Chapter 251
Chapter 251
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Great Prince, you must come out for a moment.”
Yi Hwan, who had just been about to retire for the night, climbed down from his bed at the sound of Ju Tae’s voice from outside.
When he stepped out, the two martial artists he had dismissed earlier were kneeling in the corridor, their faces a battered mess.
“It turned out as expected?”
“These bastards were spouting lies, just as you said, my lord. However…”
Ju Tae’s explanation continued, and once it was finished, Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
“Is it true that the Third Prince fled to the Qin Kingdom?”
“Y-Yes.”
Thud!
The martial artist slammed his forehead against the floor and wailed.
“P-Please spare us! E-Earlier, we were afraid of our companions and d-dared to lie!”
“They scare you, but I don’t?”
“……!”
Yi Hwan turned to Ju Tae and asked.
“What about the others?”
“We’ve dragged them to the inn’s back courtyard.”
“Disable their dantians and send them on their way.”
“Understood.”
“P-Please, not my dantian…!”
Thwack!
“If you don’t want to die, shut your mouth.”
Ju Tae dragged the two martial artists away like dogs. Go Mi, who had come out into the corridor due to the sudden commotion, spoke with a surprised expression.
“To think he fled not to the Zhao Kingdom, but to the Qin Kingdom—what on earth is he thinking?”
“He knows he’d just be treated like a side branch again if he went to the Empress. It’s nothing surprising, so everyone go back and rest.”
“……Yes.”
The unexpected disturbance came to an end like that.
But it left Go Mi with something to worry about.
‘The Qin Kingdom’s intelligence network is practically nonexistent….’
* * *
Zhao Kingdom Imperial Palace.
U Mun-sul, who had formally been appointed as military advisor in the strategy office, headed toward Jo Yun’s residence.
‘How should I report this?’
U Mun-sul’s expression was extremely grave.
He had just received a shocking report from a spy operating in the Yeon Kingdom.
It stated that the Yeon Kingdom had recognized the Blue Wolf Tribe and the other northern tribes as a single nation and decided to accept them as a vassal state.
‘Why didn’t I think of that? If we had done it first, we could have gained a powerful ally.’
U Mun-sul swallowed a sigh that threatened to escape and spoke to the guard.
“Announce me.”
“Your Highness, the military advisor is here.”
“Let him in.”
“Please enter.”
U Mun-sul took a quiet breath and opened the door to step inside. Jo Yun was sitting in a chair covered with tiger skin, tilting a teacup.
“What brings the military advisor at this hour?”
“I have something to report.”
“Is it bad news?”
“Well…”
U Mun-sul immediately conveyed the contents of the report.
Clatter!
The teacup Jo Yun was holding fell and shattered into pieces. He must have been quite shocked.
Tremble…
Jo Yun’s face twitched with spasms.
But U Mun-sul’s report didn’t end there.
“Over a hundred thousand Blue Wolf Tribe warriors have descended near the border and set up camp. According to the spy, it doesn’t seem like a temporary encampment that will withdraw soon.”
“……!”
“And that was the last report. We’ve had no further contact. It appears our entire intelligence network planted in the Blue Wolf Tribe has been wiped out.”
It was adding insult to injury for Jo Yun.
Until now, both the Yeon Kingdom and Zhao Kingdom had devoted significant forces to checking the northern barbarians.
But if the Blue Wolf Tribe and the other northern barbarians became vassals of the Yeon Kingdom, the Yeon Kingdom would no longer need to worry about the north.
This was an extremely serious situation from Zhao Kingdom’s perspective.
Zhao Kingdom would continue deploying forces to the north, while the Yeon Kingdom could redirect all its northern troops entirely toward Zhao Kingdom.
Throb!
Jo Yun pressed his temples with both hands.
U Mun-sul simply watched Jo Yun with a sorrowful face.
‘If I tell him that Yi Hwan, the Great Prince of Yeon Kingdom, orchestrated all this, he’ll fly into an even greater rage.’
Thus, U Mun-sul couldn’t bring himself to mention it. Jo Yun believed he had lost his second son, Jo Jeong-mu, to Yi Hwan, so imagining his reaction to the truth was unthinkable.
A moment of silence passed.
Flash!
Soon, a fierce glint flashed in Jo Yun’s eyes.
“Military advisor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Summon the Southwest Army to the capital immediately, and have the Golden Army arrest everyone opposing my ascension!”
“……Pardon?”
“We must unite all of Zhao Kingdom under one banner by ascending the throne as quickly as possible to overcome these crises! I’ve been too complacent all this time!”
Jo Yun shot to his feet, donned the armor hanging on the wall, grabbed his longsword, and strode out.
“I’m going to see my brother!”
“Your Highness! Remember, you must never shed blood!”
“What blood will be shed? If he yields the throne, I’ll take it!”
“……!”
U Mun-sul watched Jo Yun’s back as he headed to the emperor’s chambers with his guards, his own gaze steadying.
‘Perhaps this is the wisest choice for our Zhao Kingdom.’
* * *
Yeon Kingdom Imperial Palace.
With Yi Hwan away, Jo Gwang had stayed in the palace with Pa Pa.
Yi So had shown him great favor, assigning him a spacious hall and numerous maids. He also hadn’t restricted his freedom to come and go from the palace.
But Jo Gwang felt more at ease by Yi Hwan’s side. Yi Hwan was the only person he could truly open up to.
Was that why? Or for some other reason? Today, Jo Gwang’s expression was dark.
Pa Pa asked with a worried face.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“My chest suddenly feels like it’s being sliced open by a knife. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
Pa Pa’s eyes widened in shock.
“Then I shall request an imperial physician from His Majesty!”
“That would be appreciated.”
Pa Pa hurried out.
Jo Gwang pressed his chest and gently closed his eyes.
‘Why all of a sudden…?’
Jo Gwang was overcome by a thick unease he couldn’t shake off, not mere vague fear.
It was a first in his life.
That night, Jo Gwang suffered severely throughout, and even the decoction prescribed by the physician was of no use.
* * *
Shaanxi Province, Mount Hua.
One of the Five Great Mountains and the famed home of the prestigious Mount Hua Sect—it was filled with the stench of blood.
Clang!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
“Slaughter every last one of them without mercy!”
“Uwaaak!”
The forest echoed with agonized death cries.
Two groups clashed there in a bloody melee.
One side was the Mount Hua Sect’s sword guards, the other the Green Forest Bandits.
Though the bandits outnumbered them nearly two to one, they were the ones being steadily pushed back.
The Mount Hua Sect sword guards were swift and fierce, savage and valiant like tigers. They herded the bandits like yakshas, cutting them down indiscriminately.
A middle-aged sword guard who had just severed the heads of two bandits wiped the blood from his face and exhaled roughly.
He was Myeong Seon, the Plum Blossom Pavilion Leader.
“Hoo!”
Known as one of the sect’s top experts, he glared at the fleeing bandits with murderous intent.
“To think mere bandit scum would dare invade the sacred Mount Hua.”
“Pavilion Leader! They’re retreating!”
“Pursue and exterminate them all!”
“Yes!”
The Mount Hua Sect sword guards began their pursuit in unison.
Myeong Seon soon kicked off the ground and leaped after them. The chase lasted a full hour, ending only as the sun passed over the western mountains.
The sword guards gathered around Myeong Seon. As he counted them, his eyes wavered.
Fewer had returned than expected. Those who were safe should have been back by now.
A young sword guard said with a stiff expression.
“The bandits’ skills exceeded the rumors. Especially a few—they were masters I couldn’t handle alone.”
Myeong Seon knew as well.
They had lost the most sword guards to those very men. Had he known, he would have targeted them first.
“Collect the casualties and return to the sect.”
“Yes!”
Myeong Seon climbed to a high vantage and looked down at the base of the mountain. The area they were in was quite some distance from the Mount Hua Sect’s main base.
Mount Hua was so vast that they had only recently learned bandits were operating nearby.
He recalled the bandit experts mercilessly slaughtering his sect’s sword guards, and his eyes trembled.
‘They were no ordinary bandits. Does that mean the Green Forest isn’t just a simple band of thieves?’
Whoosh!
A chill wind laden with cold sliced across Myeong Seon’s body. He couldn’t leave until the casualties were tended.
‘We should have accepted the officials’ request for cooperation….’
Not long ago, the government had formally requested aid. They planned to subjugate Shaanxi’s Green Forest Bandits and hoped for Mount Hua Sect’s assistance.
But the sect elders, who extremely disliked entanglement with the government, had refused.
‘With the court declaring Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World first, we must change as well. Strengthening ties with the government could even elevate the sect’s status. I hope the elders reconsider….’
* * *
Myeong Seon’s heart was unbearably heavy as he passed through the sect gate. Sword guards rushed out to ask the results, but he couldn’t answer and headed straight for the sect leader’s residence.
Moments later, entering the sect leader’s quarters, Myeong Seon narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar man’s back.
‘Who is he?’
The intangible pressure emanating from the man was something he had never felt except from the sect elders.
“You’re back?”
“I have returned.”
Myeong Seon stepped forward and bowed to the sect leader. Then he turned to face the man directly.
“He is an attendant of the Great Prince from the Imperial Palace, so pay your respects.”
“I am Myeong Seon.”
“I am Ju Tae, who serves the Great Prince.”
The man was Ju Tae. He had come ahead to inform Mount Hua Sect that Yi Hwan would visit soon.
Ju Tae clasped his hands in salute toward the sect leader.
“I have conveyed the Great Prince’s will, so I shall take my leave.”
Moments later, Ju Tae departed.
Myeong Seon immediately asked.
“Why is the Great Prince visiting our sect?”
“Who knows. He only said he would visit the sect tomorrow at this time.”
Myeong Seon had heard his ears ringing with rumors about Yi Hwan. That he had played a decisive role in enthroning the current emperor, and that the emperor had declared Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World on his advice, and so on.
But what intrigued Myeong Seon most was the prowess of the warriors guarding Yi Hwan.
There was even this rumor.
The Great Prince’s guards were experts tremendous enough to claim hegemony over an entire region.
‘Was that man just now one of them?’
It was highly likely. Hadn’t he himself flinched at just the man’s back?
“How did it go?”
The sect leader’s question snapped Myeong Seon from his thoughts. He quickly composed himself and replied.
“We drove them all out, but our disciples’ losses were greater than expected. Surprisingly, they didn’t seem like mere bandits.”
“Were they that strong?”
“Yes.”
Deep wrinkles formed on the sect leader’s brow.
“I heard rumors that even Shaolin Temple suffered significant losses when they moved against the Green Forest. So it wasn’t exaggerated?”
“Not only were their individual martial prowess impressive, but their group sword formations were also on a high level. If only third-generation disciples had gone, the casualties would have been even worse.”
“Hmm…”
The sect leader, with a hardened expression, soon nodded.
“You’ve done well. Go and rest now.”
“Yes. Then.”
Myeong Seon stepped out.
Just then, the wounded were being carried in. Some had injuries severe enough to require extended recovery.
Myeong Seon’s gaze sank heavily.
‘We lacked real combat experience. Is there truly a limit to training alone?’
Lack of real combat experience.
That was the Mount Hua Sect’s greatest weakness.