Chapter 256
Chapter 256
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: Park Seon-ha's Change of Heart
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Whoooosh!
The night wind blew fiercely.
The market street, where a commotion had just erupted, was now shrouded in pitch-black darkness and silence as if nothing had happened.
Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk quietly made their way toward the inn where Yi Hwan and the others were staying.
*Can I find it?*
Park Seon-ha's mind was filled with anxiety over whether she could recover the lost necklace.
*Haa...*
Overwhelmed by uncontrollable despair, she bit her lower lip gently. But it wasn't time to give up yet.
How much further did they go?
At last, the inn came into view. Fortunately, no one was around, but her eyes trembled at the sight of shattered window fragments piled up in one spot.
If it had fallen there, it surely would have been found while clearing the debris.
Still, she had no choice but to check the fragments. That faint hope was all she had.
"You check that pile of debris over there. I'll look around the surroundings."
"Yes, miss."
Kim Suk dashed off first. Despite her hefty build, her movements were astonishingly agile.
It was then. People appeared from across the market street. Kim Suk, who had moved ahead, quickly hid behind the inn, and Park Seon-ha slipped into an alley.
If by chance they were government warriors on patrol, fighting wasn't the answer—they had to avoid them for now.
As feared, the newcomers were indeed government warriors out on patrol.
Park Seon-ha hid a bit deeper inside.
Moments later, as the warriors passed by her hiding spot, their conversation perked up her ears.
"The squad leader said those women from last night are very likely from the East Sea."
"How did the squad leader know that?"
"While investigating witnesses from the inn where the first incident occurred, he heard testimony that one woman's sword had an ornament engraved with 'East Sea.'"
"Then they must have come from the East Sea. No Central Plains martial artists would carry a sword ornament engraved with 'East Sea.'"
"That's how it looks. By the way, I heard there are a few East Sea warriors around the Great Prince too, which has the higher-ups on edge."
"Why get tense just because there are East Sea warriors near the Great Prince? What's that got to do with this incident?"
"The Great Prince was in Sanyang, Shaanxi Province, a few days ago. It's not far from here, so that's probably what's bothering them. Anyway, starting at dawn, they'll be conducting inspections at all checkpoints, so we'll track them down soon enough."
"What if he's actually in this city?"
"Who knows?"
"Wow! If he's in this city, I'd love to catch a glimpse of him. He's the hero of my heart."
"Me too."
The voices faded into the distance.
After a moment, Park Seon-ha emerged from the alley and stared in the direction the warriors had gone, narrowing her brow.
*Why are East Sea warriors traveling with the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince?*
She had heard endless rumors about Great Prince Yi Hwan during the journey from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains to here. But this was the first she'd heard of East Sea warriors in his entourage.
*...
Don't they have any pride? They must be East Sea folk who committed some crime and got chased out.*
Park Seon-ha headed back toward the inn.
Kim Suk was already examining the debris pile. She turned to Park Seon-ha and shook her head.
*If it fell there, it wouldn't still be around now.*
Park Seon-ha scoured every corner of the street. She traced the path from exiting the inn to climbing onto the roof.
But the necklace was nowhere to be found.
"Haa..."
Kim Suk approached. Unable to lift her head, she felt it was all her fault.
"It's okay. No need to apologize."
"But that necklace..."
"It's fine. If he knew the circumstances, he'd understand. Assuming we meet again alive, that is..."
A surge of emotion choked her words. Park Seon-ha fell silent for a while. Kim Suk watched her with a heartbroken expression.
Park Seon-ha composed herself.
"We'll spend the night in this city."
"Is that safe? They said there'll be major inspections starting tomorrow morning."
"I saw it on the way in—the government office is up ahead. There's an inn right in front of it. That might actually be safer. No one would think the killer who murdered people would stay in an inn right before the government office."
"......Yes."
"Let's hurry."
"Yes, miss."
* * *
The next morning.
Yi Hwan's group ate a simple breakfast and resumed their journey toward Hubei Province.
"Hubei Province is where spies from the Qin and Zhao Kingdoms are most active. It'd be best to start using the human skin masks from here."
Following Go Mi's advice, everyone donned human skin masks to conceal their identities.
The weather was clear again today. Under the warm spring-like sun and a blue sky so vibrant it seemed you could scoop it up, Hwa Ryeong hummed cheerfully nonstop.
Go Mi asked,
"There's a government office on the way. Shouldn't we check for information on the murder suspects from last night?"
"We should handle minor issues like that ourselves, right? And from here on, hiding our identities is key, so we'll just pass through."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan mounted his horse and surveyed the surroundings. Due to last night's incident, many people were out early clearing the broken debris.
*They weren't villains.*
When the government warriors stormed the inn, the suspects chose to flee. If they were vicious criminals, they would have killed the warriors instead. They had more than enough skill for that.
That was why he decided not to intervene and head straight to Hubei Province.
"Could there be Beggar Clan disciples active in Hubei Province?"
"Being close to Qin, they're surely active there. But why the Beggar Clan...?"
"They might know something. About the Dark Heaven Cult. I keep stumbling upon them."
"Ah..."
"Once we enter Hubei Province, we'll start by finding Beggar Clan disciples."
"Understood."
Since it was still early and few people were about, the group sped southward. Coincidentally, Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk were staying at an inn at the checkpoint they passed.
* * *
Clatter.
Park Seon-ha opened the window.
The wind was quite warm today. The sunlight was dazzlingly bright.
*My mood's in the dumps, but the weather's perfect.*
Leaning obliquely against the window frame, she gazed down at the street. Spotting an approaching group of riders, she turned her eyes that way.
*Hm?*
As she absentmindedly watched the riders, Park Seon-ha subtly furrowed her brow upon seeing Park Ji-mun and Kim Mu-gwan following behind the leader, Yi Hwan.
They wore human skin masks, transformed into completely different people.
*Their builds look just like big brother and that man.*
A wistful light filled her eyes. Then, with a quiet sigh, she closed the window.
Click.
Just then, Kim Suk entered carrying a tray of food. To avoid drawing attention, they had decided to eat breakfast in the room.
"It doesn't seem like we're heading to the Yeon Kingdom after all."
"Yes?"
"I thought we'd go to the Yeon Kingdom because of the Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World, but that might actually draw more martial artists, making it harder to live quietly."
"Then where to?"
"How about a warm seaside?"
"Wherever you like, miss. But warm seashores are only in Fujian or Guangdong Provinces in Qin..."
"Doesn't matter. The Ten Thousand Great Mountains zealots won't chase us that far anyway. So, we'll go there?"
"Yes, miss."
Last night's incident had ultimately changed Park Seon-ha's mind.
Moments later, the two women slipped out of the city center, avoiding prying eyes.
"To go quickest, we should cut through Hubei Province, right?"
"Yes. That's the shortcut."
"Good. I hear Hubei Province has lots of scenic spots. We'll sightsee plenty along the way."
"Yes, miss."
* * *
Tae-seon stared at Yi Hwan's back as he rode ahead, subtly narrowing her brow.
She then transmitted to Cheol Mu-ok,
[Does he always look that tired?]
[Not always. But lately, his complexion hasn't been great.]
[Must have some worries?]
[I wouldn't know.]
[Some escort you are.]
[......]
[An escort should read their lord's innermost thoughts first. Right?]
Cheol Mu-ok chuckled inwardly.
[Can't cultivate mind-reading arts yet. Still, I figure I'm better than the princess's escorts.]
She bristled.
[What did you say?!]
[Kidding.]
It was then.
"Shall we gallop?"
"Yes!"
Thud thud thud!
Reaching a quiet stretch, the group broke into a run. The once-clear sky was darkening to black, signaling snow soon. They had to cross the mountains before it piled up.
Tae-seon was the most thrilled during gallops. For northern folk who rode horses since weaning, mounted travel was their greatest joy.
Soon, snowflakes began to fall. The group rounded the mountainside, charging southward at full speed.
About half a shichen after they passed?
Two riders kicked up dust as they galloped along. It was Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk.
"We have to cross that mountain before the snow accumulates!"
"Yes, miss."
Thud thud thud!
* * *
"Look over there!"
Go Mi pointed to the sky ahead.
Had a huge fire broken out somewhere?
Amid the falling snow, thick black smoke billowed across the sky.
"Keep galloping."
"Yes!"
Thud thud thud!
A small village engulfed in flames appeared before them.
Sensing something off about the blaze for a mere fire, Yi Hwan turned his horse toward the village.
"Corpses!"
"There too!"
Several bodies lay scattered at the village outskirts. Some were aflame.
Yi Hwan dismounted and leaped into the village. The others followed.
The interior was even more horrific. More bodies littered the ground, including elders and children.
Hwa Ryeong was appalled.
"What kind of bastards would do this...?"
"Search for survivors."
"Yes!"
Everyone scattered in all directions.
Moments later, Ju Tae shouted.
"There's one here!"
Yi Hwan rushed over immediately.
It was a village man in his early fifties. A deep gash marred his chest; he looked on the verge of death.
Yi Hwan placed his palm on the man's back and asked,
"What happened?"
Was it too late?
The man breathed his last without a word. Just then, the scattered group returned.
"The rice jars were completely empty."
"The house I checked too."
"Mine as well."
"Same here."
They spoke in unison.
Finally, Kim Mu-gwan returned last. He held out something from his sleeve to Yi Hwan.
"Looks like the Dark Heaven Cult's doing."
Yi Hwan stared at the item Kim Mu-gwan offered. It was an ornament for decorating a sword or saber. As Kim Mu-gwan said, it matched exactly the ones from the Dark Heaven Cult members killed at Mount Hua Sect.
Ju Tae exploded in rage.
"Those filthy bastards—killing kids too, what the hell?"
Fury settled in Yi Hwan's eyes.
"We'll have to delay the schedule for now."