Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 348
Chapter Title: The Chase Comes to an End
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Yi Hwan had given Hwe Poin a full incense stick's worth of time. He stared at Dong Ja-ryang, who sat far off in the distance, and slowly shook his head.
“What a waste... losing more than half our forces like that.”
A flicker of anger glinted in his narrow eyes.
One of his aides spoke up.
“We’ve confirmed it. Cheong Eung Ma-do moved without any proper strategy, which clearly increased our casualties. No matter how favored he is by the lord, we can’t just let this slide without repercussions.”
“Once this is over, I’ll investigate the fool myself. Even if the lord favors him as you say, this time I absolutely won’t let it pass.”
“A wise decision, sir.”
Just then, a blood-robed warrior came rushing up.
“Qin forces are descending from the east!”
“What?”
“By their movements, they all seem to be martial artists—over two hundred of them!”
“...!”
Hwe Poin shot toward the east. He soon spotted the Qin warriors charging like a gale and his eyes trembled.
It was because he recognized Baek Woo-kyeong, the White-Clothed Sword God, leading the charge at the front. And right beside him was Baek Yeon, a master no less formidable.
“It’s Baek Woo-kyeong!”
“Baek Yeon’s there too!”
The Zhao warriors, noticing late, erupted in commotion.
“If even those on the hill join in, we’re at a disadvantage!”
Hwe Poin’s aides were already viewing the situation pessimistically.
Now the decision rested with Hwe Poin.
Fight or retreat as is.
His choice came swiftly.
“Retreat.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hwe Poin’s aides raced toward the warriors gathered before the hill to relay the retreat order.
One aide who remained at his side spoke.
“If word spreads that we retreated even with Yeon’s main army right in front of us, it could cause major problems. Are you sure about this?”
“The lives of these warriors here are more precious than Yi Hwan’s head! I’ll take responsibility, so hurry and prepare the retreat.”
“Understood.”
Hwe Poin turned his gaze to the hill.
Just then, Yi Hwan had stepped forward to the edge of the hill and was looking their way.
A twitch.
Hwe Poin’s eye spasmed faintly.
‘Dong Ja-ryang, that idiot ruined the perfect opportunity.’
Whoosh!
Suddenly, fury surged through Hwe Poin.
With a single punch, a boulder the size of a grown man crumpled in two.
Boom!
Crash!
* * *
“The elder has ordered a retreat!”
As the retreat command spread, the Zhao warriors gathered below the hill began pulling back all at once.
Do Geom showed no particular reaction.
But Yi Tae-ji glared fiercely at Dong Ja-ryang, who sat far off in the distance.
‘That crazy bastard...’
His feet wouldn’t move to leave Yi Hwan behind. If this chance slipped away, there was no telling when he’d get another shot at him.
Yi Tae-ji suppressed his boiling rage and stared up at the hill. Then his eyes locked with Yi Hwan’s, who happened to be looking down.
A grin.
Yi Tae-ji forced a smile through his anger.
The smile carried volumes, surely reaching Yi Hwan clear as day.
Do Geom approached.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
Dong Ja-ryang, humiliated in front of everyone. An aide came up to him.
“Baek Woo-kyeong is leading warriors down. We must leave this place before it’s too late.”
Dong Ja-ryang silently gazed down at Cheong Eung. Cheong Eung, no different from his own son, lay there cold and dead.
“My lord.”
At the aide’s urging, Dong Ja-ryang finally scooped up Cheong Eung’s body and rose. The other warriors were already retreating; only his direct subordinates remained by his side.
Dong Ja-ryang looked up at the hill.
Yi Hwan stared down as if mocking him. At least that’s how it appeared in Dong Ja-ryang’s eyes.
“What are you dawdling for! Move, now!”
Hwe Poin’s rage-filled shout pierced Dong Ja-ryang’s ears.
Dong Ja-ryang turned to Hwe Poin.
A twitch.
His eye spasmed.
‘Damn old fart. I’ll kill you someday.’
In that moment, Hwe Poin had become Dong Ja-ryang’s top target—more than even Yi Hwan.
“We’re turning back.”
“Yes!”
* * *
“Great Prince!”
Baek Woo-kyeong and Baek Yeon stepped forward before Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan greeted them calmly.
“You came at the signal flare?”
“We were already moving to find you when we spotted our army’s flare and rushed straight here.”
“You were searching for me before that?”
“Yes. It was just that...”
Baek Woo-kyeong explained the background of why he’d set out to find Yi Hwan. Listening, Yi Hwan found himself rethinking what he knew about the man.
Once finished, Baek Woo-kyeong bowed his head deeply.
“All I can say is... I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, so no need to apologize. First, tend to the wounded, then let’s head back.”
“Understood. Hurry and tend to the wounded!”
“Yes!”
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to Gong Ya-un, who had arrived late.
Gong Ya-un bowed toward him.
“It’s a relief you’re safe, Great Prince.”
“The Third Prince sent you?”
“Yes. He said no matter what, we had to rescue you.”
“...”
A strange feeling washed over him. That Yi Seong-ji had sent Gong Ya-un—practically his shadow—to such a dangerous place just to save him.
Yi Hwan looked back at the Qin warriors he’d fought alongside.
They were all drunk on the relief of survival. Some, tension finally broken, collapsed where they stood, gasping ragged breaths.
Baek Yeon approached after speaking with the middle-aged man.
“Thank you for protecting them, Great Prince. And I apologize for leaving your side without realizing the plan was flawed from the start.”
“I understand you were just following orders, so don’t take it to heart. By the way, I heard Qin forces suffered a major defeat—is that true?”
“Pardon? What do you...”
“The one leading the Zhao warriors told me. Said the Qin army was routed badly.”
“It seems the Great Prince was deceived by him. Our goal was to burn their supplies. We moved troops to draw the Zhao army’s attention, but we never intended to engage in battle.”
Yi Hwan nodded.
He hadn’t fully trusted Hwe Poin’s words from the start. If the Qin army had planned an offensive, they wouldn’t have sent him—a precious asset in short supply—off on a wild goose chase.
“Was the operation a success?”
“We managed to burn about half their supply depot. With the Zhao army’s supply lines stretched so thin, they won’t last even half a month like this.”
Yi Hwan started to mention how someone had leaked their movements to the Zhao forces but closed his mouth.
The Qin warriors present had witnessed it all anyway; no need for him to step forward—it would spread regardless.
‘The leaker could even be Crown Prince Yang Mu. Without solid proof on who it is, I shouldn’t speak out first.’
Whoooosh!
The wind began picking up fiercely. Dark clouds blanketed the sky. Deep in the mountains, weather was unpredictable—they needed to hurry back.
Moments later, Baek Woo-kyeong returned.
“A big rain’s coming soon. Let’s head back quickly, Great Prince.”
“Indeed.”
Yi Hwan descended the hill first.
Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun flanked him, while the warriors who’d fought with him followed close, as if refusing to let him out of sight even for a moment.
Park Ji-mun smirked at the sight.
“What if they follow us all the way to Yeon?”
“Then we take them along.”
“You’d really do that?”
“Enough nonsense.”
A grin.
The deadly pursuit, tangled in fate and terror, thus drew to a close.
* * *
Chaos erupted in the Zhao command headquarters. They’d received word that most of their supplies had turned to ash.
Crown Prince Jo Gwang’s face hardened like stone—rare for him to show emotion.
“Handing over Yi Hwan’s intel was the enemy’s deception from the start?”
“It’s true he was moving separately from the Qin main force.”
“And did you eliminate him?”
“We’re awaiting word, Your Highness.”
Jo Gwang’s eyes chilled with frost. The generals swallowed dryly at the unfamiliar icy aura.
Wu Mun-sul cautiously spoke.
“The enemy infiltrated because our elite warriors rushed west to capture Yi Hwan. If we failed to take even him, for the sake of military discipline, you must punish Commander Gwak Beom.”
Commander Gwak Beom wasn’t present. He’d led his forces out upon reports of Qin troops moving east and hadn’t returned.
Jo Gwang fixed Wu Mun-sul with a stare.
“I authorized the commander’s deployment. The responsibility falls on me, not him.”
“Your Highness, how can you say...!”
“And you military advisors aren’t blameless either, so watch your words.”
“...”
Wu Mun-sul fell silent.
The generals were deeply moved by Jo Gwang’s words. Some even teared up.
Had it been Jo Yun, not only Commander Gwak Beom but several generals would’ve been done for—that much was certain to all.
Jo Gwang continued to the generals.
“Return to your posts.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
All withdrew, leaving only Wu Mun-sul.
Jo Gwang asked.
“How long until new supply lines are in place?”
“Even at top speed, at least ten days.”
“Cut rations to two meals a day—we can hold twenty. That leaves five days as the problem...”
“One meal a day would suffice.”
“Out of the question. That would crush morale and leave the warriors unable to fight properly.”
“But are there other options?”
“We’ll find a way. Somehow.”
Thud!
“Have a drink. Something strong.”
“I’ll bring the table.”
Even Wu Mun-sul left, leaving Jo Gwang alone. He tilted his head back, closing his eyes.
Motionless for a moment, he soon straightened and calmed his gaze.
“No operation this bold since Won Gae-sega arrived. Was all this Yang Mu’s scheme?”
Sizzle.
Heat suddenly rose through his body? Jo Gwang gulped cold water.
Thud!
Then Wu Mun-sul returned—the one he’d sent to fetch the drinks. But his face was endlessly grim and mournful.
“What is it?”
“Well... we failed to eliminate Great Prince Yi Hwan. I just confirmed it with a warrior who returned ahead.”
Tremble...
Jo Gwang’s steely gaze quivered faintly. Smoke then rose from the chair arm he gripped.