The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 31

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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 Emperor — Episode 31

Chapter 31 — Pressure Peng Mu-wi

“What would you have us do now?”
After the crisis had passed, Hwang Ho turned to Yi Hwan with the question. It was a scene that spoke volumes about Yi Hwan’s altered standing.
But what answer did Yi Hwan offer?
“Let me think on it.”
…….

* * *

“You’re saying you used poison to make it look like natural death?”
“That’s right. From what I could tell, it was flawless. There’s no chance of it being discovered.”
“Master, you truly possess all manner of extraordinary skills, don’t you? I thought we were facing a real crisis — but to finish it so decisively with a single stroke… remarkable.”
Smack!
“Ow!”
“Our master — naturally, he must be equal to such tasks.”
Chul Mu-ok, having rapped Gong-son Tae on the head, satisfied his hunger with the freshly prepared meal.
Hwang Ho had provided the finest meats and fish to Yi Hwan’s quarters, and the cook had fashioned them into an exquisite spread.
Yi Hwan dined in his chambers with Song Cheon-mu.
“The security must have been extraordinary. How on earth did you manage it?”
“The one who became general through backchannels had martial prowess that fell short of my expectations. So there was nothing particularly difficult about it.”
“Please, master — just explain how you did it? The company commander is dying of curiosity.”
“Eat your rice.”
…….
“And mind you — not a word of this leaks out. There may be enemy spies within the camp. Pour me some wine.”
“Yes.”
Glug-glug.
After draining his cup, Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and drank cold water.
“You’ve finished already?”
“Eating too much dulls the senses with fullness. So you too should cultivate the habit of eating in moderation.”
“Commanders naturally eat heartily. They believe their strength comes from their appetite — they hold it as gospel. And moving constantly through the harsh camp, a man’s belly empties quickly.”
“Suit yourself.”
Yi Hwan rose and crossed into the adjoining room, where Gun-ui was tending to Cha Jung-gyeong.
“How is he?”
“Fortunately, the medicine has taken well and the internal injuries have largely healed. The external wounds are the concern — he should abstain from exertion and focus on recovery for some time.”
Yi Hwan looked down at Cha Jung-gyeong.
Cha Jung-gyeong made a show of being fine.
“I’m well enough, sir.”
“Control yourself. Learn to read people better too. Had your opponent been a true enemy, you’d be dead already.”
“Yes.”
“See that he’s cared for properly.”
“Yes, commander.”
Having given his instructions to Gun-ui, Yi Hwan stepped outside. Song Cheon-mu, just finishing his meal, approached him.
“Shall I prepare tea?”
“Good.”
Yi Hwan settled into his favored chair and gazed across toward the Peng Family Quarters. Smoke curled there too from the preparation of the evening meal.

The trust of warriors is paramount.

Yi Hwan recalled Hwang Ho’s words and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
‘Peng Mu-wi has already lost the men’s confidence. If he falls, another will take his place — likely someone stronger than Peng.’
Peng Mu-wi had made mistakes in several operations already. True, yesterday he had held off pursuing enemies and saved many warriors — earning merit. But that luster had faded under the brilliant exploits of Chul Mu-ok and Gong-son Tae.
‘Whoever comes, so long as I stand, they haven’t a chance.’
Having committed himself to aiding Yi So, Yi Hwan harbored no intention of taking this lightly.
Shortly after, Song Cheon-mu returned with the tea. At that same moment, Chul Mu-ok and Gong-son Tae emerged from their meal.
“Commander.”
“Yes, General.”
“Starting today, we’ll intensify training—both for you individually and for the Dragon-Tiger Army. Chul Mu-ok will assist you.”
“Understood.”
“Everyone, have some tea.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”

* * *

Young Ho-chung watched Yi Hwan and the others through the window, his gaze hardening. His eyes lingered on the faces of Chul Mu-ok and Gong-son Tae without wavering.
He remained deeply unsettled by the pair.
‘They’re not officers of the Southern Army Corps. Yet if I call them martial artists… when did the General acquire subordinates like these? They never appeared in any intelligence report.’
And equally troubling was Yi Hwan himself.
The Yi Hwan that Young Ho-chung had come to observe was a different man entirely from the one he had heard of through intelligence and rumor.
Though he had yet to witness Yi Hwan’s Martial Prowess firsthand, the character he had revealed since the clash between his subordinates was not merely cold—it bordered on cruelty.
‘The Crown Prince treats the General with utter contempt. And yet….’
Young Ho-chung felt a strong premonition that this was wrong. For that reason, he had already sent a dispatch to the Crown Prince cautioning him to be wary of Yi Hwan.
And there was one more thing.
‘As Left Commander, I can never surpass Hwang Ho. If I am to carry out their lordships’ will, I will need someone far superior to come.’
This too had been written in the dispatch.
‘First, I must discover the true nature of those two men. If by any chance they were placed with the General by the Crown Prince, then every plan must be remade from the beginning.’
As Young Ho-chung’s mind grew increasingly tangled, his aide opened the door and entered.
“The Commander of Zhao Kingdom is dead, sir. That sudden withdrawal yesterday was likely because of this.”
“What? The Commander is dead?”
“Yes. I overheard officers discussing it just now as I passed by the command center.”
Young Ho-chung furrowed his brow.
“It’s remarkably convenient timing for a death.”
“Indeed, sir. Had the Commander of Zhao Kingdom not died, the situation would have become quite grave.”
“Did you learn the cause of death?”
“I was unable to hear that much, sir.”
“Then you must make an effort to find out.”
“Understood.”
After the aide left, Young Ho-chung donned his outer robe and stepped outside. As he turned to leave, he caught Yi Hwan looking toward him.
Young Ho-chung quickly averted his gaze. Moments later, he found himself seated across from Peng Mu-wi.
“How are you feeling?”
“It’s only a light graze—don’t concern yourself.”
Peng Mu-wi had sustained a minor wound in yesterday’s battle, an injury obtained by pushing himself too hard in an attempt to display his Martial Prowess before all eyes.
But the overwhelming impression left by Chul Mu-ok and Gong-son Tae had rendered his efforts worthless, leaving Peng Mu-wi deeply discontented.
Young Ho-chung studied Peng Mu-wi, whose emotions lay bare on his face, and narrowed his eyes.
‘Clearly, this man does not have the capacity to lead the Southern Army Corps. So why does the Crown Prince regard him as Hwang Ho’s successor?’
It was then.
“Commander.”
Peng Mu-wi’s adjutant entered.
“What is it?”
“The General wishes to see you.”
“Again!”
Bang!
The teacup overturned, soaking Young Ho-chung’s robe.
Young Ho-chung started at Peng Mu-wi’s violent reaction. For someone unaware of the recent events, it was certainly unexpected.
‘What is wrong with this man?’

* * *

“Have you found it?”
“I wanted to have a cup of tea with you.”
“As I mentioned before, the Commandant has given up tea.”
“I thought you said your stomach wasn’t well then?”
“I’ve quit entirely now.”
“Is that so? Then perhaps some cold water instead.”
“What brings you to seek out the Commandant, sir?”
“Nothing urgent. I saw your exceptional martial skill yesterday and was deeply impressed. I thought we might share some conversation, so I summoned you. Is it perhaps an inconvenient time on my part?”
“The commander is rather busy at the moment, I’m afraid.”
“Is that so? Then there’s no help for it. You’d best be on your way.”
“……!”
“The General is occupied. Open the door for him.”

* * *

Bang!
The door swung open violently.
The tea had barely cooled when Peng Mu-wi returned, and Young Ho-chung’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why are you back so soon?”
Bang! Bang!
Without answering, Peng Mu-wi suddenly began striking the table with his fist, and Young Ho-chung shot to his feet.
“General! What’s the matter!”
“The bastard! I’ll kill him no matter what—prince or not!”
Bang, bang, bang!

* * *

“He seems to have worked himself into quite a state.”
“My, he’s wrecking the place entirely.”
Song Cheon-mu and Gong-son Tae gazed toward the Peng Family Quarters, sipping their tea with leisurely calm.
“I wonder what reason the General has for pressing Peng Mu-wi so hard?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. I’m curious myself.”
Just then, Yi Hwan’s voice drifted out from within.
“Are you going to loaf about?”
“Yes! I was just about to head to the training grounds!”
“Go!”

* * *

Crown Prince’s Palace.
The Crown Prince Yi So, recovered enough to walk for short stretches, tilted his teacup in the artificially constructed garden of the palace.
Longjing Tea was what he habitually favored.
Clink.
“The Second Prince’s faction has seized control of the tea market, I hear?”
“Yes. The Song Family has suffered considerable losses as a result.”
“Indeed, they must have. However strong they are, they cannot hope to compete with a rival backed by the Empress and the Second Prince. The princess must be having a difficult time of it.”
“…….”
Yi So released a quiet sigh and asked of other matters.
“How do affairs proceed in the Southern Army Corps?”
“General Hwang has just sent a dispatch.”
The attendant handed Yi So the dispatch. Yi So opened it at once.
As Yi So read through the dispatch, his expression grew steadily brighter, and soon a smile played across his lips.
“Good news?”
“The boy has accomplished something truly remarkable.”
“You mean the General?”
“Yes. Would you like to read it?”
Yi So handed the dispatch to the attendant. Upon reading it, the attendant’s face blanched with shock.
“I can scarcely believe it even after seeing it. The General killed the Zhao Kingdom’s Chief Inspector…….”
“I myself find it difficult to accept. Killing the Chief Inspector is remarkable enough, but what truly astonishes me is that he conceived such a thought even in that desperate moment.”
“Indeed.”
“This matter must be kept in absolute secrecy. If word reaches the other side, they may seize upon it as grounds for slander.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And now the Young Family has joined the Second Prince’s faction as well—a troubling development. I’m told the master of that house commands formidable martial arts and a mind as cunning as a serpent’s.”
“A concern equally grave is the rumor that the Geumui Guard intends to send its intelligence officers to the Southern Army Corps. Should they aid Peng Mu-wi with their information network, General Hwang could find himself in serious peril. Perhaps we should dispatch our own agents skilled in information warfare to counter them?”
“Who among our people would be capable of such work?”
“Send Bi-weol. With the Moon Division and Go-mi’s abilities, they should be more than equal to the Geumui Guard.”
“Bi-weol, you say…….”
Yi So furrowed his brow, then rose to his feet.
“I need to walk.”
Yi So got up and strolled through the garden, where exotic flowers and rare grasses bloomed in profusion. The general followed quietly behind him.
Yi So walked in silence for some time.
The general merely kept pace, his eyes fixed on Yi So’s receding figure.
How long had they walked like this?
Yi So stopped and turned around.
“Send Bi-weol to the Southern Army Corps. Tell him to depart today without delay. Of course, I’d prefer a select few, including the Moon Division.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll convey the message at once.”
The general left the garden.
Yi So settled onto a rock, exhaled a long breath, and murmured to himself.
“So you’ve truly been hiding your strength all this time? Had I known you possessed such ability, I would never have left you there until now.”
The image that came to his mind was Yi Hwan. A smile spread across his lips.

How could he allow himself to be manipulated by a pack of jackals?

“No. I will not lose.”

* * *

As evening fell, Jeong Cheon visited Yi Hwan’s quarters.
He brought a dispatch from the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Yi Hwan opened it slowly and read through its contents. Near the end, his brow tightened almost imperceptibly.
‘Bi-weol is coming?’
That’s what it clearly said, accompanied by an instruction to use them well.
“General Hwang has also been informed?”
“No, sir. This dispatch came addressed to you alone—how could I presume to show it to him?”
Only then did Yi Hwan notice: the silk wrapping bore his own name, not Hwang Ho’s.
It was a clear sign of his changing status, though Yi Hwan gave it little thought.
‘I’ve seen it all now.’
Jeong Cheon spoke.
“Forgive me, but might I ask what the dispatch contains?”
“Read it yourself.”
Jeong Cheon unfolded the dispatch Yi Hwan handed him. As his eyes moved down the page, his expression gradually hardened.
“The Crown Prince is sending the Geumui Guard here? There’s little they can accomplish on the front lines.”
“To orchestrate schemes from the shadows, one needs intelligence. That’s only natural.”
“Then why not send the Eastern Watch instead? I don’t understand why Bi-weol is being deployed—they’re merely a subordinate division of two agencies.”
“There must be a reason for it. In any case, Bi-weol is well versed in covert operations, so we may as well trust them. Besides, they’re at odds with the Geumui Guard, so they’ll work all the harder.”
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and asked something else.
“What of Zhao Kingdom?”
“Zhao observes the custom of holding funeral rites for ten days when a general of the highest rank or above falls. For now, we needn’t worry.”
“Still, they could launch a counterattack. Never lower your guard. Those folk are always underhanded.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“It’s late. You should go.”
“Rest well, my lord.”
After Jeong Cheon left, Yi Hwan sank deeper into his chair and smiled faintly to himself.
The image of Go-mi came to mind—Go-mi who had spoken of public and private duty before him, refusing his request firmly.
‘This should be interesting.’

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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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