Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 43

Nine Dragons Chronicle (43)

“So, you’re saying Salmak Valley might be second-rate overall, but they have three first-rate assassins, including the valley lord, ten second-rate assassins, and about twenty third-rate assassins?”

Hwa-rin visited Mi-ok to get information about Salmak Valley. Unaware that she was under the influence of Hwa-rin’s Soul-Seizing Art [a technique to extract information], Mi-ok revealed details about the valley.

“That’s correct. Assassins are inherently cunning. Even those of lower rank can ambush masters superior to themselves if the timing, situation, and environment are right. You must be careful when dealing with them.”

“I’ll take care of that, so don’t worry. Where are they located?”

“In Nyeonggang City.”

“In the city? Not hidden in the mountains or somewhere secret?”

“They operate under the guise of a small manor in Nyeonggang City. They receive requests at a shrine halfway up Mount Hoeryeong, also in Nyeonggang City.”

Salmak Valley uses Mount Hoeryeong as a front for receiving requests, pretending their sect is located there. Because of this, many people believe Salmak Valley is on Mount Hoeryeong. They’ve even left false traces of their sect in several places to deceive people.

“I see. What’s the name of the manor?”

“Mansu Manor.”

“Understood. Thank you for your help. By the way, how are the newly recruited courtesans?”

As Hwa-rin changed the subject, Mi-ok’s expression subtly shifted, and a smile appeared on her lips.

“They are all promising. They have talent, and many are especially skilled at conversation, so they will be helpful to Nine Dragons Inn in many ways.”

“That’s good. The completion of Nine Dragons Inn is not far off. Please continue to put in a little more effort.”

“Don’t worry. Who would slack off when they can earn money so easily? I will do my job perfectly. Just make sure to take care of my monthly salary, Lord Innkeeper.”

“Hahaha, I see. I will make sure Mi-ok’s monthly salary is taken care of, no matter what.”

Hwa-rin continued to talk about Nine Dragons Inn for a while before leaving her house.

“Mansu Manor in Nyeonggang City, is it.”

The Fierce Tiger Death Squad’s mission wasn’t just to annihilate the enemy through preemptive strikes.

They also carried out numerous missions such as kidnapping key figures, assassinations, and seizing equipment.

Hwa-rin hadn’t participated in missions like kidnapping, assassinations, or seizing equipment, but he had received training in them in the Fierce Tiger Death Squad. Among the martial arts he learned from the Imperial Palace’s records, there was a journal called ‘Assassin Chronicles.’

The Assassin Chronicles was a detailed record by an assassin, noting when, where, who, and how he killed. His assassinations numbered a thousand.

In the journal’s final section, the assassin recorded the assassin martial arts he had learned through his assassinations, which Hwa-rin mastered.

It’s impossible to know the assassin’s identity, but it was clear he had embarked on assassinations to kill someone related to the Imperial Palace. The Eastern Depot [secret intelligence agency] and the Golden Uniform Guard [elite military force] intervened to arrest and kill him, then recovered the martial arts and stored them in the Imperial Palace’s records.

Hwa-rin guessed that the assassin’s martial arts were on par with other transcendent martial arts, suggesting he must have been a great assassin.

“I can test how great that person was through Salmak Valley.”

* * *

“Unexpectedly, the Lord of Nine Dragons Inn had a relationship with our Elder Song Cheol. Elder Song Cheol vouched for him. This time, he went down the mountain on business and stayed at the manor, sharing various stories with him. The rumors that have been circulating are said to be slanders caused by people’s jealousy.”

Hwa Jeong-soo of the Hwa Myeong Merchant Group visited Jongnam Sect [a prominent martial arts sect] and subtly inquired about Nine Dragons Inn. He was a little disappointed to hear the opposite of what he wanted to hear.

‘Elder Song Cheol is one of the most prominent martial artists in Jongnam. Then it will be difficult.’

Hwa Jeong-soo realized he could no longer pressure Nine Dragons Inn through Jongnam.

“Ah, I’m worried that I might have caused trouble for Jongnam with the rumors I mistakenly conveyed due to misunderstandings.”

“No. Fortunately, the relationship between Elder Song Cheol and the Lord of Nine Dragons Inn is strong, so they resolved misunderstandings with a few words.”

“Ah, that’s good.”

“Please put your mind at ease, Lord Hwa.”

Hwa Jeong-soo then spoke about the reason for visiting Jongnam.

“Recently, the grains imported from the Travil Kingdom were stolen by a group of unknown people.”

“Is that true?”

“We are trying to find out who they are through the merchants, but there are limitations.”

“Hmm……”

“I heard that the Demonic Sect and the Blood Demon Alliance have been expanding their power recently.”

“That’s right. Thirty years have passed since the Betrayers Sect was destroyed, so they seem to think they have regained their former power.”

“The amount of grain stolen this time is enough for ten thousand people to eat for three months.”

As the best grain distribution merchant in the Central Plains, he bought a huge amount of grain and distributed it to various parts of the Central Plains, accumulating enormous wealth and growing into the current Top Ten Merchant of the Central Plains.

Ten thousand commoners can eat for a day with a hundred bags of grain, so it meant that nine thousand bags were stolen in three months.

“Who would take that much grain……”

“We are also trying to find out in every way, but there are many difficulties. So, I am telling you this because if the grain goes to the Demonic Sect or the Blood Demon Alliance, it will be a great help to them.”

“Hmm.”

“I was wondering if we could find out where the grain was moved through the Beggars’ Sect [a sect known for its intelligence network], so I am telling this to the Sect Leader.”

“Are you saying to use the Beggars’ Sect’s intelligence?”

“That’s right. And if Jongnam or the Righteous Heaven Alliance find the grain, I will donate all of the grain.”

“All of the grain?”

“That’s right. Since credibility is important for a merchant to keep promises, I have already sent people to the Travil Kingdom to buy the same amount of grain again. Since they have the grain they are bringing, just tell me who took it.”

“Just tell you?”

A faint smile appeared on Hwa Jeong-soo’s lips, and strength entered his eyes.

“I am thinking of letting them know that grain can sometimes be a terrifying weapon.”

Since ancient times, food has been used as a weapon too many times.

Numerous disputes have arisen to secure food, and humiliating surrenders have occurred to secure food.

In this respect, food may be the most important thing in human life.

Song-ak, the Sect Leader of Jongnam Sect, understood the meaning of what Hwa Jeong-soo was saying, and his head nodded involuntarily.

“I will inform the branch of the Righteous Heaven Alliance of this. With the help of the Beggars’ Sect and the intelligence department of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, I will obtain the information that Lord Hwa wants to know.”

“Thank you. I will never forget this help. If a great disaster occurs in the Murim world [martial arts world], Hwa Myeong Merchant Group will support and help Jongnam Sect and the Righteous Heaven Alliance.”

“Ah, Lord Hwa’s decision will give great strength to many Murim fellows.”

Hwa Jeong-soo slightly bowed his head to Song-ak, and a smile spread across his lips.

* * *

Hwa-rin came to Nyeonggang City to find out who commissioned Lee Do-moon, the valley lord of Salmak Valley, to kill him after hearing information about Salmak Valley from Mi-ok.

Nyeonggang City was a gateway from Seoseo Province to Sacheon, so the roads were well-paved, and merchants carrying many loads on carts often visited the city to start their commerce.

Peddlers carrying luggage and buying and selling goods in various parts of the Central Plains enter Sacheon Province through Seokcheon County rather than Nyeonggang City, crossing Mount Oreung.

Hwa-rin arrived in Nyeonggang City, first checked where Mansu Manor was, looked around, and then secretly crossed the wall of Mansu Manor.

He used the assassin martial arts he had learned from the assassin’s journal to avoid the eyes of the people living in Mansu Manor and searched for the valley lord Lee Do-moon, but he couldn’t find him at all.

‘The valley lord wouldn’t have gone out on an assassination.’

Hwa-rin searched every corner of Mansu Manor, but he couldn’t find Lee Do-moon, so he had no choice but to leave empty-handed.

“Let’s fill my stomach first.”

Hwa-rin filled his hungry stomach at an inn a little away from Mansu Manor, watching the people coming in and out of Mansu Manor.

After finishing his meal, he ordered tea and slowly observed the surroundings for a long time while drinking tea, but there were hardly any people going in and out of Mansu Manor.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone particularly coming and going.”

Hwa-rin raised his hand towards the waiter, gesturing for him to come over.

When the waiter saw Hwa-rin raising his hand, he came over and bowed his head.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Let me ask you something.”

“Please speak.”

“That manor over there, I mean.”

When the waiter saw the manor that Hwa-rin was pointing at, he pretended to know and said.

“Are you talking about Mansu Manor?”

“That’s right. Isn’t there a slightly larger manor than that manor in this area?”

He asked about a different manor other than Mansu Manor to induce a natural conversation.

“A slightly larger manor?”

“I heard that the size of that manor was suitable, so I came to find it, but when I came, it seemed a little small, so I’m asking. I wish it was a little bigger than that manor.”

“Ah, then there is one more manor a little away from here. It’s called Deoksu Manor. A long time ago, brothers built the manor. I know that the names of the brothers were Deoksu for the older brother and Mansu for the younger brother, so they named the manor that way. I know that Deoksu Manor is a little bigger than Mansu Manor.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”

‘Brothers? Then Deoksu Manor might also be owned by Salmak Valley.’

Since it is an assassin sect, they must avoid people’s eyes. If their base is exposed to the sect they ambushed, they may suffer annihilation, so unless it is a really powerful assassin sect, they do not reveal their residence.

“But are they selling that manor?”

“That’s not it, but if I liked the manor, I was going to try to negotiate even if I gave an extra money, but it seems smaller than I thought, so I should go and find Deoksu Manor.”

“Is that so? If you walk down about 1.2 km from here, you will see the manor. Have a good deal, and if the deal is successful, please visit our inn often.”

“Thank you.”

Hwa-rin gave the waiter five nyang [currency] of iron coins with a thank you.

The waiter earned five nyang of iron coins for a few words, and he bowed to Hwa-rin and returned to his seat, feeling good.

“I should take a look at Deoksu Manor.”

Hwa-rin finished his tea and got up from his seat.

He went to Deoksu Manor in the direction the waiter had told him. As he said, he saw a manor on the right side after walking down about 1.2 km.

Hwa-rin noticed a bookstore selling books and writing materials facing the manor.

Hwa-rin pretended to walk along the wall of Deoksu Manor, checked that there was no one around, and then crossed the wall of Deoksu Manor.

After that, he looked around Deoksu Manor as he had looked around Mansu Manor.

As expected, Deoksu Manor and Mansu Manor were the bases of Salmak Valley. But even in Deoksu Manor, he couldn’t find the valley lord Lee Do-moon.

“Did an important request come in that the valley lord had to go out on an assassination? Or is there another place besides Deoksu and Mansu Manor?”

Hwa-rin activated his dantian [energy center], drew up his energy, and spread it around. It was to find a heterogeneous energy that did not match the surroundings.

Hwa-rin’s energy spread throughout Deoksu Manor.

“Huh?”

Then Hwa-rin found another place where there were people with heterogeneous energy different from ordinary people, Murim people [martial artists].

“So, the bookstore across from Deoksu Manor might also be run by Salmak Valley.”

He thought that Salmak Valley might be deceiving even Hao Mun.

“The bookstore is their base, and the two manors might be a disguise.”

Hwa-rin entered the bookstore to confirm his thoughts.

“Welcome.”

The clerk greeted Hwa-rin with a bright smile.

“I came to buy some paper.”

“Ah, come this way.”

The clerk took Hwa-rin into the bookstore and guided him to where the paper was.

Hwa-rin was able to be more certain as he came inside.

‘The vibration of the floor is different.’

Hwa-rin could feel that the vibration felt on his feet while walking inside the bookstore was different from when he walked outside.

“Are you drawing a picture or doing a transcription?”

“I’m going to do a transcription.”

“Then how about this paper? This paper is……”

The clerk explained the paper to Hwa-rin and recommended the paper, saying that the paper in their store was better than other bookstores.

“I see. Then give me this.”

“How much do you need?”

“I need enough for about twelve books……”

The clerk asked a few more questions at the word twelve books, and Hwa-rin answered roughly, and he decided on the amount of paper and recommended it.

“You might write it wrong, so if you have a little extra, shouldn’t you have about twelve and a half books?”

“That might be the case.”

“Then one general book has thirty pages, so if you add fifteen pages to three hundred and sixty pages, it’s three hundred and seventy-five pages.”

“Give me that. But isn’t the owner here?”

“He’s inside.”

Hwa-rin looked inside where the clerk was pointing.

A middle-aged man was sitting in a seat looking at documents, and Hwa-rin was sure that he was Lee Do-moon, the valley lord of Salmak Valley.

‘Found him.’