Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: The Qin Emperor's Letter
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Commander Yeom Po had set up tents near the river at Yi Hwan's request. It had originally been a warehouse, but after cleaning and repairing it, it looked quite decent.
Yeom Po had also stationed alert guards in case of any contingencies.
The women liked it best. The river was close by, so they could bathe as much as they wanted.
Crackle, crackle!
On the bonfire in the courtyard, a large hunk of meat was roasting to a golden brown.
While everyone was busy preparing the meal, Yi Hwan was reading a book.
It was the Martial World Secret Records he had brought from the Imperial Palace Treasury. It recorded such a vast amount of information that he read it whenever he had a spare moment.
Thud.
Yi Hwan closed the book and looked up at the sky. The sky was so clear it seemed you could scrape it with your finger, without a single cloud.
But he couldn't trust that sky. It was the fickle nature of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains for it to suddenly turn pitch black and pour rain at any moment.
Go Mi approached.
"Dinner's ready!"
Yi Hwan tucked the secret records into his bosom and headed to the table. The table, made by splitting a log in half, had plenty of space left even after the group sat around it.
Hwa Ryeong said,
"The princess prepared a special meal today, so eat up, everyone."
Sure enough, a dish he'd never seen before was giving off a savory aroma.
Princess Tae-seon waved a large pair of chopsticks and smiled brightly.
"It's something Blue Wolf Tribe warriors enjoy in the field. I hope it suits your tastes. Anyway, dig in."
The meal began.
The dish looked simple at first glance, but its flavor was exquisite. Everyone savored the rare moment of leisure, enjoying the warm and lively time.
After about an incense stick's worth of time?
Commander Yeom Po entered the tent with a middle-aged man. Everyone set down their chopsticks and stared at them.
Yeom Po, unaware they were eating, looked flustered.
"Ah! You're in the middle of dinner. I'll come back later."
"It's fine. What is it?"
Yeom Po gestured to the middle-aged man beside him. The man stepped forward and bowed his head.
"I come bearing His Majesty's command to visit the Great Prince."
"Sent by the Qin Emperor?"
"Yes, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan rose from his seat. He couldn't receive someone bearing the Qin Emperor's command while sitting.
The middle-aged man took something from his bosom and presented it. It was a small, ornate wooden box plated with gold.
"It's a token guaranteeing the Great Prince's status. His Majesty said that as long as you carry this, no one in the Qin Kingdom will hinder you."
Yi Hwan opened the box. Inside was a genuine gold plaque.
"I'll gratefully accept it."
"And this as well."
This time, it was a single letter.
Yi Hwan immediately unfolded it. Everyone watched him curiously.
A moment later, Yi Hwan tucked the letter into his bosom as well and said to Yeom Po and the middle-aged man,
"We just started, but care to join us?"
"Won't we make the mood awkward if we intrude?"
"Nonsense. Sit down."
"Then we'll humbly accept a meal."
"Thank you, Great Prince."
* * *
Yang Yi-cheon's tent.
Thud!
Yang Yi-cheon's brow furrowed deeply as he set down his wine cup.
"An envoy from the palace is meeting with the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince?"
"Yes. They say he just entered the tent with the commander."
Rage flickered in Yang Yi-cheon's eyes.
"He dares to come here while I'm present and not even show his face to me first, going straight to the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince? Did you identify the envoy?"
"Not yet..."
Gulp, gulp!
Yang Yi-cheon chugged straight from the bottle.
Thud!
"His Majesty must have an urgent message for the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince, so don't worry too much, Your Highness."
"Did His Majesty command him to ignore me? If he knows I'm here, he should have come to pay respects to me first!"
"..."
Yang Yi-cheon couldn't easily suppress his anger.
His close aide looked at him with pitying eyes.
'Think about why His Majesty sent Your Highness here. He desperately hopes you'll grow even a little through the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince.'
In truth, no one in the Qin palace was unaware of this. Yang Yi-cheon himself knew it well.
But this was a matter of pride, something he knew but couldn't accept. That was why his companions couldn't speak carelessly.
Thud!
Yang Yi-cheon shot to his feet.
"Are you going to the Great Prince's tent?"
"Why would I go there! I'm going to Jang-cheon."
"Understood. Then this subordinate will escort you."
Yang Yi-cheon headed straight for Namgung Jang-cheon's tent. As he neared, a strong medicinal scent assaulted his nose.
A moment later, as he entered, Yang Yi-cheon's eyes subtly changed.
Park Seon-ha was inside.
No matter how angry he was, instinct took over? Yang Yi-cheon's gaze swept over Park Seon-ha's back. Sparks flew from Kim Suk's eyes.
At that moment, Park Seon-ha straightened up and turned around.
"Ahem! Good work."
"Yes. Then we'll take our leave."
As Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk exited, Namgung Jang-cheon rose.
"Your complexion looks much better. That young lady's medical skills must be impressive."
"Yes. I was in her debt once before as well. But what brings Your Highness to this humble tent...?"
"I have something to ask you."
"Please speak."
"You've been with the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince before, haven't you?"
"Yes. I've briefly stayed by his side a few times."
"What kind of man is he?"
"..."
"What kind of man, I asked."
The sudden question flustered Namgung Jang-cheon considerably. But he soon gave an answer.
"He is like the vast sea. No one knows his depths, and it's impossible to even guess what abilities he possesses. To put it another way, he's beyond evaluation."
'Even this guy says that much.'
Namgung Jang-cheon was extremely earnest in character. He didn't know how to speak carelessly. For him to say Yi Hwan was beyond evaluation...
'Damn it...'
Yang Yi-cheon regretted asking.
"But why do you ask?"
"Oh, just wanted to know a bit about the man I'll be with for a while. Rest up."
Leaving Namgung Jang-cheon's tent, Yang Yi-cheon suppressed his discomfort and returned to his own.
* * *
After Yeom Po and the middle-aged man left, the group enjoyed some tea.
Hwa Ryeong smiled brightly.
"What a strange and amazing thing. The Qin Emperor asking the Great Prince to educate his son?"
"You're overinterpreting."
"Isn't it fair to see it as a request to help his son grow?"
"I think similarly."
"Me too."
Just moments ago, everyone had read the contents of the letter from the Qin Emperor. It was quite long, but in summary, it expressed his earnest wish for Yang Yi-cheon to grow through Yi Hwan.
Princess Tae-seon furrowed her brow.
"He seems to have quite the temper. What if his pride leads him to do something foolish? Would a prince really say, 'I'm inadequate, so please teach him well'?"
"I agree."
Cheol Mu-ok chimed in agreement.
Yi Hwan calmly brought his teacup to his lips and said,
"I have neither the ability nor the desire to teach anyone, so put those useless thoughts aside. If you're done drinking, go rest."
Go Mi asked,
"When will you visit the Dark Heaven Cult's main headquarters?"
"Soon."
Princess Tae-seon pressed,
"When is 'soon'?"
"I'll let you know when it's decided."
"..."
Cheol Mu-ok quickly sent a transmission.
[He's always been like this, so you'd better adapt quickly. It took us quite a while too.]
"..."
* * *
Back in her tent, Go Mi.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Yi Hwan was being too laid-back.
Was Hwa Ryeong thinking the same?
"By now, we should have moved several times already, but what on earth is the Great Prince thinking?"
"Who knows."
"Moon Lord, why don't you ask him?"
"I already did earlier."
"..."
Go Mi smiled faintly.
"He's always produced the best results, so let's just wait."
"Right. By the way, it's really unexpected for the Qin Emperor to send such a letter. After all, Yeon and Qin are potential enemy states."
"It means we're getting closer to the outcome the Great Prince wants. The fact that the Qin Emperor went this far suggests he's considering allying with us."
"Does the Qin Kingdom have intense power struggles too?"
"On the surface, the Qin imperial family maintains the most solid power among the three kingdoms. There are no known factions threatening the Crown Prince. From that perspective, it's likely he's sincerely hoping for the Second Prince's growth. After all, among the princes of the three kingdoms, none match our Great Prince."
"He's become a true titan of the world?"
"That's how it is."
Go Mi lay down on the bed.
"We don't know when he might say let's go to the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters, so get some sleep."
"Yes."
* * *
Yi Hwan stepped out alone to gaze at the river reflecting the moonlight.
It was a night when the unusually bright moonlight made the winding river look like a massive dragon.
'Can I be certain from this letter that the Qin Emperor's heart has turned?'
What Yi Hwan wanted most was whether the Qin Emperor would actively commit to subjugating the Dark Heaven Cult. Simply sending troops again wasn't enough to confirm that.
In truth, the Qin Kingdom had even more reason to act aggressively. After all, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains were on Qin territory.
But up until now, despite stationing a massive army here until recently, the Qin had only engaged in small skirmishes, maintaining a passive stance.
Thus, from Yi Hwan's position of needing to eradicate the descendants of the Mad Demon, drawing out the Qin Emperor's active stance was most crucial.
In that regard, today's letter was highly significant.
Yi Hwan thought of Yang Yi-cheon.
'He's not the vessel to seek power. Maybe that's why the Qin Emperor hopes for his growth too. To become an ally rather than a threat to the Crown Prince. Like me.'
"Can't sleep?"
Cheol Mu-ok emerged from behind. He held a steaming teacup in one hand.
"Have some. The Blue Wolf Tribe says they drink this when they can't sleep."
"How's it going?"
"What's that?"
"Your relationship with the princess."
"I still don't know."
"She seems to see you as someone special."
"...Does she?"
"Are you oblivious, or pretending not to know?"
Cheol Mu-ok scratched his head.
"Honestly, I'm glad the princess is with us. But I'm not sure if it's romantic love yet."
"It doesn't seem like she's doing it just because you saved her life, so give it a shot."
"..."
At this point, Yi Hwan thought of Blade King Cheol Mu-gwang.
The brutal figure who made the whole world tremble became shy and tongue-tied before women, but in the end, he built a family and had children.
Yi Hwan hoped Cheol Mu-ok would do the same.
If the man who had lost so much to fate could find happiness, Yi Hwan would feel a little less guilty.
"Does my lord have a woman in his heart?"
"No."
"What about the Moon Lord?"
"Enough of that nonsense."
Yi Hwan stood.
"Time to sleep."