Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 142

Nine Dragons Chronicle (142)

Hwa-Rin lay unconscious in the Yeongjeon Hall of the Mount Hua Sect, his body swathed in bandages.

The faint red stain blooming on the cloth hinted at the severity of his wounds.

“I was crazy. I should have packed my bags and stopped him,” Namgung Suyeon lamented, kneeling beside him.

She had witnessed the clash between Hwa-Rin and the Four Heavens White Demon firsthand, making her the only person in the Murim [martial arts world] known to have survived witnessing the White Demon’s Demonic Art of the Dead.

Hwa-Rin, having faced the White Demon’s deadly technique, had sustained grievous injuries, yet somehow clung to life.

It was only thanks to Hwa-Rin’s Art of Harmonious Return to the Origin, which mitigated the Demonic Art of the Dead’s power, that he wasn’t in a far worse state.

The White Demon, too, had suffered internal injuries in the fight, though not as severe as Hwa-Rin’s.

As promised, the White Demon, acknowledging Hwa-Rin’s martial prowess, deemed the contest concluded. He judged that Hwa-Rin’s martial arts had exceeded his standards and ended it at this point.

Still, he needed about fifteen days of recuperation to stabilize his mind and body.

After the fight, the White Demon, concealing his own condition, instructed Namgung Suyeon to take Hwa-Rin down from Seonin Peak. Anxious for Hwa-Rin’s well-being, Namgung Suyeon hastily descended, unaware of the White Demon’s hidden injuries.

“He should have at least left a scratch. He was so proud of defeating two of the Hundred Great Masters.”

Despite her grumbling, a gentle smile played on Namgung Suyeon’s lips.

“I knew that Senior [term of respect for someone older or more experienced] was amazing, but I never imagined he could fight on par with the Ten Great Masters, especially the Four Heavens.”

Whether the White Demon had favored Hwa-Rin and held back was debatable. Ultimately, Hwa-Rin was defeated, but the battle itself was a close, epic struggle.

“The Blood Evil Alliance seems to be backing down, so there shouldn’t be any major conflicts for now,” Namgung Suyeon said, gazing at Hwa-Rin, who lay with his eyes closed, breathing steadily.

“Senior, rest now. You’ve fought so hard. Isn’t it time for a little rest?”

If word spread that Hwa-Rin had fought the Four Heavens, no one would dare challenge the Nine Dragons Hall. However, neither the Four Heavens nor Hwa-Rin desired such publicity.

Moreover, if it became known that this occurred within the Mount Hua Sect, their position would be compromised. Therefore, the truth would remain confined to those involved.

“Let’s rest and travel around the Central Plains together. And let’s meet the people you care about.”

Knowing Hwa-Rin couldn’t hear her, Namgung Suyeon voiced her innermost thoughts.

“Introduce me to them, too.”

Namgung Suyeon gently wiped the sweat from Hwa-Rin’s brow.

“You were so cool back then, Senior. In the Great Plains.”

Namgung Suyeon recalled Hwa-Rin’s annihilation of the Great Plains bandits. Injured at the time, she hadn’t witnessed the entire fight, but the glimpses she caught were undeniably impressive.

After a moment of reminiscing, Namgung Suyeon leaned down and gently pressed her lips to Hwa-Rin’s.

* * *

Rumors circulated that the Blood Evil Alliance had accepted the Nine Dragons Hall’s surrender. It was said the Alliance had shown leniency, sparing the Hall Master’s life and allowing his business to continue, but in return, the Hall would refrain from Murim affairs for five years and be subject to the Alliance’s supervision. This effectively sealed off the Nine Dragons Hall.

“Still, it’s something that they allowed us to continue operating as a merchant family.”

“That’s probably because the Blood Evil Alliance sees it as a source of income.”

“Why did this rumor suddenly spread when they were doing such a good job of running away and destroying the heretics?”

People were puzzled by the sudden turn of events.

“According to rumors, the Four Heavens himself intervened. After losing three of the Hundred Great Masters, they must have judged that they couldn’t catch the Nine Dragons Hall Master and Namgung Suyeon if they were determined to escape.”

“Really?”

“Attacking the Namgung Family would have been burdensome. It could have triggered a full-scale war with the Righteous Heaven Alliance.”

“Then it makes sense. The Four Heavens is said to be strict with heretics but generous to martial artists from orthodox and demonic sects, right?”

“Not exactly. He’s generous to those with genuine skill, not just those who boast. The Nine Dragons Hall Master and Namgung Suyeon are the real deal. They met the Four Heavens and earned his respect.”

The gathered people nodded.

“Then, even with the five-year seal, the Nine Dragons Hall’s reputation will increase.”

“That’s how it should be viewed. And since they’re merchants, not martial artists, their activities won’t be severely restricted.”

“Amazing. The Ten Dragons and Eight Phoenixes were considered the rising stars, but these two are even more outstanding.”

The people discussing the Nine Dragons Hall were members of the Hao Moon Clan.

They were deliberately spreading rumors to enhance the Nine Dragons Hall Master’s reputation throughout the Central Plains.

The Four Heavens had requested this, but the higher the Hall Master’s reputation, the more visitors the Nine Dragons Pavilion would attract. The Hao Moon Clan could then gather information from the Pavilion and sell it at a premium, making it a profitable venture.

“That’s right. But it seems there are many more amazing people in the Murim than we know.”

“Really?”

The ears of everyone in the inn perked up, focusing on the conversation.

Rumors about the Murim, valuable or not, were essential for survival.

“Some are even calling this a time of chaos.”

“A time of chaos?”

“Thirty years have passed since the Murim united to destroy the Cult of Evil. Now is the time for accumulated power to be unleashed.”

“But the only well-known figures are the Nine Dragons Hall Master and the Namgung Family’s daughter.”

“You’re out of touch. Listen closely.”

Feeling the attention, the man cleared his throat and took a sip of water.

“Have you heard of the Sixteen Slaughtering Sword Techniques?”

“Sixteen Slaughtering Sword Techniques?”

“It’s the unique sword technique of Yuk Mun-sik, the Slaughtering Sword, a master of a heretical sect a century ago. He annihilated a village and was declared a public enemy, but then vanished. Now, the Sixteen Slaughtering Sword Techniques have resurfaced.”

“Is that true?”

“That’s not all. Chunhwa, a lay disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, has also appeared. And rumors say the Small Stars Divine Art has emerged as well.”

“I’ve heard that story. There was a sect in Shanxi Province… Ah, that sect.”

The man grimaced, feigning forgetfulness, then quickly moved on.

“Anyway, I heard they were attacked.”

“Is that all? Recently, someone who has mastered the Fiery Demon Blood Hand has appeared.”

“That’s a well-known rumor.”

“There are also rumors that masters from the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea, the Potala Palace and Shaolin Temple of Tibet, the Dark Magic Tower and Busan Palace of Heilongjiang Province, and the Hundred and Eight Islands of the South Sea have entered the Central Plains.”

“Is that true?”

A man in the corner of the inn asked.

“I can’t guarantee the truth, but such rumors are widespread among merchants.”

“Hmm…”

“Merchants are closely tied to the Murim, so they’re sensitive to even slight changes. There may be exaggeration, but it’s certain that masters from the border regions have entered the Central Plains.”

The saying that the Murim was entering a time of chaos was becoming common. Masters were appearing in every province, causing minor disturbances.

These disturbances were overshadowed by recent major events.

“If that’s true, the conflict between the Blood Evil Alliance and the Righteous Heaven Alliance will intensify.”

“We don’t know that. We only know that new martial artists are appearing everywhere.”

The man who had bought a drink, but heard nothing useful, frowned.

“There are rumors that the Demonic Sect has subjugated border sects by force. Their arrival in the Central Plains may be related. Just a guess.”

As the people in the inn nodded, the speaker exchanged glances with the man across from him and stood up.

“Let’s go. We need to reach the trade city tonight.”

As they left, the inn fell silent, then quickly returned to its usual chatter.

However, a man and woman in the corner kept their eyes on the departing pair.

‘The Central Plains intelligence network is impressive. Even merchants are aware of our movements.’

“Did you hear that?” the woman asked.

Two men bowed their heads.

“We must be careful. Changing our clothes would be wise.”

* * *

The warriors of the White Horse Temple, who had occupied the burnt Nine Dragons Hall, were forced to retreat.

“Damn it!” Lee Dae-man, the eldest grandson of the White Horse Temple, frustrated by the retreat, vented his anger on the way back to Shandong Province.

“Brother, are we really returning to Shandong Province like this? After those guys burned down our manor, we’ll be staying in an inn,” Lee Dae-ro, the second son, complained.

“Follow the Blood Evil Alliance’s instructions, brothers,” Lee Seung-cheon, the third son, said.

“Are you saying we should accept this humiliation!”

Lee Seung-cheon knew Hwa-Rin well and wanted to avoid conflict.

Even if they were wronged, he knew they couldn’t win a fight. He believed retreat was the best option.

“We’ll be defeated if we fight Hall Master Hwa-Rin. Haven’t you heard the rumors? He killed two of the Hundred Great Masters.”

“Do you believe that?”

“I don’t want to, but I’ve seen Hwa-Rin’s martial arts firsthand. He’s stronger than we think.”

“You go back and clean up the manor, and call the carpenters,” Lee Dae-man ordered.

Lee Dae-ro was upset by Lee Seung-cheon’s words.

“Brother, this isn’t a matter to be handled emotionally. Our family line could be wiped out. We can always seek revenge later, right?”

“Later?”

“Didn’t the Blood Evil Alliance declare it? The Alliance Leader praised the Nine Dragons Hall Master and spared his life.”

“So, he’s not in perfect condition?”

“If we attack the Nine Dragons Hall Master, will the Four Heavens stand by? It’s not just ignoring his authority, but attacking a sect he sealed off, defying the Blood Evil Alliance.”

“Then what should we do!”

“It’s five years. The Nine Dragons Hall can’t do anything in the Murim for five years. We need to find a merchant group and use them to attack the Nine Dragons Hall’s businesses.”

“The businesses?”

“Yes. We need to identify them and disrupt their operations by staging disputes.”

“Hmm…”

“Since the Nine Dragons Hall surrendered, they’ll have to pay a huge amount of compensation. What happens if their businesses fail?”

“But the Nine Dragons Hall has the Nine Dragons Pavilion. As long as that exists, they won’t go bankrupt.”

Lee Dae-man, who had been listening, spoke.

“Didn’t you hear the Governor of Shanxi Province? Part of the Pavilion’s profits are used in Shanxi Province.”

“Only a part, right?”

“There are also huge taxes. After taxes and donations to Shanxi Province, the Nine Dragons Hall only keeps about 30% of the Pavilion’s profits.”

“Even that’s a huge income.”

“True. But if other businesses are struggling, that money will be used to cover their losses. It’s like pouring water into a bottomless pit.”

“Hmm…”