Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 174

Nine Dragons Chronicle (174)

I watched the people coming and going from Prince Heung’s residence for a while.

People were constantly arriving, but I assumed they weren’t actually meeting Prince Heung, Ju Yeong-guk. They were likely just dropping off birthday gifts.

After writing their names in the guestbook and handing over the gifts, their names would be recorded, in the hopes of being remembered later—a kind of subtle bribe.

Hwa-rin watched them, thinking they were trying so hard to live an easy life.

Of course, living easily and comfortably is ideal, and if that’s not possible, trying hard to achieve that is the next best thing. But their efforts seemed too blatant.

“Hide your true intentions a little, and at least pretend you’re not trying so hard.”

Hwa-rin started walking.

As he approached the entrance to Prince Heung’s residence, a soldier guarding the gate stopped him.

“Please state your name, where you come from, and the purpose of your visit.”

It was a formal question, but for the guards, it was a matter of protocol and security.

Instead of answering verbally, Hwa-rin took out the Nine Dragons 패 [pae: a jade tablet] from inside his robes and showed it.

“Heot!”

Seeing the Nine Dragons 패, the soldiers were visibly surprised, glancing back and forth between Hwa-rin and the tablet.

“Are you alone?”

“I have an attendant, but he’s rather lazy and will arrive later.”

The soldier seemed skeptical of Hwa-rin’s answer.

It was unusual for a member of the imperial family, especially the emperor’s ninth son, to visit a prince’s residence without an attendant.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t treat Hwa-rin dismissively because the Nine Dragons 패 in his hand appeared genuine.

Before Hwa-rin’s arrival, several people had presented 용패s [yongpae: dragon tablets] claiming to be the emperor’s children, and the 용패 Hwa-rin showed looked identical to those.

The soldier bowed to Hwa-rin and said,

“I apologize, but we need to verify its authenticity.”

“Performing your duty requires no apology. It’s what you should do.”

The soldier, reassured by Hwa-rin’s understanding, allowed him to enter the prince’s residence and led him to a guard post on one side.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but please wait here for a moment.”

“Okay.”

The soldier showed the 용패 Hwa-rin had given him to another soldier and instructed him to go inside the prince’s residence and find someone who could verify it. The soldier then hurried inside.

“What’s your name?”

Hwa-rin asked the soldier.

“Chun-pil.”

“Chun-pil… As your name suggests, spring will surely come [a play on the name, suggesting a bright future]. Please continue to serve my uncle diligently.”

“Thank you.”

After a short wait, a man entered the guard post, and the soldier Chun-pil immediately saluted him.

“That’s enough.”

The man’s gaze turned to Hwa-rin.

“The Shadow Monarch has grown into a respectable adult.”

He recognized Hwa-rin, but Hwa-rin didn’t recognize him.

“Who are you?”

“I am Gun Sang-cheon, the Cheonho General [a high-ranking military title] of the Heungchin Royal Guard.”

Upon hearing his introduction, Hwa-rin rose from his seat and bowed slightly.

“Ju Hwa-rin greets the Cheonho General.”

“The world is buzzing because of the Ninth Prince.”

From their conversation, Chun-pil realized that this was indeed the real Ninth Prince.

“I have been rude, Your Highness.”

Chun-pil handed the Nine Dragons 패 back to Hwa-rin.

“You were simply doing your duty. There’s no need to apologize.”

Gun Sang-cheon looked at Hwa-rin with a questioning gaze, and Hwa-rin smiled and said,

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a soldier so dedicated to his job. Anyone else might have been intimidated by the Nine Dragons 패 and become flustered.”

Gun Sang-cheon glanced at Chun-pil.

“If there were more soldiers like him in the prince’s residence, there would be no cause for concern.”

Gun Sang-cheon nodded and said to Chun-pil,

“Continue to guard the main gate of the prince’s residence with the same dedication you’ve shown today.”

“Yes, sir!”

Chun-pil answered with a voice loud enough to shake the guard post. Satisfied with his response, Gun Sang-cheon nodded.

“Hwa-rin, Your Highness, let’s go.”

Gun Sang-cheon led Hwa-rin. As they walked through the courtyard of Prince Heung’s residence, Gun Sang-cheon asked,

“I didn’t expect you to adapt so well to society, Your Highness.”

At his words, Hwa-rin looked at Gun Sang-cheon.

“Aren’t you one of the few soldiers who survived and were discharged from the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit [a highly dangerous military unit]?”

“Ah……”

Although the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit was an independent unit, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Heungchin Royal Guard.

As the Cheonho General, the highest-ranking of the five generals of the Heungchin Royal Guard, he would likely know Hwa-rin and have been keeping an eye on him.

“I couldn’t understand why His Majesty the Emperor sent you to the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit, so I submitted numerous appeals.”

“Really?”

“Even if he considers you a disowned son, aren’t you still his own flesh and blood?”

Hwa-rin chuckled.

“So, he pushed that finger into a deadly place.”

“But you survived and were discharged, didn’t you? His Majesty believed that his own blood, the Ninth Prince, would endure and overcome any challenge.”

“Is that so?”

“His Majesty the Emperor also served in the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit and was discharged after five years.”

Hwa-rin stopped walking and looked at Gun Sang-cheon.

“I served by His Majesty’s side, so I can attest to that fact.”

“I can’t believe His Majesty experienced such a harsh ordeal.”

“That is precisely why His Majesty was able to ascend to the throne.”

Hwa-rin learned about an unexpected part of the Emperor’s past from Gun Sang-cheon.

“The struggle to seize the throne is too brutal and fierce to put into words. It is also incredibly cruel.”

“Is that so?”

“The fact that only three of His Majesty’s brothers, 왕야s [wangyas: princes of the first rank], remain is a testament to that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Currently, the Ninth Prince has eight older brothers and five sisters. But isn’t it strange that His Majesty the Emperor only has three brothers?”

“Ah……”

Only then did Hwa-rin understand the implication.

“Through his own experience, His Majesty believed that anyone who could complete the five-year term in the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit could overcome any obstacle.”

“I’m surprised that His Majesty is my senior in that regard.”

“I am also your senior, Your Highness.”

Hwa-rin nodded. The two walked in silence for a moment.

“I heard about the events in 섬서성 [Seoseong Province]. It was reckless, but it seems you handled it well.”

Gun Sang-cheon initiated the conversation.

“I was fortunate. Senior Sa Hwang Baek Mu-gi was also from the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit.”

“I know. He’s a junior to me, you see.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Although he’s a junior, his martial arts skills were so exceptional that he could take on enemy leaders single-handedly. He was such a formidable individual that he would carry out operations alone when necessary.”

“Really?”

“Perhaps, in terms of martial arts alone, he was the best among the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit.”

As Hwa-rin thought of Sa Hwang Baek Mu-gi, he agreed with the assessment.

“He’s an extraordinary person. He came alone to a place swarming with enemies and threatened me, asking if I wanted to live or die.”

“Hahaha. That sounds like him. He usually doesn’t take initiative unless instructed, but when he does, the entire unit is on high alert.”

Listening to Gun Sang-cheon’s words, Hwa-rin realized that even he was less formidable than Baek Mu-gi in his younger days.

“Perhaps if it weren’t for him, neither I nor His Majesty would have been able to complete our five-year terms.”

Hwa-rin wanted to hear more details about that time if he ever met Baek Mu-gi again.

“Have you heard the news that the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit was attacked by strange men?”

“Yes, I’m aware of it.”

“Then, are there plans to create special units with similar characteristics to the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit in the future?”

Gun Sang-cheon shook his head.

“I’m not considering it at the moment. Since you have dismantled all the organizations that posed a threat to the Central Plains, I don’t anticipate any significant threats for at least a decade or two.”

“Is that so?”

“In truth, maintaining the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit was incredibly expensive, creating a significant financial burden.”

Hearing that it was financially difficult, Hwa-rin seemed to have an idea and asked,

“I heard that the Yongchin Royal Guard has created several special units recently. Is the Yongchin Royal Guard different from the Heungchin Royal Guard in terms of funding?”

“The subsidies they receive from the country are similar. However, just because it’s an army doesn’t mean it can’t generate revenue. The army raises its own funds to compensate for any shortfalls.”

“Are you saying the army makes money?”

“That’s right. For example, the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit incurred substantial costs each time it was deployed on an operation, but it also generated significant profits.”

“Ah……”

“It’s surprisingly simple for soldiers to earn money. And there’s also the option of receiving support from merchants, but that often leads to personal corruption.”

‘Support from merchants?’

As they walked and talked, they arrived at the 별채 [byeolchae: detached building] of Prince Heung’s residence.

“The other princes and princesses are also gathered here at the 별채.”

“I can’t see, so I wouldn’t even recognize the people who used to bully me.”

“Haha. I doubt someone like you, a veteran of the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit, would be that careless.”

Hwa-rin chuckled.

He had a good understanding of the imperial palace and was familiar with the information about the emperor’s family.

That’s why he was able to recognize the Fifth Prince who came to 구룡루 [Guryongru: Nine Dragons Tower] so easily.

“I should avoid lying while I’m at Prince Heung’s residence. Perhaps my uncle is also a senior from the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit?”

“Prince Heung served in the military support unit.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“But he has reached the 현경 [hyeongyeong: a high level of martial arts mastery] level in terms of perception, so it will be difficult to deceive him.”

“I have no reason to deceive my uncle, do I?”

“That’s true.”

While talking with Cheonho General Gun Sang-cheon, Hwa-rin realized that the imperial palace might be taking a keen interest in him.

‘Do they possess some kind of legendary clairvoyance?’

“Ah, please inform my uncle that I would like to meet him. It’s my first time visiting my uncle’s birthday celebration as a nephew, and I’d like to present him with a gift.”

“I understand. I will convey your message.”

As Hwa-rin was about to enter the room assigned to him, Gun Sang-cheon said,

“Your Highness.”

Hwa-rin turned around and looked at him.

“The past is just that—the past. So, please be patient when you meet the others.”

“Don’t worry. Even when I met my fifth brother, we shared our feelings through conversation.”

“Ah, is that so? The Fifth Prince is also here at the 별채 now.”

“In that case, I should pay him a visit and say hello. Which way is his room?”

“It’s the sixth room in the building across the way.”

Hwa-rin nodded, and Gun Sang-cheon, reassured by the sight, turned and left the 별채.

“This is ridiculous. Are all the people in high positions now seniors from the Mengho Sasa Blood Battle Unit?”

Hwa-rin shook his head and, instead of entering his room, walked towards the 별채 building where the Fifth Prince was staying.