Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 19

Nine Dragons Chronicle (19)

The merchants in Sanyang County’s market and the street vendors were busy praising the head of the Nine Dragons Hall.

“Of course. The head of the Nine Dragons Hall stepped in to resolve the issue. The thugs haven’t been back since.”

“That’s good. Send it to my place then. How much is it?”

“Six hundred and forty iron coins.”

That meant six silver coins and forty iron coins.

“Six hundred and forty coins? It seems cheaper than last month.”

“Since there’s no money being extorted by thugs, the price naturally goes down.”

“Is that so? Does that mean we were paying for the money they extorted all this time?”

The merchant nodded with a slightly apologetic expression.

“I have to make a living too, you know? It’s not easy supporting six family members by selling this. But when thugs come and cause trouble, ruining the goods, what choice do I have? I have no choice but to add two or three iron coins to the price.”

“Hmm…”

“But now, the head of the Nine Dragons Hall has cleared out all the thugs from the market and the streets, so we can sell things at their proper value.”

“Is that so?”

“So, please understand, sir. I’ll send you good products at a lower price from now on.”

“Alright. Keep up the good work.”

Like this, not only merchants but also ordinary people came to know about the head of the Nine Dragons Hall, and his influence was gradually expanding.

With the thugs unable to operate in the market streets of Sanyang County, the price of goods naturally fell, and as a result, people gathered, and it was clear to see that money was circulating here.

Many thug gangs were targeting the market streets of Sanyang County, but rumors spread that the Nine Dragons Hall was behind them, making it difficult for them to enter easily.

“Did you hear that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“You know the Daebang gang that came to Sangnam County with their gang members last time?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“I heard that Daebang, the boss of that gang, is dead.”

“Really? By whom?”

“Rumor has it that he made a deal with the Red Fox Gate regarding our market, but it failed because of the head of the Nine Dragons Hall, so the Red Fox Gate killed him.”

“They act like they rule the world, but in the end, they can’t escape a miserable life.”

“That’s right. Where can thugs go to be treated like humans?”

“It’s a relief that Danri Hyeokjin changed his mind now.”

“That’s right. He’s diligently learning to cook from Head Cook Hong now.”

“The Nine Dragons Hall coming to our Sanyang County is a blessing.”

Like this, when people gathered, they would mention the Nine Dragons Hall at least once, and it had now blended deeply into the lives of the people of Sanyang County.

* * *

“Did you find out anything?”

Min Hyeongdu, the head of the Red Fox Gate, which had established itself in Sangnam County, had been investigating the Nine Dragons Hall due to the Daebang gang issue, but he was struggling because there wasn’t much information available. He also hadn’t heard any information about the hall leader meeting martial artists.

“The Haomun [a prominent martial arts clan] seems to be interested in the Nine Dragons Hall, which suddenly appeared in Sanyang County, and is investigating it. But according to what they’ve found, they haven’t seen the head of the Nine Dragons Hall meeting any martial artists. Nor have any martial artists visited the Nine Dragons Hall.”

“So, Daebang, that stupid bastard, tricked me with the Nine Dragons Hall’s lies and screwed me over.”

“It seems so.”

“Then what kind of business does the Nine Dragons Hall do?”

“They run an inn and a silk shop. And I know they took over Heuksa Bang’s business and are also running a loan business and a gambling den.”

Min Hyeongdu nodded at the words of Vice Head Odokcheon.

“A loan business and a gambling den… That’s a gold mine.”

“How about meeting them once?”

“If there are no other sects approaching them, I should meet them. I think I can extort at least fifty gold coins from them.”

“Then I’ll prepare the children [gang members].”

“Do that.”

Their plan was very simple. They would mobilize the martial artists of the sect to cause trouble at the businesses run by the Nine Dragons Hall, making it impossible for them to do business. Then, they would go to the Nine Dragons Hall and offer to deal with the thugs causing trouble at their businesses, receiving a monthly protection fee in return.

“Nine Dragons Hall, huh…”

* * *

“Hey, why does this taste like this!”

A man with a sword at his waist raised his voice, complaining that the food didn’t taste good, and caused a commotion inside the inn.

“Sir, is the food not to your liking?”

The server hurriedly ran over, bowing his head as he spoke.

“You call this food?”

As he shouted and intimidated the server, the server had no choice but to lower his head.

“I’ll bring you new food. Please wait a moment.”

“Hurry up. I’m in a hurry.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the server took the food to the kitchen, he shouted at the inn guests around him.

“What are you staring at like you’re watching a show?”

As the atmosphere turned ominous, the inn guests had no choice but to be mindful of him.

“Eat your meals.”

After this incident at the inn, similar incidents occurred at the businesses run by the Nine Dragons Hall, and Hwarin realized that someone was intentionally orchestrating these events.

“Have the warriors guarding the businesses secretly capture them.”

“Yes, sir.”

One hour after Hwarin gave the order, they were brought to the Nine Dragons Hall unconscious, led by the escort warriors of the Nine Dragons Hall.

The escort warriors of the Nine Dragons Hall were from the Dongchang [a secret imperial agency] and were quite skilled in martial arts. They were the ones who had been given minimal support by the Emperor so that Hwarin could live in the martial world.

Hwarin was using them as escort warriors to protect his businesses, and the martial artists of the third-rate sects could not withstand their power.

There were five of them in total.

“These are the ones. These are the ones who came to the silk shop and caused trouble.”

Danri Soso said after checking the faces of the unconscious Red Fox Gate martial artists.

“I understand. Miss, please return to the silk shop and work as usual. I’ll take care of the rest.”

As Danri Soso bowed her head and was about to leave the estate, the head cook of the inn entered the estate.

“Miss Soso!”

“Did the inn also suffer damage?”

“Yes, it did.”

“How’s Hyeokjin? Was he hurt or anything?”

“He’s working hard. More than anything, he has a talent for cooking. If he opens an inn later, he’ll run it well.”

“Ah, thank you, Head Cook.”

“No, you should thank the hall leader. If it weren’t for the hall leader, he would still be out there with his gang.”

“Yes. Go on in.”

“Then please be careful, Miss.”

After the two parted, the head cook looked at the fallen men and said the same thing as Danri Soso.

“These guys took turns coming to the inn, finding fault with the food, and scaring away the customers who came to the inn.”

“I understand. They must have been causing trouble at other businesses as well.”

“Probably.”

“But how is Danri Hyeokjin doing?”

“He’s doing well, even though he has a lot of complaints. He has the habits of a thug ingrained in him, so he has a quick temper, but after living with him, I realized he’s not a bad guy.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know how others felt, but that’s how I felt. And he learns quickly when I teach him how to cook.”

Hwarin nodded.

“Then do you think he can handle all the cooking at the inn by himself?”

“By himself?”

“Yes.”

“That might be a little difficult. He needs to learn for at least another year.”

“I understand. There won’t be any more thugs causing trouble at the inn after today, so please be aware of that and do business comfortably.”

“I understand.”

As the head cook also left, Hwarin thought of Danri Hyeokgwang.

“Is this how it’s done? Should I teach him martial arts, even though it’s late?”

A faint smile appeared on Hwarin’s lips as he thought of Danri Hyeokgwang.

“Alright. Then I’ll give up on martial arts and help him live a good life.”

Hwarin, who asked and answered himself, turned his head and looked at the fallen men.

“I don’t care who ordered you to do this, but it won’t be a loss for me, no… In fact, it’s a good thing, so I wish other guys would approach me like this.”

Hwarin wasn’t interested in who they were. He was only interested in the houses, land, and businesses they had.

Time passed, and the Red Fox Gate warriors woke up.

“Where am I…”

They struggled after discovering themselves tied to chairs in a warehouse-like building.

“Damn it, what is this? Who is it!”

As he shouted and cursed, the other warriors woke up, assessed their situation, and reacted the same way.

“You’re so noisy.”

Hwarin was sitting across from them.

“Who are you?”

“The head of the Nine Dragons Hall. From now on, I’ll be asking the questions. From now on, if you open your mouth to say anything other than answering my questions, I’ll cut off one of your limbs.”

“Hey, damn…”

Hwarin got up from his chair, approached the one who had cursed, and ran his sword across the wrist of his bound hand.

He didn’t cut it off in one go, but slowly sliced through the wrist like cutting meat at a butcher shop as he spoke.

“I told you. I’d cut you off if you opened your mouth.”

“Kuaaak!”

As the warrior screamed in pain, Hwarin opened his mouth again.

“Oh, you’re opening your mouth again. This time, it’s the ankle…”

Hwarin cut off his ankle as slowly as he had said he would after cutting off his wrist.

At this sight, the Red Fox Gate warriors couldn’t even open their mouths in fear.

The one whose wrist and ankle had been cut off was overwhelmed with immense pain, but he clenched his teeth and endured it.

“It’s quiet now.”

The personality and habits formed when he was a soldier, trained to see the enemy as an object to be destroyed and deployed in operations, were revealed intact even after coming to the martial world.

Unlike his cruel appearance a moment ago, he spoke with a smiling face and returned to his chair to sit down and ask.

“Where did you come from?”

They only looked at each other and didn’t answer.

“I told you. You can answer the questions. If you don’t answer, your wrists will fly off.”

“We came from the Red Fox Gate. Please spare us.”

“I told you to only answer the questions…”

Hwarin went to the one who had asked to be spared and slowly sliced his hand as he spoke.

“I hate noise. I spent five years in a noisy place when I was young. So, I really hate loud noises. So, just answer my questions simply.”

His face, forced to watch his wrist being cut off, turned blue, beyond red.

He knew that if he screamed in pain, his ankle would be cut off this time, so he had no choice but to clench his teeth even harder and endure it.

Hwarin sat in his chair and asked with a leisurely expression.

“Why is the Red Fox Gate targeting our estate’s businesses?”

“It’s to collect protection money.”

“Protection money?”

“After hearing the news that the Nine Dragons Hall had taken over Heuksa Bang’s businesses, the head thought that the profits from the gambling den and loan business would be enormous, so…”

Hwarin laughed because he was so dumbfounded by what he was hearing.

“You guys are funny. Why are you coveting something that isn’t even your money?”

“We don’t know either. We’re just in a position to do what we’re told.”

“I guess so. That’s why you’re still in a third-rate sect. If you had any sense, you’d be a gatekeeper for a second-rate or first-rate sect.”

Hwarin got up from his seat.

“Spare…”

“Oh, you spoke.”

Hwarin approached the warrior who had spoken and smiled slyly.

“When you covet something that belongs to others, you have to pay the corresponding price.”

Hwarin turned around and left the warehouse, saying,

“Send those guys’ bodies to the Red Fox Gate. I will personally visit the Red Fox Gate tonight.”