Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 165

Nine Dragons Chronicle (165)

Following Hwa-rin’s orders, Seo Daeyeong began appropriating the assets of the destroyed heretical sects in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces. Meanwhile, Hwa-rin, while staying with Baek Gunseong, secretly met with the leaders of various assassin groups to gradually advance his plans.

“So, how many members of the Hao Clan have entered Nine Dragons Tower so far?”

Hwa-rin had learned from Mi-ok that the Hao Clan was trying to infiltrate Nine Dragons Tower. Yet, he remained still because he knew that if Nine Dragons Tower became a branch of the Hao Clan, he would have unrestricted access to information.

“One hundred and twenty-nine. Thirteen are working as guards, thirty-seven as clerks, seven as cooks, twenty-two as guides, and fifty as courtesans.”

Hwa-rin met with Mi-ok to inquire about the current status of the Hao Clan members who had infiltrated Nine Dragons Tower.

“They’ve sent quite a few.”

Mi-ok gave an awkward smile.

“Where is Nam Seonyeong?”

“He is working as a gardener, managing the gardens.”

“So, some of the people managing the gardens are members of the Hao Clan, acting as guards for Nam Seonyeong.”

“That is correct.”

“Then, where is the information coming from Shaanxi Province handled?”

“I am managing that. To avoid drawing attention, I organize the information and pass it on to Branch Manager Nam Seonyeong.”

“So, Branch Manager Nam Seonyeong is storing the information?”

“Yes, I believe it is stored in the gardeners’ quarters.”

“The quarters? They must be small. How is that possible?”

“It’s possible if they dig under the floor to create a storage space.”

“Ah, I see. Since those living with Branch Manager Nam Seonyeong are members of the Hao Clan, they could dig under the floor without attracting attention.”

“That is correct.”

Hwa-rin listened to Mi-ok’s information about the Hao Clan members in Nine Dragons Tower and nodded.

“Does that mean we need to hire more people?”

“Since there are guests arriving by carriage, I would like to hire a few professionals to manage the horses and carriages.”

Mi-ok, seemingly unaware of their earlier discussion, explained her reasons for wanting to hire people, as if seeking permission from Hwa-rin for the first time, and waited for a response.

“How many do you need? It doesn’t seem like one or two farriers [blacksmiths specializing in horseshoes] and carriage repair technicians would be enough.”

“One farrier to manage the horses is sufficient, but we need about three people to manage the carriages.”

“Then do so. Discuss the monthly salary with Chief Manager Seo and then hire the people. We can’t just blindly add people.”

“I will do that.”

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Then, please continue to do your best.”

Mi-ok smiled brightly at the word “best.”

“It’s not much effort. Everyone is working hard because they’re earning a lot of money, so there’s no need for me to interfere.”

“That’s fortunate. And please introduce me to one or two diligent and responsible employees working at Nine Dragons Tower.”

“Why employees…?”

“I think we need to create our own Nine Dragons Inn in each province. I want to provide a comfortable place for our shipping agency and merchant guild members to rest when they travel on business.”

“That’s a good idea. But is it really necessary? It will cost a lot of money to acquire inns and a lot of money to hire employees every month.”

“Won’t revenue be generated if we do business? And if we create Nine Dragons Inn, Nine Dragons Brothel, and Nine Dragons Lodging, and people recognize that they are businesses operated by Nine Dragons Plaza, they will be more likely to visit our stores, knowing they can receive the same food and service no matter which province or branch they go to, right?”

“The restaurant, lodging, and liquor industries could become targets for unwanted attention.”

“I’ll take care of that problem, so please recommend a trustworthy person, Mi-ok. Then I’ll train them and let them take charge.”

“I understand. Then I’ll look into it.”

Hwa-rin told Mi-ok to keep up the good work and left her room.

After Hwa-rin left, Mi-ok tilted her head.

“He’ll be greatly restricted in his actions due to the Blood Oath Alliance’s surveillance, but he keeps trying to start new things. He’s such an unpredictable person.”

“Mi-ok, it’s time to tour Nine Dragons Tower.”

Upon hearing a woman’s voice from outside, Mi-ok looked surprised and then slightly narrowed her eyes.

“Has the time already come?”

“It’s Shinshi (3 PM – 5 PM) now.”

“Sometimes, when I’m talking with the Master, time flies by like this, and I don’t know why.”

Unless she realizes that she is under a spell and is passing on information about the Hao Clan to Hwa-rin, she will never know the reason for the rest of her life.

“I understand. Wait a moment while I prepare to go out.”

“Yes.”

Meanwhile, Hwa-rin, who had left Mi-ok’s room, exited Nine Dragons Tower and went to Nine Dragons Lodging, where the gardeners were staying.

Nine Dragons Lodging was a place where Hwa-rin had acquired nearby brothels and renovated them to provide lodging for the employees.

“Have you arrived?”

The manager bowed to Hwa-rin.

There were three managers of Nine Dragons Lodging, and their job was to maintain and repair the building facilities and to prevent petty thieves from entering and stealing the employees’ belongings after they left for work at Nine Dragons Tower.

“You’re working hard.”

“It’s not much effort.”

“Still, it’s not easy dealing with so many people. Take breaks when you can. Other places may not allow it, but I’ll allow it here.”

“Really?”

“That doesn’t mean you should rest without doing your work.”

“Of course not. Thank you, Master.”

A smile appeared on their faces at the owner’s words, acknowledging their hard work.

‘These guys are also members of the Hao Clan, right.’

Hwa-rin had heard from Mi-ok which of those working at Nine Dragons Tower were members of the Hao Clan and remembered them all.

“If there are any places that need repair or reinforcement, report them and take action quickly. Leaving them alone could cost more money.”

“I understand. I will do that.”

“Then, keep up the good work.”

Hwa-rin said, “Keep up the good work,” and entered Nine Dragons Lodging.

“They said they dug under the floor, so the gardeners’ rooms must be on the first floor.”

Hwa-rin moved the internal energy in his dantian [energy center in the body] to generate energy. An invisible energy spread out from Hwa-rin in concentric circles.

Since they said they had dug underground to create a room, he was using his energy to find a room with a different structure from the existing rooms.

Hwa-rin’s figure blurred and disappeared from that spot, and when he reappeared, he was in a dark place.

Darkness was a familiar place for Hwa-rin.

Hwa-rin walked through the darkness as if it were his own home and lit a lamp to illuminate the surroundings.

“It’s bigger than I thought. How many people were mobilized to dig all this in such a short time?”

The basement was not just made under the room but was created under the entire lodging building.

The ground was left untouched in between to create pillars that naturally supported the building, allowing it to withstand without collapsing.

Hwa-rin slowly looked around the basement. The basement contained organized materials that had been collected from the branch, making it easy to find and view information.

“It would take at least three months and fifteen days to see everything here.”

Hwa-rin confirmed that Mi-ok’s words were true and thought that he could come here whenever he needed to obtain relevant information.

“If I inform Chief Manager Seo of this fact and allow him free access, he will use the information well.”

If he brainwashed the people here using sorcery, Seo Daeyeong would come and go without suspicion.

“It won’t be easy to recruit talent to manage the information and show them working without being suspected. I should meet Chief Manager Seo and talk…”

Hwa-rin scanned the bookshelves filled with books and took out one book.

The cover of the book read “Hwamyeong Merchant Guild.” Hwa-rin was about to open the book but put it in his arms and concealed his presence. When the lamp that had been lighting the area went out, darkness returned to the basement.

Shortly after, the door to the basement opened, and a person entered. It was Nam Seonyeong.

He held a book in his hand, and after going down to the basement and turning on the lamp, he went to a bookshelf on one side and placed the book there.

“With the Blood Oath Alliance and Nine Dragons Plaza incidents resolved, now they’re causing trouble at the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea.”

In the past, rumors had spread that martial artists from the outskirts of the Central Plains and the outer regions of the Northern Sea, Tibet, Heilongjiang Province, and the Hundred and Eight Islands of the Southern Sea had entered the Central Plains.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the Murim world [martial arts world] if it were quiet. But why did the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea send martial artists to the Central Plains? Is it related to the martial artist who learned the Minor Divine Art of Ice and Snow in the past?”

Nam Seonyeong muttered to himself and then turned off the lamp and left the basement. When he closed the door to the passage leading to the basement, darkness returned.

Whoosh!

As the extinguished lamp lit up, Hwa-rin revealed himself.

Hwa-rin took out the book that Nam Seonyeong had placed and read the contents.

“The people of the Hundred and Eight Islands have entered the Central Plains to meet me, and perhaps, as Nam Seonyeong said, the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea also came because of the Ice and Snow Minor Divine Art. Then, is that the reason for the Dark Demon Tower, Busan Palace, Potala Palace, and Shaolin Temple too?”

Hwa-rin stood silently for a long time, as if thinking about something.

“I can deduce the reason for the Ice Palace, but I don’t know about Potala Palace, Shaolin Temple, Dark Demon Tower, and Busan Palace. Especially Shaolin Temple and Dark Demon Tower, which I crushed so that they could never rise again during the era of the Fierce Tiger Four Blood Sword Squad. It’s strange that their remnants are already moving.”

Hwa-rin made a puzzled expression and then put the book back in its original place.

“Well, their purpose will be revealed as time passes. By the way, it seems like great figures from the Ice Palace have come to the Central Plains. I wonder if they’ll be okay.”

With those words, Hwa-rin’s figure disappeared, and the lamp turned off on its own, bringing darkness back.

* * *

In the main house of the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild, a loud wail echoed. It was due to the death of Hwa Jeongguk, who had grown the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild into one of the top ten merchant guilds in the Central Plains along with Hwa Jeongsu.

Like the family of a great merchant, many people came to Hwa Jeongguk’s funeral, and Hwa Jeongsu was busy greeting the visitors.

With so many people coming, the family members working at the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild and the people recruited to make funeral food complained that it was difficult, but they endured with the expectation of receiving high wages after the work was done, making food and bringing it to the seats of those who came.

At that time, there were three people entering the main house of the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild. They were none other than Hwa-rin, Seo Daeyeong, and Baek Gunseong.

When Hwa Jeongsu saw Hwa-rin, anger surged, but he had to suppress that anger because he was holding his brother’s funeral and the seats were filled with people.

“May the deceased rest in peace.”

“What audacity do you have to come here?”

Hwa Jeongsu glared at Hwa-rin in a low voice. He could feel his anger in his voice, but Hwa-rin said nonchalantly.

“It’s not wrong to come to pray for the dead. And have I done anything wrong to you?”

Hwa Jeongsu’s face turned red at Hwa-rin’s words.

“You seem to be mistaken, but you provoked me first, which led to this situation. I never provoked you first or tried to take what was yours.”

“Because of you, we…”

“There are many people here. Should I reveal in detail how you built the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild?”

Hwa Jeongsu flinched.

—You sold at least a thousand people. You made money by smuggling and trafficking people, and you forcibly took away the buildings and houses of merchants while playing with money. After looking into it a bit, it was even more splendid in the past. People would love it if I revealed all of that, right?

When Hwa-rin’s telepathic message was heard, Hwa Jeongsu couldn’t even speak properly and breathed roughly.

“You should let your brother go in peace. Should I make this place a mess?”

Baek Gunseong, who was watching this, tilted his head.

‘Was there a problem between the two of them?’

Baek Gunseong, who did not know much about their relationship, felt the awkward atmosphere and wondered whether he should step in.

“We’ll just eat quietly over there and leave, so take care of the other guests.”

Hwa-rin looked at Seo Daeyeong, and Seo Daeyeong handed Hwa Jeongsu an envelope containing a check.

“I’m sorry. Our Master is too headstrong. Please forgive the rudeness.”

When Seo Daeyeong bowed and apologized, Hwa Jeongsu only glared fiercely at Hwa-rin.

Hwa-rin and Seo Daeyeong stood in front of Hwa Jeongguk’s portrait, prayed for his soul, and then went to an empty seat and sat down. The family members brought food and set the table.

“Do you have a problem with Hwa Jeongsu?”

Baek Gunseong asked.

“Problem? There’s no such thing. It’s just that he tried to kill me in the past to take what was mine. Thanks to that, the innocent Seokcheon Clan was destroyed.”