The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 51

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Red Dragon Reincarnate: Episode 51

Chapter 51 — First Bodyguard Assignment

From the very first day, a lavishly abundant feast had been set before them.
Since his reincarnation, Yi Hwan had never tasted such fine wine and exotic delicacies, and he savored every moment of it.
The woman, however, refused.
“It all seems to have come together far too easily.”
“We haven’t even begun yet.”
“Wouldn’t entering the tiger’s den itself count as half the victory? What comes next then?”
“I need to change my approach.”
“In what way?”
“Rather than killing him, I’m thinking of bringing him over to our side. If I succeed, he’ll become a reliable source of funding—and if it fails, I can always kill him later.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“Impossible things must be made possible. From what I saw of Wang Ji-gyeong today, if fortune favors us, it doesn’t seem so difficult. So for now, drink freely.”
“Understood.”
There was a purse in one corner of the room.
They had received a month’s wages in advance, and it contained twenty thousand silver currency. The danger allowance would be paid upon completion.
“At this rate, we’ll become wealthy.”
“Since we don’t know what lies ahead, it’s not a bad idea to secure funds in advance. But I’m curious whether he’s even followed us this far.”
“You mean the Wanderer?”
“Yes.”
“I wish we could find him. But since we have no way to locate him, we can only wait for him to appear first.”
Yi Hwan felt the same way.
He was certain that the Wanderer had obtained information through his former schoolmates and come to the southern garrison. But as Cheol Mu-ok had said, if he didn’t appear first, there was no way to find him.
“I do hope he’s truly a true successor of the Sword King lineage. Then we might be able to learn what troubles our lord.”
“We can’t be sure. They may know nothing, just as your lineage knows nothing. All we can do is give our best effort to what we’re attempting and wait for him to appear.”
“Understood.”

* * *

On the rooftop across from Wang Ji-gyeong’s manor.
There stood the Wanderer, bathed in moonlight, his eyes filled with bewilderment and disappointment.
“A bodyguard for a depraved merchant? Is he really not the one I’m looking for? Or has he been corrupted by the passing years?”
Whiiiing!
The night wind swept gently across the Wanderer’s entire frame. He gazed at Wang Ji-gyeong’s manor for a long while, then vanished without a trace.

* * *

The next morning.
The first bodyguard assignment had begun.
The destination was a manor on the outskirts of the City, where a gathering of men engaged in business similar to Wang Ji-gyeong’s was to take place.
Having cast aside his initial unease through Cheol Mu-ok’s display of force, Wang Ji-gyeong set out accompanied by twenty bodyguards.
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok moved at the very rear.
[First, we need to bring the bodyguards to heel. Get them to obey whatever we command. So come in hard from the start.]
[Understood.]
Sitting astride his horse, Yi Hwan crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Without even holding the reins, he had become one with the horse’s movements as though they had traveled together for years.
How much time had passed this way?
[This is the residence of the princess.]
At Cheol Mu-ok’s Soul Transmission, Yi Hwan’s closed eyes opened. Cheol Mu-ok raised his hand, pointing to the left.
It was an elegant, classical manor.
And above the main gate, carved clearly into a wooden plaque, were the characters: Song Residence.
Yi Hwan was seized by a peculiar feeling. It was as though he were passing by the home of his own elder sister.
‘I should visit soon.’
Just then.
Creeeeak!
The main gate of the residence opened, and figures emerged. In that instant, the light in Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted subtly.
He saw a woman with a slender frame, skin as white as ivory, and extraordinary beauty.
It was his sister, Yi Young.
Song Cheon-ho stood behind her.
[Is that her?]
[Yes.]
Yi Hwan couldn’t tear his eyes from Yi Young’s face. She looked even more delicate than he remembered, and the sight dampened his mood.
Just then, Yi Young turned toward Yi Hwan.
Even though he wore the Face Mask, Yi Hwan instinctively averted his gaze.
[She’s coming this way.]
Yi Hwan looked back at Yi Young. She was indeed walking toward them.
‘No. It can’t be.’
Yi Young stepped in front of the carriage.
“Stop for a moment, would you.”
When the carriage didn’t slow at her words and continued forward, Yi Hwan called out sharply.
“Stop.”
The bodyguard driving the carriage looked back at Yi Hwan. His eyes seemed to say, ‘Who do you think you are to order me around?’ But at the sight of Yi Hwan’s cold gaze, he promptly pulled the reins.
“Whoa!”
As the carriage halted, Wang Ji-gyeong’s voice drifted from within.
“What’s the matter?”
“The princess of the Song family is asking us to stop, sir.”
Yi Hwan’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
‘He knew who she was and still wouldn’t stop?’
The carriage window opened, and Wang Ji-gyeong poked his head out. Yi Young approached him and spoke.
“Could we talk for a moment?”
“I’m not sure what this is about, but I’m rather busy, my lady. I’m afraid I don’t have the time.”
“It will only take a moment. Step out, won’t you.”
Contrary to her frail appearance, Yi Young’s eyes and bearing were commanding. Even Yi Hwan found himself taken aback by her steely demeanor.
Wang Ji-gyeong eventually stepped out of the carriage.
“What is it you wished to discuss?”
His words were courteous, but irritation flickered behind his eyes as he regarded her.
“Why did you move up the repayment deadline?”
“I’ve already explained the matter to the head of the Song family.”
“Regardless of what my father said, I will repay the principal on the promised date. If you try any coercion, I won’t stand idly by—remember that.”
“Then you’ll need to settle the accrued interest first. Surely you’re aware how much interest has accumulated?”
“I’ll repay all the accumulated interest in full two weeks’ time. That settles it.”
With nothing more than those words, Yi Young turned sharply and walked away. Yi Hwan watched her retreating figure and let out a thin smile.
‘She’s grown quite formidable.’
“So because I showed some mercy and called her a princess, she thinks she can defy me? Let’s see what happens when she can’t pay the overdue interest on time.”
Bang!
Wang Ji-gyeong huffed in frustration and climbed back into the carriage. The journey resumed immediately.
Yi Hwan kept his eyes on Yi Young until her figure vanished from sight.
A question suddenly occurred to him.
[The Cat’s Eye Stone I gave her should be worth a considerable sum. How much are the principal and interest combined that they still haven’t repaid?]
He already knew from Go-mi’s intelligence that the Song family had acquired two Inns. Even so, a substantial amount should have remained.
‘Were there other debts she needed to settle?’

* * *

It was truly a magnificent Manor.
Several carriages lined the front gate, and what appeared to be bodyguards were clustered in various places.
The carriage came to a stop, and Wang Ji-gyeong descended.
He spoke to Yi Hwan.
“Bodyguards cannot enter, so wait here.”
His tone had changed since the contract was finalized, but Yi Hwan paid it no mind.
Yi Hwan peered through the opening door to the interior.
A spacious courtyard held several tables, and expensively dressed figures were raucously engaged in drinking and revelry.
Thud!
As the door closed, Yi Hwan walked to the side of the main gate and sat down on a rock.
Everyone turned to look at him and Cheol Mu-ok.
They’d likely never seen their faces before. At that moment, someone asked Wang Ji-gyeong’s bodyguard a question.
“Why isn’t Black and White Sword showing up?”
“They’re dead.”
“Dead? When did that happen?”
“They were ambushed by assassins.”
“Then who are these people?”
“If you’re curious, ask them yourself.”
Wang Ji-gyeong’s bodyguards were far from pleased with Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok. They had heard the terms of their employment.
“What’s your alias?”
Cheol Mu-ok answered.
“Mind your own business, giant.”
“What?”
“Keep staring at me like that and you might find your head flying off your shoulders.”
“You bastard!”
“Enough!”
The sharp command from behind halted the man who had lunged forward, and he stepped back.
Yi Hwan’s gaze shifted toward the source of the voice.
A lean man with a face sharp as a drawn blade was watching him with a faint smile.
Yi Hwan’s eyes drifted to the banner fluttering atop the carriage. In that instant, his pupils flared with sudden light.
‘The Yellow Dragon Guild—another faction in all this?’
He had finally laid eyes on those who were, in essence, the ultimate target of this operation.
Cheol Mu-ok asked quietly.
“Want me to handle that?”
“Leave it. It’s our first day—let’s keep things quiet for now.”
Yi Hwan folded his arms and closed his eyes.
Then, in the darkness behind his eyelids, he began to map out, piece by piece, everything he would need to do.

* * *

“Those fools just poked a tiger.”
“They did indeed. To disrespect Sangsan Hyeol-do like that—trouble’s coming for sure. Heh heh heh.”
Wang Ji-gyeong’s bodyguards muttered while watching Yi Hwan, but one of them was quietly observing the exchange. It was the middle-aged man who had just stopped the fight.
Sangsan Hyeol-do.
The very man the innkeeper had once compared to the Dual-Wielding Swordsman—now here as a bodyguard to the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader.
He studied Cheol Mu-ok more intently than Yi Hwan. His first impression of Cheol Mu-ok had been far more striking.
‘Haven’t seen these two before. Must be fresh hires brought in to fill the gap the Dual-Wielding Swordsman left.’
He glanced around at those beside him and asked.
“Does anyone know who these men are?”
“First time we’ve seen their faces, sir.”
“Same here.”
Sangsan Hyeol-do crossed his arms and smiled with easy confidence.
“We’ll find out soon enough. When they pay the price for challenging us first. Heh heh heh.”
“Now that the Dual-Wielding Swordsman is gone, we can finally dominate Wang’s faction. We have you, after all. But I wonder—who on earth killed the Dual-Wielding Swordsman?”
“Who knows? Well, whoever it was, we’re grateful to them, I’ll say that much.”
“That’s true. The Dual-Wielding Swordsman had been a thorn in our side for far too long. Knowing he’s dead feels like a weight has lifted.”
“Keep quiet. They might hear you.”
“Don’t worry. Even if they do, they won’t dare say a word—not with you here.”
“Hm hm hm.”
“Heh heh heh.”

* * *

Yi Hwan continued to sketch his plans in his mind.
After wrestling with various approaches to his original objective, he had discovered an entirely different path forward.
‘This is going to be interesting.’
Yi Hwan opened his eyes.
“What were you thinking so hard about?”
“Just this and that.”
Cheol Mu-ok gestured with his chin toward the Yellow Dragon Guild’s direction and continued.
“That man is Sangsan Hyeol-do, apparently.”
“I heard as much. Which is why I’m curious……”
“About what, exactly?”
“I wonder how much he’s being paid.”
“…Why would that concern you, sir?”
“Just joking. Bring me some wine.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t bring any, sir. A bodyguard drinking while on duty seemed… inadvisable.”
That was when it happened.
The front gate swung open and Wang Ji-gyeong stepped outside. His face was flushed crimson, his breathing ragged—the look of a man consumed by fury.
“Those wretched bastards!”
Wang Ji-gyeong spat out the words, his substantial frame heaving as he hurried toward the carriage. Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok followed in his wake.
As Yi Hwan made his way to the carriage, he studied the Manor. The other attendees were trickling out one by one.
‘So which of them is the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader?’
Without seeing a face, he’d have to observe them all until they boarded their carriages.
Just then, one figure strode hurriedly toward where Sangsan Hyeol-do stood. Yi Hwan’s eyes turned cold as winter steel.
‘That’s him.’
In that moment, the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader’s greasy face burned itself indelibly into Yi Hwan’s mind.
Wang Ji-gyeong glanced at Yi Hwan.
“Let’s be off!”
Bang!
The carriage door slammed shut with violence.
Yi Hwan mounted his horse slowly, then glanced back at Sangsan Hyeol-do. The man had just climbed into his saddle and was watching Yi Hwan with an unreadable expression.
Hiss.
Sangsan Hyeol-do’s teeth flashed in a grin.
Then Yi Hwan’s voice flowed into his ears—carried on Soul Transmission.
[Smile like that one more time and I’ll pull every last tooth from your skull.]
Twitch.
Sangsan Hyeol-do’s brows narrowed like blades, and Yi Hwan turned his horse away with a faint, mirthless smile.
Huh.
Sangsan Hyeol-do let out a low, silent chuckle.
“You don’t know who I am, do you?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————