Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 191

The Young Masters of the Twelve Families

Before heading to Yunnan Province, Hwa-rin met with Mi-ok to gather information about the Murim world [a martial arts world] and the Sangrim [commercial guilds], getting a general grasp of the situation.

“So, the Gukseong Merchant Guild and the Samcheon Merchant Guild are jumping into the grain distribution business, seeing that the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild is failing.”

“That’s correct. The Doyang Merchant Guild is also testing the waters, but they are not as aggressive as the guilds you mentioned.”

“I sowed the seeds, but they’re trying to take the fruit. Unbelievable…”

“Is Sangrim any different? They are also places where people live. Murim prioritizes power, while Sangrim prioritizes money. The law of the jungle, where the weak are devoured, remains the same.”

Hwa-rin nodded. As she said, it was just a matter of what one believed in.

“That’s why Buddha said to leave the world of people to achieve enlightenment.”

Hwa-rin acknowledged that if she eliminated one enemy, another would inevitably arise.

“I can’t keep taking care of everything myself, so I need to take that Hyeok-jin with me. If I leave the inn to Soso, she will manage it well.”

“Also, I’ve noticed quite a few unfamiliar faces in the Nine Dragons Inn. Are they all from the Hao Clan? Some of them seem to be skilled in martial arts.”

“That’s right. They have begun the process of affiliating the Nine Dragons Inn with the main branch.”

“Whose idea was that?”

“It was the Clan Lord’s idea.”

“Bold. To devise such a plan, knowing that they cannot avoid my blade when I find out about this.”

She knew better than anyone that there were no experts in the Hao Clan who could match her, so she spoke with confidence.

“I cannot know that. It is difficult for the branch leader’s opinions to reach the Clan Lord, and most of the time, the branch manager silences them or takes credit for them in relation to their own interests and promotions.”

Hwa-rin could tell from Mi-ok’s words that someone had been stirring things up from the middle.

“Is it the branch manager?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the person who stirred up the Clan Lord. The Clan Lord wouldn’t have made such a decision so suddenly without any prompting.”

“I cannot be certain, but I can only guess.”

Hwa-rin smiled faintly at Mi-ok’s answer.

“Enemies on all sides, there’s no time to be bored. Leaving the Clan Lord aside, what about the Deputy Clan Lord? Is he someone you can talk to?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m asking if he’s narrow-minded or if he’s flexible enough to have a conversation with.”

“The Deputy Clan Lord is…”

After finishing her conversation with Mi-ok, Hwa-rin reviewed her work and met with Seo Dae-yeong.

“I’ve decided to go to Yunnan Province with Gun-seong and some members of the Demonic Sect this time.”

“Is it because of the proxy family’s affairs?”

“Yes. But something feels off.”

“What do you mean?”

“They came to monitor us, but they don’t seem to be doing it that severely. And the Nine Dragons Mercenary Group and other martial artists are training under the guise of protecting the business, but in reality, isn’t that something they could use as an excuse to cause trouble?”

“That’s true. From the Blood Evil Alliance’s perspective, the Nine Dragons Mercenary Group and the main manor’s martial artists are not significant enough to worry about, so isn’t that it? It seems like they will let things slide as long as the Clan Lord and Nangong Su-yeon don’t get involved in the Murim world.”

“So, Chief Seo thinks so too?”

“I’ve been reading people’s faces for over ten years while working in Dongchang [a secret government agency].”

Hwa-rin smiled brightly at Seo Dae-yeong.

“Why are you doing that?”

Seo Dae-yeong asked, feeling uneasy, and Hwa-rin revealed her intentions.

“If I go to Yunnan Province with Gun-seong, I want you to train the martial artists.”

“The martial artists?”

“Yes. When they get lax, you need to whip them into shape so they can survive.”

Seo Dae-yeong frowned.

‘What kind of trouble is this guy trying to cause again?’

Hwa-rin seemed to read Seo Dae-yeong’s thoughts and said,

“What’s the fastest way to gain fame?”

“Defeating someone with a high reputation.”

“That’s right. The method we used was the fastest. Thanks to that, our manor has gained a reputation beyond first-class, reaching super-first-class.”

Seo Dae-yeong nodded at Hwa-rin’s words. It was true that the Nine Dragons Manor’s status had risen that much.

“Then, what do you think it will be like for the newly formed sects? Won’t they try to follow us?”

“They might.”

“Then, wouldn’t there be those who try to attack our Nine Dragons Manor to gain fame?”

Seo Dae-yeong, who had been listening seriously, felt like the air had been let out of him as they veered off into such an absurd direction.

“Who would dare to fight the Clan Lord, who can simultaneously face two masters of the Hundred Greats? And we also have Nangong Su-yeon.”

“They might attack when we’re not here.”

“No, they won’t.”

Seo Dae-yeong said definitively.

“Why not? There might be a crazy bastard like me.”

“Clan Lord, crazy bastards never do things that will get them killed.”

“Why not? There are plenty of people in the world who are trying to die.”

“Exactly. They try to die, but they don’t actually die. It’s the same with the Clan Lord. From the outside, it looks like the Clan Lord is trying to die, but you never actually die, do you?”

Hwa-rin nodded.

“Like that, even crazy bastards act according to their own calculations.”

“There are real crazy bastards, too.”

“Those crazy bastards instinctively avoid places where they will die.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s right. So, unless it’s a sect that has established some power, or the Heavenly Demon, the Four Emperors, or the Sword Emperor, no one will target the Nine Dragons Manor.”

“That won’t do.”

“What do you mean?”

“We can’t just do business forever. To be active in the Murim world, the Nine Dragons Manor needs to be bait to attract the forces of the Murim world.”

Seo Dae-yeong, dumbfounded by Hwa-rin’s words, shook his head and asked.

“Why are you so eager to fight? Haven’t you fought enough?”

“Fighting is tiring. But to achieve a dream that makes my heart race, I have to fight.”

“Are you talking about the promise you made with His Majesty?”

“Yes. The Dragon’s child must become a dragon, not a snake.”

“It won’t be easy right now. You’ll have to wait until the memories of our fight with the Blood Evil Alliance fade from people’s minds after five years of silence.”

This time, Hwa-rin thought Seo Dae-yeong was right, so he didn’t act stubborn or unreasonable.

“Then, I can’t help it. But still, teach them well and make them strong.”

“I understand. I’ll subtly push the kids below to become first-class martial artists within five years.”

The kids below that Seo Dae-yeong was talking about were the martial artists from Dongchang and the Imperial Guards who had left the palace with them.

“Okay. And I’d like to promote Branch Leader Mi-ok to branch manager this time.”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at him with a look that said, ‘What are you talking about now?’

“I thought it was good to have the Hao Clan living in the Nine Dragons Inn because we could get information, so I thought we would benefit more.”

“But why?”

“It seems like the Hao Clan is crossing the line. It seems like a lot of Hao Clan people have come in without us knowing. Not only employees, but also guys disguised as guests living in the Nine Dragons Inn.”

“Hmm…”

“So, I think it would be good to clean up this time and accept new disciples.”

As Seo Dae-yeong’s expression became serious, Hwa-rin wondered if he had said something wrong again and asked.

“Why?”

“Are you saying that you’re going to kick out all the Hao Clan members working in the Nine Dragons Inn and other businesses operated by the main manor?”

“Yes.”

“If you do that all at once, there will be a huge shortage of manpower. The damage to the businesses will be great.”

“Then, we can just go on a company outing to promote the unity of our family.”

“It’s not that easy to say. It’s very important for a business to keep its doors open, whether it’s doing well or not.”

“I know that, but I can’t help it.”

“And there are troublesome things like hiring new people and training them. This isn’t a problem that can be solved in a day or two.”

“So, what should we do?”

“Let’s just cut off the top. The subordinates are just doing what they’re told, so I think you can leave them alone.”

“The top?”

“Branch manager, branch leaders, and the seniors who manage the Hao Clan members. If you clean up just this much, the Hao Clan will react.”

Hwa-rin thought for a moment and nodded, thinking it would be better to handle it as Seo Dae-yeong said.

“Then, when I leave for Yunnan Province with Baek Gun-seong, take care of it like that. Leave Branch Leader Mi-ok alive.”

“I understand. I will mobilize the assassins of the Salmak Valley to handle it on the same day.”

“Then, I can meet the Deputy Clan Lord of the Hao Clan after I come back from Yunnan Province and finish the story.”

“Are you going to meet the Deputy Clan Lord of the Hao Clan?”

“If it’s mutually beneficial, I think it would be good to meet and talk. The Deputy Clan Lord seems to be a decent person.”

Seo Dae-yeong blinked.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Oh, and I’m going to take Hyeok-jin with me when I go to Yunnan Province, so keep that in mind.”

Hwa-rin quickly changed the subject.

“Why Hyeok-jin?”

“I can’t keep spoon-feeding him, so he needs to learn a trade by running on his own two feet from now on. In the process, he will fail and succeed, and it wouldn’t be bad to gradually recreate the glory of the Danri family.”

“I understand. Then, what are you going to do with the inn?”

“I heard the fabric store is doing well?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, let’s expand the fabric store, and while that construction is going on, Soso will take over and manage the inn, and when Hyeok-jin comes back, he will take over and manage the inn.”

“You’re not going to keep him with you?”

“I can take him with me whenever there’s work to do. And when Su-yeon and Dong-chun, who went to the Traville Kingdom, come, Hyeok-jin can also go back and forth to the Traville Kingdom following Dong-chun.”

“Have you made up your mind?”

“I think I’ve created enough of a foundation. Of course, I can’t completely let go, but I think it’s time for Hyeok-jin to achieve things one by one with his own hands.”

Seo Dae-yeong already knew Hwa-rin’s plan, so he didn’t particularly oppose what he wanted to do.

“Then, I will transfer the other businesses, except for the Nine Dragons Inn, to Soso.”

The Nine Dragons Inn was more like a key business in Seoseo Province than a business of the Nine Dragons Manor, so it could not be given to the Danri siblings.

“Do that. For now, put it under the joint name of Chief Seo and me.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do if I run away in the middle of the night?”

Hwa-rin chuckled at that.

“The Four Emperors said this.”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at Hwa-rin with a curious expression.

“The weight of the burden on my name can accomplish things that ordinary people cannot imagine in just a few hours.”

“What does that mean?”

“Me too. No matter where Chief Seo runs away, I can find you in a few hours.”

“Really?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, try running away. If you don’t leave Seoseo Province, I can find you in an hour.”

Seo Dae-yeong didn’t believe Hwa-rin’s words, but he was such a strange person that he felt like he might be able to find him as he said.

“Ah, you’re making me feel weird.”

Hwa-rin chuckled as he looked at Seo Dae-yeong.

‘If it weren’t for the Secret Art of the Betrayers, why would I trust you enough to put you under a joint name?’

“Then, take care. I’m going to meet Soso, tell her that I’m taking Hyeok-jin to Yunnan Province, and bring him.”