The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 27

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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 Martial Emperor, Episode 27

Chapter 27 — The Yeongho Clan

Thud-thud-thud!
The guards watched Yi Hwan’s carriage recede in a cloud of dust, sneering as it went.
“Just as the rumors said. Not a shred of resistance — the man came along like a lamb. I wonder if he soiled his trousers.”
“Probably did.”
“Hahahaha!”
They all laughed loudly.
But their commander’s brow remained furrowed, silent.
‘What was that supposed to mean?’
Yi Hwan’s parting words — rest well — gnawed at him for reasons he couldn’t name.
“Let’s move out.”
The commander smoothed his expression and spoke.
“You said his last movements were traced to the Bamboo Forest?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then we head there.”
“To the Bamboo Forest!”
The guards wheeled about, riding in the opposite direction from Yi Hwan’s departure.
How long had they traveled? Suddenly the commander seized his chest and doubled over.
“Ugh!”
“What’s wrong, sir?”
Gush—
Blood poured from the corner of his mouth, and the guards cried out in alarm, rushing to support him.
“Get him to a physician, now! Hurry!”
“Yes, sir!”

* * *

‘He won’t be able to use his Internal Force for at least half a year.’
Yi Hwan sat with his eyes closed and arms crossed, a faint smile playing at his lips.
He had never intended to provoke the Golden Robes Guard into open conflict. But he had no wish to let them leave unscathed either.
And so, eager to test the far greater Internal Force he had gained through the Spirit Pill, he sent a thread of Invisible Energy flowing through the commander’s breathing into his core.
If he had sensed it, Yi Hwan would have failed. But since the man never felt a thing, success was absolute. By now, he would be writhing in agony.
Meanwhile, Song Hoe, who had been watching Yi Hwan, wore a puzzled expression.
‘To laugh after such an insult… In moments like this, he truly is like the Crown Prince of old….’
“Captain.”
“Yes?”
“We ride without rest until we reach the Southern Military Camp.”
“Will you be all right, sir?”
“Think of it as training.”
“Understood.”

* * *

The Southern Military Camp.
Contrary to expectations, no attack came from Zhao Kingdom’s forces.
If anything, the silence made the soldiers more uneasy. It was like the calm before a storm.
Hwang Ho doubled the sentries and, culling the most skilled warriors, sent them on endless reconnaissance into enemy territory.
When ten days had passed, Cheol Mu-ok’s reports had given the commanders confidence to dismiss Yi Hwan’s warning as paranoia.
“Masters of the Martial Realm coming here? Nonsense.”
“We were fools to believe him.”
“Since he’s gone, I hope he never comes back. I’m already sick of treating him like a Crown Prince.”
Yi Hwan had changed, but in the minds of many he remained the incompetent prince of old.
Then one day, visitors arrived at the Southern Military Camp. They had been sent by the Second Prince.

* * *

Peng Mu-wei sat across from a middle-aged man whose gaze was sharp as a blade’s edge.
The man spoke to him in a cold tone.
“Your superiors are deeply disappointed by the lack of progress.”
“They say even the hardest horn comes off easily if you soften it first, but I’ve only been here a matter of weeks. Are you telling me I should already be driving General Hwang out by force? Is that what you want?”
“There are many methods. Of course, it falls to you to find them.”
“I’m doing my best. Have patience. Besides, was that really the only reason you were sent here?”
“We were sent to assist you. Had they trusted you, there would be no need for us to come at all.”
Twitch.
Peng Mu-wei’s eyebrows flexed like caterpillars. He drained his hot tea in a single gulp.
Whoosh!
Bang!
“It’s crucial to win the soldiers’ hearts, but Zhao’s forces won’t attack us, so there’s no other way. Surely you don’t expect me to march against them first?”
“Then you must provoke them into attacking.”
“If it were as simple as you make it sound, anyone could do it! One misstep and we spark a full-scale war!”
Peng Mu-wei’s voice rose higher with each word, goaded by the man’s sneering attitude.
But the middle-aged man remained unmoved. His gaze only grew quieter, more settled.
“I hear the Zhao Kingdom’s Commander-in-Chief enjoys the protection of the Zhao royal house. Wouldn’t that make him all the more deserving of your attention? If you handle such a man skillfully, surely your superiors would be pleased.”
“Are you telling me to assassinate Zhao’s Commander-in-Chief?”
“I merely point out it is one option. I will find better methods for you. For now, continue as usual and focus on discovering General Hwang’s weaknesses.”
‘Damn this bastard.’
Peng Mu-wei was seething.
He knew who this man was—someone greatly favored by the Crown Prince, with exceptional martial skill and a reputation for cruelty.
Peng Mu-wei had shown him every respect, yet his demeanor grew more insufferable by the day.
“I’ll rest now. Good day.”
As the middle-aged man left, Peng Mu-wei forced down his rising rage and drained a cup of cold water.
Glug-glug!
Slam!
‘Damn it all! Three months? A year? It’s been barely a month and he’s already demanding progress. What does that inexperienced fool know about commanding an army?’
The face that materialized in Peng Mu-wei’s mind—Yi Tae-ji, the Crown Prince—was shredded like paper.
Just then, his adjutant entered.
“The young commander has returned.”
“Why should I care that he’s back? You know what to do—get out!”

* * *

Yi Hwan’s return to the barracks was greeted by Suksoo and the soldiers.
The barracks now held goods that hadn’t been there before. Dried fish hung in bunches from the kitchen rafters, and several sacks of rice were stacked against the wall.
Yi Hwan asked Suksoo.
“What is all this?”
“General Hwang said to take whatever we needed.”
“General Hwang did?”
“Yes. Beef will arrive soon as well—the General already asked that they bring your favorite cuts especially.”
‘What on earth is happening.’
“Wow! What is all of this?”
The men who followed him in let out gasps of wonder. While Yi Hwan’s resources had kept them from want, they’d never dreamed of seeing fish in this mountain wilderness.
‘Did the Crown Prince send word to treat me well?’
Yi Hwan went directly to his quarters. Even there, fruit was piled high—rare varieties that would have been difficult to procure in a military camp.
Chuckle.
‘My luck seems to be turning all of a sudden.’
Yi Hwan changed into fresh clothes and lay down on his bed. Perhaps because it was a familiar place, he felt an unexpected comfort, as though he’d come home.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, young commander.”
“Bring me that medicine the Crown Prince’s Palace sent before.”
Shortly after, Song Hoe entered with the medicine.
“It’s been left so long, I think we should simply discard it.”
“Have you ever taken Spirit Pills?”
“I wouldn’t dare presume. The only thing I’ve ever consumed was a few Haedong Ginseng roots.”
“Take one a day.”
“You mean this medicine here?”
“The Crown Prince’s Palace told me so. Said it wasn’t just medicine—it was a spirit pill that cultivates Internal Force.”
“……!”
Song Hoe’s eyes widened.
“If your Internal Force is strong enough, you’ll be able to master more powerful techniques. Just make sure you keep to the schedule, and practice the Heart Method alongside it.”
“Such a treasure should be for the Prince himself.”
“I already consumed one at the Crown Prince’s Palace. Spirit Pills don’t work better just because you eat more of them. Take too many and you’ll suffer the opposite effect instead. There’s no need to thank me for it.”
“……Thank you. Thank you, my lord.”
Song Hoe’s eyes reddened at the edges.
“I should wash up, so have some water heated.”
“Yes, sir!”
Sniff!
Watching Song Hoe finally shed tears, Yi Hwan suppressed an amused smile.
‘So he was a martial master at heart, after all.’

* * *

Early evening.
Yi Hwan gazed across the military camp as twilight settled, sipping from his teacup.
Somewhere along the way, he’d developed a habit of sitting outside the barracks, drinking tea and taking in the view. The elevated position offered a pleasant vista with considerable charm.
The only irritant was that the Peng Clan’s barracks lay directly in his line of sight. But the irritation was mutual—the Peng Clan felt it just as keenly.
Whenever he stepped outside to enjoy his tea, the Peng warriors made a point of not even glancing in his direction.
Whooosh!
A warmer breeze swept across the grounds, adding to the ambiance. Yi Hwan found himself savoring a rare moment of leisure.
Then he narrowed his brow slightly, catching sight of two White Robes Warriors emerging from the Peng Clan barracks.
‘I haven’t seen those two before.’
Though the distance was considerable, his enhanced Internal Force allowed him to see even the moles on their faces with perfect clarity.
‘Both of them are skilled.’
A strong aura of mastery radiated from them both. The middle-aged one on the left, in particular, struck Yi Hwan as no ordinary fighter.
“Were you waiting, my lord?”
Song Hoe and the others returned with the supplies.
“Has the Peng Clan received new reinforcements?”
“I heard from General Jeong earlier—the Second Prince’s faction sent more troops. Nearly a thousand soldiers arrived this time.”
“A thousand?”
“Yes, sir. After the recent battles, there have been considerable casualties. These troops were sent as replacements for those losses.”
‘So they’ve decided Peng Mu-wei alone isn’t sufficient?’

If the Southern Military Camp fell under the Second Prince’s command, even the forces in regions bordering the Zhao Kingdom would be affected……

Yi Hwan recalled Yi So’s words and smiled faintly.
‘Since I’ve decided to help, it won’t come to that, Your Highness.’

* * *

The next morning.
Yi Hwan went to find Hwang Ho.
“Welcome, my lord.”
“I heard a council was being held today, so I came by.”
“Yes, sir. They’ll all be arriving shortly. Though I must say, you look better with each passing day.”
“Just the result of idleness, I suppose.”
“Ha, what do you mean! Please, sit. I’ll prepare some tea.”
Yi Hwan and Hwang Ho conversed over their cups, touching on this and that.
After about an hour had passed, the commanders began filing in one by one.
Last came Peng Mu-wei, and unexpectedly, the middle-aged White Robes Warrior Yi Hwan had spotted the previous evening entered with him. Uniquely among those present, he wore martial robes rather than armor, just as Yi Hwan did.
No one questioned it.
“Let us begin the council.”
Hwang Ho opened the proceedings.
Yi Hwan crossed his arms and listened with his eyes closed. The contents proved unremarkable, and toward the end, Hwang Ho called upon the White Robes Warrior.
“Step forward.”
The White Robes Warrior rose quietly and moved to Hwang Ho’s side.
“First, offer your respects to the Prince.”
“Yeong Ho-chung requests an audience with the general.”
The White Robes Warrior Yeong Ho-chung bowed deeply, but Yi Hwan kept his eyes closed. He had already learned of Yeong Ho-chung’s identity through Hwang Ho.
After a brief moment, Yeong Ho-chung returned to his seat.
‘So the Yeongho Clan has fallen under his command as well.’
The Yeongho Clan, like the Peng Clan, had been one of the Five Great Clans two centuries ago when Yi Hwan ruled the world, and had earned its renown as one of the greatest noble houses.
That two of the Five Great Clans—which should have served as beacons for all other martial factions—had submitted to the Prince’s authority left Yi Hwan with a bitter taste in his mouth.
It was then.
“General!”
The camp’s attendant rushed in frantically. Before the commanders could bellow at him, Suksoo cried out.
“Disaster! You must go to the barracks at once!”
“What’s happened?”
“A fight has broken out!”
“I’ll investigate immediately!”
Song Hoe bolted from the tent. Yi Hwan turned to Suksoo.
“Who’s fighting whom?”
Suksoo glanced once at Yeong Ho-chung before answering.
“With the warriors who came as reinforcements this time…….”

* * *

A flicker crossed his brow.
Yi Hwan’s eyebrows narrowed sharp as blades.
The courtyard was drenched in blood. Inside, Cha Jung-gyeong gasped for breath, his body soaked crimson.
Song Hoe was wrapping cloth around his wounds, while Song Cheon-mu stood before him, breathing heavily, his jaw clenched in fury.
Cheol Mu-ok and Gongsun Tae were nowhere to be seen—they had gone to Market Street on an errand.
Yi Hwan turned to Song Cheon-mu.
“What happened?”
“We were sitting in the yard when some of the Peng Clan men passed by and sneered at us. Unable to bear it, we rushed at them, and…….”
“Were they from the Peng Clan, or the newly arrived men?”
“The newly arrived ones.”
Yi Hwan looked down at Cha Jung-gyeong.
Blood trickled steadily from his ribs and chest. It wasn’t life-threatening, but he wouldn’t be able to use his body properly for some time.
“Have you sent for the physician?”
“Yes, we’ve dispatched a soldier!”
“Press down hard until the bleeding stops.”
Yi Hwan turned to Song Cheon-mu.
“Come with me.”

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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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