Chapter 12
Setting Out on a Mission Again
Ihwan sat across from Hwang Ho.
“Thank you for sending the warriors.”
“Please, don’t mention it. If Your Highness hadn’t refused before, I would’ve done it much sooner.”
“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
“Please say it.”
“I intend to participate in all future operations.”
“…!”
Hwang Ho’s eyes widened in shock.
Hadn’t the entire camp been thrown into chaos not long ago when Ihwan suddenly disappeared from the battlefield? He had returned unharmed then, but there was no guarantee things would go the same way next time.
“Your Highness, that’s…”
“It’s embarrassing, but I’ve finally come to my senses. If you don’t help me, General, I’ll go back to being a useless person. Do you want to see me like that?”
“How could I, Your Highness? It’s just that I…”
Seeing Hwang Ho’s face colored with discomfort, Ihwan pressed on.
“You’ve probably already realized it by now—I’ve been hiding my true abilities. Even if I face an enemy fiercer than the Black Tiger Troop, I can still protect my own life. So don’t worry. Now, enjoy your dinner.”
“…!”
With that, Ihwan left Hwang Ho’s quarters.
Hwang Ho stared at Ihwan’s back as he left and shook his head.
“Was that even a request? More like a declaration…”
A bitter smile spread across his lips.
Meanwhile, outside, Ihwan rubbed his stomach. Speaking in a way he wasn’t used to had made him feel a bit queasy. Still, he was satisfied. He’d managed to avoid being refused.
As he walked back to his quarters, Ihwan thought of Song Cheonmu.
‘With that level of skill, he won’t die easily. Maybe I should give him the opportunity he’s asking for?’
Song Cheonmu’s talent was quite remarkable. If he continued to grow as he was, he could become one of the strongest of his generation.
‘Let’s watch a little longer.’
“You’re going to participate in all future operations?”
Song Hoe’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Select a hundred capable men. All the junior officers should be chosen.”
“Understood.”
Cha Jungkyung chimed in.
“I’ll be joining, of course?”
“Of course. But wear a mask until we get you a proper face-disguising tool.”
“Yes, sir.”
Song Cheonmu’s eyes sparkled.
“I’d like to go too.”
Ihwan fixed his gaze on Song Cheonmu.
There was a determined will in the young man’s eyes.
“You two step outside. You, sit down.”
After Song Hoe and Cha Jungkyung left with bowed heads, Ihwan spoke.
“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”
“I am. But…”
“But?”
Song Cheonmu couldn’t finish his sentence.
At that moment, Ihwan felt he was hiding something.
“If there’s something you want to say, spit it out.”
Clenching his lips, Song Cheonmu continued.
“My family is not doing well. I have to achieve military merit somehow. That’s the only thing I can do for my clan.”
“Something happened to your family?”
“Two of our branches had to shut down when I came here. If things have gotten worse…”
Ihwan was inwardly surprised.
Even if Song Cheonmu and the princess were now lovers, their relationship had started as a political marriage. Any clan that married into the royal family would be expected to maintain a corresponding level of prestige.
And yet, rather than growing stronger after tying themselves to the imperial family, their situation had worsened?
Song Cheonmu let out a heavy sigh and continued.
“Several years ago, long-time partners suddenly cut off trade with our family. My father and older brother tried everything to find new clients, but we couldn’t offload all the goods we had stockpiled in our warehouses…”
Finding trading partners was hard—more precisely, finding trustworthy ones was the real challenge.
Just one failed trade could result in devastating losses, so merchants had to scrutinize each potential partner closely before doing business.
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that finding good trading partners was the hardest part of the business.
So, if multiple partners suddenly cut ties at once?
It was nearly impossible to replace them all quickly. Unsold goods would go bad, and the resulting losses would be enormous.
Ihwan thought of Song Cheonho.
‘Even in that situation, he never once showed it…’
Their conversations had been brief, but based on what Ihwan had seen of Song Cheonho’s personality, he clearly hadn’t wanted to burden Ihwan with his family’s problems.
“Hmm…”
As Ihwan furrowed his brow in thought, Song Cheonmu spoke earnestly.
“Please let me participate! I swear I won’t act recklessly in the pursuit of glory and cause trouble! If I do, I won’t ask to go again!”
Ihwan finished his deliberation and nodded.
“You don’t have to guard me for a while starting tomorrow.”
“…Sorry?”
“You never know when we’ll go into battle, so from tomorrow on, train like your life depends on it. If you don’t want to drag us down, you’d better push yourself harder than ever.”
“…!”
Realizing what that meant, Song Cheonmu bowed his head deeply and shouted.
“Yes, sir!”
Thwack!
Thud!
Heavy sounds echoed from the training yard. It had been like this every day for several days.
Ever since Ihwan had given permission, Song Cheonmu had devoted himself entirely to training. Ihwan occasionally helped him as well.
Song Hoe had no time to rest either. He was in charge of training the hundred soldiers selected for the mission.
Though he often got scolded while staying close to Ihwan, as a disciple of the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, his martial prowess was more than enough to lead a unit.
The morale of the Yongho Troop was sky-high.
Once it was announced they would be going into battle again, the soldiers trained late into the night without complaint.
Ihwan observed their training now and then, but didn’t step in personally.
‘Should’ve done this sooner, maybe…’
He had only joined this mission for his own purposes. But watching how excited the Yongho Troop was made his feelings complicated.
‘What was the former Grand Prince even thinking all those years?’
“Hyah!”
“Put more force into your hips!”
“Relax and swing lightly!”
The soldiers’ shouts echoed throughout the camp.
Warriors from other units frowned as they watched. Some even mocked them openly.
“They’ll tuck their tails and run like dogs the moment they see real combat.”
“If they run into the Black Tiger Troop, they’ll wet themselves first. Let’s just hope we don’t end up on the same mission with those guys.”
No one trusted the Yongho Troop. In life-or-death missions, the inexperience of such a unit made them a liability.
In any case…
Time flowed like water.
More than two weeks passed without any missions being assigned. It was a dull period—for Ihwan, for the Yongho Troop, and for others as well.
“I’m so bored I’m going to lose my mind.”
The man in the blue robe grumbled, his arms crossed and eyes closed.
“How long are we supposed to wait?”
“If it’s about finding the Sword King’s heir, we may wait a lifetime.”
“…”
“Stop acting like a child. Wait patiently.”
“Sigh…”
It had already been twenty days since they arrived here.
During that time, Ihwan hadn’t left his quarters, save for a few visits to Hwang Ho’s tent or the training grounds.
Well, there was one other time—when the Black Tiger Troop came to target Cha Jungkyung.
But Ihwan had moved in the opposite direction, making it impossible for them to interfere.
Rumble!
Thunder boomed, followed by the sound of rain.
“It’s raining. Let’s head into the forest.”
The man finally opened his eyes and stood up. He stretched his body.
Crack!
“At this rate, I’ll start producing holy relics like a monk.”
“Quit whining.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m fine.”
The man entered the forest. The blue-robed man glanced at Ihwan’s quarters one last time and followed.
Rumble!
Whoosh!
The rain turned fierce.
“Captain.”
“What.”
“When do you think we’ll escape the shadows? Or can it even happen in our lifetime?”
“We have to try.”
“Ugh… By the way, the enemy must be in the same boat, right?”
“Focus on us.”
Screech.
A fox peeked its head out.
The blue-robed man took something from his sleeve and fed it to the fox—finely sliced meat.
“You’ve had it rough, too.”
Screech.
“Is it hard?”
Screech.
“I’m sorry.”
He glanced at his companion, but the man still had his eyes closed.
Then…
Grrr!
The fox let out a low growl.
The blue-robed man’s eyes sparkled.
“They’re finally moving!”
The man opened his eyes and quickly climbed a cliff overlooking the military camp.
The blue-robed man followed. A large portion of the Yan army was moving westward.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir!”
Whoosh!
Rain poured down in sheets.
Ihwan moved in the rear with the Yongho Troop.
“Why a mission on a day like this…”
Several soldiers grumbled.
Song Hoe scolded them.
“Rain like this makes the enemy lower their guard.”
“Ah, I see.”
Song Cheonmu was visibly excited. The mission he had long awaited had finally begun.
Ihwan looked at him and said,
“You going on a picnic?”
“…”
“Fix that face.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rumble!
Whoosh!
Ihwan looked up at the dark sky. Something about it felt ominous.
He turned his gaze forward.
Pang Muwi and warriors from the Hebei Pang Clan were part of this operation. The commander, like before, was Jeong Cheon.
“Did it really have to be in this weather?”
Pang Muwi asked Jeong Cheon, sounding annoyed.
Jeong Cheon replied calmly,
“We are in the middle of a mission. Please refrain from idle chatter.”
“…”
Ihwan smiled faintly at Jeong Cheon’s strict demeanor. Since starting this new life, Jeong Cheon had been one of the people he watched most closely.
He reminded him of his old subordinates—his manner of speaking, his expressions, the way he interacted with Hwang Ho. He resembled the Three Kings so much it sometimes shook the emotions Ihwan had long buried.
“Damn it.”
Cha Jungkyung cursed nearby. His mask, soaked from the rain, clung to his face uncomfortably.
“Captain.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Stay close to me. Watch yourself.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
Ihwan slowly surveyed his surroundings.
‘They must be tailing me from somewhere.’
He still had half a dose of the tracking incense within him.
He could use it to lead them away—but he wouldn’t. If they were descendants of his former subordinates, it would be like slamming the door in their faces.
‘Once I regain my strength, everything will be resolved. Until then, we won’t meet again.’
Whoooosh!
