Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Ambush
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Paeng Mu-wi hadn't stepped out of his tent all day. Not only the men sent by Mun Chi-yong, but even the deputy general had tried to meet him, yet he refused to open the door.
Right now, he was going through the most agonizing time of his life.
*'Kill the Great Prince? How could I ever kill him?'*
*'Can't they just get along like brothers? Why are they so desperate to devour each other?'*
*'If things go wrong, we'll all be branded as traitors.'*
All sorts of thoughts tormented Paeng Mu-wi.
What troubled him most was his loyalty toward Yi Hwan. Though it stemmed from brainwashing, Paeng Mu-wi, unaware of that, felt it as genuine devotion.
*'Damn it all!'*
Grip!
Paeng Mu-wi clutched his head with both hands, wracked with pain. He could neither refuse nor obey—this situation was nothing short of a nightmare.
That was when it happened.
"The Great Prince is on his way back. He'll reach the camp in half a day. Shouldn't we move before then?"
A chilling voice seeped through the wall.
But Paeng Mu-wi made no reply.
"If you keep this up, not only will the commander suffer, but the Paeng family will face the wrath of those above."
The follow-up words were blatant threats.
Tremble...
His bloodshot eyes, red from sleeplessness, quivered faintly. Then, a resolute determination welled up from the depths of his pupils.
Clench!
Blood dripped from his bitten lip as his shaking eyes suddenly turned icy.
Whoosh!
*'Screw it, whatever happens, happens.'*
* * *
The camp came into view in the distance.
Gazing at the camp, now as comfortable as home, Yi Hwan felt a profound sense of the times changing.
*'Well, it's as good as the place where I was reborn.'*
Cheol Mu-ok asked casually.
"If you're appointed as the head of the Golden Army from the Crown Prince's Palace, will you accept?"
"I'm thinking about it."
This time, Yi Hwan turned the question around.
"What do you all think?"
"I believe you should accept without question. Becoming the head of the Golden Army would give you control over the major cities around the Imperial Palace. That's an immense power, isn't it?"
"I agree."
Having heard detailed information about the Golden Army from Go Mi, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae were both strongly in favor.
"Why's the Moon Lord so quiet?"
"I..."
Go Mi trailed off, then asked a question in return instead of answering.
"Do you intend to dive into central politics?"
"Does becoming the head of the Golden Army mean diving into central politics?"
"Yes. It's a position of tremendous authority. If the Great Prince takes it, Her Majesty the Empress and the Second Prince won't just sit idly by."
"That sounds like a warning."
"If it came across that way, I apologize. I was merely stating the facts."
"And if I'm prepared to dive into central politics?"
"Then do as you wish, Great Prince."
"Even if I rise to the center, will you follow me unwaveringly?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to serve you as my lord, so I will."
Yi Hwan smiled bitterly to himself.
To him, it sounded like: *I don't want to follow you, but I'm doing it because of the Crown Prince.*
As he walked, Yi Hwan pondered.
*'Controlling the Golden Army would greatly aid my future moves. But as the Moon Lord says, if it means entering central politics...'*
Politics was something he despised.
Even in his previous life, whenever he had to make political judgments, it gave him headaches. That's why he preferred resolving things with force whenever possible.
Whoosh!
The wind suddenly blew fiercely.
Then, a flock of birds burst into the sky from the forest ahead.
Flutter!
That was when Yi Hwan's eyes subtly changed.
"Looks like we have guests waiting for us."
Click.
Ju Tae and Go Mi slightly drew their swords. Cheol Mu-ok lowered the greatsword slung over his shoulder.
Yi Hwan continued walking at the same pace, as if nothing was amiss.
Looking ahead, the path narrowed starting about thirty paces out. Tree branches thick with leaves hung down into the middle of the road, creating perfect conditions for an ambush.
*'They're targeting me right in front of the camp?'*
As he walked, Yi Hwan quietly circulated his internal energy.
What set him apart from other martial artists was that even when he did so, opponents couldn't detect it—thanks to the cultivation method he had devised.
The distance closed.
The three following Yi Hwan walked silently, expressions unchanged, swords at the ready.
Rustle!
Yi Hwan pushed aside a tree branch dangling into the path.
Right then.
Flash!
Multiple gleams of light erupted from beyond the forest. But they weren't aimed at Yi Hwan—they targeted Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae. A smirk tugged at Yi Hwan's lips.
*'They're more worried about those two than me?'*
It became clear.
The enemy saw him as the weakest link. That's why they'd decided to take out Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae first.
Clang!
The incoming lights failed to pierce their defenses and were all deflected. At the same time, figures leaped up over the treetops.
Yi Hwan's right eye turned blue.
Azure River Hands.
"These bastards dare!"
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok charged forward. Meanwhile, Go Mi swiftly moved to Yi Hwan's side and assumed a defensive stance.
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Two who had leaped into the air met gruesome ends, their upper and lower bodies severed. Having mercilessly slain them, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae plunged into the forest.
Clang!
Boom boom!
"Arghhh!"
"Kraaak!"
Piercing death cries echoed from beyond the trees.
Yi Hwan cautioned Go Mi.
"Stay sharp."
"Yes!"
Those who had veered from Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae's paths now dropped straight toward Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan lightly struck the flat of a sword falling toward his head.
Clang!
"Guh!"
Whoosh!
With a sharp gasp, blood and bone burst from the assailant's wrist.
"Capture him alive!"
"Yes!"
Go Mi ruthlessly slashed the staggering man's leg. Yi Hwan used the thug's sword to target another's waist. But with two more rushing from both sides, he had to retreat using footwork.
Thud!
Dust erupted where he'd stood. Yi Hwan unleashed a palm strike toward the dust cloud. The powerful force swept the dirt toward the two thugs.
Their vision obscured for a moment?
The thugs split left and right, searching for Yi Hwan. But it was already too late.
Thud!
"Guh!"
A sword flying from Yi Hwan's hand pierced one thug's skull. Simultaneously, a blue glow enveloped the other's head, vanishing it with a pop.
Splatter!
Brains and blood rained to the ground.
Yi Hwan landed there.
*'Not bad at all.'*
He was satisfied with his current condition—about eighty percent of his full strength. At this level, he was confident he wouldn't die against anyone in the world.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, so stay focused until it's over."
"Yes."
Yi Hwan stared into the forest where screams and flashes erupted. Go Mi watched him from beside the captured man. Her eyes were filled with astonishment.
The martial prowess Yi Hwan had just displayed was enough to stun anyone. What was even more shocking was that he hadn't even drawn his own sword.
"Kraaak!"
"Gaaah!"
Agonizing death screams shook the forest.
Soon, silence fell. Go Mi waited tensely for Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae to emerge.
After just a few blinks.
Rustle!
The bushes parted, revealing one figure. It was Cheol Mu-ok. He looked like a yaksha freshly escaped from hell.
So drenched in blood that clumps dripped from his body with every step. But Ju Tae was nowhere in sight.
Go Mi's face hardened.
*'No way...'*
Then.
Ju Tae suddenly appeared from the side. He too was a bloody figure, covered as thoroughly as Cheol Mu-ok.
The two bowed their heads toward Yi Hwan.
"All taken care of."
"No escapes?"
"None."
Yi Hwan slowly turned toward the man writhing in pain, his wrist broken and one leg severed.
Go Mi first checked on Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae's conditions. But with so much blood covering them, it was impossible to tell if they were intact or injured.
"Are you hurt?"
"What kind of talk is that?"
"It's not my blood."
"Moon Lord, you all right?"
"Me? I barely did anything, so of course I'm fine."
"Then, step aside for a bit where we can't see."
"...Pardon?"
"It ain't a pretty sight."
Go Mi didn't understand at first. But she quickly caught on, steeling her gaze as she replied.
"It's fine."
* * *
The torture began, and soon Go Mi turned her head away.
The man held out to the end, but Yi Hwan didn't relent. He used the simplest, most violent method.
Though time-consuming, it was more brutal than any torture technique in the world, guaranteed to break the subject's will.
Moments later, Yi Hwan finally got the answer he wanted.
"Th-the strategist... ordered the Great Prince's death."
"You mean the Second Prince's strategist?"
"...Yes."
"Was Paeng Mu-wi involved?"
"Honestly, I don't know. After receiving the letter, he hasn't left his tent for two days."
Had he given up?
The thug spilled everything readily.
Yi Hwan thought of Paeng Mu-wi.
*'If he's involved, it'll be one hell of a fight.'*
He turned to Go Mi.
For an instant, she shivered. Yi Hwan's eyes held no emotion whatsoever.
"Do you have any information on the Second Prince's strategist?"
"That side is so heavily guarded we can't even approach. Right now, we have nothing substantial. I'm sorry."
"Then from today, dig properly."
"Understood."
Slice!
Ju Tae severed the thug's neck.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
"What about the ones in the camp?"
"That's a pointless question."
"We'll kill them all."
Yi Hwan strode forward.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae exchanged glances, subtly furrowing their brows.
*[He's seriously pissed, huh?]*
*[Yeah.]*
Meanwhile, Go Mi stared at Yi Hwan's back, unable to hide her unease.
*'Those killers are waiting inside, and he's just charging in blindly?'*
As she moved to stop him, Yi Hwan halted.
"You three, head to the tents and stand by. Remember—get in without anyone noticing."
"Just us?"
"I have a place to stop by first. It'll be fine, so just watch over the ones in the tents properly."
"Understood."
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan kicked off the ground and leaped away.
The three watched his figure vanish into the forest beyond, their expressions grim.
"So it's pretty much confirmed now?"
"You mean the head of the Golden Army?"
"We haven't served our lord long, but one thing's clear: he never backs down from a fight."
Snicker.
"Has anyone ever picked a fight with our lord first?"
"Good point."
"You always moved first. And you got the perfect ending you wanted. This incident might turn out the same."
Grin.
Ju Tae bared his teeth in a smile.
"Things are getting more and more fun. Heh heh heh."
"You look like you're enjoying it."
"My life up till now has been too damn boring."