Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 32

Nine Dragons Chronicle (32)

Hwa-rin headed to Dongcheon City, the base of the Yin Demon Sect, to intercept and eliminate the sorcerers dispatched by the Blood Oath Alliance to aid the sect.

The Yin Demon Sect was nestled in the heart of Dongcheon City, accessible via numerous routes. However, most travelers used the main road. Hwa-rin positioned himself at a tea stall along this main thoroughfare, patiently awaiting the sorcerers while sipping tea.

The main road bustled with people, but Hwa-rin anticipated they would scatter when the fighting erupted. His plan was to swiftly dispatch the sorcerers and then vanish.

“Five individuals, correct?”

Hwa-rin meticulously scanned the passersby, searching for a group of five. A faint smile touched his lips as he spotted them.

He noticed five figures approaching, their attire slightly out of the ordinary.

Their clothing resembled that of Taoist priests, but with a more flamboyant and ostentatious flair.

“Those must be them.”

The group consisted of four men and one woman. Hwa-rin inhaled deeply, mentally preparing himself.

He focused on synchronizing his heartbeat with the subtle magical energies emanating from the sorcerers.

Sorcerers were typically vigilant, constantly weaving protective spells, making them sensitive to any intrusion of foreign energy.

Hwa-rin was intimately familiar with these traits. To effectively blend in with their magical defenses, he attempted to match his heart rate to the specific type of spell they were employing.

As he attuned his heart rate to the distant sorcerers, Hwa-rin perceived a faint, red-tinged aura surrounding them.

“Hmm…”

The red aura signified a type of magical barrier the sorcerers had erected.

“The strength of a sorcerer’s barrier reflects their abilities. Judging by the small area it covers, they’re likely around third-grade sorcerers.”

Just as martial arts were categorized into third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate, sorcery also had its tiers: first-grade, second-grade, third-grade, and so on.

The key difference was that in sorcery, a higher grade directly correlated with greater skill. Third-grade sorcerers were roughly equivalent to first-rate martial artists in terms of combat prowess.

Having assessed his opponents, Hwa-rin rose to his feet.

Maintaining his synchronized heart rate, he began walking towards them.

As they approached each other, Hwa-rin entered the perimeter of their red aura. The sorcerers glanced at him almost unconsciously.

Hwa-rin continued walking as if nothing were amiss, and the sorcerers quickly dismissed him as just another traveler on the main road.

As he passed in front of them, Hwa-rin’s hand flashed out. Just as he was about to seize the leading sorcerer by the neck, the sorcerer reacted with surprising speed.

The sorcerer’s body levitated into the air, retreating like leaves caught in a gust of wind.

Instantly, Hwa-rin curled his thumb and middle finger and flicked them towards the retreating figure.

Shweeek!

Hwa-rin’s finger strike pierced the sorcerer’s forehead, creating a small hole. The sorcerer’s body twisted violently before collapsing to the ground.

“Who’s there!”

The remaining sorcerers scattered, shouting and demanding to know who had attacked them, but their questions were met with silence.

Hwa-rin extended his right hand to the side, as if grasping something. Then, as if conjured from thin air, a sword materialized in his hand.

“Heok!”

The sorcerers gasped in astonishment. Hwa-rin activated the Mysterious Phantom Steps [a movement technique focused on speed and illusion], closing the distance and unleashing Lightning Palm [a martial art technique that channels lightning energy].

Zzzt!

Lightning crackled around Hwa-rin’s sword as he sliced off the head of another sorcerer with blinding speed.

“Kyaaaa!”

Only then did the passersby realize a fight was unfolding between martial artists. Screams erupted as they scattered in terror, desperate to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Hwa-rin pressed his advantage. He twisted his body, changing direction in a blur, and lunged towards another man. The sorcerer retaliated.

Whoosh!

A fireball materialized in the air and hurtled towards Hwa-rin. With a swift motion, Hwa-rin swung his sword, cleaving the fireball in two. The fiery fragments scattered harmlessly to the left and right before dissipating on the ground.

“Heok!”

The greatest vulnerability of a sorcerer was their immobility while casting spells.

While martial arts emphasized dynamic movement, sorcery often required a static stance.

Of course, sorcerers above the fifth grade could cast spells while moving freely, but those of lower ranks had to remain stationary.

Hwa-rin’s sword pierced the man’s heart, and he crumpled to the ground with a final scream.

Jjeoeeong!

Suddenly, dozens of water arrows materialized in the air and shot towards Hwa-rin at high speed.

After deflecting the barrage with his sword, Hwa-rin attempted to advance, but the ground beneath him rippled, hindering his movements.

Hwa-rin twisted his wrist, plunged his sword into the ground, and muttered an incantation.

Kwarararararak!

The main road cracked and split like tree branches, extending towards the sorcerers, sending them into a panic.

“A sorcerer?”

They had initially mistaken Hwa-rin for a martial artist due to his sword, but they were now realizing their error.

As the sorcerers scrambled to escape, Hwa-rin propelled himself into the air with a powerful kick, rapidly closing the distance and swinging his sword.

Whoosh!

Flames erupted from the sword, engulfing it in fire. Hwa-rin slashed the sorcerer’s chest.

The fire spread rapidly, consuming the sorcerer’s chest. He screamed in agony, rolling on the ground before succumbing to the flames, filling the remaining sorcerer with terror.

As Hwa-rin advanced, the sorcerer retreated, pleading in a trembling voice for him to stop. Hwa-rin grinned and took another step.

At that, the sorcerer desperately unleashed a spell, but Hwa-rin’s figure blurred. He reappeared behind the sorcerer, placing his sword against his neck.

“Heok!”

As the sorcerer gasped, about to beg for his life, Hwa-rin swiftly slit his throat.

Having eliminated all five sorcerers, Hwa-rin leaped into the air with a single bound and vanished as if by magic.

The onlookers watched in stunned silence.

Moments later, warriors from the Yin Demon Sect arrived on the scene, but they could only stare in disbelief at the corpses of the five sorcerers.

* * *

“All five sorcerers were defeated?”

“Yes. Witnesses say a stranger engaged them in combat.”

Sa Do-hyung, the leader of the Yin Demon Sect, frowned upon hearing the news of the sorcerers’ demise.

“The stranger?”

“They say he disappeared into thin air. Multiple people witnessed it, so it seems credible.”

“Vanished into thin air? Is he also a sorcerer?”

“Apparently, he also used martial arts… Eyewitnesses reported a sword appearing in his hand and the sorcerers being killed with a flaming sword. It seems he has mastered both sorcery and martial arts.”

Sa Ma-woo’s report caused Sa Do-hyung to tilt his head in disbelief.

“Martial arts and sorcery simultaneously? Isn’t it considered impossible to master both, given their fundamentally different systems?”

“That’s the prevailing belief. It’s been confirmed repeatedly. Yet, multiple witnesses attest to what they saw.”

“So, you’re claiming someone has mastered both sorcery and martial arts.”

Sa Do-hyung fell into deep thought.

The Blood Oath Alliance had insisted that mastering both martial arts and sorcery was impossible. This sentiment was echoed by the Taoist sects, who maintained that Taoism and martial arts were incompatible and thus taught them separately.

But the possibility that someone had achieved this feat piqued his interest.

The sorcery they had acquired from the Heretical Cult, while not their most advanced, was still remarkably potent.

“Could there be a specific constitution that allows for such mastery?”

Sa Do-hyung paused, then took a deep breath and spoke.

“Send a formal letter to the Alliance, detailing everything that transpired.”

“Understood.”

“Also, inform the Third and Fourth Elders of this development. Instruct them to lead an assault on the Nine Dragons Stronghold using only martial artists, without any sorcerers.”

As Sa Ma-woo bowed his head to depart, Sa Do-hyung stopped him.

“How fares the Nine Dragons Stronghold?”

“We maintain surveillance.”

“Any unusual activity?”

“I will make contact.”

“Contact them and instruct them to burn it down under the cover of night.”

“What of the head of the Nine Dragons Stronghold and his family?”

“Leave them unharmed for now. First, raze the stronghold. Then, the Third Elder will meet with them, purchase the estate, and when the head of the stronghold relocates with the money, eliminate him and recover the funds.”

“I will see to it.”

After Sa Ma-woo left, Sa Do-hyung frowned. He sensed something amiss.

“Things have been quiet for so long. Now that events are unfolding, it’s clear that someone is interfering…”

Seo Province was traditionally a stronghold of the righteous sects, known as one of the Three Holy Lands of the Righteous Sects, alongside Sichuan and Hubei Provinces.

Disputes were less frequent in these regions due to the influence of the righteous sects.

“From what I’ve gathered, these events began with the establishment of the Nine Dragons Stronghold. Yet, the people of the Nine Dragons Stronghold claim no knowledge of martial arts, and their actions resemble those of merchants more than martial artists…”

Something was amiss, but Sa Do-hyung couldn’t pinpoint it, preventing him from acting decisively.

“Once the Nine Dragons Stronghold is destroyed and its leader eliminated, those behind them will reveal themselves.”

Sa Do-hyung organized his thoughts.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“Dong Seo-dok, the head of the Yeongcheon Merchant Guild, requests an audience.”

“From the Yeongcheon Merchant Guild? Bring him in. And prepare some simple refreshments.”

“Yes!”

Soon, a robust middle-aged man entered his office.

“It’s been a while, Dong Seo-dok.”

Sa Do-hyung greeted him warmly, as if they were old acquaintances.

“I apologize for the sudden visit.”

“Nonsense, Dong Seo-dok has been instrumental in the sect’s growth. Come, sit here.”

Sa Do-hyung offered Dong Seo-dok the seat of honor and sat to his right.

“How is business?”

“Fair. I hear there’s a lucrative opportunity emerging in Seo Province. Have you heard of it?”

“Ah, you’re referring to the gambling den being built in Sanyang County?”

“You’re aware.”

“It’s the talk of the town. Some criticize the governor of Seo Province, while others argue that a legal gambling den is preferable to illegal ones, as it generates significant tax revenue.”

“Those arguments are valid. From a merchant’s perspective, it’s a highly profitable venture.”

“Indeed, I’ve been investigating it. To be frank, we’re also interested.”

A faint smile played on Dong Seo-dok’s lips.

“That’s why I’m seeking your assistance.”

“Assistance?”

“While you’re also interested, the scale of the construction suggests a large number of people are involved. Managing the manpower and other incidental expenses will be challenging for the Yin Demon Sect.”

“Hmm…”

“If you lend me your strength, I will give you half of the profits.”

“Half?”

“Precisely.”

Half the profits without the hassle of management was a tempting offer. Sa Do-hyung saw little to lose.

However, he couldn’t appear too eager, so he adopted a troubled expression.

“I hear the Hwa Myeong Merchant Guild is also vying for this business.”

“If you discreetly kidnap the head of the Nine Dragons Stronghold and force him to sign the transfer documents, it’s a simple matter, isn’t it? After that, the Hwa Myeong Merchant Guild’s objections will be irrelevant.”

“True, but unless we know who backs the Hwa Myeong Merchant Guild, it’s best to avoid conflict. The Alliance has also advised us to avoid minor conflicts for now…”

“I understand. Then I’ll explore other avenues.”

As Dong Seo-dok began to withdraw, Sa Do-hyung spoke.

“Don’t do that. Be patient. The building isn’t even finished. If the ownership changes before completion, the governor of Seo Province might reconsider.”

“Ah, that’s a valid point.”

“Isn’t it wiser to approach this with patience rather than rushing?”

“Indeed.”

“I’ll investigate and contact you.”