The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 41

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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 – Episode 41

Chapter 41 – Operation Underway

Peng Wuwei stared down at the Appointment Document, his mind sinking into troubled thought.
He had achieved what he desired, yet he could not simply rejoice. Ying Hozhong and Mo Jaihuang stood in his way.
‘If the Crown Prince’s words are true, this is no matter I can leave unattended…….’
At that moment, his adjutant stepped into the tent.
“How goes what I instructed?”
“Over these past few days, the two of them have met six times total. Five of those meetings occurred late at night in Mo Jaihuang’s quarters. They’re together even now.”
A muscle twitched.
Peng Wuwei’s brow lifted slowly.
The adjutant continued his report.
“And it appears they are keeping watch on us.”
A muscle twitched.
“What? Watching us?”
“I observed several watchmen entering the woods. When I went to investigate, they had climbed into the trees and were monitoring our position. It began immediately after you returned from meeting the Crown Prince.”
“These damned fools…….”
Yi Huan’s words replayed in Peng Wuwei’s mind, and his eyes flared with rage.
The adjutant asked carefully.
“Is it true they harbor such treacherous thoughts?”
“I had hoped otherwise, but it seems they do. Why else would they watch me?”
“Isn’t that the Gold Robes Guard’s very purpose?”
“Did Mo Jaihuang watch Ying Hozhong?”
“That is…….”
Gulp after gulp.
Peng Wuwei drained the bottle and spoke, his gaze settling into cold calculation.
“Until I give further order, pretend you know nothing.”
“Yes, General.”
After the adjutant withdrew, Peng Wuwei finished the last of his drink and sank deep into his chair.
‘Ying Hozhong, that wretch must have egged him on. For years he strutted about proclaiming the Ying Ho Family superior to House Peng, yet now he must bow to my command. How it must gall him.’
In the Murim, the Hebei Peng Family and the Ying Ho Family stood shoulder to shoulder as two of the Five Great Families. Until mere years ago, their power remained so evenly matched that neither could claim superiority. But when Peng Wuwei received his Official Rank and was appointed Left General, the balance of power shattered.
By contrast, the Ying Ho Family—not a single one of them, Ying Hozhong included, had received any Official Rank—and thus were not even considered as candidates for the position of Commander of the Southern Army Corps.
‘Throughout the history of the Murim, House Peng has always stood supreme. But how am I to handle this matter?’
Killing Ying Hozhong would solve it cleanly. But if Mo Jaihuang caught on and reported it to the Crown Prince, everything would unravel—and the Peng Family itself might fall into peril.
‘Must I kill Mo Jaihuang as well?’
As Peng Wuwei’s mind twisted like a tangled knot, Yi Huan was sitting face to face with Jang Han, who had been sent from the Eastern Palace, while Cheol Muok looked on.

* * *

Yi Huan and Jang Han from the Eastern Palace sat across from each other. Cheol Muok positioned himself at Jang Han’s side and poured wine into Yi Huan’s cup.
The liquid trickled softly.
Jang Han’s gaze fixed on the Martial Garb laid out in one corner of the tent. Strangely, it was garb worn by warriors of the Zhao Kingdom.
A soft thud.
Yi Huan set down his empty cup and met Jang Han’s eyes directly.
“Do you know anything of Ying Hozhong?”
“Yes. Before coming here, I confirmed details through a trusted source.”
“If you attempt an Assassination, are you confident of success?”
“……Yes?”
Jang Han’s eyes widened.
“Don’t think of anything else—just tell me whether you’re confident or not.”
“If he were alone, it would not be difficult. But without just cause, I cannot obey even the Crown Prince’s command, no matter how direct.”
“I will give you the reason later. Think it over and answer again. This is no time for pride or self-respect.”
“Last year, I assassinated someone stronger than Ying Hozhong. I did not shed a single drop of blood in that task.”
His tone carried unmistakable pride.
“Good, then.”
Cheol Muok asked quietly.
“Will you kill Ying Hozhong?”
“No. I’m going to kill Mo Jaihuang.”
Jang Han’s eyes widened again.
“But he’s the Vice-Commander of the Gold Robes Guard. Why would you wish to kill him?”
“Have you forgotten the purpose the Eastern Palace sent you here for?”
“How could I ever forget such a thing?”
“That’s precisely why.”
……
Yi Huan drained his cup and continued.
“By now, Peng Wuwei must be plagued with doubt—wondering whether Ying Hozhong covets his position as Commander of the Southern Army Corps, whether he might strike from behind. He wants to kill Mo Jaihuang to remove the obstacle, yet fears the consequences. To leave him alive is unbearable. Hehehehe.”
Jang Han asked a question.
“If you mean to kill Mo Jaihuang, I’d like to understand why you asked whether I could kill Ying Hozhong.”
“Because Ying Hozhong is stronger than Mo Jaihuang. If you can kill him, then Mo Jaihuang will naturally be easier.”
……
This time, Cheol Muok spoke.
“Will you leave Ying Hozhong untouched?”
“He must be eliminated as well. But not by us—by Peng Wuwei. Entirely by the book, so no whispers follow.”
“Sir?”
“Previous Yueju is already in motion. I’ll explain the details later. For now, we remove only Mo Jaihuang today.”
Yi Huan fixed his gaze on Jang Han.
“Shouldn’t one be prepared to lay down his life for the Eastern Palace?”
“I am prepared to do so at any moment.”
“Then don’t ask for reasons—kill Mo Jaihuang. Once those men are gone, the Southern Army Corps won’t fall into Crown Prince’s hands. Understood?”
Jang Han met his eyes with fierce resolve.
“Is this truly for the Crown Prince?”
“Must I prove it to you?”
“Your word is enough, my lord.”
“I made a promise to the Eastern Palace—to prevent the Southern Army Corps from falling under Crown Prince’s control. That’s what I’m doing now. Of course, it serves me as well.”
Crunch.
Jang Han’s teeth pressed into his lower lip.
“I understand. I will obey your orders.”
“Simply killing him isn’t enough. Leave any suspicious trace, and I’ll kill you.”
“Understood.”

* * *

Whiiiing!
The night wind blew with considerable force.
Yi Huan stood atop the barracks roof, gazing down at the military encampment shrouded in darkness.
Cheol Muok joined him.
“Do you think he’ll succeed?”
“Without question.”
“You seem to have great faith in his abilities. Wouldn’t it be more certain if I moved now instead?”
“No need to worry. Unless my eyes deceive me, his skill at Assassination rivals yours.”
‘Surely not.’
It was then.
Whoosh!
Go Mi descended beside Yi Huan on the wind.
“I’ve placed the forged Letter in Mo Jaihuang’s quarters as you commanded.”
“Well done.”
“If I may ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
Go Mi posed the question.
“If something goes wrong, not only you but the Crown Prince himself could face grave trouble. I would venture to ask why you’ve drawn me into a matter of such magnitude.”
“Because I trust you. And your skills.”
……!
Go Mi’s eyes widened slightly.
“Is that all?”
“Did you need another reason?”
“No.”
“Mo Jaihuang dies tonight.”
“……!”
Go Mi’s head snapped up.
Her widened eyes glinted with both confusion and rage.
“Didn’t you say I could kill him myself?”
“Plans shift as they develop. Instead, I’ll leave the life and death of the Grand Commander in your hands later. After all, Mo Jaihuang only moves at the Grand Commander’s word—wouldn’t you say the true enemy is the Grand Commander himself?”
“The Grand Commander is nothing but a puppet. Most decisions made by the Gold Robes Guard stem from the will of the Vice-Commanders, and Mo Jaihuang has played the most critical role among them.”
“Is that so? This has become awkward.”
Yi Huan genuinely found himself in a bind.
He had inadvertently broken his promise to Go Mi, but he hadn’t mentioned the Grand Commander’s life to her beforehand because he’d thought offering that would solve the problem.
“I’ll withdraw now.”
Go Mi turned sharply to leave.
“I can trust you, yes?”
“Rest assured. Just because you’ve broken your word doesn’t mean I’ll reveal it. I’m the sort who keeps a promise once made, even unto death.”
The words seemed aimed at Yi Huan’s ears.
Once Go Mi had left, Cheol Muok spoke up.
“Will it be all right?”
“Are you about to suggest killing her again?”
“It’s unfortunate, but if she becomes a future liability……”
“Enough. She’s a woman worth trusting.”
Yi Huan’s gaze turned toward Mo Jaihuang’s quarters. The barracks were shrouded in pitch darkness, not a single torch lit around them.
Now that he thought of it, that was the only place without torches.
‘He needs to move about in secret each night gathering intelligence, so he can’t keep torches burning. Though I suppose I should be grateful.’
Whoosh!

* * *

Back in her quarters, Go Mi drained a bottle of wine she’d set aside.
Glug, glug!
“Speaking out of both sides of his mouth—a man more cunning than a snake!”
Glug, glug!
Her anger at Yi Huan wouldn’t fade.
Coming as it did when her affection for him had been rising, the betrayal and rage were doubly bitter.
‘He’s a man I must kill by my own hand. By my own……’
The cunning face of Mo Jaihuang surfaced in her mind. Then the final moments of the Previous Yueju, dying in her arms, pushed that image aside.
Crack!
The bottle shattered, its shards soaking her martial garb.
Bang!
A guard rushed in through the door in alarm.
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing at all.”
“…….”
The guard glanced at the scattered bottle fragments and withdrew.
Slam!
Still seething, Go Mi clenched her fists and stormed outside.
Her gaze fixed on where Yi Huan had been.
But Yi Huan had already gone.
Bang!
Furious, Go Mi kicked at the ground and spun away.
‘It was my mistake to trust a Crown Prince of the Huang family.’

* * *

“Jeong Cheon.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Where’s the ear cleaner?”
“On the table by your pillow.”
Yi Huan found the ear cleaner and cleaned his ears.
‘Someone’s cursing me.’

* * *

The next morning, the Gold Robes Guard erupted into chaos.
Mo Jaihuang had been discovered dead, his body already cold.
Yi Huan made his way there at a leisurely pace. As he walked, he spotted Peng Wuwei and Ying Hozhong rushing toward him in a panic.
Cheol Muok spoke up.
“Shouldn’t we secure the letter first?”
“Commander Jeong Cheon will already be there.”
“Ah, yes.”
When they reached the scene moments later, soldiers and guards had already gathered.
Yi Huan approached with a deliberately grave expression. Everyone bowed and stepped aside to make way.
Jeong Cheon emerged from the barracks just then, and he and Yi Huan exchanged a knowing glance.
“The work of Zhao Kingdom assassins again?”
“It appears so.”
Jeong Cheon extended what he held in his hand.
“There was a suspicious letter in Mo Jaihuang’s quarters.”
“What do you mean, suspicious?”
“See for yourself.”
Yi Huan took the letter from Jeong Cheon’s hands without hesitation. At that moment, Peng Wuwei and Ying Hozhong burst through.
“What in the world happened here?!”
Jeong Cheon answered in his stead.
“It seems the assassins of Zhao Kingdom have made their move.”
As he spoke, what Jeong Cheon presented was a small ornament meant to be worn on a sword hilt.
Both Peng Wuwei and Ying Hozhong’s eyes widened in shock. The ornament was identical to the one left behind by the Zhao Kingdom assassin who had killed Hwang Ho.
Yi Huan feigned surprise as well. Then he turned sharply to the guards in the Gold Robes Guard.
“How could your watch have been so lax that the Vice-Commander lay dead and no one discovered it until this morning?!”
……
Not a single person dared to lift their head.
“Commander Jeong.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Throw every one of these men into prison!”
“Understood.”
Soldiers rushed forward and dragged the guards away. Though a few resisted, Jeong Cheon personally subdued them.
Yi Huan fixed his gaze on Ying Hozhong.
The man stood blank and pale, staring only at Mo Jaihuang’s corpse beneath its cloth shroud.
“Your quarters were relatively close to Mo Jaihuang’s — you didn’t sense anything suspicious last night?”
“No. I sensed nothing at all.”
Yi Huan turned to Peng Wuwei.
Peng Wuwei answered with a startled expression.
“I knew nothing either.”
“The Commander’s quarters are far enough away that you wouldn’t be expected to know. That’s fine. But let’s speak privately for a moment.”
Yi Huan led Peng Wuwei some distance away and handed him the letter that Jeong Cheon had given him.
“Commander Jeong found this in Mo Jaihuang’s quarters.”
“What does the letter say?”
“Read it.”
Peng Wuwei unfolded the letter.
The moment his eyes went wide and his jaw clenched came in a flash.
Crackle!
“These bastards…….”
“We came close to disaster. Had we been even slightly slower, the letter would have reached the Crown Prince, and your appointment would have been revoked.”
Tremor—tremor……
Yi Huan watched Peng Wuwei shake with fury and spoke once more.
“Since your Appointment Document has been delivered, you are now officially Commander of the Southern Army Corps. As such, you must personally handle Ying Hozhong’s punishment. This will be your first act of authority — it must be carried out with the utmost severity.”
“Understood!”

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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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