Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 105

Nine Dragons Chronicle (105)

Killer Sword Emperor Baek Jeong-in moved first.

He held a long sword in one hand and a short sword in the other. His movements were swift, and his actions were bold.

As Baek Jeong-in rushed in, Hwa-rin couldn’t just stand still.

Clang!

As Hwa-rin blocked the sword swung by Baek Jeong-in, Baek Jeong-in attacked with the short sword in his other hand. Despite the short distance, Baek Jeong-in created numerous illusions of swords by rapidly changing the angle of his wrist.

“Lightning Current!”

The energy flickering from Hwa-rin’s hand spread out in all directions, like lightning splitting from the sky, shattering the sword illusions created by Baek Jeong-in.

Boom… Bang… Bang… Bang…

As his attacks were mercilessly shattered, Baek Jeong-in attempted an attack using the long sword this time.

If the short sword was a swordsmanship focused on creating many variations, the long sword embodied the character of a heavy greatsword.

Hwa-rin diverted Baek Jeong-in’s heavy sword, which was trying to push in with brute force, using a technique to redirect the force.

“Heot!”

As Hwa-rin’s right hand reached out towards Baek Jeong-in’s chest, Baek Jeong-in spun his body and tried to strike Hwa-rin’s hand with the short sword.

Seeing this, Namgung Su-yeon tilted her head, and Hyeok Ji-seok asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Senior Hwa-rin is right-handed.”

“So, isn’t that why he attacked with his right hand?”

“He’s holding the sword in his left hand.”

At those words, Hyeok Ji-seok looked at Hwa-rin.

He was indeed holding the sword in his left hand, blocking the offensive of Baek Jeong-in, who was hailed as a master of the world.

“Miss Namgung, do you know your lord well?”

“I can’t say I know everything, but I know him to some extent.”

“Then, what is your lord’s martial prowess?”

“I don’t know that either. However, I have never seen senior lose a fight. Even if Killer Sword Emperor Baek Jeong-in is called one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, he won’t be able to beat senior in a fight.”

“Still, experience cannot be ignored, can it? Baek Jeong-in has hundreds of actual combat experiences.”

At those words, Namgung Su-yeon smirked. From her point of view, she couldn’t help but do so.

“What’s so great about hundreds of times?”

Hyeok Ji-seok blinked at Namgung Su-yeon’s reaction.

“Have you ever heard of the Blood Wolf Great Bandit Clan?”

“I know it. Isn’t it a bandit group from the Great Plains? I heard that the chief, Dark Great Khan, formed a large force by integrating the bandit groups, but disappeared overnight.”

“You know it well. Senior did that.”

“Pardon?”

She asked if she had misheard, but the answer that came back was even more absurd.

“Senior single-handedly annihilated twelve large bandit groups on the Great Plains, including the Blood Wolf Great Bandit Clan. As a result, bandit groups have not been able to form large forces on the Great Plains until now, and only mediocre bandit groups remain.”

“What are you talking about?”

He asked, unable to believe it.

“The military unit that senior and I served in was a special forces unit that performed such special combat missions.”

“Is there such a unit?”

“Of course. Soldiers are people who protect the lives and safety of the country and its people.”

Hyeok Ji-seok couldn’t decide whether to believe Namgung Su-yeon’s words or not.

“No matter how strong Killer Sword Emperor Baek Jeong-in is, he can’t destroy the Blood Wolf Great Bandit Clan alone, so he can’t beat senior. If Baek Jeong-in’s actual combat experience is over a hundred times, senior’s actual combat experience is over a thousand times. Above all, the *level* of experience between senior and Baek Jeong-in is different.

“Different point?”

“If Baek Jeong-in has a wealth of actual combat experience in individual battles, senior is also skilled in group battles.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can gain an advantage in individual battles, does it?”

Boom!

Sword energy-like energy spread out in all directions, devastating the surroundings.

Seeing this, the bandits could only lower their bodies and stare blankly.

“The advantage of people who are good at group battles is that they have a very wide field of vision. To command a battlefield, you must grasp not only yourself but also the surrounding situation, and how to break the enemy’s morale.”

“You mean…”

“Senior wins not because he is strong in martial arts or has a lot of experience, but because he knows how to win.”

Namgung Su-yeon pointed to the two people fighting with a nod.

“Baek Jeong-in is getting impatient. Twenty moves have already passed in front of many people.”

“Hmm.”

“Baek Jeong-in has lost in a head-on match, not an assassin’s fight. But senior won’t beat Baek Jeong-in in front of people.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s respect for the opponent. And senior has a bit of a tendency to be annoyed by everything. Maybe after a few more moves, when Baek Jeong-in recognizes his defeat, he will compromise with him.”

Hyeok Ji-seok began to rethink Namgung Su-yeon next to him.

‘With just Sword Emperor, Sword Saint, and Sword Dragon, the glory of the Namgung family will continue for a hundred years, but if Namgung Lady is added here, the day when the Namgung family will be known as the greatest family in the world is not far away.’

“Hey, Miss Namgung?”

“What?”

A faint smile appeared on Namgung Su-yeon’s lips.

“I can’t compete with senior yet, but it will be possible soon.”

“You mean?”

“If I combine the two martial arts I’m learning now, I can definitely stand up to senior. But that’s it. I won’t be able to beat senior.”

At this time, no one thought that the Namgung family would continue its thousand-year glory as the greatest family in the world due to the martial arts reborn by combining the two martial arts of Namgung Su-yeon.

Boom, Bang, Bang, Boom!

The greater and stronger the collision of energy, the more the people watching the two people’s confrontation had no choice but to retreat little by little.

Hwa-rin, who had only been defending until now, switched to offense and drove the Killer Sword Emperor into a corner.

‘No matter how much he is the successor of the Murderous Emperor, he is still losing to a guy who has just shed his childishness…’

The Killer Sword Emperor vaguely realized that he was being pushed back in terms of strength, martial arts, and direct confrontation.

Still, his pride would not allow him to kneel like this.

Then Hwa-rin shouted loudly into the air.

“I command those who recognize me as the sect leader: kill all the warriors who have entered Mount Oh Tae now!”

“Understood!”

Along with voices that seemed to come from nowhere, numerous energies scattered in all directions.

The masters of the assassin sects who were watching this moved.

“Su-yeon, if you go to the northwest, there will be some Demonic Cult [a rival faction known for its unorthodox and often ruthless practices] bastards. Don’t miss them and be sure to kill them.”

At Hwa-rin’s words, Su-yeon reacted and disappeared.

“Commander Hyeok, there will be groups of the Blood Demon Alliance [another rival faction, often associated with dark and forbidden arts] in the southwest direction. Don’t miss a single one.”

Hyeok Ji-seok’s body reacted first.

“Guardian Lee, there are warriors from the Righteous Sky Alliance [a coalition of martial arts schools dedicated to upholding justice and order] in the northeast direction.”

Lee Do-moon also disappeared without a sound.

Following Hwa-rin’s orders, everyone left Oh Tae Mountain Fortress and scattered into Oh Tae Mountain, and only Hwa-rin, Baek Jeong-in, and the bandits remained in the fortress. The bandits were in a state of chaos due to the two people’s battle, unable to come to their senses and only lying on the floor, trembling.

A large and wide pond had been created in the open space of Oh Tae Mountain Fortress, and this pond had encroached on the site where the building was built.

The building looked precarious enough to collapse soon.

“Can’t you still acknowledge my master?”

Hwa-rin spread a barrier between the two so that the sound would not leak out.

“You little brat, so proud with this much… Heot!”

Surprised by the sword energy reaching for his neck, he leaned back to avoid it.

“All the assassins have acknowledged my master and have gone to carry out the orders given in the name of the sect leader. So, if you acknowledge him here, I will protect the Sword Emperor’s honor.”

“What?”

“No one is watching.”

Only then did he realize why Hwa-rin had given such an order in the middle of the fight.

“The assassin world needs the Sword Emperor. I can be satisfied with you acknowledging my master, just as I acknowledge the Sword Emperor.”

As Baek Jeong-in stepped back, Hwa-rin temporarily stopped his offensive.

“Is that all?”

“Yes. The achievements of that era are also proof that the people of that era lived.”

“Hmm.”

“People with descendants will prove their lives by continuing their lineage, but if there are no descendants to continue the lineage, how much will their lives be remembered? Especially martial artists who risk their lives for a single sword, what more is there to say?”

Baek Jeong-in couldn’t answer.

“My master is thought of more highly in the martial world right now, but if you leave more and greater achievements in the martial world until you live out your natural lifespan, people will naturally mention your achievements rather than my master’s and record history saying that you are the best, not my master. Isn’t that the way of the world?”

“So? Are you also going to work hard to surpass my achievements?”

“Isn’t there an order? It’s my turn after the Sword Emperor, so shouldn’t I step up?”

Baek Jeong-in nodded, looking at Hwa-rin.

“Okay. I accept your offer. It’s not that I lost to you and accepted your offer.”

“Of course. The Sword Emperor did not lose to me. You just withdrew your sword thinking about the future of your junior.”

Hwa-rin bowed lightly to Killer Sword Emperor Baek Jeong-in.

‘If the Killer Sword Emperor had taken out his hidden move, one of my limbs would have been blown away, so it’s fortunate that it ended here.’

Looking at Hwa-rin’s appearance, he could feel that his era was already coming to an end.

“Clean this place up. I will have a drink with the Sword Emperor, so bring out the prepared alcohol and food.”

Hwa-rin gave orders to the bandits who were trembling.

‘This x, after destroying everything, what alcohol…’

* * *

The leaders of the assassin world were all present at Oh Tae Mountain Fortress, mingling with various people and raising their glasses.

They did not watch the fight between the Killer Sword Emperor and the successor of the Murderous Emperor until the end, but they could roughly guess the outcome.

If the Killer Sword Emperor had won, Hwa-rin’s life would not have been spared. However, none of them mentioned this.

That was because of the honor of the Killer Sword Emperor, but also because of the trust in the successor of the Murderous Emperor.

While they were drinking together, Hyeok Ji-seok returned, and about half an hour later, Lee Do-moon returned.

And after another hour, Namgung Su-yeon returned, looking a mess as if she had fought a fierce battle.

“Lady Namgung Su-yeon.”

Surprised by her appearance, Hyeok Ji-seok called her.

Namgung Su-yeon ignored Hyeok Ji-seok and went straight to Hwa-rin and said.

“Senior, you knew and sent me there, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“You told me to deal with the Demonic Cult bastards. You knew that there was an old man from the Blood Heaven Demon Clan [a particularly dangerous and secretive branch within the Demonic Cult] there, didn’t you?”

The moment the words ‘old man from the Blood Heaven Demon Clan’ came out of Namgung Su-yeon’s mouth, there was a moment of deathly silence. Everyone’s eyes turned to Namgung Su-yeon, and their interest was in whether the old man from the Blood Heaven Demon Clan was alive or dead.

“No, I sent you because I thought you were the only one who could handle it. How would I know who the old man from the Blood Heaven Demon Clan is?”

“You knew. Blood Heaven Demon, that old man!”

Namgung Su-yeon snapped back with a voice full of annoyance, and everyone held their breath as the name they had guessed came out.

“So, what about that old man?”

“He ran away.”

“You missed him? Wow, Namgung Su-yeon, the best in the world, missed her target. What’s going on?”

“I couldn’t kill him because I was interfered with by the demons [likely referring to other members of the Demonic Cult]. That old man’s martial arts were not ordinary, and his escape was not ordinary either.”

Everyone wore an expression of disbelief at Namgung Su-yeon’s words.

It was impossible to know if the Blood Heaven Demon had really come, but looking at Namgung Su-yeon’s appearance, it was clear that a great master had come.

But if the Blood Heaven Demon had really come, it would be a big topic because another rising star had appeared in the martial world.

‘Oh my god, a woman in her early twenties fought against and defeated the Blood Heaven Demon, one of the most notorious devils.’

“Good job. Come over here and sit down.”

Hwa-rin, with an indifferent expression, made a seat for her, and she sat next to him.

“Senior, she is a daughter of the Namgung family. She is also a junior who served in the military with me.”

Hwa-rin introduced Namgung Su-yeon to Baek Jeong-in. When the name ‘daughter of the Namgung family’ came out of his mouth, some people nodded.

That’s how much the current Namgung family is recognized as one of the best families in the martial world.

“Military life?”

“Yes. She is a rare woman with guts. Her martial arts are great, but her desire to achieve is also great. In the next five years, the Demonic Cult or the Blood Demon Alliance will be in trouble because of this friend.”

“It’s really amazing that a woman has been to the military.”

“You flatter me. I just did what I wanted to do, because we have different values and thoughts.”

Looking at Namgung Su-yeon’s appearance, speaking her mind clearly without being intimidated even in front of the Killer Sword Emperor, people realized that there was one more person to support the Namgung family along with Sword Dragon Namgung Jin.

Dongseo Dok, the head of the Yeongcheon Merchant Group, who had been dragged here and was tilting his glass, could not tell whether what was happening to him now was a dream or reality.

‘The fact that I am the ninth prince of the imperial palace is scary and frightening, but the sect leader of the assassins is the Murderous Emperor… I must be completely out of my mind.’

Dongseo Dok recalled what he had done to Hwa-rin in the past, blamed himself inwardly, and wanted to avoid this place.

“Ah, and please receive a glass of my wine, Lord Dongseo Dok of our Yeongcheon Merchant Group.”

Hwa-rin looked at Dongseo Dok, who was bowing his head, and filled his glass with wine. Then, using his internal energy, he floated the glass in the air and delivered it.

“Thank you. Ninth Prince… Lord Nine Dragons.”

He quickly changed his words because he had said that if the fact that he was a prince was revealed to the world, his entire clan would be exterminated.

Hwa-rin smiled brightly at the sight, but the smile looked like the King of the Underworld smiling at him, sending shivers down his spine.

‘I heard that ignorance is courage, but I never knew that it would apply to me.’