Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 206

Treasure of Soneoeum Temple

“Please accept this.”

Hwa-rin looked at what Daeri Myeonghan was handing over.

“It’s the document for the fields and paddies mortgaged by Hwamyeong Merchant Group.”

“That’s right. It covers fields and paddies in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou.”

“How much did you lend them with this as collateral?”

“Fifty million *nyang* of gold.”

Hwa-rin was shocked at the amount.

“Are the fields and paddies worth that much?”

“To me, whether it’s fifty million or fifty thousand *nyang* of gold, the difference is insignificant.”

‘To what extent did things have to go for rumors to spread that he had enough money to buy all of Yunnan Province and even the lands of the Central Plains?’

“I have experienced that helping in this way returns the favor to me many times over later, so I valued it accordingly.”

“Isn’t there a chance that Hwa Jeong-su might come looking to get this back?”

“That’s unlikely. When he tries to reclaim these fields and paddies, he might find fifty million *nyang* of gold too precious.”

“Ah, I see.”

“If Hwamyeong Merchant Group’s business goes well, they will need the fields and paddies. They will be able to secure a certain amount of grain stably. However, in Hwamyeong Merchant Group’s current situation, managing a large number of people to farm will also be burdensome. Buying grain with that money will be cheaper for them.”

“What a fool.”

“In the long term, that’s true, but Hwamyeong Merchant Group needs to handle the immediate issues at hand, so they won’t be able to look further ahead.”

Hwa-rin nodded.

“And the King of Darkness won’t just leave Hwamyeong Merchant Group alone, will he?”

Hwa-rin gave him a smile.

“Then the King of Darkness can take this without any problems.”

Daeri Myeonghan was certain that Hwa Jeong-su would not be able to recover.

“I don’t have fifty million *nyang* of gold right now. So, I’ll divide the money into installments…”

“Just take it. You have done me a great favor; how could I not offer this much?”

“Are you saying you’ll give it to me for free?”

“It’s not free. The King of Darkness has elevated my martial arts to another level and shown me the direction I can cultivate my martial arts in the future, hasn’t he? And he has given me the power to resist potential external forces, so that alone is more than enough.”

“Then, will you give me one more thing?”

Daeri Myeonghan nodded, with an expression that said he would hear anything.

“I need the Vajra of Yoma.”

“The Vajra of Yoma? Isn’t that just a rusty, unsightly Vajra with all its power drained?”

“I need to deal with those Soneoeum Temple bastards. There’s a kid I know, and it seems they kidnapped her.”

“Hmm…”

“And the Cheonokbo stolen from the Tang family seems to have the power of Dokma, one of Asura’s subordinates, sealed within it.”

“The power of Dokma?”

“Yes. The Tang family’s expertise in poison may all be due to that Cheonokbo.”

“That could be true. A long time ago, the Tang family was more skilled in hidden weapons than poison.”

“I think I need the Vajra of Yoma to deceive them for now.”

“I understand. I’ll bring it to you right away. Is there anything else you need?”

“Please take care of my injured brothers. I’ll be back before their wounds heal.”

“That’s something I should do anyway, and I’ll support the family’s warriors. Those guys use strange sorcery…”

“It’s alright. They’ve already been ruined once by me. The Soneoeum Temple guys active now are just the remnants who escaped back then.”

“Ah… I seem to have forgotten who’s standing before me.”

Daeri Myeonghan got up from his seat, went to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a box.

“Here it is.”

Hwa-rin opened the box, checked the Vajra of Yoma, thanked him, and put the box into the void [a space where items can be stored].

“A spatial pouch using sorcery.”

“Yes. I learned various miscellaneous things while traveling all over the continent during the Menghosasa Blood Battle Squad days.”

“Still, be careful. Those guys might know how to absorb the power of Asura’s Six Demons.”

Hwa-rin nodded, recalling when he absorbed the Yoma’s demonic energy.

‘It was a much greater power than I thought.’

* * *

Hwa-rin, Baek Gun-seong, and Lee Seo-won left Daeri Sega and went to the place where the Soneoeum Temple monks were said to be with the girl, but they had already left.

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean? We have to find their trail and chase after them.”

“Then let’s go to the Yunnan Province branch of the Blood Iron Brigade, report a few things, and then move.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

Hwa-rin obediently followed Baek Gun-seong’s words.

They headed to the Yunnan Province branch of the Blood Iron Brigade, and when they arrived, Hwa-rin asked Baek Gun-seong with a slightly puzzled look.

“Why is this place so shabby?”

It was too different from the branches of the Blood Iron Brigade he had seen.

“This place is treated as a backwater even in the Central Plains, and it’s within Daeri Sega’s territory, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Is that so?”

“If we build up our power and have a conflict with Daeri Sega, then all the members will starve to death.”

“Even though Daeri Sega doesn’t handle grain?”

“The money in the Central Plains is either from the continental battlefield or from Daeri Sega. What would happen if they cut off the money supply?”

“Hmm…”

“Not just food, but even daily necessities and weapons would all be cut off within a year.”

Listening to Baek Gun-seong’s words, he thought that those called the *Sangwang* [powerful local rulers] were indeed different.

“They are literally the *Sangwang*.”

“That’s right. Only a king can deal with a king. If a pawn tries to deal with them, they’ll be ruined that day.”

“Isn’t the Blood Iron Brigade a king too?”

“That’s a bit ambiguous. The Blood Iron Brigade and the Jeongcheon Alliance are places where several sects have united. Maybe the Cheonma [Heavenly Demon] of the Demonic Cult.”

“You’re saying that a single force needs to be recognized as the best to meet the conditions to become a king.”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

“Now that I hear it, it seems so. I should get close to the Demonic Cult.”

“Why?”

“You said the Demonic Cult is a king, right? People should play in big waters.”

“That’s right. The Demonic Cult is a king. The Demon King!”

“Tch, anyway, how long will it take to see to our business?”

“About an hour to an hour and a half?”

“Really? Then I’ll be at the Osan Inn in Yeokmun County. Come there.”

“Osan Inn in Yeokmun County?”

“Yeah. There’s Aenae Mountain in Yeokmun County. The mountain range is rugged, and the valley is deep, so the clouds are thick, making it a perfect place to hide and plot.”

“So you think the Soneoeum Temple monks are hiding in Aenae Mountain?”

“Of course. Everyone thinks similarly. There are occasionally special guys, but even they aren’t that different. Anyway, come to the Osan Inn.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Hwa-rin’s figure blurred.

“That’s really amazing. It seems like martial arts but not, and like not martial arts but martial arts.”

“I think so too. Let’s go in for now. There’s a lot to report. And we need to get support if possible, just in case.”

They entered the Blood Iron Brigade branch.

Hwa-rin came from the Yunnan Province branch of the Blood Iron Brigade to the Osan Inn in Yeokmun County and looked for the head chef.

“You were looking for me.”

“Yes. If you’re not busy, please sit down for a moment.”

The head chef looked Hwa-rin up and down, nodded, and sat down.

“I heard that Amheun Sinyeong, the leader of Hao Mun, came to Yunnan Province. Where is he now?”

The Osan Inn that Hwa-rin was looking for was also a branch of Hao Mun, and Wang Yi-jeong, who was the head chef, was the branch leader.

“I know he went to Aenae Mountain.”

Hwa-rin confirmed that his expectations were not wrong and asked the head chef.

“You don’t know the exact location, do you?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah, and I need your help, Branch Leader.”

Hwa-rin called Wang Yi-jeong the branch leader without hesitation, and he answered as if he knew Hwa-rin well.

“Tell me.”

“I want to use Hao Mun’s intelligence network. Please teach our people well if they come and ask about this and that.”

“Haha, I understand. It’s not a difficult task. I’ll tell you anything.”

Hwa-rin smiled brightly. Hwa-rin’s eyes gradually turned red, and Wang Yi-jeong’s eyes also turned red.

“And please find the people from the Perdan Kingdom in Sichuan Province.”

“In Sichuan Province?”

“Yes. They are the people whom the leader of Hao Mun framed. Just find them and tell me their location.”

“That’s not difficult. Shall I find out now? Even so, it will take two or three days.”

“Please find out for now. Tell me when I come back next time.”

“I understand.”

“Then, I look forward to working with you.”

“Haha, I look forward to working with you too.”

Hwa-rin’s eyes returned to normal, and Wang Yi-jeong’s eyes also returned to normal.

“You know, don’t make the seasoning too strong. And don’t put too many spices in it.”

“Haha, I understand. I’ll make it delicious for you.”

Hwa-rin handed Wang Yi-jeong a gold coin.

“It’s okay if it takes time, so please make it slowly and deliciously.”

Wang Yi-jeong, unaware of what had happened to him, took the gold coin and was very happy.

“Don’t worry.”

As the head chef left, Hwa-rin paused for a moment to think.

“The upper part seems to be roughly done, and now I need to go around the lower part and create an information system that can operate independently using Hao Mun and the military intelligence network.”

Once the information system was established, he had to create the system for the Assassin Alliance in earnest.

They were currently on equal footing, but when forces clashed, there had to be a hierarchy, so he had to create this with care.

“It would be perfect to create an alliance that is not as rigid as the Blood Iron Brigade or the Jeongcheon Alliance, but a little more free, and with its own order within it. To do that, the assassin sects representing each province would have no choice but to lead the way.”

Hwa-rin drew a map of the Central Plains in his head. Then, he divided it into provinces and thought it would be good if two assassin sects in each province cooperated to lead the way.

“If this is operated well, it might be okay.”

It seemed better to move organically like this than to be rigid.

This was because Hwa-rin was greatly influenced by the culture of the military and thought that relationships of superior-subordinate obedience and operations only for performance would be harmful in the long run.

“The rest can be adjusted little by little while operating it. Surely we won’t create provinces like the Blood Iron Brigade or the Jeongcheon Alliance.”

While Hwa-rin was laughing alone, the food came out. And several people entered the inn, monks wearing red robes.

“Enjoy your meal. We’ll prepare the other dishes slowly.”

“Yes. Do that.”

Hwa-rin looked at the head chef, gave a faint smile, and muttered lowly.

“Is it because things are going to work out well?”

He felt lighter knowing that following them would lead him to where the Soneoeum Temple monks were hiding.

“It would have taken days to search that mountain.”

He saved that time, so he thought he could finish the job quickly.

“I just need to bring the Cheonokbo and Princess Natal Psha from those guys, right?”

Hwa-rin had not seen the Cheonokbo, so he was curious.

“I am immune to all poisons, but will Dokma’s energy work on me?”

Hwa-rin had the body of *Mandok Bulchim* [Invulnerable to All Poisons], which he had only heard about. He had achieved this through enlightenment and repeated metamorphosis while learning martial arts, but more than anything, his body had changed to be immune to all poisons due to the energy of the elixirs he had stolen and eaten from the Imperial Palace.

“I should try it once I get the Cheonokbo. And I should have Hao Mun look for the monks of Soneoeum Temple who are searching for other treasures.”