The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 8

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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 8

Chapter 8 — Cha Jung-kyung Returns

“What?”
Song Hui’s eyes widened in surprise.
He’d caught sight of Cha Jung-kyung entering with Jang Su.
Lee Hwan set down his cup and examined Cha Jung-kyung from head to foot. He bore no visible injuries, not a scratch.
“What happened?”
“I was abducted.”
“By whom?”
“By the man you mentioned was at that tavern. And there was another one as well.”
“You must have plenty to tell me.”
Cha Jung-kyung deferred his answer, gesturing toward Jang Su with a glance.
“Would you leave us?”
“Of course, sir!”
As Jang Su withdrew, Cha Jung-kyung collapsed into a chair and let out a heavy sigh.
“Ahhh……”
“Tell me. What’s going on? All of it.”
“Well……”
Cha Jung-kyung laid out everything truthfully. When he finished, Lee Hwan’s eyes grew cold.
‘They recognized the Tal-hon-gi and even mentioned the Sword King?’
These were people of equal importance to Nang In, who had first taught Cha Jung-kyung the technique.
“That’s not all, though, is it?”
“They’re using me to target you.”
Cha Jung-kyung reached into his robe and placed something on the table. A small wooden box, no larger than a fingertip.
“Open it.”
Inside the box lay a single ring, smaller than a fingernail.
“They told me to dissolve this in whatever tea or wine you drink. They said it’s colorless and odorless, so you’d never notice.”
“And?”
“That’s all there was.”
“So they just let you go after giving you this?”
“That’s not how it went.”
Cha Jung-kyung exhaled slowly, then continued.
“They placed a curse seal on my body. They said that when the time comes, they’ll return to lift it. If I disobey, or if they sense anything amiss, I’ll be reduced to a handful of blood and bone.”
Song Hui, who had risen to his feet, stepped forward.
“You shouldn’t trust him. There’s clearly more to this.”
“I’ve hidden nothing.”
“How are we supposed to believe you?”
“Out. Now.”
“……”
As Song Hui withdrew, Lee Hwan asked again.
“Why reveal all this? If I were in your position, I’d do exactly as they commanded.”
“Even if I obeyed them, would they let me live? These men are plotting against you — not just anyone. They wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate me without a second thought. So I’ve decided to trust you instead of them.”
Sincerity rang through his words. Lee Hwan poured himself another cup of wine.
The liquid splashed gently into the cup.
“Drink with me.”
“I’m not in the mood.”
“Drink.”
“……”
Cha Jung-kyung reluctantly drained his cup.
Lee Hwan smiled faintly.
“Impressive. It’s not easy to think so clearly when your life hangs in the balance.”
“I simply want to live.”
“You won’t die.”
“Still, I have to meet them again in three days. Use that opportunity to find a way to save me. My life now rests in your hands.”
“There is no curse seal.”
“……What?”
“Those men placed no curse seal upon your body.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“If it were otherwise, I would know it.”
Lee Hwan filled his cup and drained it in one long gulp.
Clack!
Song Hui stepped forward.
“Should we not use this man to capture them?”
“We should. But now is not the time.”
“Sir?”
In his present state, there was no wisdom in taking unnecessary risks. He needed to use whatever time remained to build his spiritual power as much as possible.
Besides, he still wasn’t certain whether the men who had taken Cha Jung-kyung were allies or enemies.
“You’re truly certain there’s no curse seal?”
“Didn’t you agree to trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me. If you die before we find Nang In, I’ll be the one in trouble—why would I lie?”
At Lee Hwan’s words, Cha Jung-kyung’s expression finally brightened. A moment later, a curse spilled from his lips.
“Damn that bastard!”
“You’re clever.”
“Sir?”
“Losing that ring was a smart move.”
A slight smile.
“I have some wit about me.”

* * *

Lee Hwan returned to the military garrison the next morning.
He gazed down at the small wooden box that Cha Jung-kyung had brought, lost in thought.
‘Finding Ten Thousand Li Pursuit Incense here of all places.’
Ten Thousand Li Pursuit Incense was a substance created to pursue a person and determine their location—literally an incense whose scent did not fade for an entire year, even from a distance of ten thousand li.
Of course, ten thousand li was somewhat of an exaggeration, but the scent truly lingered across considerable distances in a way that lived up to its name, making it extraordinarily useful for pursuing or surveilling someone.
Yet because of its exceptional utility, it was expensive and rare.
‘What do I do with this?’
Lee Hwan considered his options. But the deliberation didn’t take long.
Glug, glug.
Lee Hwan fetched another teacup and poured.
For someone who drank tea heavily each morning, Song Hui had already brewed a generous pot.
Lee Hwan broke a pellet of the incense in half, dropped it into the cup, and waited for it to dissolve. It disappeared quickly, leaving no trace of color change.
“Commander.”
Song Hui opened the door and entered.
“Have some tea.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline.”
“You’d refuse my goodwill?”
“… Yes. Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
Song Hui drank the tea laced with the pursuit incense.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to raise your salary.”
“It’s quite all right. I’m already satisfied with what I receive.”
“No. You’ve devoted yourself to me all this time—it’s only right that I increase it, however slightly.”
“Thank you, Dae-gun!”
“Drink it while it’s hot, before the scent fades.”
“Yes!”

* * *

Near the military garrison of Yeon Kingdom.
A man and Qing Po Ren stood side by side at a vantage point overlooking the garrison, conversing.
“Do you think it worked?”
“It’s hardly difficult.”
“What if he’s had a change of heart?”
“Throw his life away for the enemy dae-gun who captured him? Preposterous.”
“Understood. Shall we begin then?”
Qing Po Ren pulled something from his sleeve. It was a small fox with fur as white as snow.
Yip-yip-yip!
The fox licked Qing Po Ren’s face.
“Go now. Check on the Pursuit Incense and return.”
Yip-yip-yip!
The fox bolted from Qing Po Ren’s embrace and streaked toward the military garrison like an arrow.
About half an hour later, the fox returned.
Yip-yip-yip!
The fox leapt into Qing Po Ren’s arms. He studied the creature’s eyes and broke into a broad smile.
“He’s succeeded!”
A faint smile traced the man’s lips.
“All we need do now is wait for him to leave the garrison or march into battle.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Find us somewhere suitable to stay.”
“At once!”
The man watched Qing Po Ren’s retreating figure disappear beyond the forest, then turned his gaze back toward the garrison.
‘The Fourth Prince’s maternal relatives might be carrying the bloodline of the Sword King. I’ll need to verify that. Let it be so, I pray.’
Deep within the man’s pupils, a cold gleam arose like distant starlight.
‘But if that’s not the case… he dies.’

* * *

‘No master of the realm, no matter how supreme, can breach these walls. So I’ll wait for the moment he leaves the garrison or takes to the field.’
Tens of thousands of warriors were garrisoned in the Southern Military Division.
An ultimate martial master could certainly contend with hundreds of soldiers, but against tens of thousands, even the mightiest would find themselves outnumbered.
‘If I wait, he’ll come to me eventually.’
Lee Hwan returned to his mind cultivation.
His residence, situated deep within the garrison’s heart, was rarely visited by officers, allowing him to focus entirely on recovering his spiritual power.
Several days passed.
During that time, Peng Muwei came twice and departed empty-handed both times.
Meanwhile, officers gathered in the barracks of Commander Hwang Ho.
It was a strategy meeting to retake the positions they had lost. Peng Muwei pressed forward eagerly.
“We of the Peng Clan shall lead the vanguard this time!”
Hwang Ho raised no objection. After all, they had come for this—to face the Heuk Ho Division.
But the other officers’ looks toward Peng Muwei were far from favorable.
It wasn’t merely his arrogant bearing; it was widely known that he enjoyed the Second Prince’s protection, and many feared becoming entangled in political machinations.
Jeong Cheon, in particular, who despised such politics, would not even glance at him.
At the close of the meeting, Peng Muwei spoke.
“Will the Dae-gun not participate in this operation?”
“That is a matter for the Dae-gun’s own will to decide. We have no place commenting on it.”
“What a shame. I’ve heard the Dae-gun has displayed exceptional skill of late, and I’m most curious to see just how formidable he truly is.”
“Have courtesy calls been paid?”
“Not yet. Whenever we attempt to visit, he refuses entry entirely.”
“Pay your respects when opportunity permits. If you have questions, ask him directly. Now then, let us conclude this meeting. All of you, make ready.”
The officers dispersed to their respective barracks.
Peng Muwei departed toward his barracks as well, his escort at his side. As he walked, he cast a sidelong glance at Lee Hwan’s barracks.
“Is that the Heuk Ho Division soldier the Dae-gun captured?”
Peng Muwei asked, watching Cha Jung-kyung laboring in the courtyard.
His escort replied.
“Yes. For some reason, the Dae-gun has taken him into his service, and no one dares lay a hand on him.”
“A man who showed not the slightest competence before suddenly proves his worth on the battlefield, and moreover, recruits an enemy soldier to his own cause? There’s certainly something odd here.”
“Shall we take the opportunity to eliminate him?”
“Do so. But make sure the Dae-gun learns nothing of it. Even a powerless Dae-gun is still a Dae-gun, after all.”
“Understood.”
Returning to his barracks shortly after, Peng Muwei ordered his clan’s warriors to prepare for deployment and changed into his armor. The ornaments hanging from its edges gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
Peng Muwei caressed the ornaments with a satisfied smile.
“I shall surely become the supreme commander of this place and prove myself an asset to the Empress and the Second Prince.”
It was then.
“General, the Dae-gun has sent someone to see you.”
‘He sent someone?’
Peng Muwei settled into his chair, deliberately arranging his features into an austere mask.
“Send him in.”
The door opened, and Song Hui entered.
“The Dae-gun sent you?”
“Yes. He expressed regret that despite visiting several times, he has been unable to meet with you. He has therefore sent me to invite you to share tea.”
‘So he refused my visits all this time, and now suddenly wants to share tea?’
Peng Muwei bit back a bitter smile.
“I see. I have little time before the operation begins, but naturally I must pay my respects to the Dae-gun.”
Peng Muwei rose, still clad in his armor and helmet, and left the barracks.
Shortly after, Lee Hwan and Peng Muwei sat across from each other.
“I hear you visited three times.”
“You seemed occupied, so I simply withdrew.”
Peng Muwei could not bring himself to say that he had been turned away. Lee Hwan asked:
“How have you been keeping, brother?”
“Well, I’m in good health.”
The word brother tasted bitter on his tongue. He had never called anyone that in his entire life.
Though he had been called it before.
“Please, have some tea.”
“I am grateful for your kindness.”
Peng Muwei was a man versed in the art of tea. So he deliberately savored the aroma, drinking slowly as if to demonstrate his refinement.
Tap!
“The aroma is quite exquisite. I am overwhelmed by such fine tea.”
“Really? That’s just common tavern tea you can find in any marketplace. I’m pleased it suits your taste. I should have offered you something better, but I’m short on funds these days, I’m afraid. I hope you’ll understand.”
……
Lee Hwan watched as Peng Muwei struggled to conceal his shock, then asked bluntly:
“Why did you come here?”
I am merely following my superiors’ orders, with no other intentions. Soldiers like us have little choice but to go where we are commanded.”
“There have been men prowling around at night. Did you send them?”
“Why would I do such a thing? Not at all.”
Peng Muwei felt a stab of unease.
At the same time, he was astounded.
‘I sent skilled fighters, yet how did he detect them?’
“Never mind then. Well, until we meet again.”
……
As Lee Hwan disappeared into his quarters, Peng Muwei could not hide his bewilderment.
‘He calls me here saying he’s busy, and this is it……’

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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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