Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: On the Way to My Sister's House (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Southern Legion was in a festive mood.
Pushing back the Zhao Kingdom army, which had fought as fiercely as Iron Heavenly Support Marshal, all the way to two hundred li behind their lines was the most glorious feat in the legion's history.
Once it became known that Yi Hwan had been the one to negotiate the truce, he solidified his position not just as a general, but as an object of awe for the entire camp.
Amid all this excitement, Yi Hwan received an unexpected guest.
* * *
A man in his late thirties dressed in white robes faced Yi Hwan.
Song Cheon-mu sat beside him. The man in white was from Song Cheon-mu's clan.
As he continued speaking, Song Cheon-mu's expression grew heavier and more rigid. His tightly clenched lips and trembling eyes betrayed his fury.
Yi Hwan impassively watched Song Cheon-mu while listening to the man in white.
The man was describing the dire situation facing Song Cheon-mu's clan, and it was extremely grim.
Throughout his words, Yi Hwan's mind kept flashing to his sister's face. Though they didn't share a drop of blood, the original owner of this body had loved her so dearly that it was inevitable for emotions to stir.
Once he finished, the man in white bowed his head with a deep sigh.
Yi Hwan looked him straight in the eye and asked,
"How is my sister?"
"Her Ladyship is more worried that the Great Prince might be disheartened."
Worried about me worrying?
A strange pang twisted in Yi Hwan's chest. He fiddled with his teacup and fell silent for a moment.
Clink. Clink.
'In the end, it's that Second Prince again.'
To sum up the man's words, the Song family was in a desperate crisis that could shatter them at any moment, caused by the tyranny of a rival clan backed by the Second Prince.
He had roughly heard about them threatening the Song family using the Second Prince's name when his brother-in-law visited, but he hadn't expected it to escalate this far.
Clink.
The sound of the shaking teacup made the silence even heavier. How long did it last?
"You must be tired from the long journey, so rest today. Cheon-mu, see to it."
"Yes."
Once Song Cheon-mu and the man in white left, Yi Hwan sank deep into his chair, his gaze steadying.
His sister's face came to mind again.
Since starting this new life in this body, she was the one who had concerned him the most.
'When you think about it, I've essentially stolen the Fourth Prince's life. As a human being, shouldn't I at least fulfill the bare minimum of duty?'
Yi Hwan had never thought of himself as a hero or a righteous wanderer. He had crushed those evil demons not because he was one, but for his own purposes.
Yet he had always tried not to abandon basic human decency.
"Mu-ok."
Cheol Mu-ok entered.
"Go tell the Moon Lord I wish to see her, and bring the Deputy General as well."
"Understood."
A short while later, Go Mi entered.
"You called for me?"
"Sit."
As Go Mi sat, Yi Hwan got straight to the point.
"I've heard that places like the East Depot or Golden Imperial Guards have artisans who can make human skin masks. Does Moon Pavilion have one too?"
"Yes. He's here right now. Given the nature of our work, we make them frequently, so he always travels with us on long-term missions. But why...?"
"I need a human skin mask. Of myself."
"...The Great Prince's human skin mask?"
Go Mi's eyes widened in surprise.
As Yi Hwan silently nodded, Song Hoe happened to enter.
"You called?"
"Sit."
"Listen carefully to what I say from now on."
* * *
The next day, Yi Hwan suddenly fell ill.
The camp was told it was a lingering effect from his previous injury, and he allowed no visitors until he recovered.
Then, Deputy General Song Hoe and Cheol Mu-ok left the camp on Yi Hwan's errands, while Song Cheon-mu took special leave to return to his hometown.
* * *
A few days later.
Thud thud thud!
Five riders galloped along the official road leading to the Imperial Capital.
They rode until evening before entering the market street of a town.
A particularly thick layer of yellow dust had most passersby covering their faces with cloth. The five on horseback did the same.
"Over there."
"Yes."
They entered an inn in the market.
"Welcome!"
"A quiet room, please."
"We have one available! Follow me!"
They followed the waiter up to the second floor.
"You seem to have come from far away?"
"Just guide us."
"...Yes."
Soon, they entered a spacious room. Once the waiter left with their orders, they all removed the cloths covering their faces.
Unexpectedly, they were Cheol Mu-ok, Song Cheon-mu, the man in white from the Song family, and two others—a man and a woman.
Cheol Mu-ok asked the man who looked just like himself,
"Isn't it stifling?"
"If I, who should be in the Southern Legion, show up somewhere else, it'll be trouble. I just need to get used to it."
The man was Yi Hwan.
The woman was Go Mi. Seemingly uncomfortable, she removed her human skin mask.
"Whew!"
"The Moon Lord of Moon Pavilion can't endure this much."
"I'll put it back on when we leave the inn."
"Get used to it like your face. We've got a lot ahead of us."
"..."
Go Mi silently gulped down some cold water.
Yi Hwan gazed at her with a faint smile.
"You still seem dissatisfied about traveling with me."
"The Moon Lord of Moon Pavilion holds an official position. Getting involved in the Great Prince's personal affairs isn't right. However."
What followed was a transmission of voice.
[Since you say it's for the Crown Prince, I obey. I still don't understand how moving for the Song family serves the Crown Prince, though.]
[You'll know soon enough.]
Yi Hwan turned to Song Cheon-mu.
Their eyes met, and Song Cheon-mu bowed his head. He was deeply moved that Yi Hwan had stepped up for his clan.
The man in white went without saying.
Yi Hwan looked back at Go Mi and said,
"When can we get the information?"
"If we head to the Imperial Capital and start investigating right away, it should take four days."
"You'll realize who this is for once the investigation begins. Make it as detailed as possible."
"Yes."
Yi Hwan quenched his thirst with cold water.
Cheol Mu-ok asked,
"I'm worried if the Deputy General can pull off the Great Prince's role. Mimicking your voice perfectly isn't easy."
"After lying sick for a few days, we can say the lingering effects changed my voice. No problem."
"Ah..."
Cheol Mu-ok slapped his knee.
He hadn't thought of that.
Soon, their ordered food arrived, and the meal began.
* * *
Song Hoe stared at his reflection in the copper mirror, touching his face.
"It's so lifelike. Anyone would think it's the Great Prince."
The human skin mask was perfect.
It even replicated the wrinkles around his eyes and the mole that appeared when smiling.
Creak.
The door opened, and Gong Son-tae entered.
"Paeng Mu-wi sent another messenger."
"What a pain."
"Well, he's worried about the Great Prince, isn't he? What will you do? Send him away again?"
"If I stay bedridden too long, it'll only cause more headaches. Better to show my face around now."
"Can you act like the Great Prince?"
"Ahem! I'll give it a shot."
Song Hoe donned Yi Hwan's clothes, cleared his throat a few times, then mimicked Yi Hwan's voice.
"Thanks for your concern. Ahem! I'll be fine in a few days, so tell him not to worry. Ahem!"
Despite his efforts, it was obvious enough for anyone to notice.
Soon, Song Hoe stepped outside.
Paeng Mu-wi's deputy general, waiting, rose and bowed.
"Greetings, Great Prince."
"Come in."
"...!"
The deputy general's eyes widened slightly. Of course, because of the voice. Song Hoe said nonchalantly,
"I had a bad fever, so my voice changed. It'll get better with time, so no worries."
"How severe must it have been for your voice to change like that? I'm sorry I couldn't visit more often. The Commander is greatly worried too."
His sincere attitude put Song Hoe at ease inwardly. At the same time, it made him realize anew that Paeng Mu-wi was fully under Yi Hwan's thumb.
'Truly an amazing man. Heh heh heh.'
After a brief chat, Song Hoe pinched the bridge of his nose. Gong Son-tae stepped forward as if waiting.
"You should rest now."
"Understood. I'll take my leave then."
Once Paeng Mu-wi's deputy general left, Song Hoe gulped down the still-hot tea like water.
Gulp gulp!
Thud!
"Did I do well?"
"Not even close."
"Right? But he didn't seem to suspect the voice change was due to lingering effects, so it worked."
"Shall I prepare a meal?"
"Been cooped up inside all day; not even hungry. I'll practice my breathing technique."
As Song Hoe entered Yi Hwan's room, Gong Son-tae sighed deeply and headed outside. Cha Jung-kyeong sat on a bamboo chair out there, sipping tea.
Gong Son-tae sat beside him.
Cha Jung-kyeong glanced at him and smirked.
"That bummed about not coming along?"
"Bummed, bored, you name it."
"Bored? Help with my training then."
"With that body?"
"Feels like I could train again in a few days. You'll help then, right?"
"I'll think about it."
Smack!
Gong Son-tae slapped Cha Jung-kyeong's back and stood.
"Let's eat."
* * *
Yi Hwan and his group headed to Song Cheon-mu's hometown at a steady pace—not too fast, not too slow.
Go Mi had gone ahead.
Of course, to conduct the investigation.
As they traveled, Yi Hwan looked to both sides of the road. Farmers were busy tilling fields, and on one side, warriors were loading harvested crops onto carts.
"Why are warriors taking the crops?"
Song Cheon-mu answered.
"Most fields near the Imperial Capital are managed by the military. Those are tenant farmers handing over a portion of the harvest to the military. The problem is that the military unit overseeing this area is under the Second Prince."
The Second Prince, Yi Tae-ji, came up again.
"Rumors say his side turns the harvested crops into cash for slush funds."
"You're aware of this, yet no action is taken?"
"Yes. With Her Majesty the Empress backing the Second Prince, what can be done?"
At this point, Yi Hwan couldn't help thinking of the Emperor again.
'What the hell is wrong with the Emperor?'
That was when it happened.
Thud thud thud!
A group of riders charged from behind like a gale. Pedestrians on the road hurriedly cleared the way.
"Make way."
"Yes."
Yi Hwan's group also pulled to the side.
As Yi Hwan eyed the figures on horseback, a faint frown creased his brow.
They were Golden Imperial Guard warriors.
Thud thud thud!
In an instant, the warriors raced right past Yi Hwan. At that moment, formless energy flickered at his fingertips.
'I just hate these bastards.'
Thud thud thud!
The warriors kicked up dust as they passed.
Yi Hwan watched silently, then flicked his finger. The formless energy stabbed into the lead horse's hindquarters like a thorn.
Pop.
Neigh!
The startled horse screamed and bucked wildly.
"Whoa!"
They were riding so closely and fast that the following warriors couldn't swerve in time and crashed in a heap.
Neigh!
Boom boom!
Some failed to control their spooked horses and plowed straight into the warriors loading crops onto carts.
"Argh!"
"Get out of the way!"
Crack!
Watching the scene turn into chaos in seconds, Cheol Mu-ok looked at Yi Hwan.
"Let's go."
Yi Hwan calmly kicked his horse's hindquarters.
A faint smile tugged at Cheol Mu-ok's lips.