Chapter 351
Chapter 351
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 351
Chapter Title: Collecting Interest First
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Roar…!
"A fire in the supply depot!"
"Fire! Hurry and fetch water!"
A massive blaze erupted at the rear of the Qin Kingdom's camp. Warriors rushed out from all directions, but the flames had already grown beyond control.
Boom!
The fire engulfed two supply depots and was spreading to a third.
The general in charge of security paled in shock.
"How the hell did they sneak in here?!"
Despite setting up an ironclad perimeter against Zhao Kingdom infiltrators, they hadn't even detected when or how the fire started.
The only silver lining was that there was no wind, and the other depots were far enough away to avoid further damage.
Splash!
Whoosh!
Dousing it with water only made the flames surge fiercer.
The warriors, unable to withstand the heat, retreated in haste, but some caught fire themselves, turning the area into a hellscape.
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
Splash!
Whirl!
Yang Mu, Yang I-cheon, and Commander Won Gae-se landed beside the general.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"...It seems like the Zhao bastards' doing. My apologies. We had an ironclad watch set up against them, but we didn't sense a thing."
"Incompetent fool!"
Shing!
Yang Mu drew his sword.
The general's head flew clean off.
Thud!
The surrounding officers and warriors recoiled in horror.
Yang Mu's eyes, reflecting the flames, burned red. It hadn't even been long since he'd celebrated turning the Zhao army's supplies to ash, and now this.
Won Gae-se consoled him with a somber expression.
"Calm yourself, Your Highness. Fortunately, there's no wind, so the damage shouldn't spread further."
Tremble...
Yang Mu's eyes quivered with rage.
He'd anticipated some move from the Zhao forces, but not this quickly. The same went for Won Gae-se and nearly all the other generals.
This was the southernmost part of the camp, no less.
"That bastard Jo Gwang-mu..."
Thud!
Unable to contain his fury, Yang Mu stabbed his sword into the ground and turned away. Yang I-cheon hastily retrieved the blade and followed. Won Gae-se shouted to the officers around.
"Wind could pick up anytime—make sure the flames don't spread sideways!"
"Yes, Commander!"
* * *
From afar, the Qin camp looked like a massive blooming flower.
Yi Hwan stared at the soaring flames lighting up the darkness and murmured softly.
"This is just the interest, Yang Mu."
Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun exchanged glances and grinned.
Yi Hwan had set the blaze himself—a retaliation against Yang Mu's inaction, even after the White-Clothed Sword God brothers warned him of traitors colluding with the Zhao army.
"Make sure to collect the principal later, too."
"Of course."
"Either way, this evens the score between them."
"Not quite. Zhao's supply lines are longer than Qin's, so they'll recover in days. The blow hits Zhao harder."
"Hmm. True enough."
Park Ji-mun asked.
"They won't suspect us, will they?"
"They'll suspect Zhao first. Even if they do eye us, what can they do?"
Heh.
"You're right. Heh heh heh."
"Let's head back."
"Yes, sir!"
* * *
Zhao warriors heading south through the darkness halted upon spotting the brilliant glow.
"Looks like a fire in the Qin camp."
"That's their supply depot area. Yeah, definitely the supplies."
A man in yellow robes checked the map and widened his eyes.
Dong Ja-ryang narrowed his brows at the flames.
"What the hell? No way that damn old fart started it..."
"Impossible timing-wise. We moved at the same time."
"Then who the hell did it?"
As everyone puzzled over it, Do Geom spoke.
"Whatever happened, no need to proceed. Best to withdraw—they'll assume it's us and start searching soon."
Yi Tae-ji was already turning back.
Dong Ja-ryang followed Do Geom's advice this time without protest.
"Withdraw."
He took a gourd of liquor from a subordinate and gulped it down.
Gulp gulp!
"Whoever it was, they handed us victory without lifting a finger. Heh heh heh."
Dong Ja-ryang drained the rest in one go, staring coldly at Yi Tae-ji's retreating back.
'Got a problem with me? What can you do about it? Heh heh heh.'
[The kid's arrogance is out of line. He didn't even wait for retreat orders before turning tail.]
His aide's words deepened Dong Ja-ryang's smile.
[Let him be. I'll make him regret it to his bones soon enough.]
Meanwhile, Woo Mun-sul's group, moving in another direction, spotted the burning Qin supplies, puzzled over it, and turned back as well.
* * *
"What? By the time you got there, it was already ablaze?"
"Yes. Half was engulfed, and so many enemies swarmed to put it out that we couldn't touch the rest."
Woo Mun-sul furrowed his brow deeply at Dong Ja-ryang's report.
Dong Ja-ryang asked.
"Were there other units moving separately from us?"
"You idiot, why would I look like this if there were?"
"..."
Woo Mun-sul's gaze darkened as he muttered.
"Not ours, that's for sure. No one moves on an op like that without the Commander's say-so. So who burned the Qin supplies?"
"Maybe internal trouble in Qin? Can't explain it otherwise."
"Could be."
Woo Mun-sul stood.
Dong Ja-ryang rose with him.
"You should report to His Highness. Rest up."
"Yi Tae-ji's arrogance is getting worse. He stands out more after this merit—gonna let it slide?"
"Now he's the problem?"
"Pardon?"
"When will you learn to get along with your comrades? Tsk tsk tsk."
Woo Mun-sul clicked his tongue and walked off haughtily.
Dong Ja-ryang's eyes sharpened as he watched.
'Get along with the grunts under me? Please.'
Whirl!
He swirled his robe and headed to his tent. His scowl deepened at the sight of Yi Tae-ji sipping tea out front.
Yi Tae-ji glanced over. Their eyes met briefly before Yi Tae-ji looked away.
Twitch.
'That punk.'
Then Do Geom approached Yi Tae-ji, catching Dong Ja-ryang's eye.
'Since when are those two so chummy?'
Pat pat.
An aide ran up.
"Hurry, sir. The drinks are ready."
"Keep a close eye on those two from now on. Report anything suspicious immediately."
"Why them...?"
"Do it. No backtalk."
"...Understood."
* * *
Yeon Kingdom Golden Army headquarters.
Cha Ryong shuffled to the sunlight filtering through the bars and flopped down.
An empty bowl sat by the door—spotless, mirroring his own hollow heart.
Cha Ryong knew it himself. His will was weakening. Like that bowl, his once iron resolve was emptying out.
Step step.
Footsteps echoed.
Cha Ryong stared at the bars from the floor.
Soon, the most familiar face appeared beyond them: Yang Chan.
"Today?"
"What do you mean?"
"The day the torture starts."
Yang Chan smirked.
"No torture makes you more anxious, huh."
"Can't deny it. At least torture would give me something to endure."
His tone carried resignation.
Step step!
Different footsteps approached.
"A friend who's been pining for you is here."
"...What?"
Cha Ryong jumped up and approached the bars. He spotted someone behind Yang Chan and his eyes bulged.
"...Ban Go!"
"Cha Ryong!"
It was Ban Go.
Cha Ryong stared at the rushing Ban Go, his spirit crumbling. For him, this snuffed out the last flicker of hope.
Clang!
Ban Go gripped the bars, voice trembling.
"Good. You're alive."
"You idiot. If you ran, you should've stayed free!"
"It's... a long story."
Ban Go snapped at Yang Chan.
"Open the door!"
Yang Chan unlocked it. Ban Go bounded in like a child and hugged Cha Ryong. Cha Ryong let his arms hang limp and squeezed his eyes shut.
Yang Chan watched briefly, then locked the door and left the dungeon.
* * *
'He ordered them to kill me?'
Clench!
Cha Ryong's face hardened like stone as Ban Go spoke.
When he reached the part about Jo Yun ordering his death, Cha Ryong bit his lip until it bled, trembling all over.
"By now, the order's probably out for me too. They might even be nearby, waiting for a chance."
Clench.
Drip drip!
Blood trickled from his bitten lip.
"Stop. You're bleeding!"
"Damn it."
Thud!
Cha Ryong flopped back down, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Ban Go lay beside him.
They lay in silence for a long while. The void of despair stretched on.
Cha Ryong broke it first.
"So you got yourself captured on purpose for me?"
"Not on purpose. No choice anyway."
"You should've fought to the end, even if it killed you."
"Why? I explained, but the lord still ordered your death. I won't fight for a man like that anymore."
"What'd he say?"
"Him? The Great Prince?"
"Yeah."
"Just said we'd talk when I got back. No time for more then. But Cha Ryong."
"What."
Ban Go propped up on an elbow.
"Why do I freeze up around him? One look in his eyes, and I can't breathe, strength drains away. That's why I ran when you got caught."
"...!"
Cha Ryong sat up.
"Twice now?"
"Yeah. Or we'd have settled it here. Oh! And he knew about the Blood Heaven Society! What's that guy's deal?"
Cha Ryong's grave expression faded as he flopped back down.
'Doubts, questions—all pointless now...'
Then.
Step step.
Soft footsteps, then Yang Chan's voice drifted in.
"Can't reminisce without this."
Creak.
The door opened, and a tray was set down: two bottles of liquor, two plates of appetizing food.
Thud!
The door shut, and Yang Chan was gone.