Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 192

Ninth Dragon Chronicles (192)

“From now on, it’s the Travil Kingdom. Everyone, stay alert.”

As soon as Namgung Su-yeon crossed the border into the Travil Kingdom, she warned Dongchun and his disciples.

“What’s going on?”

“Unlike the Central Plains, the Travil Kingdom doesn’t have good public order. Unless you’re inside a castle surrounding a territory, being outside like this means you could be attacked by anyone at any time. So, from now on, stay alert as we head to the first territory, Lord’s Mountain Territory.”

Dongchun, seeing Namgung Su-yeon’s tension, became nervous as well.

“Is it that dangerous of a kingdom?”

“Not exactly. But you’ll be attacked by bandits and robbers frequently. And wild beasts might attack too.”

“Is that so? I thought it was something more……”

“That’s just based on my standards. It’s not your standard.”

“Ah, Senior’s standards……. Then that means it’s an incredibly dangerous place.”

“That’s why I trained you on the way here.”

“No, will that be enough? Aren’t my guys going to die off?”

Dongchun asked, as if complaining, and Namgung Su-yeon replied, sounding annoyed.

“Why are you making such a fuss about this? You did well in places more difficult and dangerous than this when you were in the military.”

“Are my guys the same as me?”

“Then are they different?”

“How could they be the same?”

“Hey, can any of you defeat me in one move?”

Dongchun was momentarily speechless.

“Your disciples can’t defeat me in one move either. So isn’t it the same?”

“Haa…….”

Dongchun sighed involuntarily.

“Where did you learn this miraculous logic? Don’t tell me you learned it from that awful person I know?”

“You know it well. That awful person taught me this logic. And added one more thing.”

Dongchun, curious about what she would say, looked at Namgung Su-yeon, urging her with his eyes.

“If you don’t want to be treated the same, work three or four times harder than them.”

“Hmm…….”

“Dongchun.”

“Why are you calling me so affectionately?”

“I know you care about your disciples, but just caring isn’t enough.”

“I know that too. But there’s a process to it. Like climbing stairs.”

Dongchun’s words weren’t wrong, but in the world of martial arts, doing so often meant getting killed by a blind sword [unexpected attack].

“How long will that take? Do you think your opponents will wait until your disciples climb the stairs?”

“Why do you always assume we’ll be fighting? We can resolve things nicely with words.”

At those words, Namgung Su-yeon chuckled.

“Dongchun, do you think you live in Seorim [a peaceful, scholarly environment]? To resolve things with your mouth?”

Dongchun’s lips protruded slightly, and Namgung Su-yeon’s hand moved, instinctively pushing his lips back in to avoid being grabbed.

“That’s what the strong do. We weak people don’t have the right to choose. Do you know why tigers kill wolves on sight?”

“Well, isn’t it because they see them as food?”

Namgung Su-yeon shook her head.

“Even tigers, the kings of beasts, have times when they are weak.”

“How can that be? A tiger is a tiger. There’s no such thing as a weak tiger.”

“No matter how much of a tiger it is, cubs are weak and vulnerable.”

“Ah…….”

“It’s the only time when wolves can defeat tigers. So, what should a tiger do to protect its cubs?”

“Kill the wolves.”

“Right. That’s why tigers kill any beast they see.”

“So, you’re saying my disciples are tiger cubs?”

Paahk!

A dull sound echoed in the air, and Dongchun grimaced, rubbing the back of his head with his hand.

“Hey, why are you hitting me? I…….”

“Not tiger cubs, but wolves. Wolf cubs at that.”

“What’s the difference?”

“If tiger cubs get killed, what do you think will happen to wolf cubs?”

“How would I know?”

“They can be killed by field mice, stray dogs, even wild cats. And you’re going to raise those cubs by climbing stairs?”

Dongchun was silent.

“Don’t you know why Senior pushed you to the limit on the battlefield?”

“Isn’t it because you couldn’t stand me?”

“Right. That’s why you were able to survive to the end in that hellish place, get discharged, and return to the martial world to gain fame like you have now.”

In fact, Dongchun knew it well. It’s just that the process was so difficult that he didn’t want his disciples to go through the same experience.

“Smothering them isn’t the answer. At least they should be able to sustain their own lives.”

“Is that possible for Senior?”

“Of course. I’m an absolute master, so unless it’s the Heavenly Demon, the Four Emperors, or my grandfather, I can hold out against any enemy until Senior Hwa-rin comes to save me.”

Dongchun sometimes felt that when Namgung Su-yeon mentioned Hwa-rin, she had a blind faith like a follower of a cult.

“Does Senior like Team Leader that much?”

“Why are you asking something so obvious?”

“I’m just asking because I’m curious. Your feelings for Team Leader are so unwavering.”

“Then should my feelings change?”

“It’s not that, but you must have met men more handsome than Senior while traveling around.”

“I have. But all those people were taken [already in relationships].”

Dongchun, with an interested look, urged her to continue the story.

“But the only person who was more capable than me and not taken was Senior Hwa-rin.”

“Hmm…….”

“So I can’t help but like her. Dongchun!”

“Yes, what is it?”

“When you meet a woman later, don’t meet a woman who is more capable than you.”

“Why should I do that? If a woman is capable, can’t I live a little more comfortably?”

“That’s how it might look to others, but in reality, you’ll live with your tail between your legs, always watching her.”

“Not all women are as tough as Senior. There are many gentle and soft women.”

“Who would believe that a woman who is better than you is gentle and not tough?”

“Hmm…….”

“Unless it’s a female monk from the Emei Sect [known for their discipline and gentleness], it’ll be hard to find such a woman.”

“You’re really cursing me.”

“I’m giving you advice, and you’re still complaining. Anyway, stay alert until we reach Lord’s Mountain Territory.”

* * *

Hwa-rin introduced Danri Hyeokjin to Baek Gunseong.

“Call him ‘hyungnim’ [older brother] from now on and treat him with utmost respect.”

“I am Danri Hyeokjin.”

Baek Gunseong, watching Hwa-rin, hesitantly accepted Danri Hyeokjin as his younger brother as Danri Hyeokjin bowed deeply.

“I’m Baek Gunseong. Let’s get along well in the future.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

There were a few people standing behind Baek Gunseong, who seemed to be Baek Gunseong’s colleagues he had mentioned before.

“Are you taking them with you?”

“Yes. Introduce yourselves. They are the young masters of the Twelve Great Families.”

Hwa-rin roughly scanned them and said to Baek Gunseong.

“If they’re young masters, that means they’re future heads of their families. What are you going to do if they die?”

“Don’t worry about that. We have our own ways.”

Hwa-rin looked at them with uneasy eyes.

“But Seo-won isn’t here?”

She was referring to Lee Seo-won, the young master of the Cheonryang Family, who had become friends with Hwa-rin in the Hwasan Branch.

“We’re meeting in Sichuan.”

“Is that so? Don’t you dare ask me for help if something happens in the middle.”

“Don’t worry about that and just go. Go to Hoju in Sichuan from Hubei Province using the Janggang River’s [Yangtze River] waterway.”

“Are you going straight to Sichuan?”

“I need to stop by Hoju to check the bodies. To see if they were attacked by ordinary sword wounds or by unique martial arts, as you said.”

Hwa-rin decided to follow their lead and observe for the time being.

“Let’s depart.”

“Do that. So, Gunseong, you’re the leader?”

“Yes. I’m the leader, the person in charge.”

Hwa-rin looked at Danri Hyeokjin and said.

“Hyeokjin, watch and learn from what Gunseong hyungnim does. He’ll show you what kind of mindset a leader of a group should have when approaching a task.”

“I understand.”

They moved from Shaanxi Province to Hubei Province.

Traveling along the main road from Shaanxi Province, you would come across Jushan County, and from Jushan County, Mount Wudang, where the Wudang Sect was located, was within sight.

Perhaps that’s why, just as Huayin County was under the influence of the Hwasan Sect, Jushan County was also under the influence of the Wudang Sect.

“Be careful with your actions. This is the Wudang Sect’s territory, so refrain from unnecessary disputes.”

Having arrived in Jushan County, they were careful with their actions as Baek Gunseong had said. Seeing their behavior, Hwa-rin chuckled.

‘No matter how careful you are, how can you not attract attention when a dozen or so burly men carry swords around their waists?’

The only ones among them who weren’t carrying swords were Hwa-rin and Danri Hyeokjin.

Hwa-rin was holding a crimson bamboo flute in his hand instead of a sword, and to others, it looked like Hwa-rin was the son of a high-ranking nobleman, and Baek Gunseong and the young masters of the Twelve Great Families were his bodyguards.

“The weather is really nice.”

His gait, swinging the flute in his hand from side to side, was the very picture of a carefree man.

Baek Gunseong planned to stop by an inn to fill their stomachs and then head to Yichang City along the main road.

“There’s a pretty big inn over there.”

Hwa-rin pointed to the signboard of the Yongseong Inn and said, implying that they should go there.

Baek Gunseong led the group to the Yongseong Inn as Hwa-rin wished.

“Welcome.”

“There are fifteen of us, so please guide us to our seats.”

“This way, please.”

The waiter guided them to their seats, and on the way, some people glanced at them and looked wary.

“This large table can seat eight people, and the one next to it can seat four. And if you sit three people here, you can share a meal together.”

The young masters of the Twelve Great Families sat in groups of eight and four, and Hwa-rin, Baek Gunseong, and Danri Hyeokjin took one table.

“Bring us the menu.”

“Yes.”

Although he was a little uneasy about the swords at their waists, the waiter was happy to receive a group of fifteen customers, so he quickly brought the menu to Baek Gunseong.

Baek Gunseong scanned the menu and ordered stir-fried chives with pork and dumplings, then gave the menu to Hwa-rin.

Hwa-rin, confirming that there were about twenty dishes listed on the menu, returned the menu to the waiter and said.

“Why bother choosing so complicatedly? Just bring one of each item on the menu, and provide us with plates so we can serve ourselves according to the number of people. Give it to us that way.”

“You mean one of each item on the menu?”

“Yes. And give us four bottles of Erguotou [a strong Chinese liquor] too.”

“I understand. I’ll make it as quickly as possible and bring it to you.”

“You don’t have to bring it all at once. Bring the food in sets of four dishes.”

“Ah, I’ll do that.”

Hwa-rin smiled brightly and flicked his finger at the waiter, and the waiter instinctively snatched the shining coin flying in the air.

“Use that for the food, and keep the rest.”

“Thank you.”

As the waiter bowed and turned away, Baek Gunseong said.

“We were going to pay. We have enough funds, why are you paying?”

“Just eat. How much funds did you receive? Save that and use it when you need it.”

Hwa-rin spoke as if he was doing them a favor, but in reality, he felt like he would get angry if they ate and slept with those funds, calculating this and that, saying this was okay and this wasn’t, so he paid first.

“But hyungnim.”

“Why?”

“It feels like people’s eyes have been on us since we entered the inn…….”

At those words, Hwa-rin was inwardly surprised, but didn’t show it.

“You noticed that?”

“Yes.”

‘Is it because he resembles Hyeokgwang hyungnim that he has such good instincts?’

“The reason is simple. If fifteen burly men with swords occupy seats in the Yongseong Inn, will people pay attention or not?”

“Of course they will.”

“That’s it. So you don’t have to worry too much about it.”

Looking at Danri Hyeokjin nodding, Hwa-rin thought to himself.

‘Should I teach him some simple martial arts while we’re going to Yunnan Province?’