Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 157

Chronicles of the Nine Dragons (157)

“How long are we going to stay here?”

Baek Gun-seong inquired about their departure from Mount Oh.

“Why?”

“Just wondering, since it seems like we’ve taken care of everything here.”

“You know me too well. I was just thinking of heading to Gangseo [Jiangxi] Province after lunch.”

“Why Gangseo Province?”

“I have some business to take care of. What place in the Central Plains is off-limits to a merchant?”

Baek Gun-seong couldn’t find a reason to object to Hwa-rin’s answer.

“Alright.”

—My lord, preparations are complete.

—Then take them and depart first.

—Understood.

Hwa-rin put into action what he had planned with the leaders of the assassin clans.

He realized that the unexpected five years of seclusion could be used to accomplish things while avoiding unwanted attention.

“Why, are you bored?”
Hwa-rin asked Baek Gun-seong.

“It’s not so much boredom as…”

“Then go over there and show off your martial arts. I’ll tell you what I felt when I crossed swords with your father.”

Baek Gun-seong’s eyes sparkled.

“Really?”

“Never mind if you don’t want to.”

“No, no, I do.”

Baek Gun-seong was overjoyed at Hwa-rin’s offer to critique his martial arts. He grabbed his sword and stood in the courtyard.

“Watch closely.”

Baek Gun-seong displayed his martial arts in front of Hwa-rin as if seeking approval from a master.

‘Impressive, indeed.’

Hwa-rin nodded repeatedly as he watched Baek Gun-seong’s performance.

‘But it’s nothing compared to Baek Mu-gi. The difference in enlightenment truly creates the difference in martial arts.’

Hwa-rin offered to critique Baek Gun-seong’s martial arts, but in reality, he wanted to learn more about the Deathly Spirit Demonic Art through Baek Gun-seong.

He might be able to grasp the forms and variations of the Deathly Spirit Swordplay that Baek Gun-seong displayed, but he wouldn’t be able to fathom the depth of the Deathly Spirit Demonic Art as practiced by Baek Mu-gi.

‘I need to elevate this friend’s martial arts and familiarize myself with even the superficial aspects.’

Baek Gun-seong, unaware of Hwa-rin’s intentions, was simply thrilled that Hwa-rin, who was stronger than him, was going to critique his martial arts, and he eagerly displayed his skills.

Baek Gun-seong demonstrated all the Deathly Spirit Swordplay from the Deathly Spirit Demonic Art.

“Impressive. There’s nothing superfluous about it. But that’s the problem,” Hwa-rin said after watching Baek Gun-seong’s Deathly Spirit Swordplay.

“Why is that a problem?”

“There are no variables. It might work against someone weaker or of equal skill, but a master will quickly see through your swordplay.”

Baek Gun-seong considered Hwa-rin’s words.

“The Deathly Spirit Swordplay I experienced from my father had more diverse variations. If what you just showed me is all there is to the Deathly Spirit Swordplay, then it seems he naturally integrates other martial arts into the gaps while executing the Deathly Spirit Swordplay.”

“Other martial arts?”

“But there was never a sense of incongruity. It was that natural.”

Baek Gun-seong nodded.

Hwa-rin stepped into the courtyard and summoned a sword from his spatial pocket [a common trope in wuxia, referring to a hidden space].

“Watch closely. With a typical sword move, if you strike from above, there are only a few actions you can take from there.” Hwa-rin showed the connecting moves, raising the sword from below, turning his body while swinging the sword horizontally, and so on.

“Anyone with some martial arts experience would anticipate these connecting moves.”

“That’s right.”

“But what if, after bringing the sword down like this, you kick out with your foot like this?” Hwa-rin extended his foot forward in a back kick.

“Or what if you thrust the sword forward in a long stab?” Hwa-rin demonstrated several unconventional sword moves and actions to help Baek Gun-seong understand.

“Hmm…”

“It feels different even though it seems the same, right?”

“I think so.”

“The fact that you didn’t feel any awkwardness or incongruity when your father used martial arts in this way means he combined and linked the Deathly Spirit Demonic Art techniques that can be performed based on the Deathly Spirit Mind Art.”

“Hmm…”

“Furthermore, he has reached a level of enlightenment where he can naturally integrate any martial art, so even if it’s not the Deathly Spirit Demonic Art, he seems to use whatever techniques are needed at the moment.”

Baek Gun-seong looked at Hwa-rin. His eyes seemed to ask why he had lost despite knowing all this.

“That’s the difference in enlightenment. It’s also the difference in skill that you can’t overcome even if you know it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s the same for you and me right now. You’d still be defeated even if you knew it. That’s the difference between you and me, and the difference between me and your father.”

Baek Gun-seong nodded.

“If you understand, then do some research. Physical training is important, but mental training is also important. So, spend at least one shichen [approximately two hours] every day researching the connections between martial arts through mind art training. You’ll see results.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Friends don’t say such things,” Hwa-rin said casually, threw the sword into the air, and came to sit where the Toecheong Maru [a wide, open veranda] was located.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you continuing to practice your martial arts?”

* * *

Hwa-rin stopped by Hanam [Henan] Province on his way to Gangseo Province.

“If Sanseo [Shanxi] Province is like a village, then this place feels like a city.”

Baek Gun-seong said, and Hwa-rin agreed.

“That’s right. Hanam Province has more to see and more people than Sanseo Province, so naturally, handicrafts have developed, and above all, there’s the Luoyang House, one of the three great brothels of the Central Plains.”

More than 500,000 tourists visit Luoyang House every year, so the economic benefits generated by this are truly enormous.

In particular, the shops lined up along the official road connecting Luoyang, Zhengzhou, and Kaifeng formed a market so large that it could not be found in any other province.

Especially at night, it created a city that was indistinguishable from daytime, which was also made into a tourist attraction, allowing many people to visit, eat, and enjoy the night market, so people continued to flock there.

In particular, Mount Song [Shaolin Temple’s location] is located in Dengfeng County below Luoyang, and the Beggars’ Union’s headquarters is located in Fengqiu County above Kaifeng, so security is well maintained, and the satisfaction of visitors is high, and the number of visitors increases every year.

“But is Luoyang House really that good?”

“I don’t know. I just assume it is since it’s called one of the three great brothels. But the scale itself is considerable. It’s incomparable to the Nine Dragons House.”

“Then shall we stop by and take a look?”

“That wouldn’t be bad. I happen to know someone in Luoyang.”

So the two headed to Luoyang House to see it.

As they got closer to Luoyang, there were more and more people on the streets, and the two of them, weaving through them, began to get tired.

“Are all these people here to see Luoyang House?”

“There’s no way. Luoyang has a very famous temple, a grotto, and many other attractions. So it’s a more developed city than Zhengzhou, the capital.”

“If all these people go to Luoyang House, we won’t even have room to set foot.”

The two were grumbling as they walked when children ran past them quickly.

At that moment, Baek Gun-seong grabbed one of the children’s hands. In the child’s hand was Baek Gun-seong’s silk pouch.

“Don’t you little brats have anything better to do than pickpocketing? Aren’t you afraid of this sword?”

Baek Gun-seong threatened the child, and the child begged for forgiveness while picking up sand from the ground with his other hand.

“Kid, if you do that now, you’ll really get hit by this uncle’s sword. This uncle is a very scary person,” Hwa-rin said as if he knew what the child was thinking, and the child looked at Hwa-rin.

“If I were you, I would sincerely beg for mercy and forgiveness. And look over there.” Hwa-rin pointed to another place. There were children three or four years older than the child caught by Baek Gun-seong, and the child looked at them with fear and said to Hwa-rin.

“If those hyungs [older brothers/gang members] catch me, I’ll die. So please save me, uncle.”

Hwa-rin and Baek Gun-seong exchanged glances at the child’s words.

“Usually, shouldn’t you beg for forgiveness and then quickly run away in this situation?”

“It seems like that’s not an option. Either he knows there’s a fast one among them who will catch him even if he runs.”

“Kid, but why are those guys trying to catch you?”

“This is those hyungs’ territory.”

“Really? So you’re at fault for trespassing on someone else’s territory.”

“But those hyungs bully us for no reason.”

“Really? So you’re doing this thieving to get revenge?”

“Not really, but we have to make a living too.”

Baek Gun-seong, perhaps liking the child’s boldness, said to Hwa-rin.

“Do you know any unorthodox sects [referring to evil or demonic sects] nearby?”

“There are some, but why?”

“Tell them to raise this kid. He seems smart, and I think he’ll be very helpful in ten years.”

Baek Gun-seong chuckled at Hwa-rin’s words.

“He probably won’t last.”

“Even with your request?”

“They might treat him well when I’m around. But when I’m not, they’ll make it impossible for him to endure, starting with ostracism, without doing anything obvious, and make him leave on his own.”

“Really? That’s a shame. Then should I take him with me?”

“You?”

“He seems smart. He’d be perfect as an attendant,” Hwa-rin said to the child.

“What’s your name?”

“So Cheon-yo.”

“Small Sky?”

“Yes. My mother named me that.”

“Then what about your mother?”

“She died of illness.”

“So both your parents are gone?”

“Yes.”

Hwa-rin asked the child a few questions and listened to the answers. Then he said.

“Will you come with me, uncle? Then I’ll teach you how to study, teach you martial arts, and teach you how to do business.”

So Cheon looked at Hwa-rin.

“Why? Does uncle seem like a scammer?”

“Yes.”

“Hahahaha!”

Baek Gun-seong, who was listening, laughed out loud.

“You know how to judge people. That’s right. A merchant is no different from a scammer. They mix lies when selling goods. So, what should I do for So Cheon to come with me?”

“Punish those hyungs.”
Hwa-rin’s gaze turned to the children a little further away. Then the children trembled as if struck by lightning and ran away from the spot.

“Okay, then let’s go with uncle now.”

“Where to?”

“You told me to punish those hyungs, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then we have to punish their leader first. That way, your friends will get beaten less by them.”

The child was dubious, but Hwa-rin grabbed his remaining hand, so he had no choice but to follow.

“Where’s their gang?”

“If you go behind Luoyang House, there’s a place called Myeonghwa Village, and they’re there.”

“Are you really going?”

“You made a mistake. Do you know how rare it is to get such a talented person?” Hwa-rin called the child talented and took his hand and went to Myeonghwa Village.

There is always a dark side to a glamorous place, and life there is often so miserable that people living in the bright places cannot imagine it.

Myeonghwa Village was a shantytown located on the outskirts of Luoyang. It was called a shantytown, but rather than proper houses, there were dilapidated houses attached to each other.

In the Central Plains, this kind of shantytown was also called a pig village.

“Is this Myeonghwa Village?”

“It’s a pig village.”

“Pig village?”

“There is someone who rules this place, and they rent out these crappy houses to the poor at high monthly rates.”

“Are there people who want to come in and live here?”

“People have different living environments.”
Hwa-rin listened to Baek Gun-seong’s words and thought about it.

“As you can see, the people who live here can’t afford to pay high monthly rates. So, as the monthly rent continues to be delayed, they eventually have to listen to the owner of this place.”

“Hmm…”

“At first, they rent out such complete houses, but if they can’t pay the monthly rent, they are pushed out to houses with holes, dilapidated houses, and so on.”

“It’s not very desirable, but it’s their way of life, so I can’t interfere and tell them what to do.”

“That’s right. And most of the owners of these places are related to martial artists, so even the government officials are reluctant to deal with them.”

“If they’re martial artists, are they from an unorthodox sect?”

“It depends on the situation, but mostly, yes.”
A faint smile appeared on Hwa-rin’s lips.

“But the guy who’s reacting to my energy doesn’t seem to be from an unorthodox sect.”

No sooner had Hwa-rin finished speaking than people appeared in front of them.

“They look familiar.”
Hwa-rin said as if he knew who they were.

“Do you know them?”

“They’re wearing the same clothes as the guys who came to take my manor in the past and ran away with their tails between their legs.”

“Same clothes? Then that means they’re on the same side.”

“I guess that’s probably the case.”

“Who are those guys?”

As Baek Gun-seong asked, the faint smile on Hwa-rin’s lips deepened.

The moment he saw that smile, sweat ran down Baek Gun-seong’s spine.