The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 152

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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 152

Chapter 152 — Yeom Yu-gwang Caught in the Trap

The Yellow Dragon Guild Leader Yeom Yu-gwang tilted his wine cup with leisurely ease.
“Wang Ji-gyeong, that pig of a man must be meeting the Jade Emperor by now.”
“Since the guild leader moved directly, no matter how much money Wang Ji-gyeong threw at the martial artists, there shouldn’t be any problem. Now it’s only a matter of seizing the commercial territory he controls.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Pardon? Even if Wang Ji-gyeong is dead?”
Yeom Yu-gwang narrowed his brows and continued.
“Wang Ji-gyeong has close ties with the Song Family. You know who the matriarch of the Song Family is, don’t you? If we move carelessly, we risk not just the Fourth Prince’s involvement, but the Crown Prince Palace as well. We must proceed with caution.”
“Understood.”
Yeom Yu-gwang picked up the wine cup he had set down.
“Still, by now someone ought to have sent word……”
“The distance is considerable, so let’s wait a bit longer.”
Yeom Yu-gwang drank his wine with leisure. But when a considerable time passed without any news at all, he began to grow irritable.
“What’s taking so long? Send someone out at once to find out what’s happening!”
“Yes, Guild Leader.”
Just as Yeom Yu-gwang was bringing the wine cup to his lips.
A middle-aged man opened the door and stepped inside.
“Guild Leader!”
“What is it?”
“Someone from the Gold Guard has come.”
“……The Gold Guard?”
Yeom Yu-gwang set down his cup and gazed past the middle-aged man. A warrior in the uniform of the Gold Guard was entering.
‘Why would the Gold Guard come looking for me?’
In that instant, Yeom Yu-gwang was seized by dread.
The warrior stepped forward and held out an envelope.
“What is this?”
“Open it and see for yourself.”
Yeom Yu-gwang opened the envelope and withdrew the paper inside.
‘A Summons Order?’
It was unmistakably a Summons Order, and it stated that he was to appear at the Gold Guard Command Center by dawn tomorrow.
“Why does the Gold Guard summon me?”
“I merely deliver the order. That is all.”
The warrior turned to leave, then turned back once more.
“Don’t be late. The Grand Prince cannot abide those who fail to keep their appointed time.”
“……”
As the warrior departed, Yeom Yu-gwang sank into his chair, his expression grave.
‘Why would the Fourth Prince summon me?’
He turned to his attendant with a question.
“Is there anything the Gold Guard could hold against us? Have we done something that could be used as a pretext?”
“That’s impossible. We’ve never done anything of the sort.”
“Then why is the Gold Guard summoning me? Search your memory carefully — there may be something we’ve overlooked!”
“I swear there’s nothing like that.”
Tremor-tremor……
Yeom Yu-gwang’s fingers quivered. It was a habit that surfaced whenever he was gripped by acute anxiety.

* * *

The wind carried warmth.
As the bitter cold that had pressed down through winter began to lift, spring was slowly making itself felt.
Yi Hwan sat in the command post’s office, sipping from a tea cup while receiving a report from Vice Commander Yu U-seong.
Most of the report concerned incidents and matters that had occurred while Yi Hwan was stationed with the Northern Military Unit.
“That concludes my report.”
“Is the role of Vice Commander proving manageable?”
“It still feels unfamiliar. But I will do my utmost to serve you faithfully.”
“Have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
That was when Cheol Mu-ok entered.
“Yeom Yu-gwang has arrived.”
“Quick, isn’t he.”
“Should we see him here?”
“The Interrogation Hall would suit our purposes better than this. Take him there.”
“Understood.”
As Cheol Mu-ok departed, Yu U-seong spoke up. “Why did you summon the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader?”

“He sent martial artists to kill me.”
“……What?”
Yu U-seong’s eyes widened. Yi Hwan drained his teacup and rose to his feet.
“I’ll be back.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
“You have much to attend to here. This is urgent—see to it at once.”
“……Understood.”
Yu U-seong watched Yi Hwan’s retreating form with mounting disbelief.
‘The Yellow Dragon Guild Leader—this man is truly mad, and thoroughly so. No matter how much the Empress backs him, there are limits to whom one should cross.’

* * *

Yeom Yu-gwang bit his lip as a chilling cold seeped through every fiber of his being.
The Interrogation Hall where he now stood was a chamber reserved for the investigation and questioning of criminals—a place whose very atmosphere could not help but feel sinister.
Yeom Yu-gwang turned to the soldier standing at the entrance. “What is this place?”

“Be silent.”
“…….”
The soldier then glanced back at Yeom Yu-gwang and spoke. “The Grand Prince approaches—rise.”
“……!”
Yeom Yu-gwang straightened at once.
Upon seeing Yi Hwan enter, he bowed deeply.

“I greet the Grand Prince.”
Yi Hwan sat across from Yeom Yu-gwang in silence.
“Sit.”
“……Yes.”
Yi Hwan regarded Yeom Yu-gwang with an indifferent gaze. Yeom Yu-gwang could not meet his eyes and lowered his own.
“You are Yeom Yu-gwang, Guild Leader of the Yellow Dragon Guild?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why did you try to kill me?”
“……What?”
Yeom Yu-gwang nearly sprang to his feet. Yi Hwan leaned back slightly before continuing. “Last night, you sent warriors of House Muryong to kill me. Do you deny it?”

“Th-this is preposterous! I would never—I swear to you, Your Highness, I have done no such thing!”
“Is that so?”
Yi Hwan snapped his fingers.
Moments later, Cheol Mu-ok dragged in a middle-aged man. The instant Yeom Yu-gwang glimpsed him, his eyes went wide as saucers.
‘What—why is he…?’
The man being hauled in was none other than Hwang Po-in, known as the Family Head. In that instant, Yeom Yu-gwang felt ice crystallize through his veins as the horrible truth dawned on him.
“I ask again. Why did you attempt to have me killed?”
“No! It was not I!”
“If you keep evading, I’ll have you hung from those hooks.”
Yeom Yu-gwang’s gaze snapped to where Yi Hwan pointed. Two iron hooks hung from the wall, strikingly similar to those used in butchers’ stalls to hang meat.
What made it far more terrifying was that blood—dried and darkened by time—stained their surface with unmistakable clarity.
Images of his own mutilated form dangling like a butchered carcass flashed through his mind like a lantern show of horrors.
‘I should never have come. I should have contacted the Empress first and waited!’
Regret crashed over him in waves.
“Confess, and I’ll show you a way to live. If you throw away this chance, I can execute you here for attempted murder of the royal house.”
“……!”
“If I cut off your head here and reveal your collusion with the Demon Beasts, what becomes of your family and the Yellow Dragon Guild? You know well that Demon Beasts—which have claimed two princes and countless officials—face execution for treason. You must understand that.”
Shiver, shiver…….
Yeom Yu-gwang’s entire body trembled.
His wavering eyes turned toward the patriarch of the Muryong family.
“I, I never meant to harm you, sir. Truly. I only wanted to kill Wang Ji-gyeong. Ask him—ask the man who hired me!”
“Is that so?”
Yi Hwan stared at Hwang Po-in.
Hwang Po-in, who had been sitting in silence with his head bowed, moved his lips slightly.

Your family’s fate will be decided by what you do next. Imagine what treason means for them.

“The man who hired me said he’d pay more if I brought him your heads—yours and Wang Ji-gyeong’s.”
“You bastard!”
Yeom Yu-gwang lurched to his feet with a cry.
But Cheol Mu-ok pressed down on his shoulder.
“No, no! I never even mentioned the Grand Prince! He’s lying to save his own skin!”
Yi Hwan’s hand moved slightly.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Blood sprayed from Yeom Yu-gwang’s cheek.
“Lower your voice, and don’t you dare try to stand again. One more time and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
Tears streamed down.
Tears ran down Yeom Yu-gwang’s cheek.
Sometimes tears came whether you willed them or not, when you took a blow to the face like that.
“Take him away.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok dragged Hwang Po-in from the room.
Yi Hwan watched the ashen, trembling Yeom Yu-gwang with an unmoved gaze.
Then he spoke quietly.
“Do you want to live?”
“……!”
“There is a way.”

* * *

Cheol Mu-ok asked, “Weren’t you going to put him back in prison?”
“I have a larger use for him.”
“What would that be?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“…….”
Cheol Mu-ok thought of Go-mi.
Whenever Yi Hwan put off his answer like this, she always pressed him—demanding he tell her now.
‘Should I try that myself?’
“What are you thinking?”
“Oh, nothing at all, sir.”
Cheol Mu-ok gave up.
‘I can hear about it in time. It’s not urgent.’

The quarters of Yi Tae-ji, the Second Prince, which had been quiet for some time, now bustled with people coming and going.
Yi Tae-ji, who had been on campaign, had returned.
The Empress found him about half an hour after his arrival at court.
Mother and son sat facing each other.
The atmosphere was anything but bright.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Yes. I am well enough, Your Majesty. But we lost a great many warriors.”
“Did you find any clues to identify who was behind it?”
“Obviously the Crown Prince’s Palace. Who else could it be?”

“The Crown Prince wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Then you’re saying it was the Fourth Prince’s doing?”
“That one lacks the capacity for it.”
“Then who in the world would target me? No matter how I think about it, there’s no one but the Crown Prince Palace…….”
“I have people investigating in all directions, so wait. But are you truly all right? Your face looks quite dark.”
“My mood is foul. Those bastards from the Jin Kingdom burst in so suddenly that everything fell to pieces. And now it looks as though I alone will bear the brunt of it. They’re saying no one offered support.”
“How dare anyone speak ill of you. Stop worrying needlessly and rest for a time to recover yourself. Leave the rest to me, and I shall handle it.”
The Empress reached out and caressed Yi Tae-ji’s face. Though she had given birth to Yi Seong-ji from the same womb, she cherished and loved Yi Tae-ji with particular devotion.
Rumors circulated that the Third Prince, Yi Seong-ji, had moved his residence from the Imperial Palace to the Lakeside precisely because he resented the Empress’s favoritism.
“Tae-ji.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Is it possible that Seong-ji’s injury is connected to you in any way?”
“I know nothing of it. Why would I attack my brother from the same womb?”
“I can trust you, can’t I?”
“Mother!”
“Very well. I believe in you. Now rest.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“As you say, the Jin Kingdom’s interference has upset everything. So I have far too much to attend to now. Rest, and then come to Manhwa Palace.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
Once the Empress departed, Yi Tae-ji reclined in his chair and stretched with a long, satisfied groan.
Crackle and pop!
It was then that Mun I-jong entered.
Yi Tae-ji fixed him with an expression of unmistakable displeasure.
“What is it?”
“I have safely delivered Your Highness to the Imperial Palace, so I must return to the Gold Robed Guard.”
“Grand Administrator.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“This time, don’t disappoint me. Remember that even my patience has its limits. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I shall find the Demon Beast’s backer as swiftly as possible.”
Yi Tae-ji waved his hand dismissively.
“Now go.”

* * *

‘Saved thanks to whom…….’
Mun I-jong’s expression turned glacial as he made for his office.
During the clash with unidentified assassins on the return journey, he had lost a considerable number of his men.
These were subordinates he had trained personally since his Hongwol days, and their loss cut deep. Yet the very man whose life had been saved by their sacrifice showed no gratitude—instead hurling accusations of disappointment at him.
“From this day forward, I shall mobilize all resources of both Hongwol and the Gold Robed Guard to uncover the Demon Beast’s backer. Begin by placing the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, and even the Third Prince under suspicion.”
“Even the Third Prince?”
“And why would he not harbor ambitions? He may well be the most credible suspect of all.”
“Understood. Then I shall assign an equal number of personnel to watch the Third Prince as well.”
“Make haste.”
“Yes.”
Mun I-jong headed straight for the Gold Robed Guard’s command center. To reach it, he had to cross the Plaza, and as he entered, figures were passing through the city gates.
Mun I-jong halted, his eyes flashing with sudden intensity.
It was the entourage of the Third Prince, Yi Seong-ji.

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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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