a person.'
In truth, Hwa Ryeong had been stunned by Go Mi's progress more than once or twice. Just when she thought she'd plateaued, Go Mi would surge even stronger.
It had happened three times already.
'She's got the makings of an exceptional warrior.'
A faint smile touched Hwa Ryeong's lips.
"I'll help too. For this nation, His Majesty, and our Great Prince."
"Don't get hurt."
"You too, Lady Moon Lord."
The two women smiled at each other.
"Shall we head out?"
"Scouting?"
"Of course. Sun will set soon—better hurry."
* * *
The sun set quickly in the north.
What would be dinnertime in the Central Plains had already cloaked the surroundings in pitch-black darkness.
Whoooosh!
Splat...
The fierce winds whipped up snow dust everywhere, engulfing the entire camp. The snow was falling heavily, verging on a blizzard.
The torches lit for vigilance flickered out one by one against the gale, lending the camp an eerie aura.
Slipping secretly into that gloom were infiltrators—assassins handpicked by Tae Mu-rang from his finest warriors.
They wore Yeon Kingdom army uniforms and moved stealthily only under extinguished torches. The relentless blizzard perfectly masked their presence and footprints.
Roooar!
Dragon auras flared sporadically across the camp. The assassins cleaved through even those as they pressed toward their targets without pause.
How long had they advanced?
The lead assassin raised a hand, pointing left—toward Jo Cham's tent.
Another pointed beside it—YI Hwan's tent.
The first shook his head.
[You two take Jo Cham. We handle the Great Prince.]
[Understood.]
The assassins split into two groups.
The first to arrive targeted Yi Hwan. One assassin's eyes narrowed at the lack of sentries around the tent.
[Right in the heart of camp, and they're sleeping soundly. Heh heh heh.]
[This will be easier than expected.]
[Prepare.]
[Yes.]
One assassin pulled a small bead from his bosom. It had a fuse at the end, which he lit without hesitation using a fire starter.
Tsss!
The fuse burned rapidly.
[Throw it when it reaches the end.]
[Yes.]
That was when it happened.
Clang!
"Argh!"
"Kraaak!"
A metallic clash echoed from Jo Cham's tent, followed by dying screams. The assassins whipped their heads that way.
"Huh!"
One let out a voice aloud. He'd seen his comrades collapsing in sprays of blood.
Massive shadows emerged like ghosts before the fallen comrades, then launched straight toward them.
[Idiots! Throw it now!]
The assassin hurled the bead through the window.
Crash!
It shattered the window and exploded in a burst of flame.
Boom!
The assassins kicked down the door and rushed in. But beyond the thick smoke and fire, the tent was empty.
"N-No one's here!"
"Get out—now!"
Sensing something was wrong, the assassins bolted outside. But Yeon Kingdom warriors had already surrounded them on all sides.
One stepped forward with a grin.
"Must be pretty rattled, huh?"
It was one of Haedong's champions. Another stood beside him—the ones Yi Hwan had assigned to guard Jo Cham.
Jo Cham emerged from behind.
"Drop your swords, and I'll spare your lives."
No sooner had he spoken than the assassins charged him. Even if they died here, they were determined to take Jo Cham with them.
But they didn't even reach his feet. Haedong's champions had blocked their path.
"Forget it, you bastards."
One champion's greatsword cleaved the air.
The first assassin twisted mid-charge and struck the incoming blade.
Boom!
"……!"
Crack crack!
The assassin's wrist shattered, bones piercing through. He couldn't withstand the greatsword's destructive power.
Undeterred, the assassin switched his sword to his left hand, aiming for the champion's waist.
Clang!
The metallic ring echoed like a bell.
The broken sword soared high, then plunged into the ground before Jo Cham.
"I said forget it."
Thud!
The champion smashed his fist down on the assassin's crown, bursting his head like a watermelon.
The other assassins lay decapitated, rolling on the cold ground.
As the situation cleared, Jo Cham steadied his breath and gazed north toward the vast plains.
'I hope he's safe…….'