Chapter 66
The Prodigy of the Namgung Clan
“Damn it…”
The eyes of Prince Yi Taeji burned with anger. He was so furious that the back of his neck had flushed red.
Baek Poin spoke in a grave tone.
“Because the Prime Minister’s permission was granted, even if Her Majesty the Empress returns, it will be difficult to obtain a pardon for the Hwangryong Trading Company’s head.”
“We can’t just sit and take this. We’ll have to find a way somehow.”
“The problem isn’t merely that our funding source has been cut off — it’s the fact that the funds we have inside Hwangryong Trading are now frozen. If a pardon is impossible, we need to hurry and recover our money.”
A twitch formed at the corner of Yi Taeji’s eye.
He still could not believe the entire sequence of events. Everything had erupted as suddenly as beans in a lightning strike. What made him angrier was that because of this incident, Crown Prince Yi So’s presence had unmistakably grown stronger.
‘I should have dealt with it properly back then…’
Yi Taeji muttered something unintelligible.
At that moment, a military officer entered.
Baek Poin asked, “What’s the situation?”
“They say the Fourth Prince never left the Southern Corps.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. We confirmed it twice.”
Yi Taeji asked, “Why is that fellow’s name coming up here?”
“The fact that Biwol’s Moon Lord suddenly became an inspector (eosa) seemed suspicious, so I ordered an investigation. I wondered if the Fourth Prince might be involved.”
“Hmph! That bastard…”
Yi Taeji continued, “Bi-wol’s Moon Lord has always been exceptionally loyal to the Crown Prince’s household. If the Dongchang were brought in, things could escalate; the Crown Prince’s household used a woman to hit at Hwangryong Trading. It’s quite possible they’d been using Biwol to probe Hwangryong Trading all along, then seized the chance when Her Majesty left the palace.”
“I didn’t think of that possibility.”
“Did the woman return to the Southern Corps?”
“Yes. She left the Crown Prince’s household and exited the palace just a short while ago.”
The look in Yi Taeji’s eyes turned icy. In his mind, Yi Hwan was completely excluded — not even a shred of suspicion.
“I thought they’d only sent her to the Southern Corps to confront the Geumuiwe (Golden Guard), but it seems they really struck hard.”
“This doesn’t feel right. I think I should send my own direct subordinates to the Southern Corps to investigate.”
“Your direct subordinates?”
“If things escalate and we need force, it would be safer to send my own men rather than the Geumuiwe.”
Was Baek Poin’s unit that formidable?
Yi Taeji narrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, but didn’t dwell long.
“Granted. But be careful that your identities don’t get exposed. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Yi Taeji took a sip of his now-cold tea and added, “As for the inspectors under the Eosabu — we must investigate them as well.”
“Why the inspectors…?”
“There was one very unpleasant fellow. I’d never seen his face before, but his eyes looked horribly familiar.”
“The inspectors of the Eosabu conceal their true identities thoroughly. No one would know who they are unless they were an inspector.”
“As if I don’t know that and gave the order carelessly?”
“S-sorry!”
Baek Poin hastily bowed when Yi Taeji’s gaze turned sharp.
“I will investigate and report back as quickly as possible!”
“If you can’t bring back satisfactory results, I’ll have to doubt your competence. I hope that doesn’t happen.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“And that Biwol woman — you may kill her. No. You must kill her so she can’t cause trouble again.”
“…You mean the head of the covert agency?”
“Why? Are you not confident?”
“N-no. I will carry out the order.”
Yi Taeji sank deep into his chair and muttered, “If Biwol sided with the Crown Prince, then we have no choice but to erase its existence. The Dongchang are already annoying because they don’t obey, and if another covert organization starts causing trouble, it’ll be disastrous.”
Southern Corps.
In Yi Hwan’s residence backyard, Cha Jung-gyeong was sweating through intense training.
Since his recovery he had devoted himself to training all day except for sleep, with Gongson Tae assisting him.
For Cha Jung-gyeong, who had little else to occupy himself until Yi Hwan returned, this time was precious.
“Huff… huff…!”
Cha Jung-gyeong collapsed and gasped for breath. Gongson Tae sat in a chair with a nonchalant expression.
“You think you’ll become a master that way? Tsk tsk.”
“What can I do if my internal energy can’t support it! Huff—!”
“It’s your spirit, not your internal energy. You give up when things get tough instead of trying to push past your limits.”
“If it were as simple as you say, everyone would be a master!”
“Oh? You annoyed now?”
“Hey!”
Cha Jung-gyeong snapped up, twitchy.
“Let’s fight one round!”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m joking, of course. Huff—!”
He flopped back and panted. At that moment, Song Cheon-mu came out into the backyard. He, who had returned a few days earlier, was also absorbed in training.
“You two, go eat.”
Bang!
Cha Jung-gyeong leaped up as if startled, but Song Cheon-mu stopped him.
“You smell sweaty, so go wash up first.”
“Men don’t—”
“It’s the captain’s order.”
“…”
Cha Jung-gyeong sighed, grabbed a cloth, and headed toward the stream.
From the front hall, the sound of a door opening was heard.
“Who’s come?”
“I’ll go check.”
Song Cheon-mu went inside.
Gongson Tae rose from his chair and stretched.
Creak!
“I’m bored. I wonder when he’ll come.”
Then—
“Is he here?!”
“My lord!”
At the shouts from inside, Gongson Tae’s eyes widened.
“He’s arrived!”
Whoosh!
Cha Jung-gyeong moved faster than Gongson Tae.
Yi Hwan had barely stepped inside before removing his outer mask (infimyeonggu). Song Hoe did the same.
Seeing Song Hoe’s face pale and the nape of his neck blackened, Yi Hwan asked, “Anything unusual?”
“No. The Zhao side was calm, so I lazed around. How did your mission go?”
“Not bad.”
Yi Hwan reached for a towel.
“I’ll wash up, you eat first.”
“No, I’ll wait!”
Song Hoe smiled broadly, evidently delighted at Yi Hwan’s return.
Yi Hwan felt a pang of guilt watching Song Hoe’s expression.
‘Next time I should bring him along.’
Yi Hwan shook something out of his robe and handed it to Song Hoe: a gold ornament used to decorate the hilt of a sword or great blade.
“Your elder sister made this for you, so be careful not to lose it.”
“You mean Her Majesty? Thank you!”
Gongson Tae and Cha Jung-gyeong subtly inserted themselves.
“Don’t you have one for us?”
“Me too.”
Then Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
“Divide them up so each person gets one.”
“Awesome!”
“Thanks!”
Meanwhile, Ju Tae felt left out — no one even looked at him.
Song Hoe asked him, “Who is this person?”
‘Asking quickly,’ Yi Hwan thought.
Gomi sank into hot water.
Outside, the warriors were busily preparing dinner for her homecoming.
“Treat the youngest as your lord and follow him. This is not an order but a request.”
Before leaving the palace, Yi So had said that. That the head of a covert agency was under someone else’s command was unacceptable.
But Gomi had been unable to refuse.
From the new information gathered while operating inside the palace, she had learned that Yi Hwangja (the Second Prince) was almost like an axis of evil. The Empress, too.
It was hardly an exaggeration to say they were plotting treason.
‘How could they possibly be like that?’
At first she had been shocked, but as time went on it became anger, and she vowed to do whatever it took to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne.
It wasn’t loyalty to the Crown Prince alone.
Her upright nature could not tolerate treason.
‘His Highness the Crown Prince trusts the Grand Army absolutely. Not just because he’s family, but because he believes in their ability.’
At the palace, Gomi’s view of Yi Hwan had changed. His plan had proceeded without a single error, ultimately cutting off Yi Hwangja’s financial lifeline.
She had been at the center of the operation and had often doubted it would succeed, but the result had been a complete victory and the Crown Prince’s household breathed a sigh of relief.
‘My lord…’
Gomi imagined Yi Hwan as her lord, but it didn’t quite sink in yet.
Splash!
She lay back in the water.
Just then, she felt someone step into the backyard and saw a figure over the water.
“He sent this for you, Moon Lord.”
Splash!
Gomi popped her head out.
A warrior stood with a bottle of liquor.
“He sent it?”
“Yes. He said it was a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Gomi’s eyes widened slightly.
“You brought it personally?”
“Yes. He said you were bathing, so just deliver this and leave. Also, dinner is ready, Moon Lord.”
“Alright. I’ll be out right away. Put the liquor on the table — we’ll all drink together.”
“To be gifted wine by His Highness…”
“It’s fine. It’s just liquor after all.”
“…”
Northwest of Gwiju Fortress, at Geumsa (Golden Sands).
Where Jin and Zhao’s clash had turned the area into a battlefield overnight, heavy rain fell from morning.
Originally the frontline had been further north, but with Zhao sending reinforcements the fighting had been pushed down to Geumsa — an unexpected defeat for Jin.
Boom! Crack! Whoosh!
Thunder and lightning raged as Jin’s camp tightened security.
If Geumsa was lost, the south could be taken immediately, so Jin also sent reinforcements to strengthen the defense.
“Damn it, what if the Zhao send more martial artists to lead the assault?”
“That’s what worries me. I heard our side’s martial artists will be mobilized too. Rumor says the Namgung clan’s masters will come personally. Let’s hope so.”
“Really? The Namgung clan’s coming?”
“It’s still a rumor, but with our army pushed this far, would the palace just sit idle?”
“Please, let some powerful martial artists come.”
Jin had been pushed back to Geumsa because Zhao deployed many martial artists early, and the previously confident Jin unexpectedly found itself overwhelmed.
Many reputable commanders had also fallen to Zhao’s martial artists.
Boom! Crack!
Lightning tangled and struck down like a spider’s web.
Thump, thump.
Figures cloaked with woven cloaks appeared from the rear. When the camp herald walked with them, the warriors all stood perfectly still and saluted.
“Loyal!”
Everyone held their stance until the herald passed, but their eyes followed the figures walking behind him.
After a time—
“It’s the Namgung clan!”
“Wow! They’re actually here!”
Shouts erupted from all around.
It became clear that the cloaked figures were masters of the Namgung clan.
Cheers rolled through the camp.
The herald, hearing the cheers, turned to the figure beside him.
“Do you hear the cheers? Everyone’s been waiting for your arrival.”
At that, the figure standing beside the herald dropped his cloak. He looked to be in his early to mid-twenties: a peerless face and eyes reminiscent of a dragon.
Namgung Jangcheon (Namgung Changcheon) — a prodigy born of the Namgung clan.
He was at the center of rumors that he would one day become the Jin Emperor’s son-in-law.
He slowly swept his gaze across the camp.
A faint glow shimmered in his eyes; for a moment they flashed, and his lips — delicate and almost feminine — parted.
“Is the enemy vanguard composed of blood-ghosts?” he asked.
“Yes. They’re more brutal than man-eating fiends. Their numbers are around two hundred.”
“That’s strange. I was under the impression the leader of the blood-ghosts was killed by the Southern Corps of the Yan (Yeon) country. How were they overwhelmed by such beings?”
“Is that true?”
“Yes. They say he didn’t simply die — he was quartered and hung at the military gate.”
“That… wouldn’t happen…”
Namgung Jangcheon turned his gaze northwest and said, “I suspect the Zhao army has entities even stronger than blood-ghosts.”
Flash!
A strange light flickered deep in Namgung Jangcheon’s pupils and vanished.
“We shall kill them for you.”
