The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 111

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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 Sovereign, Chapter 111

Chapter 111 — The Approaching Crisis

There were those who watched Yi Hwan’s procession heading toward the Imperial Capital. They had been tracking his movements for days now.
An elder spoke.
“Is that the Fourth Prince who has become Guard Commander?”
“Yes, it is.”
The elder’s eyes fixed on Yi Hwan with a cold, serpentine gleam.
“Since the Gold Guard began taking it upon themselves to escort high officials, we’ve suffered considerable losses. The first few times we thought it was carelessness, so we committed stronger fighters. But we’ve failed in most of our operations so far.”
“Losses can be repaid in kind.”
The elder’s eyes flashed as he continued.
“But here’s what troubles me. Who leaked the information that he was coming here? They spread the word through the streets as if they wanted us to hear it.”
“It was likely the Second Prince’s faction, wasn’t it? Rumor has it he’s quite wary of the Fourth Prince as well.”
“Then he means to use us to eliminate the Fourth Prince.”
“That appears to be the case.”
Whishhh!
Wind swept across the elder’s hair. He raised a hand to brush aside the strands tickling his face, muttering coldly.
“What’s troubling is that he brings so few troops—it means he’s confident in his strength.”
“His bodyguards are said to be extraordinary masters. But now that you’ve come yourself, he’ll regret not bringing more soldiers.”
Despite his subordinate’s confident tone, the elder remained cautious.
“We still have plenty of time before the Imperial Capital. If we act rashly, we could fail. Tell everyone that no one attacks without my command.”
“Understood.”
Moments later, messenger birds flew off in all directions. The crouched elder rose to his feet.
“We withdraw for now.”
“Yes, leader.”

* * *

After roughly an hour, two black-robed figures appeared like ghosts where the elder had been.
Assassins of the Red Moon.
“So they’ve made their move, as expected.”
“They spread that rumor through the streets—it would’ve been stranger if they hadn’t heard it.”
“This makes things easier for us.”
“All we can do is hope they’ve brought plenty of fighters.”
One of the black-robed assassins watched Yi Hwan’s procession with a cold smile.
“And here he comes with barely a handful of soldiers. This operation might be far easier than we expected. Hehehehe.”
“Indeed. No matter how strong the Grand Prince’s bodyguards are, this many shouldn’t pose any problem. We might even catch two rabbits with one throw.”
“Our primary target isn’t the Grand Prince—it’s Jo Gwang. We’ll target the Grand Prince depending on the situation.”
“Of course.”

* * *

Yi Tae-ji’s residence.
Mun I-jong met with him in private.
Yi Tae-ji asked directly.
“How is it progressing?”
“We’ve spread the word through the streets, so those dogs’ ears will certainly have caught it. If all goes as planned, they’re moving now.”
“How many troops is he bringing?”
“Just a few of his usual bodyguards and about a hundred Gold Guard soldiers, nothing more.”
A faint sound of satisfaction escaped Yi Tae-ji’s lips.
A cold smile crossed his face.
“He travels with barely that many soldiers even knowing multiple forces have him in their sights? The man’s been winning too many victories lately—he’s grown arrogant, forgetting his place in heaven itself.”
“Surely this works in our favor?”
Clink.
Yi Tae-ji took a sip of tea, his gaze settling as he spoke again.
“Killing Jo Gwang is more important than him. We must succeed no matter what. Only by eliminating Jo Gwang can we plunge the Crown Prince Palace into crisis.”
“Have no concerns. Our Red Moon’s finest assassins are already in motion. The result you desire will follow.”
“Should you fail, I see no need to elaborate on what must follow.”
“If we fail, we will take the secret to our graves. You need not worry, Your Highness.”
Mun I-jong answered with an inner smile.
‘The Red Moon’s finest assassins—even your father feared them. Now that they move themselves, failure is impossible.’
“Grand Administrator.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why have you and His Majesty grown estranged? I’m told you were once called his shadow…….”
“…….”
The sudden question caught Mun I-jong unprepared. But the silence did not last long.
“His Majesty ordered the dissolution of the Red Moon without warning or explanation. I still do not know why.”
“You haven’t seen him once since the dissolution?”
“No.”
“Do you resent him?”
The question carried a curious weight, and Mun I-jong’s answer was equally enigmatic.
“The past is forgotten. I serve only the will of the Empress and Your Highness.”
Yi Tae-ji’s eyes narrowed.
He understood the meaning woven into Mun I-jong’s words.
“You’ve done well. You may go.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Leaving Yi Tae-ji’s quarters, Mun I-jong made directly for his own residence, his attendant following close behind.
“Have the children departed?”
“Yes. I selected two as you instructed and sent them ahead. By now, they should be watching over the Grand Prince’s party.”
“What of the Crown Prince Palace?”
“No unusual movement yet.”
“The Crown Prince is inscrutable. We must keep close watch until this matter concludes.”
“Understood.”
After a moment, Mun I-jong’s pace slowed abruptly. He turned his gaze quietly toward something ahead.
It was the direction of the Imperial Palace’s forbidden quarters—a place no one but the Empress could enter.
‘Are you there, Your Majesty.’
As he murmured words only he understood, the face of one person rose before him, and a faint, cold glimmer settled in Mun I-jong’s eyes.
The man who had once been everything to him—the Emperor.

* * *

Whoosh!
Rain fell suddenly.
Yi Hwan, traveling some distance from the city, ordered the party into the forest to shelter from the downpour.
Fortunately, a sizeable Taoist Temple lay not far ahead.
Yi Hwan, Jo Gwang, and the key figures all entered the Taoist Temple, while the Gold Guard soldiers took shelter beneath the dense forest canopy.
“Will you drink?”
“Thank you.”
Jo Gwang accepted the wine Yi Hwan offered without hesitation.
“After stopping at the Imperial Palace, we’ll head directly to the Gold Army Headquarters.”
“Why the Gold Army Headquarters?”
“The Crown Prince has designated his residence as the Gold Army Headquarters.”
“……!”
Jo Gwang was taken aback by Yi Hwan’s words. So was Papa. Given Jo Gwang’s position, it would have been natural to remain at the Imperial Palace.
“Why stay at the Gold Army Headquarters instead of the Imperial Palace?”
“The Crown Prince Palace made that decision.”
“The Crown Prince Palace has taken charge of this matter?”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
“The Empress and Yi Hwang-ja are not particularly pleased with your presence. So they’ve entrusted this affair to the Crown Prince Palace, and he has asked me to ensure your safety.”
Yi Hwan slightly altered his words.
Jo Gwang’s face grew heavy and rigid. He had to entrust his safety to Yi Hwan, of all people—a man with whom the past hung uncomfortably between them.
“Don’t be concerned. I’m not one to dwell on old grievances.”
As he spoke, Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Papa.
Papa could not meet his eyes and lowered her head.
Rumble!
Crack!
Thunder and lightning tore savagely across the sky.
Rain streaked through the worn windows of the Taoist Temple as the wind picked up.
“Mu-ok.”
“Yes.”
“Strengthen the perimeter guard.”
“Understood.”
“This may take time. Rest your eyes if you can.”
Yi Hwan spoke these words and leaned his body at an angle against the wall. The light in Papa’s eyes as she watched him was peculiar.
‘He looks like a completely different person than when I watched from afar.’
Having come this far alongside Yi Hwan, she felt a weight of presence unlike anything she had experienced before. Neither the Emperor of Zhao Kingdom nor Seonam Wang had conveyed such an aura.
Jo Gwang felt it too.
Though he had suffered greatly at Yi Hwan’s hands before and expected rumors to fall short of the truth, he had not anticipated anything of this magnitude.
‘Every word he tosses out so casually carries an enormous weight. And those eyes—even the masters of the Martial World don’t possess that kind of gaze…….’
But that was not all.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae, sitting with arms crossed in one corner of the temple, radiated such an eerie presence that one dared not so much as glance their way.
‘Perhaps Papa’s decision to abandon the effort and return was inevitable after all.’
Jo Gwang steadied his breathing quietly and leaned back against the wall.
At moments like these, Seonam Wang’s image inevitably surfaced in his mind.
Whenever he thought of him, Jo Gwang trembled with uncontrollable fury.
Then it happened.
Creak!
A commander of the Gold Guard pushed open the door and entered.
“Grand Prince, suspicious figures are approaching from the north.”
“I’ll go and investigate.”
Ju-tae rose to his feet.
Yi Hwan straightened from where he had been leaning against the wall.
Jo Gwang asked, his eyes betraying some concern.
“Is this a situation we should worry about?”
“Perhaps trouble might arise while we’re away. I happen to have quite a few enemies.”
…….
Yi Hwan answered matter-of-factly and continued directly to Papa.
“Should combat break out, entrust the Crown Prince’s protection to the Elder.”
“I shall do so.”
Rumble!
Crackle!
Not far off, lightning struck and thunder roared. Through the half-shuttered windows of the temple, a tree struck by the bolt could be seen engulfed in flames.
Yet the fire was quickly consumed by the heavy downpour.
Whoosh.
For someone, the silence that followed felt suffocating as time moved with painful slowness. How much time had passed?
Creak!
Ju-tae returned.
“Roughly two hundred men are approaching the Taoist Temple. The feeling of it doesn’t sit right.”
“This will be quite a difficult time ahead.”
Yi Hwan continued, fixing his gaze on Jo Gwang.
“Do your utmost to protect yourself.”
“……I understand.”
Jo Gwang drew the sword at his waist.
Shing!
As the blade emerged from its scabbard, a brilliant radiance flared forth. That such radiance could emanate on a rainy day was possible only for a treasure sword.
“A sword that symbolizes the Crown Prince?”
“It is.”
“If you dream of a comeback, you should be prepared for that sword to shatter.”
Yi Hwan rose slowly.
Following suit, Go-mi, who had remained silent until now, drew her sword.
Shing.
“This will be a fierce battle. Not for a single moment can you afford to lose your focus—stay sharp.”
“Understood.”
Only then did Yi Hwan draw his own blade and turn to Jo Gwang.
“Staying inside here will be more dangerous. Someone other than those approaching may well be targeting you.”
“The martial artists under Seonam Wang could never reach this place. Even if they left to kill me, it would be absolutely impossible in terms of time.”
“Did I not tell you? The Empress and Yi Hwang-ja do not welcome your return.”
“…….”
“If you die, the Crown Prince Palace will face the gravest difficulty. That’s precisely what they want most. Follow my counsel.”
“……I understand.”
Ju-tae opened the door.
Yi Hwan stepped slowly into the downpour beyond. Cho Gwang and Papa followed at his heels.
Papa steadied Cho Gwang’s nerves.
“I shall remain at your side, Your Highness. Do not be overly troubled.”
Whooosh!
“Grand Prince! The number of those approaching is far too great.”
Deputy Commander Son Young, who had been waiting outside with the Gold Guard, drew near. The warriors of the Sword King and Sword Path Faction, who had been watching the rooftops, descended in unison toward Yi Hwan’s position.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze upon Son Young and asked:
“Have you mastered the Defensive Formation?”
“Yes!”
“Then switch to it at once.”
“Understood!”
Son Young returned to the Gold Guard. The guards then divided into three groups and assumed a circular Defensive Formation—an arrangement optimized for the few against the many, said to prove most formidable in narrow spaces.
As Yi Hwan stepped forward, Go-mi spoke:
“The front is dangerous. Stand behind the formation.”
“More than twice our number approach. I cannot do that. Instead, keep yourself to the rear so I need not worry for you.”
“Then I shall advance to the front as well.”
Tap.
Yi Hwan placed a hand upon Go-mi’s shoulder.
“It is not because I underestimate you.”
“……!”
“I will not die. So you must live. Only then can I continue to rely upon your aid. I tell you plainly: you are a crucial asset to me. And you are destined for far greater deeds than you imagine. I cannot lose you here.”
“……!”
Go-mi could advance no further. The sincerity burning in Yi Hwan’s eyes was unmistakable.
At last, she withdrew.
“Take care, Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan moved slowly to the front of the Defensive Formation where Son Young stood positioned.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae guarded his left and right.
Cho Gwang’s eyes trembled as he watched Yi Hwan’s back.
Shiver…….
This—this was the figure he had dreamed of his entire life.
A lord who advances first against the enemy for those who follow him. It was for such a lord that he had devoted himself to grueling effort in every realm, from martial cultivation to all else.
But he had never become that lord. Now, having lost everything, only Papa remained at his side.
Crack!
Snap-crack!
Lightning tore through the darkness and burst across the sky.
In that instant, those approaching through the brush were revealed in pale light, then swallowed again by shadow.
And then—
Seven lights blazed forth from Yi Hwan’s body.

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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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