Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Reaching the Enemy Waters
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‘I didn’t sense a thing.’
Go Mi pushed away from the wall.
Ju Tae stepped outside. Go Mi heightened her senses. A faint presence trickled in, hazy and indistinct.
But it was too vague to tell if it came from a man or a beast.
‘So this is the difference.’
Though it had only been a few breaths’ time, in the world of martial arts, it was an insurmountable gap.
Yi Hwan asked,
“How much inner strength do you have?”
“About this much.”
Considering Go Mi’s age, it was far from weak. No, it was impressive. She herself had never once felt her inner strength lacking.
But Yi Hwan didn’t see it that way.
“You need to build it up more.”
“…….”
Just then, the door opened, and Ju Tae returned.
Go Mi stared behind him. But there was no one.
“It’s handled.”
Yi Hwan closed his eyes again, and Ju Tae sat back in his spot, leaning against the wall.
‘What does “handled” mean?’
Regardless of Go Mi’s doubts, time flowed on indifferently, as if nothing had happened.
Rumble!
Crack!
* * *
The next morning.
The sky after the rain was a piercing blue.
Beneath that blue sky lay two lonely corpses. They wore ordinary clothes and carried no weapons.
Go Mi’s gaze on the bodies was somewhat peculiar.
“I can’t make sense of it.”
“No. I understand. This is enemy territory, and they were armed in a remote area. Witnesses could be dangerous.”
“Good.”
“Pardon?”
“Keep that attitude from now on.”
“…….”
They resumed their journey.
Go Mi brought up the rear.
After half a day’s travel?
A city appeared. Built around a lake, it was fairly large, with plenty of people coming and going.
The group entered the market street.
They still had days to go to their destination, so they needed to stock up on jerky and dry rations.
“To the inn.”
“Yes.”
The group entered a fairly large and ornate inn on the market street. Even early in the day, it bustled with people.
Yi Hwan, seated in the relatively quiet upper floor, gazed out the window at the market.
The people, clothes, buildings—nothing differed from the Yeon Kingdom.
Yi Hwan looked at Go Mi and asked,
“Among the three kingdoms, which do you think is the wealthiest?”
“I can’t say for sure, but based on information alone, I’d estimate the Qin Kingdom leads.”
“Because of its geography?”
“Yes. The Qin Kingdom borders the sea, so trade with Haedong and Wa has flourished since ancient times. They earn a fortune from it.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
The Qin Kingdom had built its state in the richest heartland of the Central Plains. Though smaller in area than Yeon or Zhao, it held ample geographical advantages.
Militarily, its terrain was ideal for repelling invaders, so wars had been rare.
A rich nation with a strong army—those words suited Qin best.
In contrast, the Yeon Kingdom, though centered in the plains, had barren regions like Yodong and Yonyeong in the northeast, and faced powerful barbarians in the north, draining its national strength.
Only recently, through trade with the eastern powerhouse Haedong, had its finances begun improving.
‘Did that old man sire the wrong heirs?’
Yi Hwan thought of Yeon Taejo Yi Jeok.
Among the Three Emperors of the Mount Hua Banquet, he had been the most outstanding. Yi Hwan had expected Yeon to dominate the other two soon.
Yi Hwan asked something else.
“Why does the Beggars’ Sect only operate in Zhao and Qin?”
Go Mi answered.
“The late emperor banned their activities. The sect leader at the time was caught trying to sell sensitive information to Zhao for nefarious purposes. They’re believed to have fled to Zhao and Qin to escape the ensuing crackdown.”
“Was that when Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World broke?”
Go Mi’s eyes widened.
“You knew about Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World?”
“Just answer.”
“Ah…… It had already broken before, but that incident did intensify things.”
Just then, the food arrived, cutting the conversation short.
Everyone began eating. Having gone days without a proper meal, even the usually light-eating Go Mi ate heartily.
Yi Hwan frequently glanced outside during the meal. His eyes sharpened when he spotted a group entering the market.
Around fifty warriors in pale blue uniforms, each wearing a hero band on their heads, crossed the market heading west.
Cheol Mu-ok said,
“Namgung Clan warriors. Their packs suggest they’re heading to the battlefield.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently, watching their retreating figures.
‘The uniforms haven’t changed from then to now. Has only the people changed?’
Then.
“Look over there.”
Cheol Mu-ok pointed east. There, over a hundred white-robed armed men headed the same way as the Namgung warriors.
“The Danri Clan.”
“Danri Clan?”
“Yes. A rising martial clan lately. Rumors say their forces rival the Namgung. If they’re also bound for battle, things are escalating.”
Ju Tae chimed in.
“If Qin’s doing this, Zhao will call in more martial artists too. Could this turn into all-out war?”
Yi Hwan scanned the inn’s patrons. Those eating and chatting looked utterly at ease.
‘These folk show no worry at all. They must trust their nation that much.’
Clack.
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and drank cold water.
“Done eating? Let’s move.”
“Yes.”
Leaving the inn, they resumed travel.
* * *
Not intentional, but they caught up to the Namgung and Danri warriors ahead. The road teemed with others heading west, so no need to worry about trouble.
Another group caught Yi Hwan’s eye.
Beggars’ Sect disciples. Their ragged clothes screamed it, and they too headed west.
‘They were impressive back then.’
The World’s Greatest Sect.
In Yi Hwan’s era, that’s what they were called. With overwhelming numbers, they controlled all information under heaven, at their peak, and contributed greatly to his unification.
‘Do they know why Daye Fortress fell?’
A long-held question.
Had the Beggars’ Sect been active in Yeon, he’d have sought them out long ago.
‘I’ll look into it if the chance arises.’
The weather was clear. Post-rain, snakes slithered onto the road often.
Women screamed here and there.
The thrilled ones were the beggars. They caught each snake and tossed it into bamboo baskets on their waists. Watching, everyone couldn’t help but chuckle.
Past or present, the Beggars’ Sect remained shabby, with three meals a day their top priority.
“Ah!”
Go Mi startled and stepped aside. A viper had appeared.
Ju Tae flicked it away with his scabbard, and Go Mi finally relaxed.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
‘At times like this, she’s all woman.’
Yi Hwan rather liked this side of Go Mi. She’d always been so rigid. Sometimes, he regretted dragging her to the Southern Legion.
‘I’ll repay her later.’
Yi Hwan steadied his breath quietly and took in the scenery as they traveled. Same forests and skies, but with a calm mind, it felt like a pleasure trip.
‘Not bad.’
A profoundly peaceful time.
Crossing the enemy heartland, yet no one suspected them, so no need for vigilance.
* * *
Whoosh!
A fierce wind swept the fog away.
Revealing a gruesome scene in stark clarity.
Hundreds of corpses lay on blood-soaked earth. Impossible to distinguish friend from foe, hinting at the battle’s ferocity.
At its center stood Namgung Jang-cheon.
Steam rose from his body, blood dripping from his lowered sword.
“Hoo.”
Namgung Jang-cheon exhaled, gazing at the enemy corpse at his feet.
A figure clad head to toe in dark gray robes. A Ghost Valley demon. His eyes grew heavy.
“Even Ghost Valley demons.”
He’d pursued the brutal killers of his scouts and run into them.
Stronger, crueler, fearless beyond rumors. Most of his men had died.
What weighed on Namgung Jang-cheon: amid dozens of enemy dead, only two were Ghost Valley demons.
“Young master!”
Several Namgung experts rushed up.
They checked his condition first. Relieved at no wounds, they continued.
“The enemy’s coming! We must retreat now!”
Namgung Jang-cheon looked west. Fog still shrouded it, with only a hazy mountain peak piercing through.
Then.
Tweet! Tweet!
Sharp horn blasts echoed from the fog.
Signal of the enemy’s approach.
“Go, young master!”
Namgung Jang-cheon finally turned.
Soon after they vanished, newcomers entered the carnage.
Hwangbo Tae-jin, patriarch of the Hwangbo Clan, led Zhao warriors. Surveying, wrinkles creased his brow.
“We’re too late.”
“Namgung corpses here and there!”
An elder shouted.
“Check if it’s Namgung Jang-cheon!”
Hwangbo Tae-jin smirked.
“Not the type to die here.”
Then.
“Patriarch, look here.”
Hwangbo Tae-jin went to the middle-aged man. A demon’s corpse lay there.
He examined the wounds at once, then hardened his gaze.
“Namgung Jang-cheon was here.”
“How do you know?”
“The wounds are frozen. Mark of the Namgung heirs’ arts.”
Hwangbo Tae-jin looked southeast.
Lighter fog there allowed distant views. But no Qin troops.
‘A pity. If only we’d come sooner.’
Hwangbo Tae-jin turned without regret.
His grudge against Namgung Jang-cheon lingered, but he wouldn’t risk deeper pursuit.
“We’re heading back.”
* * *
“That’s the enemy waters.”
Cheol Mu-ok pointed below the mountain.
Yi Hwan’s group stood at the peak. Below, fog blanketed a lake. A gentle breeze carried blood scent. The battlefield was near.
“What now?”
Judging it time to reveal, Yi Hwan stated their purpose.
“Truth is, we came to investigate Ghost Valley. It’s important, so first secure lodging, then figure out how.”
Go Mi couldn’t fathom it.
Ghost Valley was shrouded in mystery; even she knew little. To probe it here, amid war?
‘Some connection between the Great Prince and Ghost Valley?’
As Go Mi puzzled, Yi Hwan headed down. She followed, waiting to ask why.
[Do you think Ghost Valley ties to Daye Fortress’s fall?]
Cheol Mu-ok sent via transmission.
[They existed back then. If these are their descendants, we might get answers.]
[Understood.]
“First, find lodging. As close to the lake as possible.”
“Too near the battlefield?”
“The closer, the better.”
“Got it.”
They descended.
Go Mi, following Yi Hwan, frowned slightly. She felt more certain he was hiding something.
‘He just transmitted to that man.’
Irritation surged in Go Mi.
‘Always like this.’
This time, she wouldn’t hold back.
“Great Prince.”
“What.”
“Are you hiding something from me? No, it feels like you are.”
“Nothing like that.”
“Then tell me the real purpose here.”
“Didn’t I say? To learn about Ghost Valley.”
“That all?”
“Yeah. That’s it.”
Go Mi stopped. Yi Hwan halted too.
“You’re too much!”
Go Mi vented for the first time. Deciding to confront, all her pent-up frustration boiled over.
“Why not tell me from the start? I could’ve prepared mentally!”
“Well, that’s…….”
“Enough!”
Go Mi stormed ahead down the path.
Yi Hwan was flustered.
‘No, she followed fine till now, then suddenly snaps?’
Yi Hwan looked to Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae in bewilderment. But they averted their eyes.
Their thoughts:
‘I’d say the same.’
‘Enough to snap, sure.’