Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Wang Ji-kyeong's Fury
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Yi Yeong and her husband sat facing Song Cheon-mu.
Two money pouches sat on the table.
“The Great Prince asked me to deliver this. Ah! He said he’ll send more next time.”
Yi Yeong let out a sigh instead.
“Is he so busy he can’t even spare a moment?”
“Yes. But he said he’ll come to see you as soon as possible.”
Song Cheon-ho opened one of the pouches and reddened around the eyes. It wasn’t just the money—it was that Yi Hwan was looking after them like this that moved him deeply.
Song Cheon-mu’s eyes reddened in turn.
“Don’t cry, brother.”
“Are you truly unharmed?”
“Of course. The Great Prince is perfectly fine. With Cheon High Master shadowing him like a ghost, you two have nothing to worry about.”
“Oh! Look at me. I’ll prepare a meal right away, so keep talking.”
“Take your time. We’re staying home for a while starting today, on the Great Prince’s orders.”
“Oh! That’s wonderful.”
Yi Yeong smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll take my time and prepare something delicious, so just wait a bit.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Once Yi Yeong left, Song Cheon-ho took his brother’s hand.
“Truth be told, I worried a lot when I sent you to the Great Prince. I wondered if I was doing something against your beliefs. But seeing you like this, I feel relieved.”
“To be honest, at first I was anxious about how the camp warriors would see me. But I don’t think that way at all now. As I told you before, the Great Prince now commands the full respect of the Southern Legion.”
“You must support him by his side. Understood?”
“Yes, brother.”
Song Cheon-ho thought of Yi Hwan.
Truth be told, though he hadn’t told Song Cheon-mu, his main worry when sending him to Yi Hwan’s side was whether he’d burden the prince.
The rumors about Yi Hwan were so poor that the concern was even greater. Still, he’d sent him hoping for a safe return.
Even a powerless, weak Great Prince was still the Great Prince—safer than with other warriors, he’d judged.
‘How has someone so exceptional lived like that until now?’
The question came with deep regret.
With such talent, even as a bastard, he wouldn’t have been cast out so cruelly.
“Brother, what are you thinking?”
“Nothing. Hey! Shall we have a drink for old times’ sake?”
“Sounds good!”
* * *
A night with a crescent moon sharp as a blade.
Yi Hwan met Go Mi on the rooftop.
“I’ve obtained new information.”
Yi Hwan checked the paper she handed him. It detailed those in conflict with Wang Ji-kyeong.
What caught his eye was the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group.
Yi Hwan recalled Wang Ji-kyeong raging at the manor during the day and calmed his gaze.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Extremely useful information. He could devise better strategies based on this.
Yi Hwan tucked the paper into his bosom and stared straight at Go Mi.
“Seeing the Moon Lord makes me think something.”
“What is it?”
“What if the Moon Lord became head of the Golden Imperial Guards? You’d do wonderfully.”
“Not a chance, and I have no desire to.”
“If the opportunity ever arises, think it over. If an upright person like the Moon Lord led the Golden Imperial Guards, it could bring positive change in many ways. Information is that powerful a weapon.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
Before Yi Hwan could say more, Go Mi leaped into the darkness and vanished.
Heh.
“She’s quite unique.”
Yi Hwan smirked.
Go Mi gave her all to her duties, spoke her mind, and flatly refused when she didn’t like something. Even in his own era, he’d had no subordinate like her.
Yi Hwan looked up at the crescent moon for a moment. Tonight, it seemed sharper than usual.
‘I used to hate that crescent moon.’
It brought to mind those who resisted to the end on his path to unifying the world—the man who led them and his faction.
‘Here I am, reincarnated like this, but he’s long been dust.’
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan let the wind carry him for a moment.
Then he whipped around like lightning, scanning a distant pavilion.
But the pavilion’s roof was empty.
* * *
Tremble...
‘Sensing a presence from this distance? No way.’
In the darkness, the ronin watching Yi Hwan narrowed his shaking eyes.
He’d nearly been caught.
The distance had made him careless.
He watched Yi Hwan descend from the roof, steadying his gaze.
‘It wasn’t just about protection. That guy’s plotting something there.’
He’d been deeply disappointed in Yi Hwan after the sudden murder and guarding a corrupt magnate.
But the ronin reconsidered.
‘Set aside prejudices and observe from scratch. But it won’t be for long.’
Whoosh!
As a gust rustled the leaves, the ronin vanished into the darkness.
* * *
No one suspected Yi Hwan entering his quarters. He’d disguised it as returning from the outhouse, not the roof.
Before opening the door, Yi Hwan glanced toward Wang Ji-kyeong’s quarters. Lights blazed even at this late hour.
‘The Dark Emperor can’t touch the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group, backed by the Empress and Second Prince. Fine, I’ll help you. For a price, of course.’
Creak.
As he opened the door and entered, Cheol Mu-ok awaited.
“Not asleep?”
“You met the Moon Lord?”
“Impressive. I even tried to fool you.”
Yi Hwan pulled the paper from his bosom and handed it to Cheol Mu-ok. Reading it, Cheol Mu-ok’s eyes widened slightly.
“So that’s why he raged during the day.”
“Excellent information. Used well, it could yield even better results than expected.”
“How?”
Yi Hwan stared at Cheol Mu-ok silently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”
“Ah... Sorry. Then rest well.”
Cheol Mu-ok returned to his room. Yi Hwan tossed off his clothes and lay on the bed.
The bed, imported from the Western Regions, offered an unprecedented softness.
‘Luxury indeed.’
* * *
Two days later, they set out on escort duty again.
But the destination was the Song family manor. With the short distance through the city center, the escort numbers were halved.
En route, Wang Ji-kyeong stopped at an inn.
Yi Hwan took the table right beside Wang Ji-kyeong’s, while the other escorts waited outside.
The inn was extravagantly luxurious. Most patrons were city notables.
[Who will he meet here?]
[We’ll find out if we wait.]
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok drank tea. They’d eaten before leaving the manor, and Yi Hwan said Wang Ji-kyeong wouldn’t linger. He observed Wang Ji-kyeong’s expression.
Even after two days, the man was still furious.
After about half an hour,
“Sorry. I’m a bit late.”
A middle-aged man sat at Wang Ji-kyeong’s table. His presumed escorts stood rigidly behind without sitting.
Wang Ji-kyeong raised his voice immediately.
“What is this? How can the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group run usury in my territory! Do they have no basic merchant ethics?”
“Lower your voice.”
“Answer me!”
“I’m just following the merchant group leader’s orders. I heard the Second Prince himself asked him how it would be to do so.”
“...!”
At the mention of Yi Tae-ji, Wang Ji-kyeong’s face flushed red. He clearly grew cautious with his words. Yi Hwan chuckled inwardly.
‘That guy again.’
The middle-aged man continued.
“What I can tell you, my lord, is that our Yellow Dragon Merchant Group has no choice. Who dares defy the Second Prince’s will?”
“Did the Second Prince truly order it?”
“As I said, I just follow the leader’s commands, and I only heard rumors of the Second Prince’s involvement.”
Thud!
Wang Ji-kyeong slammed the table in frustration. The middle-aged man stared at him with a sly smile.
“If that answers you, I’ll take my leave.”
As he rose,
“I heard the Black and White Twin Swords are dead. Though late, my condolences. Farewell.”
“Wasn’t it the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s doing?”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s words made the middle-aged man laugh aloud.
“Hahaha. Seems you’ve misunderstood. Why would we do such a thing? You seem to think too highly of yourself, my lord.”
“What?”
“Then, farewell.”
The middle-aged man left the inn.
His two escorts glared coldly at Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok before following.
Yi Hwan stared straight at Wang Ji-kyeong.
Wang Ji-kyeong breathed raggedly, his face red as an apple.
“Damn it...”
Then Yi Hwan asked casually.
“Do you think the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group killed the Black and White Twin Swords?”
“This isn’t for you to butt in!”
“If it happens again, it’ll directly involve us, so shouldn’t we know?”
“Hmph!”
Wang Ji-kyeong downed a bowl of cold water before speaking.
“It’s happened a few times before. I suspected the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group each time, but without proof, I had to let it go. This incident confirms it. The timing fits perfectly!”
“So they tried to eliminate you to dominate the usury market?”
“That’s my view!”
“It’s quite plausible...”
Cheol Mu-ok chimed in calmly.
“Then they’ll send more assassins.”
“If I were the Yellow Dragon leader, I would. With the strongest rival gone, making money gets easier.”
Yi Hwan asked Wang Ji-kyeong again.
“You’ll just take it lying down? Ah, but with the Empress and Second Prince backing them, you have no choice.”
“How do you know that?”
“Everyone in the city knows. Anyway, if you secure proof it’s them, any other options?”
“With proof, I’d go to the Crown Prince’s Palace and expose it!”
Yi Hwan’s ears perked up.
The Crown Prince’s Palace mentioned here.
“You connected to the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“No direct line, but I’ve long known His Highness has headaches over the Second Prince. Exposing his scandal would surely help!”
Thud!
“With proof, I won’t let the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group off! Those damn scum!”
Yi Hwan watched the fuming Wang Ji-kyeong and smiled inwardly.
‘An unexpected conflict turns into fortune for me. Heh heh heh.’
* * *
Song family manor.
Yi Hwan took a quiet breath crossing the main gate. Song Cheon-ho and Yi Yeong approached from ahead. Wang Ji-kyeong bowed to Yi Yeong.
She was no different from Yi Hwan. Despised in the Imperial Palace, but outside, no one could touch the imperial bloodline.
Song Cheon-ho greeted Wang Ji-kyeong.
“We’ve been waiting after your message. Please, come inside.”
“You all wait here.”
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
He needed to join to learn Wang Ji-kyeong’s purpose. In a flash, he found an excuse.
[There are rumors of suspicious figures entering this manor lately. For safety, let us guard you.]
Wang Ji-kyeong’s eyes flickered, then he nodded.
He said to Song Cheon-ho,
“This is my trusted aide—may he join us?”
Song Cheon-ho looked at Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan kept his gaze as calm as possible to avoid objection.
“Very well.”
‘Whew...’