The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Red Dragon Emperor, Chapter 102

Chapter 102 — The Futile Capture

Someone watched Yi Hwan’s retreating figure as he slipped from the Imperial Palace.
It was Yi Seong-ji.
His slightly twisted eyes harbored suspicion.
‘What’s with that manner of his, as though seeing me for the first time?’
Moments ago, Yi Seong-ji had met with Yi Hwan.
His brother’s comportment had struck him as odd, unsettling in some indefinable way.

Let’s meet again next time.

It was the only greeting Yi Hwan had offered as he approached with warmth.
‘They say he’s changed greatly, and it seems to be true. But no matter how much a man transforms, can it really run so deep?’
A middle-aged attendant approached Yi Seong-ji’s side.
“Will you not pay your respects to the Empress?”
“I think it best we meet another time. This place always feels suffocating to me, no matter when I come.”
“Understood. I shall have the carriage brought at once.”
The attendant departed toward the courtyard first. Just then, Yi Tae-ji drew near from behind.
“What brings you to search the entire Imperial Palace?”
“I heard the youngest had arrived, so I came to see his face. Now that I have, I should take my leave.”
“Did the fellow welcome you?”
“What is there to welcome or reject between brothers? I’m content enough to have seen his face after so long.”
A cold smile played at the corners of Yi Tae-ji’s mouth.
“The Crown Prince and he do not acknowledge you as their brother. You should bear that in mind.”
“Is that so? I’ll keep it in mind. Well then.”
Yi Seong-ji bowed slightly and made his way toward the courtyard. Yi Tae-ji watched his brother’s departing form, his eyes hardening.
‘You feign indifference, but do you think I’m blind to the ambitions you harbor?’
His gaze was that of a man regarding an enemy.
‘He must choose his allegiances wisely. Otherwise, no matter how much we share the same blood, I will never forgive him.’

* * *

Having departed the palace, Yi Hwan made his way unhurriedly toward the Official Residence.
As he recalled the reactions of the ministers during the appointment ceremony, he let out a soft laugh.
‘Even with the Crown Prince standing right before their eyes, they treat me like a stone rolled in by accident.’
Many of the ministers had reacted so.
He’d expected it, of course, but the severity of it was so pronounced that watching it unfold bordered on absurdity.
‘Soon enough, I’ll have them bowing their heads before me.’
Wheee!
As autumn approached, the wind carried a refreshing chill. The sky stretched high and blue, and merely gazing upon it seemed to lift one’s spirits.
Yi Hwan looked upward, drawing in a quiet breath.
‘Perhaps from today onward, an entirely different life begins.’
Commander of the Gold Guard, with rank equivalent to the Grand Commandant.
Power had fallen into his hands, power to do whatever he wished. The original owner of this body could never have dreamed of such a life.
‘Perhaps the life he yearned for would have been better.’
He had harbored no ambition, no greed — content merely if his sister found happiness. And now into that body had stepped he, the embodiment of ambition itself.
‘Wait and see. I will show you that the path I walk is not so terrible after all.’
Shortly after, Yi Hwan and his party entered the Marketplace District. Cheol Mu-ok, Ju-tae, and Son Young’s eyes shifted in an instant.
Assassins could emerge from anywhere, at any moment.
[Stay alert.]
[Already am.]
Gold Guard patrols moved throughout the Marketplace District. Given its proximity to the palace, the number of patrolling soldiers was substantial, and they were deployed in tight formation.
Yi Hwan let his body move with the horse’s gait, surveying the District as they passed.
The Gold Guards did not recognize him and simply let them pass.
Yi Hwan’s eyes flickered with sudden awareness as he observed the patrol troops.
“Are there martial artists mixed in with the patrol force?”
Son Young replied.
“Yes. One is stationed in each unit, but we’re so few in number that most units lack a Martial Artist altogether.”
“How many Martial Artists do we have in the Gold Guard?”
“About three hundred, sir.”
“Once we return to the Official Residence, bring me the roster of Martial Artists.”
“Understood.”
“Have a meal before you go.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer to eat at the Official Residence? This place is rather… well.”
Son Young trailed off.
Yi Hwan had already dismounted and was striding purposefully toward the Inn. Cheol Mu-ok followed at his heels.
Ju-tae and Son Young led the horses toward the Stable. As they walked, Son Young asked quietly.
“Is he always so fearless?”
“He doesn’t much fear assassins.”
……
Ju-tae let out a quiet laugh.
“Stop worrying and move quickly. I rushed this morning to get an early start, and now my stomach’s about to digest itself.”
“Yes, of course.”

* * *

Yi Hwan made his way to the top floor.
The innkeeper in charge bowed deeply and spoke with great courtesy.
“This floor requires advance reservation, sir.”
“Are there no empty tables?”
“Even if there were, without a reservation… Wait! Sir, you can’t just—!”
Yi Hwan walked in without hesitation. Cheol Mu-ok quickly moved to block him, but instead caught the innkeeper by the collar from behind.
Snap!
“He is the Grand Prince.”
……!
Ju-tae added a word more.
“And the Guard Commander.”
……!
The innkeeper froze where he stood, as if turned to stone.

* * *

The Inn was quite crowded.
Most of the patrons were high officials in ordinary dress or military commanders on leave from their posts.
Even though Yi Hwan wore the armor of a general, the innkeeper had mentioned reservations because nearly everyone who came here held considerable rank.
Yi Hwan walked to an empty table and sat.
The eyes that had briefly fixed on him now scattered away. Cheol Mu-ok approached with the innkeeper.
Yi Hwan gazed at the table by the window where two men sat, then spoke.
“Bring me the same as what they’re having.”
“Will you require wine, sir?”
“The strongest you have. Two bottles.”
“At once.”
As the innkeeper bowed and withdrew, there was no trace of his former anxiety.
Shortly after, Ju-tae and Son Young arrived upstairs.
Ju-tae glanced around the Inn and whistled softly.
“This place is truly extraordinary. An ordinary man would probably suffocate here and couldn’t even drink water properly.”
Son Young spoke up.
“The top floor is where high officials prefer to dine. Even the Second Prince visited here a few days ago.”
Yi Hwan asked.
“Even those without official rank can enter if they make a reservation in advance?”
“Yes. Though I believe those of unverified status must pay in advance as a condition.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently, then immediately sent Soul Transmission to the three.
[Watch the two men by the window I was just looking at.]
[Understood.]
Ju-tae and Cheol Mu-ok responded calmly, but Son Young turned with startled eyes.
[Don’t look at them.]
“……!”
Son Young snapped his half-turned head back around.
Cheol Mu-ok spoke up.
“Did those fellows bring you here, sir?”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
The truth was, when passing through the Marketplace earlier, he’d glanced at this place without thinking. Two figures at the window had caught his eye, and the way they’d quickly averted their gaze struck him as odd. That’s why he’d come up.
Shortly after, the ordered dishes and liquor arrived at the table.
Yi Hwan brought the cup to his lips first. In the gleaming surface of the drinking vessel, he caught sight of figures reflected there.
“Two more in the back.”
“Should we take them now?”
“Without evidence, if we deny it when questioned, only we’ll look foolish. Wait.”
Yi Hwan tilted his cup with unhurried grace.
Cheol Mu-ok and the others began eating as well. Yet their attention remained fixed on the window and the rear. How long did this stretch on?
People began filtering out one by one. Empty seats multiplied, but no new patrons entered.
Then a server came up.
“Is there anything else you require?”
It was a different server than the one who’d first attended them. Yi Hwan set down his cup and asked plainly.
“Where did that other fellow go?”
“Since we receive honored guests quite frequently here, several servers take turns attending to them.”
“Pour me another cup.”
Yi Hwan suddenly extended his drinking vessel.
The server calmly picked up the bottle and poured with both hands into the empty cup.
Glug-glug.
“Those hands of yours are quite rough. Have you trained in the External Technique?”
“……Sir?”
Snap!
Yi Hwan seized the server’s wrist.
At the same moment, Cheol Mu-ok hurled himself toward the window, while Ju-tae drove forward toward the rear.
Crash-clang-clang!
Those seated at the two tables lurched upright at the sudden chaos, sending the tables toppling.
Light blazed from Yi Hwan’s body. But this time, unlike before, there was one more orb than usual.
Six spheres of light descended upon the head of one figure seated at the rear table.
Splat!
“Ugh!”
Simultaneously, Ju-tae’s blade severed the neck of another.
Thud!
As the severed head fell to the floor, those Cheol Mu-ok had engaged crumpled lifelessly.
Thump! Collapse!
Cheol Mu-ok turned back to Yi Hwan with a perplexed expression.
“He took his own life.”
Yi Hwan’s face darkened as well.
Though he’d seized the server’s wrist and swiftly suppressed his vital points, the man was already vomiting blood from his eyes, ears, and mouth.
The entire sequence had unfolded in an instant.
“They prefer death to capture if things look even slightly uncertain. I don’t know what organization this is, but at this level, I’d say we’re dealing with nothing short of fanatics.”
“It appears so.”
Son Young, finally grasping something, spoke up.
“Are they the villains who’ve been assassinating members of the royal house and high officials?”
“At least not from Yi Hwang-ja’s faction. We’ve got a troublesome pack on our heels now—make sure we’re guarded even when using the privy.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan rose to his feet, brushing off his clothes.
Late arrivals appeared—servers and armed men. Likely the martial masters stationed at the inn.
The remaining patrons fled in panic, abandoning the establishment.
Then a middle-aged man approached. Apparently informed by the server that Yi Hwan was the Grand Prince, the man bowed low from the start.
“My deepest apologies. Had I known these were unsavory individuals, I would have warned you beforehand. Forgive us, Your Highness.”
“If the nation’s intelligence apparatus cannot root them out, how could you? Think nothing of it.”
Yi Hwan drew silver currency from his robes and offered it.
“For the damaged furnishings.”
“No, please! We shall replace the tables ourselves!”
“People have died here. Can anyone eat properly under such circumstances? Take it without protest.”
“…….”
As the innkeeper continued to hesitate, Yi Hwan handed silver currency to the servant and left the inn.
Just as he was turning toward where the horses waited, the innkeeper came running after him.
“This liquor is something our inn treasures like a jewel. Please accept it as a small token of my apology, Grand Prince.”
Yi Hwan found himself unable to refuse.
“I’ll drink it with gratitude.”
Yi Hwan handed the bottle to Ju-tae and mounted his horse. Moments later, as Yi Hwan’s party slipped out of the marketplace, figures emerged in their wake.
Two warriors dressed as ordinary merchants. Their eyes blazed as they watched Yi Hwan’s receding figure disappear from the street.
“I don’t think we can handle him. Especially those two…….”
“We were overwhelmed—completely overwhelmed.”
“We thought with fewer numbers we could dispatch them easily…….”
They could not tear their eyes from the backs of Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae. The warriors had watched the entire affair unfold clearly from the inn across the street.
“What about reporting this to headquarters? Won’t there be consequences?”
“Consequences are the least of our concerns now. If we don’t send stronger masters, we’ll only see more casualties.”
…….
“The friend who was tracking him yesterday never returned. Perhaps…….”
“He may have been killed by them.”
“Yesterday he suddenly changed course. Then he must have been killed.”
“It seems the intelligence about him was faulty. Didn’t headquarters only send mid-tier assassins based on that information?”
“At least we understand now before it’s too late. We return to the branch.”
“Yes.”

* * *

The inn where Yi Hwan had stayed.
Two figures watched Yi Hwan’s departing silhouette, their eyes alight with strange intensity.
They were men who had dined on the same floor as Yi Hwan. One warrior spoke, his gaze heavy and grave.
“Now I understand why the young master failed. They were truly masters whose skill defied belief.”
“I saw something very strange.”
“What was it?”
“Six orbs of light suddenly appeared and killed a man sitting at the back. But I couldn’t tell where they came from.”
“Is that so?”
He apparently had not seen it.
The warrior bit his lip and spoke carefully.
“We must report this to the family head. The head has no idea these men possess such skill. We need to inform him at once so he can devise a new strategy.”
“Understood.”
The men hurried from the inn.
They were subordinates under Mun I-jong, the father of Mun Chi-yong.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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