Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Operation Execution
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Paeng Mu-wi stared down at the appointment letter, lost in deep thought.
He had achieved what he wanted, but he couldn’t simply rejoice. It was all because of Young Ho-chung and Mo Jae-hwang.
‘If what the Great Prince said is true, this is something I can’t just sit back and watch….’
That was when his deputy general entered.
“How did it go with my orders?”
“In the past few days, the two have met a total of six times, five of which were late at night in Mo Jae-hwang’s tent. They’re together right now.”
Twitch.
Paeng Mu-wi’s eyebrow arched slightly.
The deputy general continued his report.
“And it seems they’re watching us.”
Twitch.
“What? They’re watching us?”
“I saw a few of our guards heading into the woods, so I followed and checked. They’d climbed trees and were keeping an eye on us. It started right after you met with the Great Prince and returned.”
“Those bastards….”
Yi Hwan’s words flashed through his mind one by one, and Paeng Mu-wi’s eyes flickered with rage.
The deputy general asked,
“Are they really harboring some misguided thoughts?”
“I hope not, but it seems they are. Why else would they be spying on me?”
“Isn’t that just standard Golden Imperial Guard procedure?”
“Did Mo Jae-hwang have Young Ho-chung under surveillance?”
“Well….”
Gulp, gulp!
Paeng Mu-wi chugged straight from the bottle, then calmed his gaze and said,
“For now, pretend you don’t know anything until I give further orders.”
“Yes, General.”
Once the deputy general withdrew, Paeng Mu-wi drained the rest of the liquor and sank deep into his chair.
‘Young Ho-chung must have put him up to it. That guy’s been strutting around since the old days, claiming the Young Tiger Clan was superior to our Paeng Family. How bitter must it have been for him to have to follow my commands?’
In the martial world, the Hebei Paeng Family and Young Tiger Clan had stood shoulder to shoulder as two of the Five Great Clans. Until just a few years ago, they’d been evenly matched, impossible to distinguish a superior. But when Paeng Mu-wi received his rank and was appointed Left General, the balance of power shattered.
In contrast, not a single member of the Young Tiger Clan, Young Ho-chung included, had earned an official rank, so they weren’t even mentioned as candidates for commander of the Southern Legion.
‘In the history of the martial world, our Paeng Family has always been the greatest. But how should I handle this?’
Killing Young Ho-chung would solve it neatly. But if Mo Jae-hwang caught on and reported to Yi Hwan, everything would go awry—not only that, but the Paeng Family itself could be in danger.
‘Should I kill Mo Jae-hwang too?’
As Paeng Mu-wi’s mind tangled like a knotted thread, Yi Hwan sat face-to-face with Cheol Mu-ok and Jang Han, who had come from the Crown Prince’s Palace.
* * *
Yi Hwan sat face-to-face with Jang Han from the Crown Prince’s Palace. Cheol Mu-ok sat beside Jang Han, pouring liquor into Yi Hwan’s cup.
Pour.
Jang Han stared at the martial robes draped on one side of the tent. Unexpectedly, they were the garb of Zhao Kingdom warriors.
Clink.
Yi Hwan emptied his cup and fixed Jang Han with a steady gaze.
“Do you know about Young Ho-chung?”
“Yes. I confirmed it through East Depot intelligence before coming here.”
“If you tried to assassinate him, are you confident you’d succeed?”
“……Yes?”
Jang Han’s eyes widened.
“Forget other thoughts. Just say if you’re confident or not.”
“If he’s alone, it wouldn’t be difficult. But without just cause, even the Great Prince’s orders wouldn’t compel me.”
“I’ll explain the reason later, so think it over and answer. This isn’t the time for bravado or pride.”
“Last year, I assassinated someone stronger than Young Ho-chung. Not a drop of blood was spilled.”
His tone brimmed with pride.
“Then that settles it.”
Cheol Mu-ok asked,
“Are you going to kill Young Ho-chung?”
“No, Mo Jae-hwang.”
Jang Han’s face registered fresh shock.
“He’s a deputy chief of the Golden Imperial Guards. Why kill him?”
“You haven’t forgotten why the Crown Prince’s Palace sent you here, have you?”
“How could I dare forget?”
“That’s exactly why.”
“……!”
Yi Hwan drained another cup and continued.
“By now, Paeng Mu-wi’s probably fretting that Young Ho-chung’s gunning for the Southern Legion commander position and might stab him in the back. He can’t kill him because of Mo Jae-hwang, but leaving him be is too unsettling to bear. Heh heh heh.”
Jang Han asked,
“If you’re going to kill Mo Jae-hwang, why ask if I could kill Young Ho-chung?”
“Because Young Ho-chung’s stronger than Mo Jae-hwang. If you’re confident against him, Mo Jae-hwang would be even easier.”
“…….”
This time, Cheol Mu-ok asked,
“You’re leaving Young Ho-chung alone?”
“Of course he has to go too. But he’ll be killed by Paeng Mu-wi, not us. Utterly legally, so no backlash later.”
“Yes?”
“Moon Pavilion’s already on the move. I’ll explain the details later, but for today, we just eliminate Mo Jae-hwang.”
Yi Hwan stared straight at Jang Han.
“For the Crown Prince’s Palace, shouldn’t you be willing to lay down your life?”
“This humble servant is always prepared for that.”
“Then don’t question the reason—just kill Mo Jae-hwang. We eliminate them, and the Southern Legion won’t fall into Yi Hwan’s hands. Got it?”
Jang Han asked with a resolute expression.
“Is this truly for His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Do I need to prove it?”
“Your word as Great Prince is enough.”
“The Crown Prince’s Palace made a promise. To prevent the Southern Legion from falling into Yi Hwan’s control. That’s what I’m keeping now. Of course, it’s for my sake too.”
Clench.
Jang Han bit his lip firmly.
“Understood. Then I shall obey the Great Prince’s command.”
“It’s not over once he’s dead. Leave any suspicious traces, and I’ll kill you myself.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Whoooosh!
The night wind blew fiercely.
Yi Hwan climbed onto his tent’s roof and gazed down at the darkened encampment.
Cheol Mu-ok joined him.
“Will it succeed?”
“Without fail.”
“You seem to trust that man’s skills too much. Wouldn’t it be surer if I moved now instead?”
“No need to worry. If my eyes aren’t wrong, he’s on your level when it comes to assassination.”
‘Yeah, right.’
That was when it happened.
Swish!
Go Mi landed beside Yi Hwan on the wind.
“As ordered, I placed the forged letter in Mo Jae-hwang’s quarters.”
“Good work.”
“May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
Go Mi asked,
“If this goes wrong, not only the Great Prince but even His Highness the Crown Prince could face peril. I must humbly ask why you’ve involved me in something so grave.”
“Because I trust you. Your skills too.”
“……!”
Go Mi’s eyes widened slightly.
“Is that all?”
“Should there be more?”
“No.”
“Mo Jae-hwang dies tonight.”
“……!”
Go Mi snapped her head up.
Her widened pupils filled with doubt and fury.
“Didn’t you say I could kill him myself?”
“The plan shifted that way. Instead, I’ll leave the Grand Overseer’s life and death to you later. Mo Jae-hwang moves on the Grand Overseer’s orders anyway, so isn’t he the true enemy of Moon Pavilion?”
“The Grand Overseer’s little more than a figurehead. The Golden Imperial Guards’ decisions were mostly made and executed by the deputy chiefs’ will. Mo Jae-hwang played the most pivotal role among them.”
“Is that so? This is awkward.”
Yi Hwan was genuinely troubled.
He’d unintentionally broken his promise to Go Mi. But he figured promising the Grand Overseer’s life would suffice, so he hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.
“I’ll take my leave.”
Go Mi turned crisply.
“You can be trusted, right?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the Great Prince breaks his word, I won’t betray the secret. I’m someone who keeps a promise, even unto death.”
It was as if she meant for Yi Hwan to hear.
Once Go Mi descended, Cheol Mu-ok asked,
“Will she be all right?”
“Planning to suggest killing her too?”
“It’d be a shame, but if she becomes trouble later, naturally….”
“Enough. She’s trustworthy.”
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to Mo Jae-hwang’s tent. No torches lit around it, leaving the area shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
Come to think of it, it was the only place without torches.
‘They have to sneak around digging for info every night, so no torches make sense. Suits me fine.’
Whoooosh!
* * *
Back in her tent, Go Mi grabbed a bottle of liquor from one corner and chugged it.
Gulp, gulp!
“Two-faced liar? Slicker than a snake!”
Gulp, gulp!
Her anger toward Yi Hwan hadn’t subsided.
It had happened just as her fondness for him was growing, doubling her disappointment and rage.
‘I’ll kill him myself. With my own hands….’
The scheming face of Mo Jae-hwang surfaced in her mind. Then the dying final moments of the previous Moon Lord flashed, pushing Mo Jae-hwang aside.
Crack!
The bottle shattered into pieces, soaking her martial robes with liquor.
Thud!
A warrior flung open the door and rushed in.
“What happened!”
“Nothing.”
“…….”
The warrior glanced at the shattered bottle, then left the tent.
Clench!
Still fuming, Go Mi balled her fists and stepped outside.
She glared toward Yi Hwan’s location.
But he’d already gone down.
Thud!
In fury, Go Mi stomped the ground and turned away.
‘It’s my fault for trusting an imperial prince.’
* * *
“Cheon-mu.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Where’s the ear pick?”
“On the side table by the bed.”
Yi Hwan found the ear pick and scratched his ear.
‘Who’s cursing me?’
* * *
The next day, the Golden Imperial Guards were in an uproar.
Mo Jae-hwang had been found dead, cold as ice.
Yi Hwan headed there leisurely. On the way, he saw Paeng Mu-wi and Young Ho-chung rushing over.
Cheol Mu-ok said,
“Shouldn’t we secure the letter first?”
“General Jeong Cheon’s probably already there.”
“Ah, yes.”
Moments later, at the scene, guards and warriors had gathered.
Yi Hwan approached with a feigned grave expression. Everyone bowed and parted for him.
Just then, Jeong Cheon emerged from the tent and exchanged a knowing glance with Yi Hwan.
“Zhao Kingdom assassins again?”
“Seems like it.”
Jeong Cheon held out what he clutched.
“There was a strange letter in Mo Jae-hwang’s tent.”
“What’s strange about it?”
“See for yourself.”
Yi Hwan naturally took the letter from Jeong Cheon. Right then, Paeng Mu-wi and Young Ho-chung burst in.
“What the hell happened?!”
Jeong Cheon answered for him.
“Looks like Zhao Kingdom assassins paid a visit.”
As he spoke, Jeong Cheon held out a small ornament affixed to his sword sheath.
Paeng Mu-wi and Young Ho-chung’s eyes bulged. The ornament matched exactly the one dropped by the Zhao assassin who killed Commander Hwang Ho.
Yi Hwan feigned shock as well. Then he coldly shouted at the Golden Imperial Guards’ elites.
“How the hell did you stand watch that the deputy chief dies and no one notices until morning!”
“…….”
No one could even lift their head.
“General Jeong.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Throw every last one of these bastards in jail!”
“Understood.”
Warriors surged forward, dragging the elites away. Some resisted, but Jeong Cheon personally subdued them.
Yi Hwan eyed Young Ho-chung.
He stood dazed, face pale as a sheet, staring at Mo Jae-hwang’s corpse under the cloth.
“Your spot’s relatively close to Mo Jae-hwang’s tent. You didn’t sense anything odd last night?”
“No. Nothing at all.”
Yi Hwan turned to Paeng Mu-wi.
Paeng Mu-wi replied with a shocked face.
“This junior knew nothing either.”
“Your position’s far off, General, so it’s natural you wouldn’t know. Never mind that—let’s talk for a moment.”
Yi Hwan led Paeng Mu-wi to a spot some distance away. He held out the letter Jeong Cheon had given him.
“General Jeong found it in Mo Jae-hwang’s tent.”
“What letter is it?”
“Read it.”
Paeng Mu-wi unfolded the letter.
It took mere instants for his eyes to bulge and his teeth to grind.
Rip!
“Those bastards….”
“We nearly had a disaster. A little later, and that letter would’ve gone to Yi Hwan, your appointment would’ve been revoked.”
Tremble… Tremble….
Yi Hwan watched Paeng Mu-wi shake with rage and added one more thing.
“With the appointment delivered, you’re already the Southern Legion’s commander, General. So handle Young Ho-chung’s punishment yourself. As your first act as commander, make it severe.”
“Understood!”