Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: Breakdown of Cooperation
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Even defying Military Strategist Ma Jung-hyo's retreat order, the Earth Sword Demon launched his attack.
He targeted only Won Gae-se.
About ten of his close aides joined him, while the rest of the forces unleashed a furious assault on the Qin Kingdom army.
Kwa-jik!
Ka-ga-gang!
“Kraaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
“Don’t panic! Hold your positions!”
“Sweep them away!”
Won Gae-se couldn’t hide his bewilderment. Of all times, the Dark Heaven Cult’s ambush had struck just as they entered the worst possible terrain.
But the battle-hardened Won Gae-se quickly regained his composure and issued orders to his generals.
“The enemy is few in number! Send all our elites to the front and break through!”
“Yes!”
Pii-ik! Pii-ik!
Following the horn signals, dozens of elites from the rear flew forward.
The elites stationed around Won Gae-se also rushed ahead, leaving only the bare minimum behind. If they could just carve a path and escape this treacherous area, there seemed to be no problem.
Bbaek!
A chilling burst of energy flew toward Won Gae-se. But it was blocked by the elites guarding him like an iron wall.
Kang!
One elite shouted, channeling his inner energy.
“Keep the intervals tight so the Grand General isn’t exposed!”
They were strong. Though some Dark Heaven Cultists pierced the defensive net, they were all struck down, spraying blood.
Won Gae-se scanned his surroundings with eyes full of fury. Then, spotting the Earth Sword Demon mercilessly slaughtering warriors not far away, he shouted.
“Kill that bastard! He’s the leader!”
Pa-pa-pa!
Half of the elites guarding Won Gae-se leaped toward the Earth Sword Demon. Seeing this, the Earth Sword Demon’s eyes gleamed.
‘A gap!’
Kwang!
Dust and blood erupted from where he stood. It was the blood of the slain.
The Earth Sword Demon leaped like lightning into the emptied space.
“Eut!”
A cry of surprise escaped Won Gae-se’s lips. He had never imagined the Earth Sword Demon would react this way.
“Block him!”
The guards on either side swiftly closed the gap.
But the Earth Sword Demon was faster.
‘With your head, I’ll restore my shattered pride, Won Gae-se.’
The Earth Sword Demon’s sword cleaved the air.
Won Gae-se was also a master of considerable realm, but the Earth Sword Demon was a transcendent expert at the Absolute Realm. The sword tip, whistling through the air, reached Won Gae-se’s neck in an instant.
At this rate, Won Gae-se’s throat would be pierced, blood gushing out.
At least, the Earth Sword Demon was certain of it.
However.
“You dare!”
A thick voice rang out, followed by a powerful surge of energy flying toward the Earth Sword Demon’s flank.
“……!”
Sensing he’d be killed before he could behead Won Gae-se, the Earth Sword Demon twisted his body, altering his trajectory.
Pat!
A strip of his long robe was sliced from his side and fluttered up. Even amid this, the Earth Sword Demon unleashed a blast of qi toward Won Gae-se.
But from an off-balance stance, the qi blast lacked proper power.
Kang!
Won Gae-se swatted away the incoming qi.
‘Damn it…….’
The Earth Sword Demon plunged into the forest, glancing back.
Someone stood before Won Gae-se. A sturdy man in plain martial robes, no different from the others. He was staring straight at him.
That was when it happened. Qin Kingdom elites began pouring in from the rear in great numbers.
“Kill them all!”
“Kraaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
Kkoaak.
The Earth Sword Demon’s lips turned pale as his teeth ground into them. Then his lips pursed, emitting a long whistle.
Hwi-iik!
Was that the retreat signal?
The Dark Heaven Cultists began fleeing into the forests on either side.
Amid the chaos, the Earth Sword Demon stared at the sturdy man who stood gazing only at him.
Their eyes locked across the forest.
Pat!
Murderous intent exploded from the Earth Sword Demon’s pupils.
“If we meet again, you won’t leave alive.”
“I look forward to it.”
* * *
“The Dark Heaven Cult is retreating.”
Did they hope Won Gae-se’s unit would suffer even greater losses? The reactions of those watching were peculiar.
Yi Hwan narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked down at the Dark Heaven Cultists scattering like monkeys through the trees in all directions.
‘The damage wasn’t severe.’
Won Gae-se’s unit didn’t seem to have taken catastrophic losses. The rear guard had suffered heavily, though, so what shift in mindset it might cause remained unknown.
Yi Hwan steadied his breath quietly and surveyed the battlefield. The fierce clash had already ended. Qin Kingdom warriors, belatedly learning of Won Gae-se’s unit under attack, were rushing over.
“My lord, look over there.”
Cheol Mu-ok pointed north.
Yang I-cheon’s guard unit was finally entering the battlefield.
Pfft.
“They barely did enough to claim they fought?”
“If they came to fight, that’s enough. Let’s head back.”
“Yes.”
About a quarter of an hour after Yi Hwan and his group departed?
Space rippled in the forest just below the left side of the ridge, and figures soon appeared. It was Ma Jung-hyo and his aides, thought to have left.
Ma Jung-hyo strode to the edge of the ridge.
Hwi-ing!
As the wind carried the metallic stench of blood into his nostrils, Ma Jung-hyo furrowed his brow slightly. Fury filled his narrowed eyes.
One aide spoke.
“How long will you tolerate Front Commander’s arrogance? Defying the strategist’s orders, no less. This time, we can’t let it slide!”
“Calm down.”
“Strategist!”
“Ahem.”
“…….”
“For now, the operation was a great success, so let’s head back. We’ll hear the Earth Sword Demon’s explanation at the cult.”
Ma Jung-hyo turned first. Staring in the direction Yi Hwan had vanished, he calmed his gaze.
‘They were like bloodthirsty yakshas. Yet why didn’t they charge into the battlefield and simply watched from here?’
It had been a razor-thin margin. A little later, and it could have turned into a decisive life-or-death battle right there.
‘I’ve been too complacent. From now on, I need reliable guards.’
* * *
The unexpected Dark Heaven Cult ambush dealt significant damage to the Qin Kingdom army.
Nearly ten thousand troops lost their lives, and a similar number were badly wounded or went missing.
Upon returning to camp, Won Gae-se shut himself in his tent all day without stirring. Even Commander Yeom Po visited, but he refused to see him.
For Won Gae-se, who had marched to unbroken victories until now, the Dark Heaven Cult’s ambush—dismissed by him as fanatic rabble—brought an indelible humiliation.
Shwaaa!
Rain poured down as usual today.
Yi Hwan gazed at Won Gae-se’s tent through the window.
‘Locked in his tent all day without moving? If it’s just shame, then he lacks the vessel of a Grand General. If he’s devising a way to crush the Dark Heaven Cult, we can only wait to see what scheme he comes up with.’
Somehow, Yi Hwan felt it was more the former.
If so, what should he do next? Abandon cooperation?
‘That’s why I wanted Commander Yeom to take command.’
That was when it happened.
“My lord, Young Master Namgung requests an audience.”
“Bring him in.”
Moments later, Namgung Jang-cheon entered.
Yi Hwan checked his complexion first.
“You look much better.”
“Thanks to your consideration.”
“Save your thanks for Physician Park. What brings you here?”
“I brought a friend who wishes to pay his respects to the Great Prince.”
With those words, Danri Mok, eldest son of the Danri family, entered and bowed toward Yi Hwan.
“Long time no see.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
The two sat opposite Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan asked Danri Mok.
“Did you come with the main force?”
“Yes.”
“Glad you’re unharmed.”
“Thank you.”
Having briefly traveled together in the past, Danri Mok felt no awkwardness.
“I heard of the strategy you devised, Great Prince. It was so ingenious no one could have imagined it—I was astonished.”
“What do you two think?”
“I approve.”
“I agree. If we follow the Great Prince’s strategy, we can minimize our losses. But the Grand General…….”
Just then, Hwa Ryeong entered with tea, pausing the conversation.
“Please enjoy. Let me know if you need more.”
“Thank you.”
Hwa Ryeong left, and they lifted their teacups.
Clink.
Yi Hwan broached the subject casually.
“I’ve heard rumors that Grand General Won harbors very poor feelings toward our Yeon Kingdom. Do you happen to know why?”
“…….”
The two hesitated. But soon, Namgung Jang-cheon spoke.
“Various groups closely tied to the Grand General have long engaged in active exchanges with the Zhao Kingdom. Among them are two major merchant groups, and it’s an open secret in our Qin Kingdom that vast funds flow through them to the Grand General and the military.”
“Is that the whole reason?”
“That’s my view.”
“If it’s an open secret, even the Emperor knows. Why leave it be?”
“We don’t know exactly…….”
Yi Hwan lifted his teacup to his lips.
‘Does he wield power even the Emperor can’t touch? If so, cooperation will be even harder.’
If not even the Emperor’s influence reached him properly, the chances of Won Gae-se bending his pride grew slimmer.
“If the Grand General rejects your strategy, what will you do?”
“Nothing but return home.”
“…….”
“If you get a chance to speak with the Grand General, tell him straight: This is Qin territory, and I have nothing to lose here.”
“……Yes.”
Namgung Jang-cheon swallowed words that rose to his throat.
*Shouldn’t the Great Prince request an audience with the Grand General first?*
But he couldn’t utter them.
No matter that this was Qin territory, Yi Hwan was still an imperial prince of another kingdom—one recognized by the Qin Emperor. Thus, it was only proper for Won Gae-se to visit first.
‘If the Great Prince joined us, it would help greatly…….’
That was when Cheol Mu-ok’s voice drifted in from outside.
“Commander Yeom requests an audience.”
“Bring him in.”
Namgung Jang-cheon rose.
“We’ll take our leave.”
“Come visit often.”
“Yes.”
After Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok withdrew, Yeom Po entered. Yi Hwan regarded his stiff expression impassively.
Yeom Po opened his mouth with a quiet sigh.
“The Grand General has just definitively stated he will not adopt the Great Prince’s strategy.”
“Is that so?”
“I apologize. His resolve is so unyielding that even I could do nothing.”
“Does the Grand General have the will to subjugate the Dark Heaven Cult?”
“Of course. But he intends to devise his own strategy…….”
“One question.”
“Please ask.”
“Has the Emperor’s will been properly conveyed to the Grand General? Or is he such a formidable figure that he ignores even the Emperor’s command?”
“…….”
Yeom Po could not answer.
Yi Hwan asked no more.
“I wish you victory.”
“……Are you leaving?”
“There’s no reason to stay longer.”
Yeom Po closed his eyes. More than anyone, he wished for Yi Hwan to remain.