Chapter 333
Chapter 333
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 333
Chapter Title: The Rival's Three Brothers
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Men emerged from the forest.
Yi Hwan couldn't hide his inner surprise as he watched them step out toward his group, grinning with massive axes and greatswords slung over their shoulders atop their blood-red martial robes.
‘To think they approached this close without me noticing at all.’
Was it because his attention was focused on Jo Gwang-mu?
It could be. But even so, for a master of Yi Hwan's caliber not to detect their presence until they were this near meant the opponents were masters in their own right.
“Hey, you lot. What are you sneaking around peeking at like thieving cats?”
Thud!
A massive axe slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt. But he soon lifted it as lightly as a tree branch, aiming it at Yi Hwan's group.
“Did the Qin dogs stuff their mouths with grass? Why aren't you answering? Huh!”
“Are you from Zhao?”
“Yeah. We came to smash you Qin bastards. Just in case, we came down through the forest alone, and sure enough, there are Qin dogs here. Looks like word got to His Highness the Crown Prince that you're around.”
Shing.
Ju Tae and Baek Yeon drew their swords first, while Yi Hwan coolly scanned the two blood-robed men from head to toe.
Did that irk them?
“You little shit, who do you think you're mimicking a master in front of? Fine, I'll smash your skull first. Heh heh heh.”
The massive axe swung toward Yi Hwan.
The blood-robed man with the greatsword approached Baek Yeon and Ju Tae with a grin.
Yi Hwan sent a transmission to Baek Yeon.
[If we fight here, we might end up facing the troops below as well, so it would be best to escape this place as quickly as possible.]
[Shall we leave right away?]
[We can't do that.]
[…Pardon?]
It was then that Baek Yeon wore a puzzled expression.
Yi Hwan vanished from his spot like a flickering flame. At the same time, exclamations of dismay burst from the two blood-robed men.
“Huh!”
“What?”
Yi Hwan reappeared right in front of the one wielding the massive axe.
Yet astonishingly, the moment he appeared, the axe was already descending toward his head.
The axe seemed poised to split Yi Hwan's skull in the blink of an eye. It was truly an astonishing reaction speed.
Thud!
But the axe merely struck the ground emptily. Yi Hwan had vanished from the spot again in an instant.
“Urk!”
At the same time, blood sprayed from the blood-robed man beside him. His right arm, gripping the greatsword, had been severed clean at the elbow and sent flying.
“You bastard…!”
Whoosh!
The massive axe flew toward Yi Hwan once more.
Yi Hwan kicked the staggering, one-armed blood-robed man's chest with his right foot, using the recoil to launch himself backward. The axe cleaved through empty air by a hair's breadth.
Swish!
Baek Yeon and Ju Tae then kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
But they weren't heading for the blood-robed men—they shot southward. Yi Hwan was already racing ahead.
Ju Tae glanced back with a look of regret. He wanted to take out the other blood-robed man too.
It was then that more men burst from the forest. About twenty in blue robes.
They spotted the blood-robed man collapsed and bleeding, and were seized with shock.
“Catch those bastards!”
The other blood-robed man bellowed and launched himself forward.
The blue-robed men soon gave chase after the blood-robed man.
* * *
Woo Mun-sul, traveling beside Jo Gwang-mu, turned to look rightward. Sounds of fighting were coming from there.
“As expected, it seems Zhao has sent men.”
“We'll go check it out.”
“No. They're as strong as you lot, so just leave them be.”
Woo Mun-sul turned his gaze forward again, showing no sign of worry whatsoever.
Jo Gwang-mu turned to him and asked.
“Is it really fine to ignore them?”
“Have no fears, Your Highness. Every one of those boys is among the top masters even in our Zhao. No mere Qin scouts could handle them.”
“Still, go confirm it.”
“Understood.”
Woo Mun-sul glanced back and gave a signal with his eyes. Two blood-robed men shot into the rightward forest like the wind.
A moment later, Woo Mun-sul's face subtly twisted. The two blood-robed men were returning from the forest, carrying a blood-soaked someone on their backs.
‘Did that guy get done in?’
The bloodied blood-robed man was someone Woo Mun-sul knew all too well. He quickly wheeled his horse around and approached.
“What happened!”
“There were no others, just this one collapsed there.”
“Is he dead?”
“He's still breathing, but…”
Woo Mun-sul gazed down at the unconscious, limp blood-robed man, his eyes trembling.
‘There were several others besides this one. And yet they reduced him to this state… That means they weren't simple scouts…’
It was then that Jo Gwang-mu approached.
Woo Mun-sul spoke to him with a troubled expression.
“It seems quite formidable masters came from the Qin side.”
“Was this one a master too?”
“Yes.”
“And if the sounds of fighting weren't that loud, then the opponents must be even greater masters than you imagine, right?”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Jo Gwang-mu looked down at the blood-robed man.
“He seems beyond saving, so end his pain.”
At his command, the two blood-robed men hesitated for a moment. But soon, one severed his comrade's breath.
“By now, word of my arrival must have spread, so we should pick up the pace. If we get held up here, it won't help our allies at all.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A moment later, the Zhao army increased its speed.
As Woo Mun-sul rode beside Jo Gwang-mu, he recalled the attitude Jo Gwang-mu had just shown. The calm and cold composure reminded him of Jo Yun.
‘To think His Highness was like this…’
Woo Mun-sul's astonishment toward Jo Gwang-mu was more than enough to offset the death of the blood-robed man.
* * *
Whoosh!
Baek Yeon, following behind Yi Hwan, replayed in her mind the movements he had shown just moments ago.
Yi Hwan's actions against the two blood-robed men had been so swift that even she, who had reached the absolute realm, could barely track them with her eyes. What was even more astonishing was his judgment, honed to icy perfection. Clearly, Yi Hwan was strong enough to kill both blood-robed men alone, and even if not, they could have finished them off together with her and the others joining in.
Yet Yi Hwan had swiftly assessed the surroundings and chosen retreat.
It was a choice she herself could never have made.
‘He's definitely a scarier man than his reputation suggests.’
Swish!
As Yi Hwan raced ahead, a branch he snapped flew toward Baek Yeon's face.
She tilted her head lightly to dodge it, then glanced at Ju Tae running right beside her. Ju Tae still looked regretful about simply leaving.
‘I wanted to see what that guy's skills were like too.’
Just then, Ju Tae turned to her.
“What are you staring at?”
“Nothing.”
* * *
Upon returning to the camp, someone was waiting for Yi Hwan. It was Won Gae-se's deputy general.
“What brings you here?”
“The Grand Marshal is greatly worried because you left without a word.”
“The Grand Marshal was worried about me?”
“Yes.”
“Go back and relay this: I'll be staying here, not at the main camp, until this is over.”
“Isn't this place too dangerous? Just return to the main camp. You haven't even had a proper talk with the Grand Marshal yet.”
“If he has something to say, tell him to come here.”
“…”
The deputy general stared at Yi Hwan for a moment, bowed his head, and turned to leave. Yi Hwan added one more thing.
“The Crown Prince of Zhao has joined them. He's brought quite a few masters, so it would be wise to adjust tactics accordingly. Relay that.”
“Is that true?”
“I just confirmed it on my way back.”
“Understood. I'll inform the Grand Marshal. Then.”
Won Gae-se's deputy general left the tent. Yi Hwan removed his outer robe and drank a bowl of cold water.
Thud!
Ju Tae asked.
“Those guys earlier were incredible masters. They can't be followers of the Blood Demon, can they?”
“Why do you think not?”
“Even though you stepped in personally, they went down too easily…”
“They couldn't gauge our strength at a glance and underestimated us. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have fallen so easily. So remember this: complacency can be more terrifying than any poison.”
“Yes.”
Scratching his head, Ju Tae asked again.
“Then do you think they were Blood Demon followers?”
“Very likely. There aren't many masters of that caliber whose faces aren't well-known.”
“With the Crown Prince here, they must have brought a good number of them?”
“Probably.”
It was then that Baek Yeon entered with a soldier. The soldier held a tray.
“The mess area is rowdy, so it might be best to eat here, Great Prince.”
“Thank you.”
Ju Tae asked.
“No liquor?”
“Why wouldn't there be?”
Baek Yeon pulled a bottle from her bosom. Embroidered with ornate floral patterns on white porcelain, it looked like fine liquor at a glance.
Baek Yeon asked cautiously.
“Will you really stay here?”
“I have no desire to engage in a battle of wills with that Grand Marshal. And if those guys show up, I can reach the scene faster this way, so don't worry about it.”
“…Yes.”
“How is he faring?”
She was referring to Yi Seong-ji.
“He's currently at the enemy camp to the east. It's garrisoned with forces similar in number to the main camp, so no need to worry too much.”
‘Worry, huh…’
Was he really worried about Yi Seong-ji?
“Is the Second Prince on the eastern front?”
“…Yes.”
“So you sent Yi Seong-ji there too. Was that Grand Marshal Won’s will?”
“Well… it was His Highness the Crown Prince's order.”
Baek Yeon couldn't hide her embarrassment, as if she had committed a sin.
Yi Seong-ji had abandoned his former status and defected, so it wasn't odd for him to follow orders from the Qin court.
But this order violated the heavenly principle of brotherhood by targeting his own brother, so even court officials who disliked Yi Seong-ji had been buzzing about it.
“Is the Qin side evaluating the Second Prince that highly, to resort to such measures?”
“They see him as a dangerous figure on par with the one you're pursuing, Great Prince. In fact, two of his units nearly suffered total annihilation, and ten high-ranking generals lost their lives.”
It was astonishing.
Yi Hwan had anticipated the Second Prince had some hidden card, but he never imagined it would be prowess on that level.
The unexpected news began complicating Yi Hwan's thoughts.
“I need some rest.”
“Yes, Great Prince. Then rest well.”
Baek Yeon withdrew, and Yi Hwan picked up his cup. Ju Tae poured liquor into it.
Pour.
“If you encounter the Fourth Prince on the battlefield, what will you do?”
“He mainly appears on the eastern front, so we probably won't meet. But if we do… and if the chance arises, I'll have to kill him.”
“Yes.”
Clatter.
Park Ji-mun and Kim Mu-gwan entered.
High Mi and Hwa Ryeong followed. Hwa Ryeong grinned broadly and offered two bottles of liquor.
“Shall we have a drink together?”
“Everyone, sit.”
“Yes!”
How much time passed in this unexpected drinking session? A deep voice drifted in from outside.
“May I come in?”
Yi Hwan set down the cup he was bringing to his lips. The voice belonged to Yi Seong-ji.
Everyone who recognized his voice rose from their seats, and Hwa Ryeong opened the tent flap.
Yi Seong-ji stood outside in full armor.
“Everyone, make some room.”
“Yes.”
A moment later, Yi Hwan and Yi Seong-ji sat facing each other.
Without a word, Yi Hwan filled a cup with liquor and placed it before Yi Seong-ji.
Yi Seong-ji emptied the cup without a word.
“I heard you were at the eastern camp.”
“I made time because you came. I had to see your face.”
“You must have some free time.”
“Do I look like I'm in a position to idle? I went out on maneuvers this morning and was heading back when I heard you arrived, so I came straight here. I'll have to return soon.”
“The friends I sent back earlier are doing fine, so don't worry.”
“Good, thank you.”
That was the end of their conversation until the two bottles of liquor ran dry.