GMLS Ch 17

Turning back, Yihwa’s eyes caught sight of the dazed faces. Utterly pathetic. This wasn’t a war, but a ‘test.’ A race to see who could reach the Sky Monument first.

In that sense, the 3rd Prince was a failure from the start. His foolishness was astonishing. With more people, movement naturally slows down. What more was there to say about him preparing cargo wagons? The 3rd Prince should have caught on when he saw that the 2nd Prince, whose faction was large and solid, had only thirty people.

Still, the 2nd Prince had put some thought into it. All his men’s horses were of a quality high enough to be used as warhorses, their luggage was minimized, and he formed his party with a small elite force of considerable skill.

And above such a 2nd Prince’s head flew the 5th Prince.

“Damn it. Ride!”

The 2nd Prince, who came to his senses first, spurred his horse. The 3rd Prince fumbled about before belatedly abandoning his carts and cargo wagons. In that time, the 5th Prince’s party had left the imperial palace and was passing through the capital city.

Not far from them, the Ammukdan followed. Yeo Yullyeong’s private organization had been ordered to be the ‘observers’ for this test. They followed without much difficulty, as if they knew the 5th Prince’s party would dash out.

“We’ll continue without rest. Is everyone confident in their running?”

In response to Muryun’s words, a unified voice returned, ‘Yes, Your Highness!’

From the imperial palace to the summit of Mount Cheontae took a good ten days even on horseback. The 5th Prince’s goal was half of that: five days. A possible time if they poured all their strength into their footwork. The strategy was to maintain the lead from beginning to end.

If they don’t meet, they won’t clash. Moreover, those following behind wouldn’t be fighting the 5th Prince, but would self-destruct while fighting their own impatience.

“Trust in me. I will trust in you as well.”

The hearts that had been minutely misaligned until just before departure united as one at that moment.

My lord. To become emperor.

No one opened their mouths, but their thoughts connected.

Yihwa looked at Muryun’s back as he led the way. It was still broad, still steadfast. It was a back that was more dependable than anything in the world. Even Monghyun and Wi Junghyuk, who had been bickering from the start, would join hands and cut down the enemy to protect that back.

Yihwa was purely impressed. He himself had been caught between the two, getting his back broken and failing to mediate, but Muryun had done it with a single word. His innate qualities were different.

‘Indeed, even Yeo Yullyeong acknowledged his brilliance. What more is there to say?’

Among the stories he received as a reward, Yeo Yullyeong’s evaluation of the 5th Prince was also mixed in.

‘If he ascends the imperial throne, he will be solemn and just.’

Considering it was Yeo Yullyeong who said it, it was as good as high praise. Yihwa agreed. The Geum Empire would become rich and powerful, and the people would praise him as the greatest sage king the world had ever seen. Once the chaotic situation stabilized like that, he would welcome an empress and consorts befitting the emperor’s stature……. His well-progressing imagination came to a clattering halt.

Placing a hand under his cloak, Yihwa clutched his chest. He was startled by the unfamiliar pain. He had been injured countless times, but none of them could compare.

“Yihwa? Are you alright?”

Yihwa snapped back to his senses with a start. Muryun, who had slowed down at some point, was beside him. The other three had bewildered expressions. Heukwol, belatedly, asked with only his eyes, full of concern, what was wrong.

“You clutched your chest, didn’t you? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Or was the running too fast?”

He was watching me the whole time. Yihwa’s face flushed. At the same time, the pain and churning in his chest intensified. In that moment, a past conversation with Yeo Yullyeong flashed through his mind.

Yihwa had asked. Was it important for his heart to be satisfied? Yeo Yullyeong had smiled and said it wasn’t important. As long as that heart, which seems calm right now, does not overflow…….

“If it’s hard, tell me. It’s alright.”

Does not waver—

“Come to think of it, isn’t this your first outing? It’s only natural to be nervous. I was inconsiderate.”

And remains unchanged.

“Yihwa?”

Yihwa bit his lip. He quickly hid his weak part inside and brought out his strongest part.

“I am alright. As you said, it seems I was just a little nervous. I am fine now.”

“Really?”

Muryun looked at Yihwa skeptically but said no more. This was because he knew Yihwa’s skills well.

In the past, he had heard that Yihwa had narrowly lost in a sparring match with Wi Junghyuk, but on the final day, it ended in a draw. At that level, there were few within the Geum Empire who could match his martial prowess. Moreover, he had just come of age. Muryun himself was looking forward to how much he would grow in the future.

He shot forward again. Then, as if he had been waiting, Heukwol broke from the formation and came to Yihwa’s side. Taking Yihwa’s hand, he wrote letters with his finger.

-Are you really alright.

“I’m alright.”

Thinking he had caused quite a bit of worry, Yihwa gave a bitter smile.

“Do not break the formation!”

Muryun shouted from the front. The fact that he himself had come down to Yihwa’s side was already a non-event.

Only Yihwa, who was close by, saw Heukwol’s mouth pout in dissatisfaction from under his mask. The sharp pain in his chest remained, but his mood improved. Yihwa patted Heukwol’s shoulder, telling him to go on.

Heukwol returned to his position, and the five once again dashed forward like flying birds. They leaped over the high roofs of the capital, passed the city walls, and were now in a wide field. Watching the wild grass ripple in the wind, Yihwa tried to control his heart.

‘I must be calm.’

The more he tried, the more resentful he felt of his wavering heart. Yeo Yullyeong’s words swirled in his head. Do not make light of desire.

‘I must be calm.’

Vexingly, Yeo Yullyeong was right again this time.

⊹ ࣪ 💮⊹₊

One day since the test began. They entered Yeonbuk Province without incident.

Two days. They crossed Yeonbuk Province and got closer to the north. As if the season, which had been spring, had regressed and turned back to winter, the air grew chilly.

Three days. Monghyun and Wi Junghyuk had a war of words. In the end, they decided to cross swords, a situation that was called sparring in word but was a life-or-death battle in deed. Muryun remained silent this time as well. He merely leaned against a tree and watched what the two were doing.

In the end, Yihwa broke into a cold sweat trying to mediate somehow this time as well, but it was useless. The two pretended not to hear and finally drew their swords and took their positions.

Oh, you childish men! Should I just jump in between them bare-handed and block them? Yihwa clutched his throbbing head. Then, Heukwol, who had been watching all along, suddenly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

No, why are you too…. Yihwa’s face clouded with sorrow.

“Hm. You intend to join as well?”

“Good. I thought it might be because His Highness accepted you, but I was curious about your skills. You were the Shangshuling’s shadow, weren’t you?”

Monghyun and Wi Junghyuk, who had been growling at each other until just a moment ago, were perfectly in sync. Yihwa looked up at the sky. It was blue without a single cloud. He let out a ‘Hoo–’ laugh and quietly drew his sword.

“If you want to converse with swords so badly, then let me join as well.”

Wi Junghyuk said.

“Good. I wanted to cross swords with you as well. Since our last spar was a draw.”

Monghyun, surprisingly, flinched and then suddenly glanced at Muryun. It was a completely different reaction from how he had been in a battle of wills with Wi Junghyuk just moments ago.

“Monghyun. Sword.”

It was just one word. But that one word was enough.

Monghyun, who had quietly gone to a corner, planted his sword on the ground and then lifted his body into the air, doing a handstand. His weight rested on the tip of the sword. It was a divine skill worthy of admiration, but even for a top-class warrior, that posture must have been quite painful.

“What are you staring blankly at, Wi Junghyuk?”

Wi Junghyuk went to Monghyun’s side. With a leap, the two lanky figures in black martial arts uniforms stood upside down.

Heukwol quickly took his hand off his sword hilt. Then he acted as if nothing had happened, feigning ignorance. Muryun’s gaze landed on Yihwa. He, realizing his mistake, quickly sheathed his sword.

Wi Junghyuk, who had been staring at him, spoke.

“Three of us drew our swords, so why are only two being punished?”

The upside-down Monghyun cursed with only his eyes. What am I to do with this clueless bastard?

“Are you telling me to punish one who drew his sword to stop the two who dared to fight amongst comrades without permission, the same as them? The one who held the post of Captain of the Imperial Guard until just recently is quite the just man. I may not know, but there must have been quite a few Imperial Guards who suffered injustice under you.”

Wi Junghyuk’s mouth snapped shut. A sharp reprimand pierced his back as he was being punished. His sturdy back quickly became drenched in a cold sweat.

Muryun, turning his body so sharply it created a cold wind, sat down. The quick-witted Heukwol lit a fire and then disappeared. He was not visible, but he would be somewhere not far away. Muryun called Yihwa over to sit beside him and said.

“The two of them can take turns standing guard. Then I’ll count on you tonight. Just in case, do it with the hand you don’t usually use.”

“This much is nothing.”

“I am ambidextrous.”

“……Alright. Do as you please.”

Muryun closed his eyes for a moment with Yihwa. However, despite his physical fatigue, he couldn’t fall asleep easily.

In fact, Wi Junghyuk’s words weren’t entirely wrong. If this were an allied camp and a situation like the one just now had actually occurred, it would have been right for Yihwa to be punished as well. In a military camp, rules take precedence over reasons.

In other words, this was undeniable favoritism. Then why did he favor Yihwa? Even after pondering, an answer that felt right did not come to mind.

From the position of leading subordinates, favoritism is one of the things to be most wary of. Unequal rewards breed discontent. Even dripping water can split a stone if it is constant. What turns the heart of a loyal subject is this kind of dripping water, this very trivial disappointment.

He knew that, yet the thought of punishing Yihwa didn’t come to him at all, which was a perplexing matter.