Chapter 34
An Unexpected Situation
It was just as they finished eating and were about to drink tea.
“Your Highness.”
Song Hoe gestured toward the outside of the tent.
Mo Jaehwang of the Golden Guards was walking through the heavy downpour. Gomi’s gaze toward him was not just sharp—it was ice cold.
“Send him away.”
“Wouldn’t it be best to at least accept his greeting?”
“I’m having tea.”
“…Understood.”
In the end, Mo Jaehwang returned without meeting Ihwan again.
Song Hoe asked,
“Are you trying to train him like a subordinate?”
“No, I’m trying to provoke him.”
“Provoke him?”
Ihwan took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.
“If Paeng Muwi is a savage bear, then that guy’s a cunning wolf. Wolves aren’t easily tamed. They’ll leap to bite the moment they see an opportunity.”
“So you’re hoping he’ll attack?”
Before Ihwan could reply, Gomi spoke up.
“Is it for the sake of legitimacy?”
“Not bad. Then do you also have an idea of what I’m trying to do?”
“Are you planning to crush the Golden Guards? Of course, I’m speaking broadly.”
“Close enough.”
To Gomi, Ihwan seemed like a completely different man. She had heard through reports that he had changed drastically, but the man before her now felt like someone else entirely.
She silently watched Mo Jaehwang’s retreating figure.
‘Mo Jaehwang… he’s not going to be easy to deal with.’
Elsewhere
‘Let’s see who wins this, Your Highness.’
Despite being snubbed again, Mo Jaehwang smiled coldly.
‘That pitiful status of yours can be trampled at any time. So enjoy it while it lasts. Hahaha.’
Soon after, Paeng Muwi greeted him as he entered the tent.
“How did it go?”
“He said he was having tea and told me to leave.”
“Unbelievable. He demanded I visit him to pay respects, and now he sends you away when you go? Ridiculous.”
“I need to wash up. I got completely drenched.”
Mo Jaehwang entered his quarters.
Yeong Hochung approached just then.
“The vice-commander got sent back again?”
“Yes. He sent me away, saying he was drinking tea.”
“Trying to show who’s boss, huh. How pathetic. Hahaha.”
At Yeong Hochung’s words, Paeng Muwi snorted.
“Hmph! Now that all the officers are calling him ‘Your Highness’ and treating him like royalty, he’s getting cocky. He’s going to get burned if he keeps it up. Does he not realize who we are?”
“Let’s just sit back and enjoy the show.”
“Enough of that easy talk. The Golden Guards are on our side. We should help them.”
“Of course. I just meant the vice-commander isn’t someone to go down easily, so it might be best to watch first.”
“You’re not wrong.”
Suddenly—
RUMBLE!
A thunderous sound shook the earth.
A landslide had finally occurred. The sight of the mountain collapsing with a roar was terrifying.
“What the—?!”
“A landslide!”
The soldiers stopped working and stood in shock. Fortunately, though the encampment hadn’t fully moved yet, all nearby soldiers had been evacuated in time.
Ihwan and the others rushed outside.
Crack!
Crash!
“Damn this cursed rain finally caused a disaster.”
“Half the base is going to be buried.”
Everyone was stunned.
With arms crossed, Ihwan stared at the landslide site. As they said, half the military base was buried in a massive dirt pile. If it rained more, the damage would only grow worse.
Gomi murmured quietly,
“Humans really are powerless before nature. Such overwhelming force—there’s no stopping it.”
“That tone is much better—softer.”
“…!”
Gomi’s eyes widened.
“Sorry. It just slipped out.”
“I wasn’t criticizing. Wolju, you should try to be a little softer.”
“Because I’m a woman?”
“And lose that victim complex.”
“…”
Ihwan turned to her and continued.
“When I act strong, others respond strongly. But if I act gently, people let their guard down. When you’re investigating someone or trying to uncover something, isn’t the latter approach more effective?”
“…!”
Ihwan returned his gaze to the scene.
Gomi’s eyes wavered. She was beginning to understand the deeper meaning behind Ihwan’s words.
“I need to speak with General Hwang.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
Ihwan and Song Hoe headed to Hwang Ho’s tent.
Though the rain hadn’t stopped, Ihwan walked without an umbrella or hood.
Gomi couldn’t take her eyes off his retreating figure.
Lose that victim complex.
Ihwan’s words echoed in her mind.
‘Right. I’ve always acted tough because I was afraid people would look down on me for being a woman. I should’ve just shown them through my abilities…’
Later, in General Hwang’s tent
Ihwan and Hwang Ho sat facing each other.
Hwang Ho’s expression was stiff from the landslide’s aftermath. The atmosphere was heavy, even with Jeong Cheon seated behind them.
“This may be for the best.”
“Pardon?”
“This is a good opportunity to move the base. Honestly, this location was never ideal to begin with.”
“Then where would be better?”
“There’s a spot about 20 li northeast of here. Close to the city, easier to receive reinforcements, and far enough from the Zhao army to prevent surprise attacks.”
“But if we move, Zhao will take this location. We can’t just hand over land we’ve protected with our blood.”
“Zhao’s not stupid. No one’s going to build a base in a mud-filled pit. Who’s going to dig all that out?”
“…”
“That other location is neutral territory. Headquarters won’t object. But this is just my suggestion—think it over.”
After Ihwan left, Jeong Cheon cautiously said,
“His Highness is right. The current site is no longer viable. The mountain’s collapse expanded our defensive perimeter. With our current forces, it’s too much.”
“Hahaha!”
General Hwang suddenly laughed.
“Remarkable, isn’t he?”
“What do you mean?”
“His Highness. The landslide just happened, and he already has a new plan. I was still panicking about what to do.”
“So you’ll follow his suggestion?”
“What else can I do? He’s right on every count. And you said he reminds you of yourself, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s stop cleaning up and start moving. We’ll need tents immediately. Send men to the city to procure as many as possible.”
“Yes, General.”
Outside, Jeong Cheon looked toward the distance, where Ihwan walked calmly through the storm.
‘Just how much of this is the real him? He’s impressive… yet I can’t seem to get used to it.’
Meanwhile
Whooosh—!
The top of a mountain overlooked the entire Yan army base. Amid the storm and wind stood five men dressed as Yan warriors.
But they were Zhao spies—blood demons in disguise.
Sent with orders to assassinate General Hwang, they watched the disaster below with satisfied grins.
“The landslide was perfect. That base looks beyond recovery.”
“Chaos works in our favor.”
“Let’s wait for nightfall and move then.”
“Agreed.”
Their leader turned his gaze to the lone man walking in the distance.
“That’s the Yan prince, Ihwan. Should we kill him too while we’re at it?”
“Not a bad idea. But our main target is General Hwang. We’ll decide what to do with the prince afterward.”
“Understood.”
The leader warned his men,
“Beware the experts who appeared during the last pursuit. If we encounter them again, we must not be captured—die if you must.”
“Yes!”
The leader remembered Cheolmuok and Gong Son-tae. He had seen their terrifying power up close.
One of the blood demons asked,
“They weren’t in any of our intel. What if they’re guarding General Hwang?”
“No chance. They moved elsewhere before the last battle ended. If they were guards, they’d never leave his side.”
“You even noticed that?”
“I saw it with my own eyes.”
The leader turned.
“Into the forest. Take shelter from the storm.”
“Yes!”
Back at the camp
The relocation was decided, but not immediate. They had to wait for the rain to stop.
Thankfully, by nightfall, the storm had weakened.
Clink.
Gomi set down her teacup, her hands surprisingly soft and fair—not the hands of a warrior. It was clear she had trained in internal energy, not external martial arts.
The soldier across from her spoke gently.
“Looks like we’ll be roughing it for a while. Back to living in tents.”
“Worried?”
“Not for us—for you, Wolju-nim…”
Gomi smiled faintly.
“There was a time I lived fifteen days on a snow-swept plain during a blizzard with men of the same rank as you. We had nothing to eat but a slice of jerky a day. Compared to that, this is nothing.”
Clink.
She sipped the tea again—it was Longjing, a gift from Ihwan.
The soldier said in awe,
“This really is a fine tea. Even the scent is rich. I’m honored you shared it. But… why did His Highness give you such a rare tea?”
“He said he didn’t like it.”
“What? That can’t be. According to our intel, he’s loved Longjing since childhood. Didn’t you read our report too?”
“…!”
Gomi’s eyes widened slightly.
The report on Ihwan was detailed. It clearly stated he enjoyed Longjing since he was young.
‘He said it so naturally, I didn’t think twice. Then why would he give me something this rare?’
“Maybe he… likes you, Wolju-nim…”
“Don’t say something so stupid.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
Suddenly, bad memories surfaced.
Throughout her life, many men in the palace had coveted her—some from the royal family, others high-ranking officials.
Even the Second Prince, I Taeji, had made advances.
As a woman, those moments had been dangerous, but she never gave in. If pressured, she was willing to resign.
‘If Ihwan is like one of them…’
Clink.
She finished her tea and stood.
“I’m going for some air.”
“It’s still raining.”
“It’s only a drizzle. Don’t wait up—go to sleep.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
“No need.”
Gomi stepped out and walked toward the ridgeline behind the camp. She had grown fond of that trail since arriving in the southern corps.
The rain had faded to a light drizzle.
The wind had stilled.
Moments later, she stood atop a boulder rising through the forest canopy.
From there, she could see Ihwan’s tent and Paeng’s tent clearly.
She focused on Ihwan’s quarters. A silhouette danced behind the lit window.
Ihwan’s voice echoed in her head.
Lose that victim complex.
That phrase had haunted her all day.
“…Hoo…”
Just as Gomi let out a long sigh, her eyes flashed sharply.
She had spotted figures moving secretly through an unlit area.
By the time she noticed them, they were already gone.
Her expression turned grim.
‘That’s the direction of General Hwang’s tent!’
