Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Man Chasing the Traces of the Soul Separation Technique
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Yi Hwan slowly opened his eyes.
Song Hoe stood there with an excited expression.
“What is it?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince sent medicine! The Crown Prince himself!”
“Is that something to get so worked up about?”
“He’s the one who will rule this land one day—how could I not be thrilled? Please come out and see!”
Shwaaak!
Yi Hwan emerged from the cauldron, wrapped a cloth around himself, and headed inside. Song Hoe followed behind, unable to hide his surging emotions.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has been watching over the Great Prince! Even that icy Highness for the Great Prince...”
Song Hoe’s voice finally cracked with emotion.
Cha Jung-kyeong looked at him with a pathetic expression.
‘A general acting like a rear palace consort receiving imperial favor. Tsk tsk.’
Yi Hwan entered the room, changed clothes, and sat at the table. A teacup sat on the table.
Clink.
After taking a sip of tea, Yi Hwan stared at the basket on the table. Inside was medicine wrapped in gold foil.
‘Is there something in this body’s memories that I don’t know about?’
From what he remembered, Crown Prince Yi So was as cold-hearted as they came. When Yi Hwan had left the Imperial Palace for the front lines, Yi So hadn’t even bothered to see him off, just like the other princes.
For such a man to send medicine now? Naturally, suspicion outweighed any gratitude.
“It’s just pity from someone in power. Enough with the fuss.”
“No matter what the Great Prince says, this subordinate just wants to dance for joy.”
Yi Hwan started to say something but stopped. Song Hoe was genuinely happy right now.
“Let’s eat.”
“Please wait just a moment, and I’ll have it served right away.”
It was then.
“Great Prince, the Left General has arrived.”
A warrior’s voice drifted in from outside.
Yi Hwan recalled the general who had come with the Paeng family warriors.
Song Hoe asked,
“What should we do?”
“Tell him I’m tired.”
“Even if it’s just a courtesy visit, perhaps you should meet him...”
“No.”
* * *
Hwang Ho sat across from Jeong Cheon.
The two engaged in a deep discussion about strategy. At the end, Jeong Cheon said this.
“According to the warriors, the Great Prince’s martial arts are astonishingly superb. They say a few Black Tiger Squad members lost their heads to his blade in the most pathetic, effortless manner.”
“Then he’s been hiding his skills all this time?”
“It seems that way.”
“Then why hide them? With that level of skill, he could have stepped forward and claimed merits.”
“Perhaps he has no desire to return to the Imperial Palace? This blood-soaked battlefield might feel more comfortable to the Great Prince than the palace. At least here, he doesn’t have to watch his back like he does there.”
Indeed, Yi Hwan had been ignored by various generals before but never shown any real discontent.
It could have been due to a weak personality, but now that he thought about it, perhaps he preferred this place over the palace.
“Yeah. Maybe so.”
Hwang Ho took a sip of his cold tea.
Clink.
Jeong Cheon brought up another topic.
“Left General Paeng Mu-wi requested information related to the Zhao Kingdom’s forces. He specifically wants to meet directly with the warriors who fought the Black Tiger Squad.”
“He came to check on the Black Tiger Squad, so that’s only natural. It takes a load off our minds too, so give them whatever information they want.”
“Understood.”
Clink.
“Ever since the Great Prince recovered, something feels off about him. We got through this incident unscathed, but who knows what he’ll do next? Keep a closer eye on him.”
“Understood.”
After Jeong Cheon withdrew a moment later, Hwang Ho opened the window.
A cool breeze carried the thick scent of the forest inside. Hwang Ho gazed at the tent across the camp.
That was where the Left General and the Paeng family warriors were.
‘It can’t be just about dealing with the Black Tiger Squad. If he sent the Left General to replace me, it means Her Majesty the Empress’s influence—backing the Second Prince—has grown stronger...’
The current Imperial Palace revolved around the Empress.
The emperor, once called the Iron-Blooded Sovereign, had long since stepped back from the forefront, leaving the position to her.
The Crown Prince’s birth mother had passed away shortly after his birth, and then the current Empress entered the palace and bore the Second Prince and Third Prince.
Among her children, she doted on the Second Prince the most, and as a result, people were flocking to him—that was the reality now.
Rumors swirled about the emperor, but nothing was confirmed as fact.
Hwang Ho thought of Crown Prince Yi So.
‘You must hold firm, Your Highness. No matter what anyone says, you are this nation’s Crown Prince.’
Grip!
* * *
A city in the northern part of the Zhao Kingdom, bordering Yeon Kingdom.
A man entered the market street of a city boasting enormous scale and splendor, hard to believe was near the border.
One might expect fear of imminent war since crossing just one mountain range led to Yeon territory, yet the streets buzzed with vibrant energy.
The city’s opulence reflected the Zhao Kingdom’s recent prosperity.
The man headed straight for an inn.
The inn overflowed with people, the drunken shouts of patrons making it feel like a marketplace.
“Welcome!”
“Got a quiet room?”
“We have one available upstairs. Shall I show you?”
“Please.”
Guided by the server, the man ascended to the fourth floor. Unlike the noisy lower levels, the fourth floor consisted of sealed individual rooms and was utterly quiet.
“Two bottles of your finest liquor, and the most expensive side dishes.”
“Understood! Please enjoy some tea while you wait!”
Once the server left, the man set down his sword and quenched his thirst with the prepared tea.
Thud.
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
How much time passed without him stirring?
“It’s me.”
“Come in.”
A man in blue robes entered.
The man finally opened his eyes.
“I’ve found out what you asked.”
“Tell me.”
“There’s a unit called the Black Tiger Squad in the Zhao army, and he was one of them. But he went missing in battle two days ago.”
“You’re sure it’s the one who ambushed Yeon’s Fourth Imperial Prince?”
“Yes. We even confirmed the name: Cha Jung-kyeong. But aside from him, no one else in the Black Tiger Squad uses the Soul Separation Technique.”
“Missing... He might be dead, then.”
“From what we confirmed, they haven’t found the body. Given how fierce the battle was, he’s likely fallen.”
The man’s eyes darkened ominously, emanating an aura like pitch-black darkness.
“Keep digging until the body’s confirmed.”
“Understood.”
Just then, the server brought the liquor first.
As the blue-robed man filled the man’s cup, he added,
“The Yeon Fourth Imperial Prince who was hit by the Soul Separation Technique survived. He didn’t die.”
The man’s eyes changed.
“No, didn’t you say just a few days ago he was struck by it?”
“That’s why it’s shocking. Even if it was some worthless fool’s Soul Separation Technique, to recover from the injury in just days and return to the battlefield?”
The man’s gaze sank.
The blue-robed man continued.
“Should we investigate him too? Who knows, something might turn up.”
The man silently drained his cup again. After three cups, he spoke.
“Do it. But remember, finding the missing Black Tiger Squad member comes first.”
“Understood. Oh, and this.”
The blue-robed man handed over a portrait sketch.
“It’s Cha Jung-kyeong’s likeness. Keep it in mind, just in case.”
A moment later, the server brought the food, and the conversation ended.
* * *
The next morning, the man left the inn. The blue-robed man who had dined with him was gone.
The man exited the city and headed north.
He looked ahead.
Beyond the mountain range unfolding like a curtain lay Yeon territory.
—Cross the mountains, and you’ll find the city where Yeon warriors’ families live. I’ll meet you there in two days.
Seeing no one around, the man launched himself toward the mountains.
His lightness skill, soaring like a bird, surpassed the transcendent realm.
At the mountain’s edge, he paused his lightness skill. A group of warriors appeared from where the forest began.
Zhao soldiers patrolling the mountain perimeter.
“Halt!”
The man stopped.
The warriors surrounded him.
“C civilians aren’t allowed here. If you’re Zhao folk, you know that.”
“I’m not Zhao folk.”
“What?”
“I’m a wandering ronin with no nation. Let me pass.”
“We’ll find out if you’re a ronin or a Yeon spy after investigation. Drop your sword and surrender! Resist, and this’ll be your grave!”
Sshing.
A sword touched the man’s neck.
But the man stared down the group’s leader without a flicker in his eyes.
“Let me pass.”
Did he sense the man’s extraordinary presence?
The leader flinched and drew his sword.
Chaeng!
“You’re a martial artist.”
“I said ronin.”
“Shut up! What are you waiting for? Bind him!”
At the leader’s order, two warriors reached for the man’s arms.
That was when the man slipped past them like paper caught in the wind, closing in on the leader.
“Huh!”
Exclamations of surprise burst from the two warriors.
Then a flash of light streaked, and the leader’s head separated from his body, tumbling to the ground.
Thud!
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
All recoiled in horror.
The man walked toward them. He passed through the midst of the warriors, who dared not attack and scattered left and right, entering the forest.
“If you get in my way, you all die too?”
“...!”
* * *
In a room shrouded in pitch-black darkness by cloth over the window.
Sweat dripped from Yi Hwan’s face as he sat cross-legged, immersed in his breathing technique.
Sensing his lack of inner power, Yi Hwan had devoted himself solely to the technique, staying in his quarters.
It had already been two days.
He hadn’t stepped out of the building once, nor allowed any visitors.
Yi Hwan’s quarters were stifling hot from the heat radiating from his body.
“Huuu!”
Yi Hwan exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
For an instant, a sharp glint flashed in them before vanishing.
‘As expected, it takes two straight days of continuous practice for the full effect.’
Yi Hwan stepped outside.
Cha Jung-kyeong, who had been dozing off with his head nodding, rubbed his eyes and stood.
“Where’s the deputy general?”
“He left a bit ago.”
“Where to.”
“You know he’s not the type to tell me.”
“Go fetch some cold water.”
Cha Jung-kyeong headed to the backyard.
Yi Hwan flung the window wide open.
Whoosh!
Cool wind cooled his overheated body.
Yi Hwan surveyed the camp. Then he spotted people emerging from the row of tents opposite and subtly furrowed his brow.
Paeng family warriors.
The Left General appeared behind them. Song Hoe’s words came to mind.
—The Second Prince sent the Left General to replace General Hwang as commander here, or so the rumors say.
Yi Hwan thought of the Second Prince.
From memory, this body’s original owner had been extremely afraid of him.
And for good reason—the memories of relentless torment since childhood were etched like indelible scars.
He’d even come close to death multiple times because of it, yet the Second Prince was forgiven everything solely for being of the direct imperial line.
Perhaps that was why he found this battlefield, strewn with blood and flesh, more comfortable than the glamorous palace—because it kept him far from the Second Prince.
‘If you treat me like before, I’ll lop off your head first.’
Yi Hwan’s cold inner mutter halted abruptly. Thinking of the Second Prince had ignited an inexplicable surge of anger.
‘Am I starting to assimilate this guy’s emotions?’