Chapter 14
A Fate That Brushed Past
The man watched Yi Hwan retreat from the sudden attack of the Blood Soul Men and once again revealed his disappointment.
As I thought, he’s not the one we were looking for.
[It’s still too early to judge which side he belongs to.]
The Blue Robed Man’s words were correct.
The man still wasn’t certain whether Yi Hwan was an enemy or an ally. The only thing he could be sure of was that Yi Hwan was not a direct descendant of the people they were searching for.
If he were a true heir to the orthodox line, there was no way he would be that weak.
It’s not as though he’s hiding his strength. Was what I felt back then just my imagination?
From observing him so far, Yi Hwan was giving it his all. If he were concealing his power, then what was that sweat pouring down his covered face?
[Will you continue to watch?]
[Just a little longer.]
The man kept an appropriate distance as Yi Hwan stepped back. At that moment, the Blood Soul Men rushed toward Yi Hwan.
In retreating, Yi Hwan’s path overlapped with the man’s. The man quickly twisted his body to avoid him, but their shoulders brushed lightly.
Their eyes met for the briefest instant, and the man felt a jolt.
…!
Yi Hwan’s deep, soul-pulling gaze was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Could it be that he recognized me?
The man was in disguise. Yet Yi Hwan’s penetrating gaze felt as though it could see straight through him.
Then Yi Hwan’s words shook his ears.
“Focus. Stay sharp.”
…!
Flash!
A streak of blood-colored light shot toward their heads with incredible speed.
As Yi Hwan moved past the man, the man was left to receive the full force of the attack.
[Danger!]
The Blue Robed Man’s urgent warning rang in his ears, and the man’s sword swept a circle through the air.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
A groan escaped someone’s lips.
The Blood Soul Man who had attacked staggered back. The others, shocked, turned their attention from Yi Hwan to the man.
The Blue Robed Man then charged at them.
The head of the frontmost Blood Soul Man flew clean off.
Thud!
“Retreat!”
The remaining Blood Soul Men did not counterattack; instead, they dashed into the Zhao army lines. The Blue Robed Man returned to the man’s side.
“Let’s get out of here.”
The man glanced back at Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan happened to be looking at him as well. Their gazes locked once more.
Who are you?
Swallowing the words rising to his throat, the man withdrew from the battlefield. The Blue Robed Man followed, cutting down several Zhao soldiers as they went.
Yip!
A fox poked its head out and barked. But its barking was not aimed at Yi Hwan—it was directed at Song Hoe.
The Blue Robed Man failed to notice this.
Yi Hwan, his eyes calm, watched the man retreat from the battlefield.
So it was him.
From his gaze alone, Yi Hwan recognized the man as the one whose eyes had met his at the inn.
I didn’t expect him to approach me like this.
He had never imagined the man would disguise himself as a Yan soldier and follow him to the battlefield.
Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted to the fox poking its head from the Blue Robed Man’s arms.
A white fox specialized in long-distance tracking—it had been a long time since he’d seen one.
“My lord! Behind you!”
Song Cheonmu’s urgent cry rang out.
Yi Hwan didn’t take his eyes off the man.
The ominous presence rushing toward him suddenly vanished—Song Hoe had cut off the head of the enemy about to attack him.
“Focus, my lord!”
Song Hoe barked the words.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
“I’m plenty focused, so don’t worry.”
“You almost got yourself killed!”
“I knew you’d handle it, so I stayed still.”
Song Hoe fell silent.
The battle ended in less than an hour.
“Waaahhh!”
The Yan army’s victory cries shook the mountains and valleys—they had recaptured the position.
“Wine.”
“Here it is.”
Yi Hwan took the wine from Cha Joong-gyeong and moistened his throat, slowly surveying the battlefield.
Bodies from both sides lay scattered everywhere. The blood they had shed mixed with rainwater, flowing down the slope before him.
A meaningless fight.
A war with no real purpose—just bloodshed.
In Yi Hwan’s view, this was nothing more than sport for the royal and noble families of both nations.
It was to prevent martial artists from shedding blood in such pointless wars that, two hundred years ago, the Huashan Conference had established the Non-Interference Pact.
But now, two centuries later, all that effort had been for nothing. Seeing martial artists once again serving as blades for the powerful and dying for them filled Yi Hwan with fury.
Fools.
Clink, clink.
With a metallic sound, Jeong Cheon approached. The smell of blood hung heavy around him with each step.
Even the thinning rain could not wash the blood from his armor.
“Are you unharmed, my lord?”
“Fortunately so. And you, General?”
“I am fine as well.”
“Congratulations on the recapture.”
“Thank you.”
“Long live General Jeong Cheon!”
Cheers erupted from the warriors.
Jeong Cheon raised his sword in acknowledgment.
Yi Hwan walked toward an area free of corpses, with Song Hoe, Song Cheonmu, and Cha Joong-gyeong following.
Song Hoe muttered while glancing at Jeong Cheon.
“He’s the real power here. Even the Chief General doesn’t get cheers like that.”
“Jealous?”
“Not at all.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I’m perfectly content staying by your side, my lord.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Clink, clink.
The Tiger Guard ran up.
Yi Hwan quickly counted their numbers, frowning slightly.
Nearly thirty were missing. Considering these were handpicked soldiers, such losses meant the rest of the unit’s combat ability was obvious.
Even though the Tiger Guard had nothing to do with him once he left this place, the result still left a bad taste in his mouth.
“Deputy.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“When we return, make sure they train properly. Make it clear that if they can’t endure the training, they won’t be sent into battle.”
“Understood.”
“For now, get them fed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You seem deep in thought.”
“…”
“You think he’s not the one we’re looking for?”
“Judging solely from what we’ve seen so far, even if he’s of the Sword King’s line, he’s not the true heir. If he were, he couldn’t possibly be that weak. Still…”
The man trailed off, recalling Yi Hwan’s gaze before leaving the battlefield.
“Then could he be from their side?”
“Same issue. Even if he were one of their descendants, he wouldn’t be that weak. He’s not the true heir to either side.”
“Ah…”
The Blue Robed Man scratched his head.
“Then there’s nothing more to see, right? Shouldn’t we just move on and find the wanderer who was taught the Soul-Severing Technique?”
“He recognized the technique. Even if he’s not an heir to either line, he’s connected somehow. We’ll watch a bit longer.”
“Understood.”
The man looked toward Yi Hwan at the battlefield’s edge. Remembering those eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
His skills were lacking, but that gaze was different.
That a human’s eyes could be like that…
Zhao Army Camp
A general came to the Chief General’s tent.
The camp, about twenty li west of the canyon where the battle had taken place, had housed nearly a hundred thousand soldiers for decades.
“How did it go?”
“My apologies. We failed.”
“I sent five of them, and you still failed!?”
“Apparently, there was an incredible expert at the Yan prince’s side.”
The Chief General’s brow furrowed.
“I heard the Yan royal family cast him aside, and yet he has a protector that even five martial masters couldn’t handle?”
“It’s said the Fourth Prince of Yan himself was quite the master. He fought Mengjang Heo Yun to a standstill alone. I think our intelligence was mistaken.”
“Hmph.”
The Chief General grunted.
“So the supposedly useless Fourth Prince turns out to be a master, and on top of that, he has a powerful protector? That smells suspicious.”
“Indeed. And, Chief General…”
The general hesitated, then continued.
“We’ve lost the position.”
“What?”
“They must have grown careless, relying on the heavy rain.”
Thump!
The Chief General slammed his hand on the table, roaring in anger.
“Fools!”
“My apologies. I will personally lead the troops to take it back.”
The Chief General’s anger subsided there.
After drinking a glass of cold water, he spoke again.
“Leave mere position battles to the field commanders. I want you to use every bit of our intelligence network to investigate the Yan Fourth Prince thoroughly. If he came to the Southern Army hiding his skills, there must be a reason!”
“Understood.”
“And contact the palace—request more Blood Demons. We’ll need them, and the stronger the better.”
The so-called “Blood Demons” were actually demonic sect martial artists disguised as members of the Black Tiger Unit—known to be a step above them in skill and power.
“You may go.”
“Yes. Rest well, sir.”
Once the general left, the Chief General sank deep into his chair, his eyes hardening.
Snap!
He flicked his fingers, and the rear wall of the tent split open. A Blood Soul Man appeared like a ghost.
“Report.”
“The Black Tiger Unit that went after Cha Joong-gyeong has vanished.”
“No contact?”
“None. I’ve sent the ‘children’ to locate them first.”
“Hurry. Use more men if needed.”
“Understood. But sir, haven’t you told the Vice Commander what Cha Joong-gyeong took?”
“He still thinks it’s the superiors’ slush fund. That’s why he’s so fired up, even willing to risk war. He just needs to keep playing along. No matter what happens, you must retrieve the Jangbo Blade. Understand?”
“Yes, General.”
Once the Blood Soul Man disappeared, the Chief General strode to the window and threw it open.
Shhh!
The rain, which had eased, was now lashing down fiercely again.
His eyes grew as fierce as the storm.
Even if the heavens split in two, I will retrieve the Jangbo Blade. No matter what…
Having retaken the position, the Yan army immediately began reinforcing the barracks the Zhao army had used.
Since they were originally Yan army barracks before being taken, most warriors were familiar with the layout.
The Tiger Guard, now assigned quarters, settled in for a rest. It had been a long time since they had gone to battle—and they had won—so they were in high spirits.
But Song Hoe scolded them harshly. Honoring fallen comrades came first.
Meanwhile, Yi Hwan sipped tea in his quarters while examining the map given to him by Cha Joong-gyeong.
It’s not far from here…
The red dot on the map marked a spot about twenty li from the position. With nothing else distinctive nearby, it was impossible to guess exactly what it was without visiting.
It’s definitely not a military map.
Could it really be the Jangbo Blade?
But Yi Hwan soon shook his head.
There’s no way the Chief General of a frontline unit would secretly make a treasure vault…
As he pondered fruitlessly, he sensed someone outside.
He put the map away and picked up his teacup.
“My lord, it’s the Vice Commander.”
It was Jeong Cheon’s voice.
