Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 162

Gu-Ryong Jeon-Gi (162)

The waves of the rough sea were unlike anything found in the Yangtze or Yellow Rivers.

Waves rose high, threatening to swallow the ship whole, crashing over the stern and tossing it violently.

The seawater that poured onto the deck swept across its surface, scattering in all directions before cascading back into the sea.

With each wave, the sailors on board grumbled louder.

“Damn it, talk about terrible timing…”

Their complaints were understandable; the high waves made it incredibly difficult to move the trade goods safely.

“Captain, we can’t trade in this weather. We risk losing the goods to the sea, or worse, one of the children could fall overboard and drown.”

“Just be patient. I’ll speak with them when the other ship arrives.”

“Understood.”

Soon after, another ship appeared on the horizon, approaching their location.

“I’m not sure we can properly transfer the goods in this weather.”

“I agree. The waves are too treacherous here. Let’s head to Dalian Port.”

Hwa Jeong-guk, leader of the Hwa Myeong Merchant Group and the mastermind behind the smuggling operation, suggested Dalian Port in Liaoning Province.

Dalian Port, while located in Liaoning Province, was relatively close to Shandong Province by sea. Its recessed location on the mainland created a natural breakwater, offering refuge for ships during typhoons.

“Isn’t security tight there?”

“It is, but I’ve already bribed the patrol commander of the Eighth Route Navy. There shouldn’t be any major issues.”

“In that case, let’s do it. We’ll proceed to Dalian Port for the transaction.”

Having reached an agreement, they adjusted their course, turning their ships towards Dalian Port in Liaoning Province.

After the two ships departed for Dalian Port, another ship approached their previous location. This one belonged to the Eighth Route Navy.

“They were supposed to be around here, weren’t they?”

Hwa-rin, aboard the Eighth Route Navy ship, had come to the smuggling location based on information from the Hao Moon Clan, but the ships were nowhere to be found.

“It seems they’ve moved due to the high waves.”

“Indeed. With waves this high, they risk losing their entire cargo. So, where would they have gone?”

When Hwa-rin inquired, the adjutant beside him responded.

“Wouldn’t they have sought shelter at Dalian Port? It’s a natural breakwater, so the waters are usually calm there.”

“Then we’ll head to Dalian Port. In case our prediction is wrong, report to my uncle and have him order a search of all ships entering the port.”

“Understood, Ninth Imperial Prince.”

* * *

Arriving at Dalian Port, the waves had miraculously subsided, creating a calm harbor.

Hwa Jeong-guk opted not to dock at the port. Instead, they exchanged the smuggled goods while keeping the ships afloat at sea.

The sailors skillfully traversed the gangplanks connecting the ships, quickly transferring all the goods. Once completed, the slaves were loaded onto Hwa Jeong-guk’s merchant ship.

About an hour passed, and the entire transaction was complete. Hwa Jeong-guk paid the agreed-upon price, successfully concluding the deal.

“Until next time, then.”

“Likewise. Safe travels on your return journey.”

The smugglers from Haedong State [a historical Korean kingdom] turned their ships and departed Dalian Port. Hwa Jeong-guk also turned his ship without docking.

“We’re heading to Hainan Island. We’ll sell the slaves there and disguise the goods before bringing them to the main family.”

They set off towards Hainan Island, slicing through the water. However, they were soon forced to halt as a warship of the Eighth Route Navy approached.

“What’s going on?”

Hwa Jeong-guk called out to the navy from the deck.

“We received a report of smuggling activity in this area.”

“Smuggling?”

“We received a report, so we must inspect your ship. Gather all crew members on deck.”

Hwa Jeong-guk, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach, turned to his adjutant.

“Is General Bae Cheong-man on board?”

“General Bae Cheong-man is currently under investigation for military corruption.”

“Pardon?”

“We received a report that he colluded with smugglers and provided them with protection.”

“Ah… I understand. Please wait a moment. I’ll gather everyone.”

Hwa Jeong-guk, wanting to avoid raising suspicion with any hesitation, retreated to the cabin and addressed his crew.

“You’ve hidden the people and goods securely in the ship’s hold, correct?”

“Yes, sir. It’s a double-layered structure; they won’t find it even if they search thoroughly.”

“Bring the people up and cooperate fully with the navy.”

“Understood.”

Soon, all the rowers assembled on deck, and the navy soldiers boarded their ship to begin their search.

“As if you could hide something so easily.”

Hwa-rin, who had been on the Eighth Route Navy ship, boarded the Hwa Myeong Merchant Group’s vessel and descended below deck with two navy soldiers.

After taking a few steps across the floor where the rowers had been working, Hwa-rin chuckled.

“You’ve hidden it here.”

Hwa-rin examined the floor, quickly locating a small, almost imperceptible hole. He inserted his finger into the hole and lifted, revealing a section of the floor that could be raised.

Beneath was a hidden compartment, large enough to hold people. The entrance was secured with chains and a padlock.

“You two, go and inform General Cheong-mun to arrest everyone on board. If they resist, kill them.”

“Yes, sir!”

The navy soldiers who had accompanied him hurried back to relay Hwa-rin’s orders. Hwa-rin then grasped the padlock and channeled his inner strength. The padlock shattered, and the chains fell away.

Lifting the floor door, he could hear the faint sounds of people breathing.

“Everyone, come out now.”

At Hwa-rin’s command, the people who had been captured as slaves looked around cautiously, fear etched on their faces.

“Don’t you want to go home?”

When Hwa-rin spoke curtly, people began to emerge from the hidden compartment, one by one. It was clear that a significant number of people had been taken as slaves.

The slaves were primarily women and children, with a few men among them who bore signs of mistreatment, likely from beatings inflicted by the smugglers.

Once everyone had emerged, one person rushed towards the wheelhouse. It was Hwa Jeong-guk.

“You came?”

Hwa Jeong-guk narrowed his eyes, staring at Hwa-rin, who addressed him with an unsettling familiarity.

Having never seen Hwa-rin’s true face, he didn’t realize that the person before him was the Nine Dragons Clan Lord.

“What are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have two choices. One is to take your own life and conceal the Hwa Myeong Merchant Group’s involvement in this smuggling operation.”

Hwa Jeong-guk visibly flinched.

“The second is to simply live and watch the Hwa Myeong Merchant Group collapse. You know the national laws regarding smuggling are strict, right?”

Hwa Jeong-guk listened to Hwa-rin’s words and sneered.

“Do you really think I can’t kill you right here and escape?”

When Hwa Jeong-guk threatened Hwa-rin, Hwa-rin feigned a dumbfounded expression and replied nonchalantly.

“Everyone says that at first, but they all regret it after I’ve beaten them.”

Hwa Jeong-guk scrutinized Hwa-rin, trying to assess the threat he posed.

“Judging by your attire, you don’t appear to be a commander in the Eighth Route Navy. Who are you?”

“Me? I’m the Nine Dragons Clan Lord.”

Hwa Jeong-guk’s expression twisted in disbelief.

“You’re the Nine Dragons Clan Lord?”

“Who else would I be?”

“I heard you were under constant surveillance by the Blood Oath Alliance. How did you get here…?”

Rumor had it that while he was supposedly undergoing closed-door training, he was, in reality, confined to the Nine Dragons Clan, unable to move freely.

“I am being monitored. But business is another matter. If I have to make money, the Blood Oath Alliance will also get their share.”

“Does that mean…?”

“Figure it out yourself. You need to make a choice quickly. It seems things have been taken care of up there.”

Hwa Jeong-guk glared at Hwa-rin, his eyes filled with resentment.

“Was all of this your doing?”

“What?”

“From the stolen grain to the loss of the trade agreement with the Travil Kingdom [likely a misspelling of ‘Travancore,’ a former Indian kingdom].”

Hwa-rin chuckled.

“Of course. If you were going to take what’s mine, you should have been prepared for the consequences. I always repay debts tenfold.”

Hwa Jeong-guk’s hand began to glow red. This indicated that he had mastered a martial art that utilized Yang energy [a concept in Chinese philosophy representing the active, masculine principle].

“Die!”

Hwa Jeong-guk’s hand shot out towards Hwa-rin’s heart. Hwa-rin didn’t flinch, meeting the attack head-on.

A chilling aura descended around Hwa-rin, causing the temperature to plummet.

As Hwa-rin’s transparent, snow-white palm met Hwa Jeong-guk’s attack, the Yang energy that Hwa Jeong-guk had summoned dissipated, unable to penetrate Hwa-rin’s defenses.

When Hwa-rin’s palm made contact with Hwa Jeong-guk’s chest, the temperature around that area rapidly dropped, and his skin turned blue.

“Kuh-eok!”

Hwa Jeong-guk collapsed to his knees in agony, his face now a ghastly blue.

Despite his martial arts training, Hwa Jeong-guk was no match for Hwa-rin.

After being struck by Hwa-rin, Hwa Jeong-guk trembled from the sudden drop in body temperature and looked up at Hwa-rin with wide, terrified eyes.

“It seems taking your own life was too difficult, so I’ve given you a little push. Don’t feel too wronged. I’ll be sending your brothers to join you soon.”

Hwa Jeong-guk lost consciousness before Hwa-rin could finish his sentence.

“How much easier would it have been if you had simply jumped into the water yourself?”

Hwa-rin grumbled, dragging Hwa Jeong-guk’s lifeless body towards the rudder. He used a technique to increase the corpse’s weight, ensuring it wouldn’t float to the surface, and then shoved it into the hole where the rudder mechanism was housed.

Splash!

The people of Haedong State, who had witnessed the entire scene, stared at Hwa-rin with fear-stricken eyes.

Hwa-rin looked at them and placed a finger over his lips, signaling for silence.

“If you stay quiet, no one will get hurt, and you can all go home. Just pretend you didn’t see anything.”

The people of Haedong State simply blinked, their faces pale with terror.

“Is there anyone here who can speak the Central Plains language [Mandarin Chinese]? Even if you do, pretend you don’t. That’s the only way you’ll be able to return to Haedong State.”

After Hwa-rin finished speaking, the navy soldiers descended into the rudder room.

“There are smuggled goods on the floor. Take them out and bring them up.”

Hwa-rin ordered the navy soldiers, then turned to the slaves.

“Everyone, go up and cooperate obediently.”

A blue light flickered in Hwa-rin’s eyes as he gestured for them to ascend.

When one person hesitantly moved forward, the rest of the people from Haedong State followed suit.

When Hwa-rin brought them all up on deck, General Cheong-mun approached him.

“I can’t find their leader.”

“He jumped into the sea and took his own life. He couldn’t bear the thought of revealing his family’s name under torture, which would have brought ruin upon them.”

General Cheong-mun nodded in understanding.

“What a foolish man. We could have extracted information from him.”

General Cheong-mun surveyed the captured crew members.

“Ah… I see. But will they tell us the truth?”

“Don’t worry about that. We have many experts in our ranks who are well-versed in the habits of smugglers. If we leave them in their care for a couple of weeks, they’ll reveal everything.”

Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]

Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] In a tempestuous night, amidst the clash of steel and the roar of thunder, a palace estate becomes a battleground. Blood spills as palace guards relentlessly hunt intruders, their mission shrouded in deadly secrecy. A desperate cry pierces the storm—a palace maid's plea for her son, Zhu Hualin, the emperor's hidden ninth child. Born under a veil of scandal, Hualin's very existence is a threat, marked for elimination by the ruthless Empress. Witness a mother's ultimate sacrifice as she ignites a saga of intrigue, resilience, and concealed destinies. Plunge into this captivating prologue, where mercy is a dangerous currency, and the fate of a secret prince hangs precariously in the balance. Years drift by, and the question looms: will Zhu Hualin rise as a tyrannical force, or will he embrace wisdom and justice to become a true ruler?

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