Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Emotional Assimilation
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“A bit of fresh air might do you good, sir.”
“Fresh air?”
“Yes. Didn’t you always enjoy heading out to the markets around here and browsing around?”
Just as Song Hoe said, the original owner of this body greatly enjoyed strolling through the markets near the camp. He even made it his hobby to return laden with gifts for his guards.
‘Besides, I’ve been craving some proper liquor...’
Yi Hwan was a heavy drinker.
Even after unifying the martial world, he had left Daye Fortress in the hands of his trusted aides and spent his days wandering the land, savoring and collecting fine liquors.
‘Nothing much to do until my internal energy recovers, so it’s not a bad idea.’
“Prepare to go.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Am I coming along too?”
Cha Jung-kyeong looked up with hopeful eyes.
Song Hoe glared at him.
“Shut that mouth of yours.”
Yi Hwan stepped in.
“Bring him.”
“Yes?”
“That outfit of his is an eyesore. Can’t have him wearing our army uniform either, so let’s take him and buy him some proper clothes.”
“......Yes. Understood.”
* * *
Left General Paeng Mu-wi of the Hebei Paeng Family was a man who had entered government service long ago and risen to the rank of general.
He was as ambitious as he was powerful, and just as greedy, which made opinions of him in the military sharply divided.
Clink.
A sneer crossed Paeng Mu-wi’s face as he set down his teacup.
“He refused again today?”
“Yes. The other generals are avoiding meetings with the Fourth Imperial Prince as well.”
“He must know I’m with the Second Prince and is scared off. Not surprising from a man like that. Heh heh heh.”
“But General, they say the Fourth Imperial Prince has completely changed since waking from his severe injuries. He volunteered for the mission himself, charged into the Black Tiger Squad alone, killed a few, and dragged one back alive.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, his martial prowess at the time was no joke.”
“Really now?”
Paeng Mu-wi’s eyes narrowed.
“So he’s been hiding his true strength all this time.”
“Seems that way. Shouldn’t we report this to the Second Prince right away? He said to report even the smallest details.”
“What we need to focus on is Commander Hwang Ho. The Fourth Imperial Prince is irrelevant whether he’s here or not, so let’s watch a bit longer. Killing a few Black Tiger Squad members isn’t that impressive.”
“Understood.”
Paeng Mu-wi took another sip of tea and asked something else.
“Did you receive all the requested information?”
“Yes. Our family’s warriors are reviewing it thoroughly right now. We’ll devise the optimal strategy to guarantee results when we deploy.”
“Preparations must be perfect. We need to achieve success in a single operation to gain the camp’s support. Only then will Hwang Ho step aside without a fuss. Got it?”
“Yes, General.”
Once his subordinate left, Paeng Mu-wi walked to the window and flung it open.
His gaze naturally fell on Yi Hwan’s pavilion across the way, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
He had spotted Yi Hwan just climbing into a carriage.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked across the distance.
“......!”
Paeng Mu-wi involuntarily stepped back. It felt as if a dagger was piercing his pupil.
‘What was that?’
The carriage began to move.
Paeng Mu-wi couldn’t tear his eyes away from the receding vehicle.
‘Must be my imagination.’
* * *
The city was fairly large and prosperous.
The Southern Legion stationed there numbered around fifty thousand men, most with families living in the city.
“Wow! This place is pretty flashy.”
Cha Jung-kyeong exclaimed at the bustle of the markets.
Yi Hwan entered the largest and most lavish inn in the district.
The owner and attendants rushed to greet him. The patrons inside hurriedly stood and bowed their heads.
To ordinary folk, even a prince cast out by the imperial family was an untouchable figure from the heavens.
“We’ll prepare your usual.”
Yi Hwan headed up to the top floor.
The space ‘that guy’ always favored was on the fourth floor. And the fourth floor was too pricey for most to access.
‘Did he come here to savor a sense of freedom?’
Yi Hwan entered the room. As he did, he glanced through the slightly ajar door of the next room and caught sight of a man sitting inside.
Yi Hwan’s eyes flashed for an instant.
But he quickly turned away and entered his room.
Moments later, attendants brought liquor and simple appetizers.
Yi Hwan asked,
“The man in the next room—is he a regular here?”
“No, sir. First-time guest today.”
Once the attendant left, Yi Hwan asked Cha Jung-kyeong,
“Do you know anyone in this city?”
“No, sir. As I told you before, I was as good as an outsider in the Black Tiger Squad. But why do you ask...?”
“He was staring at you.”
“The guy next door?”
“Yeah.”
“Could they have sent a pursuit team thinking I deserted?”
Cha Jung-kyeong tilted his head and muttered. Song Hoe spoke in a worried tone.
“That could be. If so, it might be dangerous. Best to head somewhere else quickly.”
“Enough fussing. Fill my cup.”
Song Hoe started to say something but gave up. From Yi Hwan’s recent behavior, he knew his words would fall on deaf ears anyway.
Pour.
Yi Hwan brought the cup to his lips, his gaze steadying.
‘A martial arts master showing up in a place like this...’
Yi Hwan had recognized at a glance that the man next door was a master. A considerable one, at that—one who could perfectly contain his energy.
‘His eyes changed when he looked at this guy.’
Yi Hwan hadn’t missed the way the man’s gaze flickered sharply toward Cha Jung-kyeong. It was distinctly different from how he looked at others.
‘If he has ill intentions, can I handle him with my current abilities?’
Yi Hwan considered the worst-case scenario.
The answer was uncertain.
‘But no need to go out of my way to avoid him.’
His pride wouldn’t allow it.
* * *
“Sorry I’m late. I stopped to check on something on the way.”
“Never mind. Sit.”
The man silently tilted his cup.
Thud!
“The target from the portrait is in the second room.”
“......Really?”
“No doubt. Unless the portrait you gave me was poorly drawn.”
“Then we should move now.”
The man shook his head. His eyes darkened ominously.
“There was a strange fellow with him.”
“Pardon?”
“Bad feeling about it. So we wait for an opportunity.”
“......”
The man in green robes was curious about the person his companion mentioned.
‘It’s rare to see him this cautious...’
If the man spoke this way, it had to be an extraordinary master.
“Any useful information?”
“I asked around. Apparently, he’s a bastard prince from the Yeon Kingdom, sent to the front lines per their laws. Useless abilities, thoroughly ignored back home. The Black Tiger Squad ambush wasn’t even aimed at him specifically from the start, so no need to worry.”
“Doesn’t surviving a Soul Separation Technique make him even more suspicious?”
“Maybe it was just luck?”
“......”
Pour.
Thud!
The man in green robes filled his own cup, took a drink, and continued.
“Oh, just in case, I had a portrait made of the Yeon Kingdom’s Great Prince.”
The man in green robes handed over a portrait.
The man’s eyes flashed.
“What is it?”
“This one’s in the second room too.”
“......Pardon?”
The man’s gaze steadied.
“Strange. For him to enter an inn with the man who tried to kill him.”
“If true, it is odd.”
“Ask the attendants how much liquor and food those men ordered. Confirm if they’re staying here tonight too.”
“Understood.”
“And give them plenty of silver to keep quiet.”
“No worries. I’ll handle it discreetly.”
Once the man in green robes left, the man poured himself a drink, his gaze steady.
Yi Hwan’s face as he entered the second room floated in his mind.
-Apparently, he’s a bastard prince from the Yeon Kingdom with useless abilities, ignored back home.
‘He’s hiding something.’
* * *
‘That guy’ always stayed the night here whenever he came.
And until morning, he would lie awake, lost in all sorts of worries.
Most were laments over his own fate and concerns for his younger sister.
It was natural to feel especially close to blood kin from the same womb, but ‘that guy’ worried about his sister excessively.
Yi Hwan thought of ‘that guy’s’ sister shedding tears as he left for the monastery, and his brow furrowed slightly.
‘I’m truly starting to assimilate with his emotions.’
It felt similar to how he felt recalling the Second Prince. As if it were something he himself had endured.
‘I hate this kind of thing. Tsk.’
Yi Hwan clicked his tongue and drained his cup.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Nothing.”
“We’ve reserved a room. Once you’ve eaten, soak in hot water to relieve your fatigue.”
Yi Hwan stared out the window.
Dusk was already falling. Yet the markets below still teemed with people.
Cha Jung-kyeong stood.
“I’ll use the outhouse.”
Song Hoe glared.
“You know what happens if you try anything stupid?”
“Y-Yes.”
“You little—!”
Cha Jung-kyeong shot Song Hoe a glare and left the room. Song Hoe asked,
“You’re keeping it secret from me too?”
“Keeping what?”
“Why you’re not killing that guy. You could tell me.”
“I said I’d explain later. Pour me another.”
“......”
Pour.
“You have some too. It’s not bad to enjoy yourself now and then.”
“Yes, sir.”
The two exchanged cups and drank. Quite some time passed, but Cha Jung-kyeong hadn’t returned.
“This guy’s taking too long.”
“He’s probably taking a big one.”
“Might’ve run off. I should go check.”
* * *
Song Hoe left the room and headed to the backyard where the outhouse was. The stench hit him as soon as he stepped into the yard.
“If you’re done, close the damn door.”
Song Hoe strode toward the only outhouse with its door shut.
“You in there?”
No answer.
“You bastard! I asked if you’re in there!”
Still no answer.
Song Hoe’s face twisted in fury.
“I knew it.”
Bang!
Song Hoe kicked the door open roughly. But no one was inside.
“Damn it!”
Whoosh!
In his anger, Song Hoe leaped up onto the wall. Then his brow furrowed—he had spotted a ring lying below.
Song Hoe recalled his conversation with Cha Jung-kyeong.
-Prisoner or not, that ring.
-It’s very important to me.
-A keepsake from your parents or something?
-My master gave it to me. The others in the sect treated me like an outcast, but my master truly cared for me. So this ring is like my master to me.
The ring was unmistakably Cha Jung-kyeong’s.