The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 71

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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 71

Chapter 71 — Heading toward Guizhou Fortress

Red Water, the westernmost front between Zhao Kingdom and Jin Kingdom.
Nam Gung Jang Cheon, the eldest son of the Nam Gung Clan, gazed across the mist-shrouded lake and furrowed his brow slightly.
“The scouts should have returned by now.”
The general standing beside him spoke up.
“Let us wait a little longer, sir.”
The general continued. “How do you fare?”
“Well enough. I sustained no serious injury.”
“Well enough. I sustained no serious injury.”
“Remarkable indeed. I’ve heard the patriarch of the Hwang Bo Clan is counted among Zhao Kingdom’s finest Martial Artists — yet you bested him alone. Truly astounding.”
“Is it truly such an extraordinary feat?”
“Extraordinary, you say! Truthfully, we watched with bated breath, hearts in our mouths, fearing the worst for you.”
The general continued to shower him with praise. But Nam Gung Jang Cheon’s eyes betrayed a different truth.
‘Neither he nor I fought with our full strength — the victory means nothing.’
Days ago, the Nam Gung Clan under Nam Gung Jang Cheon’s command had clashed directly with the Hwang Bo Clan. In that encounter, Nam Gung Jang Cheon had faced the patriarch of the Hwang Bo Clan in single combat, and when the Hwang Bo patriarch withdrew, the Nam Gung Clan claimed victory.
Everyone spoke of it as the Nam Gung Clan’s triumph, but Nam Gung Jang Cheon attached little significance to it.
Then it happened.
Something stirred beyond the mist. A moment later, a warrior stumbled into view, reeling on his feet.
The general cried out in alarm.
“Why does he return alone?”
“Ghost-like… beings appeared… They slew… all of our comrades…”
The warrior could not finish. He collapsed.
The soldiers nearby rushed to support him, but it was too late — his breath had already ceased.
“Stand back.”
Nam Gung Jang Cheon began examining the dead warrior.
The general asked, “Do you find something amiss?”
“Silence, if you please. You’re breaking my concentration.”
……
Nam Gung Jang Cheon studied the wounds with meticulous care, then rose slowly and spoke.
“It appears Martial Artists beyond the Hwang Bo Clan have joined the Zhao Military Encampment. And they are formidable masters indeed.”
“You discern that merely from a wound?”
“The stronger the master, the clearer the mark they leave. Of course, few possess the eye to recognize it.”
Nam Gung Jang Cheon turned toward the rear, where the Nam Gung Clan’s experts had gathered.
“The enemy has grown stronger. All of you — exercise utmost caution.”
“Yes, Elder Son!”
Nam Gung Jang Cheon spoke to the general who had followed him.
“Send word for reinforcements. Masters of the Peak Realm or higher — as many as we can muster. Make haste.”
“Understood, sir.”
The general sprinted back toward the encampment.
Nam Gung Jang Cheon remained fixed on the fog-veiled lake, his gaze growing sharp.
‘A master potent enough to leave Demonic Energy on a corpse… this war will not be easily won.’

There, a contingent of Zhao soldiers had assembled.
Some hundred strong, led by the patriarch of the Hwang Bo Clan who had clashed with Nam Gung Jang Cheon.
Hwang Bo Tae Jin.
The current patriarch of the Hwang Bo Clan and a master universally acknowledged as among the finest of Zhao Kingdom. He gazed down at his Iron Gauntlets, his eyes dimming.
‘Never have these gauntlets warped.’
It was the mark left from his clash with Nam Gung Jang Cheon days ago. The Iron Gauntlets—said to shatter even Diamond—had been savagely deformed by Nam Gung Jang Cheon’s blade.
‘A talent of the ages, they called him. No mere rumor, it seems. Should this boy live another ten years, none under heaven would stand against him.’
The Nam Gung Clan’s Heavy Sword, acknowledged by all as Heaven’s Absolute, lived up to its name without fail.
Nam Gung Jang Cheon wielded the Heavy Sword with near-perfect mastery, and Hwang Bo Tae Jin, who had underestimated him, had narrowly escaped utter humiliation.

‘Don’t mistake this for the full measure of my strength.’
As Yi Hwan gnawed at his lower lip, turning over thoughts of Nam Gung Jang Cheon, figures emerged from the mist.
They moved with deliberate slowness, each draped in drab grey robes pulled up to their heads—phantoms given flesh.
The foremost of them turned to Hwang Bo Tae Jin and spoke.
“Enemy scouts approached within arm’s reach.”
“Did you kill them all?”
“One escaped.”
“Then your identities are exposed!”
“Is that truly a problem?”
A ripple of tension.
The provocation drew Hwang Bo Tae Jin’s brows sharp as blade-edges. Yet as the robed figures melted into the mist, he found no words to call after them.
“Compose yourself. That is their nature.”
A senior of the Hwang Bo Clan steadied him.
“Now that their cover is blown, Jin Kingdom forces will surely summon more Martial Artists to the field. These ignorant wretches haven’t grasped what that means—have they?”
“You’re right. Then shouldn’t we also request additional forces? If the balance among Martial Artists tips, only the main clan will suffer the consequences.”
“We must.”
Hwang Bo Tae Jin’s glare bored after the departing figures, fierce with barely contained anger.
“Back to the encampment!”

* * *

Unusually, Go Mi sought out Yi Hwan at first light.
“Have you eaten?”
“I’ll report first.”
Go Mi continued without pause.
“Demonic Cultivators from Ghost Valley have appeared at Red Water, northwest of Guizhou Fortress. It seems Zhao Kingdom brought them in to turn the tide of defeat.”
“You said Ghost Valley?”
“Yes, General.”
Yi Hwan’s gaze grew distant.
‘Could they be their descendants?’
In his time, Ghost Valley had been among the few powers that stood against him—a collective of Demonic Cultivators as troublesome as the Blood Demon and the Mad Demon.
“What do we know of them?”
Ju Tae answered.
“Ghost Valley is largely a mystery. All that’s widely known is that every member is a Demonic Cultivator.”
‘This one knows nothing of substance.’
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to Cheol Mu-ok.
“I know only that much as well.”
Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted to Go Mi’s face. She bowed her head.
“My apologies. I’ve conducted no separate investigation into Ghost Valley…….”
A soft click.
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and drank cold water.
‘If they truly are the heirs of Ghost Valley from back then…….’
A strange, nameless feeling gripped him. His own Dae-ya Fortress had vanished from the world, yet the enemy endured?
There was no joy in that knowledge.
“The board seems to be growing. I wonder if Zhao and Jin will truly escalate to full war.”
“If they do, Yen Kingdom can sit back and reap the benefits. We should welcome it with open arms.”
Cheol Mu-ok spoke, and Ju Tae took up the thread.
But Go Mi shook her head.
“Yen Kingdom won’t allow full war. The moment the balance of power shifts, one side will devour the other. That’s the very reason the three kingdoms have persisted this long.”
All fell silent. Yi Hwan had said nothing.
Ju Tae’s eyes widened as he glanced back at Cheol Mu-ok.
‘What is he thinking so hard about?’
‘No idea.’
Then Yi Hwan spoke.
“I should see the world for myself.”
“Sir?”
“Sir?”
At his sudden words, all turned to him with puzzlement written plain across their faces.
“Given how things stand between Zhao and Jin, we can afford to let our guard down here for now. Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Wol-ju—you three will come with me.”
“To Guizhou Fortress, sir?”
“Yes. Go and broaden your horizons, take care of what needs checking—prepare to leave right away. I’ll go report to the Crown Prince.”
Yi Hwan rose at once.
In that instant, Song Hoe, Song Cheon-mu, and Cha Jung-gyeong all jumped to their feet almost simultaneously.
“I’ll come with you!”
“Please take me too!”
“What about me?”
“Your skill level makes that place far too dangerous. Stay here and focus on training with the Commander.”
Song Hoe pressed forward again.
“At least let Commander Song come! Last time too, the Commander couldn’t stay with the General!”
Yi Hwan felt his resolve waver. He’d carried guilt about Song Hoe for some time.
But traveling to enemy territory meant he couldn’t take Song Hoe, whose martial strength lagged behind the others.
“The Commander must oversee the Yong Ho Army’s training and these men’s cultivation. It’s work as vital as assisting me.”
……
“You’re the only one who can do this, Commander.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan added a few words to Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-gyeong.
“If you want to join us next time, throw everything into strengthening your skills. Make sure I have no worries about your deaths. Understood?”
……Yes.
Understood.

* * *

Go Mi returned to the barracks, took a quick meal, and changed into fresh clothes.
Then she and Yeo Mu-sa who remained with her packed their belongings.
Go Mi stared intently at Yeo Mu-sa. She was the one staying behind, her exceptional skill in mask-crafting having earned her this assignment.
“Are you troubled about something? Your expression seems heavy.”
“It’s because of you.”
“Ma’am?”
“When I leave, you’ll be alone. In a military camp swarming with men.”
“Who would think of me as a woman anyway? I’ll be fine.”
When Yeo Mu-sa smiled brightly, Go Mi only grew more anxious.
“I’ve also packed the wine the Crown Prince gave us.”
“Listen to me.”
“Yes?”
“While I’m gone, stay in the General’s quarters. That way my mind will be at ease.”
“I prefer being alone…….”
“No. Pack your things quickly.”
……Yes.
Soon after, Go Mi and Yeo Mu-sa left the barracks. Yi Hwan and the others were already waiting in the courtyard.
Yi Hwan asked.
“Are you planning to take her with you?”
“No. I was worried about leaving her alone, so I’ve asked that she stay in the General’s quarters.”
“I have no objection, but will she be alright?”
Yeo Mu-sa answered briskly.
“I’ll be fine!”
Yi Hwan turned to Song Hoe and spoke.
“Look after her well. She has a rare talent.”
Understood.
Yi Hwan observed Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-gyeong. Both stood with downcast expressions, their eyes fixed elsewhere.
A soft laugh escaped him.
“You two.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“When I return, if your skills have improved to my satisfaction, I’ll teach you new techniques.”
“Really?”
“Truly?”
“But if they haven’t, you’d better prepare yourselves.”
“Don’t worry! We’ll train with all our might!”
“Travel safely and well!”
‘Simple fellows.’

* * *

To reach Guizhou Fortress fastest, they had to cut down through the northern territories of Jin Kingdom.
Yi Hwan chose to travel on foot rather than horseback.
It would take longer, but concealing his identity would be far easier. In Yen Kingdom, the state controlled all horses, so traveling mounted meant risking checkpoints at every turn.
Besides, Yen’s southern army was positioned where it bordered Zhao Kingdom to the west and Jin Kingdom to the south—terrain they could cross quickly enough even on foot.
Four days passed.
They crossed into Jin Kingdom’s territory.
Go Mi felt a spark of excitement.
Though Bi-wol specialized in covert operations and intelligence, she had rarely left Yen Kingdom before.
So despite being an enemy land, this journey was entirely new to her—a genuine adventure.
Thunder rolled overhead.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Then rain began to pour.
The group, still in the mountains, spotted an abandoned house nearby and ducked inside.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae unpacked the dried provisions, while Go Mi produced a bottle of wine.
It was Haedong Fine Wine—the very bottle Yi Hwan had given to Yi So, who had given it to Go Mi.
“Will you have some?”
“You’ve been carrying this all this time?”
“The other warriors declined it, so it remained.”
They quieted their hunger with the dried provisions and waited for the storm to pass.
Go Mi posed a question.
“I wish to know the precise purpose of our journey to Guizhou.”
“Think of it as gathering intelligence on the enemy.”
“At the front lines?”
“With both sides locked in combat, information flows freely. Bi-wol is to observe and map out Jin Kingdom’s key locations, while the rest of you study the Martial Artists from both nations—especially the strong ones—with meticulous care.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
Go Mi sensed that Yi Hwan was concealing something. But she pressed no further.
Thunder cracked and rumbled.
Lightning blazed in jagged streaks.
The tempest worsened, and wind whipped through the broken walls, shaking the abandoned structure.
“It seems we’ll have to spend the night here.”
“I’ll start a fire.”
Go Mi gathered scattered wood fragments from inside the abandoned house and kindled a fire. Darkness was already falling before she could add more fuel to the flames.
Perhaps they’d been walking without rest for days.
Warmed by the glow, they all leaned against the walls and closed their eyes.
Go Mi’s mind drifted.
‘I’ve accomplished quite a lot alongside the Crown Prince.’
As she pondered this, a soft laugh escaped her.
A faint smile.
‘Who would’ve thought—me, a Censor.’
She’d never imagined becoming a Censor. At her age, no one in history had served as both head of Bi-wol and a Censor simultaneously.
‘My parents would have been so proud.’
Thinking of them, Go Mi’s gaze settled on Yi Hwan, sitting across the fire.
In the firelight’s reflection, his face looked infinitely gentle—a softness wholly at odds with everything he’d accomplished.
‘Why has the Crown Prince hidden his strength all this time? Other royals exaggerate abilities they don’t even possess.’
It remained a puzzle.
Perhaps everyone who knew Yi Hwan harbored the same question.
Wind howled through the broken window.
Rain sprayed inward, and the fire flickered wildly, casting Yi Hwan’s face into alternating light and shadow.
That’s when Yi Hwan opened his eyes, and Go Mi quickly looked away.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae were stirring as well.
“I’ll go outside and check.”
Ju Tae rose to his feet.
As Go Mi turned to him with a puzzled expression, Yi Hwan spoke.
“Move away from the wall.”
“What?”
“Someone’s coming.”
“……!”

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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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