Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: Entering the Qin Army Camp
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As Yi Hwan had predicted, the Dark Heaven Cultists led by the Blood Robe Man easily broke through the defensive line and raced straight for the heart of the Qin Kingdom's army camp.
“Stop them!”
“Attack!”
Clang!
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
The Blood Robe Man displayed terrifying martial prowess at the vanguard. Two Qin Kingdom warriors failed to withstand his single strike and collapsed miserably.
The Blood Robe Man cleared the path ahead while scanning for his target with flashing eyes. He let out a cold sneer upon spotting Yang Yi-cheon rushing over in a panic.
“Scatter!”
No sooner had the Blood Robe Man issued the order than the Dark Heaven Cultists dispersed in all directions. As the Qin Kingdom warriors chased after them, the battlefield instantly expanded across the entire central area of the camp.
The Blood Robe Man leaped into a tent.
It was empty inside. He mercilessly severed the neck of a Qin Kingdom warrior who pursued him, then quickly shed his blood robe.
Beneath it was a piercingly blue robe—the uniform worn by instructor-level martial artists in the Qin Kingdom army camp.
The Blood Robe Man—no, the Blue Robe Man—slipped out the back of the tent.
Clang! Boom! Boom!
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
Clashes erupted everywhere.
He had ordered his forces to scatter rather than concentrate in order to move freely himself.
The ploy was a perfect success. With chaotic melee breaking out in every direction, the Qin Kingdom warriors paid no attention to the Blue Robe Man. Dressed as one of their own, there was no reason to suspect him, nor any time to do so.
The Blue Robe Man leisurely circled to the rear of the Qin Kingdom forces, heading in the direction Yang Yi-cheon had fled.
‘I must behead him before he reaches those bastards.’
Spotting the assembled Qin Kingdom royal guards in the distance, the Blue Robe Man kicked off the ground and leaped into the air. If he couldn’t kill Yang Yi-cheon before he reached them, the mission would likely fail.
Whoosh!
His phenomenal lightness skill carried him twenty paces in a single bound. With a second leap, Yang Yi-cheon entered his striking range.
‘The Cult Leader desires your death.’
* * *
Yang Yi-cheon, hurrying toward the royal guards, instinctively shrank back at the chilling aura emanating from behind him.
At the same moment, his two escorts drew their swords.
Shing!
But a single thread of sword beam was faster still.
Flash!
Thud!
“Guh!”
One escort tumbled over, spraying blood. The other blocked in front of Yang Yi-cheon and swung his sword with all his might. But the sword beam shattered his blade in two and pierced his chest.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Gushing blood drenched Yang Yi-cheon. Yet rather than panic, he calmly spun around and unleashed a strike.
An unexpected counterattack?
The Blue Robe Man swiftly sidestepped with footwork and slapped at Yang Yi-cheon’s sword.
Boom!
The outcome of their exchange was utterly unexpected.
Far from falling, Yang Yi-cheon readjusted his grip with both hands and steadied his stance. The Blue Robe Man stared at him in shock.
‘This kid’s internal energy…’
His face pale—perhaps from internal injuries—and blood trickling from his mouth, Yang Yi-cheon nonetheless stood tall without collapsing.
It was hard to believe, considering Yang Yi-cheon’s reputation in the world.
“His Highness is in danger!”
The royal guards were rushing over.
Murderous intent flared in the Blue Robe Man’s eyes.
“Off to hell with—huh?”
The Blue Robe Man’s eyes widened as he moved to finish Yang Yi-cheon.
Someone was charging in from the right. At terrifying speed. So fast that in a single blink, he was right there.
‘If I kill this one, I’m done for too!’
In that split second, the Blue Robe Man had to decide: kill Yang Yi-cheon and die himself, or abandon the target and escape.
He chose the latter.
Boom!
Kicking off the ground, the Blue Robe Man soared westward.
* * *
Yi Hwan did not pursue the fleeing Blue Robe Man. Instead, Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok gave chase.
Yi Hwan landed in front of Yang Yi-cheon. Mistaking him for an enemy, Yang Yi-cheon retreated and raised his sword.
“I’m not the enemy. Stand down.”
“……!”
It was then, as Yi Hwan moved to sheathe his sword.
The royal guard captain who had arrived first to protect Yang Yi-cheon charged at Yi Hwan.
“Hold!”
Yang Yi-cheon shouted. But the captain’s sword was already descending toward Yi Hwan’s neck.
Yi Hwan parried it with the sword he had been about to withdraw.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the blades locked.
“Urk!”
The captain let out a short groan, lost his balance, and collapsed ungracefully.
Thud!
Whoosh!
The royal guard captains landed in front of Yang Yi-cheon. He shouted again.
“He’s not the enemy! Sheathe your swords!”
Only then did the captains lower their blades.
Yi Hwan said to Yang Yi-cheon,
“See you later.”
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan kicked off and flew toward the Dark Heaven Cultists. What followed was merciless slaughter.
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
Yang Yi-cheon shouted to the royal guards.
“Kill the fanatics! Hurry!”
“Yes!”
The royal guards began scattering in all directions. Yet over five hundred still formed an ironclad defensive formation around Yang Yi-cheon.
“Hoo!”
Yang Yi-cheon finally exhaled in relief, his breathing ragged. Dizziness hit him then, and he staggered.
“Your Highness!”
Supported by one captain, Yang Yi-cheon gazed at Yi Hwan. The eyes he had met for that brief moment were the most terrifying he had ever seen in his life.
‘A martial artist from the camp?’
He was merely curious about Yi Hwan’s identity and completely unaware that the Blue Robe Man had fled from him, not the royal guards.
* * *
Boom! Boom!
Two fireworks burst in the sky.
A signal to retreat? The Dark Heaven Cultists began withdrawing.
Go Mi and the others, who had been aiding the Qin Kingdom forces at the initial defensive line, did not pursue the retreating cultists.
The battered Qin Kingdom troops lacked the spirit to chase the enemy and focused on tending their wounded first.
One captain approached Go Mi and the others.
“Thank you. We minimized our losses thanks to you.”
“No need to mention it.”
Though they had joined late, Go Mi and her group’s contributions were immense. By picking off the strongest enemies, they greatly reduced the Qin Kingdom forces’ casualties. The captains who had struggled against tough foes were especially grateful.
Hwa Ryeong glanced back, furrowing her brow.
“It looks like some of them penetrated deep into the camp.”
Black smoke rose high from various spots inside the camp. Screams still echoed faintly but were dying down.
‘Was this place just bait to attack over there?’
As Go Mi pondered diversion tactics, a young Qin Kingdom captain shouted in agitation.
“Why the hell did the royal guards take so long to get here? They had plenty of time to reinforce but just sat there! Does that make any sense?!”
“Exactly! They knew troops had left to aid the Namgung family—why just watch?!”
“Damn it! They shouldn’t have come at all!”
Grumbles erupted from all around.
Mostly from the young captains. The warriors didn’t voice it but wore dissatisfied expressions.
In truth, the casualties wouldn’t have been so heavy if troops hadn’t left to aid the Namgung family. The inclusion of many experts among those reinforcements was the decisive factor.
At that moment, the Qin Kingdom Commander climbed a low hill. The captains, who had been venting furiously, bowed their heads toward him.
“Quickly tend to the casualties.”
At the Commander’s order, the warriors sprang into action.
Go Mi and the others ascended the hill.
The Commander clasped his fists toward them.
“Thank you. On behalf of everyone in the camp, I am grateful.”
“We merely followed the Great Prince’s orders. Think nothing of it.”
Go Mi gave a slight bow and headed toward the camp’s center. Spotting Yi Hwan approaching from afar, she quickened her pace.
“Great Prince!”
“Everyone alright?”
“Yes. We’re all unharmed.”
Just then, Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok returned.
“We lost him. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Catching a master like that when you’re that far behind isn’t easy.”
Yi Hwan scanned the camp’s center, narrowing his eyes.
“Pretty heavy losses.”
“It seems the initial clash here was bait to attack the center.”
“Right. The real experts all targeted the heart of the camp. The Dark Heaven Cultists’ true goal was the Imperial Prince.”
“Is the prince safe?”
“Yeah.”
The Commander approached then. He eyed Yi Hwan curiously.
Go Mi introduced him.
“This is the Great Prince.”
At her words, the Commander started in surprise, hastily clasping his fists and bowing his head.
“I failed to recognize you. I am Commander Yeom Po.”
“I’m Yi Hwan.”
* * *
Yang Yi-cheon received treatment from the camp physician in his tent. Upon hearing that the man he had encountered during the battle was Yi Hwan, his eyes darkened.
‘So he’s Yeon Kingdom’s Great Prince…’
The man who had overwhelmed and cowed him with a mere glance. To think he was Yi Hwan, the one he’d constantly been compared to and belittled over.
Yang Yi-cheon’s emotions grew complicated.
A royal guard captain continued.
“The Yeon Kingdom Great Prince’s escorts took out the fanatics’ top fighters, which greatly reduced our losses.”
“Is the Commander greeting them now?”
“No. Given the situation, they’ve gone into a tent together. Shouldn’t Your Highness meet them?”
“I’ll see them once I’ve recovered a bit.”
“Understood.”
The physician finished treatment and stood.
“We’ll bring the medicinal broth shortly.”
The physician left. Yang Yi-cheon immediately donned his robe and reclined on the bed.
“No word from the Namgung family yet?”
“The reinforcements haven’t returned either.”
“Jang-cheon had better be safe…”
“Don’t worry too much, Your Highness. They took a large force to aid them, so he should be fine. That said, Your Highness.”
The captain hesitated before continuing.
“There’s grumbling among the young captains and warriors about the royal guards arriving late. Some young captains even confronted Commander Yeom directly…”
“What?”
“Given the circumstances, it’s best to pretend you don’t know.”
“We should have made it clear the royal guards fought the fanatics too!”
“With so many witnesses, word will spread soon enough. Don’t concern yourself, Your Highness.”
Just then, a captain entered.
“Your Highness! Young Master Namgung has arrived!”
“Did you check his condition?”
“Well… he seems pretty badly hurt.”
“……!”
Yang Yi-cheon’s eyes widened as he shot to his feet, only to clutch his chest and collapse back down.
His aide stepped forward.
“I’ll go check.”
“No. Help me up—I’m going too.”
Supported by the captain, Yang Yi-cheon rose. His external wounds weren’t severe, but the internal injuries caused sharp pain with every movement.
But with Namgung Jang-cheon of all people injured, he had to go.
Moments later, as Yang Yi-cheon stepped outside, he took a few steps and then schooled his expression. He had spotted Yi Hwan emerging from a tent.
“Where’s Jang-cheon?”
“Over there.”
Yi Hwan was entering the place the captain pointed to.
‘Why is that guy going in there?’