The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 85

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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 Chapter 85

Chapter 85 – I Cannot Simply Walk Away

Bi Wol’s organizational scale could not match that of Dong Chang or Jin Yi Wei. Yet the work they accomplished was no less formidable than either of those two.
Unknown to the world, Bi Wol had embedded agents within the very Imperial Palace and military apparatus of enemy nations. Go Mi’s remarkable ability to gather intelligence on hostile powers with such speed owed entirely to this vast network.
Yet even Bi Wol could not easily obtain one thing: information regarding the Zhao Kingdom’s Crown Prince and the martial artists in his circle.

All intelligence concerning the martial artists around the Crown Prince remained classified; access itself was impossible.

Go Mi’s brow creased slightly as she reviewed the dispatch.
‘Strange. They protect a Crown Prince cast down by the Southwest King with such vigilance?’
Clink.
Go Mi sipped her tea, then reclined backward and folded her arms across her chest.
‘Yi Hwan will be disappointed.’
Yi Hwan had requested intelligence on the martial artists who arrived with the Zhao Crown Prince. But since access to the information itself was barred, there was no alternative path forward.
‘If they become variables in the coming war, this could turn against us.’
Go Mi removed her Human Skin Mask, frustrated.
Having been declared dead, she had taken to wearing it even within her quarters ever since returning to the military encampment.
Just then, Yeo Mu-sa entered.
“You’ve removed your mask?”
“It was suffocating.”
“When you’re with me, please remove it. Drink this tea.”
Go Mi accepted the tea Yeo Mu-sa offered and drank.
Clink.
“This time, I fear we won’t be able to obtain the intelligence Yi Hwan desires. I cannot understand why Zhao is protecting a deposed Crown Prince so carefully.”
Yeo Mu-sa stared intently at the frustrated Go Mi.
Then she ventured softly, “Do you know something?”
“What?”
“For some time now, you’ve grown more passionate. When it comes to intelligence that might aid Yi Hwan, you’re far more zealous than before. Like now.”
“Is that strange?”
“Not strange, exactly. Just an observation. Rest now.”
Go Mi watched Yeo Mu-sa’s departing silhouette and frowned, her lips tightening.
‘What was she trying to say?’
Go Mi lifted her teacup again, bringing it to her lips. Then something occurred to her, and her eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
‘Surely she doesn’t think that I—’
Clatter!
“Come back in here!”
At Go Mi’s urgent cry, Yeo Mu-sa opened the door and poked her head inside.
“Is there something you need?”
“What did you mean by what you said just now?”
“I didn’t mean anything by it?”
“You’re not thinking that I harbor romantic feelings for Yi Hwan, are you?”
“I wasn’t thinking that at all, but your reaction just now does seem rather suspicious.”
“It’s absolutely not like that, so stop with the useless speculation and make sure no incoming dispatches are overlooked.”
“Yes.”
Bang!
As the door shut, Go Mi drained the last of her tea.
“Agh!”
Go Mi hastily drew up her Internal Energy Circulation. The tea had been far too hot.
‘That girl is insane, truly.’

Yi Hwan, Cheol Mu-ok, and Go Mi stood side by side atop a mountain peak where harsh winds swept violently across the ridge.
From where they stood—well within Zhao’s territory—the enemy military encampment lay spread below them like a map. Since leaving the encampment at dawn, Yi Hwan had been meticulously surveying the approach routes that would be used if an attack came, carefully mapping every strategic passage and chokepoint.

Of course, the mapmaking was Go Mi’s responsibility.
“Impressive.”
The Zhao Military Encampment, seen for the first time, was worthy of admiration. The entire encampment was organized like a single city, a stark contrast to the Yen encampment.
“If it’s like that, the soldiers can live with their families, making military life quite comfortable. Morale must be sky-high as well.”
“Indeed. Most Zhao encampments operate this way. That’s probably why they’re rumored to have the highest military expenditure among the three kingdoms.”
Yi Hwan continued calmly in response to Go Mi’s words.
“But if fighting breaks out there, won’t the soldiers be too worried about their families to fight properly?”
“That’s correct. It’s one of the weaknesses we’ve identified in the Zhao encampment.”
“To strike there, I’d have to become a heartless monster. I’d be forced to kill ordinary people too.”
Go Mi spoke up.
“If such a situation came to pass, would you do it?”
“What should I do?”
“That’s not a problem I should be contemplating.”
“If you were me.”
……
Go Mi didn’t answer. Inside, she regretted asking something unnecessary.
“What would you do, Cheol Mu-ok?”
“War permits no mercy. If the enemy won’t surrender, there’s no choice, is there?”
Yi Hwan turned to look at Go Mi.
“Remember what Cheol Mu-ok just said.”
……Yes.
Yi Hwan turned his gaze back to the Zhao encampment.
Soldiers moved busily throughout the encampment. What caught the eye most was an unusually large number of war horses.
“Was cavalry always this numerous?”
“When the encampment was first established in the neutral zone, there weren’t nearly so many. Considering this mountainous terrain makes cavalry nearly useless, there must be another purpose.”
“Are they planning a quick escape if they have to retreat?”
“I’ll look into it.”
Yi Hwan looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds were rolling in from somewhere far to the west.
“Once the sun sets, we’ll move closer and investigate. Until then, we wait here.”
Yes.
Understood.
It was then.
Clang-clang-clang!
The sound of a bell rang out distantly. Immediately after, soldiers throughout the encampment came rushing out and ran somewhere. Faced with this sudden turn of events, Yi Hwan drew up his inner strength to maximize his vision.
But they were so far away that it was impossible to discern what was happening.
Cheol Mu-ok spoke.
“Something appears to have occurred.”
“I hope it’s good news for us.”

* * *

Clang-clang-clang!
The bell rang loudly throughout the entire encampment.
Officers rushed from all directions toward the center of the encampment where the General-in-Chief’s quarters stood.
One officer found his way to Crown Prince Jo Gwang’s tent. He was a Martial Artist, one of the officers who had come with Jo Gwang.
“The order has been carried out, Your Highness.”
“The cleanup was handled without incident?”
“Yes. As you commanded, I left traces of Yen soldiers inside the quarters.”
“Then all that’s left is to pin the death of the previous General-in-Chief on Yen as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Jo Gwang raised his tea cup to his lips.
Papa spoke.
“There are still many officers loyal to the Southwest King. If we let them live, they’ll become trouble down the road.”
“They should die on the battlefield anyway, shouldn’t they?”
“But……”
“When we begin the attack, they’ll all be placed at the vanguard. Since they assassinated the General-in-Chief they trusted and followed, they’ll be grateful to be given the honor of leading the charge. Hehehehe.”
“Then we can eliminate the Southwest King’s lackeys without a drop of blood on our hands. Truly worthy of Your Highness!”
“No celebration until we succeed.”
Clink.
Jo Gwang set down his teacup and rose to his feet. Papa brought him his outer robe.
Jo Gwang draped it over his shoulders and left the tent.
Papa and several others formed an impenetrable cordon around him.
“Isn’t it absurd?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“That the Crown Prince of this nation cannot trust the warriors of my own country. That reality.”
“All things shall return to their proper order soon. Until then, I ask only that you bear with us a little longer.”
Papa and everyone else burned with righteous indignation. The generals of this place were men who, not long ago, had lived in comfort beneath Jo Gwang’s shadow. Not a soul had doubted that Jo Gwang would become the next Emperor.
But now, in a complete reversal of fortunes, they addressed him as “sir” and spurned him.
“Let’s go.”
Jo Gwang headed toward the General-in-Chief’s tent.
Numerous officers were already gathered around the tent’s perimeter, buzzing with unease.

* * *

As the sun sank and night fell, rain began to pour. Yi Hwan and Go Mi positioned themselves some distance from the military encampment and waited for Cheol Mu-ok to return.
Cheol Mu-ok had slipped into enemy territory ahead of them to investigate the incident that had occurred during the day.
Thunder rumbled!
Lightning crackled!
The storm turned Yi Hwan and Go Mi white with electric light. How many hours passed like this?
Cheol Mu-ok returned.
“The General-in-Chief here is dead. But when I captured one of their soldiers and interrogated him, they believe it was we who assassinated him.”
Lightning crackled!
The storm turned them all white again.
“The Crown Prince arrives, and suddenly our General-in-Chief is assassinated by us? The Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom crafted quite a plausible strategy.”
“You believe it was the Crown Prince’s doing, sir?”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
“Before battle, he stokes our hostility to raise the army’s spirits. With the General-in-Chief dead, seizing control of the encampment becomes effortless—a bonus. But why would such a man lose to the Southwest King? Is the Southwest King truly that formidable?”
Faced with Yi Hwan’s confident assessment, neither Cheol Mu-ok nor Go Mi voiced any disagreement. Now that they heard it, the logic was sound.
“There’s little point in investigating further. Let’s head back.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan turned to leave.
But then something occurred to him, and he looked back at the Zhao encampment, muttering to himself.
“Since they already think it was us, it would be a shame to leave without making a proper impression, wouldn’t it?”
‘What is he planning now?’
Go Mi felt a sudden chill of anxiety.
As expected.
“Let’s pay our respects, at least. You wait here, Go Mi.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
“You won’t.”

* * *

‘He truly is impossible to pin down.’
Go Mi hid in the forest, watching the Zhao encampment lit up in brilliant chaos, and shook her head in disbelief.
She had anticipated he would do something, but she had not expected him to strike on such a scale.
A roaring crash of flame!
Somehow he had set the fires alight, and even through the downpour, the flames rose viciously. From within came the endless screams of the dying.
Go Mi’s anxiety deepened.
‘There must be quite a number of martial artists among them.’
Then she saw it. Two shadows cutting through the darkness, bearing down fast.
“Full retreat. Run!”
“……!”
Yi Hwan’s voice reached her ears.
Go Mi had no time to ask questions—she threw herself forward at once. Looking back, she saw Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok with a fierce tide of pursuers at their heels.
A sharp snap of branches!
Go Mi clenched her teeth and drew her inner strength to its maximum.
‘I’m not going to make it out of this alive.’

* * *

Go Mi ran without pause.
When she glanced back, Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok were nearly upon her heels. And the enemy pursuing them drew equally close.
“I’ll need to beg your pardon.”
Whoosh!
“——!”
Yi Hwan wrapped one arm around Go Mi’s waist.
“I can still run!”
“Keep running and you’ll die.”
Tap-tap-tap!
“——!”
Go Mi felt the sudden surge of speed ripple through her entire body.
‘He’s been holding back this whole time. For me.’
Yi Hwan’s Lightness Technique transcended imagination. The rain stung her face as they cut through it.
Yi Hwan glanced backward.
About ten martial artists gave chase, but two of them moved with extraordinary speed, closing the gap relentlessly.
Cheol Mu-ok shouted from behind them.
“Let me handle these dogs!”
“Growing tired?”
“Not at all!”
“Then just run.”

* * *

“They’ve turned back.”
At Cheol Mu-ok’s words, Yi Hwan stopped. Go Mi pushed away from his arm and stepped back.
The military encampment loomed ahead in the distance.
The enemy had likely given up pursuit the moment they spotted it and retreated. Yi Hwan studied Go Mi’s face.
“You all right?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Then come down.”
The three of them walked toward the encampment.
Go Mi was reeling internally.
‘Running like that, yet his breathing remains so even. As for him—and the Crown Prince——’
She understood something anew.
Yi Hwan had been concealing his true strength all along. And she found herself desperately curious about where that strength truly ended.
That was when Cheol Mu-ok spoke.
“I wonder if we’ve merely provoked their hatred without cause.”
“Perhaps. But we’ve shown them we possess masters they cannot trifle with. When battle is joined, their commanders will be forced to guard against ambush and hold back their boldness. Hesitation breeds caution, and caution dulls the blade. In that sense, we begin with the advantage already in our hands.”
“Was this your intention from the start—not to retreat immediately?”
“Among other things.”
Yi Hwan turned toward the command tent.
Cheol Mu-ok followed. Go Mi watched Yi Hwan’s retreating form, her brow furrowing slightly.
Her hand drifted to her side, where the warmth of his touch still lingered.

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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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