The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 42

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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 42

Chapter 42 — Who Is the True Commander of the Southern Army Legion?

The night before, Go Mi examined the letter she had written herself and nodded with satisfaction.
“Perfect.”
Beside her letter lay another, written by Mo Jae Hwang and bearing his seal.
Remarkably, her own handwriting mirrored his so closely that even the seal was executed with such precision that it was impossible to distinguish from the original.

I humbly submit the following.
After observing Left General Peng Wu Wei, I have determined that his temperament is hasty, his judgment lacks cold clarity, and his capacity to lead falls far short of what the office of Commander demands. The Clan Head of the Young Ho Family concurs with this assessment, and… [rest omitted].

* * *

The inauguration ceremony for the new Commander took place under Jung Cheon’s direction.
Given the tense atmosphere pervading the military camp, the ceremony was kept brief, and Peng Wu Wei immediately convened a gathering of the senior commanders.
Young Ho Chung was among those present.
As he was about to leave once the ceremony concluded, Peng Wu Wei called him back to his seat.
“I offer my sincere congratulations on your assumption of the office of Commander.”
“Congratulations, Commander!”
As the pleasantries drew to a close, Lee Hwan entered. Everyone rose from their seats to receive him.
“Please be seated, Dae Gun.”
Peng Wu Wei personally guided Lee Hwan to his place.
All present could not hide their astonishment.
There was no one who did not know that Peng Wu Wei had always harbored a quiet contempt for Lee Hwan. Yet here he was, suddenly displaying such courtesy — it was impossible not to be taken aback.
Young Ho Chung stared at Peng Wu Wei with a look of incomprehension. But Peng Wu Wei did not return his gaze.
Once Lee Hwan took his seat, Cheol Mu Ok stood behind him. With Song Hoe occupied with intensive training, Cheol Mu Ok accompanied Lee Hwan to most formal gatherings.
Peng Wu Wei fixed his eyes on Lee Hwan.
At Lee Hwan’s slight nod, Peng Wu Wei pointed to Young Ho Chung and commanded loudly:
“Seize that man!”
“Yes, sir!”
The warriors of the Peng Family seized both of Young Ho Chung’s arms. Young Ho Chung cried out in shock.
“Why are you doing this, General!”
The other commanders, equally bewildered, could offer no explanation.
“We shall determine the full circumstances later. For now, throw him in the dungeon!”
“……!”
At this sudden, thunderbolt pronouncement, Young Ho Chung wrenched free from the Peng Family warriors gripping his arms and surged to his feet. The warriors stumbled backward.
Crash!
Young Ho Chung’s hand flew to his sword energy as if to draw it at once. “Throw me in the dungeon? What is this treachery, Left General!”

Ring-ring-ring!
The commanders seated to Young Ho Chung’s left and right leapt up and drew their blades.
“Lower your swords!”
Young Ho Chung paid them no mind and fixed his gaze solely on Peng Wu Wei.
Then Lee Hwan spoke, his voice cold as winter frost.
“Daring to defy the Commander’s order and stir up a disturbance — you must have a death wish. Mu Ok, subdue him.”
“Yes, Dae Gun.”
Cheol Mu Ok stepped forward and drew his blade.
Shring.
“Dae Gun! I am innocent of any wrongdoing! What crime have I committed that warrants imprisonment!”
“The particulars of your guilt can be determined later. Now lower your sword and kneel, Young Ho Chung.”
“Not until I understand the reason!”
Young Ho Chung refused to yield.
‘You are playing this perfectly, Young Ho Chung.’
Lee Hwan smiled inwardly while keeping his expression stern.
“If you will not obey a military order, punishment shall be administered here and now. Mu Ok.”
“Yes, Dae Gun.”
“Sever his head.”
“Understood.”

* * *

Ring!
Young Ho Chung drew his sword and burst through the barracks wall, hurtling outside.
Crack!
Bang!
‘This is a conspiracy! Peng Wu Wei—that man has conspired with the Dae Gun to kill me!’
In that instant, it occurred to Young Ho Chung that Mo Jae Hwang might have fallen not to Zhao’s assassins, but to Lee Hwan and Peng Wu Wei.
Young Ho Chung ran toward the barracks with desperation. Fighting alongside the warriors of the three families there was the last choice left to him.
‘I cannot die here. I’ll find a way out. I have to reach the Crown Prince and tell him everything!’
That was when Cheol Mu Ok dropped down directly into Young Ho Chung’s path.
Whoosh!
‘How did he reach here so quickly…!’
Young Ho Chung’s eyes widened in shock.
But he had no time to be shocked.
Flash!
The swordwork of the Young Ho Family, forged into the One Unified Strike, had once been called the Finest Under Heaven.
Young Ho Chung’s blade cut through the air like lightning, aiming for Cheol Mu Ok’s waist.
Yet Cheol Mu Ok brushed aside his incoming attack with ease.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
A sharp cry accompanied the thunderous sound.
Having blocked the strike, Cheol Mu Ok swung his sword down at Young Ho Chung with fierce momentum.
Whooom!
Young Ho Chung barely managed to withstand the blow, but the immense internal force behind it sent him staggering backward.
“Cough!”
Blood trickled.
A thin line of blood ran from the corner of Young Ho Chung’s mouth.
His organs had twisted violently, and he had taken internal injuries.
‘This cannot be….’
Cheol Mu Ok pressed forward again. Young Ho Chung threw all his remaining strength into blocking his blade.
Crash!
“Hack!”
Another cry escaped him as he was driven backward. In that moment, Cheol Mu Ok used the edge of his sword energy to strike Young Ho Chung’s chest with full force.
Thud!
“Argh!”
It was over.
Young Ho Chung flew through the air, spraying blood with a final, wretched cry—and by cruel chance, he landed directly before Peng Wu Wei.
“Gur… I… I did nothing wrong… Gur…!”
Young Ho Chung looked up at Peng Wu Wei, his lips quivering. A warrior from the Peng Family brought a great sword to Peng Wu Wei’s side.
As Peng Wu Wei gazed down at Young Ho Chung, a flicker of conflict crossed his eyes.
[It is time to display the authority of a commander.]
Lee Hwan’s telepathic communication swept away the hesitation instantly.
“Vain greed brings you to your end, Young Ho Chung.”
Thud!
The severed head fell limp to the ground.
Tears of blood ran down cheeks not yet closed to the world.

* * *

Jung Cheon and Go Mi sat across from Lee Hwan. Go Mi’s expression remained cold as ever.
Jung Cheon spoke.
“What shall we do with the warriors of the Golden Armor Guard and the Young Ho Family? They could become a source of trouble. Would it not be wise to eliminate them when the opportunity arises?”
“Out of the question.”
Lee Hwan replied at once.
“Should we remove them as well, the Crown Prince’s faction will grow suspicious. That is why I have prepared a separate stratagem. Do not act rashly.”
“What stratagem have you prepared, sir?”
“In any organization, there are always those driven by great ambition.”
Lee Hwan spoke while holding Go Mi’s gaze.
Go Mi continued where he left off.
“As you instructed, I’ve identified one person each from the Young Ho Family Clan and the Golden Armor Guard and had them passed along to General Peng. According to our investigation, these are men who would view their superiors’ deaths as a ladder to advancement rather than a tragedy.”
‘Her anger hasn’t cooled one bit.’
Lee Hwan found himself grimacing inwardly at Go Mi’s frigid tone.
On one hand, he understood perfectly well the depth of her hatred for Mo Jae Hwang. Without that fury burning inside her, she would never have dared speak to him this way.
“You’ve done well.”
Jung Cheon asked, taken aback.
“You’ve prepared all of this already?”
“I couldn’t afford to do this halfheartedly.”
“Ha.”
Jung Cheon made a sound that was neither gasp nor laugh. Yet what moved beneath the surface was pure admiration.
‘The strategy was meticulous and flawless. I was still marveling at it when I realized he’d prepared every contingency perfectly as well.’
Lee Hwan took a sip of tea before continuing.
“Those two will assume Young Ho Chung’s and Mo Jae Hwang’s roles in their stead. Not knowing the truth, they’ll be jubilant—after all, a man from their own faction has become Commander. And since each now leads his own contingent, the fear of losing that position will ensure they send no suspicious reports to the Crown Prince. The official record of this incident will be filed exactly as we wish, naturally.”
“Then we needn’t worry about the Crown Prince sending someone new?”
“That’s precisely why we let them live.”
“Ha.”
Jung Cheon made that strange sound again.
Then suddenly his eyes grew red.
“Why didn’t you show your true face from the beginning? If you had, General Hwang would have been overjoyed.”
It seemed he was thinking of Hwang Ho.
Watching him, Lee Hwan too found Hwang Ho’s dying face surfacing in his mind.
It was then that Go Mi spoke.
“Have you sent a letter to the Crown Prince?”
“That should be Wol Ju’s work.”
“Me?”
“My writing is terrible. Every time I pick up a brush, I butcher the propriety. Would you mind doing it?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t make me sound like a fool.”
“If you’d like to review it, I’m happy to——”
“I’m joking.”

* * *

Peng Wu Wei sat across from Bu Jang.
Despite the tragedy that had occurred, Bu Jang wore a broad smile.
“My congratulations, General. You’ve finally become Commander of the Southern Army Legion.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Forget Young Ho Chung and Mo Jae Hwang. Frankly, they were obstacles to the path you wish to walk. Their deaths are regrettable, but isn’t it ultimately for the best?”
“Even so, I never expected them to attempt such treachery. If Dae Gun hadn’t been here, I’d have fallen right into their trap.”
Glug.
Bu Jang poured wine into Peng Wu Wei’s cup and continued.
“I confess I was worried about Dae Gun and General Jung Cheon, but when they came forward so cooperatively, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. It seems even those two cannot resist the lure of a Commander’s power.”
“That’s exactly why the upper echelon values this position.”
Peng Wu Wei nodded in agreement.
Bu Jang asked.
“Then you intend to keep Dae Gun and General Jung Cheon in the Southern Army Legion?”
“Dae Gun provided the greatest assistance in eliminating those treacherous dogs. It’s only right that I keep him here with due respect. All of you must learn to honor him as well from now on.”
“Understood. And what of General Jung Cheon?”
“That one, I need to think about. Though he did take the lead in helping with this matter, having him here where he commands such absolute loyalty from the officers… I’m not entirely comfortable with it.”
“But didn’t he come to you bowing his head first? Why not simply keep him at your side and make use of him? Honestly, there’s no general in the Southern Army Legion quite like him. If he’s seen supporting the Commander, it could greatly help you secure the hearts of the soldiers.”
“You’re right. There may be merit to that.”
It was at that moment.
“Commander, General Jung Cheon has come to see you.”
“Speak of the tiger and it appears.”
Peng Wu Wei drained his cup and announced in a deliberately grave voice.
“Show him in!”
A moment later, Jung Cheon entered.
“This is a classified document recording everything in the military camp. And this—though modest—I offer as a token of congratulation. I would be grateful if you would accept it.”
Several thick documents and a bottle of wine wrapped in silk.
Peng Wu Wei’s expression turned uncertain.
He had not anticipated Jung Cheon would go this far.
“Thank you, General Jung.”
“Once again, my sincere congratulations. As for myself, I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave now. Please rest at your ease.”
As Jung Cheon withdrew, Peng Wu Wei broke into a broad grin, as though he had never harbored a moment’s doubt.
“That’s right. One cannot simply cast out the finest commander in the Southern Army Legion.”
“A most wise decision!”

* * *

Jung Cheon’s face contorted the moment he stepped out of Peng Wu Wei’s war room, twisted as if he had bitten into something bitter.
He spat.
He spat again and again as he made his way back to the barracks, and in his mind echoed the words Lee Hwan had spoken.

A single bow would settle everything.

Had it not been for Lee Hwan’s counsel, Jung Cheon would never have bent his neck even with a blade at his throat.
He drew a long, deep breath.
A moment later, he stopped in his tracks. In the pen where the war horses were kept, a single white horse stood motionless, robbed of all spirit.
Bereft of its master, the white horse stood apart from the herd, solitary and forlorn.
It was Hwang Ho’s beloved steed.
His throat tightened.
His eyes reddened in an instant, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
‘Have no fear. Dae Gun will protect the Southern Army Legion. And I shall devote all my strength to serving Dae Gun.’

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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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