Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: Entering the Qin Kingdom's Imperial Palace
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North of the Qin Kingdom's Imperial Capital.
“Hoo!”
Hot breath poured from Third Prince Yi Seong-ji's lips.
“Your Highness! You've advanced too far!”
Gong Ya-un rushed to his side and shouted. His entire body was stained red with blood.
The spot where they stood now was the heart of the bloody battlefield.
Yi Seong-ji glanced at Gong Ya-un.
“Fall back at once, Your Highness!”
“The Qin Kingdom took us in when we had nowhere else to go. Any man worth his salt repays such kindness.”
“……!”
Gong Ya-un was speechless for a moment. He had read the fury burning in Yi Seong-ji's eyes.
That fury might not stem from the fanatical believers rampaging like mad dogs, but from his own dire circumstances.
Kakang!
“Kraaak!”
“Kuaaak!”
The dying screams echoed from all directions.
Corpses tangled together so thoroughly that friend and foe could no longer be distinguished.
Right now, Yi Seong-ji stood not in the Yeon Kingdom's imperial palace, where glory and wealth awaited, but in the depths of hell.
“Kill that bastard!”
Waaaaah!
The fanatics charged toward Yi Seong-ji.
Gong Ya-un and the other martial artists formed an ironclad wall in front of him.
Kwajik!
Kwa-kwa-kwak!
“Kraaak!”
“Kwaak!”
The warriors led by Gong Ya-un were formidable. The defensive formation they deployed was an impenetrable fortress.
Yi Seong-ji gazed at the fanatics beyond them.
‘Are they drugged?’
He finally realized that the fanatics' eyes, charging like moths to a flame despite knowing they couldn't win, were far from normal.
Chiruruk.
His sword brimmed with qi.
‘If it's a war that can only end in death...’
In that instant, a lifetime of memories flashed before his eyes like a lantern show.
It ended with his pathetic self, driven to the Qin Kingdom like a hunted animal just to survive.
“I'll kill you all.”
Hwaaaak!
* * *
Zhao Kingdom's Imperial Palace.
Hong Seon's face was beyond grave—it verged on anxious.
That morning, she had received word: Third Prince Yi Seong-ji had been deployed to the suppression operation.
She had treated him so cruelly to bolster Yi Tae-ji's position, but he was still the son she had borne.
Thud!
The table split in two and toppled under her hand.
“Throwing an exiled prince into battle!”
Someone watched her. It was Yi Tae-ji.
“He's strong. No need to worry too much. Besides, if he racks up merits, won't that be good for him too?”
He spoke as if it were someone else's affair.
Hong Seon's rage-filled eyes turned to his face.
“Shut that mouth of yours!”
“Has maternal love suddenly bloomed in you now? If you'd treated him with affection from the start, he wouldn't have gone to the Qin Kingdom instead of here.”
“Who do you think forced my hand!”
“You want to blame me? Not because of Mother?”
“What?”
Brrr...
Yi Tae-ji rose with a faint smile.
“Calm down. If the Southwest King—no, that exalted Zhao Emperor—saw you like this, we'd only dig our own graves. He'd exploit any weakness we show.”
Hong Seon glared at Yi Tae-ji's retreating back as he sauntered out, her body trembling.
Then Yi Tae-ji turned and grinned.
“Remember what I just said. For your sake too, Mother.”
“One question.”
“Ask away.”
“Should I take your attitude toward this mother of yours as your true feelings?”
“If my demeanor offends, I apologize. And my true feelings haven't changed from before.”
“And what are those true feelings!”
“Reclaiming the lost throne. Satisfied now?”
That was when it happened. The tea leaves in the cup suddenly floated into the air, spinning circles in front of Yi Tae-ji's face.
Hong Seon's eyes grew even colder.
“More important than that is your heart toward this mother. If I sense even the slightest change from before... I'll cast you out.”
Zzzzak!
“…….”
Yi Tae-ji's expression hardened slightly. The frozen tea leaves spinning before him transformed into sharp thorns.
He met Hong Seon's gaze again.
“Fear not. How could my heart ever waver? Then this son will take his leave.”
Thud!
The frozen tea stabbed into the closed door like a dagger.
Puk-puk-puk!
Drip...
It soon melted into a puddle.
“Are you there?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A white-robed attendant entered.
“From today, keep watch on the Second Prince. Report to me immediately if you detect any disloyal intent.”
“Understood.”
The attendant withdrew at once.
Hong Seon sank deep into her chair, her eyes trembling.
‘To dare mock this mother. Without me, he's nothing...’
* * *
Yi Hwan and his group rode without rest.
As a result, they reached the outskirts of the Qin Kingdom's Imperial Capital a full day ahead of schedule.
They had passed through several cities on the way. Some were reduced to ruins, others still locked in battle.
The situation was far graver than they had heard. The capital before their eyes was no different.
Smoke blackened the sky. Corpses littered fields and paddies alike. Ragged commoners rifled through the bodies for valuables.
Everyone was stunned by the unbelievable sights.
“What about inside the capital? If it's this bad outside, the inside must be a mess too.”
At Hwa Ryeong's words, Yi Hwan stared at the capital. Smoke rose beyond the firmly shut gates.
Warriors manned the walls in numbers. They were likely held back from the front lines to prevent further fanatic incursions.
“We're entering the capital.”
Everyone leaped toward the gates.
Moments later, as they reached the gates, a black hail of arrows flew at them.
“Back.”
They retreated beyond the arrows' range.
Puk-puk-puk-puk!
Hundreds of arrows thudded into the ground before them.
“They're blocking all entry.”
“We'll go around.”
“Yes.”
Everyone veered westward.
How far did they run?
Kakang! Kwajik!
“Kraaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
Screams and clash of battle poured from beyond the walls without end. The sounds alone revealed a massive-scale fight.
Yi Hwan pressed on without pause.
How much farther did they go? A section appeared with fewer guards.
Yi Hwan vaulted the wall without hesitation. Everyone followed in his wake.
Swaaaek!
Arrows flew from all sides but posed no hindrance to Yi Hwan and the others.
Sasasak!
Having cleared the wall, Yi Hwan headed straight into the city center. Battles raged between Qin forces and Dark Heaven Cult followers everywhere.
In some spots, Qin troops dominated; in others, the cultists held the upper hand.
Yi Hwan's destination was the Qin Kingdom's Imperial Palace. He planned to reveal his identity, meet the emperor, and officially join the suppression efforts.
Waaaa!
Kakang!
“Kraaak!”
“Hold the line! Don't fall back!”
“Charge!”
A massive battle unfolded on the avenue leading to the palace.
“We'll have to go around.”
Yi Hwan scanned the surroundings again. His choice: the rooftops.
Papat!
Everyone leaped onto the roofs.
The air reeked of blood. The dying screams echoed like the wails of vengeful spirits.
How much farther did they go?
“My lord!”
Go Mi's urgent cry rang out from behind.
Yi Hwan turned to see her pointing to one side. His eyes widened slightly.
A battlefield of carnage.
At its center stood Third Prince Yi Seong-ji. Yi Hwan double-checked—it was unmistakably him. Gong Ya-un was at his side too.
Yi Hwan halted briefly to watch. Covered in blood, dancing with his blade, Yi Seong-ji looked every bit the madman.
‘Did he step forward voluntarily? Or was it the Qin palace's demand?’
If voluntary, no issue.
But if the latter, it would be a grave disappointment. Forcing an exiled prince from another nation into battle was unthinkable.
Bzzz!
Kwa-kwak!
“Kraaak!”
The man facing Yi Seong-ji flew back, spraying blood. Mid-flight, his body split in two, spilling guts and gore.
That was when it happened. Yi Seong-ji glanced their way.
But with Human Skin Masks on, Yi Hwan's group went unnoticed.
Their eyes met for a split second, but as Yi Seong-ji plunged back into the fray, Yi Hwan resumed moving.
At last, the Imperial Palace came into view in the distance. Tens of thousands of troops had formed ranks before it.
A general in resplendent armor stood proudly at the forefront.
Yi Hwan stepped forward.
“Halt!”
Che-che-chek!
Men in uniforms—not armor—approached Yi Hwan's group, swords drawn.
Yi Hwan ignored them, fixing his gaze on the general as he slowly removed his Human Skin Mask.
“I am Great Prince Yi Hwan of Yeon Kingdom. I seek an audience with His Majesty.”
* * *
The Qin Emperor's complexion was noticeably haggard. His sallow skin and dark circles spoke volumes of his inner turmoil.
Yet as ruler of a nation, the aura around him was anything but ordinary.
He welcomed Yi Hwan warmly. After some exchange, Yi Hwan got to the point.
“I wish to aid Your Majesty.”
“Is that sincere?”
“Would I utter empty words in such perilous times? If granted permission, I offer my humble assistance.”
“With the Great Prince—who quelled fanatics in a single day—on our side, how could I refuse? What then shall I do for you?”
“Merely announce your permission to the troops. That will suffice.”
“Very well. I shall notify the army at once that the Great Prince fights with us. Rest in the palace until then.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
* * *
Yi Hwan and his group received a lavish feast in a splendid hall, rivaling an imperial banquet. The wine was the finest vintage, reserved even for the emperor.
“Feels a bit much amid the chaos, but man, it's great!”
Hwa Ryeong, ever the gourmet, was the most delighted.
“Eat your fill.”
“Yes!”
“Yep!”
As Go Mi poured Yi Hwan's cup, she asked cautiously.
“Curious how you'll help.”
“Overdo it, and it might backfire. Just think of sticking with the Qin Golden Army and lending support.”
“That's all?”
Pfft.
“You think I'm hiding more?”
“Honestly, yes.”
Yi Hwan drained his cup.
“No secrets. Now eat.”
“…….”