Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 121

Ninth Heaven Dragon Legend (121)

“The estate is empty.”

The warriors of the White Horse Temple, who had raided the Nine Dragons Estate, were slightly taken aback to find it deserted.

They hadn’t anticipated that the estate would be empty before the battle.

“Seungcheon, has anyone been able to contact Seungcheon yet?”

The eldest, Daeman Lee, sought out the third, Seungcheon Lee, but couldn’t reach him.

“Burn the estate. Turn it to ashes.”

At Daeman Lee’s command, the warriors of the White Horse Temple set fire to the buildings of the Nine Dragons Estate.

Perhaps because they poured oil and lit the fire, the flames quickly grew, fiercely engulfing and consuming the buildings.

Whirr, whirr, whirr!

The fire demon devoured the buildings, revealing its presence. Watching the Nine Dragons Estate’s buildings burn fiercely, Daeman Lee was able to alleviate his anger, if only a little.

“H-Hyungnim!” [Hyungnim is a Korean term for older brother or respected elder male.]

Seungcheon Lee, the third of the White Horse Temple, who had rushed from Shandong Province to Shanxi Province, was dumbfounded at the sight of the burning Nine Dragons Estate.

“Where have you been and what have you been doing!”

Daeman Lee roared at Seungcheon, who had just appeared.

“The estate was empty. Did you perhaps chase after them?”

Unlike Daeman Lee, the second, Daero Lee, calmly asked Seungcheon.

“No, no, Hyungnim.”

“Then where have you been and what have you been doing?”

The collapsing buildings of the burning Nine Dragons Estate scattered embers in all directions.

“Hyungnim, why did you set it on fire?”

Seungcheon informed them that they had crossed a line that should not have been crossed.

“What are you talking about?”

“The owner of the Nine Dragons Estate is the one I’ve been telling you about.”

“That guy?”

“The one I was with during my military service.”

“You mean Squad Leader Hwarin?”

“Yes. And Nangong Suyeon of the Nangong Family, along with the warriors of the Nine Dragons Estate, turned the main family’s estate into a shambles. I confirmed that and rushed back, but…”

“What? Attack the main family?”

“It seems they attacked as soon as you hyungs left the main family with the warriors. By the time I went to inform you who the owner of the Nine Dragons Estate was, it was already too late.”

The warriors of the White Horse Temple were startled by Seungcheon’s words and gathered around them.

“Explain in detail. Why is the Nangong Family involved?”

“Nangong Suyeon is also my senior who served in the same unit. It’s not certain, but it seems Nangong Suyeon informed the Nangong Family about Squad Leader Hwarin, and the Nangong Family kept Nangong Suyeon by their side to not miss out on a master like Squad Leader Hwarin.”

“But why did Nangong Suyeon attack the main family?”

“Didn’t I tell you? The unit I was in is one that launches preemptive strikes to annihilate the opponent if they are deemed a threat.”

“So? That Hwarin guy had Nangong Suyeon attack the main family? And he emptied this place?”

“Hyungnim, we need to hurry. We need to join up with the Hongnyeong Annihilation Squad and Daeryeong Extermination Squad that departed from the Blood Demon Alliance.”

“What’s the rush? If we wait here, won’t they come back?”

“Hyungnim, we’ll all die if we stay here. We alone cannot face Squad Leader Hwarin.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. We are the main family’s elite unit.”

“Even the elite unit of the Demonic Cult is no match for Hwarin sunbae [Sunbae is a Korean term for a senior or mentor]. We don’t have a master who can face him. So…”

As the Nine Dragons Estate burned, people came out in surprise, and as they murmured, these men approached and intimidated them.

“Everyone, go back. Otherwise, we will consider you part of the Nine Dragons Estate and kill you.”

At the threat of death, people quickly turned away, cursing those who had set fire to the Nine Dragons Estate.

“I will wait here for them to come.”

When the eldest, Daeman Lee, said he would wait at the Nine Dragons Estate, Seungcheon tried to stop him.

“Hyungnim!”

Pow!

Daeman Lee’s fist struck Seungcheon’s face.

“If you’re going to say such weak things, go alone. We will wait here and avenge our father and sister.”

“Hyungnim, we can never defeat Hwarin!”

Seungcheon also refused to budge. Hwarin was that terrifying to him.

“Then go to the Blood Demon Alliance alone.”

“Hyungnim!”

“If you open your mouth again, I will cut you down first.”

When Daeman Lee spoke sternly, Seungcheon eventually gave up trying to persuade Daeman Lee.

‘Damn it, I have to hope the Blood Demon Alliance comes here first.’

* * *

“So, the master of the Nine Dragons Estate emptied the estate and went to Henan Province?”

“Yes. He is currently turning Henan Province upside down. Moreover, the Nine Dragons Squad attacked and annihilated the White Horse Temple of Shandong Province. And Nangong Suyeon was there.”

The Hao Moon, sensitive to information, was overwhelmed by the information coming in from Henan and Shandong Provinces.

No one had expected that the master of the Nine Dragons Estate would empty the estate and attack the heretical sects.

“As the major heretical sects active in Henan Province are being annihilated by the master of the Nine Dragons Estate, the orthodox sects are showing signs of trying to clean up the remaining heretical sects.”

“The orthodox sects of Henan Province? Is the Righteous Heaven Alliance involved?”

“The Righteous Heaven Alliance is showing no movement. However, Zhuge Tak also heard about the master of the Nine Dragons Estate’s actions and probably anticipated this much, and has turned a blind eye.”

The Moon Lord of the Hao Moon, Amheun Shinyeong, wore a troubled expression.

“Turning a blind eye even though he knows? Is Zhuge Tak preparing for the war between good and evil?”

“That’s unlikely. It seems they are just letting it go because the current situation is advantageous to them.”

“Is that so?”

“Didn’t I tell you before that the Blood Demon Alliance and the Righteous Heaven Alliance seemed to have reached some kind of agreement?”

“You did. So even though the Blood Demon Alliance dispatched combat troops, the Righteous Heaven Alliance didn’t show any special movements.”

“So it seems the war between good and evil will not happen.”

“Even so, isn’t the Blood Demon Alliance the one ultimately suffering the damage? If the Blood Demon Alliance suffers great damage, will they stay still?”

“That’s not likely, but I think they will end up demanding some compensation from the Righteous Heaven Alliance for the damage they suffered at the Nine Dragons Estate.”

Amheun Shinyeong tried to predict how the current situation would unfold.

For the powerless black forces, choosing the right side was also very important. If the situation ends like this, nothing special will happen, but if the heretical sects continue to collapse at the hands of the master of the Nine Dragons Estate, the Righteous Heaven Alliance may think differently.

“Isn’t this what the master of the Nine Dragons Estate is aiming for?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If the heretical sects collapse one by one, will the Righteous Heaven Alliance stay still? They made an agreement, but will Zhuge Tak keep his word?”

The Chief Manager of the Hao Moon, Gwiyeong Shin, could not answer Amheun Shinyeong’s question.

“Promises are meant to be kept, but if the situation changes, overturning that promise is nothing, right?”

“That’s true.”

“If such a situation comes, then agreements are meaningless in the Murim world [Murim refers to the martial arts world in Korean stories], right?”

Gwiyeong Shin could not answer.

“We need to prepare. Inform each branch of this fact and tell them to give the desired information to the Blood Demon Alliance, the Righteous Heaven Alliance, or even if the master of the Nine Dragons Estate comes and wants information.”

“Is that really okay?”

“We need to show that we are thoroughly neutral. Otherwise, we may become a target of their anger.”

“I will convey that to each branch.”

“And tell the Shanxi branch to monitor the movements of the Blood Demon Alliance, Mount Hua, and Jongnam without missing a single detail. No, I need to go there myself and examine the situation.”

“I will have the children on standby just in case.”

“Keep a close eye on the situation in Hubei Province, where the Righteous Heaven Alliance is located, and Guangxi Province, where the Blood Demon Alliance is located.”

* * *

“But Squad Leader Hwarin, how long are you going to keep wandering around like this? With your skills, you could just wipe them out.”

“If it was just a matter of wiping them out and being done with it, I would, but it gets tiring when other guys come.”

“I heard the Blood Demon Alliance has five armed forces, three of which have already been crushed, and two have come this time… If they fall, where else would there be guys coming from?”

“You simpleton, do you think what you see is everything? Hidden guys are always the scariest. Where does the confidence come from that the Blood Demon Alliance, a collection of heretical sects, is that simple?”

Dongchun pouted.

“No, would I have said it if I didn’t know that?”

“Then?”

“Are you saying that the Squad Leader will bring out the hidden forces of the Blood Demon Alliance? Pride is pride, but would they show their strength to the Righteous Heaven Alliance or the Demonic Cult when their forces are revealed?”

“You ignorant fool.”

“Why am I ignorant?”

“Do you think they would reveal their secret and hidden forces and send them? They’re drawing attention by sending the Hongnyeong Annihilation Squad and Daeryeong Extermination Squad this way, but they might have secretly sent incredibly strong guys.”

Dongchun blinked at Hwarin’s answer.

“Anyway, you’re such a thoughtless guy. How did we get rumored in the Murim world?”

“Well…”

As he hesitated, Hwarin’s hand struck the back of Dongchun’s head.

“Ouch!”

Hwarin raised his hand once more towards Dongchun, who glared at him for hitting him for no reason, and Dongchun averted his gaze.

“It’s known that we annihilated the Eumsa Sect and the Blood Evil Sect at the same time. And Lee Cheonguk of the White Horse Temple was also with them. So, what would a thoughtful guy think?”

“They would think there are masters at the Nine Dragons Estate.”

Hwarin, who wore an expression that he didn’t like the answer, soon sighed with a pathetic look and opened his mouth.

“Since they have the power to annihilate two sects, they would have sent not one but two armed forces.”

“That’s obvious.”

“But you know, can they be sure that they can definitely beat us with those two armed forces? The Blood Demon Alliance wouldn’t have been able to grasp our strength, right?”

“Hmm…”

“Then, as a safety measure, they might send two or three masters who can face us. For example, masters who are listed in the Murim Hundred Great Masters.”

Dongchun nodded.

“Think simply. Even if there are many sheep, they can’t beat one wolf. So, to catch a wolf, you have to release at least that level of beast.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“While we’re beating up the heretical sects, the heretical sects in each province will be dissatisfied. And if the power of the heretical sects decreases, the orthodox sects will have other thoughts.”

“That seems likely.”

“Will the Blood Demon Alliance be able to send a lot of people to kill us?”

“That’s unlikely.”

“Right. When that happens, they’ll leave two or three real masters behind and go back.”

“Then you’re going to catch those masters then?”

“That’s right. Then they’ll send more masters.”

“What if they hire assassins?”

“Are the assassins crazy? To take on a request to assassinate me.”

At those words, Hwarin smirked.

“Everyone else will take the request, but they won’t take a request for me. They all know that taking it is a one-way ticket to hell.”

“Hahaha.”

Dongchun laughed out loud.

“Why? You don’t think so?”

“It’s not that. No matter how strong the Squad Leader is, I’m really impressed by where that unfounded confidence comes from.”

Thwack!

Hwarin’s hand moved like lightning, and as if anticipating it, Dongchun tried to dodge it, but he couldn’t avoid it and staggered from the strong impact on the back of his head.

“You’re practically asking to be killed.”

“Ah, seriously, my head isn’t good already, stop hitting my head…”

As Dongchun was about to shout, Hwarin raised his hand.

“Ah, seriously, you won’t let me say anything!”