The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 20

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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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Enemy Dragon Martial Emperor, Episode 20

Chapter 20 — The Martial Artists of Cho Kingdom

“Loosen your core!”
“Swing like that and your wrist will fly clean off! Focus!”
Training was in full swing in the Back Courtyard.
Yi Hwan had just finished his Cultivation Method and was heading out to the courtyard when he noticed something sitting off to one side, and his brow furrowed slightly.
It was medicine sent by Crown Prince Yi So.
‘He probably sent it out of kindness, hoping I’d recover quickly.’
Since he’d already fully healed, there was no reason to take it.
‘I’ll just receive it gratefully in spirit.’
Yi Hwan stepped out toward the courtyard.
The heat radiating from Song Hoe, Song Cheon Mu, and Cha Jung Kyung washed over him. All three were breathing heavily, nearly at the point of collapse.
Cheol Mu Ok bowed his head.
“What’s your assessment?”
“It’s a miracle they’ve survived this long with such limited skill.”
“Don’t judge them by your standards—measure them by theirs. And don’t show disappointment.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“My lord.”
“I apologize. The word doesn’t come naturally to me……. I’ll make the effort.”
Yi Hwan studied the three of them.
Surprisingly, Song Cheon Mu’s condition looked the best. In contrast, Song Hoe and Cha Jung Kyung were on the verge of collapse.
Yi Hwan turned to Song Cheon Mu.
“You’ve eaten quite a few Spirit Pills, haven’t you?”
“I’m not certain they were Spirit Pills, but from childhood my father and brother made sure to provide me with quality things regularly.”
‘A fortunate fellow.’
Whether two hundred years ago or now, it was extraordinarily rare for an illegitimate child to grow up with love and care.
The more prominent the family, the more true this was. Illegitimate children posed the risk of bringing discord to the household—and history was littered with such cases.
Moreover, prestigious families valued family discipline above all and would never tolerate its being shaken. For this reason, nearly every such household treated their illegitimate children harshly from youth, ensuring they harbored no wayward ambitions.
“Would you consider giving us a direct demonstration?”
At Cheol Mu Ok’s words, Yi Hwan let out a small laugh.
“Curious about my skill, are you? Or is it that you don’t believe?”
“It’s nothing of the sort. I simply…….”
“Let’s eat.”
“……Yes.”
“Oof!”
Thump! Thump!
Song Hoe and Cha Jung Kyung collapsed backward onto the ground. Song Cheon Mu, by contrast, continued to breathe heavily, yet his eyes still gleamed with vitality.
“I need to make a trip to Huashan!”
“Huashan? Whatever for?”
“To demand an answer! We were all his disciples—so why did he discriminate against me like that? If he’d just passed on a proper Cultivation Method, I wouldn’t be in such a pathetic state! Huff, huff, huff!”
His voice carried deep resentment.
Yi Hwan felt an unexpected pang of guilt. Song Hoe had stood by him without complaint all this time, never straying from his side. Yet Yi Hwan had paid more attention to Song Cheon Mu than to him.
And that wasn’t all—he had used Chu Jong Hyang as bait to draw in Cheol Mu Ok.
‘I’ve been far too neglectful.’
Then Cheol Mu Ok’s voice message flowed into his ear.
[With his Internal Qi reinforced, he can become quite useful. In the way he applies Technique Application and creates variation, he rivals Peak Masters—no mean feat.]
Yi Hwan nodded silently in agreement.
“Stop your whining and eat, then head to the Dragon Tiger Army. Don’t forget that training them is just as important as your own cultivation.”
“……Yes. I’ll wash up and go at once.”
Once the three had gone inside, Cheol Mu Ok asked a question.
“Is he the one overseeing the Dragon Tiger Army training?”
“For now. The time for me to step in hasn’t come yet.”
“I could assist if you’d permit it.”
“Large-scale tactics are an entirely different domain. Of course, when the time comes, having you guide the Commander Rank officers would be invaluable—but for now, focus solely on those three.”
“Understood.”

* * *

Cho Army Encampment.
A middle-aged man entered Chong Sa’s quarters, his eyes as crimson as blood-soaked silk.
The visitor was unexpected, and Chong Sa’s expression betrayed his surprise.
“My lord, what brings you here?”
“I came by Imperial Order to assist you.”
“His Majesty has issued a command?”
“You did not request reinforcements?”
“A few men under my command would have sufficed. I never imagined you would come in person.”
The middle-aged man spoke with stern authority.
“His Majesty wishes to make the Gorge Fortress ours forever. That is why he has sent me directly here.”
“Does he not shrink even from all-out war?”
“I merely convey His Majesty’s words. He has ordered the fortress recaptured as swiftly as possible. Before that, we must scout the enemy position ourselves. For now, I shall take my leave.”
The middle-aged man delivered his message with finality and departed at once. Bu Jang entered immediately after.
“The Blood Ghosts have arrived in force—fifty of them, Commander.”
“With the Commander here in person, that much is to be expected.”
Chong Sa’s face grew taut.
‘No matter how critical the fortress recapture is, sending fifty Blood Ghosts is unprecedented. There has never been such a thing. Does he truly not fear all-out war? Or is there something else at play?’
Unease crept over him like a shadow.
The Blood Ghost Commander was not someone he wished to have near him. His presence meant that even the smallest misstep would reach the Emperor’s ears immediately.
“Bu Jang.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Send word to the Crown Prince at once. Tell him the Blood Ghost Commander has arrived, and find out what is happening in the Imperial Palace. This matter must remain between you and me alone. Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
After Bu Jang left, Chong Sa sank deep into his chair, his gaze dimming.
‘The Blood Ghost Commander moves only at the Emperor’s command. To send such a man here means there is more than just the fortress recapture at stake. I must discover what that is.’
A hollow ache spread through his chest.
It was the weight of dread.
That familiar, gnawing unease returned.
‘Could it be that he’s discovered the truth of the secret funds?’

* * *

Late into the night.
Yi Hwan summoned Song Hoe to his chamber.
“You called for me?”
“Sit.”
As Song Hoe settled across from him, Yi Hwan placed a thin book on the table—a Cultivation Manual that he had carefully prepared so that Song Hoe could master his own Cultivation Method.
Thud.
“Beginning tomorrow, learn this.”
“This is…… what, exactly?”
“A quite useful Cultivation Method. It will serve you well, so study it diligently.”
“I—thank you so much!”
Song Hoe’s eyes grew moist.
Seeing him like this stirred something within Yi Hwan—a sense of pity he had not anticipated.
“Once you grasp the manual, practice whenever time permits. Do so, and you will gain what you need most.”
“What do you believe I need most, my lord?”
“Internal Qi.”
Song Hoe’s eyes widened.
“You mean——if I master this Cultivation Method, my Internal Qi will increase?”
“You sound doubtful.”
“To be honest, I am. I have never heard of such a Cultivation Method existing in the world……”
“Cease your doubt and give it your best effort.”
“……Very well. Thank you truly, my lord!”
“You may go now.”
“Rest well, my lord.”
After Song Hoe departed, Yi Hwan lay back on his bed.
‘I wonder if this was the right choice.’
Transmitting a Cultivation Method was no trifling matter. Even in his former time, he had shared such methods only with his closest circle, including the Three Kings.
If word leaked out even by the smallest chance, it could benefit the enemy.
‘True enough. If I’m going to live in this world anyway, the more capable subordinates I have, the easier my life becomes.’
Once Yi Hwan discarded a thought, he never dwelt on it again — one of his greatest strengths. With his mind cleared, five points of Blue Light rose above his body.
They were visibly brighter than before, and noticeably larger.
A smile spread across Yi Hwan’s lips.
‘Definitely getting faster.’
Yi Hwan instinctively moved to release one of the Blue Lights, then caught himself and dissolved it instead. The memory of Cha Jung Kyung drawing blood the last time came flooding back.
That was when it happened.
“Commander.”
Song Hoe’s voice drifted in from outside.
“What is it?”
“Do you happen to know anything about Chu Jong Hyang? They say the fox barks at me because of Chu Jong Hyang, and apparently it lasts for about a year?”
……
Thump!
Yi Hwan sat up abruptly.
“Come in.”
Song Hoe entered.
Yi Hwan explained the full story to him. As the explanation unfolded, it was clear Song Hoe felt rather put out.
Yi Hwan ended the matter with these words.
“That Cultivation Manual I gave you a moment ago — let’s call it even on that.”
……

* * *

The next morning.
Song Hoe returned from the Supply Warehouse to collect provisions and reported to Yi Hwan with an alarmed expression.
“The scouts who went out last night have been found dead. More than a hundred of them, apparently.”
Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed.
Over a hundred casualties was no trivial matter.
“It seems the Cho Kingdom has made its move.”
“But there’s something strange about it. The bodies were found not far from the Fortress, yet the sentries stationed nearby heard nothing — not a sound. Despite so many being slaughtered.”
Yi Hwan’s eyes, which had been half-closed in apparent disinterest, narrowed sharply.
“You’re certain of this?”
“Yes.”
“That is strange indeed. If they fell at night, sound would carry even more clearly.”
“Exactly. Because of that, word is spreading that the Cho Kingdom has called in masters from the Martial World. In any case, all the unit commanders have gathered at the Command Post over this matter.”
“If Martial World experts have joined them, it’s certainly a grave problem. We only have the Peng Clan here.”
“Should we go take a look?”
“Have they not yet buried the bodies?”
“They were discovered early this morning, so they likely haven’t been interred yet.”
Yi Hwan rose and drew on his outer robe.
In the Back Courtyard, Song Cheon Mu and Cha Jung Kyung were drilling, sweat gleaming on their skin.
“Mu Ok.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“There’s somewhere I need to go. Come with me.”
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu Ok headed toward Hwang Ho’s tent, with Song Hoe following behind.
Shortly after, Yi Hwan entered the place where the bodies lay, rather than the Command Post where the unit commanders had assembled.
Salute!
The soldiers greeted Yi Hwan with a military salute.
Yi Hwan stared at the corpses filling the interior and turned to Cheol Mu Ok.
“We need to examine the wound patterns.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu Ok began inspecting the bodies.
But soon they both straightened up and stepped back. A single examination had told them enough.
“Judging by how little resistance they mounted, it appears they were killed by someone of considerable skill.”
“If no one heard a sound, then that considerable skill didn’t come from just one or two people.”
“Precisely. It’s possible that multiple powerful Martial World masters have joined the Cho Army Encampment.”
“That would be my guess as well.”
Yi Hwan turned and walked outside.
Cheol Mu Ok followed behind him.
“Cheol Mu Ok.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever done any reconnaissance?”
“Not reconnaissance exactly, but I’ve tracked people plenty of times.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re particularly skilled at it.”
“This is the first time I’ve been discovered. A strong wind snapped some branches, and…….”
Yi Hwan had never mentioned that he was the one who’d thrown the branch.
“But why reconnaissance all of a sudden…….”
“I’ll explain later. For now, we need to get to the Command Post. Come along.”
Yi Hwan headed straight for the Command Post.
Salute!
A soldier who’d rendered the military salute spoke with an awkward expression.
“I’m afraid you cannot enter at this time.”
“I can go in.”
Yi Hwan pushed past the soldier and opened the Command Post door. Everyone gathered inside turned to look at him.
Some rose and bowed their heads, but others made no effort to hide their discomfort.
Jung Cheon sighed and lowered his gaze, while Hwang Ho made no attempt to conceal his bewilderment.
Yi Hwan paid them no mind and spoke directly to Hwang Ho.
“Have you examined the corpse?”
“The matter is grave, so we planned to examine the body after the meeting concluded.”
“Doesn’t seem like you have your priorities straight?”
“…….”
Yi Hwan glanced toward Cheol Mu Ok.
“Tell them what you’ve found.”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu Ok swept his gaze across the assembled commanders before speaking.
“The soldiers didn’t even have a chance to resist before they were struck down. Moreover, despite so many men dying not far from here, no one heard a sound. This means the killer’s skill is at least that of a Peak Master by Martial World standards.”
The room stirred.
Cheol Mu Ok continued.
“The problem is, there are quite a few such masters among them.”
“Go on.”
Cheol Mu Ok turned his gaze toward Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan stepped forward and spoke.
“If there’s a commander leading such masters, he’d naturally be even stronger, wouldn’t he? So tonight, this man here will scout the Enemy Position and return. We need to know at the very least which new forces have joined them, or we can’t prepare a proper response. That’s why I’m saying…….”
Yi Hwan swept his eyes across the assembled men as he continued.
“All reconnaissance is to be suspended until he returns. Unless you want to keep throwing innocent soldiers away to their deaths.”

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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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