The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 19

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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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The Red Dragon Martial Emperor · Episode 19

Chapter 19 — The Identity of the Crown Prince’s Medicine

Song Hui entered the room and caught sight of two men seated before Lee Hwan, and his breath caught.
But Lee Hwan’s well-being came first.
“Are you well?”
“I’m fine—no need to worry. For now, keep watch on the Paeng Clan. Drive away anyone who tries to approach the barracks.”
Song Hui stood staring at the two men, unable to bring himself to leave.
“You’re not going?”
…….
Song Hui finally turned and left.
Lee Hwan’s conversation with the two men began in earnest.
His first question concerned the fall of Daeya Fortress. But the answer that came back left him deeply disappointed.
“You don’t know why Daeya Fortress fell either?”
“No. The elders only said that the descendants of the Sword King’s lineage would know.”
Lee Hwan could not hide his disappointment.
And the man before him, Cheol Mu-ok, felt the same. He spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Does my lord know nothing of this?”
As a descendant of Daeya Fortress’s lord, he ought naturally to know more than they did.
“There are reasons for that. When the time comes, I’ll tell you. For now, put your curiosity aside.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Drink.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae raised their cups. The three continued their drinking through the night until dawn.
In all that time, they spoke of many things, yet the truly important matters remained hidden from them both. Not only the reason for Daeya Fortress’s fall, but the fact that all contact with the Poison King’s lineage had been severed long ago—this too brought fresh disappointment to Lee Hwan.
‘What in the world is going on?’
The questions gnawed at him again.
Then Cheol Mu-ok asked carefully.
“Why did you not seek us out?”
“I told you—there are reasons.”
Part of him wanted to lay everything bare, but he could not.
Who in all the world would believe in reincarnation? Even the Buddhist monks who preached reincarnation would likely come at him swinging their staffs if he claimed he was reincarnated.
“For now, I think we should seek out the Wanderer who is said to have taught the Talkhon Art.”
“That’s what I’m thinking too.”
“Will you leave this place then?”
“There’s no rush.”
There was a time when Lee Hwan would have left at once. But now he sensed it was not the right moment. Paradoxically, Cheol Mu-ok’s formidable strength made him all the more cautious.
‘It’s not yet time to step into the Gangho. I am not yet complete.’
Glug.
Clink!
Lee Hwan set down his cup and fixed his gaze on Cheol Mu-ok.
“For the time being, you must remain here. If you wish to stay with me, slip out to the city before dawn and return. If anyone asks who you are, say you’ve come looking for me. And while you’re here with us, change how you address me—call me Dae-gun from now on.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after, Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae slipped out of the military camp. The darkness was still pitch-black, and no one could have seen them leave.
Song Hui entered.
“May I ask who those men were?”
“You’ll come to know in time. Even if you’re curious, be patient. And since they’ll be staying here with us as companions, treat them warmly when they return.”
“They’ll be staying here with us?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, but……”
Lee Hwan poured more wine into his cup and asked something else.
“When you watched Paeng Mu-wi and that man fight, what did you feel?”
“First, I felt a sense of helplessness. Both of them are masters so far beyond someone like me that I couldn’t even dare to stand against them……”
“And?”
“Envy.”
“How long do you think you could last against Paeng Mu-wi?”
“You mean Dae-gun?”
“Not me. You.”
“That is…….”
Song Hui fell silent for a moment, then answered in a somewhat deflated voice.
“If we fought to the death, thirty exchanges might be possible.”
Tap!
“With that level of skill, it would be a wonder if you didn’t die tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, you’ll all train together whenever time permits. If you want to reach a standard I’m satisfied with, you’ll need to be prepared to die for it.”
“Will you instruct us directly, Dae-gun?”
“Not me. That friend from earlier.”
“……!”
Song Hui’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why do you look like that?”
“Isn’t he someone we don’t even know?”
“I said they’d be friends to live with, didn’t I? If I’ve decided it, you just follow along. Don’t doubt me.”
“Understood.”
“Now get out of here.”
“Yes. Sleep well.”

* * *

As Song Hui left the room, his mind churned with questions.
He still harbored doubts about the identities of Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae. Of course he trusted Lee Hwan absolutely, but that alone couldn’t resolve his uncertainty.
‘He called him master? Does Dae-gun have private soldiers? No, that can’t be right. You don’t meet private soldiers that way…….’
Though Song Hui prided himself on knowing everything about Lee Hwan, he’d never heard mention of any personal retainers.
He found his thoughts turning to Cheol Mu-ok.
‘That extraordinary man is going to teach me?’
The feeling was strange.
Recalling Cheol Mu-ok’s terrible skill when he faced Paeng Mu-wi, a shiver ran through him. If such a master took him under his wing, couldn’t he become truly strong?
Thump-thump.
His heart raced.
Truth be told, Song Hui had always dreamed of becoming a master. Though he came from the renowned Huashan School, his growth had stagnated because he had never learned the true essence of the art.
But now an opportunity seemed to have arrived.
If he trusted Lee Hwan, he could trust Cheol Mu-ok too. Once he settled his mind that way, there was no problem.
Crunch.
Song Hui clenched his fist hard.
The hope of becoming a master swept away all his doubts at once.
‘If I’m going to do this anyway, I’ll give it everything.’
Song Cheon-mu approached.
“Has something good happened?”
“Ahem! It’s nothing.”
Cha Jung-gyeong asked.
“Couldn’t you let us know as well?”
“You don’t need to know, boy.”
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Song Hui flicked Cha Jung-gyeong on the head and retreated to his quarters.
Cha Jung-gyeong rubbed his head, scowling.
“Damn it! One on one, I think I could take him, but I can’t exactly jump him like that!”
“Are you looking down on a general of Yeon Kingdom?”
“Not all generals are strong. There are plenty of commanders at the Colonel rank weaker than me. How many think they’ve earned their place just because they were born with a silver spoon? More than you’d think.”
“You may not be entirely wrong. Certainly, those with backing tend to start from a more favorable position. But I suspect most of them have lived rather fiercely to reach where they are.”
“……You really think so? Are you sure they lived fiercely?”
“By that you mean……?”
“No.”
Cha Jung-gyeong tilted his chin toward Lee Hwan’s room. Song Cheon-mu smiled faintly.
“I confess, even I don’t quite understand Dae-gun.”

* * *

The next morning.
Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae arrived at the military camp. The soldiers moved to block their path.
“Hold, please!”
“I’ve come to see the Dae-gun.”
He then handed over a document bearing Lee Hwan’s seal—the one Lee Hwan had given him the day before.
The soldiers, upon confirming it, hastily cleared a path.
As they turned back toward Lee Hwan’s quarters, Gongsun Tae opened his mouth.
“Isn’t it strange? He has no descendants, yet he speaks of a descendant, and setting that aside, if he truly is a descendant of the Fortress Lord, he ought naturally to be a supreme master of the realm.”
“He said there were circumstances.”
“Do you believe that?”
“For now, we have no choice but to. Enough of this.”
…….
In truth, Cheol Mu-ok harbored the same doubts. How could there possibly be such circumstances that a descendant of the Fortress Lord would be ignorant of the reasons for Daeya Fortress’s fall?
Equally perplexing was the fact that Lee Hwan was a prince of Yeon Kingdom.
‘If he’s not an adopted son, then the emperor of Yeon or the lord’s consort must have been a descendant of the Fortress Lord…….’
There were countless other mysteries, yet he could only believe because Lee Hwan knew far too many details of the secret history that only his own bloodline should know.
The most certain thing was that Lee Hwan knew of the Three Kings Token—a secret known only to the descendants of the Three Kings.
A faint smile escaped him.
Cheol Mu-ok, lost in thought, suddenly let out a soft laugh.
‘To think I could be so awed…….’
When they had first sat facing each other, Cheol Mu-ok had struggled to maintain his composure, but in truth he had felt a pressure like standing before a great mountain.
Even in the casual way Lee Hwan tossed out his words lay an overwhelming aura that left no room for defiance. That had somewhat mitigated Cheol Mu-ok’s disappointment at Lee Hwan’s weak martial arts.
‘If he is truly a descendant of the Fortress Lord, surely he ought to be at least that level.’
“Look there, if you will.”
Gongsun Tae pointed across the way.
Cheol Mu-ok, following his gaze, let out a soft laugh. He had spotted the warriors of the Hebei Paeng Clan.
“Since they wore masks, we wouldn’t have recognized them?”
“Those with a keen eye can tell by the eyes alone.”
“Then what should we do?”
“What else—deny it.”
It was then.
Grrrrr…….
The fox poked its head out and let out a low growl toward Paeng Mu-wi’s quarters.
“Why is it acting like this? Now that I think of it, the creature was barking in that direction last night as well.”
Cheol Mu-ok narrowed his brow.
“Could it be…….”
“Do you have a suspicion?”
“Let me ask the lord about it.”
Shortly after, the two entered Lee Hwan’s quarters.
Song Cheon-mu greeted them.
“Welcome.”
“Is he in?”
“Yes. Please, go in.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae entered immediately.
Inside, Lee Hwan and Song Hui had just finished breakfast and were drinking tea.
“You came quickly.”
“I did as you instructed, and they let me pass easily.”
“Sit.”
The two sat across from Lee Hwan.
Song Hui deliberately withdrew from the space.
“You must have many questions.”
“To be honest, we do.”
“You’ll come to understand it all later, so restrain your curiosity for now.”
“Could you not tell us now?”
Lee Hwan’s eyes turned cold.
“You’ve been finding fault with my words since yesterday—should I take that to mean you don’t trust me?”
“No, no. That was never my intention. Forgive me.”
“Change how you address me.”
“Yes.”
Gongsun Tae asked respectfully.
“What is our role to be here?”
“I’ve decided you’ll serve as my personal guard. Of course, there are other tasks you will need to perform.”
“…….”
“For now, help those outside with their training. All three have sufficient aptitude—shape them properly.”
“Even the one who was in the Black Tiger Division, sir?”
“That man is the only one who knows the wanderer’s face. If he dies, everything unravels. At minimum, he needs to be strong enough to preserve his own life in the worst scenario.”
Gongsun Tae stepped forward.
“We shouldn’t place too much trust in someone from Zhao Kingdom, sir.”
“You’re objecting again.”
“……I understand.”
Lee Hwan took a sip of tea, then asked something unexpected.
“You wouldn’t happen to have Spirit Pills, would you?”
“Pardon?”
“You know, the kind that strengthen your internal energy when you take them.”
“……We don’t have any. But why would you need them, sir?”
“Those men’s internal energy is lacking.”
He lied with perfect composure, but felt an odd pang of guilt as he drank his tea.
Cheol Mu-ok, watching him, asked a question.
“Did you perhaps administer Chujong Incense to someone from the Paeng Clan?”
“The one I fought you with.”
“Why would you……”
“Why? To keep you all confused, that’s why.”
“…….”
The conversation broke off as Song Cheon-mu entered with fresh tea.
“Please, continue talking. I’ll go visit General Jeong.”
“Go ahead, sir.”
As Lee Hwan left, a fox poked its head from Gongsun Tae’s robes and began to bark.
“This beast.”
Song Hui glared at it deliberately, to no effect. Gongsun Tae smiled wryly and spoke.
“You’ll have to endure it for a year.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Chujong Incense’s effect lasts for a year. So for the next year, this creature will look only at you, General.”
“What are you talking about? Chujong Incense?”
At Song Hui’s reaction, Gongsun Tae glanced toward Cheol Mu-ok.
[It seems the lord hasn’t mentioned it yet.]

* * *

Jeong Cheon’s brow furrowed.
“Are you saying you’ll assign personal guards again, sir?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No problem as such, but if you keep bringing in private soldiers like this, there will be talk. As you know, the Left General serves under the Crown Prince. If word reaches the palace, it could put the Dae-gun in a difficult position.”
“I’ll handle that myself. You needn’t worry.”
“…….”
Lee Hwan popped a piece of fruit into his mouth from the bowl, then broached another subject.
“What’s the movement on Zhao’s side?”
“Nothing remarkable yet, but they’ll counterattack soon. They’re not the type to take a blow and remain still. That’s why I’m telling you……”
“I won’t hear any talk about returning to the main encampment.”
“…….”
Lee Hwan rose from his seat and gestured toward the fruit bowl.
“May I take this with me?”
“……Please do, sir.”
“Until we meet again.”
“Take care, Dae-gun.”
Jeong Cheon watched Lee Hwan’s departing figure and let out a hollow laugh.
‘He never even touched the fruit to his lips……. Just how much has he changed?’

* * *

Crown Prince Palace.
Crown Prince Lee So and a general sat across from each other.
“Have you learned anything?”
“Yes. Left General Paeng Mu-wi, whom the Crown Prince sent to the South Army Corps, has suffered repeated defeats, or so I’m told. The sentiment in the military camps has grown quite unfavorable as a result.”
“The Second Prince must be seething.”
“He needs to control the South Army Corps if he’s to exert influence over the military structure leading to the Western Front, so he’ll be deeply unsettled. For now, General Jeong Cheon under General Hwang has provided some relief by retaking the fortification. But Your Majesty—”
The official paused, tilting his head slightly, then continued.
“Do you happen to know anything of the Dae-gun’s martial abilities?”
“The boy showed aptitude for the martial arts from childhood, but at some point his progress seemed to plateau. It was a waste, so I had someone secretly administer Spirit Pills to him, but nothing came of it. Why the sudden curiosity?”
“According to reports, the Dae-gun’s martial prowess has become quite extraordinary. In a skirmish several days ago, he alone killed several members of Zhao Kingdom’s Black Tiger Division and even captured one. That’s not all. His temperament appears to have changed so completely that he seems an entirely different person.”
“That boy managed that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A smile flickered across Lee So’s lips and vanished. The middle-aged official failed to catch it.
“He was always talented, naturally. And as for the change in temperament—perhaps it came about after he survived a brush with death. In any case, it’s good news.”
“I share that assessment, Your Majesty.”
Lee So brought the teacup to his lips.
‘The elixir I sent must be taking effect.’
The elixir he’d sent to Lee Hwan before.
It hadn’t been meant for healing at all—it was a Spirit Elixir designed to strengthen his internal energy.
Of course it had been kept secret, sent with the hope that he would never face such danger again. Yet hearing that Lee Hwan had distinguished himself by capturing a member of the Black Tiger Division filled him with quiet satisfaction.
‘No matter what anyone says, you are my younger brother. So when I call upon you, you must hold firm. You must endure.’

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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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