Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: Yeom Po's Envy
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The Dark Heaven Cult's surprise attack had ended in failure.
Their original goal had been to kill Yang I-cheon, so they couldn't have cared less how many warriors of the Qin Kingdom's army died.
Clink.
The Cult Leader Jang Cheon-hwa's expression remained unchanged as he toyed with his teacup. If anything, it was his strategist Ma Jung-hyo who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Namgung Jang-cheon got away too?"
"Yes. Apparently, a man named Namgung Gi threw himself in harm's way to protect him."
"Has the Six-Fingered Sword Demon returned yet?"
"No."
Heh.
A bitter smile tugged at Jang Cheon-hwa's lips.
"His pride must be shattered, so he's probably off drowning it in liquor out of shame. No need to wait—he'll come crawling back soon enough."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
It was then.
One of the Blood Robe warriors entered the hall. It was the very man who had led the force that ambushed the Qin army camp. His face was rigidly set, now clad once more in his Blood Robe.
Jang Cheon-hwa regarded him indifferently.
The Blood Robe warrior prostrated himself before him.
"Make me understand."
"I have no excuse, even if I had ten mouths to speak with. If I must justify it, a sudden appearance of incredibly powerful experts..."
"Incredibly powerful experts?"
"Yes. Three of them, in fact. Had they not shown up, we could have easily taken Yang I-cheon's head."
Jang Cheon-hwa turned his gaze to Ma Jung-hyo.
"If that fool's saying it to this extent, they must have been real monsters. You're not telling me the intelligence you gathered was wrong, are you?"
"I can confidently say the information on the experts in the Qin army camp was accurate. They must have been the ones Yang I-cheon brought with him."
"Hmm..."
Jang Cheon-hwa nodded silently before turning back to the Blood Robe warrior.
"What should I do with you?"
"......"
Ma Jung-hyo's transmission voice wormed into Jang Cheon-hwa's ear.
[If you punish this one, you'll have to punish the Six-Fingered Sword Demon later too. So please show mercy and give him one more chance.]
Twitch.
Jang Cheon-hwa's eyebrow flicked slightly. He held the Six-Fingered Sword Demon in very high regard and trust.
"If experts of that caliber appeared out of nowhere, as you say, I'll let it slide this time. Confine yourself to your quarters and await my next command."
"Thank you!"
The Blood Robe warrior bowed deeply and exited the hall.
Creases formed between Jang Cheon-hwa's brows.
"If even that fool says experts like that—three of them—showed up, this is no ordinary matter."
"I'll look into who they are."
"Make it quick."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
Jang Cheon-hwa stood.
"I'm going to rest. No one enters until tomorrow morning."
"Understood!"
By the time Ma Jung-hyo straightened from his bow, Jang Cheon-hwa had already vanished.
Ma Jung-hyo took a quiet breath and steadied his gaze.
"Are you outside?"
"Yes."
A Green Robe warrior entered.
Ma Jung-hyo issued orders immediately.
"I need information on the new experts who joined the Qin army camp. Relay the order to send it as fast as possible."
"Understood."
* * *
The next day.
Namgung Jang-cheon came to see Yi Hwan. His face was still pale, but his movements showed no major discomfort. The two sat facing each other with a teapot between them.
"I never expected to see the Great Prince here."
"How's your body holding up?"
"It's bearable."
"I'm sorry about your uncle."
"......Thank you."
Clink.
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea before asking straight away.
"May I ask what happened?"
"The fanatics were lying in wait for us. The one leading them was a man called the Six-Fingered Sword Demon."
Yi Hwan had heard the name before. He was someone no one in the martial world could possibly be ignorant of.
A freak born with six fingers. Once the self-proclaimed ruler of the unorthodox sects, he had vanished like smoke one day. An absolute expert.
To think such a man was with the Dark Heaven Cult.
"Did he get you?"
"......Yes."
Yi Hwan fell silent for a moment, seeing the pain twist in Namgung Jang-cheon's eyes.
Namgung Jang-cheon exhaled long and composed his expression.
"I heard you came because of the fanatics' headquarters."
"It's more accurate to say I'm here looking for a way to bring them down."
"I'll help too."
"Focus on recovering first. I heard you took quite a beating not long ago here in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains."
"How did you..."
It was then. The door opened, and Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk entered.
Namgung Jang-cheon's eyes widened fully.
"You two...!"
"Fancy seeing you here again?"
Namgung Jang-cheon alternated stares between Yi Hwan and Park Seon-ha with his wide eyes.
"You'll learn the full story later, so hold your curiosity. Shall we start with a pulse diagnosis?"
"......"
"You need to recover fast for revenge, right? Then hurry and take off your top."
"Focus on recovery for now."
Yi Hwan stepped outside.
Namgung Jang-cheon, still stunned, removed his top. Park Seon-ha began the pulse check. Kim Suk opened a large acupuncture kit beside her.
"Alright, time for needles. Bear the pain without a sound, got it? Remember—no yelling."
"Understood."
Having already experienced Park Seon-ha's medical skills, Namgung Jang-cheon obediently followed her instructions.
The acupuncture began.
* * *
Commander Yeom Po's face flushed red. The confirmed death toll was far higher than expected.
Even the Namgung family, who were supposed to play a key role, had suffered devastating losses.
That wasn't all. Hundreds of warriors had sustained injuries severe enough to keep them out of combat for the foreseeable future.
Despite advance warning and preparations, this level of damage filled him with self-reproach as commander, along with an uncontrollable rage.
"We need to find a way to pay them back."
At Yeom Po's words, the deputy general shook his head skeptically.
"They'll be expecting it and on high alert. Wouldn't it be better to wait for the returning troops?"
Boom!
"Damn it all!"
"But at least His Highness is safe. From what I heard, the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince arrived right on time, or it could have been a disaster."
"What the hell were the Imperial Guards doing?! They should've jumped in on their own when things went south, request or no!"
"......"
This might have been what enraged Yeom Po the most. He was already displeased with Yang I-cheon there, and five thousand Imperial Guards had been utterly useless.
It was then.
"Commander, His Highness is here."
Crunch.
Yeom Po ground his teeth and stood.
"Bring him in."
"Yes."
Yang I-cheon opened the door and entered.
Yeom Po bowed silently. Oblivious to his fury, Yang I-cheon sat and spoke abruptly.
"The Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince wants to share the intelligence we've gathered on the fanatics. What do you think, Commander?"
"Do as His Highness wishes."
"Very well. Then hand over the information to him. He's looking for a way to topple the fanatics, so we should help, right?"
"Understood."
"And how are the funerals for the fallen being handled? We can't just gloss over this..."
"We'll hold a ritual once the bodies are recovered per military custom. If you wish, Your Highness can act as chief mourner."
"That's a hassle. You handle it as chief mourner, Commander."
Yang I-cheon left.
Flames erupted in Yeom Po's eyes.
"A hassle? Is that what an imperial prince says in front of our dead warriors?"
"Commander."
"What!"
"Over there..."
The deputy general pointed to the door that hadn't fully closed. Yi Hwan stood there.
Yeom Po composed himself and straightened up.
"Come in, Great Prince."
* * *
Yi Hwan opened a fairly thick booklet. It was a dossier on the Dark Heaven Cult.
'Incredible.'
The base where the statue of the Mad Demon stood, belonging to the Dark Heaven Cultists.
From what he'd learned there, the Dark Heaven Cultists weren't just active in Yeon Kingdom—they had bases across the Central Plains, plotting chaos in Zhao and Qin Kingdoms as well.
He'd expected their scale to be massive, but according to Qin intelligence, it surpassed imagination.
"May I hold onto this for a bit?"
"Please do."
Yi Hwan tucked the dossier into his bosom and asked something else.
"Have you considered there might be Dark Heaven Cult spies in the camp?"
"We thoroughly vetted all officers above captain level with access to intelligence. No suspects turned up. But why do you ask...?"
"As you know, when they attacked yesterday, some charged straight into the heart of the camp without hesitation. Unless they were suicidal or knew exactly where the experts were, no one rushes in blind like that, right?"
"......"
"I'm just saying—they might have intel on your camp's layout. My advice: rework everything from troop deployments onward."
"I'll take your words under advisement, Great Prince."
"Good work."
As Yi Hwan turned to leave, Yeom Po called out.
"Great Prince."
Yi Hwan looked back at Yeom Po.
"Are you planning to inspect the fanatics' headquarters yourself?"
"Not right now—maybe later when things heat up. Why do you ask?"
"The area around their headquarters is riddled with traps. Some paths have lethal mechanisms, so take care."
"Thanks, Commander."
Once Yi Hwan left, Yeom Po sat and let out a long sigh.
"Hoo..."
The deputy general said.
"I hope it's not overstepping, but the Great Prince from Yeon seems different—from his eyes to his presence."
"He crushed the Great Prince led by the Southwest King in the old war with Zhao. And that's not all. Despite the criticism for brutality, he quelled the fanatics' uprising in a single night. Naturally, he's worlds apart from our Highness, raised like a flower in the Imperial Palace greenhouse. Come to think of it, he's from another kingdom, but I envy him. If Crown Prince had a brother like that at his side, there'd be no worries."
"Indeed."
Yeom Po downed a bowl of cold water.
Thud!
"We must ensure the Great Prince and his group lack for nothing. See to it personally, Deputy."
"Yes, Commander."
Yeom Po sank deep into his chair, furrowing his brow. Images of Yi Hwan and Yang I-cheon flashed through his mind.
"If only he could learn something from that man..."
* * *
"Where's the earpick?"
"Here it is."
Go Mi pulled the earpick from her bosom and handed it over.
"Why does the Moon Lord have this?"
"I made an extra one for emergencies, just in case. Is your ear itching again?"
"It started suddenly."