Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Yi Hwan's Self-Blame and Stratagem
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Yi Hwan returned to his residence, growing suspicious of Yi Tae-ji's reason for sending a messenger.
‘There’s no way he suspects me.’
Even after carefully reviewing everything, there was no chance his identity had been exposed. So why?
The moment of doubt didn’t last long.
‘If he’s targeting someone, it has to be the Moon Lord. She’s the only one whose identity was revealed.’
Yi Hwan then turned his self-reproach inward.
‘How could I have overlooked that...?’
He had failed to conceal her status. He’d naively assumed that even the Fourth Imperial Prince couldn’t touch the Moon Lord of Moon Pavilion lightly.
‘If she left the Imperial Palace the same day as us, she might be almost here by now.’
“Mu-ok, Ju Tae.”
The door opened, and Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae entered.
“You called for us?”
“Come with me.”
“Where to?”
“There are some bastards who need dealing with.”
Yi Hwan grabbed his sword and stepped outside. Song Hoe, Song Cheon-mu, and the others, who had been talking outside, jumped to their feet.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back. If anyone comes looking, say I’m asleep and to return tomorrow.”
“Let me come with you...”
“No need.”
* * *
Beyond the pitch-black darkness, three figures approached the Southern Legion camp.
All three were slender, each carrying an unusually long sword.
“Are we far?”
“We’re almost there.”
“Then let’s rest a bit. I need to take care of something.”
“Yes.”
One headed into the forest to the left.
The other two sat on a rock and twisted their bodies this way and that.
Crack!
“Pushing without rest has my joints aching like hell.”
“You’ve been slacking on training. How does a little march like this leave you sore?”
“It’s just a figure of speech, you bastard.”
Crack!
“By the way, why’d they order us to kill Moon Pavilion’s Moon Lord?”
“Who knows. We just follow orders and strike when told. Heard she’s a stunning beauty, though. Kinda a shame to kill her. Heh heh heh.”
“Want to have some fun first?”
“If possible.”
“Bullshit. You might end up with your little friend chopped off. That woman’s no pushover.”
“She’s still just a woman.”
That was when it happened.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“What else? Fireflies, idiot.”
Where the one had gone to relieve himself, five tiny lights floated gently in the air.
“Fireflies in these deep woods? Neat.”
They looked like fireflies to anyone, so the two soon lost interest.
That was when it happened.
Thud!
Something collapsed with a sound.
They turned toward where the fireflies had been, but they were already gone.
“Did something just fall?”
“Yeah.”
One of the black-clad men called out softly.
“Leader!”
No response. He called again.
“Leader! You there?”
Still nothing.
“Damn!”
Clang!
The two black-clad men leaped up, drawing their swords. Above their heads, the vanished fireflies reappeared. But since they were right overhead, the men noticed nothing.
“Leader!”
As he called once more, the bushes rustled, and a shadow rose.
“Who the hell are you!”
The two black-clad men aimed their swords and shouted coldly.
But the shadow approached silently. Sensing something off, they widened their stance and lowered their blades.
Sizzle.
Bloodlight gleamed from their sword tips.
They exchanged transmissions.
[If the leader’s down, it’s a top expert. First strike, no question!]
[Got it!]
Whoosh!
The two charged at the lightning-fast approaching shadow. At the same time, the five flickering lights plunged straight down.
Thud!
“Urk!”
One black-clad man staggered with a sharp gasp. Fortunately, it missed vitals, so he didn’t collapse immediately.
But that was it.
Flash!
A streak of light flashed from behind, severing the staggering man’s neck.
Slice!
“...!”
Seeing his comrade’s head fly, the remaining black-clad man’s eyes bulged as he whipped around.
Dodging the approaching shadow, he flung himself east. Recognizing he couldn’t handle it alone, he chose flight.
It was the best snap judgment. But that was as far as he got.
Thud!
A dull impact rang out, followed by blood spraying from the black-clad man’s head. He slammed face-first into a tree at full speed, then crumpled.
Boom!
Thud!
Two more shadows approached the fallen black-clad man.
Yi Hwan and Ju Tae.
Cheol Mu-ok soon joined from the side.
“Just as you said, they came for the Moon Lord.”
Yi Hwan gazed down at the corpses, his eyes darkening.
“We took them out easily with a sneak attack, but they weren’t weak at all. If we hadn’t overheard them, things could’ve gone really wrong.”
“True. Especially the one caught mid-shit—he seemed like a real expert.”
Ju Tae chuckled.
“The bastard picks that moment to drop a load. Tsk tsk tsk.”
They say martial experts are most vulnerable while relieving themselves. That’s why assassins target that moment against stronger foes.
“If time passes, they’ll send more. Kill every batch that comes?”
“That’s just a short-term fix.”
“Then...”
“We find them first. A way for the Moon Lord to help me without having to leave. Clear the bodies for now.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan watched Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae drag the corpses into the woods, a bitter expression crossing his face.
‘I have no face left to show the Moon Lord.’
Self-reproach surged again. Yi Hwan pondered briefly. Then, something occurred to him, and he called out.
“Mu-ok!”
“Yes.”
“Cut off that one’s head and take it back to the residence.”
“To the residence?”
“I have a use for it.”
“...Understood.”
* * *
The next day.
Yi Hwan sat face-to-face with Go Mi.
He got straight to the point.
“The Fourth Imperial Prince is targeting you.”
“How did you know?”
Yi Hwan explained Paeng Mu-wi’s messenger pigeon and last night’s events. But Go Mi’s reaction was nonchalant.
“So it was him after all.”
“You expected it?”
“Yes. I was the only one whose identity was exposed. If the Fourth Imperial Prince holds a grudge over the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group, it made sense he might try to kill me.”
“I’m sorry. My mistake.”
“No. To handle things properly, we needed your censor identity, and a censor can’t disguise with a human skin mask, right? I’m fine.”
Her response only made him feel worse.
Yi Hwan met her gaze steadily.
“You’ll have to die once.”
“...Pardon?”
“The Fourth Imperial Prince will back off only if you’re dead. So make a human skin mask of yourself as soon as possible.”
“You’ve already figured out how to fool his side?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“You’ll find out later. Hold your curiosity.”
At his words, Go Mi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then, in an uncharacteristic tone, she said,
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“‘You’ll find out later. Hold your curiosity.’ Know this is a habit of yours?”
“When else have I said that?”
Just then, Cheol Mu-ok’s voice came from behind.
“It’s a habit, alright.”
“Agreed.”
Ju Tae chimed in.
Twitch.
As Yi Hwan’s brow curved faintly, Go Mi continued.
“Tell me now. It’s about killing me, so I deserve to know.”
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea, then outlined the plan. When he finished, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae exchanged glances and grinned.
[Thinking of that even in the moment.]
[Yeah. He’s the real deal. No more doubting him.]
Go Mi raised a question.
“The build might make it hard to fool them.”
But Yi Hwan’s reply made her eyes widen.
“That’s why I kept the head. Luckily, one had a pretty small one.”
“...!”
* * *
Paeng Mu-wi hurried to Yi Hwan’s residence with his deputy in tow.
Entering moments later, he flinched at the heavy atmosphere.
Paeng Mu-wi asked Deputy Song Hoe,
“Why the grim mood?”
“Go to the back yard. The Great Prince is waiting.”
‘What happened to make it like this?’
Paeng Mu-wi tilted his head and headed to the back yard. There, Yi Hwan sat rigidly in a chair with eyes closed, and before him lay two cloth-covered corpses and a small object.
‘What? Those bodies?’
Paeng Mu-wi sensed something grave had occurred.
“You called for me?”
Yi Hwan opened his eyes.
Paeng Mu-wi flinched again, feeling like daggers pierced his eyes. In all his time with Yi Hwan, he’d never seen such a terrifying gaze.
“Remove the cloth.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok pulled the cloth from the corpses.
Yi Hwan asked Paeng Mu-wi,
“Do you recognize them by chance?”
Paeng Mu-wi examined the bodies, then shook his head.
“First time seeing them. What happened? Why are they here?”
“Mu-ok.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok removed the cloth from the small object on the table.
Paeng Mu-wi’s eyes bulged.
“Gasp!”
On the table lay Go Mi’s severed head.
“What in the world happened, Great Prince!”
“Fetch the Moon Lord.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok cradled Go Mi’s head carefully and went inside. He glanced at the stunned Paeng Mu-wi with a faint smile.
Yi Hwan continued.
“Someone killed the Moon Lord and hung her head from a tree. These guys were lurking nearby, spotted by my guards. One fled. So I ask you.”
“...”
“Truly strangers to you?”
“How dare I lie? They really are unknown to me!”
“Didn’t you say the Fourth Imperial Prince sent men? I figured these were his, but what’s your take, Commander?”
“Why would the Fourth Imperial Prince kill Moon Pavilion’s Moon Lord? The head of a covert agency answers only to His Majesty—no one else can touch them!”
“Sane men don’t covet the throne with the Crown Prince right there. We’ll know the truth in time, so deploy your forces now to hunt the fugitive. He’s wounded, won’t get far. Leave a few for Moon Pavilion and send the rest back to the Imperial Palace.”
“Understood.”
As Yi Hwan turned away, he called to Paeng Mu-wi.
“Commander.”
“Yes.”
“Catch him, and we uncover who killed the Moon Lord. Make sure you do.”
“I’ll commit everything!”
Soon after Paeng Mu-wi left, Go Mi emerged into the back yard. She already wore a completely different face.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
“How’s it feel to be a ghost?”
“Not great. I’ll keep only the skilled mask-makers and send the rest back.”
“Ones you can trust?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll inform the Crown Prince’s Palace via pigeon with full details, so tell your returning subordinates you’re dead.”
“Understood.”
Go Mi turned.
“Where you going? Stay till they’re gone.”
“...!”
Go Mi turned back with a start.
Yi Hwan rose, stretched grandly, and headed inside.
“Let’s eat.”
Ju Tae asked,
“What about these?”
“They killed the Moon Lord. Cut off their limbs in front of everyone and burn them.”
“Understood.”