Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom
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In his own era, Yi Hwan had once waged war against enemies numbering nearly ten times his own forces.
It had been a war that everyone viewed pessimistically, but Yi Hwan had ultimately seized victory, and from that day forward, the world began calling him the Martial God or the Martial Emperor.
Yi Hwan preferred Martial Emperor.
‘Compared to those days, this is nothing more than child’s play.’
That was why he remained so relaxed. He was confident he could handle the Zhao Kingdom’s army with just the Southern Legion’s forces.
But he couldn’t afford to be carelessly complacent.
Thus, after declaring that he would take command of the Southern Legion, he had redeployed the troops and set up ambushes at every key pass leading from Zhao Kingdom territory to the encampment, constructing multiple layers of defense.
The side attacking always needed several times the manpower of the defending side.
It was a thorough defensive strategy based on an unchanging principle since ancient times, and Yi Hwan absolutely trusted in it.
But a variable had arisen.
The Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom.
‘Nothing’s ever easy.’
* * *
A few days later, Go Mi came looking for Yi Hwan.
“The Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom has joined them. Just as we feared, a large number of martial artists have come with him.”
“Is it impossible to identify who these martial artists are?”
“Yes. We can’t even access any information related to them, so it’ll be difficult. I’m sorry.”
“No, this is plenty helpful already. Good work.”
“You’re really not going to request reinforcements?”
“They’re on their way.”
“Pardon?”
“They’ll arrive soon.”
“Did you request them from the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“I told you, I have no intention of requesting aid from the Crown Prince’s Palace. These are just people I know. You’ve done enough, so go rest.”
Go Mi let out a quiet sigh as she stepped outside.
‘Is he pushing too hard just to change my evaluation of him? If he loses like this, everything could go up in smoke.’
Go Mi still felt uneasy about Yi Hwan’s gambit to become the leader of the Golden Army. No matter how much more manpower the attackers needed, there was a variable that could overturn it all.
The martial artists.
The Southern Legion was overwhelmingly outnumbered by those martial artists.
“Whew.”
Go Mi sighed softly and paused as she was about to leave the command tent. She spotted five men in white robes approaching from afar.
‘Could they be the people the Great Prince mentioned?’
The white-robed men were heading straight for Yi Hwan’s command tent.
It was then.
“You got here fast.”
Ju Tae stepped out from behind her.
He flashed a grin at Go Mi before waving at the white-robed men.
“Hey!”
In an instant, the white-robed men soared through the air and landed in front of Ju Tae and Go Mi.
Whoosh!
“Boss!”
“You look radiant as ever, Boss!”
Yi Hwan quickly sized up the white-robed men who were greeting Ju Tae so enthusiastically.
They all exuded an extraordinary aura, but a pessimistic feeling weighed heavier.
‘With just these five, what does he plan to do?’
“Introduce yourselves. This is an imperial inspector from the Imperial Palace.”
“We greet the Inspector.”
Snap, snap!
“These are my comrades.”
As the white-robed men cupped their fists and bowed, Go Mi reluctantly did the same.
“Welcome.”
Go Mi immediately transmitted to Ju Tae.
[Are these the reinforcements the Great Prince requested?]
[Yes.]
[Are more coming behind them?]
[No. He said just these five. Do you find them unreliable?]
[They’re hardly reassuring. Anyway.]
Go Mi headed straight to her own tent.
Ever since executing all the Golden Imperial Guards, she had been staying in her existing tent with Yeo Mu-sa.
Staying in Yi Hwan’s command tent felt too uncomfortable.
A moment later, as she entered the tent, Yeo Mu-sa greeted her.
“You’re back early?”
“There wasn’t much to report.”
“You should eat.”
“Got any liquor?”
“Yes. I’ll prepare some snacks, so hurry and wash up.”
Go Mi went to the back of the tent. In the center of an area screened by bamboo like a folding partition was a pool.
She stripped off her clothes and slipped into the water where mountain streams briefly pooled.
Splash!
Even in the hot season, the water was ice-cold. But for Go Mi, who enjoyed cold baths even in midwinter, this chill was nothing.
Splash!
She lay flat on the bottom.
The cold seeping into her body cleared her mind.
‘The Great Prince is focused solely on defense. That’s probably why he only requested the minimum reinforcements. But even so, five is a bit…’
Lost in such thoughts in the water, Go Mi suddenly slapped the bottom with both hands and shot up out of the pool.
Splash!
The sword she had left by the pool rose on its own into her hand.
Clang!
The tip of her sword pointed to the forest behind the pool—the top of the tallest, largest tree there.
Swoosh!
All that was visible above the branches swaying in the wind was the blue sky.
‘It definitely felt like a person.’
* * *
Namgung Jang-cheon shook his head in bewilderment.
‘Damn…’
He had entered Southern Legion territory while heading to the city for supplies, choosing this shortcut since bypassing the encampment would take too long.
But he had ended up catching sight of a woman’s naked body, not a stitch of clothing on her. For a split second, an intoxicatingly voluptuous image lingered in his mind.
‘Get a grip, Namgung Jang-cheon.’
Shaking off the image of the woman’s body, Namgung Jang-cheon shifted his gaze amid the bushes.
The woman was already dressing.
‘No way she spotted me in the water?’
Her reaction had been astonishingly quick. Considering how hard it was to move freely in water, her response speed was even more impressive.
It was then.
“…!”
He saw the now-dressed woman leaping toward his position.
‘She’s onto me.’
Namgung Jang-cheon swiftly launched himself beyond the forest. Surprisingly, the branch he had been standing on didn’t even sway.
‘Let’s hurry and get those supplies.’
* * *
Atop the giant tree, Go Mi sharply scanned the surroundings. But she detected no sign of anyone anywhere.
‘Was it my imagination?’
Click!
Attributing it to her nerves being on edge from worrying too much about Zhao Kingdom, Go Mi sheathed her sword and perched on the tree.
Looking down at the encampment, the warriors were still bustling about their tasks.
Go Mi’s gaze naturally turned to Yi Hwan’s command tent. Though everywhere else was busy, that spot alone seemed wrapped in stillness, as if time had frozen.
‘This peace will shatter soon enough?’
“Moon Lord! Where are you?!”
Yeo Mu-sa’s voice echoed.
Go Mi soon left the tree.
* * *
Thud thud thud!
Clack clack clack!
In the Zhao Kingdom encampment, work was underway to erect a tent on the highest ground.
Dozens of martial artists stood guard with ironclad vigilance around the tent, controlling access. In the center, a man in yellow robes sat alone, sipping from a teacup.
It was Zhao Kingdom’s Crown Prince, Jo Gwang. Until recently, he had been the noble heir apparent to the throne, but now he had fallen to the status of an ordinary imperial prince, displaced by the Southwest King—a tragic protagonist.
“Bring more tea.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I told you not to use that title anymore.”
“To this servant, you will always be Your Highness. I shall bring more tea.”
Jo Gwang stared at the old woman’s retreating back as she went to fetch it, then slowly closed his eyes.
A moment later, the old woman returned with another cup.
“Drink it slowly.”
“Pa Pa.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What’s the latest on Yeon Kingdom intelligence?”
“I’ve instructed the generals to compile it, so please wait just a bit longer.”
“I hear there’s a Great Prince from the imperial family in the Yeon Kingdom encampment. Did you request info on him too?”
“He’s not worth worrying about, so don’t mind him.”
“It seems you and I have heard very different things, Pa Pa.”
“What do you mean…?”
Jo Gwang took a sip of tea before continuing.
“When our army agreed to withdraw from the neutral zone, I heard he stepped in as acting Commander for the Yeon Kingdom forces and led the negotiations. If he truly were as worthless as the rumors you heard, Pa Pa, could he have done that?”
“Such rumors? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Then I’ll have them compile information on him as well.”
It was then that one of the generals climbed up.
“Loyalty!”
After saluting Jo Gwang, the general immediately presented what he held.
“I’ve brought what you commanded.”
“Did the Commander tell you to deliver this?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Commander should have come himself as propriety demands, but with official duties keeping him busy, I had no choice but to come in his stead.”
The title had been demoted by one level.
It was the Southwest King’s order to address him the same as the other princes. Jo Gwang’s eyes grew cold not at the title, but because the Commander hadn’t come personally.
‘Has this place already fully turned to the Southwest King’s side?’
“Then this general shall withdraw, Your Highness.”
The general bowed and hurried down the hill with quick steps. The old woman comforted Jo Gwang.
“Don’t take it to heart. If you lead this war to victory, the world will look up to you again, Your Highness. You must endure until then.”
“I understand.”
Jo Gwang suppressed his boiling rage and unfolded the paper the general had given him. It was filled with all sorts of intelligence on Yeon Kingdom’s Southern Legion encampment.
As he read, wrinkles formed between Jo Gwang’s brows.
“The only renowned general they have is Jeong Cheon, and even he suffered such humiliation.”
“I heard their encampment Commander died suddenly, and clashes with Qin Kingdom forces occurred at Guiju, leading to that.”
“Even so, to suffer such humiliation. They’re all incompetents in the world.”
Thud!
Jo Gwang set the paper down rather forcefully.
He reacted so intensely for a reason. He was the one who had decided to send reinforcements from here to Guiju Castle.
The Southwest King had opposed it vehemently at the time. In the end, they suffered the humiliation of withdrawing not just from the neutral zone but a hundred li into their rear, putting Jo Gwang in a very awkward position.
The Southwest King had openly attacked, saying since it was the Crown Prince’s decision, he should take responsibility.
In a way, it was one of the reasons for his downfall.
Jo Gwang gazed northwest at the sky, calming his eyes.
‘I must win this war no matter what. Only then can I lay the foundation for a comeback.’
Though dethroned, his fight with the Southwest King was far from over.
Zhao Kingdom’s Emperor had yet to name a successor. Deposing Jo Gwang from Crown Prince had been merely to prevent the nation from falling into chaos amid excessive factional strife.
So Jo Gwang still had a chance.
“Pa Pa.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Everyone must memorize this intelligence, not just you. Your task is to kill the enemy’s key generals listed here.”
“Have no fear. We’ll slaughter every one we see on the battlefield.”
Jo Gwang slowly swept his gaze over the martial artists gathered around.
From Zhao Kingdom, they were all renowned masters and loyal retainers. Especially the old woman he called Pa Pa—she was an immeasurable absolute expert and the leader of the martial artists.
Crunch.
Jo Gwang bit his lip firmly.
‘These are my last hope. With their power, I’ll reclaim my land, drive out that vile uncle, and return to my rightful place.’
Jo Gwang’s earlobes flushed slightly.
A natural reaction when angry, and what enraged him was one person now in his mind.
The Southwest King.
*You should be grateful I spared your life and live accordingly.*
Tremble…
As the image of the Southwest King strutting like he owned the world before coming here resurfaced, a twitch ran across Jo Gwang’s eyes.
‘You’ll regret sparing me, Uncle.’
Crack!
The teacup shattered to pieces in Jo Gwang’s grip.