The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 66

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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 Endless 66

Chapter 66 — The Prodigy of the Namgung Clan

“Damn it all…….”
Yi Tae-ji’s eyes burned with fury. He was so angry that his neck had flushed crimson.
Baek Po-in spoke in a somber tone.
“With the Prime Minister’s approval, even if the Empress returns, it has become difficult to pardon the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader.”
“We can’t simply suffer this. We must find some way forward.”
“The problem is not just the severing of funds, but the fact that our capital already invested in the Yellow Dragon Guild is now frozen. If a pardon becomes unlikely, we must recover those funds as quickly as possible.”
Twitch—twitch…….
A spasm ran through Yi Tae-ji’s eye.
He still could not believe the entire sequence of events. It had unfolded like roasting beans on a thunderbolt—swiftly and utterly. What infuriated him most was the undeniable fact that Crown Prince Yi So had grown considerably in influence because of this incident.
‘Should have handled it properly then…….’
Just as Yi Tae-ji was muttering these incomprehensible words to himself,
a commander entered the chamber.
Baek Po-in inquired.
“What have you learned?”
“The Fourth Prince has never left the Southern Military Unit.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. We have verified it twice.”
Yi Tae-ji asked.
“Why are we discussing that fool here?”
“The Moon Leader of Bi-wol, who was stationed at the Southern Military Unit, suddenly became a censor. Suspecting a possible connection to the Fourth Prince, I ordered an investigation.”
“Hmph! What could that wretch possibly do.”
Yi Tae-ji continued.
“Bi-wol’s Moon Leader had shown exceptional loyalty to the Crown Prince’s household from before. Using a woman instead of recruiting a fellow disciple—we kept it small. Likely, the Crown Prince’s palace struck the Yellow Dragon Guild through her. Or perhaps they had been investigating the Guild through Bi-wol all along and seized the opportunity when the Empress vacated the palace.”
“I had not thought that far.”
“Has the woman left again for the Southern Military Unit?”
“Yes. She departed the Crown Prince’s palace shortly ago and has already slipped out of the Imperial Palace.”
Yi Tae-ji’s gaze grew progressively colder. Yi Hwan had been utterly eliminated from his mind—not a trace of suspicion remained.
“I thought we sent her to the Southern Military Unit merely to oppose the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Turns out we’ve taken a proper blow.”
“Something feels wrong about this. I believe I should send my own subordinates to the Southern Military Unit to investigate.”
“Your direct subordinates?”
“Should the situation escalate to violence, it would be more reliable to send my own rather than rely on the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
How remarkable were Baek Po-in’s direct subordinates?
Yi Tae-ji narrowed his brow and fell into thought. But that moment did not last long.
“Very well. However, you must ensure your identity is not exposed. Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
Yi Tae-ji drank a sip of tea that had grown cold and broached another matter.
“As for the censors of the Office of Censorate. I need to investigate them as well.”
“The censors—why……?”
“There was one very disagreeable fellow. A face I’d never seen before, but his eyes were strangely familiar.”
“The censors of the Office of Censorate disguise their identities thoroughly at all times. No one can tell who they are except for their superior.”
“Do I seem like someone who would order an investigation without knowing that?”
“I—I apologize!”
When Yi Tae-ji’s gaze turned sharp, Baek Po-in hurried to bow his head.
“I shall investigate as quickly as possible and report my findings!”
“If you fail to produce satisfactory results, I shall have no choice but to doubt your competence. I trust such an occurrence will not come to pass.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“And regarding the woman from Bi-wol—you may kill her. No. You must kill her, so that she cannot become a source of trouble again.”
“……Are you speaking of the head of the Covert Intelligence Agency?”
“Why? Do you lack the confidence?”
“No, no. I accept your command.”
Yi Tae-ji sank deep into his chair and muttered.
“If Bi-wol has sided with the Crown Prince, her very existence must be erased. And that fellow from my school refuses to obey—that’s already irritating enough. If the Covert Intelligence Agency becomes another thorn in my side, it will be troublesome.”

* * *

Southern Military Unit.
In the backyard of Yi Hwan’s residence, Cha Jung-gyeong stood drenched in sweat.
Since his recovery, he’d devoted every waking hour to training, except when sleep claimed him, and Gong-sun Tae had been guiding him through it all.
For Cha Jung-gyeong, who’d had little to occupy his time until Yi Hwan’s return, these hours were proving invaluable.
“Hah! Hah! Hah!”
Cha Jung-gyeong collapsed onto his back, gasping for breath. Gong-sun Tae, sitting in his chair, regarded him with unmoved indifference. “And just how do you expect to become a master like that? Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“My Inner Strength won’t support me! What do you want me to do?”
“It’s not your Inner Strength that’s the problem—it’s your resolve. You won’t even try to break through your limits. The moment things get difficult, you just collapse.”
“If it were that easy to talk about, everyone would be a master!”
“Hmm? Are you getting irritable with me?”
“Oh, come off it!”
Cha Jung-gyeong jerked upright with sudden irritation.
“Let’s spar!”
“You serious?”
“Of course I was joking. Hah! Hah! Hah!”
He collapsed backward again, still heaving.
It was then that Song Cheon-mu emerged into the backyard. He too, returned only days earlier, had thrown himself into training.
“Gentlemen, your meal is ready.”
Up!
Cha Jung-gyeong sprang to his feet as though he’d never faltered. Song Cheon-mu held him back.
“You’re drenched. Wash first, won’t you?”
“What does it matter among men?”
“It’s the commander’s orders.”
…….
Cha Jung-gyeong heaved a sigh and had just picked up a cloth, heading toward the stream, when the sound of a door opening echoed from the front hall.
“Looks like someone’s arrived.”
“I’ll check.”
Song Cheon-mu hurried inside.
Gong-sun Tae rose from his chair and stretched widely.
Crack!
“Dull day. Wonder when he’ll show up.”
That was when it happened.
“He’s here!”
“The Commander!”
At the cry that spilled from inside, Gong-sun Tae’s eyes flew wide.
“He’s back!”
Whoosh!
Cha Jung-gyeong was faster than Gong-sun Tae.

* * *

Yi Hwan removed his face mask the moment he stepped inside. Song Hoe did the same.

“No, sir. Zhao has been quiet, so I mostly kept watch. But how did your mission fare?”
“It went well enough.”
Yi Hwan reached for a cloth. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll wash first.”
“No, sir. I’ll wait!”
Song Hoe’s face lit up with such obvious joy at Yi Hwan’s return that it was radiant.
Watching him, Yi Hwan felt a pang of guilt. ‘Next time, I’ll bring him with me.’
Yi Hwan withdrew something from the discarded robe and handed it to Song Hoe—a golden ornamental fitting, the kind used to decorate the hilts of swords and sabers.
“My sister had this made for you. Keep it safe and don’t lose it.”
“From Her Highness herself? Thank you so much!”
Gong-sun Tae and Cha Jung-gyeong quietly slipped in beside them.
“What about us, sir?”

“I will too.”
Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
“Everyone take one each.”
“Yes!”
“Thank you!”
Meanwhile, Ju-tae felt utterly bewildered. Not a single person had even glanced in his direction.
It was then that Song Hoe spoke to him.
“Who is this person?”
‘He asks rather quickly.’

* * *

Go-mi sank into the hot water.
Outside, the servants were occupied preparing dinner for her, having returned after so long.

You must regard the youngest as your lord and follow him. This is not an order, but a request.

Yi So had said this before she left the Imperial Palace. It was unthinkable that the head of the Covert Intelligence Agency would serve under anyone.
But Go-mi could not refuse.
According to intelligence she had gathered while operating in the palace, the Crown Prince was little more than an instrument of evil. The same was true of the Empress.
If anything, one could scarcely overstate that they were virtually plotting treason.
‘How could such a thing even be possible?’
At first, she had been shocked. But as time passed, shock gave way to anger, and she resolved to do everything in her power to help the Crown Prince ascend to the throne.
It was not merely a matter of loyalty to him.
Her own upright nature could not abide treason.
‘The Crown Prince places absolute trust in General Yi. Not merely because they share blood, but because he believes in the General’s abilities.’
While in the palace, Go-mi had come to see Yi Hwan in a new light. His plan had proceeded without a single misstep, and ultimately succeeded in cutting off the Crown Prince’s source of funds.
Though she had been at the center of the operation, there were more than one or two moments when even she doubted whether success was possible. Yet the result had been a complete triumph, and the Crown Prince’s residence had been freed from a terrible burden.
‘My lord…’
Go-mi tried to imagine Yi Hwan as her lord.
But it didn’t quite feel real yet.
Splash!
Go-mi submerged herself in the water.
Just then, she sensed someone stepping into the back courtyard. A figure flickered across the surface of the water.
“The General has sent this for you.”
Splash!
Go-mi surfaced, lifting her head above the water.
A warrior stood holding a bottle of wine.
“The General sent this?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince said it was a gift from him.”
Go-mi’s eyes widened slightly.
“He brought it himself?”
“Yes. When he heard you were bathing, he simply left this and departed. And the meal is ready, Bi-wol.”
“Understood. I’ll be right out. Put the wine on the table—we’ll share it together.”
“But this is a gift from the Crown Prince…”
“Never mind. It’s just wine.”
“…….”

* * *

To the northwest of Guizhu City lay Jinsha.
Heavy rain had fallen since morning in that place, which had become a battlefield overnight due to the clash between Jin and Zhao kingdoms.
What had initially been a battlefield further north had been pushed south to Jinsha itself when Zhao committed a great army to the fight. It was a defeat no one in Jin had anticipated.
Rumble!
Crack!
Whoosh!
Amid thunder and lightning, the Jin military camp girded itself with all its strength at the guard posts.
If Jinsha fell, the southern territories would soon follow, so Jin too had dispatched a great army to reinforce the defense.
“Damn these Zhao bastards—what if they push forward again with martial artists leading the charge?”
“Stop your whining. Word is our martial artists will join us soon. The rumor is the masters of the Namgung Clan will come themselves—let’s count on that.”
“Is it true? The Namgung Clan really is coming?”
“It’s just rumor so far, but with our forces pushed back this far, would the Imperial Palace simply sit idle?”
“Let’s hope powerful martial artists arrive soon.”
Jin Kingdom had launched the initial assault and been driven back to Jinsha—a consequence of Zhao Kingdom’s early decision to deploy martial artists en masse. That overwhelming tide had left Jin’s initial momentum shattered, their troops grinding backward with no recourse.
Several commanders of considerable renown had fallen in the chaos. All of them at the hands of Zhao’s martial artists.
Boom!
Crack!
Lightning wove through the sky like spider’s silk, then fell.
Thump, thump!
Figures in robes appeared from behind. As the General-in-Chief of the camp walked forward with them, the soldiers immediately stiffened into rigid attention and performed the military salute.
“Hail!”
All held their posture until the General-in-Chief had passed, yet their eyes trailed after him and his companions with undisguised curiosity.
How long had it been?
“The Namgung Clan!”
“Wow! They really came!”
Cheers erupted from all quarters.
The robed figures revealed themselves as masters of the Namgung Clan.
A roar went up!
The cheering spread swiftly across the entire camp.
The General-in-Chief, hearing the clamor, turned to the figure beside him and spoke.
“You hear that cheering? Everyone has been waiting for nothing but your arrival.”
At those words, the figure beside the General-in-Chief lowered his robe. He appeared to be in his early twenties—a youth of extraordinary beauty, his eyes holding a peculiar light reminiscent of a dragon’s gaze.
Namgung Jang-cheon.
An unparalleled prodigy born to the Namgung Clan.
And the very person at the center of rumors that he would become the Imperial son-in-law.
He swept his gaze slowly across the camp.
A subtle luminescence flickered in his dark eyes, bright for an instant, before lips soft as a woman’s parted slightly.
“I’m told the enemy vanguard consists of Blood Ghost?”
“Yes. They’re more savage than demons—some two hundred of them, no less.”
“That’s curious. I was under the impression the Blood Ghost Leader was executed by Yen Kingdom’s Southern Military Unit. Yet you say you’ve been overwhelmed by such creatures?”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. I heard he didn’t merely die—his corpse was quartered and hung from the gates as a warning.”
“Such a thing…”
Namgung Jang-cheon turned his gaze toward the northwest and spoke.
“Behind Zhao Kingdom’s forces, there must be something far stronger than Blood Ghost.”
Flash!
A strange light kindled deep within Namgung Jang-cheon’s pupils for a single moment, then vanished.
“We shall kill them for you.”

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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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