Chapter 393
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 393
Chapter Title: The Arrival of Dongyeong
Jeom Soi brought liquor and dishes.
Go Mi first checked the seal on the liquor bottle.
[Drink only the liquor and don't touch the food.]
Someone who might have mastered poison techniques was tailing them. It never hurt to be cautious.
The three feigned leisure as they drank. After emptying two bottles, they stood up immediately.
[I’ll handle it in a quiet spot.]
Go Mi shook her head at Ju Tae’s words.
[No. If they don’t attack first, it’s better to just return to our quarters.]
The three crossed the market street toward the Imperial Palace. It wasn’t far, so they soon reached the north gate.
Hwa Ryeong pouted her lips.
“They’re gone?”
“With the Imperial Palace right in front of them, they couldn’t cause trouble here.”
That was when it happened.
“There were others tailing us too.”
“What?”
“When we left the inn, there were others following us besides the ones who came up to our room. They seemed unrelated.”
Hwa Ryeong furrowed her brow.
“Are both Zhao Kingdom and Qin Kingdom keeping tabs on us?”
“That seems the most likely.”
“What are they up to?”
“Let’s head in for now.”
* * *
Neung Bi, who had taken over as commander of the Golden Army after Wi Ji-gwan.
A general entered the residence of the man who had become the protagonist of a shocking appointment.
“The three went out to the market and just returned to the palace. But there were others tailing them besides us.”
Neung Bi set down the teacup he was bringing to his lips and stared at the general.
“Did you identify them?”
“They vanished the moment we tried.”
Neung Bi’s gaze darkened.
“Likely from Zhao Kingdom.”
“Or perhaps those with impure intentions.”
“What do you mean by impure intentions?”
“If something happens to Yeon Kingdom’s envoy delegation, His Majesty would be in the greatest trouble.”
“If they’re aiming for that…”
Neung Bi thought of the faction that resented Yang Mu’s ascension the most. They were those who had long been at the center of power, constantly stirring discord over Yang Mu’s qualifications even when the previous emperor was alive.
“We should keep the Second Prince in mind too.”
Neung Bi smirked at the general’s words.
“You know he’s too timid to even dream of scheming.”
“I’ve heard he’s full of resentment over not becoming commander of the Golden Army. Shouldn’t we watch him?”
“Monitor him without raising suspicions.”
“Understood.”
The general withdrew.
Neung Bi finished the remaining tea and flung open the window.
Clunk!
Not far away stood the hall housing Yeon Kingdom’s envoy delegation.
It had been assigned as their quarters because it was the finest hall, but also because it was in a position easy to monitor.
No, more precisely, it was for protecting their safety rather than mere surveillance.
There were martial artists mixed in with Zhao Kingdom’s envoy delegation. Yeon Kingdom’s delegation must absolutely not come to harm, so it was his duty to protect them.
It was Yang Mu’s command.
Neung Bi’s eyes narrowed slightly.
‘Those displeased with His Majesty’s ascension are more likely to cause an incident than Zhao Kingdom.’
The Second Prince, Yang I-cheon, suddenly came to mind.
But he soon shook his head.
‘The Second Prince lacks the guts.’
Neung Bi harbored ambitions.
To become a figure revered more than the emperor himself, like Yi Hwan, though not emperor.
* * *
Envoys usually returned home immediately after the mourning rites.
But national mourning was an exception. Due to the custom that leaving too soon was discourteous, they stayed anywhere from a month to several months.
It was a convention that had persisted since the Qin Kingdom established a new dynasty two hundred years ago, ushering in the Three Kingdoms era.
In any case.
About twenty days after Yeon Kingdom’s envoy delegation arrived in Qin Kingdom, a welcome guest visited them.
“Huh?”
“Oh!”
Everyone’s eyes widened upon spotting Cheol Mu-ok entering their quarters. Tae-seon followed behind the smiling Cheol Mu-ok.
Ju Tae asked.
“Here for the mourning rites?”
“Otherwise, there’d be no reason to come.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong greeted Tae-seon warmly.
“Please come in, Your Highness.”
“It’s been a while.”
As a sovereign nation, Northern Yeon had dispatched an official envoy delegation.
Everyone happily caught up noisily.
The drinking party broke up at dawn, and Cheol Mu-ok shared one more round with Ju Tae in the courtyard.
“Becoming Prince Consort has brightened your aura. No clashes, I take it?”
“As Prince Consort, I headed straight to the front lines, so no clashes. We’ll see about later. Anyway, I’ve managed well without issues so far.”
Cheol Mu-ok emptied his cup and asked.
“How’s that fellow Han Jo?”
“He’s top-tier in his field. Haedong blades already surpass the Central Plains by far, and adding the world’s finest Haedong techniques makes it beyond words. Your lord seems to have great expectations. He’s thoroughly satisfied.”
“The army’s strength will be vastly bolstered.”
“That’s what your lord wants most. Thanks to the non-aggression pact with Zhao Kingdom, we’ve bought time, and it seems he’s preparing thoroughly.”
Smirk.
“It feels like the world dances in your lord’s palm. Sitting back and claiming territory and mines to boot. Well, Qin Kingdom’s weakness played its part.”
Ju Tae laughed too.
“For a money-rich Qin Kingdom, lacking someone like our lord must be a sore point. That Second Prince seems utterly hopeless.”
Smirk.
“Anyway, when do you head back?”
“Unless something comes up, in about ten days. I’d love to see your lord, but I can’t stay away too long.”
The two shared stories freely, venting their bond. Having inherited the lineages of the Sword King and Blade King, they shared the pains of kindred suffering no less than blood brothers.
They stayed up almost all night before retiring to their rooms.
The hall for Yeon Kingdom’s delegation was vast enough to accommodate Northern Yeon’s delegation as well. Of course, Cheol Mu-ok had known and requested it beforehand, and Qin Kingdom readily agreed.
* * *
Five more days passed.
That afternoon, figures drawing everyone’s attention entered Qin Kingdom’s Imperial Palace: Dongyeong’s envoy delegation.
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok, who happened to be outside, watched them and subtly furrowed their brows.
Cheol Mu-ok muttered.
“The Blood Net’s elites have come…”
“What’s that?”
“Dongyeong’s strongest group. Comparable to Daye Fortress two hundred years ago in the Central Plains. Those in black robes are the elites—top-tier ones are as elusive as ghosts, making them extremely tricky opponents.”
“Ah! You’ve been to Dongyeong too?”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded silently and continued.
“I clashed with them a few times then. Never faced the top elites, though. I didn’t know Qin Kingdom was exchanging with them…”
“Qin Kingdom suffers from pirate raids, so they shouldn’t be on good terms, right?”
“Blood Net and pirates are unrelated. Most pirates are outcasts from power struggles banding together for plunder.”
“I see.”
Then Dongyeong—no, Blood Net’s envoy delegation turned and headed toward the two.
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok crossed their arms, meeting their gazes unflinchingly.
As the distance closed, Ju Tae’s eyebrows arched slightly. His eyes locked with the lead black-robed figure, who exuded blatant intimidation.
“Well, now?”
“Don’t start trouble. It’s a mourning period.”
Cheol Mu-ok grabbed Ju Tae’s arm and pulled him up.
Ju Tae glared straight into the black-robe’s eyes even as he was dragged away.
Smirk.
The black-robe’s lip curled slightly.
“Smirking?”
“I told you to stop.”
In the end, Ju Tae was dragged around to the back of the palace by Cheol Mu-ok.
* * *
The black-robe watched Ju Tae round the palace corner and asked.
“Who’s that?”
Qin Kingdom’s guiding general answered.
“One of Yeon Kingdom’s envoy delegation.”
“Arrogant…”
“Best not to provoke them.”
“Why say that?”
“His Majesty strictly commanded us to host them with utmost care. Avoid clashes as much as possible.”
At those words, the black-robe’s lip curled again. It could seem like a sneer depending on the view, but the general seemed intent on ignoring it.
“His Majesty awaits. Let’s hurry.”
As the black-robe walked under the general’s guidance, his eyebrows sharpened for an instant.
[I’ll gouge your eyes out if you look at me like that again.]
It was Ju Tae’s transmission.
The black-robe’s head snapped left like lightning. There stood Ju Tae, arms crossed, grinning.
* * *
Someone else took interest in Blood Net’s envoy delegation: Go Mi.
She and Hwa Ryeong watched the delegation heading to the audience hall from a distance, her gaze steady.
“People from Dongyeong, right?”
“Yes.”
Then Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae approached.
Cheol Mu-ok said.
“It’s a group called Blood Net, made of elites.”
“Blood Net? You know who they are?”
“I clashed with them a few times when I crossed to Dongyeong.”
“Could you tell us more?”
“Here?”
“Let’s go to the quarters.”
* * *
Go Mi recorded Cheol Mu-ok’s every word without missing a letter.
It took quite some time, and at the end, she asked.
“If you compare Dongyeong’s forces to the Three Kingdoms, what level would you say?”
“At least equal to Qin Kingdom. Possibly stronger.”
Hwa Ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
“That much?”
“Dongyeong is not to be underestimated. Especially their elites called Inja—they’d hold their own anywhere in the Central Plains martial world.”
After sipping tea, Cheol Mu-ok continued.
“If those two nations form ties beyond exchanges, Qin Kingdom can no longer be seen as the weakest.”
“We should prepare for contingencies too. If Qin Kingdom and Dongyeong ally, they’ll be much harder to handle going forward.”
“That’s how I see it.”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded solemnly and added.
“Your lord knows about Dongyeong to some extent. But he likely doesn’t know they’re close enough to send an envoy delegation.”
Ju Tae asked.
“So Inja are the strongest in Dongyeong?”
“No.”
“What? Then there are stronger ones?”
“The navy.”
“The navy?”
“Dongyeong’s navy is the world’s strongest. None of the Central Plains’ Three Kingdoms can match it.”
“What nonsense.”
Park Ji-mun interjected. Raising his eyebrows, he continued.
“Haedong’s navy is the world’s strongest. You know that? Haedong’s navy has never lost to Dongyeong once.”
“I overlooked Haedong.”
“Don’t forget Haedong.”
“Enough already.”
Thwack!
Kim Mu-gwan punched Park Ji-mun’s shoulder.
Thud!
Go Mi closed her notebook and said.
“It’s getting too late. Let’s stop here for today.”
“I’m tired too.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong returned to their quarters.
Ju Tae grinned and said.
“Time to start?”
“Start what?”
“The drinking.”
“You’re on.”
“If not now, when?”
“I’m in.”
“Heh heh heh.”