Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 125

Amidst the Hongryeong Extinction Squad surrounding the Gu Ryongjang [Nine Dragons Manor, a significant location] and the government troops confronting them, a palpable tension filled the air.

“We only have business with Namgung Jin of the Namgung family and his younger sister, Namgung Yeon-ah, who are inside Gu Ryongru [Nine Dragons Pavilion, likely a building within the Gu Ryongjang]. If you interfere with our affairs, we will not stand idly by this time, even if you are government troops,” Manjangseong, the leader of the Hongryeong Extinction Squad, sternly warned Hong Hak-jeong, the commander of the opposing government forces.

“Withdraw. This is where the Lord resides.”

“This has nothing to do with the Lord. We only wish to take custody of the Namgung siblings. The daughter of the Namgung family is slaughtering our brothers. We cannot simply ignore this issue. You invoke the Lord’s name to demand restraint from us, but she has caused dozens, even hundreds, of our brothers to bleed. Do not test our patience any further.”

Manjangseong, the leader of the Hongryeong Extinction Squad, spoke as if he would wage war with the government troops if they did not yield.

Clang!

The members of the Hongryeong Extinction Squad standing behind Manjangseong drew their swords, demonstrating that Manjangseong’s words were not empty threats.

Faced with their strong stance, Hong Hak-jeong wore a perplexed expression. He sensed that they were not just putting on a show but were ready to act.

“What is all this commotion?”

Lord Yi Do-baek appeared, reassuring the people who were disturbed by the noise.

“Lord, they are threatening us to hand over the Namgung siblings residing in Gu Ryongru.”

Yi Do-baek’s brow furrowed at the mention of threats.

Yi Do-baek slowly shifted his gaze and fixed it on Manjangseong. The moment Manjangseong met Yi Do-baek’s eyes, he felt an ominous premonition.

“I thought it best to leave you be, as you have contributed to protecting the lives and property of the people by assisting the government troops, even though your misdeeds sometimes crossed the line. But it seems you are mistaken, thinking you are the kings of this country.”

The weight and responsibility differed between Hong Hak-jeong’s words and Yi Do-baek’s words. Yi Do-baek held more power than the emperor in this Shanxi Province.

His one word could plunge them and the Blood Demon Alliance into great trouble, causing Manjangseong’s momentum to falter immediately.

“We apologize for disturbing you, Lord, with this unpleasant matter. However, even now, our brothers are dying or being injured by the Namgung family’s daughter every day. If we leave it as it is, we do not know how many more people will be hurt and killed.”

“If she is such a murderer, she should be arrested immediately. But can you take responsibility for that statement? Do you have any evidence to prove that she is a murderer who enjoys killing without any reason?”

“That is…”

Seeing Manjangseong unable to answer, Yi Do-baek spoke.

“I try not to interfere in the affairs of the Murim [martial arts world] as much as possible. However, I will not simply stand by and watch this act of carrying swords and threatening people. If you cannot answer my question, then leave.”

“But, Lord…”

As Manjangseong was about to say something, a black figure suddenly appeared before him, pointing a sword at his neck.

At that moment, Manjangseong felt his heart drop.

‘When… No, I haven’t heard that there is such a master in the government troops.’

Because information about the government troops and soldiers was lacking, Murim people could have such misconceptions, but among those belonging to the government troops and soldiers, there were people with abilities who could be considered masters anywhere.

At one time, there was a rumor in the Murim world that even if the masters belonging to the Eastern Depot [secret intelligence agency] and the Brocade Guards [imperial bodyguards] who guarded the imperial palace were released into the Murim world, the Murim world would be devastated. That was how many hidden masters there were in the government troops.

“Did you not hear the Lord’s words to return if you cannot answer?”

The person who pointed the sword at Manjangseong was none other than Yi Do-mun, the owner of Salmak Valley and the guardian of Gu Ryongjang.

As internal energy was infused into the sword aimed at Manjangseong, a blue light glowed throughout the sword’s body. When the blue light slightly touched Manjangseong’s neck, blood oozed out from that spot.

Although it was a surprise attack, Manjangseong realized that the person who aimed the sword at him was by no means inferior to him and took a step back.

Manjangseong glared at Yi Do-mun, who had aimed the sword at him, and then brought his hands together, raised them above his chest, and slightly lowered his head towards Yi Do-baek.

“I, Manjangseong, will never forget and will follow the Lord’s words.”

“You want to die.”

Filled with emotion, Yi Do-mun moved in response to Manjangseong’s words.

“You!”

Thinking that he had been caught off guard by the surprise attack, Manjangseong also drew his sword and swung it horizontally to cut Yi Do-mun.

However, that was just Manjangseong’s delusion. Yi Do-mun’s figure scattered like a ghost and soon appeared behind him, pointing his sword at his neck.

“I could have beheaded you on the spot for being disloyal to the Lord, but considering the relationship between the Murim world and the government troops, I will let it go this time. When you deal with the Lord from now on, show as much respect as you can. Otherwise, your head will fall from your body and roll on the floor without anyone knowing.”

Yi Do-mun, who had retrieved the sword he had aimed, stood beside Yi Do-baek and spoke to Manjangseong.

“Take your subordinates and leave.”

Manjangseong gritted his teeth, glared at Yi Do-mun, and turned his body.

The members of the Hongryeong Extinction Squad, having confirmed the defeat of their leader, Manjangseong, felt that there was no longer any justification and sheathed their drawn swords before following Manjangseong out of Gu Ryongru.

“Waaaaah!”

The people who watched this shouted, making the Hongryeong Extinction Squad and Manjangseong look even more pathetic.

Yi Do-baek stared at Yi Do-mun, who was standing beside him, for a while before shaking his head from side to side.

“Follow me.”

He spoke as if he knew Yi Do-mun well and entered Gu Ryongru, and Yi Do-mun also followed Yi Do-baek into Gu Ryongru without saying anything.

* * *

Yi Do-baek and Yi Do-mun sat facing each other with a table of drinks in the middle.

“So, after leaving home, you appeared as a Murim person.”

“I’m sorry, Brother.”

At those words, he chuckled.

“You don’t look sorry.”

Yi Do-mun gave an awkward smile.

“What have you been doing since you left home? If you were alive, you should have contacted home at least once. You heartless fellow, how could you live for thirty years without any contact?”

“I’m sorry. But I visited Father occasionally.”

“Father passed away… You didn’t leave Shanxi Province.”

“That’s right. I have been living in Shanxi Province continuously.”

“And yet… Tsk, you heartless fellow.”

Yi Do-mun lowered his head.

“What have you been doing all this time?”

Yi Do-mun hesitated for a moment, considering the relationship between Hwa-rin and Yi Do-baek, and told him everything about himself.

Yi Do-baek listened to his younger brother Yi Do-mun’s story of how he had lived, sighing, admiring, and sympathizing with his story.

“So, you became a subordinate of the Ninth Imperial Prince?”

“That’s right. If my lord had not appeared, I would have left Shanxi Province.”

“The Ninth Imperial Prince is the person you have been waiting for?”

“That’s right. My lord is the Killer Monarch, the leader of the current assassins. And at the meeting of the leaders of the assassins last time, my lord was recognized as the leader.”

“Heo.”

Yi Do-baek was surprised that Hwa-rin had become a bigger figure than he had thought.

“The Shadow Lord, who was ridiculed as a fool and an idiot, has become one of the most influential people in the world…”

It was an unbelievable story even after hearing it.

“None of my sons have inherited the aura of a king.”

The emperor had lamented long ago that none of his children would succeed him.

But listening to Yi Do-mun’s words, Yi Do-baek could see that the emperor’s aura of a king had been passed down to his youngest Ninth Imperial Prince, not his other children.

‘If the Ninth Imperial Prince has ambitions for the imperial palace…’

It was unlikely, but if Hwa-rin had ambitions for the imperial palace, he thought that it could have a significant impact on the current power structure of the imperial palace.

‘His Majesty the Emperor will not tolerate this.’

Yi Do-baek thought that he needed to know a little more about Hwa-rin.

“Where is the Ninth Imperial Prince now?”

“He should be in Shandong Province by now.”

“Shandong Province?”

“That’s right. My lord is planning to lead the fight against the Blood Demon Alliance to victory and engrave Gu Ryongjang in the Murim world.”

“Are you saying you will be reborn as a Murim family?”

“From the beginning, we moved with the Murim family in mind. The Gu Ryongru and other business places are intended to raise funds, but they are also intended to beat down the flies that swarm around the profits from the business places.”

Dealing with people who come to you was never easy. Going to them has the advantage of being able to choose the opponent and take action, but dealing with those who come to you means you do not know who you will have to deal with.

That is why Gu Ryongjang is dealing with a huge organization like the Blood Demon Alliance this time.

“What if something happens to the Ninth Imperial Prince…”

“There is a master attached to the Ninth Imperial Prince. If the two of them join forces, they are strong enough to destroy one of the ordinary families, so you do not have to worry about that.”

“Who?”

“She is the daughter of the Namgung family, Namgung Su-yeon. She is a couple of years younger than my lord, but her actions are more like a man than a woman, and she gets along very well with my lord because they are on informal terms.”

“The daughter of the Namgung family? Then the Blood Demon Alliance’s words are true.”

“It is true, but it has nothing to do with the Namgung family. Namgung Su-yeon is just chasing after my lord unconditionally.”

“Does she have feelings for the Ninth Imperial Prince?”

“In my opinion, she does have feelings for him, but rather than having feelings in a relationship between a man and a woman, she is more fascinated by my lord’s strength and follows that strength.”

“If they stick together, they will develop feelings.”

Yi Do-baek spoke indifferently.

“You must take good care of the Ninth Imperial Prince.”

“You do not have to worry. You should only know about my lord and not tell others.”

“Do not worry. Who am I going to tell about the Ninth Imperial Prince?”

“And today, the warriors of the Blood Demon Alliance have retreated, but they will not give up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whether or not the Namgung family is involved in the Gu Ryongjang’s affairs.”

“Hmm…”

“I will persuade Namgung Jin to have the Namgung siblings go to the warriors of the Blood Demon Alliance, so please pretend you do not know.”

“I understand. But what if the Blood Demon Alliance harms the Namgung siblings? The Namgung young lady next to the Ninth Imperial Prince will not stand still.”

“You do not have to worry about that. The influence of the Namgung family in the Murim world is more powerful than you think. If they come forward, even the Blood Demon Alliance will have to back down.”

“Is the Namgung family that powerful?”

“There are many worlds in the Central Plains. Among them, the Namgung family is called the royal family in the world of Murim. The Namgung family lives a reclusive life, so people do not know much about them, but no other force can ignore the Namgung family.”

Yi Do-mun nodded his head.

“Then what about that young lady Namgung Su-yeon? Do you think she gets along well with the Ninth Imperial Prince?”

“That is not for me to judge.”

“Really? Then is she pretty?”

Yi Do-mun wore a troubled expression at his brother Yi Do-baek’s question.

“Why? Is she ugly?”

“No, no. I have not really thought about that issue. However…”

“However?”

“She was the second most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

“Then who is the first?”

“It is Hwanggeumhwa Jeon Yeo-bin [Golden Flower Jeon Yeo-bin].”

Upon hearing the name of Hwanggeumhwa Jeon Yeo-bin, his head nodded involuntarily.

She was known as the most beautiful woman in the world, or to some people, the most beautiful woman in ancient and modern times, and she was also the precious daughter of Jeon O-rak, the wealthy merchant of Daeryuk Merchant Group [Great Continent Merchant Group], one of the top ten merchant groups in the Central Plains.

“If she is prettier than Hwanggeumhwa, she is not human. Then she gets along well with the Ninth Imperial Prince.”

“That is…”

“I will meet Namgung Jin and Namgung Yeon-ah.”

“You will?”

“Now that I think about it, it seems better for me to meet and talk to them than for you to come forward and talk to them. I will meet them.”