Chapter 456: The Friendship of Sovereign and Minister

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Agonized sounds burst out here and there without rest.

“Keok!”

“Euuk!”

“Ak!”

“Keukeu!”

They were the screams of the enemy nation’s troops.

Thus, those who one by one bled and died.

The war situation was reversed in an instant, and furthermore, caused disorder in the enemy line.

Mun-gyeom, the vice-commander under cavalry leader Deok-bi who had been killed fighting Bai Chu, shouted out.

“Everyone, calm down and re-form the lines! If a Tiger bites you, you’ll be fine as long as you keep your wits about you! I’ll take the lead, so cover the surroundings and follow behind!”

Matching that, Tak-bal, the infantry’s vice-commander, also added his words.

“Forget Bai Chu and open an escape route! Everyone must squeeze out every last bit of strength to somehow break through to the rear! If we stay trapped and fight like this, only an ignoble death awaits at the end!”

At the desperate orders of the two vice-commanders, all their subordinate troops simultaneously turned their bodies around.

But it wasn’t easy to break through the exit.

In that midst, Cho-hui dashed out toward Bai Chu a short distance in front.

“Lord!”

Thereupon he, seated on the ground, asked quietly.

“Is everyone safe? No one hurt anywhere……?”

At those words, Cho-hui’s heart was moved once again.

He was a true man.

To worry about the courtesans’ safety before himself, injured as he was.

Cho-hui soon nodded slightly and answered.

“Yes, of course. We’re all fine including me. Thanks to Lord blocking the front……”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Ukt……”

Bai Chu, having let out a short groan, frowned.

Because once the tension released, the pain had become severe due to several arrows being embedded as well as the stab wounds here and there.

Cho-hui, with tears welling up, opened her mouth with an anxious expression.

“Ah…… What do we do? There’s nothing I can do. Please hold on just a bit longer.”

Having said that, she didn’t try to carelessly pull out the arrow shafts.

She knew well that removing them would worsen the bleeding from the wounds.

Instead, she took out a handkerchief and pressed it firmly on the stab wounds, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Mmmn…… Thank you. Where did you learn this?”

“I didn’t particularly learn it. I just naturally came to know it through experiencing various things.”

“Your life must have been anything but smooth either. I had roughly guessed already, But……”

“Yes, not just me But everyone in the group has their own story. That’s why we chose the life of courtesans.”

Hearing those words, Bai Chu quietly nodded.

“I won’t ask further. Anyway…… You can rest easy now. As you see, his majesty has personally led the Army and arrived.”

Soon Cho-hui’s gaze went toward the chaotic battlefield ahead.

An infantry armed with sharply honed spears, swords, sabers and such was surrounding the enemy line’s entire rear and charging fiercely.

Also, on the hills on both sides, archers were assisting by shooting their bows in succession.

Before them, more than two-thirds of the enemy forces had been reduced.

Her gaze soon went further back, beyond.

Right there, a group of gleaming riders and horses was gathered.

A cavalry of thirty-six riders.

On the dark battle standard was embroidered in soaring brushstrokes the name of the royal guard: Leopard Tiger Army (???).

Cho-hui focused on the four-wheeled carriage positioned in the center.

‘It must be him!’

A person who was one of the two dragons.

Huan Hou.

Wasn’t a cavalry of thirty-six riders escorting a luxuriously styled four-wheeled carriage for its kind?

Surely the person seated there must be that Huan Hou.

But there was something strange.

‘An old man……?’

The person riding the four-wheeled carriage wore a pale blue ribbon hat and was draped in a crane-feather robe, but his beard was pure white.

Though far away, it was a characteristic by which one could tell he was an old man.

She couldn’t readily understand.

According to circulating rumors, Huan Hou and Bai Chu were close associates and of the same age.

But the owner of the four-wheeled carriage was an old man with white beard.

Right then, Bai Chu’s quiet voice was heard.

“That person is our nation’s military advisor (??: one who commands military discipline under a leader, operates the army, and plans military strategies).”

He had said that, having read the question in her eyes.

“Ah, I see. Then where is his majesty……?”

Thereupon Bai Chu quietly pointed with his index finger in one direction.

Ahead, not far away.

A vanguard general leading the infantry with valiant swordwork was visible.

That young man in silver helmet and armor was fighting and annihilating enemies without regard for his own body.

He was a youth who possessed a splendid build like Bai Chu.

Cho-hui sensed it the moment she saw him.

“Surely not……”

“Hut. Yes, that’s right. He is our nation’s King.”

At Bai Chu’s words, Cho-hui was greatly impressed inside.

‘Wow!’

For no less than the king himself to take the field as a battle’s vanguard general and swing a blade.

Moreover, even his skill was of no ordinary level.

Though he didn’t quite match Bai Chu’s, it was a martial prowess lacking nothing to be called a fierce general.

Thus Huan Hou, having become the vanguard general, burst out with an angry shout.

“Bai Chu is this sovereign, and this sovereign is Bai Chu! You have essentially targeted this sovereign’s life! I won’t leave a single one alive!”

Exceptional words equating himself as king with his vassal Bai Chu.

It was a shout that truly proved a friendship thicker than blood.

At that, the allied forces’ morale was boosted, and they poured out an even fiercer offensive, and ultimately the enemy forces including vice-commanders Mun-gyeom, Tak-bal and others were completely annihilated.

Before anyone knew it, stillness came to the gorge that had become a mountain of corpses and sea of blood.

All that could be heard was just the sounds of each person’s rough breathing.

In that midst, King Huan Hou soon approached to stand before Bai Chu.

“Cho……”

His voice was laden with painful feelings.

It gave a sense of how he usually thought of Bai Chu……

Right then.

CHEOK.

Bai Chu, moving his wounded body, paid his respects.

“You came just in time. This subordinate sincerely thanks you.”

Huan Hou, having flung off his helmet, shook his head.

“There’s no need for formalities just because everyone’s watching.”

Then he immediately dropped to both knees and continued speaking.

“I shouldn’t have just let you go after hearing your words. As I am nominally a nation’s ruler, I failed to judge coolly. Please forgive my neglect.”

Bai Chu, having smiled gently, waved his hand.

“Hu…… Incorrigible. A King should have his dignity.”

“No, could that dignity be more important than your life? Have you forgotten our vow? That we’d live our lives together, realize our dreams together, and die on the same day……”

“It was a mission I took on voluntarily. So don’t blame yourself. It’s enough that my life was saved like this.”

“I’ll repay this debt with the Arrival of a true peaceful Prosperous era.”

“Talk of debt, between us?”

“Still, it’s right to beg forgiveness for this matter. I realized anew. That if I lose you, I can’t live properly anymore either…… Earlier When I arrived here and saw your state, my heart dropped. If we’d been just a bit later…… Hmmm, it’s something I don’t even want to think about. Fortunately, our military advisor anticipated the matter, making it possible to rescue you.”

“You can stop blaming yourself now. Hurry and stand up. No matter what, we must at least maintain the minimal laws of Sovereign and Minister.”

“If I go and arrange a good Physician for you, will you forgive me?”

“Hu, persistent. Alright. Then I’ll think about it.”

“Hahaha! Alright, no going back on your word!”

“How silly.”

Meanwhile, Cho-hui who saw that sight was greatly surprised inside.

‘Heavens…… The friendship of these two people……”

It was truly an unfamiliar scene.

Through their series of conversation, she once again realized that their relationship was a friendship transcending the relationship of sovereign and minister.

Right then, Huan Hou’s gaze rested on Cho-hui.

“How did you come to travel with Cho?”

At that question, Cho-hui quickly paid her respects and briefly explained the whole story.

When the story ended, Huan Hou wore a meaningful smile on his lips.

“Hut, so that’s how it came to be. I somewhat expected it.”

Following that, he gazed at Bai Chu and murmured.

“This is rather unexpected? You who treated women who approached you like wood and stone all this time…… Yet in the end you fall before a nation-toppling beauty?”

“What……”

“Did I strike the mark?”

“……”

“Hahahahaha! Alright, alright. You stiff fellow, getting all serious. Now! Everyone prepare for the return!”

Thus Huan Hou’s Leopard Tiger Army troops quickly organized their formation and exited the gorge.

* * *

About one month and a bit passed from then.

The nation of the king who had ruled the region including Lizhou was destroyed by the great army of Huan Hou and Bai Chu.

It was literally a fight that ended in overwhelming victory.

It was thanks to the old military advisor’s strategy hitting the mark, based on the series of information Bai Chu had gathered by spying.

Of course, also the bold judgment and execution power of King Huan Hou, the final decision-maker for all matters……

That news quickly spread throughout the continent.

And the fame of the two young dragons, Sovereign Huan Hou and Minister Bai Chu, was sky-high.

A night when the moonlight was beautiful.

At the palace where Huan Hou stayed, a grand banquet was held.

It was an event to commend the merits of the important generals and encourage the entire army in celebration of the victory.

While the large group gathered in the plaza each enjoyed food and engaged in conversation, women of courtesan origin including Cho-hui ascended to the central stage.

Naturally, the gazes of all people concentrated there.

More precisely, gazes directed at one woman, at Cho-hui, a being more beautiful than a mere beauty……

Before long, along with the sound of instruments being played, the women’s singing and dancing began.

In that midst, the gazes of the men watching Cho-hui became dreamy.

Everyone wore expressions as if their souls had left their bodies, bewitched by that breathtaking beauty.

When one round of singing and dancing ended and Cho-hui’s solo stage began, cheers erupted from here and there.

Her figure, dancing to the accompaniment of flute and drum, reminded one of a heavenly fairy, literally.

Two feet in shoes embroidered with flower patterns stepped lightly across the floor, and her delicate body (??: the body of a lovely woman) boasting a waist as slender as a gourd bottle swayed, creating a bewitching line.

The exquisite harmony of long hair sparkling in the moonlight and the billowing hem of her clothes seemed to maximize that beauty.

Those entranced by her appearance continuously let out exclamations while gulping down their wine.

Huan Hou, seated in the place of honor at the banquet hall, was no different.

His expression couldn’t hide his enchantment at each of Cho-hui’s hand and foot movements, as one with the sweet melody.

Thus everyone was enjoying this moment to the fullest.

However.

The Cho-hui on stage couldn’t enjoy it.

She simply wished the sound of instrument playing striking her ears would end quickly.

Why?

Because the man she wanted to show her dance to wasn’t at this gathering.

Bai Chu, that is.

She had heard he was resting at his quarters because of the aftereffects of fighting a great battle.

Thus a bit of time passed, and as the sound of instrument playing ceased, Cho-hui’s dance also came to an end.

Immediately after, numerous people clapped and asked in unison for one more performance.

But Cho-hui politely declined with a wordless gesture and tried to hurriedly run off somewhere.

Seeing that, one general in the hall revealed a displeased expression.

“That Impudent…… Is a woman of courtesan origin ignoring our request! She should be grateful enough just to be able to live in the Palace like this, yet she dares……!”

Simultaneously, Cho-hui’s steps came to a halt.

Right then, there was someone’s voice that suddenly interjected.

“How dare.”

That cold and brief utterance summoned stillness to the hall.

Simultaneously, the gazes of all people uniformly turned toward the place of honor.

The owner of the voice that had just come out was none other than King Huan Hou.