The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 13

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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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Enemy Dragon Martial Emperor Episode 13

Chapter 13 — The Mysterious Blood-Robed Figures

Whoosh!
Through the curtain of heavy rain, the Gorge came into view.
That place, where control had been seized and lost repeatedly in years of localized warfare, had become a point of pride neither side could afford to surrender.
The number of warriors who had died for that pride was beyond counting.
Rumble!
Crack!
As thunder and lightning grew fiercer, the Zhao Army warriors kept watch to the north while exchanging idle talk.
“You don’t think they’d come down on a day like this?”
“If it were me, I’d come down especially on a day like this. So don’t let your guard slip for a moment, boy.”
“There’s no actual battle happening. Why would they come down on a day like this? Hwang Ho isn’t vicious enough for that.”
“Just stay alert anyway.”
“Stop your whining like a dog needing to take a crap. You focus instead, you fool.”
“Ah, those idiots are at it again. Sick of those bastards.”
The rain stirs consciousness. The Zhao Army warriors were no exception. After bickering for a while, they each sank into their own thoughts.
“I miss my wife.”
“Me too.”
Boom!
Crack!
Lightning spider-webbed across the not-distant sky.
The moment the lightning vanished, something else flashed in its place.
Whisper!
“Gasp!”
With a strangled cry, a warrior’s head fell to the ground.
“Huh!”
Flash!
Thud!
Two more warriors fell without even a scream.
From beyond emerged figures taking shape — warriors of the Hebei Peng Clan.
They communicated through glances and hand signals, their eyes sharp as they surveyed the area.
“That’s all three sentries.”
“Move deeper in.”
Rustle.

* * *

Whoosh!
Beyond the torrential rain, the Yeon Army warriors waited for the attack order to come down.
Yi Hwan sat casually beneath a pine tree, chewing dried meat.
Just moments before, the Peng Clan warriors had entered enemy lines first. It was their task to neutralize the enemy sentries.
Everyone waited in the downpour for the signal from the Peng warriors.
Yi Hwan’s gaze fell on Peng Muwei ahead. A small smile rose at the sight of his face and frame, noticeably gaunt compared to when they’d first met.
‘Seems the dysentery gave him quite the ordeal.’
Yi Hwan turned to look at Song Cheonmu.
Until moments ago, his face had shown no emotion, but as they approached the Fortified Position, tension had visibly hardened his features.
“Breathe.”
“I am.”
“Slowly. Deeply.”
“Yes.”
It was then that Jeong Cheon approached. He couldn’t help but suppress a smile at Yi Hwan’s utterly unhurried expression.
‘That a man could change this much.’
Jeong Cheon soon spoke with gravity.
“When the attack begins, have the Dragon Tiger Army move from the very rear.”
“Understood.”
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
“There is none.”
Jeong Cheon turned and left. Yi Hwan watched his retreating figure, and Hwang Ho came to mind. When leaving the Military Camp, he had worn a face full of worry. But it wasn’t concern for Yi Hwan himself—it was dread of the consequences that would follow if Yi Hwan failed.
Still, a measure of pity stirred in him for the body’s original owner, the Fourth Prince, whom he had displaced.
‘What kind of life did that wretch even want?’
A strange compassion rose toward the Fourth Prince whose form he now inhabited.
“Ugh, for heaven’s sake!”
Cha Joong-gyeong lost his patience. The face mask still clung tightly to his face, obstructing even his breath.
When their eyes met, Cha Joong-gyeong covered his face with his hand—a silent question: Can I take this off?
“Bear with it. Control your temper too.”
……
That was when a signal flare pierced through the downpour and burst, igniting sparks in the sky.
Bang!
Yi Hwan rose slowly to his feet.
Song Cheonmu drew his sword first.
Clang!
‘After all, the boy is still just a boy.’
Click!
Yi Hwan placed a hand on Song Cheonmu’s shoulder.
“Remember—your breath cannot break for even a moment. The instant your breathing falters, your sword becomes worthless. And don’t stray from my side.”
“Understood.”
Thud-thud-thud!
Jeong Cheon’s vanguard charged toward the Fortified Position. Behind them, the unit led by Peng Muwei advanced, while the Dragon Tiger Army held the rear.

* * *

“It seems they’re beginning.”
“Keep a proper distance and follow them.”
“Yes.”
The Unknown Man and the Blue-Robed Figure moved some hundred paces behind the Dragon Tiger Army.
Both were dressed in the uniforms of the Yeon Army. Once fighting erupted, they would close in as near as possible to observe Yi Hwan.
And after about an hour had passed?
Crack-snap!
Crash-bang!
“Ahhh!”
“Gah!”
Battle had commenced.
The ambush under cover of the downpour succeeded. In short order, the Zhao Army’s first defensive line crumbled beneath Jeong Cheon’s vanguard.
“This feels too clean, doesn’t it?”
“This is troublesome…….”
The Unknown Man’s brow furrowed. A chaotic melee was what he needed to approach Yi Hwan easily.
Then it came.
“Enemy on the left flank!”
“Hold them!”
Roar!
Crash-snap!
“Ahhh!”
“Gaaahhh!”
From the left side of the Gorge, the Zhao Army struck at the Yeon Army’s exposed flank.
“He was expecting this and prepared for it!”
“It’s exactly what we hoped for.”
The Unknown Man’s eyes blazed as they followed Yi Hwan, who was already mixing with the Zhao Army forces that had struck from the side.
This was the chaos he had been waiting for.
‘First, I’ll assess his martial ability.’

* * *

Though the original owner of this body was born of a concubine, he had been raised as a prince, lacking nothing in elixirs or secret martial manuals.
Yet he had lacked the natural martial talent to wield them properly. Yi Hwan, by contrast, was nothing of the sort.
‘Men like these require only the Imperial Palace Martial Arts.’
As Yi Hwan’s blade cut through the air, an enemy soldier sprayed blood and collapsed.
Yi Hwan had never directly studied Imperial Palace Martial Arts, yet by memory alone he reproduced them flawlessly.
Even identical techniques yield vastly different power depending on who executes them. In fact, Yi Hwan had to deliberately hold back his strength.
‘Tsk. Who knew that calibrating my force to match an opponent could be this tedious?’
Yi Hwan had never practiced restraint before, and this felt deeply frustrating to him.
Yet it was necessary—a way to avoid straining his body as he had before.
Yi Hwan surveyed the enemies keenly.
‘That one will do nicely.’
There was one opponent who radiated strength—clad in Blood-Red Armor, wielding a massive Great Saber, raining blows on their side.
A Company Commander from the Dragon Tiger Army, one reputed as a skilled warrior, had fallen spraying blood from that blade—the enemy’s raw power had split both weapon and body clean in two.
‘I’ll start with him.’
That was when—
Screech!
Two enemies descended on Yi Hwan from both sides.
Yi Hwan used Footwork Technique to slip forward, striking both enemies’ waists with sword and left hand.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
“Your Highness! Don’t penetrate too deep!”
Song Hoe cried out urgently.
Yi Hwan ignored him and charged at his original target—an enemy commander just wiping his Great Saber clean after killing two warriors. The man caught sight of Yi Hwan and bared his fangs.
“So it was you. The Yeon Fourth Prince—worse than a scarecrow, they said.”
“That’s right. It’s me.”
“Heh heh. Such audacity—peak master-level arrogance. Then you deserve to die.”
Flash!
Shriek!
The enemy commander’s Great Saber tore through the air toward him.
Crash!
Sword and saber collided, and rain exploded outward in all directions.
Zing!
Yi Hwan jolted at the fierce impact traveling up his wrist. The speed was sluggish, but the destructive force exceeded his expectations.
“Not bad! Scarecrow Prince!”
The man had recognized him. A second assault came immediately after.
Yi Hwan met the incoming saber with a slash.
Crash!
By the third and fourth strikes, Yi Hwan had blocked them all, but his Long Robe tore in places it couldn’t withstand, exposing bare skin beneath.
The enemy commander was deeply startled.
It was astonishing that he’d held on this long—more so that he still stood with both feet planted on the ground.
‘Were all those rumors lies?’
Buzz…
Yi Hwan felt his entire body aching. Pain radiated from his wrists.
‘How could force control be this difficult?’
For ordinary people it was second nature, instinctive. But for Yi Hwan, carrying memories and experience from a past life, deploying his Internal Force to strike a precise balance—neither excessive nor deficient—felt as demanding as executing an ascension technique.
“Your Highness! Fall back!”
Song Hoe stepped forward to shield him.
“Move aside.”
Yi Hwan pulled Song Hoe back and stepped forward again.
To make restraint become second nature as quickly as possible, he needed more exchanges—more practice.
“So, you’re going again, big one?”
Roar!
“This bastard…!”

* * *

As the battle devolved into chaos, the Unknown Man and the Blue-Robed Figure rushed into the fray.
The Unknown Man moved toward Yi Hwan’s position.
[Minimize direct intervention.]
[Understood.]
The Unknown Man watched Yi Hwan and the Zhao commander trade blows with a keen eye.
Crash!
After observing several exchanges, the Unknown Man made no effort to hide his disappointment.
‘Isn’t this the person I’ve been searching for?’
The Zhao Army commander’s Great Saber was fast enough, yet its speed seemed sluggish compared to its destructive force—at least, that’s how it appeared to him.
Yet Yi Hwan could barely parry, giving ground with each deflection, his Long Robe shredded and fluttering away with the effort.
Screech!
‘If he were truly their descendant, he couldn’t be this weak. And he hasn’t used their martial arts yet. Are these soldiers his kin?’
The Unknown Man was disappointed by Yi Hwan’s inferior technique, but he remained cautious.
‘I’ll observe a little longer before deciding.’
That was when it happened.
Whine!
A chilling Qi aura shot toward the Unknown Man from the left. He slipped backward and struck his attacker’s solar plexus lightly with his left hand.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Another soldier’s head flew off with a sickening crack.
“Concentrate, I beg you! You’ll fall to a blind blade!”
The Blue-Robed Figure quickly moved to the Unknown Man’s side, blocking the Zhao Army’s assault.
The Unknown Man watched Yi Hwan as if the Zhao Army’s attacks were beneath his notice.
Yi Hwan, who had been driven back, now pressed forward again.
“Hey there, you big oaf. Shall we start fresh?”
The Unknown Man’s eyes shifted in that instant.

* * *

The Zhao Army commander’s eyes flashed with murderous intent as Yi Hwan, who had seemed ready to fall moments before, smiled coldly and provoked him.
“I’ll crush your skull.”
Screech.
The Great Saber erupted with Blood-Red Qi.
Then it came.
Men approached from behind the commander—all wore Blood-Red Long Robes and pulled Bamboo Hats low over their faces.
One of them spoke to the commander in a hollow voice.
“Leave the Fourth Prince to us. Go elsewhere.”
“What? You insolent wretches——”
The commander’s brow twisted in fury.
“These are the Commander-in-Chief’s orders.”
“……!”
At the mention of the Commander-in-Chief, the general hesitated and stepped aside. The Blood-Robed Figures advanced toward Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan’s eyes grew cold as he sensed the sinister Qi radiating from these sudden arrivals.
‘Martial artists from a Heterodox Sect?’
They felt different from the army’s masters—fundamentally different.
What struck him as strange was how the Blood-Robed Figures had appeared at precisely the moment when he seemed to be losing, as if they’d been waiting for his arrival.
‘By anyone’s measure, I was being pushed back. Yet they offer to take my place? To face me themselves?’
It was a situation that demanded suspicion.
‘That’s enough for today.’

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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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