Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 148

구룡전기 (148)

“Five years of seclusion? That’s crazy talk.”

The tallest building in Gu Long Manor is the five-story Gu Long Pavilion, but there are actually five more rooms above the fifth floor.

The innermost room was used like Hwa-Rin’s private quarters, and the other rooms were used as offices and for handling practical tasks within Gu Long Manor.

Hwa-Rin scoffed in his office at the top of Gu Long Manor, recalling his promise to Baek Mu-gi, one of the Four Emperors [powerful figures in the martial arts world].

Of course, he wouldn’t openly operate in the Murim [martial arts world], but he could operate there as much as he wanted if he put his mind to it, so he had no intention of keeping that promise.

“If I meet with people from the Orthodox Faction, they will surely suspect me of Murim activities, but there was no clause prohibiting me from meeting with the Demonic Cult or the Unorthodox Factions, so it doesn’t matter.”

Hwa-Rin had no intention of being picky about who he met.

“Lord!”

At the call from outside the door, he told them to come in, and Lee Do-moon opened the door and entered.

“What about the task I ordered?”

“I have confirmed that the goods have arrived at Man Soo Merchant Association without any omissions.”

“Good job. What does Protector Lee think? Are the Sae Myung Faction kids any good?”

“They still have many shortcomings. However, Dong-Chun is gradually improving them, and their martial arts are also getting stronger, so they will improve over time. I don’t think there will be any problems even if we leave the escort agency to them.”

“So, they are worth using?”

“Yes, but for now, it would be better to entrust them only with the work of the escort agency rather than the affairs of Murim.”

Hwa-Rin also had no intention of involving them in the affairs of Murim right away.

“Okay, then sit down and listen.”

Lee Do-moon went to the table opposite Hwa-Rin and sat down on the chair.

“I felt this while fighting the Sa Blood Alliance this time. I think we should also have a force.”

“By force, do you mean……?”

“A force that can fight against the Sa Blood Alliance or the Righteous Sky Alliance.”

“Are you saying that you want to gather assassin clans to form a league?”

Hwa-Rin’s greatest weapon is that he is the successor of the Killer Emperor. As the successor of the Killer Emperor and the leader of the assassins, if he uses his honor and authority to gather assassin clans, at least 70% of the assassin clans scattered throughout the Central Plains will follow Hwa-Rin’s will.

“I need their help, but unlike Murim, assassins have their own territories, so it would be better to get help only when needed.”

“Then? Is there a place to create a force?”

“The Underworld!”

The Underworld refers to assassins, bandits, waterway gangs, and the beggars’ society, but if you take a broad view, it even includes the thugs who act violently in the marketplaces and streets of cities and counties.

However, the Underworld in Murim specifically refers to assassins, bandits, waterway gangs, and the beggars’ society.

“Although it is related to Murim, the Underworld exists on the periphery. Considering their martial arts, they will not be of great help to what you are doing.”

Lee Do-moon’s words reflected the reality of the Underworld. Of course, there are Murim experts even in the Underworld, but their proportion is significantly lower, so they are somewhat alienated from Murim.

“They may be lacking in immediate power, but if we train them for five or ten years, wouldn’t they become quite useful?”

“Are you talking about training them?”

“They should have the basics, so if we teach them, they will get out of the Third-Rate level. If they become Second-Rate or First-Rate martial artists, their power will be more significant than you think. And some may show talent and surpass the First-Rate level.”

“It will not be easy to teach martial arts to thieves, and it will be difficult to maintain secrecy. Rather than helping you, they will cause more trouble.”

Seeing Lee Do-moon say this, it seemed that uniting the Underworld was not an easy task.

“Are they that useless?”

“Getting help from mountain bandits and water bandits means making mountain paths and waterways a little easier to use. In the case of the Beggars’ Society, it may be helpful to what you are doing, but the bandits and waterway gangs will not be of great help.”

“Hmm…….”

In his opinion, if he beat them up a few times and then comforted them a little, they would follow, but Lee Do-moon’s thoughts seemed a little different.

As Hwa-Rin pondered, remaining silent with a thoughtful face, Lee Do-moon waited for Hwa-Rin to organize his thoughts.

“Still, there must be some who are loyal and have strong bones, right?”

“It would be faster to find out through the Beggars’ Society.”

“Okay, then let’s revise the plan. The Beggars’ Society will be our partner, and we’ll pick out the useful ones from the bandits and water bandits and have them take control of the bandits and waterway gangs. What do you think?”

“Doing so will be of great help to what you want to do.”

When Lee Do-moon also agreed, Hwa-Rin asked him again.

“Then, instead of creating a league, how about increasing the size of the Gu Long Manor?”

“That’s fine, but because of the promise with the Sa Blood Alliance, you can’t interfere with the affairs of Murim, right? It will also be forbidden to accept martial artists.”

“Hey, who would do that so obviously? We’ll do it secretly.”

Lee Do-moon didn’t know what Hwa-Rin was thinking, but he was willing to do his best to assist him in whatever he did.

“Secretly tell the assassin clans of the Central Plains that I will make them the best assassins. Tell each assassin clan to send two people with excellent understanding to the Green Forest Stronghold of Mount Oh.