Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Traces Left by the Wanderer
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Inside the cave.
Yi Hwan sat facing the captured Black Tiger Squad member. The Black Tiger Squad member, realizing Yi Hwan was no opponent he could handle, had already resigned himself to his fate.
“Do you remember me?”
“Of course. But I clearly struck your vital points—how...”
“I ask the questions.”
Crack!
Yi Hwan smacked the Black Tiger Squad member on the head and asked again.
“Was your attack on me simply because I’m an imperial prince?”
“I didn’t know who you were. I just saw the ornate armor and figured you held a high position, so I impulsively decided to attack for the merit.”
His eyes didn’t seem to be lying.
“Then who taught you the Soul Separation Technique?”
“Soul Separation Technique? What’s that?”
‘He doesn’t know the Soul Separation Technique?’
His eyes didn’t seem to be lying either. Yi Hwan felt slightly confused. A guy using the Soul Separation Technique didn’t know what it was?
“Who taught you your martial arts?”
“My sect is the Mount Qingcheng Sect.”
The Mount Qingcheng Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects that gained fame when Daye Fortress unified the martial world two hundred years ago. At the time, it was a renowned sect that produced some outstanding masters.
‘The Mount Qingcheng Sect wouldn’t know the Soul Separation Technique.’
Yi Hwan’s gaze turned cold as he spoke.
“I don’t like repeating myself. So tell me nicely—who taught you the Soul Separation Technique?”
Deep down, he wanted to torture the truth out of him quickly, but he couldn’t do that to someone who might be a descendant of the Sword King.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I really don’t know anything called the Soul Separation Technique.”
“The three streaks of blood light you used when you attacked me—that’s the Soul Separation Technique. And you claim you don’t know it?”
“...!”
The Black Tiger Squad member’s eyes shook violently. Then, unexpectedly, he began to speak.
“That martial art wasn’t taught to me by the Mount Qingcheng Sect. A few years ago, I learned it by chance from a wanderer.”
That was the beginning.
To sum up his story, a few years ago, he had helped a wanderer in distress, and in return, the wanderer taught him a martial art.
“Of course, I laughed at first when the wanderer offered to teach me a martial art. But after seeing the power of the technique he demonstrated right in front of me, I had no choice but to change my mind. From that day on, I’ve trained like mad to master the incantation he taught me.”
Yi Hwan narrowed his eyes at the explanation. It was because of the part about learning the martial art through an incantation.
‘Even someone with exceptional talent needs a lifetime of training to master it, yet he learned it after a brief lesson?’
“Recite the incantation the wanderer taught you.”
The Black Tiger Squad member immediately began reciting the incantation.
Yi Hwan’s eyes gradually changed.
‘Parts of the incantation have been altered. But it’s an incantation that could never be created without grasping the essence of the Soul Separation Technique!’
The reason the Soul Separation Technique’s power differed greatly from what he remembered seemed to be due to this as well.
“Where is that wanderer now!”
“Why do you think he’s a wanderer?”
“...”
“He said he was wandering the world searching for someone. When I asked who, he didn’t answer and headed north. Since I met him in northern Zhao Kingdom, he’s probably entered Yeon Kingdom by now.”
“Do you remember the wanderer’s face?”
“I remember it so clearly I could recognize him even if he wore a mask. His eyes were so unique no one could forget them.”
‘Good.’
Yi Hwan asked something else.
“Do you want to live?”
“...Who wants to die?”
“Do you have family in Zhao Kingdom?”
“My master and senior brothers in the Mount Qingcheng Sect are my only family. Though they probably don’t see me that way...”
“Then leaving Zhao Kingdom won’t leave any regrets.”
* * *
The Black Tiger Squad member’s name was Cha Jung-kyeong.
Born in Sichuan Province, he became an orphan young and was taken into the Mount Qingcheng Sect by a Taoist priest who raised him. Later, as a young man, he descended the mountain to earn money and enlisted in the Zhao Kingdom army.
His skills were recognized, leading him to become a member of the Black Tiger Squad, and now he had crossed paths with Yi Hwan, culminating in today.
“...You’ll really reward me just for helping find that wanderer?”
“Watch your tone.”
“You’ll really reward me enough to live comfortably for life?”
“It’s a promise from a prince of Yeon Kingdom. Believe it.”
At the words “a prince’s promise,” Cha Jung-kyeong grew suspicious instead.
“I’ve heard the rumors about the Fourth Imperial Prince even in our camp... but can you really reward me?”
“What are the rumors?”
“Just stuff like you’re a prince in name only, or you’re treated like leftovers in the Yeon Kingdom army. Is it true?”
“...”
Yi Hwan nearly choked.
‘Even the enemy pities me like this.’
He thought he understood Yi Hwan’s reputation through the body’s memories, but it seemed that was only one aspect.
“Do you still believe those rumors now?”
“...No. I realize they’re complete nonsense. But... why did you get taken down so easily back then?”
Crack!
“Ugh!”
“That’s none of your concern. Get up.”
“Where are we going?”
“Where else? Back to camp.”
“So I’ll be a prisoner?”
“On the surface, yes. But don’t worry. No one will touch you.”
“...Can I believe that?”
“If you can’t, would you rather die here?”
“...”
* * *
Yeon Kingdom camp.
Hwang Ho sighed as he received Jeong Cheon’s report.
“Haa...”
“I’m sorry. I should have been more careful...”
Jeong Cheon couldn’t lift his head.
Hwang Ho couldn’t continue either.
From the situation, Yi Hwan was very likely already dead.
‘What should we do about this?’
Hwang Ho feared the aftermath of his death.
No matter how cast aside, a prince was a prince. With Yi Hwan dying in his unit, the responsibility fell entirely on him.
There was no need to mention Jeong Cheon, who had led the operation.
“I’ve done you—who has a future spanning nine thousand miles—a terrible wrong.”
“...!”
“I’m sorry, General Jeong.”
“...No!”
At Hwang Ho’s concerned words, Jeong Cheon’s eyes reddened.
Grip!
“I’ll bring back the Great Prince’s body no matter what it takes. Please allow it.”
It was then.
“General!”
A general rushed in. He shouted in an agitated voice.
“The Great Prince has returned!”
* * *
“Great Prince!”
Song Hoe came running like a madman.
His bloodshot eyes looked ready to burst into tears any moment.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?!”
“Stop the fussing and prepare some hot water.”
“Great Prince!”
Generals swarmed from all sides.
Yi Hwan let out a wry smile.
‘Since when did you care? Though I suppose you’re anxious about the repercussions if I die.’
Then, Hwang Ho and Jeong Cheon appeared from behind the generals.
“Great Prince!”
“I got separated somehow. General Jeong isn’t at fault, so don’t blame him too much. I’m tired, so I’ll head in.”
As Yi Hwan turned to leave, he pointed at Cha Jung-kyeong and added.
“I’ve decided to take this one under my wing, so no one interfere.”
“Isn’t this guy from the Black Tiger Squad? He could be dangerous!”
“I’ve handled everything, so no need to worry. Excuse me.”
With that, Yi Hwan finished what he had to say and entered the command tent with Cha Jung-kyeong.
Hwang Ho and Jeong Cheon watched his back with complicated gazes. But relief was evident that Yi Hwan had returned alive.
Hwang Ho muttered.
“He jumped into the Black Tiger Squad’s lair alone and captured one?”
* * *
“Why this guy...”
Song Hoe’s gaze at Cha Jung-kyeong was sharp enough to be murderous.
“He’ll stay with us until we leave, so take good care of him.”
“...!”
“Is the hot water ready?”
“We’re preparing it in the back yard.”
Yi Hwan stared at Cha Jung-kyeong.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I am.”
“Bring him something to eat.”
“Is he really staying here?”
Song Hoe still couldn’t understand. The Black Tiger Squad was an enemy deserving death. Everyone in the Southern Legion felt the same.
Yi Hwan looked at Song Hoe indifferently.
“Deputy General.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Does this sound like a request?”
“...”
Song Hoe lowered his head.
“Understood.”
* * *
“He seems to hate me a lot.”
“Of course. Do you know how many Yeon Kingdom warriors the Black Tiger Squad has killed? If you hadn’t said you didn’t know the wanderer’s face, you’d be dead by my hand first.”
“...”
Cha Jung-kyeong scratched his head and asked something else.
“But why are you looking for that wanderer...”
“You don’t need to know.”
“...”
Yi Hwan removed his outer robe and headed to the back yard. Warriors were heating water in a large cauldron.
“It’ll take a bit longer to warm up, Great Prince.”
“Never mind. Leave.”
“...Yes.”
Once the warriors left, Yi Hwan entered the still lukewarm water.
Splash!
Soaking his head completely, Yi Hwan replayed the battlefield events in his mind.
‘I’ve gathered the power wandering my dantian into one, but it’s still woefully insufficient. At this level, I can’t even handle an average peak master.’
Though a bastard son, he was still a prince, raised on all sorts of elixirs from childhood. But perhaps due to lacking martial talent, he couldn’t fully gather it in his dantian—until Yi Hwan succeeded in unifying it.
Yet it was far from satisfactory.
‘Until I fully recover my power, I have no choice but to hide my original martial arts as much as possible. And find a way to regain my strength quickly here.’
With Daye Fortress’s records erased from the martial world, perhaps no one would recognize his martial arts now.
But if someone did recognize them?
And if that person was an enemy connected to Daye Fortress’s fall?
At his current level, he couldn’t guarantee his life. So he wanted to leave as soon as possible to find the wanderer presumed to be a Sword King descendant.
But wishes alone wouldn’t make it happen.
‘If I could use an organization like the Beggars’ Sect...’
But according to ‘that guy’s’ memories, there was no Beggars’ Sect in Yeon Kingdom. They operated only in Zhao and Qin Kingdoms.
‘Then there’s only one option.’
Just then, Song Hoe came out to the back yard with fresh clothes.
Yi Hwan asked abruptly.
“Do you have a way to contact the East Depot?”
“Yes? Why the East Depot all of a sudden...”
Song Hoe’s eyes widened.
“I need their intelligence network.”
“Great Prince, it’s best to stay away from the East Depot. Everything through them gets reported to His Majesty. Even Crown Prince Hall Majesty, who maintains friendly relations with them, rarely uses them, from what I hear.”
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
“Let me rephrase. Can I use the East Depot?”
“...It’ll be difficult.”
In truth, Song Hoe wanted to say it outright but held back considering Yi Hwan’s pride.
Yi Hwan nodded in agreement.
‘Of course the East Depot wouldn’t cooperate with an incompetent Great Prince.’
“What if I ask the Crown Prince?”
“It might be possible, but I doubt Crown Prince Hall Majesty would agree. But why the East Depot...”
“Enough. Go.”
“...Yes.”
As Song Hoe entered the command tent, Yi Hwan submerged up to his neck and propped his feet on the cauldron’s edge.
‘To use the East Depot’s intelligence, I’d have to return to the Imperial Palace after all...’
Wrinkles formed on Yi Hwan’s brow as he slowly closed his eyes.
It was then.
“Great Prince!”
Song Hoe, who had just left for the command tent, returned in a frenzy as if something major had happened.