Chapter 9
Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Unexpected Guest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Yeon Kingdom's army set out to reclaim the lost position.
But once again, they failed to retake it and returned with heavy casualties.
Since even the Black Tiger Squad hadn't been deployed from the Zhao Kingdom's side, the generals' mood over this defeat was utterly somber.
Roars of anger poured out from Commander Hwang Ho's tent one after another. After a long while, the generals returned to their posts. Paeng Mu-wi's face flushed red and pale as he headed to his tent.
"Of all times, diarrhea..."
He hadn't been able to perform properly in this operation. The ridiculous reason was a sudden bout of diarrhea.
Right before the battle was about to start, the diarrhea hit him, so he hadn't even gotten a chance to fight before having to withdraw.
The generals' resentment turned toward Paeng Mu-wi.
Everyone had their assigned roles, but Paeng Mu-wi had failed to fulfill his. That caused the linked operation to go awry, leading straight to failure.
*Gurgle*
"......!"
Paeng Mu-wi bolted toward his tent like lightning. He kicked down the outhouse door, yanked down his pants, and went in.
"Urgh......"
A short while later, Paeng Mu-wi entered his tent, gathered the warriors in charge of the kitchen, and started punching and kicking them.
After the storm passed, the warriors vented their frustration.
"Hell, everyone else who ate the same food is fine, so why's it only the Left General?"
"Exactly. Damn it, he got sick from wolfing it down too fast, and now he's taking it out on us?"
"It's disgusting. Ptooey!"
Having held relatively easy assignments until Paeng Mu-wi arrived, their dissatisfaction was even greater.
Meanwhile, Yi Hwan heard the operation's results through Song Hoe.
He let out a faint smile at the part where Paeng Mu-wi had become utterly useless due to diarrhea.
'I threw it together roughly, but it worked perfectly, huh.'
Yi Hwan gazed at Paeng Mu-wi's tent through the window. Just then, Paeng Mu-wi came rushing out, clutching his rear.
'Your skin'll get nicer, so thank me later. Heh heh heh.'
Cha Jung-kyeong muttered as he watched the scene.
"Why'd he suddenly get diarrhea?"
"He looks like the type who eats too much. Probably got it from stuffing his face."
Song Hoe answered absentmindedly, then scowled at Cha Jung-kyeong.
"Didn't I tell you not to talk to me?"
"I was just talking to myself."
"This punk keeps talking back?"
Yi Hwan stepped in.
"Hey, you two. Stop making a racket and get dinner ready."
"Yes, sir."
Yi Hwan went outside and sat in a rocking chair woven from bamboo.
As the sun set, the sunset dyed the world red. Watching the warriors train in that light brought to mind the subordinates who'd been with him back in his own era.
Daye Fortress was the immortal legend he and his men had built together.
'That was something else...'
Days spent with his subordinates flashed by like a lantern show. To him, every scene felt as vivid as if it had happened just days ago.
A smile spread across Yi Hwan's lips.
But that moment didn't last long. Reality, which had vanished without a trace, wiped everything from his mind.
'Damn it...'
*Crack!*
Unknowingly, strength surged into his hand, shattering the armrest.
*Drip drip!*
Just then, three figures caught Yi Hwan's eye in the distance: General Jeong Cheon and two men in white robes.
One was a face he'd never seen before, and the other was hidden behind Jeong Cheon.
Song Hoe, who had just stepped out, tilted his head and muttered.
"Who're they?"
"Did I have an appointment with someone?"
"No, sir."
At that moment, the white-robed man hidden behind Jeong Cheon stepped to the side, revealing his face. Yi Hwan couldn't hide his surprise.
'That guy's...'
Yi Hwan had one younger sister. She was also an illegitimate child and, born with a frail body, hadn't received proper treatment as a princess before leaving the palace through a political marriage.
One of the men approaching now was that sister's husband.
A moment later, Jeong Cheon and the two white-robed men arrived.
Yi Hwan's brother-in-law, the Prince Consort Captain, bowed his head and turned to the white-robed man beside him.
"It's the Great Prince. Show your respects."
"Song Cheon-mu of the Song family greets the Great Prince."
* * *
There were two reasons the son of a noble house would come to the front lines.
One was to establish merits and revive a fallen family, and the other was to be sent to the foremost lines per the law established by Founding Emperor Yi Ik.
Song Cheon-mu fit both categories.
The Prince Consort, Song Cheon-ho, said.
"Though we were born from different mothers, he's my most precious younger brother in the world. That's why I came here with him. Please look after him kindly."
Yi Hwan could sense the sincerity in Song Cheon-ho's voice.
'If even the imperial princes had been like this, the guy wouldn't have been so miserable.'
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea as he thought of the original owner of this body, who'd lived a tragic fate, then asked abruptly.
"Is it coincidence?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm asking if your brother being sent here is coincidence."
Song Cheon-ho's eyes flickered slightly at the loaded question. He bit his lip thoughtfully before answering.
"I asked some people connected to our family to have the Great Prince take him in."
He admitted to pulling strings.
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
"Why entrust your brother to me? You know my situation better than anyone, Prince Consort. You must realize that being at my side could turn into a thorny path."
"What do rumors from others' mouths matter? My wife relied on you the most among the Great Princes, so I thought our whole family would feel most at ease if you took him in."
"Is that really all?"
"How could I dare lie?"
Song Cheon-ho pulled a message tube from his bosom and offered it.
Yi Hwan opened the tube and unrolled the letter inside.
-Oppa.
It was from "the guy's" sister.
From start to finish, it brimmed with her earnest feelings for her brother. At the end, she asked him to take good care of Song Cheon-mu.
A pang hit one side of his chest.
Yi Hwan still found such emotions awkward. They weren't his own.
*Thud!*
"I wonder if my sister's doing well."
"Fortunately, her health has improved a lot. Otherwise, I couldn't have come here myself."
Yi Hwan stared straight at Song Cheon-mu.
Song Cheon-mu had kept his eyes on the ground without moving a muscle from the start.
"You're Cheon-mu, right?"
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Do you want to stay by my side?"
"......"
With no answer, Song Cheon-ho looked flustered.
"Speak up."
"May I be honest?"
"Go ahead."
Song Cheon-mu continued in a resolute tone.
"I don't believe the rumors. I trust my own eyes and ears more than rumors, and my brother more than myself. I believe there's good reason for my brother to entrust me to you, Great Prince."
Their gazes met across the space.
'Good eyes.'
Yi Hwan suddenly took a liking to Song Cheon-mu.
Most of the subordinates under him in his era had given off a similar vibe.
Yi Hwan looked at Song Cheon-ho.
'With a guy like this, the guy's sister won't be unhappy.'
His mood lifted.
This emotion wasn't Yi Hwan's either.
'Once my internal energy recovers, I plan to leave here...'
It was tricky, but he couldn't refuse Song Cheon-mu.
'Well, keep him around for now and think about it later.'
Having taken over this body and started a new life, he owed "the guy" a debt. As the lord of the world, he had to pay his debts.
"Fine. I'll keep you by my side."
"Thank you!"
Song Cheon-ho bowed his head. But Song Cheon-mu's expression didn't change.
Yi Hwan smirked as he looked at Song Cheon-mu.
'He doesn't look happy at all.'
Yi Hwan turned to Song Cheon-ho.
"I'd like to talk to him alone. Mind stepping out?"
"Of course."
Song Cheon-ho left.
Yi Hwan gazed indifferently at Song Cheon-mu, who kept his eyes down.
"Now, how about you tell me the truth?"
"Pardon?"
"Your expression says you don't welcome staying with me at all. Am I wrong?"
"......"
Song Cheon-mu hesitated a moment before speaking.
"I'm happy to be with you, Great Prince. It's just..."
"Just?"
"Rather than living safely, I want to fight on the front lines like the other warriors."
Song Cheon-mu had finally revealed his true feelings.
*Snort.*
"So you want to rack up merits and make a name for yourself."
"......"
Yi Hwan finally realized it.
The young man before him was still just a kid.
So he could fully understand that sentiment.
"Have you trained your martial arts diligently?"
"Yes. I've trained hard since childhood in preparation for a day like this."
"I'll check your skills later. If I judge you're ready for battle, I'll let you do as you wish. Until then, forget wild ideas and focus on getting used to camp life."
"Yes, Great Prince."
* * *
"Please stay well."
Song Cheon-ho departed.
Before leaving, he patted Song Cheon-mu's shoulder, his eyes reddening.
'Kid, that repays a bit of the debt. And... your sister's married to a good guy, so rest easy.'
As Yi Hwan mused inwardly, Song Hoe approached.
"You're really keeping him by your side?"
"Got a problem?"
"Wouldn't it stir up talk if you keep a relative close?"
"I'll handle that. Just make sure he adapts without issues."
"Understood."
Then Cha Jung-kyeong stepped out and asked.
"Where should we assign his room?"
"No spare rooms, so he'll bunk with you for a while."
"......"
And so Song Cheon-mu ended up sharing a room with Cha Jung-kyeong.
* * *
Hwang Ho's tent.
Jeong Cheon poured hot water into a teacup and said.
"He says he'll make him a personal guard."
"Good. Better than dragging innocent warriors into it."
"People might talk about keeping a relative under his command."
"Does the Great Prince have a worse reputation than now?"
"Well..."
The two shared a faint smile as they sipped their tea.
Jeong Cheon brought up something else.
"Fortunately, the warriors' opinion of the Left General is quite poor. Many see his diarrhea in the first operation as faking it."
"Fortunately? You mean for me?"
"No. I just..."
"Enough."
Hwang Ho took a sip of tea and continued.
"We can't judge him with prejudice just because the Second Prince sent him. As always, if he's skilled, acknowledge it; if not, let him take the blame he deserves. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Look after the Prince Consort's brother until he settles in. Discreetly, of course."
"Yes, General."
Just then, the guard captain's voice came from outside.
"General, the Great Prince is here."
Hwang Ho and Jeong Cheon exchanged glances.
[What's he doing here at this hour?]
[Who knows.]
Hwang Ho stood, straightened his clothes, and opened the tent flap.
"Am I intruding?"
"Not at all. Please, come in."
Yi Hwan sat in Hwang Ho's chair. Hwang Ho sat beside Jeong Cheon.
Yi Hwan looked straight at Hwang Ho and said.
"I have one favor to ask."