Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 116

구룡전기 (116)

“My father and sister were killed. Are you saying I should just stand by and watch?”

“We are not standing by. We are merely waiting because the Sahyul Alliance [a coalition of righteous martial arts clans] has asked for some time.”

In the main hall of the White Horse Temple in Shandong Province, all those who led the White Horse Temple were gathered.

They were arguing over the death of Lee Chun-gook, the head of the temple, who had gone to help the Blood Demon Clan of Henan Province in their time of need.

“My father and sister are dead. Even if we didn’t know who the culprit was, how can we just stand by when we know who they are?”

“Then what do you want us to do? Should we disregard the Sahyul Alliance’s request and strike the Kowloon Stronghold on our own?”

“Brother.”

“Striking the Kowloon Stronghold is not a difficult task. But what if we find ourselves in trouble later and need the help of the Sahyul Alliance?”

“Isn’t this different from then? My family is dead. My heart feels like it will burst if I have to wait for the Sahyul Alliance’s solution.”

As the eldest, Lee Dae-man, and the second, Lee Dae-ro, raised their voices, the elders and captains could only watch nervously.

“Brothers, please lower your voices a little.”

When the third, Lee Seung-cheon, stepped forward, Lee Dae-man and Lee Dae-ro turned their attention to him.

“There are elders and captains present here. Wouldn’t it be better for you to listen to the elders’ opinions rather than expressing your emotions?”

At Lee Seung-cheon’s words, the two men’s expressions changed slightly, but they decided to restrain themselves.

“I apologize. The sudden death of our parents and sister made it difficult to control our emotions.”

Lee Dae-man bowed to the elders first, and Lee Dae-ro also bowed, apologizing for raising his voice.

“We understand your feelings better than anyone else, so please don’t worry too much. However, this old man would like to say a word out of concern. As the young leader said, we are part of the Sahyul Alliance, so we cannot ignore their request and act independently.”

Lee Dae-ro’s expression hardened slightly.

“However, if we sit idly by while the head of the temple is killed, countless martial arts sects will laugh at us.”

“What are you trying to say, Great Elder?”

Lee Dae-ro asked, frustrated.

“While we wait for the Sahyul Alliance’s decision, we must assess the strength of the Kowloon Stronghold on our own.”

“The strength of the Kowloon Stronghold?”

“From what I’ve heard, the Yin Demon Sect and the Blood Demon Clan of Shanxi Province were destroyed on the same day, and the Kowloon Stronghold was responsible for their destruction.”

“I’ve heard that as well.”

“Objectively speaking, I would like to ask you two if our White Horse Temple can simultaneously attack and destroy the Yin Demon Sect and the Blood Demon Clan.”

At the Great Elder Chae Gung-min’s question, the two hesitated for a moment.

Although the White Horse Temple was the ruler of Shandong Province, the Yin Demon Sect and the Blood Demon Clan also wielded considerable influence in their respective regions.

Even for the White Horse Temple, it would be difficult to simultaneously confront and destroy two sects.

When the two did not answer, the Great Elder Chae Gung-min spoke.

“We need to think a little more rationally. The Sahyul Alliance has asked us to wait, so we should observe the situation while we wait, find out what the Kowloon Stronghold’s strength is, whether there are any masters we need to be wary of, and prepare countermeasures.”

“Hmm……”

“Brothers.”

The third, Lee Seung-cheon, looked at the two and said.

“I will go to the Kowloon Stronghold.”

“You?”

“The people of the Kowloon Stronghold will not know that I am from the White Horse Temple.”

Lee Seung-cheon had recently been discharged from the military, so the sects in Shandong Province were not well aware of his existence.

“Alone?”

“It’s easier to travel alone. And I am confident that I can escape from any environment, so it’s easier for me to go alone.”

Lee Dae-man looked at Lee Dae-ro. When he nodded, he looked at the Great Elder Chae Gung-min.

“I think that would be a good idea as well.”

“Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I have experienced countless cases like this in the military.”

“Tell me if you need anything.”

“I will let you know if I think of anything while preparing.”

* * *

“You’ve arrived?”

A guest came to the Kowloon Stronghold early in the morning. It was Dong-chun, a former subordinate of Hwa-rin and the chief disciple of the Sichuan Saemyeong Sect.

“It is an honor to be called, Chief Hwa-rin.”

“Just call me Head. What about the Saemyeong Sect people?”

“They have settled things in Sichuan and will be moving to Shanxi Province.”

Hwa-rin called Dong-chun, the chief disciple of the Sichuan Saemyeong Sect, with the intention of entrusting him with the Kowloon Stronghold’s escort service [a security and transportation business]. Dong-chun decided to take this opportunity to liquidate the Saemyeong Sect altogether and come up to Shanxi Province to work under Hwa-rin.

He thought that growing under Hwa-rin would be more successful than spending time in Sichuan as a third-rate sect or growing the sect into a second-rate one.

“Really? Good job.”

“Who is this? It’s the deserter Dong-chun.”

Dong-chun was startled by the voice coming from behind and turned around.

“Soo-yeon… Senior Bae!”

“What are you doing here?”

“Chief Hwa-rin called me. But why are you here, Senior? Shouldn’t you be at the Namgung Clan?”

When Dong-chun asked, Namgung Soo-yeon smiled brightly and said.

“I’m learning martial arts from Senior Hwa-rin.”

“Is that true? Does the Chief also teach martial arts?”

He looked at Hwa-rin with eyes sparkling more than ever.

“Depending on how you do.”

“Ah, I will dedicate my life to loyalty.”

Dong-chun bowed deeply to Hwa-rin.

“That’s enough. Let’s go out with me.”

“Where to?”

“I have to take you to where you will be working.”

“Ah, I understand.”

As Hwa-rin and Dong-chun left the manor, Namgung Soo-yeon followed.

“The needle goes out, so the thread follows [an idiom meaning where the leader goes, the followers will follow].”

So Yong-in, who was watching, spoke with a bright smile on his face.

“He is a good match for our young master. But the young master has no interest at all……”

So Yong-in spoke with regret, but the smile on his face remained.

“The Namgung Clan’s daughter is better than the Danri Clan’s daughter. Yes, much better.”

So Yong-in stood for a moment, looking at the gate where Hwa-rin had left, before turning around.

“But Chief, no… Head, I heard that you caused a big accident. Are you okay?”

“Accident? What accident?”

“I heard that Chief Hwa-rin, no, Head, destroyed the Yin Demon Sect and the Blood Demon Clan. So the Sahyul Alliance is in an uproar, and the Jeongcheon Alliance [another martial arts alliance, possibly rival] seems to be troubled by this.”

“Ah, that. It just happened that way. And don’t worry too much about that side. If we argue a few times, it will quiet down.”

“If we argue? Are you saying you will fight the Sahyul Alliance?”

“Are you just going to give it away when they try to take my things? Would you just give it away if you were me?”

“That’s not it, but… Even if you are the Chief, no, Head, can you win against the Sahyul Alliance?”

“Of course, I can’t win. But I think I can inflict some damage.”

Dong-chun nodded.

“Then do you think the Jeongcheon Alliance and the Demonic Cult will stand still? They will try to completely destroy the Sahyul Alliance. The Demonic Cult, I don’t know, but the Jeongcheon Alliance will do that.”

“I guess so. Even if it’s the Sahyul Alliance, if they want to catch Chief Hwa-rin, no, Head……”

“Hey, just call me Chief. Why are you so confused about the title?”

“Ah, I understand. I think I’m just used to the word Chief.”

“You’re stupid.”

“Doesn’t Senior call Hwa-rin Chief, Senior?”

“I’ve called him Senior from the beginning.”

Dong-chun pouted.

“You’re discharged, so you’re openly sticking out your lips now. Should I stretch them out for you?”

“No, no. Senior Soo-yeon is good in many ways, but her problem is that she’s too violent. Other women are modest and show a feminine side, but Senior is……”

“Does that save my life in a fight?”

“That’s not it, but.”

“When I went to the military, all the girls who pretended to be pretty died. My fellow soldiers were also killed because of those girls.”

Dong-chun looked at Hwa-rin. It was a look asking if Namgung Soo-yeon’s words were true.

“That happened.”

“Then is Senior Soo-yeon the only female veteran?”

“I don’t know about that. As far as I know, Soo-yeon is the only one who properly went on missions among the women. I don’t know if there were any discharges before, but there weren’t any when I was serving. They all died on missions.”

Dong-chun’s eyes changed as he looked at Namgung Soo-yeon.

“I respect you, Senior.”

“So take care of me. Then I might teach you survival skills.”

The place they arrived at while talking together was a manor built a little away from the city.

“This is where you and the Saemyeong Sect people will live, Dong-chun.”

“It seems like the manor was newly built.”

“It’s where the brothel was. I tore down the brothel and built the manor. Let’s go inside and I’ll explain.”

Hwa-rin took the two inside and explained about the manor.

The manor was divided into an inner and outer courtyard, and a wall separated them, but a central gate was created to allow access between the inner and outer courtyards.

“There are accommodations in the outer courtyard for about fifty people. Let the embroiderers and escorts rest here.”

“I understand. But do I have to find the embroiderers and escorts?”

“Then should I find them when you are the head of the escort service?”

“Ah, I understand.”

Hwa-rin explained all the facilities needed to run the escort service, starting with the warehouse, and then went to the stable in the backyard of the manor where the horses and carts were.

“Head, have you arrived?”

A man was feeding the horses in the stable. He was a worker hired to manage the horses.

“This is Wang-son, the father-in-law of the blacksmith, and this is Dong-chun, the head of the escort service who will lead the escort service in the future. Introduce yourselves to each other as you will be living together.”

The blacksmith was a person who made or replaced the horseshoes and other items needed to manage the horses, and he was an essential person for running the escort service.

“Oh, you’re the head of the service. It’s nice to meet you like this.”

“I’m Dong-chun. I look forward to working with you. But are you managing all these horses alone?”

“There are children who help me.”

“Ah, I see. If you need anything, please tell me anytime.”

“I will, Head.”

Dong-chun’s face was full of smiles as he heard the word Head.

“You’re simple.”

Namgung Soo-yeon clicked her tongue as if she was dissatisfied with such Dong-chun, but he could laugh it off because it wasn’t the first or second time.

“Senior, I’m the boss here.”

“So, are you going to boss me around?”

“No, I’m just saying. So please treat me a little better.”

“Treat you?”

Namgung Soo-yeon stopped talking for a moment and then nodded.

“Senior.”

“Why?”

“Give me this escort service.”

Dong-chun was startled by the words and shouted.

“What are you saying? Chief, you can’t give something and then take it back.”

“Who said I was taking it back?”

Dong-chun, who was relieved to hear Hwa-rin’s words, looked at Namgung Soo-yeon with a triumphant expression.

“And Soo-yeon, stop bothering Dong-chun. Don’t you have anything else to do after meeting him for the first time in a long time?”

“I’m just happy to see him.”

“If Senior is happy to see someone twice, she’ll peel them off and eat them [an idiom meaning she’s extremely violent].”

As Dong-chun said a word, Namgung Soo-yeon’s hand moved to where Dong-chun’s lips were. Dong-chun quickly turned his head to avoid it, but Namgung Soo-yeon’s hand was already grabbing and stretching Dong-chun’s lips.

“Aaaaaah!”

He screamed and made a cry for help, but Hwa-rin was moving away with Wang-son, the blacksmith.

“Senior, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ve committed a deadly sin. So please forgive me just once.”

“Then should I kill you?”

“No, please save me. I want to live, Senior!”

When Dong-chun pleaded, she finally released the hand that was holding his lips.

“If you ever say anything about treating me again, I’ll make your lips like a duck’s beak, so keep that in mind.”

‘No, she doesn’t have a womanly charm…… So Chief Hwa-rin doesn’t see her as a woman either.’

“Senior, let’s go together.”

As Namgung Soo-yeon followed behind Hwa-rin, Dong-chun finally straightened his back.

“If Senior Soo-yeon had been chasing after him like that since she was in the military, Chief Hwa-rin would have known her heart by now…… He’s really a dull person except when it comes to fighting.”