Chapter 46
On the Way to My Sister’s House (1)
The Southern Army Corps was in a true festive mood.
Pushing the Zhao army—who had been fighting them like sworn enemies—back two hundred li to the rear was the most brilliant achievement in the history of the Southern Army Corps.
With it now known that Yi-hwan was the one who orchestrated the negotiations, he had earned the respect of not just the generals but the entire military camp.
Just as everyone was celebrating, Yi-hwan received an unexpected guest.
A man in his late thirties, Baek Po-in, faced Yi-hwan.
Song Cheon-mu sat beside him. Baek Po-in was from Song Cheon-mu’s family.
As the man spoke, Song Cheon-mu’s expression grew increasingly grave. His tightly pressed lips and quivering eyes betrayed a hint of anger.
Yi-hwan calmly watched Song Cheon-mu while listening to Baek Po-in.
Baek Po-in was explaining the situation of the Song family, and it was dire.
Throughout the conversation, Yi-hwan’s mind kept drifting to the image of his sister. Though they shared no blood, she had been dearly loved by the former master of this body, and emotions stirred involuntarily.
After finishing his report, Baek Po-in let out a deep sigh and lowered his head.
Yi-hwan looked directly at him and asked,
“How is my sister?”
“Her Highness worries that Your Excellency may be distressed instead.”
Worrying about my worries?
A strange pang gripped Yi-hwan’s chest as he toyed with his teacup in thoughtful silence.
Clink. Clink.
“So, it’s the Second Prince again.”
Summarized, Baek Po-in’s message was that the Song family was in a life-or-death crisis, caused by the abuses of a rival family backed by the Second Prince.
He had known in general that the rival family used the Second Prince’s influence to threaten the Song family, but he had never imagined it could get this serious.
Clink.
The sound of the teacup shaking made the silence heavier. How long had it been like this?
“You must be tired from your long journey. Rest for today. Cheon-mu, keep watch over him.”
“Yes.”
After Song Cheon-mu and Baek Po-in left, Yi-hwan sank deep into his chair and lowered his gaze.
Again, the image of his sister appeared in his mind.
Since starting this new life through this body, she had been the one he worried about the most.
“After all, taking the life of the Fourth Prince is no different from stealing his life. Then I should at least fulfill the minimum duty as a human being, shouldn’t I?”
Yi-hwan had never considered himself a hero or a righteous knight. He had defeated the evil not for justice but for his own purposes.
Yet he had always tried not to abandon the principle of benevolence.
“Mu-ok.”
Cheol Mu-ok entered.
“Go tell Wol-ju that I want to see her and bring the aide along.”
“Yes.”
A moment later, Gomi entered.
“Were you looking for me?”
“Sit.”
As Gomi sat down, Yi-hwan spoke immediately.
“I heard that places like Dongchang or Geumuiwi have craftsmen capable of making Infip Masks. Does Biwol have them too?”
“Yes. They are here. Because of the nature of our work, we make them regularly and always bring them on long campaigns. But why…?”
“I need an Infip Mask. One for myself.”
“…You mean Your Excellency’s Infip Mask?”
Gomi’s eyes widened in shock.
As Yi-hwan silently nodded, Song Hoe entered.
“Did you call for me?”
“Sit.”
“Listen carefully to what I am about to say.”
The next day, Yi-hwan suddenly fell ill.
The camp was told it was a lingering effect from a previous injury, and no one was allowed to visit him until he recovered.
Song Hoe, Cheol Mu-ok, and Yi-hwan’s aide left the camp on his orders, while Song Cheon-mu took special leave to return to his hometown.
A few days later.
Thud, thud, thud!
Five horsemen were racing along the main road leading to Hwangdo.
They only entered the market district of a city by evening.
Due to unusually thick yellow dust, most people wrapped their faces with cloth. The five riders did the same.
“Go over there.”
“Yes.”
They entered an inn in the market.
“Welcome!”
“A quiet room, please.”
“One room just became available! Follow me!”
Guided by the attendant, they went upstairs.
“You’ve come from quite a distance, haven’t you?”
“Just guide us.”
“…Yes.”
Moments later, they entered a spacious room. When the attendant stepped back, they removed the cloth covering their faces.
Unexpectedly, they were Cheol Mu-ok, Song Cheon-mu, Baek Po-in from the Song family, and a man and a woman.
Cheol Mu-ok asked the man, who looked similar to him,
“Don’t you find this frustrating?”
“I must adapt. It would be problematic if I appeared elsewhere while supposed to be in the Southern Army Corps.”
The man was Yi-hwan.
The woman was Gomi. She removed her Infip Mask, perhaps out of frustration.
“Phew!”
“The Wol-ju of Biwol cannot tolerate this much.”
“I’ll wear it again once we leave the inn.”
“Make it fit like your face. There’s much work ahead.”
“….”
Gomi drank cold water in silence.
Yi-hwan looked at her and smiled faintly.
“You still seem unhappy accompanying me.”
“The Wol-ju of Biwol is a public official. Intervening in Your Excellency’s personal matters is inappropriate. However…”
Then came the telepathic voice.
[We follow because it is for His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. I do not yet understand why acting for the Song family serves His Royal Highness.]
[You’ll know soon enough.]
Yi-hwan looked at Song Cheon-mu.
Meeting his gaze, Song Cheon-mu bowed. He was deeply moved that Yi-hwan had acted for his family.
Baek Po-in felt the same.
Yi-hwan turned to Gomi.
“When can we gather intelligence?”
“If we enter Hwangdo and start investigating immediately, we can have results within four days.”
“While investigating, you’ll understand who this is for. Make sure to get as much detail as possible.”
“Yes.”
Yi-hwan drank cold water to moisten his throat.
Cheol Mu-ok asked,
“I worry whether the aide can convincingly play Your Excellency. Mimicking your voice won’t be easy.”
“After a few days of illness, we can say the voice changed due to lingering effects. That solves the problem.”
“Ah…”
Cheol Mu-ok slapped his thigh—he hadn’t thought of that.
Soon, the ordered meal arrived, and they began eating.
Song Hoe looked at his reflection in a mirror, smoothing his face.
“This is so precise. Anyone could think this is him.”
The Infip Mask was perfect, reproducing even the wrinkles and moles formed when smiling.
Clatter.
The door opened, and Gong Son-tae entered.
“Peng Mu-wee sent another person?”
“This is troublesome.”
“Well, they’re concerned for Your Excellency, aren’t they? What will you do? Send them away again?”
“If I lie in bed too long, it will only get worse. Better to show my face a little.”
“Are you confident acting like Your Excellency?”
“Ahem! Let’s try.”
Song Hoe, wearing Yi-hwan’s clothes, cleared his throat and imitated Yi-hwan’s voice.
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll be fine in a few days, so do not worry.”
Despite his effort, it was still obvious to anyone paying attention.
Moments later, Song Hoe stepped outside.
The Peng Mu-wee’s aide stood and bowed.
“I pay respects to Your Excellency.”
“Welcome.”
“…!”
The aide’s eyes widened, clearly noticing the voice. Song Hoe calmly said,
“I was ill and my voice changed. It will gradually return, so don’t worry.”
“How serious it must have been. I regret not visiting more often. The General is also very concerned.”
The sincerity eased Song Hoe’s mind. He realized Peng Mu-wee was now fully under Yi-hwan’s control.
‘Truly remarkable. Heh heh heh.’
After a short conversation, Song Hoe took a sip of still-hot tea.
Gulp gulp!
Plop!
“Do you think I did well?”
“Not alike at all.”
“Right? But they don’t suspect the voice changed from lingering illness, so it works.”
“Shall we prepare a meal?”
“I’ve been indoors all day; I didn’t even notice I was hungry. I’ll train my mind instead.”
Song Hoe entered Yi-hwan’s room. Gong Son-tae sighed and went outside. Outside, Cha Jung-gyeong sat on a bamboo chair drinking tea.
Gong Son-tae sat beside him.
Cha Jung-gyeong glanced at him and smirked.
“Missed going along so much?”
“Both missed and bored.”
“If bored, why not help with martial training?”
“With that body? Training? Ha.”
“In a few days it may be possible. You’ll help then?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Smack!
Gong Son-tae tapped Cha Jung-gyeong’s back and stood.
“Let’s eat.”
Yi-hwan and his companions traveled toward Song Cheon-mu’s hometown at a steady pace.
Gomi left first, to conduct an investigation.
As Yi-hwan moved, he observed both sides of the main road. Farmers worked in the fields, while on one side, soldiers loaded harvested crops onto carts.
“Why are soldiers taking the crops?”
Song Cheon-mu answered,
“Most farms near Hwangdo are managed by the military. These are tenant farmers, giving part of their harvest to the army. The problem is, the army managing this area backs the Second Prince.”
Yi-hwan recalled Lee Tae-ji again.
“Rumor has it the Second Prince sells the harvested crops for slush funds.”
“You know this and yet no action is taken?”
“Yes. The Second Prince’s backer is Her Majesty. What can we do?”
At that moment.
Thud, thud, thud!
A group of horsemen charged from behind like a storm. Pedestrians hurriedly moved to the roadside.
“Clear the way!”
“Yes.”
Yi-hwan’s group moved aside.
As Yi-hwan observed the riders, a frown appeared on his forehead.
They were spies from Geumuiwi.
Thud, thud, thud!
The spies quickly approached Yi-hwan. Invisible energy flickered at his fingertips.
‘I just don’t like these guys.’
Thud, thud, thud!
The spies raised dust as they passed. Yi-hwan silently watched and snapped his fingers. The invisible energy struck the lead horse like a thorn.
Boom.
The startled horse reared, neighing.
“Ah!”
Because they were riding so close, the following spies couldn’t turn in time and fell over in a heap.
Neigh!
Crash!
Some of them collided with soldiers loading crops onto carts.
“Ah!”
“Get out of the way!”
Crack!
The scene quickly descended into chaos. Cheol Mu-ok watched Yi-hwan closely.
“Stop now.”
Yi-hwan calmly kicked the horse again.
A faint smile appeared on Cheol Mu-ok’s lips.
