The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 52

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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 52

Chapter 52 — Wang Zijing’s Fury

Yi Young and her husband faced Song Cheon-mu across the table.
Two money pouches lay upon the table between them.
“The Crown Prince asked me to deliver these to you. Ah—and he said next time he’ll send more.”
Yi Young let out a long breath.
“So he’s too busy to spare even a moment?”
“Yes. But he promised to visit you as soon as he possibly can.”
Song Cheon-ho opened one of the pouches and his eyes reddened. It wasn’t merely the money—it was the fact that Yi Hwan remembered them, cared for them in the midst of everything, that undid him.
Song Cheon-mu’s eyes glistened in turn.
“Don’t cry, brother.”
“He’s truly safe? Truly unharmed?”
“Of course. The Crown Prince is perfectly well. An Expert of the World shadows him like his own reflection—you have nothing to worry about, either of you.”
“Oh my, listen to me prattling on. Come, sit and talk while I prepare the meal.”
“Take your time. I’m staying here for a while now. The Crown Prince ordered it.”
“Wonderful!”
Yi Young smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll prepare something delicious. Please, just wait a little.”
“Of course!”
As Yi Young left, Song Cheon-ho took his brother’s hand.
“When I sent you to the Crown Prince, I worried greatly. I wondered if I was asking you to betray your own convictions. But seeing how happy you are now, my heart is finally at ease.”
“Honestly, at first I was anxious about how the soldiers in his garrison would regard me. But now—I don’t think of such things at all. As I told you before, the Crown Prince now commands the respect of the entire Southern Military Corps.”
“You must be his strength. Do you understand?”
“Yes, brother.”
Song Cheon-ho thought of Yi Hwan.
In truth, he had never told Song Cheon-mu this, but when he first sent him to Yi Hwan’s side, his greatest fear was that he would burden the Crown Prince.
The rumors circulating about him were already wretched enough, and that made the worry only heavier. Yet he had sent Song Cheon-mu anyway—hoping above all that he would return safely.
Even if the Crown Prince were weak and powerless, he was still the Crown Prince, and that alone made him safer than any ordinary soldier.
‘Why has someone so capable lived so painfully until now?’
His pity was as deep as his bewilderment.
With such ability, even an illegitimate son would not have been cast out so mercilessly.
“Brother, what troubles your thoughts so deeply?”
“Nothing at all. Come, let’s share a cup of wine while we have the chance.”
“I’d like that!”

* * *

On a night when a razor-thin crescent moon hung in the sky.
Yi Hwan met Go Mi on the rooftop.
“I’ve obtained new information.”
Yi Hwan examined the document Go Mi handed to him. It contained detailed intelligence about those Wang Zijing was in conflict with.
What caught his eye was the Huang Long Trading Company.
Yi Hwan recalled Wang Zijing storming out of the estate in anger that afternoon, and his gaze grew cold.
‘So that’s what it was.’
The intelligence was invaluable. With this foundation, he could devise a far more effective strategy.
Yi Hwan tucked the document into his robe and fixed his gaze upon Go Mi.
“Looking at you, a thought occurs to me.”
“What thought is that?”
“I wonder what you would be like as the head of the Jin Yi Wei. You’d be excellent at it, I think.”
“That’s neither possible nor something I desire.”
“Should the opportunity ever arise, give it serious thought. If someone as upright as you were to lead the Jin Yi Wei, it could bring positive change in many ways. Information is a weapon as formidable as any other.”
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Before Yi Hwan could respond, Go Mi’s body vanished into the darkness.
A soft sound escaped Yi Hwan’s lips.
“Truly unique, that one.”
He allowed himself a quiet smile.
Go Mi threw herself into her duties without reservation, speaking frankly when she had something to say and declining without hesitation when she didn’t. Even in his own era, Yi Hwan had never encountered a subordinate of her type.
Yi Hwan lifted his gaze and watched the crescent moon for a moment. Tonight it seemed sharper, more vicious than usual.
‘I used to despise that crescent.’
Certain people came to mind whenever he saw it—those who had resisted him to the end during his march toward unification, and the forces they had commanded.
‘I have been reborn like this, but by now he must have long since turned to dust.’
A gust swept past.
Yi Hwan yielded to the wind for a moment.
Then, moving with sudden violence, he turned to examine a pavilion in the distance.
But there was nothing on the pavilion’s roof.

* * *

A tremor ran through the darkness.
‘Could he have sensed me from that distance? No, it’s not possible.’
In the shadows, the Ronin’s eyes narrowed as he watched Yi Hwan.
He had nearly been discovered.
The distance had made him careless—he had grown too comfortable in his surveillance.
He kept his gaze fixed on Yi Hwan as the man descended from the roof, his expression darkening.
‘It wasn’t mere bodyguard work. That one is plotting something, here and now.’
The disappointment he had felt toward Yi Hwan had been profound—witnessing sudden violence and then seeing him become the protector of a fallen merchant lord had struck deep.
But the Ronin reconsidered.
‘Put aside prejudice and observe from the beginning. Though I suspect that time will not be long.’
Another gust of wind.
As it carried leaves spiraling downward, the Ronin dissolved into darkness.

* * *

No one suspected Yi Hwan as he entered his quarters. He had disguised his absence as a visit to the privy rather than time spent on the roof.
Before opening the door, Yi Hwan glanced toward Wang Zijing’s quarters. Despite the late hour, lamplight blazed there.
‘So even you, the so-called Emperor of Darkness, could not overcome the Huang Long Trading Company when it was backed by the Empress and Yi Hwangja. But if you move, I will lend you my aid—though you’ll pay a considerable price for it.’
The door creaked open.
Cheol Mu-ok was waiting inside.
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
“Did you meet with Go Mi?”
“Impressive. I was about to try deceiving you as well.”
Yi Hwan withdrew a document from his robes and handed it to Cheol Mu-ok. Upon reading it, Cheol Mu-ok’s eyes widened slightly.
“So that’s why you were angry this afternoon.”
“It’s excellent information. Used properly, it could yield results far better than anticipated.”
“How so, sir?”
Yi Hwan regarded Cheol Mu-ok in silence.
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Can’t we discuss it after I’ve slept?”
“Ah… my apologies. Please rest well, sir.”
Cheol Mu-ok returned to his own room. Yi Hwan stripped off his clothes and stretched out on the bed.
The bed, imported from the Western regions, offered a softness he had never experienced before.
‘There’s no excess like this.’

* * *

Two days later, they set out on another escort mission.
This time the destination was the Song Family Estate. Because it was close and lay within the city, Yi Hwan reduced the escort to half its usual size.
Along the way, Wang Zijing stopped at an inn.
Yi Hwan positioned himself at the table next to Wang Zijing’s, while the other guards waited outside.
The inn was ostentatiously luxurious. Most of its patrons were men of consequence in the city.
[Who do you think we’ll meet here?]
[Patience will tell.]
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok sipped tea. They had already eaten before leaving the estate, and Wang Zijing had mentioned he would leave soon. Yi Hwan observed Wang Zijing’s expression carefully.
Two days had passed, yet Wang Zijing’s anger had not subsided.
How much time had elapsed since they arrived—perhaps an hour’s worth?
“My apologies. I’m afraid I’m a bit late.”
A middle-aged man took a seat at Wang Zijing’s table. Those who appeared to be his escorts did not sit but stood behind him.
Wang Zijing’s voice rose abruptly.
“What in heaven’s name is this about? How does the Huang Long Trading Company conduct usury in my territory? Does the Huang Long Trading Company have no shred of merchant integrity whatsoever?”
“Keep your voice down, sir.”
“Then give me an answer!”
“I am merely following the Company Master’s orders. But I’ve heard that Yi Hwangja himself approached the Company Master to ask whether usury might be permissible.”
……!
At the mention of Yi Hwangja, Wang Zijing’s face flushed crimson. His caution was plain to see. Yi Hwan felt a quiet laugh rise within him.
‘There he is again.’
The middle-aged man continued.
“What I can tell you, sir, is that even the Huang Long Trading Company finds itself without choice in this matter. Who would dare defy the will of Yi Hwangja?”
“Are you saying Yi Hwangja truly commanded this?”
“As I said, I merely follow the Company Master’s orders. That Yi Hwangja took a hand—I know only by rumor.”
Bang!
Wang Zijing slammed his palm against the table, his face twisted with fury. The middle-aged man gazed at him and laughed coldly.
“If my answer suffices, I shall take my leave.”
As the middle-aged man rose, he added another remark.
“I understand the Black and White Swordsmen have perished. A belated condolence, though little comfort. Farewell.”
“Was that the Huang Long Trading Company’s doing?”
At Wang Zijing’s words, the middle-aged man laughed aloud.
“Ha ha ha. It seems you have misunderstood. Why would we trouble ourselves with such affairs? I suspect you simply value yourself too highly, sir.”
“What did you say?”
“Farewell.”
The middle-aged man departed from the inn.
The two escorts who had come with him cast cold glances toward Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok before following him out.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Wang Zijing.
Wang Zijing stood breathing heavily, his face as red as an apple.
“Damn them all……”
Then Yi Hwan ventured a question.
“Do you believe the Huang Long Trading Company killed the Black and White Swordsmen?”
“This is no concern of yours!”
“If such incidents occur again, they will involve us directly. Surely I should know the truth?”
Ahem.
Wang Zijing drained a bowl of cold water and then spoke.
“There have been similar incidents before. Each time I suspected the Huang Long Trading Company, but without material evidence I had no choice but to let it pass. But this latest affair has made it certain. The timing is far too convenient!”
“So you believe they tried to eliminate you to monopolize the usury market?”
“That is precisely what I believe!”
“There is merit to that reasoning……”
Cheol Mu-ok spoke up casually.
“Then they will send assassins again, won’t they?”
“If I were the Huang Long Company Master, I would. With the strongest competitor gone, the profits would flow all the more easily.”
Yi Hwan turned back to Wang Zijing.
“You’ll simply accept this? Ah, but if the Huang Long Trading Company has the Empress and Yi Hwangja backing them, you have no choice but to remain silent.”
“How do you know such things?”
“Half the city already knows it. But if you obtain material evidence that the Huang Long Trading Company is behind this, is there no other recourse?”
“If I can secure material evidence, I would go to the Crown Prince’s Palace itself and lay bare the truth!”
Yi Hwan’s ears perked up.
The Crown Prince’s Palace was being mentioned.
“You have connections with the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“I have no direct ties, but I’ve long known that the Crown Prince suffers greatly on account of Yi Hwangja. Surely such a weakness of Yi Hwangja’s would be of use to him?”
Bang!
“If I can only obtain material evidence, I will not let the Huang Long Trading Company rest! Such filthy dogs!”
Yi Hwan watched Wang Zijing fume and smiled inwardly.
‘An unexpected conflict—and it plays into my hands. How fortunate.’

* * *

Song Family Estate.
Yi Hwan crossed through the main gate, drawing his breath in quietly. Ahead of him, Song Cheon-ho and Yi Young came forward. Wang Zijing bowed his head before her.
She was no different from Yi Hwan in this regard. Despised within the Imperial Palace, yet beyond its walls—an Imperial Bloodline whom no one dared touch.
Song Cheon-ho received Wang Zijing.
“I’ve been expecting word of your arrival. Please, come inside.”
“You men will wait here.”
Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed.
He needed to be in the room to understand why Wang Zijing had come. In that instant, a stratagem occurred to him.
“There have been rumors lately of suspicious characters moving through this estate. Better to have someone watch over the master, if you don’t mind.”
A sharp intake of breath.
Wang Zijing’s eyes flickered for a moment before he nodded slowly.
He turned to Song Cheon-ho.
“This man is one of my trusted retainers. Would it be acceptable for him to join us?”
Song Cheon-ho studied Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan kept his gaze perfectly calm, offering no sign of resistance.
“Of course.”
‘A breath of relief…’

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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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