Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Yi Tae-ji Was Not There
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About twenty li north of the Blue Wolf Tribe's camp.
Kwaaah!
At the center of a blizzard that seemed poised to devour the world stood a structure reinforced with stones and timber.
Was someone living there?
A massive hunk of meat dangled from the eaves, and a well was visible in the backyard.
Kkiiik!
The thick door creaked open, and a man stepped out. A hulking giant at least eight chi tall, he braved the bone-chilling cold that could steal one's breath—wearing nothing but shorts—as he yanked down the meat from the eaves.
As the giant turned to head back inside with the meat, he stared south across the storm-lashed plains, furrowing his brow.
"Damn weather. Ptui!"
Thud!
The door slammed shut, and the surroundings were once more adrift with snowflakes.
The swirling snowflakes rode the wind like rising flames. Amid them, small pebbles pelted down like hail where Yi Hwan stood.
He gazed at the structure the giant had entered and approached slowly.
Last night, in the Blue Wolf Tribe's camp, certain men had caught his eye. He had tracked them here, and through the blizzard, he had kept watch on them until now.
'Is he inside?'
Yi Hwan's target was not the giant from moments ago.
Fsssh...
Snowflakes swept by the wind blanketed his body.
Yi Hwan glanced to his left.
There, half-buried in snow, lay corpses—including those of children.
The ones inside must have killed them.
'One more reason they deserve to die.'
It was then.
Kkiiik.
The structure's door opened again.
Another giant poked his head out and bellowed toward Yi Hwan, who stood tall amid the raging blizzard.
"Hey, what's that!"
Yi Hwan did not reply.
"Looks like you're heading north—did you desert?"
Yi Hwan remained silent.
Was it the fierce swirl of snowflakes? The giant did not seem to recognize Yi Hwan from last night.
Perhaps he did not know Yi Hwan at all.
Yi Hwan, however, clearly remembered the giant's face.
"Hey! We're not with the Blue Wolf Tribe, so quit standing there like an idiot and come in to warm up! Your body heat drops, and you're off to the afterlife!"
Was this hospitality toward an intruder?
The giant beckoned Yi Hwan inside, and only then did Yi Hwan walk forward.
Through the slightly ajar door, he glimpsed others within. But the face he sought was absent. The angle hid the deeper interior from view.
"Wait—you're..."
Had he finally recognized Yi Hwan?
The giant drew his sword and asked coldly.
"What brings you here? Did you track us?"
"What is it?"
A man in green robes stepped out.
Locking eyes with Yi Hwan, he widened his in shock and cried out.
"...Fourth Imperial Prince!"
"Is Yi Tae-ji there too?"
Chaeng!
"Everyone out!"
At the green-robed man's shout, those inside rushed outside. Some recognized Yi Hwan; others did not.
Those who did were Yi Tae-ji's subordinates; those who didn't were Jo Jeong-mu's.
"How did that bastard get here..."
The giant said.
"Saw him in the Blue Wolf Tribe's camp last night, but had no idea he was Yeon Kingdom's Fourth Imperial Prince."
Sssk.
The giant bared his teeth in a grin.
"Guess I'll see for myself if he's as impressive as the rumors."
As the giant gathered his energy, snowflakes surged around him.
Yet Yi Hwan showed no reaction, lost in thought.
'Zhao Kingdom insignia.'
The giant's blade bore the same marking as the swords used by Zhao warriors he had faced in battles with the Northern Legion.
'So he defected to Zhao after all.'
"Hey, mighty prince. Come spar with me."
"Bring Yi Tae-ji before me, and I won't kill you."
Pfft.
"Ridiculous. You lot, stay back!"
"We have no time to waste on banter with someone who must die."
One of Yi Tae-ji's subordinates stepped up beside the giant.
Kwaaah!
Snowflakes surged again.
Yi Hwan slowly raised his dangling sword. The azure glow along the blade grew, doubling in size.
He had never manifested qi of this magnitude against anyone but the strongest foes.
But the giant grinned, as if it meant nothing.
Pat!
The giant vanished like smoke.
A terrifying movement technique. Yet it did not escape Yi Hwan's eyes.
Kwaang!
Swords clashed, warping the space. The vanished giant reappeared before Yi Hwan.
Twitch.
The giant's brow arched sharply.
"Oh ho!"
The giant raised his sword with both hands. Azure light streaked from its broad blade like a greatsword.
Meanwhile, the green-robed man moved with excruciating slowness, awaiting an opening.
The giant charged again.
For his size, the giant was incredibly fast, and the destructive power in his strikes immense.
Among those Yi Hwan had faced since awakening in this body, none could compare.
Kwaakwang!
It was a fierce clash of dragon and tiger. At least, that's how it appeared to the other giants.
After several more exchanges.
Ttaang!
A clear metallic ring echoed as the giant's sword snapped in two. Half the blade soared into the air and fell before Yi Hwan.
Puk!
"...!"
The giant's eyes bulged in shock.
The green-robed man still held back, unable to find an opening.
That was when Yi Hwan moved. But not toward the giant or the green-robed man—toward the structure where they had stayed.
Kwang!
The sturdy wooden door shattered, fragments flying everywhere.
Yi Hwan scanned the interior. But Yi Tae-ji was not there.
As he furrowed his brow, a chilling aura assailed his back from multiple directions.
Yi Hwan kicked off the ground, leaping up as he hurled his sword. Simultaneously, seven orbs of light rose around him and shot toward the giants who had lunged.
Puk! Puk-puk!
Jo Jeong-mu's subordinates, including the first giant to face Yi Hwan, were pierced by the lights and died instantly.
Kwang!
The green-robed man groaned and staggered as he blocked Yi Hwan's thrown sword.
But the blocked sword did not stop—it swept through the air on its own, slicing down Yi Tae-ji's remaining subordinates.
It was sword arts from afar.
Puk-puk!
Two severed heads hit the ground.
The lone surviving green-robed man trembled in horror, stumbling back.
Yi Hwan approached him slowly.
"Where is Yi Tae-ji?"
"...He left."
"I'll believe that. Then why did he come here?"
"To watch the war with Zhao Kingdom's General Jo Jeong-mu."
'Jo Jeong-mu...'
How could he not know Jo Yoon's second son, Jo Jeong-mu?
Yi Hwan felt regret. Yi Tae-ji and Jo Jeong-mu together would have been ideal.
"Are you with the Palace of Illusory Flowers?"
"Yes."
Had he accepted his fate? The green-robed man no longer retreated and admitted it readily.
"Is the Empress well?"
"Thanks to whom, she is."
Clang.
The green-robed man tossed his sword aside and sighed deeply.
"Kill me."
"I'll spare you. Go back to the Empress and relay this: quit her pointless greed and stay in Zhao until she dies."
"..."
Before sheathing his sword, Yi Hwan severed the green-robed man's left arm in a flash.
Puk!
"Kuh!"
"You killed innocents for a place to stay. Pay the price."
Drip-drip!
Blood poured from the stump.
The green-robed man stared at Yi Hwan's vanishing figure through the blizzard, his eyes trembling.
'Something's wrong. The Fourth Imperial Prince is this strong...?'
* * *
Had two shichen passed since Yi Hwan left?
Figures climbed through the blizzard: Yi Tae-ji, Jo Jeong-mu, and their escorts.
Yi Tae-ji and Jo Jeong-mu's expressions changed upon seeing the shattered door and the corpses strewn before it, mid-conversation.
"Go check!"
At Jo Jeong-mu's order, his escorts dashed forward like the wind.
"What the hell happened..."
It was then. The green-robed man emerged, limping with the escorts' support.
Yi Tae-ji kicked off the ground and leaped forward.
"What happened!"
"The Fourth Imperial Prince... he tracked us here."
"...What?"
"He entered the Blue Wolf Tribe's camp last night and must have seen us then."
"He came alone?"
"...Yes."
"...!"
Yi Tae-ji could not hide his shock. Yi Hwan had killed them all by himself?
"He was looking for you, Your Highness. I told him you and General Jo had gone ahead, but still, be cautious..."
The green-robed man lost consciousness before finishing.
Jo Jeong-mu muttered, eyes glinting.
"...As expected of a Daye Fortress heir."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. First, let's save this man and go inside."
"With the door like that, inside or out makes no difference. Better to head back or find somewhere else."
"Turning back after this feels off. Let's look for another spot."
"Understood."
Suddenly, Yi Tae-ji sent a palm wind to end the unconscious green-robed man's life.
"Let's go."
Yi Tae-ji turned first.
Jo Jeong-mu watched his back, subtly narrowing his brow.
'He's quite ruthless, it turns out.'
* * *
By afternoon, with Yi Hwan still absent, anxiety gripped everyone. Resentment toward Cheol Mu-ok, who had returned alone, poured out.
Time dragged on until evening, as the sun set.
"Chung!"
At the military horn from outside, Hwa Ryeong jumped up and opened the door.
"Great Prince!"
At her cry, everyone inside leaped to their feet.
Yi Hwan entered. They finally sighed in relief.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
"Why did you stay behind in enemy territory?"
"Saw Yi Tae-ji's men. Tracked them, but he wasn't there."
"What? Then I could have gone with you."
"If you'd moved with me, the Blue Wolf Tribe would've followed too."
"..."
"Bring some liquor."
"Yes. I'll get it."
Hwa Ryeong stepped out.
Yi Hwan removed his armor and sat. Go Mi took his sword and set it aside.
"Jo Yoon's second son came here with Yi Tae-ji, they said. To watch our war with the Blue Wolf Tribe. If it was just to see the outcome, no need to come this far. They'll intervene somehow, no doubt."
Yi Hwan looked at Park Ji-mun.
"Everyone return safely?"
"Yes. All back safe. But the fire we set last night feels off."
"Why?"
"Grain storage should've smelled of burning rice, but none of us caught it."
Cheol Mu-ok chimed in.
"And the fire died too quickly without efforts to put it out. Probably an empty building."
"Wonder if we wasted our effort."
"Enough. Shaking the enemy is victory enough."
Just then, Hwa Ryeong returned with the liquor.
"You all did well. Have a drink."
"Yes."