Chapter 389
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 389
Chapter Title: Truce
Crack!
Not a single fingertip had moved, yet the wine cup shattered.
Qin’s finest liquor, and even the insects buzzing around, all froze solid.
“I could kill you right here.”
“You could be the one who dies.”
Crack!
Even the wine bottle shattered into pieces.
But neither Yi Hwan nor Jo Yun so much as blinked.
Yi Hwan saw the bloodlight rising from the depths of Jo Yun’s pupils.
He paid it no mind. If Jo Yun wanted to fight, he had no intention of dodging, and he had come here fully prepared for that possibility.
Yi Hwan responded calmly.
“If you wish to sever the fateful chain that has bound us for two hundred years right here, I will gladly oblige.”
“Do you think you can handle me?”
“If you think so, then why waste words on empty bluster? We could just start right now.”
Twitch.
Jo Yun’s eyebrow curved like a blade. But that was as far as it went.
‘This bastard…’
Yi Hwan’s calm demeanor gnawed at him.
It wasn’t bravado. He wouldn’t have come alone if it were.
“Don’t put too much faith in what happened two hundred years ago, you whelp.”
“That’s what I should say.”
“What?”
“I have no intention of committing the folly of reviving a troublesome enemy.”
It was an enigmatic statement.
But Jo Yun, unaware that Yi Hwan had reincarnated, could not grasp its meaning. He simply took it as a declaration of intent to kill him.
‘If I kill him here, it will ignite all-out war immediately.’
Zhao was not yet ready for that. So Jo Yun forcibly suppressed his surging killing intent.
As the bloodlight faded from Jo Yun’s pupils, Yi Hwan smiled faintly and rose.
“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave first.”
Yi Hwan lightly stepped onto the deck of the boat. Jo Yun merely glared at him coldly, without the slightest movement.
Standing on the deck, Yi Hwan looked up at Jo Yun and continued.
“I’ll say it once more: up to the Red Post. If you go beyond that, we will have no choice but to move.”
Jo Yun said nothing in response.
And so Yi Hwan departed Yeonhwa Lake, bringing their private war to a close amid the ripples on the lake’s surface.
Jo Yun stared at Yi Hwan’s receding back, his eyes flashing. He could submerge Yi Hwan in Yeonhwa Lake even now if he attacked.
But something inexplicable held him back.
A fear coexisting with the enmity that had persisted for two hundred years. Its source was the Lord of Daye Fortress—the first in martial history to usher in an era of supremacy over heaven and earth.
And wasn’t Yi Hwan very likely a descendant of that very lord?
Whoosh!
A damp wind swept across Jo Yun’s face.
He raised a hand to brush back his hair. When he opened his eyes again, Yi Hwan was gone.
His eyes filled with bloodlight once more.
A belated sense of defeat washed over him. He had come intent on killing, yet he hadn’t even drawn his sword before sending him away. For him, it was no different from defeat.
At least, that was how Jo Yun felt.
* * *
Yi Hwan left Yeonhwa Lake and headed south toward Qin at a neither hurried nor leisurely pace.
Whoosh!
The wind remained fierce, and the forest, unable to withstand it, swayed wildly, producing eerie sounds like wailing ghosts.
How long had he walked?
Light rose from Yi Hwan’s body. It split into seven streams, plunging into the forest to the left.
Crunch!
At the same instant, figures burst from the underbrush, charging at him. They were cloaked head to toe in blood-red robes—the Blood Ghosts. They rushed toward Yi Hwan with suicidal abandon.
Crunch!
Dust erupted from where Yi Hwan had stood.
“……!”
As the masked eyes widened in shock, one Blood Ghost’s head was cleanly severed and sent flying.
Another Blood Ghost reflexively spun, swinging the sword in his hand.
But from the empty space, a hand shot out and seized the Blood Ghost’s wrist.
Crack!
Crunch!
“Guh….”
The wrist twisted like wet laundry, bones piercing through flesh. Then Yi Hwan materialized like a ghost.
He had known already. That they were tailing him.
“Sent by Wu Wen-shu?”
“……!”
At the very least, Jo Yun was not the type for such tactics. Not with his sky-piercing pride.
“I’ll pretend not to know, in exchange for your deaths.”
Thud!
Yi Hwan’s left hand pierced the Blood Ghost’s chest. The man died impaled on his hand.
Thump!
Yi Hwan looked down at the two Blood Ghosts for a moment. His waistband was sliced open longwise, exposing bare skin.
‘Among the assassins I’ve faced since reincarnating, these were the best.’
* * *
Yang Mu and Gwan Yeong sat facing each other with grim expressions.
As the tea cooled, Yang Mu hadn’t taken a single sip. He couldn’t relax until Yi Hwan returned.
At least in this moment, his position left him no choice but to fully support Yi Hwan.
“The tea has gone cold, Your Highness.”
“This tea is the least of my concerns.”
“Don’t worry too much. The fact that he acts with such confidence means he has that much certainty. Besides, no matter how militarily strong Zhao may be, they can’t fight a war against two nations.”
“…….”
Did those words offer some comfort? Yang Mu finally brought the teacup to his lips.
That was when a general entered.
“The Great Prince of Yeon has returned!”
* * *
Yi Hwan entered Yang Mu’s residence.
Gwan Yeong rose and yielded his seat, but Yi Hwan spoke while standing.
“Send an envoy immediately to request a truce.”
“And that will end it?”
“Probably.”
Gwan Yeong asked.
“Did you not get a firm answer?”
“Did you think Jo Yun was the type to agree to whatever I say right there?”
“…….”
“By requesting the truce first, we’re salving his pride. So hurry.”
Yang Mu asked.
“In the end, we have to cede the Red Post?”
“What choice do we have? That’s the only way. Then.”
Yi Hwan promptly left Yang Mu’s residence.
Ju Tae, waiting outside, asked.
“How did it go?”
“I didn’t get an answer, but I’m certain it will go as I wish. If he had no intention of it, he would have tried to kill me right there.”
“You just talked, without incident?”
“Yeah.”
Yi Hwan headed to his residence.
Kim Mu-gwan followed at his side and asked.
“When will you head back up?”
“I should see the results first.”
“The hardliners’ mood isn’t great here either. There was even a heated argument just now. If Crown Prince Yang Mu hadn’t stepped in, it could have turned into a fight.”
“Which side was Won Gae-se on?”
“Unexpectedly, he sided with the hardliners.”
Anyone would find it surprising. But Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
“Ceding the Red Post would make his responsibility the greatest. Naturally, he’d be anxious. So General Wi Ji-gwan must have been on the other side.”
“That was unexpected too. I thought he’d oppose it more than anyone.”
Yi Hwan shook his head.
“He has a keener sense of reality than most. He’d know that ceding the Red Post and calling a truce is the best option. And with his loyalty to the imperial family deeper than anyone’s, it’s only natural.”
“I see.”
Ju Tae spoke up.
“Then Won Gae-se might be in real trouble.”
“It all depends on the Crown Prince’s will.”
Entering his residence, Yi Hwan changed into a spare upper garment and lay down on the bed.
Jo Yun’s image flickered across the ceiling.
‘As expected, Zhao is not in perfect condition. If they were fully prepared, he would have tried to kill me.’
Yi Hwan had even prepared for a decisive battle with Jo Yun.
But Jo Yun hadn’t. No, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t.
‘Once their entire army is armed with those new weapons, I’ll make the first move.’
Jo Yun’s attitude confirmed Zhao’s imperfect state. Calling him out alone had been to verify that very point.
‘Not bad.’
* * *
Jo Yun, Wu Wen-shu, and Jo Gwang-mu gathered in one place.
There, Jo Yun conveyed his will.
“No more southward advances.”
“Your Majesty!”
Surprisingly, it was Jo Gwang-mu who cried out in shock. Jo Yun continued calmly.
“We are not yet prepared. We cannot provoke Yeon’s intervention in this situation, so Crown Prince, obey my will.”
“Did he threaten you with intervention as an excuse?”
“You brat! Do I look like someone who bends to threats? Mind your words, or I won’t forgive even you!”
“……!”
Wu Wen-shu bowed his head.
“If that is Your Majesty’s will, I shall inform the entire army.”
“We will build a new fortress here. Request manpower and supplies from the rear, and start as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
Wu Wen-shu withdrew.
Jo Yun fixed his heavy gaze on Jo Gwang-mu.
“You don’t like that we’re halting the war?”
“Countless warriors have died so far. A mere Red Post can never substitute for their sacrifices.”
Jo Yun smiled faintly at Jo Gwang-mu’s resolute attitude.
“I’ll say it again: we are not yet prepared. So now is the time to withdraw. But once this father reaches the level I desire in the future, I will gift you the world. So calm yourself and do your utmost to steady the troops.”
“…….”
Jo Gwang-mu’s lips trembled. He clearly had more to say.
But he couldn’t. No one knew better than Jo Gwang-mu that arguing further with Jo Yun would be futile.
“Build your strength. And hone your abilities in all areas. Only then can you face him.”
“You mean Yi Hwan?”
Jo Yun nodded silently and continued.
“In our one-on-one meeting, not even the flicker of his eyes faltered. Who else in this world could be like that, other than him? That’s why such a thought crossed my mind: how wonderful it would be if you were just like him….”
Depending on how one heard it, it could bruise Jo Gwang-mu’s pride. But Jo Gwang-mu was no ordinary man.
“Then grant me power. The same overwhelming power they have.”
He meant the followers of the Blood Demon.
“Very well. I shall do so.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
Jo Yun watched Jo Gwang-mu’s departing back as he left the tent, his gaze settling.
‘I trust you. That’s why I didn’t draw my sword when facing him. Because you will surely surpass him, there was no need to take risks, my son.’
* * *
Three days later.
Zhao’s envoy passed through Inhui’s gates. Qin’s envoy delegation, which had first gone to the Zhao camp, returned with them.
Zhao’s envoy sat face-to-face with Yang Mu immediately.
“First, His Imperial Majesty bids me convey his wishes for the Emperor’s swift recovery.”
“Thank you.”
“Then let us begin.”
Zhao’s envoy unrolled silk on the table. It was the truce agreement.
Yang Mu’s eyes trembled ever so slightly as he stared at it. Once he stamped it there, the Red Post would become Zhao territory.
And today would be etched in Qin history as a day of humiliation.
That was when Yi Hwan entered.
Zhao’s envoy didn’t so much as twitch from his seat. Yi Hwan sat beside Zhao’s envoy.
“We need a witness, don’t we?”
“Ahem!”
Zhao’s envoy didn’t even respond to Yi Hwan’s words.
Yang Mu glanced at Yi Hwan once, then stamped the gold seal onto the agreement.
Thud!
A collective sigh escaped from Grand Minister of Works Gwan Yeong and the attending generals.
Both sides took one copy of the agreement each. Thus, the war came to an end.
But everyone present shared the same thought: this truce was merely a temporary bandage, liable to tear at any moment.
And only one person.
Yi Hwan smiled inwardly.
It was a war he had started, and everything had gone according to his will.
“I hope there will be no breach of this treaty.”
Leaving those words, Yi Hwan departed Inhui.