The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 80

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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 Martial Emperor, Episode 80

Chapter 80 — The Variable Becomes Reality

Mun Chi-yong, the strategist serving Yi Tae-ji, pressed his forehead to the floor.
Thud!
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness!”
Blood streamed from his shattered brow, staining the ground crimson. Yi Tae-ji’s eyes, boring down at him, blazed with killing intent.
“Lately you’ve shown nothing but the limits of your incompetence. How much longer must I tolerate this?”
“Grant me one more chance, Your Highness! I swear I will restore everything to your vision!”
“How? By what means?”
Crash!
The table shattered, and a teacup flew through the air, striking Mun Chi-yong’s head with brutal force.
Scatter!
Yet Mun Chi-yong did not so much as flinch.
“Peng Wu-wei’s defection means the Habuk Peng Clan can defect as well. How will you explain this to the Empress?”
“I shall go personally to the Southern Army Corps!”
“Silence!”
Flutter, flutter!
The curtain hanging before Yi Tae-ji’s window billowed violently. It was a display of formidable inner strength.
“Rush at once to the Habuk Peng Clan and prevent them from turning back. Use whatever means necessary! Hear me well—if you fail again, I will add all your past failures to this one and sever your head from your shoulders, Mun Chi-yong.”
“……!”
“Do not dawdle. Move!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Mun Chi-yong backed out of Yi Tae-ji’s chambers, and with each step he took, blood dripping from his brow traced crimson flowers upon the floor.
Patter, patter.
The fear that had filled his eyes moments before gave way to calculation.
‘Did the Grand Prince win over Peng Wu-wei? Or is this coward simply lacking the nerve to betray a prince?’
A dispatch from someone in the Southern Army Corps had outlined the situation in detail.
Peng Wu-wei had actively aided Yi Hwan, and all of Mun Chi-yong’s direct subordinates, along with the Golden Guard officers who sought to assist them, had been executed.
Moreover, the report noted that events had unfolded so swiftly there had been no opportunity for them to intervene.
‘If not Peng Wu-wei, then the Grand Prince himself must have orchestrated this entire situation.’
Mun Chi-yong doubted this.
He knew from intelligence that Yi Hwan had been concealing his strength, but he had assessed it insufficient to dismantle his own meticulous plan.
Even now, that conviction did not waver.
And so suspicion turned toward Yi Hwan’s guards.
‘They are likely men attached to the Grand Prince by the Crown Prince’s Palace to obstruct our efforts. I must identify who they are…….’
Crunch!
Mun Chi-yong bit his lower lip.
He had to rush to the Habuk Peng Clan at once and prevent their defection.
‘Once I settle the matter of the Habuk Peng Clan, I will have no choice but to venture to the Southern Army Corps myself.’

* * *

The tide of war between Zhao and Jin shifted the moment Yuryeong Gok-ju entered the fray in earnest.
He killed only Jin’s martial artists with cold precision, and in the process, more than ten masters of the Peak Realm fell to his hand.
For Jin, it was a blow from which recovery seemed impossible.
Forced to retreat south of the Red Water, Jin watched as Zhao, emboldened by momentum, pressed forward with ever more savage assaults, driving the battle line deeper into Jin’s territory.
Today, the two kingdoms clashed in fierce combat within the narrow gorge south of the Red Water.
“Phew!”
Hot breath escaped Namgoong Jang-cheon’s lips. A haze of blood rose from his lowered blade, drifting across his face.
“First Son! No more can be endured—we must retreat at once!”
“The enemy presses from behind!”
The warriors of the Namgoong Clan, locked in desperate struggle at the battle’s front line, called out for withdrawal.
Namgoong Jang-cheon’s gaze remained fixed on Yuryeong Gok-ju, who danced his Sword Dance in the heart of the carnage.
Clang-clang-clang!
“Aagh!”
“Krraagh!”
Soldiers who had failed to escape were being slaughtered mercilessly by him and his subordinates.
Namgoong Jang-cheon’s eyes blazed with fury.
But his mind remained colder than ice.
“Withdraw.”
Shrill!
As the war horn sounded the retreat, the Jin Kingdom forces began to fall back.
Namgoong Jang-cheon’s gaze remained fixed on Yuryeong Gok-ju. Then Yuryeong Gok-ju looked toward him.
Their eyes locked across the empty space between them.
“If you wish, I’ll face you one against one.”
Yuryeong Gok-ju’s voice, whispered low, pierced Namgoong Jang-cheon’s ear like a blade.
Tremor-tremor…….
Namgoong Jang-cheon laughed. But the twitch at the corner of his eye spread across his entire face.
“I’d prefer we meet again another time.”
“Is this the third time you’ve tucked tail and run away? Hehehehe.”
Namgoong Jang-cheon turned on his heel at once.
In that instant, all trace of laughter vanished, and his eyes ignited with murderous light.
Yuryeong Gok-ju watched him turn and let his gaze settle.
‘If he continues like this for merely ten more years, how many in all the realm will be capable of standing against that young pup?’
The martial prowess Namgoong Jang-cheon had displayed against their own forces thus far was nothing short of extraordinary. What was even more striking was that Yuryeong Gok-ju himself had never reached such a height at that age.
Whoosh!
His subordinates approached.
“What of it?”
“Today as well, there was no sign of anyone using the Tal-hon-gi in the enemy lines.”
“We launched an unscheduled attack to draw them onto the field, yet for days now there’s been neither hide nor hair of them…….”
“But my lord, rumors are spreading that a truce will be made.”
“What?”
“The Crown Prince has fallen from power, and the King of the Southwest has seized full authority. It’s said he wishes for a truce with the Jin Kingdom. The General-in-Chief’s side appears to have already caught wind of this and begun to move.”
“Of all times, why now…….”
Yuryeong Gok-ju felt disconcerted.
In the past, he would have welcomed a truce eagerly. A truce would have meant hurrying across to Yen Kingdom to search for the wanderer who had supposedly passed on the Tal-hon-gi.
But now the situation was different.
Since users of the Tal-hon-gi had been discovered on this very battlefield, there was no longer reason to venture into Yen Kingdom.
It was then.
“My lord!”
A commander approached from behind.
He spoke at once in a stern voice.
“Orders from the General-in-Chief: withdraw all forces to ten li beyond the current position.”
‘So the rumors of a truce are true?’
It was an order he could not fathom. At a moment when they were regaining momentum and pressing forward, to pull back all forces ten li away seemed senseless.
“Obey the order at once!”
“Understood.”
Yuryeong Gok-ju gazed out across the desolate battlefield and searched for Namgoong Jang-cheon. But he had already vanished.
‘A pity. I would have liked to face him properly.’

* * *

The Military Encampment of Jin Kingdom.
Namgoong Jang-cheon dove into the Red Water, cooling his body and spirit—both burning hot.
He floated motionless on the water like a buoy, gazing blankly up at the sky.
His mind was consumed entirely by thoughts of Yuryeong Gok-ju.
Quiver-quiver…….
Behind his trembling gaze lay a fury—directed at himself.
Then he let out a bitter laugh.
‘So arrogant, so drunk with pride, and now look at you. What a pathetic sight, Namgoong Jang-cheon.’
It was the first time.
This helplessness, this sense of defeat—when gripped by the thought that he could not overcome it, despair itself crept in.
‘Damn it…….’

* * *

“He’s over there.”
A warrior of the Namgoong Clan pointed toward Namgoong Jang-cheon.
A young man in white robes studied Namgoong Jang-cheon intently. He possessed features as striking as Namgoong Jang-cheon’s own, and an aura that spoke of extraordinary talent.
“You’ve done well. You may go now.”
“Yes, understood.”
As the warrior withdrew, the man in white folded his arms and leaned against a tree at the water’s edge.
“How much longer are you planning to stay in there?”
At the young man’s words, Namgoong Jang-cheon lifted his head. Though his body should have sunk beneath the surface, not even a ripple disturbed the water.
Something flickered in Namgoong Jang-cheon’s eyes as he regarded the man in white.
The young man smiled faintly and spoke again.
“If you’re done washing, you might as well come out.”
Splash!
Namgoong Jang-cheon burst upward into the air and descended beside the young man in white. As he landed, white steam rose from his entire body.
He had used his inner strength to dry himself.
Namgoong Jang-cheon asked, “Did your clan join the campaign?”
“Yes, we did. That’s how it turned out. But…”
The young man’s brow furrowed as his words trailed off, and he delivered something that startled Namgoong Jang-cheon.
“I’ve been hearing talk of a truce. Haven’t even drawn my blade once yet.”
“What? A truce?”
“Ah, so you haven’t heard the news.”
“Tell me everything. Who’s brought up this truce?”
Namgoong Jang-cheon’s excitement was evident.
“I don’t know all the details myself. But apparently the King of Southwest Zhao pushed the Crown Prince aside and seized full authority. And it seems he’s the one seeking a truce.”
“Have you met the General-in-Chief?”
“Why would I meet with him? Just the sight of him irritates me. The elders are in talks right now, so a conclusion will come soon enough. But is this really all right with you?”
“Meet me at the military encampment.”
Bang!
Namgoong Jang-cheon kicked off the ground and soared into the air, racing toward the military encampment.
The young man in white chuckled as he watched him go.
“If he’s that worked up, it must be true that Yuryeong Gok-ju gave him a thorough beating.”
The slightly crooked teeth visible when he smiled were quite charming.
This was Danri Mok, the eldest son of the Danri Clan, a figure receiving no less attention than Namgoong Jang-cheon himself.
“His pride must have taken quite the blow. Hehehehe.”

Warriors from both sides who had fought and bled opposed it fiercely, but to no avail.
The two kingdoms returned to their pre-conflict positions, and all the martial artists who had participated withdrew.
News of it reached Yi Hwan’s ears.

“Such clauses can be broken whenever either side wishes.”
Yi Hwan’s response to Go Mi’s report was measured. He had anticipated something like this, so there was little cause for surprise.
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and rose to his feet.
“Minister.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Summon the generals. Assemble them at the Command Center. I will preside over the council.”
“At once, my lord.”
Song Hoe rushed out in haste.
Shortly after, Yi Hwan made his way to the Command Center.
Construction was already underway in various parts of the military encampment. He had ordered the defensive fortifications reinforced and new ones constructed in preparation for an assault from Zhao.
Cheol Mu-ok followed behind Yi Hwan and posed a question.
“Should we not also preemptively reinforce our martial artist contingent?”
“That is a matter for the Crown Prince’s Palace to decide. They are not unaware of the situation, so measures will doubtless be taken soon enough.”

Ju Tae asked.
“Should we call in our forces first?”
“There’s no rush. Let’s observe how many Martial Artists join the Zhao forces before we decide.”
“Understood.”
“The two of you should assist with the Dragon-Tiger Army’s training. Pay special attention to sword drills—they’ll be what matters most in real combat.”
“Understood.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae sprinted toward the training grounds of the Dragon-Tiger Army.
Yi Hwan made his way to the Command Center, his gaze settling into a measured calm.
‘To become Commander of the Imperial Guard, I need to change how people perceive me. Otherwise, I’ll be engulfed in chaos before I even take office—and the Crown Prince’s Palace will suffer for it too.’
Yi Hwan had already thought this through.
Having decided to take command of the Imperial Guard, he wanted to do it properly.
As he walked, Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi. “The court ministers won’t be pleased about me becoming Commander of the Imperial Guard either, will they?”
“The ministers who judge by rumor alone likely feel that way. As for the other prince—needless to say.”
“So should I be hoping the Zhao Kingdom attacks us instead? The only way to dispel doubts about my abilities is to prove myself against them in war.”
…….
“Gok-ju—redirect all intelligence resources to monitoring the Zhao forces from now on. Pay especially close attention to any Martial Artists who join them.”
“Understood.”
“Go get some rest. I’ll head to the Command Center alone.”
Yi Hwan proceeded to the Command Center by himself.
Go Mi watched his retreating figure, her gaze strange and unreadable.
‘He doesn’t even concern himself with the possibility of the Zhao forces attacking.’

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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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