The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 121

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

Red Dragon Sovereign – Episode 121

Chapter 121 – Toward the Northern Military Unit

Namgung Jang-cheon had chased the Ghost Valley Master all the way to Yen Kingdom’s Southern Military Unit before turning back.
As he headed toward his private quarters for a proper training session at last, word reached him of Zhao Kingdom’s declaration of war against Yen Kingdom.
Namgung Jang-cheon abandoned his training and turned his steps toward the Imperial Palace. ‘The air feels unsettled.’
Tension was evident on the faces of everyone passing by. Though the war was between Yen and Zhao, Jin Kingdom could hardly afford to relax—its borders with both nations stretched far too wide.
“Young Master!”
Someone called to Namgung Jang-cheon from behind.
He turned to see a young general approaching.
“I was waiting, expecting you to arrive soon. Come, let us go to the Crown Prince Palace at once.”
“Is His Highness waiting for me?”
“Yes. Lord Danli Mok is already there.”
Namgung Jang-cheon made his way directly to the Crown Prince Palace. Moments later, as he entered, Danli Mok greeted him with a smile.
“You came, as expected.”
“What choice did I have? But what brings us here?”
“His Highness summoned us. We could hardly refuse.”
Namgung Jang-cheon fixed his gaze on the Crown Prince’s chamber. The door, guarded by two generals, stood firmly closed.
“A guest arrived just now, so we’re told to wait elsewhere for the time being.”
The two of them stepped out into the palace gardens.
Once they had seated themselves at a table in one corner of the garden, servants arrived with tea.
Danli Mok asked him:
“How did your journey turn out?”
“It was what it was.”
“Come now, why hide anything from me?”
“There’s nothing to hide. I simply wandered about—that’s all there is to it.”
“You went all that way and came back empty-handed?”
“Not without gifts, at least.”
“I’m not talking about gifts. I mean intelligence. Information.”
At Danli Mok’s words, Yi Hwan’s face flashed immediately into Namgung Jang-cheon’s mind. The only real gain from crossing into Yen Kingdom was having confirmed that Yi Hwan’s abilities bore no resemblance whatsoever to the rumors.
“You’ve heard of that puppet prince of Yen, haven’t you?”
“That illegitimate, so-called grand general? Of course I’ve heard of him. But why do you ask?”
Namgung Jang-cheon held his teacup and continued:
“The rumors are completely wrong. He’s no puppet—he’s a tiger. Perhaps something even worse.”
“Interesting. If you’re willing to say that much, he must be truly formidable. Just how remarkable was he?”
Namgung Jang-cheon described the situation where he had nearly been caught by Yi Hwan. Of course, he said nothing about having glimpsed Go-mi unclothed.
Danli Mok’s eyes widened.
“You mean to say it was truly that severe?”
“At the time, I was certain we’d end up fighting for real.”
Namgung Jang-cheon took a sip of tea.
‘Has the tea changed?’
The flavor was slightly different from what the Crown Prince usually drank.
Danli Mok too took a sip of his tea.
Clink.
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“They say all of Yen Kingdom’s princes are departing for the front lines. Even the Crown Prince. Their kingdom has always had such a law, but to actually send even the Crown Prince to the front—isn’t that remarkable?”
“It’s admirable.”
“Admirable?”
“The princes at the pinnacle of power leading by example. That’s something we ought to learn from. No matter how the law decrees it, such a thing is never easy.”
“True enough. But they’re flinging their problems in our direction too, don’t you think?”
Huff.
As a quiet laugh escaped him, Yi Hwan’s face appeared once more in Namgung Jang-cheon’s mind.
‘Where will he go?’
It was then that the general approached.
“You may come in now.”

* * *

Namgung Jang-cheon left the Imperial Palace after meeting with the Crown Prince as dusk settled over the city.
Danli Mok came out with him.
“This is maddening. Of all places, why the Northern Front?”
Danli Mok launched into his complaints. Just moments before, the Crown Prince had ordered both men to proceed to the Northern Front and stand ready. The instruction was to wait there in case the war between the two kingdoms spread unexpectedly, preparing for any contingency.
The Northern Front was the frontmost region, bordering Zhao Kingdom to the west and Yen Kingdom to the northeast. It was not far from where they had recently fought a fierce battle against a formidable enemy.
“Why wage war at all? Why can’t people just live in peace?”
Danli Mok was clearly unhappy about going to the Northern Front. Namgung Jang-cheon, by contrast, remained composed. His thoughts kept returning to Yi Hwan.
‘If he goes to the Southern Military Unit as before, we might meet again.’
Jin Kingdom’s Northern Front was not far from Yen Kingdom’s Southern Military Unit. So if Yi Hwan went to the Southern Military Unit, they might indeed cross paths.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Just this and that.”
Namgung Jang-cheon stopped walking and continued speaking to Danli Mok.
“I have some business to attend to at the clan. Let’s meet at the front lines later.”
“Ah, I was hoping we could have a drink together.”
“It’s something important.”
“Can’t be helped, then. Just don’t be too late. They say that General-in-Chief there is fierce as a tiger.”
“I understand.”
After parting with Danli Mok, Namgung Jang-cheon mounted his horse and headed straight for the clan estate.
The important business was having his blade repaired. The sword’s edge had taken considerable damage in the battle with Zhao Kingdom, so it needed attention before he departed for the Northern Front. The swords of the Namgung Clan were forged using a most exceptional method that no ordinary smithy could restore.
‘Perhaps this time I could ask for the Family’s Treasured Sword?’
As Namgung Jang-cheon recalled the Family’s Treasured Sword,
he soon let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.
‘He won’t grant it. He still sees me as a child. In that sense, I’ve come far short. The world praises me as a prodigy, but in truth I’m just a green youth whom even my own family hasn’t fully recognized.’
Thinking of his father, Namgung Jang-cheon sighed softly and drove his heels into the horse’s flanks.
“Hiya!”
Thud-thud-thud!

* * *

The Southern Military Unit.
When word came that the princes were heading to the front lines, General-in-Chief Peng Wu-wei, Jeong Cheon, Song Hoe, and Peng Mun gathered in one place. Peng Mun, the patriarch of the Peng Clan, had not returned to Habuk and had been staying by Peng Wu-wei’s side all this time.
Peng Wu-wei spoke in a grave tone.
“Even so, to send the Crown Prince himself to the front lines—it seems the Empress has truly overstepped her bounds.”
“It is a thing to bewail!”
Jeong Cheon was deeply outraged.
“If only our Grand Marshal would come here…….”
At Peng Wu-wei’s words, Song Hoe shook his head with a heavy expression.
“The Empress will not deliberately send him here. It’s quite possible she’ll send him to the most difficult region of all.”
“My thoughts align with yours. That is precisely why I’m so worried.”
Jeong Cheon voiced his agreement.
Peng Mun, who had been listening quietly until now, finally spoke.
“The Crown Prince is most likely to be sent to the most perilous place. The Empress and Yi Hwang-ja’s purpose is ultimately to bring him down, after all.”
Slam!
Peng Wu-wei struck the table hard with his palm.
“To think I once considered joining that wretched faction—the shame alone prevents me from lifting my head. Had the Grand Marshal not guided me toward the right path, even late as it was, not only I but the entire Peng Clan would have become eternal traitors.”
Peng Mun closed his eyes slowly.
Looking back, there had been a time when he himself was certain the Empress and Yi Hwang-ja would push aside the Crown Prince and seize power. Had he joined hands with them then and done something to Yi Hwan, the Habuk Peng Clan would have been forever trapped in the Empress’s shadow.
Of course, if the Empress and Yi Hwang-ja had come to power, wealth and glory would have followed. But that was never what Peng Mun desired.
‘No matter how history belongs to the victor, a martial artist cannot take part in injustice.’
Peng Mun harbored no regret for having placed himself under the protection of the Crown Prince and Yi Hwan.
It was at that moment.
Peng Wu-wei’s adjutant entered the room.
“General-in-Chief, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
Peng Wu-wei immediately unfolded the letter handed to him. Then, with a mixture of disappointment and confusion, he tilted his head.
“Yi Seong-ji is coming here?”
“The Third Prince is coming to the Southern Military Unit?”
“Yes.”
Song Hoe asked urgently.
“Where is our lord headed?”
“It’s not written in the letter.”
They had suspected as much, but hearing that Yi Hwan wasn’t coming, all of them could not hide their disappointment. Song Hoe even let out a sigh.
Peng Mun asked.
“What manner of person is the Third Prince?”
Jeong Cheon answered the question.
“He is born of the Empress, but very little is known of him. That is precisely what troubles me. If we knew even something, we could prepare a strategy, but…”
“Hmm.”
Peng Wu-wei spoke, his eyes alight.
“Is there any use in laying strategies? We need only do our duty to the best of our ability—let us not be intimidated by his princely rank.”
“Of course.”
Though he said so, Peng Wu-wei was uneasy.
‘Where on earth could our lord be going…’

* * *

General-in-Chief Gwak Chung-mu of the Northern Military Unit held a letter in his hand.
“Hmm…”
“What does it say, sir?”
“The Fourth Prince is coming here.”
“Ah! Is that so? How fortunate.”
“Why do you call it fortunate?”
“Would it not be awkward if the Second Prince or Third Prince came instead? The Empress is always watching, after all.”
“Whichever prince arrives, our duty remains the same. Dispense with such idle thoughts and walk the camp—see that there are no weak points in our defenses.”
“Yes, General.”
The officer departed, and Gwak Chung-mu walked to the window and threw it open. The barracks stood at the highest point, affording him a clear view of the entire camp.
Taut vigilance pervaded the camp. Since Zhao Kingdom’s ultimatum, Gwak Chung-mu had imposed the highest level of alert throughout the army and was preparing for war.
As Gwak Chung-mu’s gaze swept across the camp, his eyes suddenly blazed like fire.
“To send the Crown Prince to the front lines—the Empress has overstepped, and by far.”
Word of the Empress’s extraordinary measure had already reached this place.
Some soldiers cheered it as a decision without precedent, but most regarded it as excessive. Gwak Chung-mu was among the latter.
The Crown Prince, the next emperor, was the second most exalted being under heaven.
‘Where is this realm drifting toward?’
Whoooosh!
As the wind swept across his face, Gwak Chung-mu recalled Yi Hwan. He had seen him once, long ago. Then, Yi Hwan had been an infinitely weak and timid prince.
Yet the same man had completely transformed into someone else, and not long ago word had come that he had become Guard Commander—one of the most crucial positions of all.

It had felt as though he were facing a tiger.

Gwak Chung-mu recalled the words of a general who had gone to aid the Southern Military Unit not long ago and returned.
‘How much he has changed—one can only know by meeting him directly. But where in heaven is the Crown Prince going…’
The wavering light in Gwak Chung-mu’s eyes gradually filled with regret and anguish.

* * *

The weather today was unusually fair.
Clouds drifting across the azure sky were beautiful as swans skimming a lake, and beyond them the endless blue seemed as if it would stick to one’s palm if pressed.
Clop. Clop.
Yi Hwan surrendered to the rhythm of his horse’s gait, letting his eyes follow the landscape streaming past.
Now he was making his way toward the Northern Military Unit with his attendants. The night before, he had stayed at Yi Young’s Residence, comforting her anxious heart, and this morning he had begun his journey north.
The number of people accompanying him was meager to behold. Even combining his force of warriors with the Bi-wol Organization, they barely exceeded fifty.
A considerable portion of the other force of warriors had remained in the Imperial Capital. Of course, this was by Yi Hwan’s own command.
Clop! Clop!
Before reaching the Official Road, the people they passed recognized the prince’s procession and bowed their heads.
Yi Hwan had grown accustomed to such sights by now.
“How far is the Official Road?”
“About a quarter-hour’s ride further, and the Official Road will begin.”
They all moved toward the Official Road.
How long had they been traveling thus?
A group of monks appeared from ahead. Perhaps fifty or so? All of them wore crimson robes and bore an array of weapons—Warrior Monks.
Yi Hwan turned to Go-mi and asked.
“So Shaolin Temple sided with the Third Prince?”
“Yes. According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, that appears to be the case. They’ll likely march to the Southern Military Unit alongside him.”
The Warrior Monk Techniques were none other than the Arhats of Shaolin Temple.
Yi Hwan gazed at the Arhats from Shaolin Temple, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“The Buddha himself would be shocked.”
Since the end of Yi Hwan’s era, Shaolin Temple had remained removed from worldly affairs. That they had now entered the service of the Third Prince was, to Yi Hwan, decidedly unwelcome news.
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
The Arhats were heading toward the Imperial Palace, opposite to Yi Hwan’s party, and the distance between them drew steadily closer.
Cheol Mu-ok called out sharply to the Arhats.
“The royal army of the House of Yi approaches. Stop and bow your heads!”
Clip-clop-clip!
At his cry, the Arhats stepped aside to the roadside and lowered their heads.
As Yi Hwan passed before them, he fixed his gaze on one Arhat whose robes differed from the others—clearly the leader.
Their eyes met, and Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
The Arhat joined his palms and murmured a Buddhist invocation softly.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
“Is this all the force supporting the Third Prince?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Go and do well.”
……
Yi Hwan soon turned his gaze away.
The Arhats waited until Yi Hwan’s party had passed. A moment later, the Arhat who had exchanged words with Yi Hwan spoke to another.
“Was that the Fourth Prince, the one who became Guard Commander?”
“Yes, Elder.”
The Arhat addressed as Elder slightly furrowed his brow.
“A meager force indeed. One wonders if such a small contingent can truly provide proper protection.”
“It appears the Empress refused to allow him the Gold Guard. He travels without them.”
“True enough—numbers alone do not decide all matters. He must have some other strength to rely upon. Come now, let us make haste. The Prince will be waiting for us.”
“Yes!”
The Arhats resumed their march toward the Imperial Palace.

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