Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: Unexpected Chase
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“It was a fight between martial artists who crossed over from the Qin Kingdom and warriors from a small sect in this city. Fortunately, some government warriors happened by, so I asked, and they said these kinds of incidents have been happening all too often lately.”
“The authorities seem to be having a real headache with all these cases popping up constantly.”
Yi Hwan silently tilted his cup.
Go Mi spoke up.
“We need to come up with countermeasures for this quickly. The more martial artists pour into the Yeon Kingdom from now on, the worse the problems will get.”
“I already saw this coming. The Imperial Palace has measures in place, so eat up and don’t worry.”
“Yes.”
Everyone was starving, so for a while, they focused on their meal without a word.
“Moon Lord.”
“Yes?”
“Once we wrap things up and head back, I plan to expand the intelligence unit on a much larger scale than before. Naturally, you’ll be leading it.”
“I’ll do my utmost.”
“And me?”
“You’ll assist the Moon Lord, of course.”
“You’ll promote me too, right?”
“We’ll see how you do.”
“Huh?”
“Eat your food. It’s getting cold.”
“Tch.”
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and lifted his cup. Go Mi refilled his empty one.
Pour.
“Are we stopping by Mount Wudang before heading straight to the Zhao Kingdom?”
“That’s the plan, unless something comes up. You’ve got the human skin masks packed well, right?”
“Yes. I prepared two for each in case one gets damaged.”
“Eat slowly. I need to rest first.”
“Rest well.”
Yi Hwan headed to his room.
The first three floors were the inn proper, with the upper two dedicated to guest rooms. Luckily, plenty of rooms were vacant, so they could pair up two per room.
Of course, Yi Hwan had one to himself.
A moment later, entering his room, he shed his outer robe and flung open the window.
Whoosh!
Despite the chill, the streets teemed with people. Just like on the way in, there were quite a few martial artists among them.
‘Even Mount Hua Sect failed to grasp the true meaning of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World, so maybe this was inevitable.’
Many martial artists probably thought the authorities wouldn’t interfere no matter what they did.
But Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World didn’t mean total severance between the court and the martial world. Still, faced with something so new, it was inevitable that many would misjudge.
It had been the same two hundred years ago when Non-Aggression was first enacted. Back then, chaos from martial artists had erupted across the land.
Of course, with Daye Fortress overseeing the realm, the disorder was swiftly quelled, and afterward, even the court marveled at the stability.
‘It’ll work out.’
Yi Hwan took a deep breath as he gazed down at the marketplace. Then he subtly furrowed his brow upon spotting men being dragged away by government warriors.
Blood on some of them—another fight had broken out, it seemed.
That’s when words that pricked his ears drifted in.
“It wasn’t us—some women did it! Just ask the people who were at the inn at the time, and you’ll see we’re telling the truth. Why are you arresting us? You should find witnesses first!”
“Quiet down!”
“This is so unfair! You’re doing this just because we came from the Qin Kingdom, aren’t you?!”
“We didn’t kill anyone! I swear!”
The protests came from the warriors being hauled off.
From what he overheard, someone had been killed at an inn, and the Qin Kingdom martial artists felt discriminated against. Another side effect of Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World.
That’s when a group of warriors appeared from the opposite direction.
The ones dragging the Qin martial artists halted rigidly and saluted.
“Loyalty!”
A young general stepped forward.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re transporting suspects in a murder at an inn!”
“We didn’t do it! This is unfair!”
“Please believe us! No, at least investigate properly first!”
“I’m heading to the scene. I’ll inspect it and then decide on transport.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan eyed the young general. He could sense a spirit of justice in the man’s gaze. Trusting him to handle the case fairly and impartially, Yi Hwan closed the window.
Click.
He lay down on the bed.
Fatigue washed over him. Ever since the confusion in his memories, his mental exhaustion had been far worse than before.
It wasn’t something he could control, so rest was his only option.
‘Nonstop days.’
Reflecting on his life since reincarnation brought a wry smile. Living an extra lifetime meant the wear and tear was considerable too.
Yi Hwan closed his eyes.
He dozed off in a blink, only to snap awake at the commotion outside.
Thud thud thud!
Bang bang!
Urgent footsteps climbing, followed by doors being flung open roughly.
It reached Yi Hwan’s room next.
Bang!
The door burst open, and two warriors poked their heads in.
Yi Hwan stared at them from the bed. They scanned the room, then gave him a slight nod.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“What’s this about?”
“We’re searching for murder suspects. Two women presumed to be martial artists—they were spotted nearby, so stay vigilant.”
Thud!
The warriors moved on.
Yi Hwan recalled the Qin martial artists being dragged through the streets earlier.
It wasn’t us—some women did it!
Yi Hwan rose from the bed and opened the window.
That’s when—
Crash!
Right below, figures burst through a window. Both wore tall hats, but Yi Hwan instantly knew they were women.
‘Those women?’
* * *
Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk’s lightness skill left the pursuing government warriors stunned.
Even though the chase began right after they leaped from the inn, the two women had already shrunk to black dots.
“What the hell—how are they so fast!”
“We can’t handle them. Break off the pursuit!”
The warriors gave up.
Just then, a gust of wind swept from behind. As heads turned, someone vaulted over them.
Swoosh!
“Huh!”
The warriors’ robes flapped in the wind.
“W-what was that?”
“A person can’t move that fast…”
The warriors gaped once more.
They stared, dumbfounded, as the two women and another figure vanished from sight in an instant.
* * *
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk ran without pause.
When they figured it was enough, they glanced back—and someone was closing in at tremendous speed.
“That way!”
Park Seon-ha veered left.
To the left stretched a mountain range cradling the city’s north like a screen.
[Hide our tracks—no breaking even a single twig from now on.]
[One guy—should we just fight?]
[You see that insane lightness skill and still say that? Shut up and run.]
[Yes, miss.]
Park Seon-ha was prepared to fight if needed. But she’d rather shake him off.
If they got injured in a fight, they couldn’t even seek a physician. Word of them as murder suspects would spread across the city soon.
‘What the hell is that guy?’
Watching him pursue like a bird sent chills down her spine. She’d never seen lightness skill like that since arriving in the Central Plains.
[Right!]
Spotting the densest woods, Park Seon-ha plunged in. By then, the distance had narrowed to under thirty zhang.
[When I signal, deploy concealment and the Great Ghost Devouring Technique!]
[Yes.]
The Great Ghost Devouring Technique went beyond hiding sound and presence—it regulated breathing and heartbeat, putting the user in a near-comatose state, the pinnacle of concealment.
At its peak, even absolute masters couldn’t detect it without line of sight.
But if even that failed?
‘All or nothing.’
* * *
Yi Hwan pursued the two women into the woods.
He was genuinely impressed as he chased.
In pure lightness skill, they outpaced any female expert in the Central Plains. Even Pa Pa, Jo Gwang’s guard, couldn’t match that, he figured.
Hummm!
A pale mist emanated from Yi Hwan’s body. He unleashed his maximum speed.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Dust billowed in his wake. Leaves unable to withstand the wind scattered thickly in the air.
Moments later, in the woods, Yi Hwan halted his lightness skill, brow furrowed—no trace of their energy.
Swoop!
Landing, he sharpened his senses to the max. But nothing anywhere.
‘They’re using concealment…’
Impressive lightness skill surpassing Pa Pa’s, but not enough to lose him.
So they were hiding somewhere in this forest, masking their presence.
‘Too much for one person…’
Tricky.
He couldn’t comb this vast, dense woods alone. Possible with time, but he didn’t have the luxury.
Yi Hwan called out softly to the forest.
“Whoever you are and wherever you’re from, it’d be wise not to cause more trouble in the Yeon Kingdom.”
Whoosh.
* * *
Yi Hwan emerged from the woods and headed back to the city.
Soon, Ju Tae, Kim Mu-gwan, and the others raced up like the wind. Spotting him walking, they landed at once.
Cheol Mu-ok was absent—guarding Tae-seon back at the inn was his duty.
“What happened, my lord!”
“Chased the murder suspects but lost them.”
“…”
Everyone was shocked. Who in the world could escape Yi Hwan’s pursuit? The steam rising from his body confirmed he’d given his all.
Ju Tae stepped up.
“Shall we scour that mountain?”
“Too late. Let’s head back.”
They turned toward the city.
* * *
Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk watched Yi Hwan leave the woods, finally exhaling in relief. Staying put a while longer for safety, they then emerged.
Park Seon-ha’s eyes still brimmed with shock.
The time hiding with Great Ghost Devouring Technique had felt like an eternity.
“We almost got caught. To think such a monster was lurking in this backwater…”
Park Seon-ha turned toward the mountain’s upper reaches.
“Paid good money for that meal and didn’t even finish. Tch.”
Grumbling as she started to walk, she suddenly clutched her throat, eyes widening.
“…The necklace!”
It was gone.
Kim Suk’s eyes bulged in alarm.
“What do we do, miss?”
“Must’ve fallen when we crashed through the inn window.”
Racing through the woods, she’d been careful not to leave traces, so she would’ve noticed if it fell then.
Park Seon-ha turned toward the city.
The necklace was her most precious possession. She’d never taken it off, not for a moment, since her lover gave it to her.
“I have to find it.”