Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 136

Nine Dragons Chronicle (136)

Fame

Thanks to the Nine Dragons Palm, the evil sects of Shanxi Province were defeated. To find and punish the one who destroyed Hochun Gate, masters from Jongnam Sect and Hwasan Sect were dispatched.

As they were dispatched, the orthodox sects of Shanxi Province naturally gathered around them.

Even the leaders of the sects, who usually had strong voices, were like mute cicadas in front of the masters of Jongnam Sect and Hwasan Sect, unable to utter a word except to answer their questions.

This showed that Jongnam Sect and Hwasan Sect held a high position and influence in the Murim [martial arts world] of Shanxi Province.

“This humble one has been making inquiries, but we are having difficulty finding the culprit. The same goes for Haomun,” Gulchungseon, the head of the Shanxi branch of the Beggars’ Union, reported, indicating the difficulty in identifying the culprit.

“I believe it will be difficult to find the culprit who destroyed Hochun Gate unless he strikes again.”

Those present expected this outcome.

“However, we anticipate that he will appear in Murim again, so this humble one is forming a Heavenly Net in each province to prepare for that time.”

Heavenly Net refers to a formation in which numerous people surround the area where an incident occurred and search to identify, ferret out, and arrest the culprit.

Occasionally, masters escape the Heavenly Net, but it is extremely rare.

“Does that mean another sect has to be destroyed?”

“Frankly, I don’t know if it will be one or two. If we’re unlucky, all the sects gathered here may be targeted.”

The leaders of the sects frowned at Gulchungseon’s words, knowing that since Hochun Gate had been destroyed, their own sects might not withstand the culprit’s murderous intent.

“For this to happen while the Nine Dragons Palm and the Blood Evil Alliance are in conflict…”

Jongnam Sect’s Elder Songcheol spoke with regret.

“Even if he is the Nine Dragons Palm Master, wouldn’t Chodanwoon’s Hwama Blood Demon Fist be too much?”

Hwayoung, an elder of Hwasan Sect, asked, and Songcheol shook his head.

—We know that the Minor Divine Art is only the first form of the Ice Jade Minor Divine Art, so if it is a higher-level technique, it should be able to fight against the Hwama Blood Demon Fist. And if the Hwama Blood Demon Fist is an extremely Yang martial art, the Ice Jade Minor Divine Art is an extremely Yin martial art, so it should gain an advantage when meeting a martial art of opposite properties, right?

Hearing Elder Songcheol’s telepathic message, Elder Hwayoung nodded, thinking that the Ice Jade Minor Divine Art would be able to handle it.

“You’re not helping in many ways.”

“Who are you talking about?”

Okhae, who was next to him, asked, hearing Elder Hwayoung’s words.

“The people of the Blood Evil Alliance.”

“Why is that?”

“Aren’t I saying this because they are fighting with the Nine Dragons Palm, so we can’t get help from the Nine Dragons Palm Master?”

“Are you talking about Hwarin’s help?”

Okhae called Hwarin comfortably because they were friends.

“That’s right. If the Nine Dragons Palm Master were to step in, we could identify and arrest him more quickly, but he is away from Shanxi Province due to the Blood Evil Alliance, so I’m saying this because we can’t get his help.”

“Is the Nine Dragons Palm Master’s martial art that strong?”

The head of Hosong Gate asked.

“You can easily understand if you hear the news that he is fighting with the Blood Evil Alliance. The influence of the evil sects has decreased in Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces because of the Nine Dragons Palm Master.”

In particular, Shanxi Province was virtually untouched by the evil sects, so the Nine Dragons Palm Master was wielding considerable influence while fighting the Blood Evil Alliance.

If the Nine Dragons Palm Master survives the fight with the Blood Evil Alliance, another rising star will appear in Murim, and his fame will spread beyond Shanxi Province to the entire Central Plains. If that happens, he will be recognized as a master of continental level, surpassing the level of a star in an instant.

“Isn’t that because real masters haven’t been投入 [committed]?”

This referred to the Hundred Great Masters of Murim.

“That may be the case. But if the fight continues, the Blood Evil Alliance will send out such masters, but they will not be able to easily defeat the Nine Dragons Palm Master.”

Songcheol agreed with Elder Hwayoung’s answer, and others wore expressions of disbelief.

Okhae, who was friends with Hwarin, was also dubious about Elder Hwayoung’s words.

“Elder, I heard that the Nine Dragons Palm Master is about the same age as me, is he that great?”

Ichilyeon, one of the late-stage disciples of Jongnam Sect, asked Songcheol.

“If you are a firefly, think of him as the sun. If you have a chance to meet him, I hope you will become sincerely close to him rather than showing off your immature competitiveness.”

Ichilyeon’s pride was hurt by Songcheol’s evaluation, but he knew that Songcheol was not generous in evaluating people, so he wanted to meet him if he had the chance.

‘The two seem to know a lot about the Nine Dragons Palm Master.’

Gulchungseon looked at the reactions of Elder Songcheol and Elder Hwayoung and began to rethink the Nine Dragons Palm Master.

‘I may have to inform my superiors and reinvestigate the Nine Dragons Palm Master.’

After talking a little more about the Nine Dragons Palm Master, they got down to business.

Amid many stories and shared opinions that would be helpful to each other, an opinion emerged that the sects other than Hwasan Sect and Jongnam Sect did not have the power to stop the culprit alone, so how about joining together in groups of two or three sects to prepare?

“Rather than that, how about emptying the sects and gathering together? If we divide the sects and have some wait in Jongnam and others wait in Hwasan, wouldn’t it be safer?”

In the case of small and medium-sized sects, it was unsettling even if they gathered together, so they thought of waiting in Hwasan and Jongnam in a safer way until the incident was resolved, and gave their opinions.

Elder Songcheol and Elder Hwayoung exchanged glances.

“Hmm…”

“Wouldn’t that be better? I don’t want to admit it, but I don’t think we can stop or catch the culprit even if we gather together.”

“That’s not a problem we can decide right now. It’s only possible with the permission of the sect leader, so I’ll contact the main mountain.”

The leaders of the other sects wore relieved expressions at Elder Hwayoung’s words.

They thought that Hwasan and Jongnam would eventually protect them, even though there would be many conditions.

“By the way, Sword Saint Namgoong Cheongya is at Nine Dragons Inn.”

When Gulchungseon said this, Elder Songcheol asked with delight.

“What’s that friend doing here?”

“He came for the Nine Dragons Palm. Namgoong Suyeon of the Namgoong Family is also with the Nine Dragons Palm Master.”

“Namgoong Suyeon?”

“That’s right. Namgoong Suyeon was involved in destroying the evil sects, so the Blood Evil Alliance took Namgoongjin and Namgoongyeona hostage, thinking that the Namgoong Family was supporting the Nine Dragons Palm, and the Sword Saint came to Shanxi Province to solve this problem for the Namgoong Family.”

“Then let’s do this. First, while waiting for the sect leader’s answer on the joint response of the sects by contacting the main mountain, Elder Hwayoung and I will meet the Sword Saint and share our opinions on the culprit. If he helps, how about responding together?”

“If you do that, we will follow.”

The orthodox sects of Shanxi Province decided to act together like a community of common destiny and decided to meet Sword Saint Namgoong Cheongya.

“Then let’s do that.”

* * *

“Did that happen?”

Namgoongjin, Sadojun, and Okhae were friends because of Hwarin, and Ichilyeon of Jongnam Sect joined them.

Ichilyeon was two years younger, so he decided to treat them as older brothers, not friends.

While Songcheol and Hwayoung were meeting Namgoong Cheongya, they also met and talked about what had happened.

“It’s like everything happened because of this Nine Dragons Inn.”

Sadojun nodded as if he agreed, and Okhae and Ichilyeon, who were still ignorant of the affairs of Murim, asked why.

“Why the Nine Dragons Inn?”

“Why, because it makes money. The Nine Dragons Inn, which can produce huge funds, is like a goose that lays golden eggs for those with power.”

“Does this place make a lot of money?”

“It makes so much money that you should see it as sweeping it up with a rake.”

Ichilyeon had heard that the Nine Dragons Inn made a lot of money, but he didn’t seem to have a sense of how much money it made.

Sadojun smiled at the sight and said.

“If Jongnam Sect owns this Nine Dragons Inn, they probably wouldn’t have to receive donations or 속가 [lay] disciples. The 무인 [martial artists] of Jongnam Sect could only focus on martial arts training. If that happens, Jongnam Sect will be the best among the Nine Great Sects, as well as one of the largest forces in Murim.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course, nevertheless, you will have to worry about where to spend the money because you can’t handle the money you earn.”

Ichilyeon thought Sadojun was lying to tease him.

“Hyungnim [older brother], I’ve only lived in the sect, but I know everything. Where in the world is there a business that makes so much money?”

“It’s here. Nine Dragons Inn!”

Namgoongjin and Sadojun said at the same time, and they looked at the two with a look of sincerity, and the two nodded at the same time.

“Heok, then why can’t other sects or merchants do business like Nine Dragons Inn?”

“That’s because it’s illegal. If you get caught doing it, you’ll be destroyed.”

“But why is the Nine Dragons Palm…”

“Because it’s legal here. This is the only place in the Central Plains where you can legally operate a gambling house.”

“There’s such a thing in the world…”

“It’s happening here. That’s why the evil sects were eyeing it and trying to take it from Hwarin’s hands.”

“So Hwarin fought with them?”

“Yes. Hwarin has a bit of an unfair side in his position.”

When Namgoongjin spoke, Sadojun gave a dissenting opinion.

“It’s not unfair, it’s all Hwarin’s plan.”

“Plan?”

“If he goes around beating up the evil or orthodox sects, he’ll be targeted, so he 誘導 [induces] someone to take his things.”

“설마 [No way]?”

“Because of that 설마, the Orthodox-Demonic War also happened, and the Orthodox-Evil War also happened. Only thirty years ago, the Demonic Cult and the Blood Evil Alliance and the Righteous Heaven Alliance joined hands.”

The others couldn’t say anything.

“설마 is a common thought of people who have complacent thoughts. So it’s important to keep all possibilities open and look into them.”

“So Hwarin 예상 [anticipated] this and made the Nine Dragons Inn?”

“It’s not necessarily like that, but there’s a possibility. He’s a friend with a sometimes eccentric side.”

Namgoongjin’s head nodded involuntarily.

“Hwarin doesn’t have that side.”

“Ah, I heard that your sister is involved in this, what does that mean?”

“It literally means that she’s beating up the evil sect with Hwarin. It seems like it’s a big deal, and because of that, the main family is in a difficult position.”

“It doesn’t seem that difficult to see.”

Okhae asked.

“Because my uncle came. As long as my uncle is here, the people of the Blood Evil Alliance can’t threaten us.”

Namgoongyeona replied.

“That’s not it, it’s because we don’t have anything to be anxious about. And even if Suyeon is involved in this, the Blood Evil Alliance won’t try to fight against the Namgoong Family.”

Sadojun nodded at the words that he wouldn’t fight with the Namgoong Family.

“Why is that? Is it because the Namgoong Family is the strongest family in the world?”

Namgoongjin 피식 [scoffed] laughed at Ichilyeon’s question.

“It’s not because it’s the strongest family in the world, but because the power of this humble one is equal to one-fifth of the power of the Blood Evil Alliance, or more.”

Ichilyeon looked at Okhae with an expression that he didn’t understand what Namgoongjin was saying.

“That means that if you fight with the Namgoong Family, the other party will also suffer some damage.”

Okhae explained to Ichilyeon.

“There’s a tiger that dominates the mountain. He fought off the invasion of another tiger and won. But he was injured in the fight.”

“음… [Hmm…]”

“If the rumor that he was injured is 알려지면 [known] to other tigers, what will the other tigers do?”

“They will attack the injured tiger to take away the mountain’s dominion.”

“Yes. The reason why the Blood Evil Alliance can’t attack the Namgoong Family is for that reason. If they get injured by the Namgoong Family, the Demonic Cult or the Righteous Heaven Alliance won’t stay still.”

Ichilyeon nodded as if he finally understood.

“Hyungnims [older brothers], I’m still very lacking. Please teach me a lot.”

The others smiled at his 모습 [appearance] of bowing his head and expressing his gratitude for the teachings.

“I’ll raise you. From now on, serve this hyungnim as your big hyungnim.”

When Sadojun spoke, Ichilyeon asked him.

“But what about Jun hyungnim’s 사문 [sect/school]?”

“어? [Huh?] 사문, that’s…”

Namgoongjin 대신 [instead] answered because he was reluctant to say that it was Cheonsagok, a killer sect.

“It’s rude to ask about 사문 unless you’re a superior.”

“Ah… I’m sorry, hyungnim.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Sadojun pointed to the sky with his finger and spoke.

“There are many restrictions on 사문, so I can’t reveal it. The person above me is strict.”

“Sky? Above? 설마 [No way] hyungnim is 천… [heavenly…]”

“Stop it.”

Namgoongjin stopped Ichilyeon’s words.

“I’m sorry. I met good hyungnims today and I couldn’t control my excitement.”

“No. It’s right to express your excitement when you’re excited. Then shall we go down and have a drink?”

“Jun 오라버니 [older brother] is just a drink.”

“Hahaha, I have to have a drink because I got a good dongsaeng [younger brother/friend]. Isn’t that right?”

He asked Namgoongjin for help.

“Haha. That’s right. You have to have a drink on a good day like this. I hope you’ll turn a blind eye just for today, Yeona.”

“피잇! [Pfft!]”

“Okay, okay, let’s go down.”

“But is it okay? 사숙nims [martial uncles] are 심각할 [serious] because of Kwonma Chodanwoon’s Hwama Blood Demon Fist?”

When Okhae spoke, Namgoongjin shook his head.

“Maybe those people are also having a drink.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Why, because this is a 술집 [bar/inn]. And you can have serious conversations while drinking. So don’t worry and go down and have a drink.”

Okhae and Ichilyeon thought it would really be okay to do that, but in the end, they were taken downstairs by the two.

“See. Am I right?”

Namgoong Cheongya, Songcheol, and Hwayoung were drinking on the second floor of Nine Dragons Inn.

“Originally, the more serious it is, the more you talk while having a drink.”