The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 46

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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 46

Chapter 46 — The Road to My Sister’s House (1)

The Southern Army was seized by the spirit of festival.
Pushing the Zhao Army back two hundred li from their rear—an enemy they had fought as bitterly as sworn adversaries—was the most glorious victory in the Southern Army’s history.
When word spread that Yi Hwan had orchestrated the peace talks, he transformed overnight from merely a commander into something far greater: a figure of awe to the entire garrison.
Yet in the midst of this general fervor, Yi Hwan found himself receiving an unexpected visitor.

* * *

Baek Po In, a man in his late thirties, sat across from Yi Hwan.
Song Cheon Mu took a seat beside him. Baek Po In was an emissary from Song Cheon Mu’s family.
As Baek Po In spoke, Song Cheon Mu’s expression grew progressively darker. His clenched jaw and quivering eyes betrayed barely restrained fury.
Yi Hwan gazed at Song Cheon Mu with studied composure while attending carefully to Baek Po In’s words.
Baek Po In was recounting the plight of his employer’s household, and the news was deeply troubling.
Throughout the account, the face of his sister drifted continually through Yi Hwan’s mind. Though not a drop of blood connected them, she was the one whom this body’s former owner had cherished above all else—and he could not help but feel the stirring of emotion.
When Baek Po In finally finished speaking, he released a heavy sigh and bowed his head.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Baek Po In and asked quietly.
“How is my sister?”
“Her Ladyship is chiefly concerned that Your Highness might take this to heart.”
She worries about what I should be worrying about?
A strange, wrenching sensation seized him. Yi Hwan fell silent, fingering his teacup absently.
Clink. Clink.
‘In the end, it all comes back to Yi Hwang Ja.’
The essence of Baek Po In’s message was that the Song Family risked utter collapse—they stood at the brink of catastrophe, and the architect of their ruin was a rival faction backed by Yi Hwang Ja’s influence.
He had gathered as much when his brother-in-law visited before, learning that they were using Yi Hwang Ja’s backing as a cudgel against the Song clan. Yet he had not anticipated the situation would spiral to such depths.
Clink.
The sound of the teacup trembling in his grip deepened the weight of silence. How long had he sat this way?
“You’ve traveled far and must be weary. Rest now. Cheon Mu, see to his lodging.”
“Yes.”
Once Song Cheon Mu and Baek Po In had departed, Yi Hwan sank deep into his chair, allowing his gaze to grow cold and distant.
His sister’s face returned to his mind.
Since he had begun this new life in this body, she was the one whom his conscience had most persistently troubled him.
‘When I think about it, I’ve essentially stolen the life of the Crown Prince. If that’s true, shouldn’t I at least uphold the bare minimum of human duty?’
Yi Hwan had never thought of himself as a hero or a righteous swordsman. He had struck down the Fiend not out of heroism or righteousness, but for his own purposes.
Yet he had always held fast to one principle: never to betray his duty to others.
“Mu Ok.”
Chul Mu Ok entered.
“Find Wol Ju and tell him I wish to see him. Bring Commander Song as well.”
“Understood.”
A short time later, Go Mi entered.
“You called for me?”
“Sit.”
Once Go Mi had settled, Yi Hwan spoke without preamble.
“I’ve heard that organizations like the Bronze Guard and the Geum Yi Wei have craftsmen capable of creating a Face Mask of Human Skin. Does Bi Wol have one?”
“Yes. We have one here now. Given the nature of our work, we must create these masks constantly, so we always bring a skilled artisan when we deploy for extended operations. But why would you ask……”
“I need to have a Face Mask of Human Skin made. For myself.”
“……You mean a Face Mask of Human Skin for Your Highness?”
Go Mi’s eyes widened in surprise.
As Yi Hwan nodded solemnly, Song Hoe entered.
“You summoned me?”
“Sit.”
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you.”

* * *

The following morning, Yi Hwan fell suddenly ill.
Word from the camp was that it was merely the aftereffects of wounds sustained in a recent battle, and he refused all visitors until his recovery was complete.
Deputy Commander Song Hoe and Chul Mu Ok left the camp on Yi Hwan’s errand, while Song Cheon Mu obtained special leave to return to his hometown.

* * *

Several days later.
Thud-thud-thud!
Five riders and their horses thundered across the Official Road leading to the Imperial Capital.
After riding until evening, the five drew their mounts into the Market Street of a city.
An unusually thick haze of yellow dust hung in the air, and most of the people moving through the streets had wrapped cloth around their faces. The five riders did the same.
“Head for that place.”
“Yes.”
They entered an inn on Market Street.
“Welcome!”
“A quiet room, if you please.”
“Why, we’ve just had one become available! Follow me, honored guests!”
All of them followed the innkeeper up to the second floor.
“You seem to have traveled from quite a distance?”
“Just show us the way.”
“……Yes.”
Shortly after, they entered a spacious room. Once the innkeeper had taken their order and withdrew, all five unwound the cloth that had covered their faces.
To everyone’s surprise, the group consisted of Chul Mu Ok and Song Cheon Mu, Baek Po In from the Song Family, and two others—a man and a woman.
Chul Mu Ok turned to the man who resembled him and asked.
“Isn’t it stifling?”
“If I appear somewhere other than the Southern Army when I should be there, it would cause problems. I’ll have to get used to it.”
The man was Yi Hwan.
And the woman was Go Mi. She had found it suffocating and removed her Face Mask of Human Skin.
“Phew!”
“For Wol Ju of Bi Wol to be unable to endure this much.”
“I’ll wear it again once we leave the inn.”
“Adapt to it the way you’ve adapted to your face. We have quite a lot to do ahead.”
“…….”
Go Mi drank cold water in silence.
Yi Hwan gazed at her and smiled thinly.
“You seem quite dissatisfied with traveling alongside me.”
“Wol Ju of Bi Wol holds a public position. Therefore, it is not fitting to involve myself in the Crown Prince’s private affairs. However.”
What followed was spoken through Transmission Voice.
[If this is a path for the sake of the Crown Prince, I will follow. Though I have yet to understand how moving for the head of the Song Family is for the sake of the Crown Prince.]
[You’ll understand soon enough.]
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to Song Cheon Mu.
As their eyes met, Song Cheon Mu bowed his head. He was deeply moved that Yi Hwan had stepped forward for his family’s sake.
As for Baek Po In, there was nothing to say.
Yi Hwan turned back to Go Mi and spoke.
“When might the information be ready?”
“Once we enter the Imperial Capital and begin investigation in earnest, it should be possible within four days.”
“Once you begin investigating, you’ll understand who this is truly for. So look into it as thoroughly as you can.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan moistened his throat with cold water.
Chul Mu Ok spoke up.
“I worry whether the Deputy Commander can properly fill the role of the Crown Prince. Imitating his voice exactly won’t be easy at all.”
“If we say his voice changed as an aftereffect following his illness these past days, there will be no problem.”
“Ah…….”
Chul Mu Ok slapped his knee.
He had not thought that far ahead.
Shortly after, the ordered food arrived, and they began their meal.

* * *

Song Hoe gazed at his reflection in admiration, running his hand over his face.
“How can it be so perfect? Anyone would take him for the Crown Prince.”
The Face Mask of Human Skin was flawless.
Every wrinkle at the corners of the eyes when smiling, every blemish—all rendered to perfection.
Click.
The door opened and Gong Sun Tae entered.
“Paeng Mu Wei has sent another messenger, sir?”
“Damned nuisance.”
“Well, they must be worried about the Prince. What will you do? Send them away again?”
“If I stay bedridden much longer, it’ll only breed more trouble. I’d better show my face now, just to settle things.”
“Are you confident you can pass yourself off as the Prince?”
“Ahem! Worth a try.”
Song Hoe dressed himself in Yi Hwan’s clothes and cleared his throat several times before mimicking his master’s voice.
“I’m grateful for your concern. Ahem! In a few days I’ll be myself again, so don’t worry. Ahem!”
Despite Song Hoe’s efforts, anyone would have seen through it.
A moment later, Song Hoe stepped outside.
The captain of Paeng Mu Wei’s guard, who had been waiting, rose from his seat and bowed deeply.
“Your Highness. A privilege to see you.”
“Come in, please.”
……!
The captain’s eyes widened slightly. It was the voice, of course. Song Hoe spoke with perfect composure.
“I’ve been quite ill, and my voice has changed. It will improve with time, so don’t be concerned.”
“How grave your illness must have been to affect your voice so. I regret we haven’t visited more often—the Commander himself has been deeply worried.”
The sincerity in his manner put Song Hoe at ease. At the same time, it made him realize anew just how completely Yi Hwan had brought Paeng Mu Wei under his control.
‘Extraordinary fellow, truly. Heh heh heh.’
After some conversation, Song Hoe pressed his fingers to his brow. At that signal, Gong Sun Tae stepped forward as if on cue.
“I think His Highness should rest now.”
“Understood. Then I shall take my leave.”
Once the captain had withdrawn, Song Hoe drained the still-warm tea like water.
Glug, glug!
Clatter!
“Did I pull it off?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“True? Still, they didn’t question the voice change from the aftereffects, so I’d call that a success.”
“Shall I prepare a meal?”
“Been cooped up inside all day—didn’t even notice I was hungry. I should attend to my Heart Cultivation Method instead.”
Song Hoe retired to Yi Hwan’s room, and Gong Sun Tae sighed heavily before heading outside, where Cha Jung Gyeong sat in a bamboo chair sipping tea.
Gong Sun Tae sat beside him.
Cha Jung Gyeong glanced over at him with a faint smirk.
“Do you regret not going along?”
“Both regret and boredom.”
“If you’re bored, why not help me with my martial training?”
“In your condition? Out of the question.”
“In a few days I’ll be ready. You will help me then, won’t you?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Slap!
Gong Sun Tae rose, giving Cha Jung Gyeong a sharp tap on the back.
“Let’s eat.”

* * *

Yi Hwan and his company traveled toward Song Cheon Mu’s hometown at an unhurried pace.
Go Mi had departed first.
Of course, to conduct her investigation.
As they rode, Yi Hwan surveyed the fields on either side of the Official Road. Farmers toiled away tilling their land, while on one side soldiers were loading harvested crops onto carts.
“Why are soldiers taking the crops?”
Song Cheon Mu answered.
“Most of the fields near the Imperial Capital are managed by the military administration. These are tenant farmers who must surrender a portion of their harvest to the authorities. The problem, however, is that the military administration here answers to Yi Hwang Ja.”
Yi Hwang Ja surfaced again in the conversation.
“According to rumor, Yi Hwang Ja converts the harvested crops to cash and skims it as a slush fund.”
“If you know about it, why has nothing been done?”
“Because Yi Hwang Ja’s backer is the Queen herself. What can be done?”
At this point, Yi Hwan could not help but think of the Emperor again.
‘What in the world has happened to the Emperor?’
Then it came.
Thud-thud-thud!
A column of riders thundered toward them from behind like a tempest, and the pedestrians on the Official Road scattered hastily to the roadside.
“Make way.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan’s party also stepped aside.
A subtle frown crossed Yi Hwan’s brow as he studied the mounted figures.
They were guards of the Geum Yi Wei.
Thud-thud-thud!
The guards thundered past, nearly upon Yi Hwan, and it was at that very moment that invisible Qi rippled into existence at his fingertips.
‘I simply cannot abide these men.’
Thud-thud-thud!
The guards passed through, raising clouds of dust.
Yi Hwan watched in silence, then flicked his finger lightly, and the invisible Qi embedded itself in the hindquarters of the lead horse like a thorn.
Snap.
Neigh-eee-eee!
The startled horse shrieked and reared violently into the air.
“Whoa!”
Having been riding so close and so quickly, the guards behind could not turn their mounts in time and tumbled to the ground in a heap.
Neigh-eee-eee!
Crash-boom!
Several of them, unable to control their panicked horses, trampled directly over the merchants who had been loading crops onto their carts.
“Argh!”
“Get out of the way!”
Crack!
Chul Mu Ok watched the scene descend into chaos and turned to gaze at Yi Hwan.
“That’s enough.”
Yi Hwan calmly kicked the lead horse’s rump.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Chul Mu Ok’s mouth.

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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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