Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Tae-seon's Decision
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Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
Tae-seon was approaching from the front, walking with great difficulty.
"Didn't the physician say you shouldn't move yet?"
"I have something to say."
'What's with this atmosphere...'
Yi Hwan could tell something was off about Tae-seon's demeanor.
"Let's go inside first."
* * *
"Please let me stay by the Great Prince's side."
"......!"
Those were Tae-seon's first words. The sudden request left Yi Hwan thoroughly flustered.
Tae-seon continued.
"I'll help the Great Prince and that man fight Zhao Kingdom. Consider it repayment for saving my life, so please accept my wish."
"It was just what anyone would do. If anything, the fault lies with us for failing to protect the princess properly, so don't worry about it."
"No. I insisted on going, and even when I suggested bringing more escorts, I refused because it was a hassle and only took one. So that man bears no responsibility."
"I meant it was my fault, not that friend's."
"The Great Prince did nothing wrong either. It was all due to my carelessness, so I don't want to blame anyone."
Yi Hwan stared at Tae-seon for a moment before asking.
"Is that the only reason you want to stay?"
"When I receive help, I must repay it without fail, and anyone who harms me, I pursue to the ends of hell for revenge—that's my ironclad rule. Besides, if I just return to the Great Plains like this, the other tribesmen will mock me as an ungrateful coward, and it could even shake Father's authority."
Yi Hwan had nothing to say in the face of Tae-seon's resolute, almost tragic determination.
"I've already sent a letter to Father conveying my will. So please allow it."
"There must be plenty of other ways. For instance, repaying the favor later wouldn't be too late."
"No. I never put off repaying a debt of gratitude. Never!"
"......"
It was awkward. From the look in her eyes, no matter how much he refused, she seemed determined to stick around.
But he couldn't just accept it outright. If something like this happened again while traveling together, it could ruin relations with the Blue Wolf Tribe.
"If you're worried that something might happen to me and sour our relations, you don't need to be. As I said, the Blue Wolf Tribe always repays grudges without fail and never puts them off. Repaying favors is even more so."
At that moment, Go Mi's voice transmission flowed in from outside.
[If you refuse, the princess will consider it a disgrace. The Blue Wolf Tribe, upon receiving a favor, sometimes even offers themselves as slaves in return—and if refused, they may even take their own lives. That's their history and culture.]
'I think I've heard stories like that before...'
Yi Hwan unconsciously frowned. Seeing it, Tae-seon's expression changed.
"Are you refusing?"
"Very well. But for now, focus on recovering. Remember that if you leave that medicine unfinished, I might change my mind."
Yi Hwan pointed to the bowl on the side. Half the medicinal broth remained.
"Got it. I will."
Tae-seon finally smiled.
Yi Hwan asked something unexpected.
"Do you have a lover by any chance?"
"No. And I'm not interested. But why do you ask?"
"......If you had a lover waiting back on the Great Plains, it might interfere with traveling together, so I asked. Rest now."
* * *
"Why did you ask if she has a lover?"
As soon as he stepped outside, Hwa Ryeong's question flew at him.
"If you overheard the question, you heard the answer too, right?"
"You're saying that's really why you asked?"
"What are you thinking?"
"Did you fall for her at first sight? For that flat-chested girl?"
Whoosh!
Go Mi grabbed Hwa Ryeong's arm and pulled her away.
"Rest."
Yi Hwan stared at Hwa Ryeong in bewilderment as she was dragged off. Her grumbling continued.
"Men are all the same anyway."
"......"
* * *
The next day, Cheol Mu-ok opened his eyes.
As his blurry vision cleared, the first thing he saw was Ju Tae dozing off beside the bed, slumped over with his head on his legs of all places.
"It hurts. Lift your head."
Ju Tae shot up.
"You're awake?"
"Water."
"The physician said no water until his instructions. Hang in there a bit. Anyway, you okay?"
"Feels like death, but I can bear it."
Seeing the vitality return to Cheol Mu-ok's eyes, Ju Tae finally relaxed. Just then, Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun entered.
"You're awake?"
"Sleeping for days really improved your skin, huh?"
They joked, but relief was evident on their faces too.
"Hoo..."
Cheol Mu-ok let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling. Ju Tae pretended to smack his head.
"Getting this injured against mere demon cultists. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Mere demon cultists? Ghost Valley Lord was there too."
Of course, the Ghost Valley of the era when it clashed with Daye Fortress differed greatly from today's, but to Cheol Mu-ok, who knew that history, the weight of the name Ghost Valley was no small thing.
Cheol Mu-ok suddenly recalled the Ghost Valley Lord's figure charging at him in the final moment, only to hastily retreat.
Even with internal injuries, he had managed to dispatch all the other demon cultists, but in doing so, he exhausted all his energy and had no strength left to block the Ghost Valley Lord's attack.
If Yi Hwan and the others had been even a little later, he would already be dead.
"Did I hold up the schedule because of me?"
"You too, but the princess made it unavoidable."
"Why the princess? Is she worse?"
He had heard from Yi Hwan upon first regaining consciousness that the princess was fine, so Cheol Mu-ok was quite surprised.
"It's not that..."
Ju Tae explained what had happened between Yi Hwan and Tae-seon. After hearing it, Cheol Mu-ok finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I heard from Moon Lord—their culture is no joke. Like the Central Plains, they repay favors and grudges definitively, but to an almost fanatic degree."
Kim Mu-gwan chimed in.
"Nations long oppressed by foreign powers tend to have strong pride. The Blue Wolf Tribe might be extreme, but it's somewhat understandable."
"I agree."
Ju Tae continued.
"Anyway, with both you and the princess safe, and that scheming bastard Southwest King in hot water, you've done something huge."
"Agreed."
"I agree too."
Cheol Mu-ok thought of Tae-seon.
Even as he pushed her off the waterfall, she had wanted to fight together. Her eyes in that final moment were still vivid.
'As long as she's safe.'
Clunk.
Tae-seon entered as the door opened.
Everyone rose, and Cheol Mu-ok propped himself up.
"Don't get up if you're fine lying down."
"Is the princess okay?"
"Pain's a bitch, but bearable. The waterfall bottom was all rocks."
"That's why I told you to be careful falling."
"You think that's easy in that situation? That's why I said I'd fight together!"
"That was for the best."
Amid the sudden argument, Ju Tae looked awkward and glanced at Park Ji-mun and Kim Mu-gwan.
Kim Mu-gwan sent a voice transmission.
[Shouldn't we step out?]
Then Ju Tae abruptly stood.
"You're here?"
Yi Hwan entered.
Tae-seon straightened her expression and rose, while Cheol Mu-ok struggled to prop up his upper body again.
"Were you fighting?"
"We weren't fighting. No."
"Not at all."
Cheol Mu-ok immediately looked apologetic.
"I'm sorry. I heard I delayed the schedule."
"If you're sorry, recover quickly. Same for you, princess."
"......Understood."
Yi Hwan looked straight at Tae-seon and continued.
"Send the envoy back now."
"Has His Majesty's permission come down?"
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan held out a gold-embossed message tube.
"It's an edict containing His Majesty's permission, so deliver it and that should suffice."
"......!"
Tae-seon received it with both hands. Her eyes trembled faintly. At last, the long-cherished wish from their ancestors was fulfilled.
"If you want to return now, you may."
"My decision won't change! So don't tell me to go back again! Ah......"
Tae-seon clutched her waist and grimaced. The pain had surged from her excitement.
Yi Hwan glanced at the Blue Wolf Tribe's female warriors waiting outside.
"Escort the princess back to her quarters."
"Yes!"
After Tae-seon left shortly, Yi Hwan sat in a chair and regarded Cheol Mu-ok.
"A foolish choice."
"......"
"If you face the same situation again, prioritize your life. If we'd been even a bit later, you and the princess both would have died."
Sssk.
"I made that choice expecting anyone might come. If I didn't trust the Golden Army's alert network and intelligence, I naturally would have chosen differently."
"You say that, but..."
Yi Hwan stopped short of scolding.
He knew it was a choice made because of his own order to protect the princess. So he felt deeply sorry toward Cheol Mu-ok.
When they first found him, he had lost so much blood it seemed irrecoverable.
Ju Tae asked cautiously.
"With the princess joining, shall I handle close protection?"
"Mu-ok continues the princess's protection."
"......Yes."
"Rest."
"I'll recover as fast as possible!"
* * *
Great Plains.
A single letter was clutched in Tae Mu-rang's hand. The letter Tae-seon had sent days ago had only reached him that morning.
Tremble...
As he read, Tae Mu-rang's eyes flickered with rage, his face flushing red.
"Zhao Kingdom, those bastards..."
"What is it, Your Highness?"
Tae Mu-rang handed the letter to his aide. The aide's eyes widened upon reading it.
Since Tae-seon had written it herself days ago, it detailed the attack by Zhao Kingdom's warriors and everything that followed—but nothing about Emperor Yi So's permission.
"If the princess wrote the letter herself, she's safe, so please don't worry too much. It's just her staying there that concerns me."
"She was saved. With that child's personality, she won't return."
"......"
Tae Mu-rang downed the poison liquor on the table in one go.
Gulp gulp!
Thud!
"Move 100,000 troops to the border with Zhao Kingdom immediately and transmit that they must not leave their posts without further orders!"
"It's full winter now. War is impossible at this time, Your Highness."
"War isn't the goal. It's to show we're ready to fight Zhao Kingdom anytime and ensure Jo Yun doesn't entertain delusions of using us again."
"I failed to grasp Your Highness's intent. Then I'll carry out your orders."
"There's something to do first."
"Command me."
"Root out all Zhao Kingdom spies operating in our lands and send them back to their camps—heads only, naturally."
"Understood!"
The aide left.
Tae Mu-rang emptied the remaining liquor, sank deep into his chair, and interlaced his fingers.
The rage in his eyes gradually gave way to bewilderment.
'She could have just come back...'
His beloved daughter, whom he cherished like life itself, vowed not to return until she repaid the grudge.
He understood her resolve, but unease and sorrow were inevitable.
The Great Prince Yi Hwan, whom he had met, seemed trustworthy somehow. But whether Yeon Kingdom's emperor was reliable remained unknown.
If the emperor harbored other intentions, Tae-seon would be in clear danger.
'I have no choice but to trust him?'
Finally, Yi Hwan's face surfaced in Tae Mu-rang's mind.