Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Farewell
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Crown Prince's Palace.
Laughter poured out from Yi So's residence. Since Yi So rarely ever laughed, the warriors standing guard outside exchanged puzzled glances with one another.
"Come to think of it, Your Highness has been smiling more often lately, hasn't he?"
"True. He's been smiling a bit more since the Fourth Imperial Prince visited. But it's been almost never that he's laughed loud enough to hear from out here."
"No matter what it is, I hope he keeps laughing like that. When Your Highness smiles, it lifts my spirits like I'm flying. This place feels full of life too."
"Look at you, such a loyal retainer. Such a loyal one. Heh heh heh."
Just then, a general approached.
He was an aide who served Gwan Ji-baek. One of the warriors asked.
"Is there some good news for Your Highness today?"
"There is good news."
"What is it?"
"The Southern Legion has repelled the Zhao Kingdom's army, they say. He's probably laughing upon hearing that news."
At the general's words, the warriors' eyes widened in shock.
"Wow! Is that true?"
"It's true. I just confirmed it through the intelligence chief. The battle was smaller in scale than expected, but it was a overwhelming victory. And that was in a battle personally led by the Great Prince."
"Wow!"
"The Great Prince himself?"
"Yes. That's what they say."
The warriors let out successive cries of admiration.
The general patted their shoulders reassuringly and headed inside.
Gwan Ji-baek was in Yi So's residence.
Gwan Ji-baek asked the entering general.
"How did it go?"
"The Northern Legion sent twenty thousand elites. However, no other units provided support."
"Have you identified interference from the Second Prince's side?"
"Yes. They sent an order not to provide support to the Northern Legion, but the order bore not the Second Prince's seal, but Her Majesty the Empress's."
The mood, which had been bright, sank somewhat at the general's report. Yi So spoke in a heavy tone.
"I expected interference, but I didn't think Her Majesty the Empress would move directly..."
Gwan Ji-baek took over.
"It seems she saw the Southern Legion as having left her fold and openly sabotaged it. That said, the Northern Legion still sent twenty thousand elites despite that. As expected of Commander Gwak."
"He is a steadfast man who refuses to side with anyone and walks only the path of a soldier. He deserves respect as an outstanding general, but to us, he is like a double-edged sword. He defied Her Majesty the Empress's order this time, but someday he might defy my order as well."
"As long as he holds to his principles, he won't point his sword at us at least, so don't worry too much."
The public evaluation of Northern Legion Commander Gwak Chung-mu was revealed plainly through Yi So's words.
Not an enemy, but not an ally either. And one who could become everyone's enemy at any moment.
That was the precise assessment of Gwak Chung-mu.
"Now we must summon the youngest. You prepare in advance as well."
"Understood."
"For now, we should send some of the funds received from Minister Wang to the Southern Legion to comfort the fallen and wounded and bolster their forces."
"I'll inform the treasurer in advance."
"No, I'll handle it personally."
"Will you go now?"
"The sooner pain is healed, the better. Let's hurry."
"Yes."
Yi So left the Crown Prince's Palace and headed to a certain place in the Imperial Palace.
But he didn't get far before he had to stop. Far ahead, a group of palace maids was approaching.
Behind them sat the Empress in an extravagantly ornate palanquin, gazing in this direction.
Yi So halted and bowed his head toward the Empress. Even though there was considerable distance, he bowed first to avoid any exchange of words.
"Hmph!"
The Empress's snort reached even here.
Yi So ignored it and continued toward his destination. The Empress glared at his retreating back with eyes full of venom.
"Who gave you permission to appoint the head of the Golden Army? You think I'll just let that happen?"
* * *
Amid the jubilant Southern Legion celebrating their victory, two men looked glum.
Deputy General Song Hoe and Song Cheon-mu.
With the Zhao Kingdom army suddenly retreating, the Dragon-Tiger Army hadn't even mobilized.
Song Cheon-mu was no exception.
All the skills he had honed for a day like this went undisplayed, ending in utter futility.
"It ended in futility again this time. Sigh..."
Cha Jung-kyeong looked at the sighing Song Cheon-mu with strange eyes.
"Isn't it good that it passed without fighting?"
"I wanted to fight. That's why I've been training like mad all this time, isn't it? But what is this? It ended without even drawing my sword once."
Cha Jung-kyeong suddenly thought Song Cheon-mu seemed like a childish kid.
'How terrifying is war? Surviving comes before establishing merits for fame and glory, you fool.'
Cha Jung-kyeong swallowed the words that had risen to his throat. Instead, he said something else.
"Weren't you trying to establish merits for your clan? I hear your clan has fully risen thanks to the Great Prince, so wouldn't it be better to stay safe and return home? You must have a lot to do once you're back."
"It's an aspiration for my own sake too. Call it a warrior's ambition."
'A warrior's ambition, my ass. Who'll care if you die? Even rolling in shit fields, this life is better, you fool. Tsk tsk.'
Just then, Song Hoe approached from afar. One look at his expression told them exactly how he felt.
Cha Jung-kyeong and Song Cheon-mu rose from their seats and bowed to Song Hoe.
"Please come in."
"Are you inside?"
"Yes. But what brings you here?"
"A messenger from the Crown Prince's Palace arrived. By the way, what do you mean, stopping training just because the enemy retreated?"
"We're taking a short break."
"If you're done resting, get back to the training grounds now!"
"We were just about to go."
"Right away."
Smack!
Song Hoe smacked the cheekily replying Cha Jung-kyeong on the head and went inside.
Cha Jung-kyeong rubbed his head, sparks flying from his eyes.
"Argh, that old..."
"Endure it."
* * *
Everyone silently watched Yi Hwan.
The message from the Crown Prince's Palace, delivered by Song Hoe, lay on the table. Though unspoken, they could all guess what it was about.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
"Are you finally heading to the capital?"
"I suppose I must."
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae exchanged glances and grinned. Meanwhile, Song Hoe's face grew darker.
"Deputy General."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"You stay here and lead the Dragon-Tiger Army. You can't keep cleaning up after me forever. I'll speak to the Crown Prince's Palace to promote your rank, so show your abilities as a general properly."
"...Great Prince."
"No need to feel slighted. I see you as a key force for the future. So think of you taking the Dragon-Tiger Army as my arrangement for what lies ahead. I mean that sincerely."
"...Understood."
Yi Hwan gazed at Cha Jung-kyeong and continued.
"Help the deputy general. Your experience will surely be useful. For that, you'll need a rank too."
"Take me to the Imperial Palace!"
"You're part of the arrangement too, Jung-kyeong."
"..."
Cha Jung-kyeong hung his head low. Song Cheon-mu patted his shoulder.
Yi Hwan spoke to Song Hoe and Cha Jung-kyeong in a firm tone.
"Train relentlessly in the martial arts manual I gave you. Master it perfectly, and you'll be among the top experts in the Southern Legion."
"...Yes."
As the time for parting arrived, neither those leaving nor those staying could feel at ease.
Song Hoe in particular had reddened eyes.
Having endured all sorts of humiliations as Yi Hwan's deputy general and come this far together, his emotions ran deeper than most. How could Yi Hwan not know?
But the Southern Legion needed at least one or two reliable people here.
Of course, there were Jeong Cheon and Paeng Mu-wi, but they couldn't be placed on the same level as Song Hoe.
Song Hoe asked.
"When do you depart?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"..."
"Let's have a drink together tonight for once."
"Understood."
"Yes!"
* * *
Moonlit night.
Some watched over Yi Hwan's pavilion. Pa Pa and three black-robed men.
"That one is leaving for the capital tomorrow?"
"Yes. We approached close in the evening and clearly heard the warriors talking."
Pa Pa's eyes gleamed green.
"Then things will be even easier."
"Indeed. Aiming for when he leaves the camp will make it much simpler."
"Good. Until then, head up to the forest and wait."
"Yes, Pa Pa."
Pa Pa stared at the lively Yi Hwan's pavilion and bit her lip hard.
In her mind lingered the image of Jo Gwang's despondent face. She herself had been tormented by heart-wrenching pain until now.
'I'll cut off that one's head and offer it to His Highness no matter what.'
* * *
Whoosh!
Swaaa!
The forest shook, unable to withstand the wind. Standing on a tree branch, Namgung Jang-cheon surrendered his body to the wind and looked down at Pa Pa's group.
'Even I wouldn't just leave empty-handed.'
He was certain Pa Pa's group were murim experts from the Zhao Kingdom targeting Yi Hwan. Otherwise, there'd be no reason to hide and watch his pavilion.
Namgung Jang-cheon couldn't tear his eyes from Pa Pa's back. Her tiny frame sent an indescribable eerie chill through his flesh just by looking.
'As expected, the world is vast, and there are as many strange people as grains of sand on the beach.'
The first to instill a sense of powerlessness in him on his journey into the jianghu with dreams of glory had been the Ghost Valley Lord.
Then he confirmed Yi Hwan's monstrous abilities, which he hadn't anticipated at all, and now this frail old woman made him tense once more.
'Did that one return to the Zhao Kingdom?'
Namgung Jang-cheon recalled the Ghost Valley Lord with lingering regret. He had wanted to clash again here if given the chance, but it ended without even meeting.
Whoosh!
The wind began blowing stronger.
His body shook violently in tandem. His wavering eyes shifted from Pa Pa to Yi Hwan's pavilion.
'The Great Prince of Yeon Kingdom who hides his skills. Just grasping that one's true nature means this wasn't a wasted trip.'
Now it was time to return home.
He had gained much information, but failing to properly gauge the Ghost Valley Lord left him unsatisfied.
It was then.
Flutter!
An owl landed on the tree right beside him. But upon spotting Namgung Jang-cheon, it flew back into the darkness.
'I was standing in that guy's nest.'
Realizing too late the nest was right there, Namgung Jang-cheon gave a wry smile.
'Time to head back.'
* * *
Next morning.
Yi Hwan departed the Southern Legion amid everyone's send-off. Paeng Mu-wi and the other generals followed him all the way out of the camp, expressing their farewell regrets.
The general who had come with twenty thousand Northern Legion elites was astonished once more.
'Everyone is genuinely saddened. Was the Great Prince's presence here that immense?'
What surprised him even more was Paeng Mu-wi's tears.
"Uwaaaang!"
Seeing the legion commander weep like a child, ignoring all dignity, made him wonder what this was.
The general asked himself.
'When our commander departs, could I grieve like that?'
Clang!
The warriors' military salute echoed, shaking the mountains and fields. Unknowingly, the general placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head.
"Salute!"
* * *
Mun Chi-yong, who had been imprisoned, prostrated before Yi Tae-ji.
Yi Tae-ji spun the fruit knife he had been using to peel fruit for a long while in silence.
To Mun Chi-yong, it felt longer than eons.
Thud!
Roll...
The fruit left Yi Tae-ji's hand and rolled to the ground, stopping right before Mun Chi-yong's face.
"Raise your head."
Mun Chi-yong finally lifted his head.
"I'm thinking of giving you one last chance."
"Give me any order, and I'll carry it out even at the cost of my life!"
"No need to go that far. It's not that dangerous."
"...!"
Yi Tae-ji rose and opened the window. Standing with hands clasped behind his back, he looked up at the sky and continued.
"That bastard is leaving the Southern Legion for the capital. As you know, I really hate him joining up with the Crown Prince."
"Send me, Your Highness. I won't let the Great Prince set foot anywhere near the capital."
"Keep in mind this is truly your last chance. Succeed, and you'll regain your former position. Fail, and I'll make sure you never see the light of day again."
Boom!
"Believe in me! Your Highness!"
"Move out."
As Mun Chi-yong left, Yi Tae-ji clasped his hands behind his back again and gazed toward the Crown Prince's Palace.
"After the Southern Legion, you'll take the Golden Army too? Your excessive greed will be the death of him, brother. Heh heh heh."