Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Can't Just Leave Like That
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Moon Pavilion's organizational scale was comparable to that of the East Depot and the Golden Imperial Guards.
But the work they did was in no way inferior to those two organizations.
The world was unaware, but Moon Pavilion had spies even in the enemy kingdom's imperial palace and military.
The reason Go Mi could grasp the enemy kingdom's information so astonishingly quickly was all due to that.
Even Moon Pavilion couldn't easily obtain certain information.
Namely, details on the Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom and the martial artists around him.
All information regarding the martial artists around the Crown Prince is classified as top secret, making access impossible.
Having checked the report, a slight furrow formed between Go Mi's brows.
‘Strange. They're protecting a fallen Crown Prince who was ousted by the Southwest King to this extent?’
Clink.
Go Mi took a sip of her tea and leaned back slightly, crossing her arms.
‘The Great Prince will be disappointed.’
Yi Hwan wanted information on the martial artists who had come with the Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom.
But with access to the information impossible, there was no other way.
‘They mustn't become variables in the upcoming war…….’
Frustrated, Go Mi removed her human skin mask.
Since being treated as dead and returning to the camp, she had been living in her quarters while wearing the mask.
Just then, the female warrior entered.
“You've taken off the mask?”
“It's stuffy.”
“Take it off when you're with me. Have some tea.”
Go Mi drank the tea the female warrior had brought.
Clink.
“This time, it seems we won't be able to get the information the Great Prince wants. I don't know why the Zhao Kingdom side is protecting their fallen Crown Prince so fiercely.”
The female warrior stared blankly at the frustrated Go Mi.
Then, she casually asked.
“Do you know what?”
“What?”
“From some point on, you've become even more enthusiastic. Especially about information that could help the Great Prince. Just like now.”
“Is that strange?”
“No, just... that. Then rest.”
Go Mi frowned delicately as she watched the female warrior's retreating back.
‘What was she trying to say?’
Go Mi lifted her teacup to her lips again.
Then, something occurred to her, and her eyes widened like a rabbit's.
‘She doesn't think that about me…….’
Clink!
“Come here!”
At Go Mi's low call, the female warrior opened the door and poked her head in.
“Do you need something?”
“What did you mean by that just now?”
“It didn't mean anything?”
“You don't think I'm harboring feelings for the Great Prince, do you?”
“I didn't think that at all, but seeing Moon Lord's reaction, it does seem a bit suspicious.”
“It's not like that at all, so don't make useless assumptions and make sure no incoming reports slip through.”
“Yes.”
Slam!
As the door closed, Go Mi finished the remaining tea.
“……!”
Go Mi hurriedly circulated her internal energy.
The tea had been too hot.
‘That girl has gone mad, really.’
* * *
Whoosh!
On the summit of a mountain where fierce winds whipped wildly, Yi Hwan, Cheol Mu-ok, and Go Mi stood side by side.
The spot they occupied overlooked the Zhao Kingdom's camp at a glance, on Zhao territory.
Yi Hwan, who had left the camp that morning, was en route scouting the routes the Zhao Kingdom would likely use for an attack, meticulously mapping every key pass.
Of course, map-making was Go Mi's task.
“Impressive.”
The Zhao Kingdom camp, seen for the first time, was worthy of admiration.
Its entirety resembled a well-organized city, a stark contrast to the Yeon Kingdom's camps.
“With a setup like that, warriors can live with their families, making military life quite comfortable. Morale would naturally be high as a bonus.”
“That's right. Most Zhao Kingdom camps operate that way. It's probably why they're rumored to have the highest military expenditures among the three kingdoms.”
At Go Mi's response, Yi Hwan continued calmly.
“But if battle breaks out there, they won't be able to fight properly due to worrying about their families, right?”
“Correct. It's one of the weaknesses we've identified in the Zhao Kingdom camps.”
“To strike there, one would have to become a monster without blood or tears. You'd inevitably have to kill ordinary people too.”
Go Mi asked.
“If that situation arises, would you do it?”
“What should be done?”
“It doesn't seem like something for me to worry about.”
“If it were you.”
“…….”
Go Mi couldn't answer.
Inwardly, she regretted asking such a needless question.
“Mu-ok, what would you do?”
“There can be no mercy in war. If the enemy doesn't surrender, what choice is there?”
Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi.
“Remember what Mu-ok just said.”
“……Yes.”
Yi Hwan turned his gaze back to the Zhao Kingdom camp.
Warriors were busily moving about various parts of the camp.
What drew the eye most was the excessively large number of warhorses.
“Were there always that many cavalry?”
“When the camp was set up in the neutral zone, there weren't that many, as far as I know. Considering cavalry are nearly useless in this mountainous terrain, they must have some other purpose.”
“For a quick retreat?”
“I'll investigate.”
Yi Hwan looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds were rolling in from the distant west.
“When the sun sets, we'll go down a bit closer to observe. Until then, we wait here.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
It was then.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
A bell tolled faintly.
Warriors then burst out from various spots in the camp, rushing somewhere.
At the sudden situation, Yi Hwan circulated his energy to heighten his vision.
But it was too far to discern what was happening.
Cheol Mu-ok said.
“Something seems to have occurred.”
“I hope it's something good for us.”
* * *
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The bell rang clamorously throughout the camp.
The generals rushing out from various places headed hastily toward the camp's center, where the Commander's tent was.
One general went to Crown Prince Jo Gwang's tent.
He was one of the generals who had come with Jo Gwang, from the martial world.
“I've carried out the order, Your Highness.”
“You handled the aftermath without issue?”
“Yes. As instructed, we left traces of Yeon Kingdom soldiers inside the tent.”
“Then all that's left is to pin the former Commander's death on the Yeon Kingdom.”
“That's right.”
Jo Gwang brought his teacup to his lips.
Pa Pa said.
“There are still many generals loyal to the Southwest King. Leaving them alive will make them a problem someday.”
“Shouldn't they naturally die on the battlefield?”
“Then…….”
“When the attack begins, put them all at the vanguard. Having assassinated the Commander they trusted and followed, they'll likely be grateful to be placed at the front. Heh heh heh.”
“Then we can eliminate the Southwest King's lackeys without getting our hands dirty. As expected of Your Highness!”
“No celebrations until success.”
Clink.
As Jo Gwang set down his teacup and stood, Pa Pa brought his outer robe.
Jo Gwang donned it and exited the tent.
Pa Pa and a few others surrounded him ironclad.
“It's laughable, isn't it?”
“What do you mean?”
“This reality where this kingdom's Crown Prince doesn't trust my kingdom's warriors.”
“Everything will soon return to normal. Please endure just a bit longer.”
Pa Pa and the others were filled with righteous indignation.
These generals had feasted luxuriously in Jo Gwang's shadow not long ago.
No one had doubted Jo Gwang would become the next emperor.
But now, the world had turned upside down, and they called him "that lowly one" and scorned him.
“Let's go.”
Jo Gwang headed to the Commander's tent.
Already, numerous generals had gathered around it, murmuring restlessly.
* * *
As the sun set and night fell, rain began pouring.
Yi Hwan and Go Mi had taken position a short distance from the camp, waiting for Cheol Mu-ok's return.
Cheol Mu-ok had infiltrated the enemy camp first to investigate the daytime incident.
Rumble!
Crackle!
Lightning whitened Yi Hwan and Go Mi's bodies.
After several hours like that?
Cheol Mu-ok returned.
“Their Commander is dead. But after capturing and interrogating one of their soldiers, they believe we assassinated him.”
Crackle!
Lightning whitened them all again.
“The Crown Prince arrives, and suddenly the Commander is assassinated by us? The Zhao Crown Prince has executed a rather plausible scheme.”
“You think it's the Crown Prince's doing?”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
“Stoking enemy hatred before battle to boost morale. Plus, with the Commander dead, easily seizing control of the camp is a bonus. But how did a guy like this lose to the Southwest King? Does that mean the Southwest King is that formidable?”
At Yi Hwan's confident response, Cheol Mu-ok and Go Mi raised no objections.
It made perfect sense upon reflection.
“No point in observing further. Let's head back.”
“Yes.”
As Yi Hwan turned to leave.
But recalling something, he glanced back at the Zhao Kingdom camp and muttered.
“Since they already think it's our doing, wouldn't it be disappointing if we just left?”
‘What is he planning now?’
Go Mi suddenly felt uneasy.
Sure enough.
“Let's at least go say hello. Moon Lord, wait here.”
“I'll go with you too.”
“No.”
* * *
‘He's truly unpredictable.’
Hiding in the woods, Go Mi watched the Zhao Kingdom camp ablaze and shook her head.
She had expected him to do something, but not blow it up this big.
Rumble!
Somehow, he'd set it on fire, and flames raged even through the downpour.
Beyond them, agonized death cries erupted ceaselessly.
Go Mi grew uneasy again.
‘There must be quite a few martial artists there.’
It was then. Two shadows flew through the darkness.
“Full speed back. Run!”
“……!”
Yi Hwan's voice drifted over.
With no time to ask what happened, Go Mi leaped into motion.
Glancing back, pursuers were hot on Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok's tails.
Clench!
Go Mi gritted her teeth and maxed out her energy.
‘I really might not make it out alive.’
* * *
Go Mi ran without rest.
Looking back, Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok were right behind her.
Which meant the pursuing enemies were closing in too.
“I'll have to be rude.”
Whoosh!
“……!”
Yi Hwan swept Go Mi's waist with one arm.
“I can run!”
“You'll die.”
Swish!
“……!”
Go Mi felt the speed increase throughout her body.
‘He was slowing down for me.’
Yi Hwan's lightness skill was beyond imagination.
Rain stung Go Mi's skin sharply.
Yi Hwan glanced back.
About ten pursuing martial artists from the enemy.
Two among them chased closely with superior lightness skills.
Cheol Mu-ok called out lowly.
“I'll take care of them!”
“Tired?”
“No!”
“Then just run.”
* * *
“They've retreated.”
At Cheol Mu-ok's words, Yi Hwan halted his lightness skill.
Go Mi pushed off his arm and dropped down.
The camp was visible not far ahead.
Seeing it, the enemy had likely given up pursuit and turned back.
Yi Hwan looked at Go Mi.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I'm fine.”
“Let's head down.”
The three walked toward the camp.
Go Mi was inwardly quite shocked.
‘Running like that and still breathing so evenly. He's one thing, but the Great Prince…….’
She realized anew.
That Yi Hwan had been concealing his true power.
And she was truly curious about its limits.
Then Cheol Mu-ok said.
“I wonder if we just stoked their hostility needlessly.”
“Maybe. But we've shown they have an untouchable master on our side, so when battle begins, enemy generals will have to watch their backs for ambushes. Holding back naturally dulls boldness. That's already an advantage for us from the start.”
“You didn't return right away because you aimed for that from the beginning?”
“Among other things.”
Yi Hwan headed to his tent first.
Cheol Mu-ok followed.
Go Mi watched Yi Hwan's back, subtly furrowing her brow.
Her hand absentmindedly touched her side.
His body heat still lingered there.