Chapter 17
Using the Peng Clan
Evening was falling, darkness settling in.
Peng Muwi was having dinner with wine, chatting idly with his close aides.
One aide spoke in a grave tone.
“All the spoils from the last operation went to the Grand Prince and the Dragon-Tiger Army. At this rate, our plans are bound to be disrupted. We need to find a faster, more reliable method.”
Another added,
“Indeed. After those two battles, it’s obvious the perception of us has gotten even worse than before.”
Clack!
Peng Muwi, his appetite gone, set his chopsticks down with irritation.
“It’s now clear the Grand Prince had been hiding his strength. It’s not enough to cause major concern, but it does mean we must view him in an entirely different light. Shouldn’t we at least submit a report, just in case?”
Peng Muwi drained his cup of wine and shook his head.
“He’s a prince—it’s only natural he has that level of skill. It’s nothing to get worked up over.”
“Will it be fine? His Highness the Second Prince told us to report even the smallest matters.”
“Fool! I’ll handle it myself.”
“…Yes, sir.”
At that moment, a warrior entered.
“General, the Grand Prince has come to see you.”
Peng Muwi flinched.
“What?”
“He’s outside right now.”
“What scheme is that man plotting this time…”
He remembered the absurd incident from that morning, his face flushing red.
Still, he couldn’t simply ignore Yi Hwan’s visit, so he rose and went outside.
Yi Hwan was there with Song Hoe.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“Am I interrupting your meal?”
“Not at all. I was just about to set my chopsticks down. To what do I owe the pleasure…?”
“Will you make me stand out here?”
“Ah… please, come inside.”
When Yi Hwan stepped in, Peng Muwi’s aides bowed and left the room.
“Prepare tea.”
“Yes, sir.”
Peng Muwi gave the seat of honor to Yi Hwan and sat opposite him. Until the tea arrived, Yi Hwan said nothing.
Peng Muwi found the silence maddening, but he couldn’t show it.
At last, the tea came. Yi Hwan finally spoke.
“The Hebei Peng Clan had quite a reputation in the past. Your ancestor Peng Doseong even rose to the ranks of the Five Great Masters of the world.”
“That’s all in the past now.”
Though his reply was calm, Peng Muwi was inwardly startled.
How does he know that…?
Peng Doseong, from two hundred years ago, was revered in the Peng Clan almost like a god. As Yi Hwan said, he had made the Five Great Masters list, earning immense fame in his era.
Is this man deeply interested in martial history? How in the world…?
“General.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“A favor?”
Yi Hwan took something from his robe and set it on the table.
Thump.
Peng Muwi’s eyes were drawn to it—a map.
“What is this map?”
“I found it in my command tent. As you know, that tent once belonged to the enemy commander here. I suppose he left it behind in his retreat.”
It was a bold lie, but Peng Muwi had no way of knowing. He leaned closer with interest.
Yi Hwan stoked that interest.
“If my guess is right, this could be a Treasure Map. Just look—it’s clearly not a military chart, is it?”
“It doesn’t look like one to me either.”
Peng Muwi eyed him, as if to ask why he was showing it to him.
“I hear you’ve recently come under my second brother’s command. That makes us practically family. Who else could I trust but you?”
Was he close to the Second Prince?
Yi Hwan continued.
“Why don’t we go look for it together?”
“…”
“If it really is a treasure map and we find great riches, you could make huge merit with my second brother.”
The word “merit” shook Peng Muwi. But he was a suspicious man.
A chance to earn merit, given to me? Why?
Yi Hwan’s next words dissolved that suspicion.
“Honestly, I’d keep it all myself, but I can’t risk venturing into enemy territory. I don’t have many warriors as skilled as yours.”
Peng Muwi’s eyes narrowed.
That reason made sense—better to share than come away empty-handed.
If this is truly a treasure map and I gain vast wealth…
His heart pounded. He steadied himself and asked calmly,
“By ‘together,’ do you mean you’ll personally come along?”
“As the Grand Prince, I can’t take part in something like this directly. My adjutant will accompany you.”
Peng Muwi now noticed Song Hoe was fully armed.
“Do you mean to move right away?”
“Strike while the iron is hot.”
Yi Hwan sipped his tea.
“Zhao has just lost their camp. They’ll be too busy reorganizing to notice. If you act now, success will be easy.”
“Hmm…”
“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you. I can always take it to General Hwang.”
“No, I’ll do it.”
Hwang Ho was Peng Muwi’s mortal rival. There was no way he would let the credit go to him.
“If we succeed, what will Your Highness take?”
Yi Hwan silently raised three fingers.
“What does that mean?”
“Since I brought the map, I should take about thirty percent of the treasure.”
Peng Muwi smirked inwardly.
So he’s greedy too.
Aloud, he said with emphasis,
“Understood. Since Your Highness trusts me so much, I can hardly refuse. I’ll move at once. But if trouble arises, I’d be grateful if you could intervene.”
“Don’t worry. I can smooth over anything of that scale.”
Not long after, Peng Muwi and the Peng Clan elites, dressed in civilian martial garb instead of uniforms, set out into the darkness.
Yi Hwan placed a hand on Song Hoe’s shoulder—Song Hoe now wore Peng Clan attire.
“Be careful. Don’t forget what I told you.”
“Is this really all right?”
“I have a plan. Just focus on the mission.”
“Understood. I’ll be back.”
Yi Hwan looked Peng Muwi in the eye.
“Whether it succeeds or fails, this stays between us.”
“Of course. I’ll be back.”
He watched them vanish into the dark, then left Peng Muwi’s quarters himself—but not toward his own tent. Instead, he followed the direction they had gone.
Others moved through the darkness as well: a man and a green-robed figure.
The green-robed one peered toward the woods behind Peng Muwi’s quarters.
“Choo Jonghyang is moving that way. But why sneak around like rats at this hour?”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re going to the Grand Prince.”
“Let me check first.”
The green-robed man moved toward Yi Hwan’s tent. His companion stood with folded arms, eyes closed, waiting.
Did he really figure out Choo Jonghyang’s identity and feed it to someone else?
The thought nagged him.
If Cha Joongkyung had revealed everything, it would mean Yi Hwan knew they were after him. Yet Yi Hwan had acted no different than usual—no signs of preparing for an ambush. That could only mean he had some plan.
Tonight, it ends. If he’s a descendant of that line, not even a Yan Grand Prince can be allowed to live.
He braced himself, waiting for the green-robed man’s return.
About a quarter of an hour later, he came back.
“The Grand Prince isn’t there.”
“What?”
“I also checked the opposite quarters where Choo Jonghyang paused—quite a few people are missing, including the Left General.”
The man’s gaze turned toward the woods Choo Jonghyang had taken.
“Then the Grand Prince went with them?”
“Seems so.”
The man rose slowly.
“We follow.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan moved silently through the dark.
Trained in stealth, it was nothing for him to trail them without being noticed.
The Hebei Peng Clan is still as gullible as ever.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Whether or not it was truly a treasure map didn’t matter. Anything important to the enemy would normally be heavily guarded—but Peng Muwi, blinded by the promise of merit, had ignored that without question.
Yi Hwan’s real aim was different.
Use the Peng Clan’s forces to gauge the enemy’s strength.
Patter.
Rain began to fall. For Yi Hwan, who needed to remain unnoticed, it was a welcome sound.
Not bad.
Whoosh!
The deep mountains can change weather in a heartbeat, and today was such a day.
What looked like a brief shower turned into a downpour, with strong winds to match—perfect cover for Yi Hwan.
Rumble!
Crack!
Lightning flashed, pushing back the dark.
Yi Hwan kept about thirty jang behind, trailing to the side. His real attention was on the rear. He was certain the man and the green-robed one hunting him would follow.
Before long, the faintest trace behind him reached his senses. Yi Hwan moved a little higher up.
Soon, the two pursuers emerged beyond the darkness.
Counting on the storm to hide their presence, not even bothering to mask their movements. They must think I’m with the others.
Everything was going as Yi Hwan planned.
[They seem to be heading into Zhao!]
[We find the Grand Prince first.]
The green-robed man used inner power to sharpen his sight, scanning the shadowy figures ahead.
[The thick woods block even the moonlight, and they’re all dressed the same—it’s hard to tell who’s who. If we get closer, we might be spotted.]
The man had the same thought, but there was no turning back now.
[We follow until we’re sure.]
[Yes.]
They trailed at a safe distance. The storm helped, but they couldn’t risk getting too close.
The Hebei Peng Clan was no joke—Left General Peng Muwi had been a renowned master even within the clan.
They could win a fight if they had to, but until they confirmed Yi Hwan’s presence, they wouldn’t strike.
Rumble!
Crack!
The lightning grew fiercer, the rain and wind heavier.
The thick forest ended, giving way to an open plain—though overgrown grass reached head height, making it almost a forest itself.
The two pursuers lowered their heads under the grass and followed. No one ahead looked back.
[Once we cross that plain, it’s Zhao territory. What could they be doing at this hour?]
[Fool! Keep your mind on the task!]
[…Sorry.]
Then—something flew through the darkness. A thick tree branch.
It landed right in front of them.
Thud!
“Huh!”
The green-robed one cried out in surprise. Ahead, Peng Muwi and his warriors all turned sharply to look back.
Just then, lightning flashed overhead like a web.
Crack!
For an instant, everything lit up, revealing the pair’s trail behind them as clearly as a snake’s path.
The Peng warriors halted and turned.
“Who goes there?!”
