The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 146

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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 Episode 146

Chapter 146 – The Journey Home Begins

An emissary delegation from the Jin Kingdom entered the military encampment where Zhao Yun, the Prince of the Southwest, was stationed.
Unexpectedly, Namgung Jang-cheon and Dan Ri-mok were accompanying the delegation.
The two moved about the Zhao Military Encampment, marveling at what they saw.
“The atmosphere is unmistakably different when the Prince of the Southwest leads the troops personally. Without us, could Yen’s Northern Military Unit have truly held their own against this force?”
“The Northern Unit is formidable as well. General Gwak Chung-mu commands as their chief, and Yi Hwan was stationed there too, remember?”
“True enough — word is Zhao got a thorough drubbing. Still, you hold this Yi Hwan, the Fourth Prince, in uncommonly high regard. Is he really that impressive?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. Honestly, I was hoping he’d join the Southern Military Unit.”
“Disappointed he didn’t come, then.”
“Yes. Disappointed.”
Dan Ri-mok, who’d been about to speak, nudged Namgung Jang-cheon’s shoulder. A group of commanders had appeared ahead of them.
[Is that the Prince of the Southwest?]
[From the clothes, it seems likely.]
Namgung Jang-cheon and Dan Ri-mok watched as Zhao Yun, whose broad frame was escorted by commanders, walked toward them. His presence was so imposing it felt as if a tiger were crossing the ground before them.
[The atmosphere is unsettlingly menacing.]
[He may be Zhao’s real power broker after all. Still, manage your expression. We represent Jin here as emissaries.]
“Ahem.”
Dan Ri-mok cleared his throat and corrected both his expression and posture. Moments later, Zhao Yun and the emissary stood face-to-face, studying one another.
“Your Highness, we are honored to meet you.”
“Welcome.”
Zhao Yun’s gaze swept across the entire delegation.
A commander spoke in a stern voice.
“The audience shall be granted to the emissary and no more than two attendants.”
As if they’d been waiting for this, Namgung Jang-cheon and Dan Ri-mok stepped into position flanking the emissary.
Zhao Yun studied them both.
Neither of them looked away. Yet as their gazes locked, an overwhelming tension pressed down inevitably.
Zhao Yun turned.
“Let us go.”

* * *

The interior was suffused with the delicate scent of tea.
Landscape paintings executed by master artists hung on the walls, and ornaments carved from jade added an air of luxury. Yet the atmosphere remained cold and austere.
Clink.
Zhao Yun set down his teacup and fixed the emissary with an unwavering gaze.
“Upon investigation, it appears our forces attacked yours first. Is that what you’re saying?”
“That is correct.”
“Has it occurred to you that it may not have been our forces at all?”
“We have conducted a thorough investigation and obtained irrefutable evidence. If Your Highness means to deny this, then there is little point in continuing this conversation.”
The Jin Kingdom Emissary remained firm. Even beneath the crushing weight of Zhao Yun’s presence, not a flicker of uncertainty crossed his eyes.
“And what is this irrefutable evidence?”
“The forces from your kingdom deployed to the Western Front unquestionably attacked our troops. We confirmed this through the military uniforms of your fallen warriors recovered from the battlefield.”
The emissary placed a martial uniform shirt on the table.
The garment bore the distinctive insignia of the Zhao Kingdom unit assigned to the Western Front.
“Nearly two thousand casualties were all dressed in this uniform. Additionally, we recovered the remains of General Ban Chu at the site.”
Zhao Yun’s eyes shifted imperceptibly.
Ban Chu was a commander deployed to the Western Front, and Zhao Yun had held him in particular regard.
‘Ban Chu, why would you do such a thing……’
He could not comprehend it.
Ban Chu was a general whose strategic brilliance matched his valor. There was no reason he would attack Jin without provocation.
‘If Ban Chu did this, then he must have attacked Jin on the way back from fighting Yen’s Western Military Unit, but why on earth……’
Zhao Yun carefully concealed his turbulent thoughts and took a sip of tea.
Tap.
“What did your Emperor say about this?”
“His Majesty declared that responsibility for this incident lies clearly with Zhao, and he demands reparations of five hundred silver currency per casualty and one hundred per wounded. However, if Your Highness agrees to pay these reparations, he will withdraw all forces from the border to the rear.”
“What did you say?”
Zhao Yun’s eyes turned sharp as a blade.
According to what he’d gathered, Jin Kingdom’s war dead numbered three thousand. That meant he’d have to pay out one hundred and fifty thousand silver currency just for the fallen—and that wasn’t counting the wounded.
“And if you refuse?”
“Then we’ll have no choice but to escalate to full-scale war.”
A muscle twitched.
Zhao Yun’s brow arched like a drawn sword.
That was when it came.
[Hold firm, Your Majesty. If this becomes a full-scale war, you’ll have to face Yen Kingdom as well.]
A faint tremor rippled through him.
The emissary continued.
“I have delivered His Majesty’s sentiments, so I shall take my leave now. You may send your answer through an emissary.”
Zhao Yun issued a cold warning.
“If it’s ever discovered that all of this is a strategy of Yen’s to sow discord, then you will have to pay reparations many times over what you’ve demanded today!”
“Should you uncover such a thing, I would only be grateful. Farewell.”
The emissary rose to his feet.
Shortly after stepping outside, Namgung Jang-cheon and Dan Ri-mok let out quiet sighs of relief.
Dan Ri-mok clicked his tongue.
“Whew. I hope I never have to do something like that again.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
They hurried out of the Zhao Military Encampment alongside the emissary. And when they reached a place far removed from the camp, the emissary—who until now had shown not the slightest trace of unease—exhaled a breath of relief.
Yet his palm was damp with cold sweat. Namgung Jang-cheon and Dan Ri-mok exchanged glances and laughed weakly.
[So we weren’t the only ones shaking.]
Then the emissary spoke.
“We head straight for Yen Kingdom.”
“Why Yen Kingdom, sir?”
“The Empress of Yen has requested a meeting. And so we go. Move quickly now.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dan Ri-mok glanced back at Namgung Jang-cheon and winked.
[I’ve been wanting to see Yen Kingdom for real anyway. I hope we get to see that person on this journey.]
He was speaking of Yi Hwan.
Namgung Jang-cheon merely smiled quietly.

* * *

Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Yi Hwan let his body follow the rhythm of his horse while his eyes drifted across the passing landscape.
Though he had faced a critical crisis mere days before, now that it had passed, he felt scarcely any lingering emotion.
‘An interesting life this is.’
How different it was from his existence before reincarnation.
Then he had achieved everything he desired, and the world had bent itself to his will.
Now, by contrast, he lived fighting for something he needed to protect.
‘Not bad at all.’
Cheol Mu-ok drew up alongside him and spoke.
“My lord, the sun will be setting soon. We should rest at that city for the night.”
“Very well.”
Soon after, they all entered the marketplace district of the city. Though the front lines had suffered terribly from the war, the street district was alive with revelry, crowded with drunken revelers.
Ju-tae’s expression turned disbelieving.
“It’s unfair. Some people bleed in battle while others carry on as if nothing’s happened. What distance is there from here to the battlefield anyway?”
“The army exists so the people can live like this.”
“There you go with the righteous talk again. Would it kill you to humor me once in a while?”
“I couldn’t humor you even if I wanted to—you’re too much of a child about it.”
“Damn it.”
Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-gyeong stepped forward.
“We’ll scout ahead and find us a place!”
“Book the top floor.”
“Yes, sir!”
The two of them raced ahead.
Hwa Ryeong turned to Yi Hwan and asked.
“Am I going all the way to the Imperial Palace with you as well?”
“You move separately near the Imperial Palace. If the Empress sees you with us, she might grow suspicious.”
“But I’m wearing a Face Mask—won’t that be enough?”
Now that she mentioned it, Hwa Ryeong was indeed wearing one, her face covered in freckles. Why Bi-wol’s warrior had chosen that particular disguise remained a mystery.
“Better to be cautious than careless.”
“Understood.”
At Yi Hwan’s blunt response, Hwa Ryeong pouted slightly and turned her gaze forward.
This time it was Go-mi who spoke up.
“Wouldn’t it be safer if we parted ways from here?”
“We still have a ways to go. There’s no need to separate just yet.”
Yi Hwan asked directly through Soul Transmission.
[Are things still cold between us?]
[It takes me time to trust people. Nothing more than that.]
Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to speak again, Song Cheon-mu came hurrying back alone.
“General, there’s a Jin Kingdom Emissary ahead.”
“A Jin Kingdom Emissary?”
“Yes. His guards had gotten into a scuffle with some soldiers. When I went to investigate, they said the Empress had requested them to proceed to the Imperial Palace.”
‘The Empress requested Jin Kingdom emissaries? What scheme is the old woman cooking up now?’
Yi Hwan immediately instructed Cheol Mu-ok.
“Go and tell him I’d like to see him.”
“The Jin Kingdom Emissary, sir?”
“That’s right.”
“……Very well.”

* * *

‘Meeting here, of all places.’
Namgung Jang-cheon found the sight of Yi Hwan sitting before him unbelievable.
Now, sitting at a separate table from Dan Ri-mok, he couldn’t tear his eyes from Yi Hwan, who faced the emissary across from him.
Dan Ri-mok asked quietly.
[Is that him?]
[Yes.]
[He doesn’t look that strong to me……are you sure you saw him right?]
[The elders of our family also appear to be utterly ordinary old men in others’ eyes.]
[Still, comparing him to them seems a bit much, doesn’t it? Those are people who could earn the epithet “invincible” the moment they step into the world without raising any eyebrows.]
[Don’t judge by appearances alone.]
As Namgung Jang-cheon conversed, his gaze drifted to Go-mi, who sat at the table across from him. His mind unbidden recalled the image of Go-mi submerged in a bathtub.
‘Surely she doesn’t recognize me.’
It was then.
The emissary moved to their table. After draining a cup of wine, he spoke.
“I shall travel alongside the General and his party to the Imperial Palace. Keep that in mind.”
“You intend to travel with us?”
“A fortunate arrangement. With your company, we won’t lose our way and can make better time. Now, let’s have something to eat.”
“……Of course.”
Namgung Jang-cheon’s eyes gleamed.
‘Travel together…….’

* * *

Yi Hwan sat at a table with Zhao Gwang.
He gave Zhao Gwang a brief account of his conversation with the Jin Kingdom Emissary.
When Yi Hwan mentioned that Jin Kingdom was demanding reparations from Zhao Yun for provocation, Zhao Gwang laughed softly.
“That bastard looks like he’s about to shit himself. He’s the sort who was already trying to extort money from others due to his finances, so how on earth does he expect to raise such an enormous reparation?”
“Won’t the Jin Kingdom’s demanded reparations come from the State Treasury?”
“That man has had his hands in the State Treasury for some time now. Just the expenses for his personal guard stationed in the Imperial Palace must be astronomical. The ministers certainly know this, so there’s bound to be quite a stir.”
Yi Hwan smirked inwardly.
‘The Crown Prince landed a good blow.’
As a server arrived with the dishes, the conversation naturally ceased.
Shortly after, the meal began in earnest.
With the war’s end came a sense of relief, and everyone savored a proper meal and wine for the first time in a while.
Even Zhao Gwang gladly drank tonight. Papa watched him with quiet relief—she had been worried that this crisis might have broken him emotionally.
“Let’s have a drink, Grandmother.”
Hwa Ryeong held out a cup to Papa.
Papa glanced at her and shook her head.
“I don’t drink. But I’m grateful for the gesture.”
“Is that so? Then what—”
“Allow me to pour for you.”
“Thank you.”
Pour.
After filling Hwa Ryeong’s cup, Papa surveyed the others seated at the adjacent tables—Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae, Go-mi, and the warriors of Yi Hwan’s retinue. An odd feeling stirred within her as she took them in.
Not long ago, they had been enemies, blades drawn against one another. Now they were people upon whom she depended absolutely.
‘They are making him a stronger force. These two especially—they are his greatest strength. And while His Highness remains in Yen Kingdom, their support is indispensable.’
Papa’s gaze finally settled on Go-mi.
‘What manner of ability does that woman possess?’
She was deeply curious about Go-mi’s true nature. Her martial prowess didn’t seem particularly exceptional, yet Yi Hwan insisted on keeping her constantly at his side.
And they met in private frequently. No one could do such things unless the person mattered greatly.
Unless they were lovers.
‘Could they be lovers?’
The thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it immediately.
When Go-mi was with Yi Hwan, she bore none of the bearing of a woman in love. Yi Hwan showed the same reserve.
“Grandmother, please eat quickly. It’s getting cold.”
“Ah, yes.”
Papa picked up her chopsticks and glanced again at Zhao Gwang. He was just placing a generous piece of meat into his mouth.
‘Your Highness, please eat slowly and heartily. Let nothing trouble your digestion.’
Only then did Papa begin her meal.

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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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