Chapter 353
Chapter 353
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 353
Chapter Title: Battle Against the Enemy Armies (1)
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It was a night with the full moon hanging in the sky.
In the dim alleyway, there were men watching the Golden Army headquarters from a distance. They were dressed in ordinary clothes, but their eyes occasionally gleamed with razor sharpness.
“That’s the Golden Army headquarters.”
“Are you sure Cha Ryong is imprisoned there?”
“Yes. No doubt about it.”
A man with an unusually small head narrowed his brow and muttered.
“It’ll take ages to find a way inside. No gaps anywhere.”
“Who’d dare infiltrate the Golden Army headquarters? The Golden Army soldiers are probably thinking the same, so we might slip in easier than expected.”
“You’ve got a point. But no rushing. One failure means no second chance. We need the surest, most perfect method.”
“Of course.”
“That’s it for today. Back to the inn.”
“Yes.”
On the way back, someone spoke up.
“I heard Ban Go was also escorted to the Yeon Kingdom. Could he be in there too?”
“Ignore unconfirmed info. If he is, we’ll take him out together.”
“Understood.”
Meow.
A cat appeared on the rooftop above their heads. By the time another one showed up, the shadowy figures had already vanished.
* * *
Creak.
The prison door opened, and Yi Hwan stepped inside.
Cha Ryong and Ban Go, who had been lying down, sat up.
It was the first time seeing Yi Hwan since their capture, and Cha Ryong’s gaze felt endlessly heavy. Ban Go, on the other hand, wore a stoic expression.
“You must’ve already heard the order to execute you.”
“From this guy.”
“Must be complicated feelings.”
“You here to coax me with that as an excuse?”
“I’d love if you took the bait, but you don’t seem the type, so I’ll wait and see.”
“Don’t hold your breath. Even if your lord orders my death, I’ve got no intention of switching sides.”
Yi Hwan smiled faintly and turned to Yang Chan. Yang Chan held out a tiny glass vial.
Yi Hwan shook the vial and continued.
“Was planning to use this on you.”
“…….”
“One drop clouds the mind. Two drops, and you spill everything, will or no will. It’s a kind of truth serum. If your friend here had been caught just a bit later, you’d have spilled every secret you know by now, Cha Ryong.”
Tremble...
Cha Ryong’s eyes quivered faintly.
Ban Go shouted.
“You promised! You’d spare Cha Ryong!”
“That depends on what your friend does. So convince him if you want him alive.”
“……!”
“Hope I don’t have to use it.”
With that, Yi Hwan left the prison first.
Yang Chan, left behind, stared at the two for a moment before speaking.
“Time to move quarters. On your feet.”
“You promised to keep us together!”
“Said we’re moving quarters. Who said anything about separating you?”
“…….”
“Great Prince is showing special consideration, so be grateful. Drop any ideas about coaxing or whatever.”
“Why the consideration?”
“No idea.”
“That truth serum earlier—your handiwork?”
“Naturally. Oh, something our lord forgot to mention: three drops turn you into an idiot. Four, and your insides melt away slowly in agony. Think carefully.”
Cha Ryong, now knowing Yang Chan’s words weren’t bluff, trembled in his eyes.
* * *
Cha Ryong and Ban Go’s eyes went wide.
The place Yang Chan led them to wasn’t the prison, but a corner room in one of the headquarters’ halls. Two beds, and out the door was a courtyard space for washing.
Of course, a wall they couldn’t possibly scale—inner energy sealed—surrounded the entire hall.
“Wash up first and change clothes.”
Cha Ryong stared at the neatly laid-out clothes on the bed. Below were two pairs of new leather shoes.
Yang Chan said something unexpected.
“Seems like it’s because of that kid.”
“What?”
“Our lord seems to pity him for some reason. Even I can see it a bit.”
Cha Ryong glanced at Ban Go. Ban Go was already stripping and heading to the back yard.
“One heads-up: our lord isn’t some softie. When needed, he’ll pry your mouth open in ways crueler than you imagine. Don’t count on this waiting and consideration lasting forever.”
With that, Yang Chan left.
Cha Ryong watched Ban Go washing with a complicated gaze. Then he let out an incredulous chuckle.
The carefree washing looked nothing like a captive dragged in.
I just need to be with you. Don’t need anything else.
Tremble...
Cha Ryong’s eyes shook again.
‘Did you get captured on purpose for me?’
“Hurry up. You reek like hell!”
“Whew...”
Cha Ryong sighed and stripped.
“Bring your clothes too. Leave ’em in the room, they’ll stink it up. Toss ’em here.”
“…….”
* * *
Their first meal after the move was shockingly lavish.
A whole boiled chicken, roasted pork crispy and golden, a bottle of liquor, and assorted stir-fries.
“Oh, looks delicious!”
“Why’re you so excited?”
“Why? I get to live with you now.”
“You want me to betray?”
“They betrayed first. Ordered your death just ’cause you got caught on a mission. Bastards. After all we’ve done.”
“So you promised to spill everything?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell ’em all I know. That’s why they wanna kill you. You don’t think I’m doing this to save my own skin, do you?”
Of course not. Ban Go wasn’t the type to fear death.
That made it all the more frustrating.
Cha Ryong let out a deep sigh and picked up his chopsticks.
“Let’s just eat.”
“Pour you some liquor?”
“Yeah.”
Glug glug.
“Eat lots of meat. You haven’t had a proper meal in ages.”
Cha Ryong stared at Ban Go, who tore off a chicken leg and offered it, then asked.
“Why’re you so fond of me?”
“’Cause you’re my one and only friend.”
“That’s it?”
“Need more reasons?”
“…….”
“You’re not thinking weird stuff, right? Like me liking guys or whatever.”
“Shut it.”
“You’re flustered? Hehehe.”
Smack!
Ban Go finally got bopped on the head. Still, he laughed innocently like a boy.
Seeing that, Cha Ryong’s chest tightened more.
‘Can I really abandon this guy?’
Though he’d never shown it outright, Cha Ryong saw Ban Go as a brother.
‘Damn it...’
* * *
Enemy armies.
With both sides losing half their grain supplies, the battlefield atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Qin Kingdom had the shorter supply line advantage, but for at least five days, they were evenly matched.
Thus, Jo Gwang made his decision. Launch a full assault before supplies dwindled further.
* * *
“Don’t fall back!”
“Hold your ground! Lose here, and the main camp’s in danger!”
Clang!
Crack!
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
Qin Kingdom troops resisted desperately against Zhao Kingdom’s relentless offensive.
The near-surprise total attack caught everyone in Qin off guard. The tide was turning toward Zhao.
Qin had spread defenses across multiple fronts, but Zhao concentrated on one spot, putting their lines on the brink of collapse.
Zhao warriors rampaged at the vanguard. With Baek Woo-kyeong and key experts elsewhere, no one could handle the Blood Demon’s followers.
“You worthless shits!”
Thud!
“Gah!”
“Crush them all!”
“Argh!”
“Urk!”
The fiercest there was Dong Ja-ryang. Having already slain two generals, he charged at a third.
Qin warriors guarding the general fell bloodied to the Blood Demon followers tailing Dong Ja-ryang.
Dong Ja-ryang wiped blood from his face and grinned demonically.
“Heh heh heh. Too easy. No fun fighting.”
Then a Zhao general bellowed.
“Don’t hesitate—keep pushing!”
Twitch.
“If it weren’t for us, he couldn’t do shit...”
But he had to obey. Past screw-ups meant one more could reach Jo Yun’s ears.
Sizzle!
“Outta my way, you dogs!”
Thump!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
* * *
Yi Tae-ji and Do Geom fought together on the western flank.
Like they were competing?
They unleashed wave after wave to breach the enemy line before the central front where Dong Ja-ryang was.
Whoosh!
“Argh!”
“Gurgh!”
Yi Tae-ji’s sword ignited flames, sending two Qin warriors flying in sprays of blood.
A Qin warrior lunging at him lost his head to Do Geom.
Thud!
“Gack!”
Roooar!
Zhao troops behind roared and charged.
Numbers concentrated on Dong Ja-ryang’s central front, but individual skill here was superior, so it looked like they’d punch through soon.
“Don’t overexert. Qin experts could show anytime. Stay ready for surprises.”
Do Geom’s words got a grin from Yi Tae-ji in reply.
Drenched in blood, killing all in sight, he looked like a yaksha fresh from hell’s gates.
A pent-up grudge that no effort could erase. He was venting it here.
Flash!
A streak of light flew at Yi Tae-ji’s solar plexus.
Dangerous, no matter who saw.
But Yi Tae-ji twisted his torso slightly, shot out his left hand, and gripped the foe’s throat.
Crunch!
“Kill me? Heh heh heh.”
Crunch!
“Grrrr...”
Snapping the neck mercilessly, Yi Tae-ji swung his sword and charged again.
Do Geom followed, shaking his head. To him, Yi Tae-ji seemed a madman craving only blood and death.
Like Ban Go turned blood angel.
‘He’s venting the rage in his heart. Should stop him, but...’
Do Geom caught his breath and scanned the field.
Central allies where Dong Ja-ryang was had breached first and advanced south.
Just then, Dong Ja-ryang’s rampage caught Do Geom’s eye at the vanguard.
‘Just die there, Dong Ja-ryang.’
That was when.
Roooar!
A thunderous cheer erupted from the east.
“Reinforcements!”
“White-Clothed Sword God’s coming!”
Boom crack!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Do Geom kicked off the ground and leaped high. Looking east, he saw Qin troops hitting their flank.
Baek Woo-kyeong was there.
‘White-Clothed Sword God...’