Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: Assassination War (2)
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Kwaaaah!
The Blue Wolf Tribe's camp was engulfed in a blizzard.
Unlike the Yeon Kingdom's camp, there were no mountains or forests to block the wind, making the entire camp feel like it was at the heart of the storm.
Yi Hwan took the lead, pushing through the blizzard, followed by Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, Park Ji-mun, and the others.
Kwaaaah!
Fwissssh!
The blizzard naturally concealed them. There were scattered sentries on guard, but each was huddled away from the storm, posing no major obstacle to their movement.
How much farther did they go?
Yi Hwan spotted two particularly large tents and halted their advance.
[Those look like granaries.]
[Burning just those would count as a major achievement.]
Yi Hwan pondered briefly. But the decision didn't take long.
[You lot burn the granaries and head straight back. Mu-ok, you're with me.]
[Where to, my lord?]
[I'll tell you once we're back at camp.]
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok plunged into the darkness. Moments later, they arrived at a tent larger than the others and positioned on the highest ground.
It had to be the enemy commander's tent.
Yi Hwan turned to Cheol Mu-ok.
[I'll go inside. You keep watch.]
[Understood. Be careful, my lord.]
Yi Hwan silently drew his sword. He waited for the wind to howl.
Kwaaaah!
A fierce blizzard surged like a dragon nearby. Seizing the moment, Yi Hwan slashed open the tent with his sword and slipped inside.
Cheol Mu-ok scanned the surroundings, his sword transformed into a greatsword. No enemies in sight.
'Is it carelessness, or overconfidence?'
A faint noise came from inside the tent. But the blizzard muffled it, preventing it from carrying far.
Moments later, Yi Hwan emerged.
Cheol Mu-ok spotted the two severed heads in Yi Hwan's hands and grinned.
[Mastered the art of decapitation too?]
[Learned it by chance long ago.]
[Heading back?]
[We need to hang these somewhere.]
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok looked around. Nearby, they found two flagpoles and headed there.
The poles had cloth banners attached to gauge wind direction and strength.
Yi Hwan gazed toward the deepest part of the enemy camp, his eyes gleaming.
'This should force them to tighten security around their generals' guards.'
That was exactly what Yi Hwan aimed for.
A few masters couldn't sway the entire battle, but their influence was undeniable.
The number and strength of elite warriors were key measures of military power, underscoring just how vital masters were in war.
If this prompted the enemy to pull masters from the front lines to guard key generals, it could tilt the tide in Yeon Kingdom's favor.
Cheol Mu-ok hung the two heads on the flagpoles and descended.
That was when it happened.
Boom!
An explosion rocked the air, followed by flames erupting from the massive tent they'd pegged as a granary.
“Return.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Roaaar!
The massive blaze, riding fierce winds, lit the surroundings like midday.
“Enemies! Enemy raid!”
Enemies burst out from everywhere.
“That way! Pursue them!”
“Capture them!”
Spotting Ju Tae, Park Ji-mun, and the others fleeing beyond the flames, the enemies gave chase, leaping fiercely.
Yi Hwan watched the scene and veered off. No need to fight here; he planned to withdraw without engaging.
But things rarely went as planned.
Swaaaah!
Chilling auras flew in from both flanks.
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok simultaneously leaped apart, swatting away the incoming attacks.
Kwaaang!
Papat!
The powerful clash warped the fierce winds momentarily.
Yi Hwan stared at the figures descending like ghosts from the darkness. His eyes sharpened upon noticing those beyond them, watching impassively as if the fight meant nothing to them.
Cheol Mu-ok urgently sent a transmission.
[These aren't ordinary foes! Be cautious!]
[Head back first, Mu-ok.]
[We should go together!]
[I have business here.]
Yi Hwan's sword ignited flames. The fire swelled massively, slicing through the air and forcing the charging foes to recoil.
Roaaar!
Kwaaakwaaang!
[See you at camp.]
Pap!
Yi Hwan vanished.
Cheol Mu-ok was flustered. But he couldn't pursue the already-gone Yi Hwan. To draw the enemies away and prevent them from tracking him, he needed to lure them south.
Pat!
Leaping into the air, Cheol Mu-ok flew straight toward the Yeon Kingdom camp to the south.
The enemies, briefly stalled by Yi Hwan's attack, pursued Cheol Mu-ok en masse. None headed toward where Yi Hwan had disappeared.
* * *
Startled by the sudden explosion and clamor, Tae Mu-rang stepped out of his tent. Flames reflected in his eyes.
A general descended like the wind.
“The two tents we built for supplies have been torched by the enemy.”
“Is the granary safe?”
“Yes. Fortunately, they mistook it for the granary. However, Your Highness...”
The general continued grimly.
“Two generals have fallen.”
“I see it.”
Sure enough, Tae Mu-rang had been staring at the two heads dangling from a nearby tree, swaying in the wind. The nearby blaze made them visible as clearly as daylight.
“Looks like they had some skilled ones over there.”
Black-robed figures in pitch-dark cloaks then landed in the camp—the same ones who had attacked Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok.
Tae Mu-rang fixed them with a stare.
“Coming back empty-handed means you let them escape.”
“Our apologies.”
“How many?”
“We saw two. Both were exceptional masters.”
“If they detected you and still slipped away unharmed, of course they were.”
Despite losing two generals and a newly built tent to flames, Tae Mu-rang showed no agitation.
“From now on, bolster protection for each division's generals.”
Returning to his tent, Tae Mu-rang awaited the return of the assassins he'd sent to the Yeon Kingdom camp.
But they didn't return even as dawn broke and the sun rose.
* * *
After breakfast, Tae Mu-rang sipped tea. Despite last night's incident, he remained utterly composed.
“Since they haven't returned yet, they must have failed.”
As Tae Mu-rang spoke calmly of failure, an aide replied.
“They're elites selected from each tribe. They might be delayed by minor issues, so let's wait a bit longer.”
“Very well. But don't hold out hope.”
He was certain of their failure.
And sure enough.
“Your Highness!”
A general rushed in.
Tae Mu-rang asked impassively.
“What's got you in such a panic?”
“The assassins we sent out—they're all dead, hung at the forest's edge. From the state of the bodies, it looks like they were killed in single strikes.”
Twitch.
Tae Mu-rang's eyebrow twitched faintly.
“Single strikes?”
As the aide had mentioned, those assassins were tribal elites.
For all of them to fall in one blow each?
It meant the Yeon Kingdom camp harbored overwhelmingly superior masters.
After a moment's thought, Tae Mu-rang spoke slowly.
“Today, we'll honor the fallen. No one moves troops recklessly.”
“...!”
Clink.
Setting down his teacup, Tae Mu-rang closed his eyes.
The generals in the tent shot to their feet, bowed, and exited.
Moments later, Tae Mu-rang opened his eyes. He snapped his fingers, and a green-robed figure—previously unseen—entered from outside.
“Tonight, you go and repay them in kind.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Corpses hung at the forest's edge.
Hwa Ryeong looked up at them, furrowing her brow.
“Enemy assassins, right?”
“Probably.”
“You're sure he's fine?”
“No need to worry. He anticipated they'd resort to assassinations, so nothing should have gone wrong.”
Go Mi said that, but her eyes were heavy with unease. She and Hwa Ryeong had been out on reconnaissance yesterday and were heading back to camp.
'No one should have been hurt.'
That was when it happened.
“Who goes there!”
A sharp shout rang from beyond the forest. Yeon Kingdom warriors appeared.
Recognizing Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong, they bowed.
“Back from scouting?”
“Yes.”
“Please, enter.”
Go Mi pulled Hwa Ryeong's arm.
“Let's go.”
“Right.”
Upon entering camp, Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong headed straight for Yi Hwan's tent.
The atmosphere was off.
“What happened? Where's the Great Prince?”
“The lord had business and stayed behind in the enemy camp.”
“Stayed behind? You mean he went into their camp last night?”
With Cheol Mu-ok absent, Ju Tae briefly explained the night's events. Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong's faces hardened like stone upon hearing it.
“Even so, how could you leave him alone!”
Hwa Ryeong cried out in agitation.
Go Mi restrained her.
“Do you think Mu-ok wanted to? You know the Great Prince—once he decides, he never backs down.”
Go Mi grabbed a liquor bottle from the tent corner and chugged straight from it.
Ju Tae asked.
“Did you gather any new intel?”
Thud!
Setting down the bottle, Go Mi replied.
“Tae Mu-rang's arrival tightened security, so no real intel. But we interrogated one—roughly, the Blue Wolf Tribe under him alone has thousands trained in martial arts. Add the other tribes...”
Everyone was taken aback. They hadn't imagined northern barbarians had so many martial artists.
The quality varied, but sheer numbers meant plenty of masters.
Park Ji-mun clicked his tongue.
“Not just troops, but real masters too. This won't be as easy as thought. Oh, shouldn't we go look for the Great Prince?”
“Guess I'll have to once the sun sets.”
“Don't.”
Go Mi stepped in.
“Paths might cross and complicate things. Better trust him and wait.”
“Hmm...”
“I need some rest.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong headed to their tent.
Exhausted from patrolling the enemy perimeter all night, the two women couldn't sleep easily due to worry for Yi Hwan. Hwa Ryeong finally dozed off after a while.
But Go Mi's anxiety persisted.
'What business could keep him alone in such danger?'
Endless worries plagued her.
Yet, as they say, fatigue makes eyelids the heaviest burden.
After tossing and turning, Go Mi finally fell asleep.