Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 173

Having retrieved Yeongseong Jin-in’s body, Hwa-rin was treated as an honored guest in the Cheongseong Sect, though their hospitality differed slightly from that of secular, powerful families.

Hwa-rin became acquainted with the leaders of the Cheongseong Sect and secured a promise that they would assist the Gu-ryong Company should it face difficulties.

“If you’re going to offer help, please make it practical.”

“Practical help, you say?”

“Surely, the Taoists of the Cheongseong Sect need to eat and clothe themselves, do they not?”

“Indeed.”

“Our Gu-ryong Trading Company deals in grains and clothing. If the Cheongseong Sect were to patronize us, it would greatly benefit our operations.”

Upon hearing this, Nokpung thought Hwa-rin was every bit the shrewd merchant.

“Very well. Cheongseong will purchase all its grains, clothing, and food supplies through the Gu-ryong Company.”

As the Sect Leader, Nokpung’s decision was met with resistance from the other elders.

“Sect Leader, if you do this, the secular merchants who currently supply our sect may object.”

Among the disciples of the Nine Great Sects were those from secular families, mostly the children of officials and merchants.

Thus, the food and necessities consumed by the Nine Great Sects were usually ‘purchased’ from the trading companies of these secular disciples.

Though called purchases, they were, in reality, little more than donations.

“They may appear to object, but inwardly, they will be pleased. They have been supplying our sect at a loss, unable to receive fair prices due to their secular status. Now, they won’t have to.”

“Won’t they feel slighted?”

“They may feel that way, but we can simply take better care of their children.”

Hwa-rin chuckled inwardly as he listened to their conversation.

“Thank you for the Sect Leader’s decision. Implementation will take some time; would it be acceptable to begin deliveries in three months?”

“At your convenience.”

“Thank you for your consideration. We will always prepare fresh food and bring it to Cheongseong Mountain.”

Hwa-rin quickly answered, finalizing the deal, lest they change their minds.

“I have something to discuss with the Sect Leader privately. Would a private meeting be possible?”

“Of course.”

Nokpung excused himself from the elders and met with Hwa-rin alone.

“What is it that you wish to say to me?”

“You must have heard the rumors of martial artists from beyond the borders entering the Central Plains recently.”

“Indeed. Martial artists from Bukhae [North Sea], Seojang [Western Tibet], Heukryonggang Province [Amur River region], Namhae [South Sea], and even Xinjiang and Wolha [Outer Mongolia] have been secretly entering the Central Plains. We suspect their entry is related to the Demonic Sect.”

“The Demonic Sect?”

“Thirty years ago, after the martial world attacked and annihilated the Demonic Sect, while our orthodox sects were consolidating internally, the Saheol Alliance [Evil Alliance] and the Demonic Sect expanded their power. While the Saheol Alliance expanded within the Central Plains, the Demonic Sect expanded by forcefully absorbing martial artists from the borders and beyond.”

Hwa-rin was somewhat aware of this, having heard about it.

“That may be so. But what I wish to discuss is something else.”

“What is it?”

“As I travel through the martial world for my trading company, whether by chance or misfortune, I have become involved with them.”

“Ah…”

“The Hundred and Eight Islands of Namhae stated they were seeking revenge for what happened to Kwonma Cho Dan-un [Demon of the Fist, Cho Dan-un] long ago and to restore their honor. They came to meet him and invite him to the Hainan Sword Sect.”

“Such a thing occurred?”

“Yes, it did. At that time…”

Hwa-rin recounted everything that had happened at the inn and shared his deductions about the Ice Palace.

“I believe the Ice Palace of Bukhae may have a similar reason.”

“The Ice Palace also came looking for Kwonma Cho Dan-un?”

“Not exactly. Have you heard that the Sosu Divine Art [Sosu Mystic Skill] has appeared in Shanxi Province?”

Nokpung nodded.

“I understand the Sosu Divine Art is the supreme martial art of the Bukhae Ice Palace.”

“Then, are you saying the Bukhae Ice Palace came to find the Sosu Divine Art?”

“That is what I deduce.”

Nokpung nodded, finding it plausible.

“And recently, in Sichuan, I encountered martial artists from the Busan Palace of Heukryonggang Province.”

“They are in Sichuan?”

“I heard fifty of them came. Others may be moving secretly in other provinces.”
Hwa-rin explained why the martial artists of the Busan Palace had entered the Central Plains.

“They are operating under the guise of martial artists from the Dark Demon Tower, and their goal is to find the Seonhwa Yujeongdo [Illustrious Jade Portrait of a Fairy], a treasure of the Asura Tower.”

Nokpung, unfamiliar with the Seonhwa Yujeongdo, asked, “What is that?”

“Are you familiar with the supreme art of the Asura Tower?”

“I know it as the Asura Blood Art. And I am aware of the five other guardian martial arts.”

“That’s right. The Seonhwa Yujeongdo consists of five portraits of beautiful women, each containing a hidden guardian martial art of the Asura Tower. It is said that gathering all five portraits will lead to the supreme art, the Asura Blood Art.”

Listening to Hwa-rin’s new information, Nokpung grew suspicious.

“But how does Clan Lord Jang know so much about this?”

“The group that annihilated the Asura Tower and the Dark Demon Tower was the military unit I served in.”

It was no longer a surprising secret that Hwa-rin was a former soldier.

“Are you referring to the Mengho Sasahyeoljeondae [Tiger Howl Death Squad], that special forces unit?”

“Yes. After we attacked the Asura Tower, while fighting the Dark Demon Tower that came to support them, the survivors of the Asura Tower divided the Seonhwa Yujeongdo and fled.”

“At the time, we were busy dealing with the martial artists of the Asura Tower and the Dark Demon Tower, so we missed those who escaped. We received information that they had entered the Central Plains, but we didn’t know what happened after that.”

“Why is that?”

“We were not a unit that searched for people, so the matter was transferred to another unit and left our hands.”

Nokpung nodded as if he understood.

“Then why are you telling me this?”

“I am not a martial artist but a merchant. I have become known as a martial artist due to my unexpected involvement with the martial world, but I have not yet abandoned my military habits.”

Nokpung, not understanding what Hwa-rin was trying to say, focused on his words.

“Having experienced countless battles as a soldier, I have learned one thing.”

“What is it?”

“For a war to break out, there must always be warning signs. Wars do not start because of major events but because of small incidents and trivial misunderstandings.”

“Hmm…”

“The martial world may appear to be in conflict between the Demonic Sect, the Saheol Alliance, and the Jeongcheon Alliance [Righteous Heaven Alliance], but the start of the war will not be their conflict but the expansion caused by the intervention of forces from beyond the borders.”

“Expansion?”

“A great martial war between the righteous, the evil, and the demonic.”

Nokpung was speechless at Hwa-rin’s words. He wondered if Hwa-rin was getting ahead of himself or if he was still stuck in his military mindset, fantasizing about war.

“War does not break out so easily.”

“That’s right. But war can also break out surprisingly easily.”

As Hwa-rin said, disputes and wars could indeed break out easily, so Nokpung could not deny it.

“What I want to say to the Sect Leader is this: the Nine Great Sects should step back from the Jeongcheon Alliance and objectively observe and investigate the martial world.”

“Objectively?”

“Yes. If you examine the events happening in the martial world with a broad perspective rather than a narrow one, you will surely find something strange.”

“Thank you for your advice. I will meet with the Sect Leaders of the Nine Great Sects and share my thoughts. May I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“Clan Lord Jang, you do not know much about the martial world, do you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then how can you speak with such certainty? Do you have some unspoken evidence?”

Hwa-rin nodded.

“Very well. We will do our best to investigate.”

* * *

In the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, resides the Heungchin Wang Mansion, home to the Emperor’s younger brother and the leader of the Heungchin Royal Guards. With the approaching birthday of Heungchin Wang Ju Yeong-guk, many people gathered around the mansion, increasing the frequency of comings and goings.

As Heungchin Wang Ju Yeong-guk’s birthday drew near, inns and brothels operating in Chengdu enjoyed an unexpected boom, a phenomenon caused by people from all provinces of the Central Plains coming to Sichuan Province to celebrate his birthday.

After finishing his business at Cheongseong Mountain, Hwa-rin visited the Haryeon Hwaru, the Hao Mun [Beggar’s Sect] branch in Chengdu.

There, he met Seo Dae-yeong and told him about the deal with the Cheongseong Sect.

“We agreed to start trading in three months, so be aware of that.”

“Understood. I will commission local merchants…”

“We need to create a base of operations, so establish one. And make it so that we can handle matters through that place.”

“Even in Sichuan?”

“We need to set them up all over the Central Plains anyway. One or two places won’t be enough. We need to create one in each province initially and then increase the number of branch offices as we proceed, depending on the situation.”

“Are you thinking of the structure of the Hao Mun?”

“Not just the Hao Mun; that’s the basics of distribution. Create a base, buy goods in bulk cheaply and store them, and transport the goods to those who want them.”

*Seeing him think like this, it seems he’s not just living without a thought, but his words and actions are so unreliable that it’s confusing, Seo Dae-yeong mused.*

“Understood. I will look for a suitable place in Sichuan.”

“What about what I told you to look into?”

“There have been no special movements. However, the Yongchin Royal Guards have reorganized their forces, reducing and merging some units while creating new ones.”

“Is that so?”

“It seems the Yongchin Royal Guards are in charge of areas with much difficult terrain, so they may have created special units to prepare for combat in such places.”

“Special units?”

“Yes. Five new special units have been established and are undergoing training.”

“Personnel?”

“Five hundred in each, with martial artists being given priority in selection.”

When Hwa-rin fell silent, Seo Dae-yeong also waited in silence rather than speaking.

Hwa-rin’s silence continued longer than expected.

Seo Dae-yeong, who had been waiting for Hwa-rin to speak, was getting impatient, and as time passed, he couldn’t contain his curiosity and was about to open his mouth.

“What about the Imperial Guard?”
Hwa-rin asked first.

“There is nothing different from usual.”

“Go and find out who the generals of the Imperial Guard are meeting with and report back.”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at Hwa-rin with a questioning gaze.

“I heard a story about the Imperial Palace. Find out and come to the Heungchin Wang Mansion.”

“Understood.”