The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 26

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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 Warlord Episode 26

Chapter 26 — Return to the Southern Military Group

Biweol, the secret investigation agency, primarily conducted covert operations against corrupt officials and military commanders, with the authority to make arrests directly upon exposure.
Though it fell somewhat short of the Geumui Guard and Dongchang in scale and authority, it had been steadily rising in standing as it resolved increasingly significant cases in recent times.
Gomi was the first woman to ascend to the position of Woljoo within Biweol.
Whoosh.
Wind rushing through the window window traced gently across Gomi’s beautiful face.
‘He was so infinitely quiet and fragile once.’
Gomi gazed toward the room where Yi Hwan stayed, bringing the tea cup in her hand to her lips. She recalled the image of Yi Hwan she had seen at Market Street, her brow furrowing slightly.
‘That look in his eyes, his entire presence—it wasn’t the same at all. How can a person change so utterly?’
The Yi Hwan who lingered in her memory was a neglected Royal Prince, timid and quiet, with an air of darkness about him.
Yet precisely because he lacked the arrogance one expected of a prince, his simple and gentle heart had left a favorable impression. But the Yi Hwan she’d seen at Market Street was an entirely different person.
Just then, a voice drifted in from outside.
“It is I, Woljoo.”
“Come in.”
A female warrior entered.
“What’s the situation?”
“My apologies. I found no trace of him whatsoever.”
“Did you conduct a thorough inquiry?”
“Yes.”
“Then we have no choice. We’ll need to deploy more people and search farther afield, leave no stone unturned. You’ve worked hard. Go eat something and get some rest.”
“Yes. But may I ask why you’ve come to the Residence today?”
“We have a guest. The Daegwun and his entourage have arrived—if you happen to encounter them, mind your manners.”
“The Royal Prince—or rather, the Daegwun is here? Why?”
“He came to the Imperial Capital and decided to stay the night.”
“Could there be some other intention behind the visit?”
“Aren’t you tired? Go rest now.”
“……Yes. I shall.”
Gomi watched the female warrior depart for a moment, then cast her gaze once more toward Yi Hwan’s room. Her brow furrowed again.
‘Tomorrow will be hectic. What am I to do? He’s come all this way, yet I cannot even provide proper hospitality.’
At that moment, Yi Hwan opened the window and leaned his face out. Gomi quickly hid her body behind the window frame.
In the midst of this, the tea cup in her hand trembled and the tea spilled slightly. It fell on the back of her foot.
‘It’s hot!’

* * *

‘She has good taste.’
Yi Hwan surveyed the Residence, bathed in moonlight.
Compared to the plush bed and elaborate feasts of the Imperial Palace, this dwelling was hopelessly humble, yet his heart felt far more at ease.
Yi Hwan gazed toward Gomi’s room.
The lamp that had just been lit inside went dark, and the light leaking through the window faded away.
‘Biweol, then……’
When Yi Hwan had chanced to meet Gomi, his insistence on spending the night was born of a particular hope.
He wondered if he might enlist the information-gathering power of Biweol, the secret investigation agency, to help him find the vagrant.
Certainly, the Crown Prince had promised to deploy Dongchang, but if Biweol lent its resources as well, might he not find the vagrant that much faster?
‘If only she would grant the favor.’
Like Dongchang, Biweol too was a secret apparatus of the Imperial Palace. Naturally, it was not an organization that could move at whim, and Biweol above all others had to maintain its neutrality—so whether Gomi would agree to his request was questionable.
‘Still, it costs nothing to try.’
Whoosh!
A pleasant wind swept past.
Yi Hwan set his thoughts aside and surrendered himself to the breeze. It was then that he noticed something strange—two shadows sitting upon the roof of Gomi’s quarters.
‘Her guard is thorough.’
Biweol warriors.
‘Well, a secret agency must have no shortage of enemies.’
Shortly after, Yi Hwan left the window open and lay down on the bed.
Yi Hwan drifted into sleep amid his wandering thoughts, but not long after he woke, and from then on, sleep eluded him entirely.
‘I can sleep in the carriage tomorrow.’
Yi Hwan threw on his outer robe, secured his sword, and stepped outside.
He made his way toward the mountains behind the residence. After climbing for some time, a fairly large waterfall appeared, thundering down with tremendous force.
Shhhhink.
Yi Hwan drew his sword.
Today, the blade felt different in his hand.
‘Should I test the Yeongdan’s effects?’
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan spread his legs wide, fixing his gaze on the waterfall. Qi bloomed along the blade as he slashed through empty air.
Was it an illusion?
The falling water froze for an instant.
‘Not bad at all.’
Clink.
Yi Hwan sheathed his sword and turned to leave.

* * *

The following morning, Gomi sought out Yi Hwan.
“You wished to see me?”
“Let’s have some tea.”
“Of course.”
Yi Hwan slid a tea cup toward Gomi.
“Thank you.”
The two sipped together in silence.
Clink.
“Would it be all right to ask one favor of you?”
“Please, speak.”
“There’s someone I need to find. A person of great importance to me.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Gomi’s eyes.
‘So that’s why he….’
Only now did she understand why Yi Hwan had insisted on staying at her residence.
“May I ask who this person is?”
“Someone entirely unrelated to the Imperial Palace, and someone who has committed no crime.”
“Then was that the reason you asked to stay the night?”
“Meeting you was chance. But staying here for one night—that was deliberate, so I could make this request.”
Yi Hwan spoke honestly.
For anyone to believe that a royal prince would suddenly impose on someone for a night’s lodging seemed implausible at best.
It was obvious he had some other intention, and lying would only backfire.
Gomi hesitated for a moment before speaking with a note of firmness.
“Biweol exists for impartiality and neutrality alone. No one—not even myself as Woljoo—may wield Biweol’s resources for private purposes.”
Yi Hwan lifted the tea cup to his lips.
Though disappointed, he found himself admiring Gomi’s stance. A leader of an organization should be exactly this way. He understood completely.
‘The Dongchang will suffice.’
He had come to her residence hoping that Biweol’s involvement would make the search easier, but seeing her unwavering resolve, he realized he would have to abandon that hope and rely on the Dongchang instead.
Clink.
“I’ve troubled you with this.”
“Not at all. I should take my leave now. I’ll leave one of my guards here—if you have need of anything, use that person.”
“No, I should be going as well.”
“But didn’t you say you were still deliberating when to depart?”
“I was, but I’ve decided to leave today.”
“Is it because I refused your request that you’re leaving so soon?”
“I can’t deny that. Heh heh heh.”
“I apologize.”
“Never mind. We’ll meet again next time.”
Shortly after, Yi Hwan stepped outside ahead of Gomi.
Gomi watched his receding figure, her brow furrowing slightly.
‘He was once so gentle… but he’s changed so much.’

* * *

“To the Southern Military Group.”
“Yes!”
Thud-thud-thud!
Yi Hwan settled into the passenger seat as they moved.
The Crown Prince’s messenger departed with the Appearance Sketch of the vagrant, heading back to the Imperial Palace.
Yi Hwan had also taken the Appearance Sketch.
Fashioned from Cha Jung Gyeong’s memories, it was so ordinary in appearance that he found himself wondering whether the Dongchang could actually track them down.
But for now, it was all they had to rely on.
“I’ll increase our speed!”
The moment they reached the Official Road, Song Hoe drove at full gallop.
Unlike other cities, the roads near the Imperial Capital had separate thoroughfares for horses and carriages—built long ago for the express purpose of swift troop movement in emergencies.
Thanks to this, even with crowds on the Official Road, they could maintain proper speed.
‘Should have stopped by, perhaps.’
Not meeting that “wretch’s” sister weighed on him. After all, he had taken the wretch’s body and his life—he owed them at least that much.
That was how Song Cheon Mu felt.

The Princess asked that you visit her before she passes.

‘Next time, then.’
Yi Hwan cast off the stray thoughts and closed his eyes.

* * *

“Daegwun!”
At Song Hoe’s voice, Yi Hwan’s eyes snapped open.
He must have been tired—he’d dozed off in the moving carriage. Looking around, he saw they’d already left the city and were heading south.
“Look ahead, sir.”
Yi Hwan spotted the crowd blocking the road and his brow furrowed.
Though they were still at some distance, he could see even the moles on their faces with startling clarity. The Yeongdan that Yi So had given him was indeed formidable.
Of course, he still wasn’t at perfect condition. At perfect condition, he would have heard their breathing.
‘The Geumui Guard again?’
Those blocking the road were Guard Officers of the Geumui Guard.
Perhaps twenty of them? Each was armed and making gestures toward the carriage to stop.
“Could they be bandits?”
“Geumui Guard.”
“You can identify them from this distance?”
“Stop the carriage.”
“Yes.”
Shortly after, the carriage came to a halt before the Guard Officers. One officer glanced at the Military Flag hanging on the carriage, then called out forcefully.
“State your affiliation!”
“Show proper respect! This is a Daegwun!”
“……!”
The Guard Officer flinched, then immediately bowed toward Yi Hwan.
“We greet you, Daegwun!”
“What is this about?”
“We’re pursuing a vicious criminal. We received intelligence that the criminal stole a carriage and is on the move, so we’re conducting a search!”
“The Geumui Guard handles such matters?”
“This criminal murdered two of the palace’s attendants, so all of the Geumui Guard is on high alert!”
“I see. Thank you for your diligence. Proceed.”
“Yes, Daegwun.”
Just as Song Hoe was about to crack the whip, the Guard Officer spoke up.
“If I may be so bold, would you permit us to inspect the carriage interior?”
Twitch.
Yi Hwan’s eyebrows bent into a sharp line.
Song Hoe’s indignation exploded first.
“Outrageous! How dare you suggest searching a Daegwun’s carriage!”
The Guard Officer didn’t even glance at Song Hoe, his gaze fixed solely on Yi Hwan. It was a posture that suggested Song Hoe wasn’t worth his attention.
As Song Hoe’s face reddened with fury, Yi Hwan unexpectedly gave his consent.
“You have my permission.”
“Thank you!”
At a gesture from the Guard Officer, the other officers approached and opened the carriage door. They then proceeded to verify Cheol Mu Ok’s credentials and those of his companions with meticulous care.
Yi Hwan watched the proceedings with an impassive expression.
It was then that Cheol Mu Ok’s voice reached him through Voice Transmission.
[Shall we just let this pass?]
[Leave it.]
[…….]
Bang!
The Guard Officer who had been inspecting the carriage’s interior shut the door with considerable force. He slammed it so hard that the entire carriage shuddered.
The captain of the detail approached.
“You may proceed now.”
Yi Hwan regarded him without expression. Most would have averted their gaze under such scrutiny, but this officer did not.
“How long have you served in the Geumui Guard?”
“Ten years as of this year.”
“Then it’s time you took a rest.”
“Sir?”
“Rest teaches a man the value of his work. See that you take a proper one.”
‘Is this man out of his mind?’
Yi Hwan folded his arms and closed his eyes.
“Move out.”
“Yes.”
The seeds of calamity had been sown.
For the Geumui Guard, it was the beginning of a cruel and harrowing nightmare.

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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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