Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: Yang Chan's Change
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Yi Hwan, returning to headquarters, threw an additional hundred thousand Golden Army troops into the search for any possible remaining tunnel passages, devoting every effort to the task.
There were many opinions calling for immediately sending troops into the tunnel, but Yi Hwan rejected them. Convinced that the Reverse Heaven Society Lord had already escaped, he aimed to wipe out the Reverse Heaven Society members still lurking inside.
However, he had no desire to risk sending troops into the unknown depths of the tunnel. With over a hundred thousand Golden Army soldiers guarding the perimeter like an iron wall, escape was impossible anyway.
Meanwhile, since returning to headquarters, Yang Chan had not taken a single step out of his quarters.
It was a few days later that this changed.
Creak.
Yang Chan opened the door and stepped outside. Confined to his room for days, his complexion was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot with fatigue.
He headed straight for Yi Hwan's office.
Go Mi, who had been conversing with Yi Hwan, yielded her seat.
"Have you found a way?"
"Yes. But we need to gather the materials for production first. One ingredient in particular is extremely hard to obtain, so I'm not sure if it's possible."
"What is it?"
"We need at least two centipedes that are a hundred years old."
"So with that, you can create a poison mist that won't seep out of the cave."
"Yes. By increasing the density to make it settle low, it won't escape outside in the tunnel where no strong winds blow."
"I'll see what I can do."
Listening to the conversation, Go Mi finally understood the special mission Yi Hwan had given Yang Chan.
'Is that really possible?'
It went against common sense.
No matter how deep the source, smoke always rises through the slightest gap. How could it be otherwise?
"Moon Lord."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Come with me to the Imperial Palace."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan stood up immediately.
"I'll check the Imperial Palace Treasury and return, so rest in the meantime..."
Yi Hwan couldn't finish his sentence. Yang Chan had fallen asleep while still sitting.
With a wry smile, he woke him.
"Go sleep in my room."
"Ah, yes? Yes."
* * *
Go Mi followed beside Yi Hwan and asked.
"Are you planning to exterminate any Reverse Heaven Society members possibly inside the tunnel?"
"If we can wipe them out without casualties, we'd do even more than that."
"......"
"Do you think it's too cruel?"
"Ah, no. It's just a bit surprising that he agreed to such a method."
"Ask him yourself later. Why he agreed."
"......"
A short while later, the two entered the Imperial Palace. Yi Hwan headed straight to the Imperial Palace Treasury without stopping by Yi So.
Had he sensed Yi Hwan's approach? The middle-aged man guarding the main gate of the Imperial Palace Treasury by order of the late emperor had come out ahead of time to wait.
"Welcome, Great Prince."
"I'm with the head of the intelligence agency Moon Pavilion. Is it alright if she enters as well?"
The middle-aged man silently stared at Go Mi. But soon, he bowed his head.
"Please enter."
Yi Hwan and Go Mi entered the Imperial Palace Treasury directly.
Go Mi could barely contain her excitement. To enter the Imperial Palace Treasury, Yeon Kingdom's greatest repository of mysteries and legends. At the same time, she couldn't hide her surprise.
'The Great Prince can come and go as he pleases.'
She knew he had visited the Imperial Palace Treasury before. But she had no idea he could enter so freely.
Following behind Yi Hwan, Go Mi looked around. Some areas glittered with brilliant light, while others exuded an eerie chill that raised goosebumps.
After passing one chamber, swords, blades, and unidentified weapons filled one wall. Naturally, they were treasure swords and treasure blades—perhaps even superior divine weapons.
How many chambers did they pass?
A faint herbal scent began to waft in the air.
"Check that side. The contents are labeled on the boxes, so it shouldn't be too hard to find if it's there."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan examined the right side while Go Mi checked the left. After finishing one wall and moving to the other...
"Found it!"
Go Mi cried out in excitement.
Yi Hwan hurried over to her and immediately opened the wooden box she held.
Inside appeared two large centipedes, vivid as if alive, along with a sheet of parchment.
Yi Hwan read the writing on the parchment. It detailed the year the centipedes were captured and their effects.
"Three hundred years old— the effect should be even greater."
"I've never seen anything like this. Centipedes that have aged three hundred years."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
As Go Mi followed Yi Hwan, a question arose.
"Are you just going to leave the divine weapons in here?"
"These things inside shouldn't be released into the world recklessly. They could disrupt the order of the world."
"Don't they tempt you?"
"Not at all."
"......"
"Is there something you want?"
"......No. Nothing."
Go Mi swallowed dryly without realizing it. As a martial artist, her eyes naturally gravitated toward the swords.
The two retraced their steps through the chambers they had passed.
It was when they reached the room filled with dazzling light. Yi Hwan suddenly picked something up.
"Try it on."
It was a bracelet embedded with all sorts of jewels.
"Pardon?"
"It somehow suits the Moon Lord."
"I-It's fine."
"Considering your contributions so far, this is still too little. Think of it as a reward and accept it."
"......Thank you."
Go Mi rolled up her sleeve and put on the bracelet. It fit perfectly around her wrist, as if it had always been hers.
"It looks good."
"I'm not sure if this is alright."
"I told you, think of it as a reward."
Yi Hwan strode ahead again. Go Mi gazed at his back, her eyes trembling slightly.
An inexplicable subtle emotion surged within her.
* * *
Yi Hwan headed straight to the throne hall.
Passing officials bowed their heads upon spotting him. Warriors watched him go with eyes full of awe.
To Yeon Kingdom's warriors, Yi Hwan had already become a heavenly existence. The narrative of the puppet Great Prince rising to become the kingdom's de facto second-in-command had become their dream and hope.
"Welcome, Great Prince."
Gwan Ji-baek greeted Yi Hwan first.
"Is he in?"
"Yes. Please enter."
Inside, Yi So, conversing with the Prime Minister, welcomed him with a smile.
"Come in."
"Welcome, Great Prince."
"Am I interrupting?"
"How could you be. Sit down."
Yi Hwan sat in the chair where the Prime Minister had been. The Prime Minister took a seat behind.
"Any progress on the tunnel search?"
"Since none have been found so far, there are probably no more passages."
"What will you do then?"
"I'm about to launch the operation soon. I'll report the results immediately."
"Be careful. We don't know what's inside, so avoid entering personally if possible."
"Yes."
"Since you're here, shall we dine together?"
"Sounds good."
"Bring the Moon Lord as well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Prime Minister stood with a smile.
"Then this minister will take his leave, Your Majesty."
As he exited, the Prime Minister quietly asked Gwan Ji-baek.
"Do they always act like that when they meet?"
"What do you mean?"
"Always so warm like that."
Gwan Ji-baek finally smiled.
"Yes. Whenever he meets the Great Prince, His Majesty always smiles like that."
"Hahaha. Then I suppose we should tell the Great Prince to visit the palace often to please His Majesty. Take care."
"See you off safely."
"Hahaha!"
The Prime Minister walked away without stopping his laughter. Gwan Ji-baek watched him with a gentle smile.
It was then.
"Ji-baek."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Tell the royal kitchen to bring a table of liquor, and you come in as well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
* * *
Reverse Heaven Society Lord Jin Ryang.
Fleeing from a sudden ambush, he was now hiding in the mountainous region west of the capital.
The abrupt disaster had left him with fewer than twenty Reverse Heaven Society members.
Whoosh!
On a ridge where fierce winds blew, overlooking a lake, Jin Ryang's heart was filled with utter despair.
'How did this happen...'
He could not accept this grim reality. The tunnel, the funds—everything had been progressing smoothly.
Using funds secured faster than expected, he had recruited evil faction martial artists, gradually increasing their numbers when it all fell apart.
Crunch.
As his lips turned blue from bitten teeth, a black-robed figure climbed up behind him.
"I'm back, Lord."
"How did it go?"
"It seems Great Prince Yi Hwan has made a move. Someone at the scene recognized his guard."
Tremble...
Jin Ryang's eyes twitched with spasms.
Yi Hwan again.
After suffering a major crisis because of him and retreating below the surface to prepare a comeback, to fall into even greater peril because of him once more.
The black-robed figure continued cautiously.
"Tens of thousands more Golden Army troops have been deployed. Both passages are completely sealed, so those isolated inside are probably..."
He trailed off.
Jin Ryang suppressed his emotions and asked.
"What's the current situation?"
"They're still blockading both entrances without any movement. But with the new Golden Army troops searching the surroundings, they seem to believe there's another passage."
"How long can they hold out?"
"The food stored in the tunnel must be depleted by now. It happened just a day before the supply delivery..."
Then a blue-robed figure climbed up. Bowing his head, he said.
"The Qin Kingdom envoy delegation will depart the Imperial Palace tomorrow morning."
Flash!
Jin Ryang's despair-twisted eyes gleamed with murderous light.
"Is that certain?"
"Yes. I confirmed it personally."
"Have you contacted the recruits?"
"Yes. We're meeting at the assembly point tonight."
Jin Ryang gazed toward the Imperial Palace. The killing intent in his eyes grew denser.
"No matter what, we must annihilate the Qin Kingdom delegation before they leave the capital. Then the Yeon Kingdom Imperial Palace and that bastard Yi Hwan won't escape responsibility."
It was the path to revenge he had discovered in the days since the incident. He couldn't endure without it.
Of course, he had considered targeting Yi Yeong, whom Yi Hwan cherished so much. But right after the incident, her residence was surrounded by an ironclad guard network, forcing him to abandon the idea.
Moreover, it was not far from Yi Hwan's Golden Army headquarters, making it riskier for them instead.
'Yi Hwan, Yi Hwan, Yi Hwan!'
Uncontrollable rage surged again, reddening Jin Ryang's eyes.
Whoosh!