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Chapter 2
Setting Out on a Mission
For as long as anyone could remember, the Kingdom of Yan and the Kingdom of Zhao had quarreled along their shared border.
It never escalated into all-out war, but skirmishes broke out almost daily, and the number of warriors who lost their lives in those small-scale battles was beyond counting.
Even so, the conflict never flared into full-scale war because the three powers dividing the land—Yan, Zhao, and Qin—possessed roughly equal military strength.
If two of them were to engage in an all-out war, the balance of power in the world would collapse overnight, giving the third nation the perfect opportunity to unify all under heaven.
Thus, avoiding full-scale war had become an unspoken rule among the three nations, one that had lasted for nearly two hundred years.
In the southern region, the man responsible for its defense was Huang Ho, a figure with ties to the imperial family. Renowned for both martial prowess and strategic acumen, he enjoyed the emperor’s deep trust.
He was also known to be especially close to Crown Prince Yi So, and by military hierarchy, he was the direct superior of Yi Hwan.
Now, Huang Ho’s brow furrowed.
“Did you say he refused to let anyone in?”
“Yes. He even turned away the military physician. It seems his condition is better than expected.”
“That’s good to hear. Still, have the physician keep a close watch on him, just in case.”
“Understood. But, General…”
“Speak.”
“Perhaps we could take this opportunity to send the Grand Prince back to the capital. Though he survived, he’s unlikely to wield a sword again. If you persuade him, he may agree.”
“Do the other officers feel the same?”
“To be honest, there’s no one here who likes having the Grand Prince around.”
That much was true.
All the officers in camp disliked Yi Hwan—not simply because he was a difficult royal to deal with.
“Is it because he has no political power and you think his presence does nothing for your careers?”
“Frankly, General, it’s a burden on you as well, isn’t it?”
Before Huang Ho could answer, another officer burst in.
“General!”
“What is it?”
“The western outpost has been attacked and wiped out by Zhao forces!”
“What?”
“It looks like the Black Tiger Unit moved personally.”
“Those Black Tiger bastards…”
The Black Tiger Unit was one of Zhao’s elite forces—renowned for both exceptional martial skill and ruthless cruelty. To Yan soldiers, they were like demons in human form.
Countless warriors had fallen to them in past battles. It was the same unit that had gravely injured Yi Hwan.
Huang Ho’s eyes trembled with anger.
“If you give the order, I will lead a force to wipe them out.”
“No. First, rescue the warriors who have fled into the mountains. Move quickly!”
“Understood!”
The officer hurried out.
Huang Ho clenched his fist and slammed it onto the table.
“Call an immediate meeting!”
“Yes, General!”
Yi Hwan left the hall.
In consideration of his royal status, Huang Ho had given him a proper residence instead of a tent.
“Salute!”
The warriors of the Dragon Tiger Army, the unit under Yi Hwan’s command, offered him the military salute—but their eyes held no welcome.
Drawing on the body’s memories, Yi Hwan ignored them and headed for Huang Ho’s command tent.
The warriors looked puzzled. Normally, Yi Hwan would at least return greetings, even from low-ranking soldiers of other units.
When he reached the command tent, the guards bowed.
“Welcome, Grand Prince.”
“Where is the General?”
“He’s in a strategy meeting.”
As Yi Hwan tried to enter, the guards stopped him.
“Forgive us, but the General ordered that no one be allowed inside…”
In the past, this body’s former owner had never attended such meetings. By asserting his royal authority, he could have forced his way in, but the man had lacked the temperament to do so—always shrinking back out of deference to the generals.
Yi Hwan thought coldly:
Pathetic. Even if the palace ignored him, he was still a prince. He should have taken every privilege and benefit he could get.
“Move.”
The guards were shoved aside as he strode in without hesitation.
Inside sat Huang Ho and three generals, their expressions sour at the intrusion. Only Huang Ho looked pleased.
“It is a relief to see you well again, Grand Prince.”
“My thanks.”
The other three gave perfunctory words of congratulations.
Yi Hwan pulled up a chair and sat down.
“I heard on my way here—Black Tiger Unit has been on the move again?”
The tone in his voice startled them; it was unlike the Yi Hwan they knew.
“Isn’t this an urgent matter? Let’s get on with the meeting.”
Huang Ho gave the reluctant generals a nod.
The meeting resumed. Yi Hwan listened in silence—until it came time to assign troops to the mission.
“I’ll participate in the operation.”
The air went still.
Huang Ho’s smile turned wry.
“Grand Prince, you have no experience in such missions. The Dragon Tiger Army even less so. This is a dangerous mission against the Black Tiger Unit. For your safety, I cannot allow it.”
Yi Hwan had expected this answer. But he wasn’t going to back down—he had to go.
He had to find the man who had struck down the body’s original owner with the Soul-Severing Strike.
“I’m not asking to take the Dragon Tiger Army. If you’re concerned for my safety, place me with your strongest unit. You’ll have three witnesses here who can say I volunteered, so if anything happens to me, you won’t bear the blame.”
Huang Ho studied him, then asked:
“Is this about revenge?”
“Of course. I’m the Grand Prince of the realm—if I’m struck once, it’s only proper to return the blow twice over. The men’s morale demands it.”
The generals nearly scoffed aloud—since when had Yi Hwan cared about morale?
“I understand, but you could truly lose your life in this mission.”
“Better to die paying back the insult than live swallowing humiliation. I suspect His Majesty would agree.”
The mention of the Emperor silenced the room.
At last, Huang Ho relented.
“Very well. You’ll move with General Jeong.”
“General!”
One officer’s voice rose in protest. This was Jeong Cheon, one of the southern army’s top generals—skilled in both strategy and combat, though his cold demeanor earned him few friends.
“The decision is made.”
The meeting ended. Huang Ho watched Yi Hwan leave, his brow furrowing.
“What on earth has happened to him? Even his eyes are completely different…”
“A mission?!”
Song Hoe’s eyes went wide.
“I’ll go alone. You stay and oversee the unit.”
“Grand Prince! Why would you volunteer for such a dangerous mission? Even General Jeong’s unit can’t guarantee victory against the Black Tiger Unit—they’re Zhao’s elite!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come back alive.”
“Then I’ll go with you!”
“The old man didn’t approve that.”
By “old man,” he meant Huang Ho.
Yi Hwan put on his armor while Song Hoe tied the straps, sighing repeatedly.
“The men seem dissatisfied,” Yi Hwan remarked.
“Since they’re not sent to the battlefield, they have no chance to earn merit, and thus no promotions. It’s worse for some captains—watching their peers get promoted.”
“Are you one of them?”
“No. I’m perfectly satisfied where I am.”
“Truly?”
“Grand Prince!”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Fastening his shoulder guards, Yi Hwan continued:
“Tell me—if they go to war as they are now, do you think they’ll achieve anything?”
“Some captains are skilled enough.”
“I mean the rank-and-file soldiers.”
“Well…”
“If they want to advance, they’d better start training like their lives depend on it. A unit is only as strong as the men in it. At their current level, they won’t earn promotions—they’ll get sent to the afterlife.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“I’m off.”
Yi Hwan left the tent. Song Hoe frowned deeply.
How can someone change this much overnight? Not just his tone and demeanor—his very nature feels different.
“He’s coming with us?”
“So I heard. Said he wanted revenge. Just our luck.”
“Why our unit? Tch.”
Grumbling filled the ranks of General Jeong Cheon’s troops. Meanwhile, warriors from other units smirked and traded silent jeers.
Yi Hwan walked straight through it, ignoring the whispers, heading for Jeong Cheon’s men.
Soon, the unit leaders gathered to discuss the operation. All bowed to Yi Hwan, though none had any real respect—just the bare courtesy due a prince.
Jeong Cheon approached.
“These guards will accompany you. No matter what happens, stay with them until the mission is over.”
“Understood.”
About thirty warriors—all with an extraordinary presence—came to stand beside Yi Hwan.
The drums sounded, signaling departure. Jeong Cheon’s unit led the way out of camp, while other units split off in different directions.
“General Jeong,” Yi Hwan called.
The reply was icy:
“Remember—no private conversation during an operation.”
Yi Hwan smirked.
I’ll let that slide for now.
Just then, a group of horsemen entered the road toward camp.
Yi Hwan glanced over—and his eyes flashed.
Peng Clan?
Most of them wore the same martial attire the Hebei Peng Clan had used for two hundred years.
They surrounded a tall general carrying a massive saber. One look was enough to tell Yi Hwan he was Peng Clan.
Pathetic.
He realized just how far the legacy of Huashan Zhiyan—the foundation he had built—had crumbled.
Nearby officers murmured:
“Those must be the Hebei Peng Clan warriors assigned to the Second Prince.”
“They sure are big. I wonder why His Majesty sent the Left General here—surely he doesn’t mean to put the southern army under the Second Prince?”
“Of course not. I heard they’re here to counter the Black Tiger Unit.”
“If it’s Peng Clan, they’ll be a big help.”
“Enough chatter!”
Jeong Cheon’s sharp command silenced them.
Yi Hwan kept watching the Peng Clan warriors with a cold smile.
So they’ve gone under the Second Prince, have they?
The memories of this body said the First Prince loathed his half-brother, the Fourth Prince—harassing him without reason.
Yi Hwan’s smile deepened faintly.
Still as foolish as ever.
Even two hundred years ago, Yi Hwan had disliked the Hebei Peng Clan.
Their strength made them arrogant—bullying the weak, constantly picking fights. Once, even the Sword King, normally loath to get involved, had personally come to teach them a lesson.
If they cross me now, they won’t get off lightly—just like before.
