The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 82

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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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Enemy Dragon Undefeated, Chapter 82

Chapter 82 — Peng Mun’s Unease

Seo Hwa, in the eastern reaches of Gansu Province.
It was the main encampment of the Zhao army, positioned where they faced off against Yen Kingdom. It lay a hundred li away from the Neutral Zone, where they had waged fierce battles against Yen for years on end.
A great host began pouring into that place.
First came the soldiers who had left the encampment due to the battle at Gwi-ju Fortress, followed by troops stationed in northern Gansu Province—altogether, a force exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand.
Among them were Ghost Valley and the Hwang Bo Clan.
“Extraordinary.”
Hwang Bo Tae-jin gazed across the sprawling encampment with undisguised admiration. From the massive fortress walls towering twenty lengths high, to the watchtowers rising prominently throughout—
It resembled an impregnable iron fortress.
“Surely this means a full-scale war is about to break out?”
Hwang Bo Tae-jin shook his head at his attendant’s words.
“The King of the Southwest merely deployed his forces to display his strength before all under heaven. He will not venture into open war.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“Though he has pushed aside the Crown Prince, he has not yet seized the throne. Should he recklessly provoke a full-scale war and something go wrong, the factions supporting the Crown Prince could seize him again. Does the King of the Southwest not know this?”
“Then we need not fear a full-scale war.”
“For us too, a full-scale war is the absolute worst scenario. Should it begin here, we of the Hwang Bo Clan alone would bear the entire burden among Zhao’s many martial arts powers—wouldn’t we be left holding the bag?”
“Indeed, sir.”
Hwang Bo Tae-jin surveyed his surroundings. Then his eyes caught sight of Ghost Valley’s martial artists moving toward the left flank of the encampment, and his brow furrowed. His gaze fixed upon the Valley Master’s retreating figure, his eyes glinting with something cold and sinister.
‘Nam Gung Jang-cheon—I shall demand an explanation for why that whelp was spared when he could have been killed outright.’
He knew.
The Valley Master had not fought with full effort in the battle against the Nam Gung family.
Perhaps he was wrong, but he was certain of it.
Just then, one of the Hwang Bo Clan’s martial artists came running up.
“Clan Master! They say we may use that area!”
The warrior pointed to the right side of the encampment.
Barracks considerably larger and cleaner than those elsewhere stood in neat rows.
A satisfied smile spread across Hwang Bo Tae-jin’s lips.
“Our clan deserves no less than this level of treatment.”

* * *

Atop a mountain overlooking the entire Zhao encampment, a man stood with his body surrendered to the wind. It was Nam Gung Jang-cheon, who had followed the Zhao army from Jeok Su. He gazed down upon the vast Zhao encampment, his eyes growing distant.
‘The scale alone differs from Jin’s encampment. The rumor that Zhao pours the most military funds among the three kingdoms—it was true.’
What was called an encampment rivaled the size of an ordinary city. The fortress walls in particular, arrayed like screens around the river, were breathtaking merely to behold.
‘Suddenly parched…….’
Glug-glug!
Nam Gung Jang-cheon drew out his water pouch and quenched his thirst. Then he cast his gaze toward the northwest. Endless mountainous terrain thick with green stretched out before him.
Beyond those mountains lay the Neutral Zone, and beyond that, Yen Kingdom’s territory began.
‘Does Yen’s Southern Army possess any master capable of countering the Valley Master or Hwang Bo Tae-jin? If not, they will be driven back utterly.’
Nam Gung Jang-cheon gazed back toward the Zhao encampment.
At that moment, an enormous force was entering the encampment from the west. The scale was so vast that its end could not be seen, and Nam Gung Jang-cheon drew in a quiet breath.
‘The King of the Southwest has truly made up his mind. If this continues, Yen’s Southern Army is in grave danger…….’

* * *

The Southern Army.
Some two hundred giant warriors entered that place, which was engrossed in defensive preparations.
They were the martial artists of the Habuk Peng Clan.
Clan Master Peng Mun led them at the head.
The first to greet them was Peng Wu-wei. The moment he heard that the clan’s warriors had arrived, he came running with his deputy.
Peng Mun halted his steps and observed Peng Wu-wei approaching. His gaze held far more disappointment than joy.
“You have come, Clan Master.”
Though he was the Left General and General-in-Chief of the Southern Army, even Peng Wu-wei had no choice but to bow his head before the clan’s patriarch. The code of a martial arts clan passed down for centuries was that weighty.
“Why did you not inform me first? Am I to learn of matters upon which the clan’s very fate hangs through another’s mouth?”
“The circumstances at the time were unfavorable. I beg your pardon.”
Peng Wu-wei couldn’t lift his head, weighted down by remorse. Peng Mun regarded him in silence for a moment, then exhaled softly.
“You’ve been through considerable anguish.”
“No, that’s not—”
“It’s written all over your face. In any case, I’m grateful you made it through safely.”
……
Peng Wu-wei’s eyes reddened abruptly, and tears spilled down his cheeks. Peng Mun placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Before I came here, I had an audience with the Crown Prince. In that moment, I swore an oath to share his fate. Now you must lead us well.”
“There’s no cause for concern. We have the General here. If we simply trust and follow him, nothing will go amiss! Come, let us pay our respects to the General at once.”
As Peng Mun and Peng Wu-wei walked together, the former inquired about Yi Hwan.
“Until recently, the rumors painted him as utterly incompetent. I heard the Crown Prince was considering appointing him commander of the Imperial Guard. What is your assessment of the General? Is he truly someone worthy of our trust and allegiance?”
A sharp grin spread across Peng Wu-wei’s face.
He wiped away his tears, a characteristic smile breaking through.
“You’ll understand soon enough. Hehehehe.”

* * *

“This humble servant Peng Mun pays respects to the General.”
“Welcome, Patriarch.”
Yi Hwan watched Peng Mun bow and felt genuine admiration stir within him. Standing before him was something like a towering fortress materialized in flesh.
In his own time, the Habuk Peng Clan’s patriarch had always carried himself thus.
Peng Wu-wei spoke with evident pride.
“Our Habuk Peng Clan has produced a peerless master of unparalleled renown! If there are any troublesome enemies in the opposing camp, our patriarch will handle them all!”
“I look forward to it.”
Presently tea was brought in, and conversation began in earnest.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Peng Mun found himself seized by a growing unease.
‘There is nothing extraordinary about him, nothing to suggest uncommon ability. Yet why did the Left General speak of him with such praise?’
The truest mark of a master was the keenness of his judgment of character. In most men, their vessel’s measure could be gauged by the aura alone.
But from Yi Hwan emanated nothing worthy of acknowledgment. Instead, the light, almost frivolous tone and bearing that sat ill upon a general’s station stirred not merely unease but something approaching disappointment.
What captured Peng Mun’s attention were instead the two introduced as Yi Hwan’s guards—Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae.
‘They are like typhoons poised upon the knife’s edge before detonation.’
Then Yi Hwan posed an abrupt question.
“Do you happen to know why Dae-ya Fortress fell?”
“I regret to say that no reliable account of its destruction survives…”
Yi Hwan showed his disappointment. He’d posed the question in the hope that a patriarch of Habuk Peng’s stature might possess such knowledge.
Peng Mun asked in turn.
“You know of Dae-ya Fortress?”
“Ah, merely by chance.”
“It seems the General takes considerable interest in the history of the Martial World. Dae-ya is a place even martial artists scarcely know of. But what prompted your curiosity?”
“It was said to be the mightiest force in all ages, yet it vanished without leaving proper records—like dust scattered on the wind. All this despite barely two centuries having passed.”
“General.”
Go Mi entered.
The conversation ceased naturally, and all eyes turned toward her.
“Intelligence reports that Ghost Valley’s forces have doubled since the Gwi-ju Fortress engagement. Additionally, a considerable number of unaffiliated martial artists are converging on the Zhao encampment.”
“What of the regular army?”
“A portion of the forces that departed Gansu Province has just joined the enemy position. The remainder has not yet been detected.”
“Well done.”
As Go Mi withdrew, Peng Mun posed his question.
“Is Ghost Valley present in the Zhao encampment?”
“Ah, I forgot to mention—not only Ghost Valley, but the Hwang Bo Clan as well. So there will be considerable demands upon Habuk Peng.”
Peng Mun’s expression grew grave.
His clan stood alone here, yet the enemy possessed two formidable powers.
As Peng Mun was about to pose another question, Yi Hwan rose to his feet.
“You must be weary from your long journey. Rest now. Strategic matters will be conveyed through the General-in-Chief tomorrow.”
“Understood, General.”
Yi Hwan withdrew, leaving only Peng Wu-wei and his second-in-command in the chamber. Peng Mun turned to him directly.
“Just now the General said strategic matters would be relayed through you, yet he seems to be bypassing you as General-in-Chief and commanding the forces directly. Is that what he intends?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince Palace has authorized it, and we officers believe the General is better suited to command than I am.”
Hmm.
“Does the General displease you?”
“If my eyes do not deceive me, the General is…”
Peng Mun couldn’t bring himself to finish. Peng Wu-wei laughed sharply and spoke.
“The clan leader has already made a grave mistake.”
“A mistake? What are you talking about?”
“You should never have allied with Yi Hwang-ja from the start. The world believes they will push aside the Crown Prince, but I see it entirely differently. The Crown Prince has our general. He has concealed his strength until now, and once you witness his true nature, you will admit that my words are not wrong.”
At the mention of “our general,” Peng Mun suddenly grasped how Peng Wu-wei viewed Yi Hwan.
“Well now, this is something.”
Peng Mun couldn’t help but let out a rueful laugh.
Peng Wu-wei was not the sort to place absolute faith in any single person. He seemed rough and stolid, but he harbored suspicion and did not give his trust easily. Yet here he was, acting as though smitten with love.
Peng Mun straightened and opened his mouth.
“What is the general’s martial strength?”
“I don’t know precisely, either. But as I said, he has concealed his strength thus far, and I believe what he has hidden surpasses imagination.”
“Now look here. You follow and trust him without even knowing his true ability? That’s far too blind!”
“Just wait and see—you’ll understand soon enough.”
“This is…”
Peng Mun found Peng Wu-wei’s stubborn manner utterly exasperating.
Then it happened.
The door opened and a commander entered.
“General, soldiers believed to be Zhao Kingdom reconnaissance have been spotted climbing the gorge west of the encampment. With your permission, I will dispatch our men to eliminate them.”
“How many?”
“Approximately fifty, sir.”
“Is that so?”
Peng Wu-wei seemed to consider for a moment, then turned to Peng Mun.
“Excellent. Now is the time for the main clan to truly demonstrate its strength.”
“Understood.”
Peng Mun turned to address the senior officers of the clan and issued his order.
“No need to send many. Five will suffice.”
“Yes, clan leader.”
Peng Mun turned to the commander and spoke.
“Would you be willing to guide our men?”
The commander’s face registered shock.
“You’re sending only five?”
“That will be more than enough.”
“…!”

* * *

Nam Gung Jang-cheon remained on a mountain peak that overlooked the Zhao Military Encampment in full view.
As long as he didn’t venture down, there was no risk of discovery, and thus no particular need for heightened vigilance. But a problem had arisen.
‘I packed plenty of provisions.’
His food rations had run out.
No matter how skilled a martial artist one was, hunger could not be overcome. But hunting was impossible without fire, and he dared not risk the smoke—Nam Gung Jang-cheon found himself in a dilemma.
The answer came quickly.
‘I’m not striking today anyway. I’ll head down to the city first and find something to eat. Word has it there’s a city not far from where the Yen Kingdom’s Southern Army is stationed. I’ll go there.’
Nam Gung Jang-cheon descended the peak and headed northwest. As he moved, he observed the Zhao encampment from various points and noticed Ghost Valley disciples not far off.
The Valley Master was not visible—probably inside the command tent.
‘If the chance comes…’
Looking forward to a confrontation with the Ghost Valley Master, Nam Gung Jang-cheon moved swiftly through the forest. How long had he been traveling?
He spotted movement ahead.
They were Zhao Kingdom soldiers.
Nam Gung Jang-cheon’s eyes gleamed when he noticed two Ghost Valley disciples among them.
‘They’re already on reconnaissance. At this rate, it won’t be long before the two kingdoms clash.’
Nam Gung Jang-cheon considered taking a wide detour but then decided simply to follow at their heels. Since they were heading the same way, there was no reason to take a longer path.
Whoooosh!
A powerful wind aided Nam Gung Jang-cheon.
The forest swayed in the strong gust, its rustling providing cover, so he had no need to exert himself greatly to conceal his presence. After perhaps half a day of travel—
An enormous gorge appeared ahead, as if the earth had collapsed inward.
The Zhao soldiers descended into the gorge without hesitation.
Nam Gung Jang-cheon followed silently behind.
The gorge was far deeper and wider than it appeared from above. With sheer cliffs on both sides, it seemed only a bird could escape from it.
“The Yen dogs must have detected our movements by now, but is it wise to venture this deep?”
“Needless worry. They’ve realized troops are massing at the camp, but they’ll never expect us to scout this quickly.”
“With those masters here, what’s there to fear?”
The soldiers glanced back at the masters from Ghost Valley and nodded.
To them, these masters—beings they could never hope to surpass—were profoundly reassuring.
That was when they reached the far end of the gorge.
“The little dogs come fast.”
Figures emerged, pushing through the forest that choked the gorge’s mouth.
“Yen soldiers!”
“Damn them!”
Cling-cling-cling-clang!
The Zhao troops drew their blades in unison. In the same breath, the masters from Ghost Valley stepped forward.
From the Yen side, warriors surged ahead—soldiers of the Habuk Peng Clan.
Nam Gung Jang-cheon crouched in the forest shadows, his eyes alight with fascination as he studied the scene unfolding before him.
‘So the Habuk Peng Clan is stationed at the Yen camp. This should prove interesting.’

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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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