The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 195

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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, Chapter 195

Chapter 195 — Now It Begins

Crown Prince Yi So accepted the tea that Gwan Ji-baek offered him.
The Ancestral Rites would not conclude for several more days, so he remained at the Ancestral Temple rather than at the Crown Prince Palace.
The same held true for the Empress and the other members of the Imperial Family.
The Ancestral Temple had many rooms, however, and whenever they wished to rest, each retired to a separate chamber.
“There are troubling rumors circulating, Your Highness.”
“Troubling rumors?”
“You recall the recent incident in which one of the Second Prince’s close associates was murdered? Well, several members of the Imperial Family have been whispering that the Grand Prince may be connected to the culprit.”
Clack!
“What?”
Yi So’s eyes blazed with fury in an instant.
Gwan Ji-baek continued gravely.
“It appears the Second Prince’s faction is plotting something new.”
“Now he dares to link my youngest brother to a murder? This bastard has truly gone too far.”
“I urge you to compose yourself, Your Highness. It is mere whisper as yet — we must observe the situation a while longer.”
“Rumors grow teeth if left to fester. We must stop this before it swells into something irreversible.”
“Then you must wait until the Second Prince himself raises the matter in the presence of all the Imperial Family. If he is scheming, he will certainly broach the subject there, among witnesses.”
Crunch.
Yi So’s fists clenched, thick veins bulging across his knuckles.
Yet as Gwan Ji-baek said, he must hold back for now. To raise the issue first on mere hearsay invited a counterattack.
“Are you in communication with the East Guard?”
“Yes. I met with the information officer this morning. They have not yet located the culprit’s whereabouts.”
“What of the Gold Robed Guard?”
“They report the same.”
“Send word to the East Guard — we must find the culprit before anyone else does. If the other side discovers him first, there is no telling what scheme they might fabricate.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall convey that at once.”
Once Yi So had regained some composure, he asked another question.
“Is my youngest brother still at the Command Center?”
“Yes. He has remained within headquarters for several days now, venturing nowhere.”
Yi So leaned back in his chair and exhaled a long sigh.
“Without him here, I feel as though I stand alone among wolves. The people who once fell over themselves in gratitude for the Emperor’s favor — I never imagined they would turn so quickly.”
Gwan Ji-baek felt deep sorrow at those words. It was true — nearly all the Imperial Family now sided with the Empress. Unaware of the true state of affairs, they believed she had seized most of the power.
“Rest now. You should take your leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please take your ease.”
Once Gwan Ji-baek stepped outside, he exhaled a lengthy breath.
Sigh…
Just then, Yi Tae-ji appeared in the distance ahead. Gwan Ji-baek bowed deeply to him.
Yi Tae-ji passed by with a sneer.
“A general ought to live among the clash of battle and the reek of warfare, yet how is it you remain ensconced in the comfort of the palace?”
“My duty is to serve Your Highness. To serve the man who will become Emperor of these lands — surely that surpasses the service of generals in distant theaters?”
“That remains to be seen when it comes to pass.”
“Your words are too harsh, Your Highness.”
“Only jest, only jest.”
Yi Tae-ji turned and entered the inner chamber where the Imperial Family gathered. Gwan Ji-baek watched his retreating figure, his eyes turning cold.
‘Now he casts aside all pretense and shows his true malice.’
Gwan Ji-baek suppressed the rising anger within him and headed out. Two soldiers awaited him outside.
“We depart for the Gold Guard Command Center. Make ready.”
“Yes, General.”

* * *

Yi Hwan sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed, surrendering to the gentle swaying of the carriage.
Across from him, Go-mi occupied the opposite bench, intent upon something she held in her lap and read with great care.
It was a single sheet of paper. Upon it were drawn countless geometric shapes in disorderly, cryptic formations.
Crackle.
A bead of sweat fell from Go-mi’s brow onto the paper.
“Hah…….”
She straightened her back and let out a sigh. At that moment, Yi Hwan opened his eyes, which he’d kept closed.
“How is it?”
“It’s terribly difficult.”
“Upper Ascension Martial Arts differs fundamentally from ordinary martial learning—starting with the technique formula itself. Even if it’s hard, you must understand and awaken to it yourself. That’s the only way to master it quickly.”
That was true. The shapes on the paper were the principles and technique formulas of Upper Ascension Martial Arts that Yi Hwan had given Go-mi.
He had handed them over earlier than planned, moved by the guilt of making her weep. Yet even Go-mi, who had always been called a prodigy, was sweating profusely just from studying the diagrams—the material was that difficult.
“Even if I grasp this, won’t it be useless without sufficient inner strength to support it?”
“As for inner strength, I should be able to find a way soon enough. For now, focus on understanding the formulas.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t explain it now, so bear your curiosity for a while.”
“…….”
He had obtained a method to enter the Imperial Palace reports from the Emperor himself. Yi Hwan expected that within lay the answer to increasing his inner strength.
Yi Hwan opened the carriage window. He gazed beyond the objects rushing past him with great speed.
Go-mi watched him in silence for a moment, then asked carefully.
“Do you think Yi Tae-ji and the Yeokcheon Society will truly clash?”
“That’s precisely why I’m having those who chase us killed while posing as the Yeokcheon Society. Even if it doesn’t escalate to actual conflict, at minimum they’ll grow wary.”
In truth, Yi Hwan’s intention in going to Yi Young’s Residence was not solely to ease Go-mi’s heart.
Since his return from the Forbidden Archive, he’d spent two days confined to his quarters, devising various stratagems. Among them was one to make enemies of both Yi Tae-ji’s faction and the Yeokcheon Society.
And the operation was already in motion.
“So it begins now?”
“You could say that.”
Go-mi’s heart trembled.
The beginning of the counterattack that Yi Hwan had once spoken of.
‘So that’s why he shut himself away for two days. But I… I failed to restrain my emotions and committed a grave offense…….’
Seeing Go-mi lost in thought, Yi Hwan—still believing her to be preoccupied with the matter of inner strength—spoke casually.
“The faster you master it, the sooner you’ll become an expert. So you’d better work hard.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan leaned back against the carriage wall and closed his eyes again. Go-mi too placed the paper inscribed with technique formulas back onto her lap.

* * *

There were those pursuing Yi Hwan’s carriage. They were assassins of Hongwol.
They had begun their pursuit from the moment Yi Hwan’s carriage departed the Command Center.
Mun I-jong had issued stern orders to both the assassins of Hongwol and the warriors of the Gold Robed Guard to observe Yi Hwan’s every move and report immediately if anything unusual arose.
One assassin spoke to his group’s leader.
“Only three guards today as well. Wouldn’t it be better to call them all out and simply finish this?”
“The Grand Steward commanded us not to act rashly until the Imperial ancestral rites are concluded. So stop your pointless talk and keep following.”
“……Yes.”
The assassins maintained a suitable distance as they pursued Yi Hwan’s carriage. But forced to move through the forest, the gap between them only widened.
Moreover, with few people on the Official Road, Yi Hwan’s carriage was traveling at considerable speed. Yet they couldn’t very well descend onto the road and pursue using Lightness Technique.
Before half a double-hour had passed, Yi Hwan’s carriage disappeared from the assassins’ view entirely.
“Another team will pursue them. We’re done here.”
The group’s leader abandoned the chase.
The assassins, perspiring generously, drew their water pouches from their belts to quench their thirst.
Then it happened.
Rustle-rustle-rustle!
The forest behind them stirred. The assassins swiftly placed their hands on their sword hilts.
One assassin called out sharply toward the forest.
“Who goes there!”
Rustle-rustle-rustle!
Figures emerged from the undergrowth. Six of them total. Armed with various weapons and dressed in different garb, their sudden appearance made Hongwol’s assassins draw their blades.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
“Reveal your identity, whoever you are!”
Before those words even finished, the strangers rushed forward like lightning.
“How dare you!”
The assassins, confident in their skill, let out a scornful laugh. But when the fight opened, matters proved quite different.
“Aaargh!”
“Ghaaak!”
In an instant, two assassins sprayed blood and crumpled. As their numbers dwindled, Hongwol’s assassins fell into disarray.
But these were all survivors of hellish training. They soon steadied themselves and launched a counterattack.
Clang-clang!
Crack!
‘These bastards… they’re all masters.’
After exchanging several rounds, the leader of the group could not hide his inner alarm. The enemy was simply too strong. And with the numerical disadvantage, there was nothing he could do.
Clang-clang!
“Urgh!”
One assassin staggered with a sharp gasp of pain.
At the same moment, the leader hurled his body toward the forest behind them. He had chosen to flee.
But then.
Flash!
A streak of light erupted from beyond the trees. It flew straight toward the leader’s chest.
“…!”
The leader twisted in midair to evade the light, then veered his direction eastward.
That was when.
Thud!
“Gahhk!”
A sword pierced through his chest and burst out the other side.
The leader, suspended in the air, stared down at the blade protruding from his chest.
“Uuugh….”
Whoosh.
More figures emerged, parting the undergrowth.
They wore white robes and black robes respectively. As consciousness slipped away, the leader heard their words with perfect clarity.
“These bastards must be the Fourth Prince’s agents, no doubt about it?”
“Yes. Without question. We’ve confirmed they’re scattered throughout the city to watch the Second Prince.”
“Our Yeokcheon Society’s top priority has shifted from the Fourth Prince to the Second Prince. So we kill anyone we can find to weaken his forces as much as possible. Then we take his head the moment he leaves the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes, Society Master.”
“Finishing blow.”
“Understood.”
Squelch!
As the sword drove into his body, the leader finally tumbled into darkness.

* * *

The rain that had stopped began falling again.
Whoooosh!
The leader’s eyes opened.
At first, he thought this was the afterlife. But soon he realized he was still alive, and with great effort, he rose to his feet.
Severe pain shot through his chest and abdomen, and he could barely breathe, yet he did not rest—he made his way toward one destination. Where Mun I-jong was.
‘I must tell him that the Yeokcheon Society is targeting the Second Prince. It must be….’

* * *

Yi Young’s Residence.
Though Yi Hwan had arrived without warning, Yi Young and her husband greeted them as if they had been waiting barefoot.
Yi Hwan went into the annex.
The couple headed directly to the kitchen to prepare food.
Some time had passed when.
Cheol Mu-ok, who had been waiting outside, stepped back in.
“The mission has been completed as you instructed, it seems.”
“They did it without being noticed, I trust?”
“Yes. They targeted the leader of one group, and made it appear as though they even delivered a finishing blow to his corpse, so there should be absolutely no suspicion. And they’ve eliminated roughly thirty men across various locations, it’s reported.”
“Any injured?”
“Five were wounded, but they’re all minor injuries, so it should be fine.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently and brought the tea cup in his hand to his lips.
Clink.
“Once we enter the Imperial Palace, everyone must stay sharp. That place breathes different air than the outside world—remember, we trust no one who isn’t one of us.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Ju-tae posed a question.
“What if, hypothetically, there was a dispute within the Imperial Palace and someone ended up injured or killed? Say, if a retainer on the Second Prince’s side picked a fight with me and I beat him—what would happen then?”
“You’d simply be beaten back.”
“Pardon? Is that truly the case?”
“Only if you can prove he started the quarrel first.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But was that really what you wanted to know?”
“Yes. To be honest, I’ve wondered about it every time I’ve entered the Palace, but now that I’m going to be living here, I thought I’d ask. You know, better safe than sorry. Ha ha!”
Everyone else exhaled deeply—not Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan was about to say something.
The door creaked open.
Yi Young entered, pushing it wide.
“Come eat, brother.”

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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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