Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 323
Chapter Title: Unexpected Conclusion
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Kikikiki….
At the eerie cackle that sounded like a demon’s laughter, Yi Seong-ji and the others all drew their swords in unison.
Chaechaechang!
Whiii….
The fog began to sway in the wind.
Gong Ya-un called out in a low voice.
“Maintain the defensive formation!”
Cheocheocheok!
Yi Seong-ji heightened his senses to their peak, scanning the direction from which the strange noise emanated. But no energy could be detected from that spot.
‘If no energy is detectable at this range….’
It had to be an expert.
“Kikiki.”
The cackle grew steadily closer. Yet still, no energy could be felt.
[It’s an expert. Fall back, Master.]
[I will guard ahead of you.]
[Fall back. That’s an order.]
“……!”
Gong Ya-un turned to Yi Seong-ji with startled eyes. Then, seeing the unyieldingly firm gaze in Yi Seong-ji’s eyes, he had no choice but to step back.
Chiruruk.
Blood light gathered along Yi Seong-ji’s sword.
Gong Ya-un’s eyes trembled faintly.
‘Are you going all out from the start, gauging the foe that highly? That means you’re sensing what I couldn’t….’
Gong Ya-un was an expert himself.
But he had no idea how many foes there were or from which direction they approached.
He could only guess the direction from the cackle alone.
That was when it happened. Blood light flashed from beyond the fog.
Bbaek!
No sooner had the blood light flashed than it pierced through the bodies of two warriors right before their eyes.
Peopeok!
“Keuk!”
“Guk!”
Two warriors collapsed pathetically.
At the same instant, Yi Seong-ji’s sword cleaved through empty air. Sword energy detached from the blade and shot toward the blood light like a bolt of lightning.
Peopeok!
A dull thud followed, and blood light flared once more. Gong Ya-un raised a sword barrier to block the incoming blood light.
Kwaang!
Papapap!
Dust erupted, and the fog churned violently.
Yi Seong-ji quickly turned to Gong Ya-un.
Fortunately, he was unharmed, but his expression had hardened like stone. In just one exchange, he realized the foe surpassed all expectations—an unparalleled expert.
“Everyone, tighten the formation around His Highness!”
“Yes!”
Cheocheocheok!
The warriors narrowed their ranks.
Gong Ya-un judged that even if everyone present attacked together, they couldn’t match this foe. He urgently wanted to at least get Yi Seong-ji to safety.
“It would be best if Your Highness withdrew first.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“…….”
Yi Seong-ji stood firm. Knowing his stubbornness, Gong Ya-un let out a heavy sigh and turned his gaze forward.
That was when it happened.
A shadowy figure appeared faintly beyond the fog. It flickered this way and that, like tree branches reflected on water, drawing steadily closer.
Hwaaak!
In that instant, a powerful demonic energy erupted from Yi Seong-ji’s entire body. It was demonic energy so overwhelming that even the expert Gong Ya-un couldn’t help but be shocked.
‘This chilling demonic energy is….’
Gong Ya-un couldn’t hide his panic at this side of Yi Seong-ji that even he, who had been closest, had never known.
Paat!
Yi Seong-ji vanished into the fog.
“Eut!”
As the startled Gong Ya-un hurriedly moved to follow, it happened.
Kwang!
An explosion roared from beyond the fog, followed by a burst of light. At the same time, severed branches and underbrush filled the air and shot upward. It was a scene of destruction too unbelievable to accept even upon seeing it.
“Your Highness!”
Gong Ya-un rushed in.
He spotted Yi Seong-ji standing motionless in place and hurried to his side.
“Your Highness! Are you all right!”
“I’m fine.”
Contrary to his words, Yi Seong-ji’s complexion was deathly pale like wax. A thin trickle of blood even lined his lips. He had sustained internal injuries.
“Your Highness! Hurry and circulate your energy to recover!”
“It’s not that serious. Tighten the formation.”
Gong Ya-un turned to the warriors and shouted.
“Make the defensive formation even more solid!”
“Yes!”
Cheocheocheok!
The warriors surrounded Yi Seong-ji on all sides.
But no more cackles or attacks came.
Yi Seong-ji took a deep breath and stared beyond the fog. Surprise made his eyes tremble faintly and rapidly.
‘Did it withdraw just like that?’
He recalled the ghostly figure beyond the fog. From that being, who seemed human yet not, he had sensed an immense demonic energy unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
‘A foe that even Infernal Blaze couldn’t touch….’
That was right. Yi Seong-ji had unleashed Infernal Blaze at the stranger.
But it had been blocked all too easily, and he had even taken internal injuries in the process.
Ulkeuk!
Yi Seong-ji suppressed his churning insides with effort. But the blood rising to his throat finally burst forth.
Chwaaak!
“Your Highness!”
“It’s just a momentary churn in my qi. No need to worry.”
Yi Seong-ji wiped the blood from his lips and kept his eyes fixed ahead. The fog swayed around him and everyone else in the wind, billowing this way and that.
Gulp.
Someone’s dry swallow echoed like thunder. Everyone was that tense—even Gong Ya-un.
Time passed slowly like that.
But nothing else happened.
* * *
Whiii….
Beyond the fog, someone watched Yi Seong-ji’s group. It was Ban Go.
He peered down at Yi Seong-ji, whose form was only faintly visible, his bloodshot eyes gleaming wildly.
“A scary bastard showed up.”
Tududuk!
Blood dripped from the hand gripping his sword. In the clash with Yi Seong-ji, part of his palm had torn open.
But Ban Go stared at his wrist.
The spot grazed by Yi Seong-ji’s sword was charred black, as if burned.
Ban Go rolled up his sleeve. Reddened flesh was exposed starkly.
“It hurts. Kikikiki.”
Though he laughed, his heart pounded with great shock.
After descending here on Jo Yun’s orders, he had slain enemies like a madman, one after another. None had posed a real threat.
So he thought today would be no different—but it wasn’t. An expert capable of tearing his palm in a single clash had appeared.
“If Cha Ryong were here, I could’ve killed him.”
Tududuk!
Blood from his hand fell to the ground.
Ban Go spread his hand and licked the blood from his palm with his tongue. Madness began to gleam in his eyes.
The faint blood light in them gradually intensified. Sharp fangs like blades emerged next.
“Next time we meet, I’ll rip your head off. Kikikiki.”
* * *
A carriage and warriors raced swiftly along the rain-cleared official road.
Yi Hwan and his group trailed them, biding their time for an opportunity.
But the road showed no sign of ending, and with so many travelers still passing by, attacking right away was impossible.
“At this rate, we’ll end up chasing them all the way to the enemy capital.”
“No rush. We still have plenty of time.”
Yi Hwan wasn’t hurried. He was certain an opportunity would come before they reached the enemy capital.
Dududu!
The pursuit continued for half a day without the targets noticing. As evening fell and darkness settled, Jo Seok’s group turned toward a small town.
Yi Hwan surveyed the area around the town. Spotting a suitable vantage point, he steered toward it.
When they settled midway up a mountain overlooking the town at a glance, Ju Tae, Kim Mu-gwan, and the others joined them.
“We smashed the gold mine completely—they won’t be extracting for a while.”
“Good work.”
“How’s the situation?”
At Ju Tae’s question, Yi Hwan gave a brief rundown. Once finished, Ju Tae spoke.
“Their numbers have dropped quite a bit. How about we finish them off tonight?”
Park Ji-mun chimed in agreement.
“I think the same.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently. With Ju Tae and the others joined, and barring Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong, there was no cause for worry.
“Fine. We move at dead of night, assuming no surprises. Rest until then.”
“Understood.”
“Have some of this.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong pulled out rations.
Everyone settled their meal with the rations and waited for night to deepen.
Suddenly, Go Mi spoke with regret.
“It’s a shame we can’t seize the gold in that carriage too.”
“We’ll take the gold, of course.”
“Pardon? Even so, handling all those troops….”
Killing Third Prince Jo Seok alone wasn’t simple, let alone wiping out hundreds of soldiers—it was unrealistic.
“We stir up chaos by targeting the prince. That’s when Moon Lord and Hwa Ryeong seize the carriage.”
“Just the two of us?”
Hwa Ryeong’s eyes widened round.
“When we go for the prince, their forces will naturally swarm there. We can use that opening—it won’t be hard.”
“Ah….”
“But don’t get careless even then. This gold is key to stabilizing Zhao’s finances, so top experts are likely guarding it. And with the prince personally overseeing transport, even more so. Stay alert until it’s done. Once Moon Lord and Hwa Ryeong take the carriage, head straight south. We’ll follow.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
* * *
An hour later.
As Yi Hwan rested under the moonlight, Ju Tae approached.
“My lord, you should take a look.”
“What is it?”
“Something strange is happening.”
Yi Hwan headed straight to a spot overlooking the town. Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun were already there.
Ju Tae pointed to a cluster of houses. Jo Seok was staying in one, surrounded by a good number of warriors.
“They’ve all changed clothes.”
“…….”
It was true. Though distant, the moonlight revealed the warriors had switched to civilian garb.
It wasn’t odd for those not on watch to change out of armor for sleep, but the issue was that every single warrior wore plain clothes without exception.
Yi Hwan stared toward the town’s west side.
The soldiers transporting the carriage had clearly pitched tents there earlier. Now, not a single one remained.
Something suspicious was definitely afoot.
Park Ji-mun asked.
“Shall we go down and check?”
“I and Mu-gwan will go. You wait here.”
“Understood.”
“Be careful, Great Prince.”
Yi Hwan headed straight for the town, Kim Mu-gwan following.
Just then, Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong approached Ju Tae and Park Ji-mun.
“What’s going on?”
Ju Tae explained the situation to them.
Go Mi furrowed her brow, staring at Yi Hwan’s retreating figure descending toward the town.
“What on earth is happening?”
“Think he’ll get mad if we follow?”
“He’ll tell us everything if we wait, so better to stay put.”
“Got it.”
Hwa Ryeong obeyed Go Mi’s words unusually well. Ju Tae and Park Ji-mun, who knew her temperament best, found it amazing.
Hwa Ryeong turned to them, frowning.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What’s wrong with our eyes….”
“You’re staring like I’m some weirdo.”
“…….”
Hwa Ryeong’s usual personality emerged right away. That made it all the more astonishing to them.