The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 9

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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 Warrior, Episode 9

Chapter 9 — An Unexpected Visitor

The Yeon Kingdom’s forces marched out to reclaim the lost position.
But this time, too, they failed to retake it, returning with nothing but heavy casualties.
Since the Cho Kingdom hadn’t even deployed the Black Tiger Unit, the generals’ mood hung as thick and heavy as a funeral shroud.
Shouts erupted from Commander Hwang Ho’s quarters in rapid succession. After some time had passed, the generals dispersed to their posts. Peng Muwei’s face blazed crimson as he headed back to his tent.
“Of all the rotten luck — dysentery…….”
He’d performed miserably in this operation. The reason was absurd: he’d come down with sudden dysentery.
The sickness had struck just before combat began, leaving him no choice but to return without so much as drawing his sword.
The other generals’ resentment fell squarely on Peng Muwei.
Each man had his assigned role, and Peng Muwei had failed to execute his. The coordinated strategy had unraveled as a result, cascading into complete failure.
Gurgle.
“……!”
Peng Muwei bolted toward his tent like lightning. He smashed through the latrine door and yanked down his trousers.
“Ugh…….”
When he returned to the tent afterward, Peng Muwei rounded up the soldiers responsible for provisions and beat them with his fists and feet.
Once the storm had passed, the soldiers vented their grievances.
“What? Everyone else ate the same food and they’re fine. Why’s the general the only one who got sick?”
“Right? Hell, the bastard eats in such a rush he gets himself poisoned, then takes it out on us.”
“Disgusting. I’m not eating another bite of this swill.”
The soldiers, who’d held relatively comfortable posts until Peng Muwei arrived, had far more reason to complain than most.
Meanwhile, Yi Hwan learned the outcome of the operation through Song Hoe.
When he heard how Peng Muwei’s dysentery had rendered him completely useless in the battle, Yi Hwan let slip a faint, knowing smile.
‘Made it on a whim, but it seems it worked perfectly.’
Yi Hwan gazed through the window toward Peng Muwei’s quarters. Just then, Peng Muwei came rushing out, his rear end clutched between his hands.
‘When your skin clears up, thank me. Hehe.’
Cha Jungyeong muttered as he watched the scene unfold.
“Where did that dysentery come from all of a sudden?”
“Look at him — the man eats like he’s starving. He probably bolted his food too fast and upset his stomach.”
Song Hoe answered offhandedly, then his expression shifted as he glared at Cha Jungyeong.
“Didn’t I tell you not to speak to me?”
“I was only muttering to myself, sir.”
“You keep talking back like this?”
Yi Hwan stepped in.
“Hey, you two. Stop making noise and prepare dinner instead.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yi Hwan went outside and settled into a woven bamboo rocking chair.
As the sun sank, the crimson glow of dusk stained the world. Watching the soldiers train in that light, he found himself thinking of the men who’d served under him in his own time.
Dae-ya Fortress had been an eternal legend built together with those men.
‘Those were remarkable days…….’
Scenes of those times with his men flickered past like a lantern show, each one crystal clear to him as if it had happened mere days ago.
A smile bloomed across Yi Hwan’s lips.
But that moment could not last. Reality, which had vanished without a trace, swept everything from his mind.
‘Damn it…….’
Crack!
His hand clenched without his knowing, and the chair’s armrest shattered into splinters.
Pat-pat-pat!
Just then, three figures approaching in the distance caught Yi Hwan’s eye: General Jeong Cheon and two men in white robes.
One face was unfamiliar; the other was obscured behind Jeong Cheon.
Song Hoe, just stepping outside, tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Who’s that?”
“Are there any men who promised to come find me?”
“None that I know of, sir.”
Then the figure in white robes hidden behind Jeong Cheon stepped to the side, and his face came into view. Yi Hwan’s breath caught.
‘That man…….’
Yi Hwan had a sister — a half-sister born of a concubine, and weak-bodied from birth at that. She’d never received the treatment befitting a true princess, and had been sent from the palace through a political marriage arrangement.
One of the men approaching was her husband.
Moments later, Jeong Cheon and two White Robes arrived.
Yi Hwan’s brother-in-law, the Prince-Consort, bowed his head and turned to the White Robe beside him.
“A royal prince. Show proper respect.”
“Song Cheonmu of the Song Clan greets Your Highness.”

* * *

When a nobleman’s son comes to the front lines, there are two reasons.
One is to gain military merit and restore a fallen house to its former glory; the other is to be sent to the vanguard by the law established by King Taejo. Song Cheonmu could be said to fall into both categories.
The Prince-Consort, Song Cheonho, spoke.
“Though we do not share the same birth, he is my most precious brother in this world. That is why I have come here with him. I beg you to look kindly upon this young man.”
Yi Hwan could hear the sincerity in Song Cheonho’s voice.
‘If only the princes had spoken like that, he would have suffered less.’
Yi Hwan sipped his tea, thinking of the man who had lived such a twisted fate, and asked abruptly.
“Is it coincidence?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked whether your brother coming here is coincidence.”
Song Cheonho’s eyes flickered at the weighted question. He then bit his lip and answered.
“I made requests of those connected to my family, hoping Your Highness would take this boy under your wing.”
It was an admission of having sought favor.
Yi Hwan narrowed his brows.
“Why would you think to entrust your brother to me? You, of all people, know my situation well. Surely you’re not ignorant that being at my side could become a thorny path.”
“What others whisper matters little. I thought only that my wife—she who trusted you most—and all of our family would find the greatest peace if Your Highness would take him in.”
“Is that truly all?”
“How would I dare speak anything but truth?”
Song Cheonho withdrew a letter tube from his robes and offered it.
Yi Hwan opened it and unfolded the letter inside.

From beginning to end, it held the earnest heart of a sister thinking only of her brother. And at the end, she had written asking him to care for Song Cheonmu.
A sharp pain bloomed in his chest.
Yi Hwan still found such emotions strange. They were feelings he had never possessed.
Tap.
“I wonder how my sister is faring.”
“Fortunately, her health has recovered greatly. Otherwise, I would not have been able to come here.”
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Song Cheonmu.
Song Cheonmu kept his eyes on the ground from the beginning, unmoving and unmoved.
“Your name is Cheonmu, then?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you wish to be at my side?”
……
Seeing no answer, Song Cheonho showed signs of alarm.
“Speak at once.”
“May I speak honestly?”
“Go ahead.”
Song Cheonmu continued, his tone resolute.
“I do not believe rumors. I trust my own eyes and ears more than gossip, and I trust my brother more than myself. I have faith that my brother has reason in wishing to entrust me to Your Highness.”
The two exchanged glances, and in that moment something invisible passed between them.
‘Good eyes, this one.’
Yi Hwan found himself drawn to Song Cheonmu.
In his former time, most of his retainers had given him a similar feeling—men of this kind.
Yi Hwan studied Song Cheonho intently.
‘With a man like this, his sister will never know unhappiness.’
His mood lifted.
Yet this, too, was not Yi Hwan’s own feeling.
‘Once my Martial Power recovers, I mean to leave this place……’

It was awkward, but he couldn’t refuse Song Cheonmu.
‘Well, for now I’ll keep him close. I can worry about the rest later.’
Having taken possession of this body and begun a new life, he’d incurred a debt to that fellow. And since he supposedly embodied the pinnacle of all under heaven, debts had to be repaid.
“Very well. You’ll stay by my side.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Song Cheonho bowed deeply. But Song Cheonmu’s expression remained unchanged.
Yi Hwan caught himself smiling at the sight of Song Cheonmu.
‘Not the slightest hint of joy there.’
Yi Hwan turned back to Song Cheonho and spoke.
“I’d like to have a word alone with this one. Would you step outside?”
“Of course, sir.”
Song Cheonho left the room.
Yi Hwan regarded Song Cheonmu with a steady gaze. Song Cheonmu kept his eyes lowered, motionless.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s really on your mind?”
“Sir?”
“Your expression suggests you’re not exactly pleased about staying with me. Did I read it wrong?”
…….
Song Cheonmu hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Being with you is an honor, sir. And yet…….”
“And yet?”
“I’d rather join the other warriors in battle than live in safety.”
At last, Song Cheonmu was being honest.
A soft laugh escaped him.
“Ah. So you want military glory and a name for yourself.”
…….
Yi Hwan understood now.
The Song Cheonmu before him was still young.
And so he could understand that desire well enough.
“Have you trained hard in Martial Arts?”
“Yes. I’ve practiced diligently since childhood, preparing for a day like this.”
“I’ll need to see your skills for myself later. If I judge you ready for battle, I’ll let you do as you wish. Until then, put aside any reckless ambitions and focus on learning the ways of the military camp.”
“Yes, sir.”

* * *

“Please, take care of yourself, sir.”
Song Cheonho departed.
Before leaving, he’d patted his nephew’s shoulder, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
‘Boy, this settles part of what I owe you. And… it seems your sister married a good man, so I can rest easy.’
It was then that Yi Hwan was turning these thoughts over in his mind.
Song Hoe approached him.
“Are you truly going to keep him at your side, sir?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“I only thought that keeping a relative close might invite unsavory talk, sir.”
“I’ll handle that myself. Don’t worry about it—just make sure he adapts here without incident.”
“As you wish, sir.”
Just then, Cha Jungyeong stepped outside and asked.
“Which room shall I assign to him?”
“We’ve no spare rooms, so he’ll share with you for now.”
…….
And so Song Cheonmu came to share a room with Cha Jungyeong.

* * *

Hwang Ho’s command tent.
Jeong Cheon poured hot water into a teacup as he spoke.
“He’s decided to make the boy one of his personal guard.”
“That’s good. Better that than causing needless friction among the other soldiers.”
“Still, there may be talk about him favoring a relative.”
“Does the commander’s reputation need to get any worse than it already is?”
“Well…….”
The two of them smiled faintly and raised their teacups.
Jeong Cheon broached a new subject.
“Fortunately, the soldiers’ reputation of the Left General is not very good. Many of the soldiers regard the dysentery from the first operation as malingering.”
“You say fortunate—do you mean for my sake?”
“No, sir. I merely…….”
“Never mind.”
Hwang Ho took a sip of tea and continued.
“We must not approach Yi Hwan with prejudice simply because he was sent by the Prince Consort. As always, if his skill is excellent, we acknowledge it; if it is not, then he bears the responsibility that rightfully belongs to him. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“See that you look after the Prince Consort’s younger brother while he settles in. Of course, do so discreetly, without drawing attention.”
“Yes, General.”
Just then, the voice of the guard captain drifted in from outside.
“General, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Hwang Ho and Jeong Cheon exchanged a glance.
‘What brings him here at this hour?’
‘Indeed.’
Hwang Ho rose from his seat, straightened his clothes, and opened the tent flap.
“I trust I am not intruding?”
“Not at all. Please, come in.”
Yi Hwan took the general’s chair. Hwang Ho sat beside Jeong Cheon.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Hwang Ho and spoke.
“There is one favor I must ask.”

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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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