Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 289
Chapter Title: The Great Prince Requests an Audience
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Heaven-Earth Twin Demons.
Known separately as the Heaven Demon and Earth Demon, they were leading the Dark Heaven Cult followers.
They were elders of the Dark Heaven Cult, figures whom the cult leader, Jang Cheon-hwa, trusted just as absolutely as Ma Jung-hyo.
Even the Land Sword Demon could not treat them lightly. They too had reached the transcendent realm of absolute mastery.
"If they're so dead set on defense, it looks like they've decided that no matter what happens to the capital, they just need to hold the Imperial Palace until reinforcements arrive."
The Earth Demon muttered coldly, staring at the Qin Kingdom Golden Army's defensive line.
The Heaven Demon sneered.
"For us, that's actually a good thing. Thanks to them playing it safe, we've achieved more than even the cult leader hoped for."
"We don't have much time either. Reinforcements will swarm in soon—what's your plan? If we're unlucky, we could end up trapped with no way out."
"We'll give them one more thrashing, then watch the situation and slip away at the right moment."
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons brimmed with leisure.
Numerous followers had lost their lives, but since they'd achieved greater results than expected, they saw no issue in withdrawing now.
"Elders!"
A man in green robes hurried over.
"What is it?"
"The Great Prince of Yeon Kingdom, Yi Hwan, has joined the Qin Kingdom army!"
"What?"
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Just moments ago, a few of our followers active in Yeon Kingdom spotted him clearly."
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons' brows furrowed in unison.
"That's strange. Why would that guy join the Qin Kingdom army? Are the two countries allying or something?"
The Heaven Demon asked the green-robed man.
"Did you see the Yeon Kingdom army?"
"No. Aside from the Qin Kingdom Golden Army, only a few escorts were with him."
It was then.
"There he is!"
Another pointed toward the Qin Kingdom Golden Army camp and shouted.
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons' gazes snapped there at once. But since they'd never seen Yi Hwan, they had no clue who was who.
"The white-robed man standing next to the general in golden armor—he's Yi Hwan!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I saw him up close in Yeon Kingdom myself! No doubt about it!"
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons fixed their sharp gazes on the white-robed man their subordinate indicated.
How could they not know? How brutally and cruelly Yi Hwan had executed their followers.
"When fighting resumes, we target that bastard's head first."
"Of course. To avenge the followers who died by his hand, we must cut off his breath no matter what."
"Be careful. If the rumors are true, he's no easy opponent—nor are his escorts."
"Even so, they can't match us. Booze!"
The Earth Demon grabbed a bottle from a subordinate and chugged it.
Gulp, gulp!
Thud!
"We start again when the sun sets?"
"Of course. Rest up until then."
* * *
As Yi Hwan and Yeo Mun-chu spread out a map and continued their discussion, Third Prince Yi Seong-ji approached.
Yeo Mun-chu, well aware of their positions, wore a slightly troubled expression.
But Yi Hwan remained calm.
"Got something to say?"
"Care to talk?"
"Have a seat."
"Not here—somewhere quiet, just the two of us."
"Understood."
As Yi Seong-ji moved to follow Yi Hwan outside, Yeo Mun-chu's transmitted voice flowed into his ear.
[The Great Prince is one recognized by His Majesty. There must be no mishaps.]
It was a warning of sorts.
Yi Seong-ji nodded in response and followed behind Yi Hwan.
The two headed to the rear of the defensive line. When they felt they'd put enough distance between them, they stopped.
Their gazes locked once more.
Yi Hwan spoke first.
"Did you join of your own volition?"
"Call it half and half."
"Why the Qin Kingdom?"
"No other place to go."
Regret flickered in Yi Seong-ji's eyes.
"Do you resent me?"
"Deeply. Sometimes enough to want you dead."
At Yi Seong-ji's frank reply, Yi Hwan subtly narrowed his brows.
"You turned your back on the righteous path. Blood ties or not, once I knew of your treason, I should have stopped you."
"They were people who even tried to kill me. I had no power to stop them, and you know better than anyone they wouldn't have listened anyway."
Yi Seong-ji shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Enough about the past."
"Say what you came to say."
A moment of silence passed. Yi Hwan waited quietly for Yi Seong-ji to speak.
After a pause, Yi Seong-ji asked.
"Can you forgive the people with me?"
Yi Hwan couldn't answer immediately at the unexpected question.
Yi Seong-ji continued.
"Don't brand them as traitors just for serving me. Of course, this applies far in the future. Right now, I can't survive without them."
Yi Hwan stared into Yi Seong-ji's eyes, filled with lingering regret, and asked.
"Do you think I stayed quiet because I couldn't capture you and them?"
"……."
"I wanted you to walk a different path from the Fourth Imperial Prince. That hasn't changed."
With that, Yi Hwan turned away.
Yi Seong-ji watched his retreating back with trembling eyes.
"Don't cross into Zhao Kingdom. The moment you join hands with them, my mind will change, and I won't be able to leave your people be as I have."
"What of their families?"
Yi Hwan halted.
But soon resumed walking.
"All safe. For now."
* * *
Gong Ya-un watched the slowly approaching Yi Seong-ji with anxious eyes.
The others felt the same. In truth, when he'd said he was going to meet Yi Hwan, everyone had opposed it.
Yi Seong-ji smiled faintly.
"Why the long faces?"
"What did you discuss?"
"Nothing much."
"……."
Yi Seong-ji carefully scanned the people looking at him. Then he spoke.
"He said your families are all safe. He's not one to lie, so rest easy now."
"R-Really?"
"Oh!"
Relieved voices erupted here and there. Some even collapsed to the ground on the spot.
While following Yi Seong-ji, what had worried them most was their families' fates. If identified as traitors' kin, execution was inevitable.
Gong Ya-un asked.
"Nothing else?"
"He said not to cross into Zhao Kingdom."
"That alone?"
"Yes. That was it."
Gong Ya-un finally exhaled in relief. In truth, he too had family left in Yeon Kingdom.
Of course, he'd never shown it while serving Yi Seong-ji, but as a man, he'd endured the secret agony of a breaking heart.
In that moment, Gong Ya-un's eyes reddened.
"Did you meet the Great Prince just to check on our families' survival?"
Yi Seong-ji smiled vaguely without answering. Gong Ya-un's eyes finally spilled tears.
* * *
As Yi Hwan returned from meeting Yi Seong-ji, Go Mi approached.
Before she could ask, Yi Hwan spoke first.
"He wanted to know if the families of those with him are safe."
"That all?"
"Yes."
Recalling the regret in Yi Seong-ji's eyes, Yi Hwan said no more.
Go Mi didn't press and changed the subject.
"The White-Clothed Sword God and the warriors just arrived. They must have clashed on the way—everyone's covered in blood."
"That's why they're late."
Yi Hwan headed toward Yeo Mun-chu's command tent. He saw the White-Clothed Sword God Baek Woo-kyeong and the other warriors. As he approached, Yeo Mun-chu introduced him to Baek Woo-kyeong.
"This is Yeon's Great Prince. Pay your respects."
Baek Woo-kyeong clasped his hands in salute.
Clap!
The other warriors saluted in unison. Baek Woo-kyeong asked.
"Did you come straight here from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?"
"Yes."
Baek Woo-kyeong was exceedingly polite and respectful. Yet an air of pride emanated from him.
Yi Hwan turned to Yeo Mun-chu and asked.
"When do you expect the enemy's next attack?"
"They'll likely resume when the sun sets. Rest until then, Great Prince."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan entered the command tent Yeo Mun-chu provided.
* * *
Baek Woo-kyeong's eyes gleamed as he stared at the tent Yi Hwan had entered.
'Has he perfected concealing his energy?'
He'd sensed no energy from Yi Hwan moments ago. Even more astonishing, he'd felt something similar from Cheol Mu-ok and the others with him.
Baek Yeon approached.
"His Majesty has officially recognized Yeon's Great Prince. But opinions are divided among the generals."
"That figures. They can't help worrying about our tactics and strategies leaking to Yeon Kingdom. Especially since Yeon's Great Prince also commands the Golden Army as Grand General."
"His Majesty must know that—why approve it?"
"He's that anxious. Ha……."
Baek Woo-kyeong suddenly sighed. He couldn't believe the capital's devastation.
'What were the Golden Army doing? With Commander Wei Ji-gwan's abilities, they should have held…….'
Baek Woo-kyeong gazed back at Yi Hwan's tent.
The ruined capital and Yi Hwan's face overlapped in his mind.
'Did His Majesty need the Great Prince who quelled the fanatic uprising in a single day?'
It was then. A white-robed man approached.
"Yeon's Great Prince proposed a plan, but the Crown Prince's Palace opposed it."
"Did you learn what the plan was?"
"Yes. To block fanatics from entering the capital, the Great Prince suggested leaving only the minimal force needed to guard the Imperial Palace and first suppressing the cities around the capital."
Baek Woo-kyeong's eyes grew heavy.
"Indeed…… It carries some risk, but if it works, it could suppress the fanatics faster."
Baek Yeon widened her eyes and said.
"It seems very reasonable."
"I agree. Even among the Golden Army, opinions are split, but with the Crown Prince's Palace opposing, the supporters can't speak up properly."
"What of Commander Wei's stance?"
"Sorry. I couldn't confirm that far."
Baek Woo-kyeong's eyes sank heavily. Even to him, it was a highly reasonable plan.
'Why oppose it, Your Highness? And does His Majesty even know of your opposition?'
Doubts chained together. He wanted to confront the Crown Prince directly, but with sunset approaching, he couldn't.
For now, stopping the fanatics from reaching the Imperial Palace came first.
It was then.
"Brother."
"……."
Baek Yeon nodded toward one side.
Cheol Mu-ok was approaching. Baek Woo-kyeong steadied his gaze and watched him come.
"The Great Prince requests an audience."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"May I ask the reason first?"
"I'm only conveying the Great Prince's will. If you'll excuse me."
Cheol Mu-ok turned and left.
Baek Woo-kyeong narrowed his brows, staring at Yi Hwan's tent. Then he turned to Baek Yeon and said.
"Come with me."
"Yes."