Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 337
Chapter Title: Won Gaese's Suspicion
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A man stepped into the gruesome scene where even the Yellow Robe Man had already departed.
The Nameless Sword, Do Geom.
At first, he had dismissed it as just another battlefield where combat could erupt anytime, anywhere. But he flinched upon discovering the green-robed man's corpse.
He knew the green-robed man better than anyone. The green-robed man he knew was no pushover who would die so pointlessly in some remote spot.
Moreover, the green-robed man's body was pristine, showing no traces of a fierce battle whatsoever.
That meant the opponent's skill had utterly overwhelmed the green-robed man.
‘To think the Qin Kingdom's camp had an expert capable of killing him in a single strike.’
He racked his brain for who it could be.
Baek Woo-kyeong came to mind first.
But he soon shook his head. Even Baek Woo-kyeong couldn't have killed the green-robed man this easily.
‘Did he get ambushed?’
That was likely.
Either an absolute expert like Baek Woo-kyeong had ambushed him while he was trapped, or some even more abnormal circumstance had driven the green-robed man to his death.
Do Geom examined the other corpses.
Then he noticed something and his eyes gleamed. Quite a few of the bodies had dark objects hanging from their waists.
‘Fierce fire oil?’
He uncorked one, and a thick oil scent wafted out.
Now Do Geom could piece it together. The warriors led by the green-robed man had been on some mission when they ran into Qin Kingdom fighters.
‘The Qin army's main camp is nearby. So they must have been moving to burn something there…’
Do Geom took a quiet breath. Then he stripped off the top of one corpse and wrapped the green-robed man's head with it.
‘I'll head into the camp first. Since the Crown Prince has come down, I should at least show my face.’
Do Geom soon started walking toward the Zhao Kingdom army camp.
Shwaaa!
* * *
Zhao Kingdom army camp.
Crown Prince Jo Gwang, Commander Gwak Beom, and Woo Mun-sul had gathered.
Gwak Beom reported the operation's failure with a heavy expression. Once finished, Jo Gwang asked,
“I heard your father holds many of you dear. Were any of them deployed in this operation?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And yet you took near-total losses? Doesn't that mean there are more Qin experts you failed to detect? I specifically warned you to watch for variables and commit fully to intelligence. We'll address your responsibility later, so bear that in mind.”
“……Yes, Your Highness.”
Jo Gwang nodded silently and lifted his teacup to his lips.
That was when a general entered.
“Your Highness, the Qin Crown Prince has joined their army camp!”
Gwak Beom asked,
“Is this confirmed?”
“Yes. The scouts verified it.”
Gwak Beom turned to Jo Gwang and continued,
“It seems the Qin side is fully committed too. They sent their Crown Prince the moment you arrived.”
“In an unfavorable situation, for Qin's Crown Prince to come here personally means they have something reliable. Find out what it is, and fast.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Thud!
Jo Gwang set down his teacup and stood.
Woo Mun-sul rose with him and asked,
“Shall we rest?”
“I need to inspect the camp.”
“Then allow me to accompany you.”
As Jo Gwang moved to step outside, another general rushed in. He bowed to Jo Gwang and spoke in a raised voice.
“The Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince Yi Hwan was at the clash site!”
“……!”
“Even Vanguard Leader Mo fell to him!”
Jo Gwang turned to Gwak Beom.
“Who is this Vanguard Leader Mo?”
“He was in charge of this operation.”
Jo Gwang's face hardened.
“So the rumors of Yeon's Great Prince being an immense expert were true after all. To think he even killed one of your father's prized masters. And his presence in the Qin camp means Yeon Kingdom has intervened in this war…”
Narrowing his brows and calming his gaze, Jo Gwang said to Gwak Beom,
“Summon Yi Tae-ji. I need to meet him.”
“Understood.”
Jo Gwang headed straight out, with Woo Mun-sul at his side. Gwak Beom went to his own tent.
Gwak Beom's mind was in turmoil.
What scheme was Qin's Crown Prince Yang Mu preparing, and now Yi Hwan's unexpected appearance on top of that.
Their very arrivals might already be variables at play.
‘Losing so many experts hurts more than the failed operation. I hope among the warriors who came with His Highness, there are some who can replace them.’
Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, Gwak Beom suddenly halted. He had spotted someone approaching from afar.
Gwak Beom's eyes widened enormously.
The approaching figure was none other than the Yellow Robe Man, and Gwak Beom had clearly received reports that he died in the clash. He should have been overjoyed at his survival, but instead, anger surged within him.
“What the hell happened out there, Ak Kun-hwa!”
The Yellow Robe Man, Ak Kun-hwa, stopped before Gwak Beom.
“Are you displeased that I came back alive?”
“What?”
“Otherwise, why snap at me first thing?”
“What insolence is this! Have some proper decorum!”
The deputy general bellowed at Ak Kun-hwa.
Gwak Beom restrained the deputy and said,
“I'll hear the details later, so go rest. Remember, with His Highness here, no drinking.”
Ak Kun-hwa didn't even reply and headed to his tent. The deputy's face flushed red with rage.
Gwak Beom restrained him again.
“He must be heartbroken over losing his comrades, so let him be. I should have considered his feelings too, but I lost my temper instead.”
“But…”
“Enough. Let's go.”
* * *
Entering his tent, Ak Kun-hwa flopped onto the bed. In that moment, the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Clothes peeked out from his torn garments.
Renowned as tougher than any iron armor, the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Clothes were torn in places, exposing bare skin. Proof of just how devastating Ban Go and Yi Hwan's attacks had been.
Ak Kun-hwa's eyes, fixed on the ceiling, began to flicker with rising fury.
‘Ban Go, you son of a bitch…’
His rage was directed solely at Ban Go.
Though Yi Hwan had beheaded the green-robed man, none of it would have happened if Ban Go hadn't suddenly gone berserk.
At that time, the Qin warriors had dropped their suspicions. Without Ban Go, they never would have clashed with the Qin fighters.
What enraged him more was that the bastard who led his comrades to death had surrendered to the enemy to save his own neck.
‘I’ll kill that son of a bitch with my own hands.’
Just then, light flooded into the tent.
Ak Kun-hwa, lying down and merely lifting his head, saw his expression change in an instant. The one entering was Do Geom.
“You're alive.”
Do Geom crossed his legs and sat in a chair.
Ak Kun-hwa sat up on the bed as well. Then he spotted the bundle in Do Geom's hand and furrowed his brow.
“What's that?”
“Vanguard Leader Mo's head.”
“What?”
“Shouldn't you have taken care of it? He treated you like a little brother, after all.”
“Why the fuck did you bring that, you crazy bastard! How's he supposed to cross to the afterlife without his head!”
“Still the same. Believing in that weird superstition.”
“Shut your mouth, you bastard!”
Do Geom slowly rose, staring into Ak Kun-hwa's reddening eyes.
“We'll talk later. Get some rest. I've got a ton of questions for you.”
With that, Do Geom left the tent. Ak Kun-hwa glared murderously at his back before flopping onto the bed again.
“Fucking hell with those bastards…”
Do Geom and Ban Go had always been the comrades Ak Kun-hwa hated most. After this mess, their relationship could only sour further.
Ban Go especially stirred an uncontrollable killing intent the more he thought about him.
‘Son of a bitch…’
Then Do Geom's voice drifted in.
“I regret Vanguard Leader Mo's death.”
“Get out!”
Finger winds shot from Ak Kun-hwa's fingertips, punching five holes in the tent.
* * *
Do Geom easily blocked the five streams of energy bursting through the tent. He peered at Ak Kun-hwa through the holes and gave a wry smile.
‘Same as before. It'll be hard to work together from now on.’
Do Geom walked toward the center of the camp.
He had just learned all the details of the failed operation, including Yi Hwan's appearance.
But he didn't know about Ban Go's surrender. Only Ak Kun-hwa knew, and he hadn't told anyone yet.
Only he knew why.
Whoosh!
The wind brushed Do Geom's face.
Do Geom swept back the hair tickling his face and gazed at the tent ahead. It was Crown Prince Jo Gwang's.
‘Why did the Crown Prince come down? Does the lord see this war as heading to all-out conflict?’
If he hadn't known, ignorance would be fine. But now that he did, he had to pay respects.
Yet Do Geom hesitated. He hated facing Woo Mun-sul more than Jo Gwang.
Woo Mun-sul was the one overseeing them in Lord Jo Yun's stead. Do Geom knew exactly what kind of man he was.
Do Geom stood there unmoving for a long while. In the end, he decided to just leave.
‘The orders my lord gave me anyway…’
Do Geom turned and departed the camp.
* * *
Qin Kingdom army's Commander-in-Chief Grand General Won Gaese.
After meeting Crown Prince Yang Mu moments ago and returning to his tent, a general reported to him.
“Great Prince Yi Hwan has sent the captured enemy straight to Yeon Kingdom.”
“There was a captive?”
“Yes. It turns out the one who tormented our forces so much surrendered to Yi Hwan, who immediately sent him to Yeon Kingdom.”
“You mean the bastard who wielded blood light?”
“Yes, Grand General.”
Bang!
Won Gaese slammed the table.
“Why did he ship that bastard to Yeon Kingdom on his own whim! He should have brought him to me! How many of our warriors fell to him!”
“…….”
“No, wait. I heard Baek Yeon was with him! And Baek Yeon just stood by?”
Won Gaese's face flushed red with fury.
The general cautiously continued,
“However, even after achieving his purpose here, Yi Hwan didn't return to Yeon Kingdom but stayed at the forward camp.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes. I just confirmed it. With Your Highness arrived, won't he visit the camp to pay respects? That would be the time to formally protest.”
“How badly was Yi Seong-ji injured?”
“Quite severely; he's under treatment. We'll summon him once he's recovered somewhat.”
“His Highness regards him specially. Send military physicians at once to aid his recovery. And tell Baek Yeon to come see me immediately!”
“Yes, Grand General!”
The general called out lowly toward the entrance.
“Hurry and carry out the Grand General's orders!”
“Yes!”
Won Gaese sank deep into his chair, narrowing his brows.
“Why would that ferocious bastard surrender? Wasn't he fighting Yi Seong-ji? If so, he should have surrendered to him.”
“I find that odd too. According to the warriors present, he and Yi Seong-ji fought fiercely for a long time, but Yi Hwan stepped in at the last moment, and that's how it happened.”
“Hmm…”
Won Gaese interlaced his fingers, his gaze steadying.
In a corner of his mind, suspicion toward Yi Hwan began to sprout.