Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 138

Nine Dragons Chronicle (138)

Whoosh….

The Blood Oath Clan, long established and thriving in Seohwa County, Gansu Province, was ablaze.

The Blood Oath Clan occupied a gray area between the orthodox and unorthodox martial worlds, and was quite well-known in Gansu Province, where the Demonic Sect held considerable sway. Dongcheon-gun, the current leader of the Blood Oath Clan, leaned slightly towards the Demonic Sect.

Dongcheon-gun, a master at the Seonggeup [a martial rank] level, was a well-known figure in Gansu Province, and his influence was considerable.

This allowed him to survive in Gansu Province as a faction straddling the line between orthodox and unorthodox.

Now, the Blood Oath Clan’s manor was engulfed in a firestorm, turning to ashes.

A man stood silhouetted against the red flames, fresh blood dripping from his fingers as if he had just killed someone.

“So, if you had joined the main sect when we told you to, you wouldn’t have suffered this.”

“When did you…”

Dongcheon-gun, panting like a man facing death itself, looked at the man before him, his voice filled with resentment.

“Now.”

The man looked down at him, his voice quiet, a stark contrast to his earlier tone. Dongcheon-gun felt mocked.

“Are you trying to mock me as I die?”

The man approached Dongcheon-gun, lowered himself, and whispered.

“Mock? Do you think you deserve my mockery?”

Dongcheon-gun glared at the man.

“When I destroyed the Hocheon Clan, I made a slight mistake. So, you see.”

The man spoke casually, unfazed by Dongcheon-gun’s fierce gaze.

“So, you’ll have to be the bait.”

“Bait?”

“Indeed.”

The man reached out and grabbed Dongcheon-gun’s head, as if he had said all he needed to say.

“Kuaaaak!”

Dongcheon-gun, overwhelmed by pain, screamed and collapsed.

The man glanced at the corpse, then turned and left the burning Blood Oath Clan manor.

* * *

The terror of the Hwama Blood Hand Strike!

Traces of the Hwama Blood Hand Strike were discovered in Gansu Province, following Seoseo Province.

The wounds of the Blood Oath Clan warriors, burned to death, bore the unmistakable marks of the Hwama Blood Hand Strike.

“I heard it clearly. That guy explicitly said ‘main sect’ and proposed that the leader join, but the leader refused.”

The testimony of the Blood Oath Clan’s sole survivor revealed that the person who had mastered the Hwama Blood Hand Strike belonged to an organization.

The Murim [martial arts world] speculated about the sect mentioned by the survivor, but no organization fit the description.

However, since the Demonic Sect was the only power in the current Murim that could confidently claim to be a ‘main sect,’ both orthodox and unorthodox factions suspected them, though they kept their suspicions veiled.

A Murim decree was issued in the name of the Jeongcheon Alliance [Righteous Heaven Alliance], and masters belonging to the alliance were gathering in Wuhan, Hubei Province. This underscored the seriousness of the Hwama Blood Hand Strike problem.

The leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Ten Great Families, as well as the twenty-four manors and thirty-six major factions, headed to the Jeongcheon Alliance without exception.

When the Jeongcheon Alliance summoned masters, the Saheol Alliance [Evil Alliance] could not remain idle. If they stood by and watched, and the Jeongcheon Alliance turned against them, the damage would be immense. Thus, the Saheol Alliance also issued a Murim decree to the masters of the Demonic Sect, summoning them to Gwangseo Province, their base of operations.

As the two major forces that virtually divided the Murim concentrated their power, the news spread rapidly, and outsiders watched the masters gathering in the Jeongcheon Alliance and the Saheol Alliance with bated breath.

“What a hardship this is because of the Murim.”

As the Murim descended into chaos, the government troops became busier. Conflicts between Murim forces threatened civilian property, so the troops patrolled daily, and petty criminals became more cautious, bringing a small measure of peace to the people.

This news also reached Seoseo Province, where the Saheol Alliance and the Nine Dragons Guild were locked in conflict, further eroding the Saheol Alliance’s justification for their actions.

As the Murim’s attention focused on the confrontation between the Saheol Alliance and the Nine Dragons Guild, public sentiment turned against them, accusing them of neglecting their duty to protect the weak and prevent evil for their own gain.

The Saheol Alliance claimed to be punishing the destruction of the Demonic Sect, but the truth—that they had initiated the conflict by attempting to steal the Nine Dragons Guild’s business from the Demonic Sect and assassinate the Nine Dragons Guild leader—was revealed. This led to increased condemnation of the Saheol Alliance, putting Bae Dong-seong, leader of the Hongnyeong Myeolsadae [Crimson Flame Extermination Squad], in a difficult position.

Meanwhile, the death of Ssangryong Hyeolbu [Twin Dragon Blood Axe], Lee Si-eon, was revealed, shocking the Murim once more.

It was revealed that the person who fought and defeated Ssangryong Hyeolbu, Lee Si-eon, was none other than Namgung Su-yeon, daughter of the prestigious Namgung family.

This revelation also exposed the Saheol Alliance’s secret deployment of Murim’s Hundred Great Masters to assassinate the Nine Dragons Guild leader and its warriors, drawing further criticism.

“They sent not only the Hongnyeong Myeolsadae and Daeryeong Myeolmadae [Great Flame Extermination Squad], but also Murim’s Hundred Great Masters to destroy the Nine Dragons Guild? Anyone would think they’re trying to fight the Namgung family!”

“The things that thugs do are always like that.”

The common people, who feared the Murim, viewed both orthodox and unorthodox factions as mere thugs and schemers who treated human lives as insignificant.

Of course, some Murim individuals were respected by the common people, but they were few and far between.

In Seoseo Province, where the Nine Dragons Guild had a strong presence and enjoyed a good relationship with the common people, criticism of the Saheol Alliance was particularly strong.

“Brother, have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor are you talking about?”

“Sister won the life-and-death battle with Ssangryong Hyeolbu. It’s a huge deal now.”

Namgung-jin and Namgung Yeon-ah, Sado-jun and Ok-hae, and Lee Chil-yeon were staying at the Nine Dragons Tower, closely monitoring the Murim’s movements. They were surprised by the unexpected news of Namgung Su-yeon’s victory.

“I’ve heard the rumor too. It’s hard to believe, but it seems to be true. Apparently, the Saheol Alliance sent several of Murim’s Hundred Great Masters in addition to Ssangryong Hyeolbu, Lee Si-eon.”

“Amazing. The Namgung family is said to be the best in the Murim, and there’s a reason for it, isn’t there?”

Sado-jun congratulated Namgung Su-yeon, who was making a name for herself in the Murim, with a hint of envy.

“My uncle might be in trouble because of that, but it’s not bad in its own way because Su-yeon has gained more fame than me.”

“Brother, will my sister also get a title? She defeated Murim’s Hundred Great Masters, so she’ll definitely get one, right?”

The others nodded at Namgung Yeon-ah’s question.

“Grandfather is the Sword Emperor, uncle is the Sword Venerable, and brother is the Sword Dragon. Then sister can be the Sword Saint.”

“The Great Warrior Baek Jeong-in, the Slaughtering Sword Saint, already holds the title of Sword Saint. And we don’t just create titles; the Murim bestows them based on achievements. I think she’ll get a different title.”

“Sect Leader Sado and Yin Yang Sect Leader got the same title, Sect Leader.”

“Even so, it’s not something we can decide. And now, the fact that Su-yeon has become unable to escape the fight with the Saheol Alliance is more important than her victory over Ssangryong Hyeolbu, Lee Si-eon.”

“Then will my sister die? That’s what happened with Hwa-rin, too. They started the fight and tried to kill him. Should we just be patient? Shouldn’t the Jeongcheon Alliance step in and resolve such unfairness?”

The others couldn’t answer Namgung Yeon-ah’s question.

“If the Nine Dragons Guild is destroyed by the Saheol Alliance and the family members die, the factions that have joined the Jeongcheon Alliance will think twice. If they suffer unfair treatment like the Nine Dragons Guild, what will the Jeongcheon Alliance do if they stay still?”

Namgung Cheong-ya and Elder Song Cheol, and Elder Hwa-yeong, who were listening nearby, exchanged concerned glances.

“That’s not wrong. The people of the Namgung family are different. What do you think?”

“What else? I’m proud of her. I took her on a lot of trips when she was young, so she thinks differently. That’s why early education is necessary.”

Song Cheol sighed at Namgung Cheong-ya’s flippant words and said.

“No, I’m not talking about that. The question is whether there will be a shift in the orthodox factions after the Nine Dragons Guild is destroyed by the Saheol Alliance.”

“Why are you asking the obvious? Unless the Ten Great Families, Nine Great Sects, Twenty-Four Manors, and Thirty-Six Major Factions are attacked, the Jeongcheon Alliance won’t move. They only move when there’s something to gain. Isn’t that right? We’ve seen it so far.”

There was no way to refute Namgung Cheong-ya’s words.

“Then what will the small and medium-sized factions do? They’ll see the Nine Dragons Guild being destroyed by the Demonic Sect’s attack and realize they can’t blindly trust the Jeongcheon Alliance.”

“What does that mean?”

“They’ll leave the orthodox faction and turn to the faction between the orthodox and unorthodox or the Demonic Sect. Then they won’t take revenge even if the faction is destroyed. And now, it seems that the Nine Dragons Guild leader has been declared a public enemy of the Demonic Sect by the Saheol Alliance.”

Hwa-yeong struggled to accept Namgung Cheong-ya’s words, but Song Cheol nodded in agreement.

“The Jeongcheon Alliance made the wrong decision from the beginning. Everyone in the Ten Great Families knows that General Zhuge is interested in the Nine Dragons Tower.”

“Then does that mean that General Zhuge didn’t do anything to take the Nine Dragons Tower from the Nine Dragons Guild?”

“The Saheol Alliance made a proposal to the Jeongcheon Alliance first. They said they would attack the Nine Dragons Guild, so you guys stay still, and in return, we’ll hand over the business places operated by the Nine Dragons Guild to you.”

Song Cheol and Hwa-yeong exchanged disbelieving glances, then turned back to Namgung Cheong-ya.

“How do you know that?”

“Wi So-bong told me. I also know that six of Murim’s Hundred Great Masters left the Saheol Alliance to kill the Nine Dragons Guild leader and the Nine Dragons Unit warriors.”

“Is that true? But how can you be so relaxed? Your family’s daughter…”

“What do you think is the reason why the Saheol Alliance sent Wi So-bong here?”

Song Cheol narrowed his eyes.

“It’s to keep me here. If I leave this place to save Su-yeon, Wi So-bong will kill Jin-i and Yeon-ah first.”

“Hmm…”

“And if they’re so bold as to fight the Saheol Alliance and destroy the Demonic Sect factions, they won’t be easily defeated even if they meet Murim’s Hundred Great Masters. Su-yeon killed Ssangryong Hyeolbu, didn’t she?”

Song Cheol recalled what Hwa-rin had said.

“There is one daughter of the Namgung family, and she may be able to be discharged if she’s lucky.”

If they can safely be discharged from the Mengho Sasa Hyeoljeondae [Tiger Death Blood Battle Squad], they will master martial arts and combat experience that are by no means inferior to Murim’s Hundred Great Masters, so they will not be easily defeated as Namgung Cheong-ya said.

“Then there’s no problem.”

“That’s right. I heard that the Hwama Blood Hand Strike has recently appeared in Gansu Province, so it would be better to pay more attention to that than the Nine Dragons Guild.”

“What about you?”

“I’m assigned here to protect the young master of the main family, so I have no intention of moving unless Jin-i and Yeon-ah are safe.”

“Don’t be so sure and lend us your strength if it appears in Seoseo Province.”

“I can do that much. But don’t you even know what he looks like yet?”

Song Cheol and Hwa-yeong were silent.

“All we know about him is that he has mastered the Hwama Blood Hand Strike. In this case, we won’t be able to know what he looks like until at least a dozen more sacrificial factions come out, so we shouldn’t chase after his tail and make him reveal himself.”

“How?”

“There’s no choice but to empty the factions and gather in one place.”

“Will other factions try to do that?”

“I think it’s a hundred times better than being destroyed while alone. And even if the factions with strong pride don’t, the small and medium-sized factions will gather, thinking it’s a good thing.”

In Seoseo Province alone, the small and medium-sized factions wanted to band together, so they were divided and sent to Jongnam and Hwasan. Wouldn’t other provinces do the same?

“I understand. I’ll report to the alliance and move.”

“No, just let each faction know through the Beggars’ Sect. It will take more than a month for the Jeongcheon Alliance to be notified, go through a meeting, issue orders again, and gather the factions in one place. It’s better to handle this kind of thing as quickly as possible, so it’s better to take preliminary measures at your discretion and notify the alliance through post-reporting.”