The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 194

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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 Undefeated, Episode 194

Chapter 194 — Go-mi’s Tears

One of the two Imperial sons born of the Empress conceals himself thoroughly. You must be as wary of him as you are of the Empress herself.
The reason I ransacked this place like a madman was born of a single hope: that one day, someone would inevitably come through that entrance.
Thus, should I fall, the Empress—who stands to lose her most powerful piece—installed no traps within these walls. And so you were able to enter without difficulty.

The Emperor’s voice circled in his mind.
His final words.

Forgive me, my son.

Had he been drawn into the man’s emotion?
Yi Hwan found himself unable to suppress the feeling.
Whoosh!
The rain fell unabated still, the rough downpour swallowing even the sound of the mechanism as it worked.
Hwa Ryeong appeared before him.
She had waited instead of leaving. A smile bloomed fully across her face as she regarded Yi Hwan.
Yet Hwa Ryeong asked him nothing.
It was because of the bottomless gloom that darkened his eyes.

* * *

Ju-tae glanced at Yi Hwan’s quarters and turned to Cheol Mu-ok, speaking low.
“What in heaven’s name happened in there? The atmosphere has been strange ever since he returned. Could there truly have been an Emperor inside?”
“Perhaps.”
Since returning from the Gold Domain, Yi Hwan had spent the second day confined to his quarters, refusing audience with anyone—not Cheol Mu-ok, not anyone else.
Cheol Mu-ok was troubled.
‘There’s never been anything like this before.’
Then Go-mi approached.
Cheol Mu-ok shook his head toward her. After a moment’s silence spent watching Yi Hwan’s quarters, Go-mi stepped forward.
“Grand Prince, I have something to report.”
“Come in.”
Go-mi entered.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae exchanged wide-eyed glances.
“We should go in too.”
Cheol Mu-ok seized Ju-tae by the scruff of the neck as he moved toward the door.
Thwack.
“What’s this about?”
“Must you always act like a child?”
……

* * *

Once inside, Go-mi first observed Yi Hwan’s expression and bearing. He appeared no different than usual, his manner unchanged.
She seated herself carefully across from him.
“Shall I have tea prepared?”
“No need. Make your report.”
“Yes.”
Go-mi began at once.
“An autopsy has yielded results suggesting that the associate of the poisoned Imperial Prince may have fallen victim to the Invisible Poison.”
At these words, Yi Hwan lifted his head.
“You said Invisible Poison just now?”
“Yes. The court physician conducted the autopsy himself, so it is almost certainly accurate.”
The Invisible Poison was called the king among all toxins, and it had been lost to the Martial World for a very long time.
‘The Invisible Poison was created first by him……’
Yi Hwan’s mind turned to the Poison King. He was the very originator of the Invisible Poison—a lethal toxin that, if he chose, could slay hundreds with a single drop, or save them, making it simultaneously the deadliest poison and the most potent miracle medicine.
‘Could he be that man’s descendant?’
Yang Chan came to mind. If he’d risen to the level of a poison master capable of wielding the Invisible Poison, that possibility couldn’t be ruled out.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t wait for him to appear. Perhaps I should be the one to seek him out.’
“What weighs on your mind so heavily?”
“Nothing of importance. Is there anything else?”
“There’s talk that the Third Prince intends to relocate his residence beyond the Imperial Capital. It seems he plans to open the land around the lake he once dwelt near to the people and establish a military camp there. When the move comes, the forces arrayed around him will have no choice but to surface. We should be able to discern their scale at that point.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
Go-mi spoke.
“You look exhausted.”
“I’ve had much to consider. But there’s no need for you to worry. Don’t trouble yourselves over it.”
“There is still something you haven’t told us.”
“The matter of the Emperor’s existence?”
“Yes. Isn’t it the question that troubles all of us most?”
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly.
“It was as Hwa Ryeong predicted.”
“……Then His Majesty truly is infected with Blood Poison!?”
Go-mi’s eyes widened.
The Emperor infected with Blood Poison, trapped and confined—this was an atrocity without precedent, and one that should never come to pass.
“The Blood Poison was removed. But he refused to leave. I explained how the Imperial Palace operates, and he said there was work he needed to do within it. So…….”
Yi Hwan trailed off, his eyes narrowing. Go-mi stood trembling, her fists clenched so tightly her entire body shook.
She spoke through gritted teeth.
“No matter who the Empress is, this is unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable…….”
“Calm yourself. We’ve gained something far more powerful than anything else.”
“If you removed the Blood Poison, you should have brought him out unconditionally!”
“Lower your voice.”
“Grand Prince!”
“Do my words not make sense?”
“……!”
A chill swept through the room.
Yi Hwan’s eyes blazed with frost-like authority. Go-mi’s own eyes snapped open wide, and without thinking, she clamped her mouth shut.
“I’ll explain the details after I’ve finished speaking with the Crown Prince. Now go.”
“……Yes.”

* * *

Hwa Ryeong drew a deep breath as she looked up at the clear sky.
“What a beautiful day.”
She had escaped the suffocating life of Manhwa Palace, where every step felt like walking on thin ice. Now, surrounded by people to whom she’d grown genuinely attached, she had found a life she treasured beyond measure.
A gentle breeze swept past.
“Even the wind is kind today.”
As Hwa Ryeong basked in the rare sunlight, her gaze drifted absently toward Yi Hwan’s study—and her eyes went wide.
Go-mi was stepping outside. And it looked as though she were crying.
‘Why is she crying?’
In an instant, Hwa Ryeong dropped down in front of her.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Go-mi brushed past her and disappeared into her quarters. Bewildered, Hwa Ryeong quickly made her way to Yi Hwan’s study.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae were waiting there.
Hwa Ryeong glanced toward Yi Hwan’s inner chamber and sent a Mental Transmission.
[Go-mi was crying. What happened?]
Cheol Mu-ok gestured toward Yi Hwan’s chamber. As Hwa Ryeong moved to enter, he caught her arm and shook his head.
[For now, it would be wise to feign ignorance.]
“……!”
Just then.
“All three of you, come inside.”
Hwa Ryeong shook off Cheol Mu-ok’s arm and entered first. Moments later, the three took their seats across from Yi Hwan.
Cheol Mu-ok sent a Mental Transmission to Hwa Ryeong.
[Wait until he speaks first.]
Under normal circumstances, Hwa Ryeong would never have held her tongue, but something about this moment demanded silence. She bit her lip and waited.

The three watched Yi Hwan intently.
His demeanor had definitely shifted from the usual.
“Hwa Ryeong.”
“Yes, Grand Prince.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to die.”
“……!”
“My lord! What do you mean by that!”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae recoiled in shock. Hwa Ryeong stared at Yi Hwan with wide eyes, rendered speechless.
Yi Hwan continued without inflection.
“Once you’re dead, the Empress will stop searching for you. I’ve already instructed Go-mi to prepare an Identity Mask. When it’s complete, you’ll need to become an entirely different person. Until everything is over.”
“…….”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae finally relaxed their expressions. Hwa Ryeong let out a yelp.
“When you speak, couldn’t you at least explain things in order! I really thought you were going to kill me! That was awful, absolutely awful.”
“…….”
“Why was Go-mi crying? She’s the one running about, sacrificing everything for the Grand Prince.”
‘Go-mi was crying?’
At those words, Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Cheol Mu-ok. Cheol Mu-ok answered gravely.
“She seemed… disappointed.”
Ju-tae added a remark.
“Perhaps she should be reassured later?”
Yi Hwan had no idea that Go-mi had wept. Yet as he recalled their recent conversation, an unexpected pang of guilt washed over him.
Yi Hwan picked up his teacup. But it had already been drained completely dry.
“I’ll prepare fresh tea.”
“Never mind.”
Yi Hwan shifted to another matter.
“We’re moving the Command Center into the Imperial Palace.”
“……Pardon?”
The three started again in surprise. Yi Hwan spoke matter-of-factly.
“You three, the warriors under my direct command, and the Vice Commander along with the chief generals—only those will enter. Begin preparations at once.”
“And me? I’m going with you, aren’t I?”
“Would you rather stay behind?”
“No.”
“Then start changing your voice, your tone, and your bearing. You’ll need to transform so completely that no one in the Manhwa Palace would recognize you.”
“I will.”
Hwa Ryeong felt relieved. She had just barely escaped the Manhwa Palace, and the thought of being separated again so soon had genuinely frightened her.
[Ask him why we’re going in.]
Ju-tae pressed Cheol Mu-ok with a mental transmission.
Cheol Mu-ok ventured carefully.
“Might I ask the reason for entering the Imperial Palace so suddenly?”
“I’ve judged that the Imperial Palace is a better hunting ground than here for taking down the old fox and her cubs.”
“So we’re beginning in earnest then?”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan rose from his seat at once.
“I have somewhere to be. Don’t follow me.”
“Are you going to Go-mi…… Ack!”
Hwa Ryeong pinched Ju-tae’s side without mercy.
[Learn some tact!]
[Ow! I think you’re tearing the skin off…….]
[Want me to pinch harder?]
“…….”

* * *

Yi Hwan found Go-mi’s quarters.
The Female Warrior, who had been diligently crafting something, rose in haste and bowed her head.
“I greet the Grand Prince.”
“Is she within?”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
Yi Hwan sat down, watching the Female Warrior disappear into Go-mi’s chamber.
Scanning the interior, he found not a single painting or ceramic ornament. Instead, a handful of maps of unknown regions hung solitary on the walls.
One could glimpse Go-mi’s resolve and determination regarding her position.
Go-mi opened the door and stepped outside.
“Welcome, Grand Prince.”
“Would you mind clearing the room?”
“Yes, Grand Prince!”
The Female Warrior hurried out in a fluster.
Go-mi took her seat across from Yi Hwan. He fixed his gaze on the reddened skin around her eyes.
“You seemed hurt.”
“No, Grand Prince. I merely lost sight of your feelings for a moment. You must be suffering far more than I am, yet I failed to consider that. I apologize.”
She meant it sincerely. At first, tears had welled up from her wounded pride, but after returning and reflecting, she had come to understand that Yi Hwan was the one whose heart must be breaking most of all.
No matter how coldly he had treated her, what must his suffering be like, witnessing his father in such a state? Standing before such a man, it was she who had allowed herself to show raw emotion instead.
“Still, I was sorry for it. No matter how troubled my heart, I should never have acted that way toward you—toward Go-mi.”
“……!”
His sincere apology proved too much; the tears that had been gathering spilled at last down her cheeks.
Streams fell silently.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
So these were the tears of Go-mi, who seemed as though she would never weep even with a blade at her throat.
“Would you like some fresh air?”
“……It’s all right if it’s because of me.”
“It is because of me.”
…….

* * *

Hwa Ryeong sat in the driver’s seat of the carriage, humming a cheerful tune. She wore a newly crafted Identity Mask, far more beautiful than the previous one with its freckles.
Cheol Mu-ok let out a soft chuckle.
“Does it suit you?”
“Of course. Don’t I look younger?”
“I’m glad you’re pleased. But shouldn’t you alter your voice as well?”
“What about this one?”
“It’s far too silky—all the men will be clinging to you.”
“Then what about this voice?”
“Too much nasal quality.”
“Oh, I don’t know!”
Just then, Yi Hwan’s voice emerged from inside the carriage.
“We’re going to my sister’s residence.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And keep it quiet.”
…….

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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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