Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 33

Nine Dragons Chronicle (33)

Hwa-rin watched the construction site of the Nine Dragons Pavilion and asked Choi Dae-hyung, the supervisor in charge of the construction, when it would be completed.

“It’s a project that will take about a year, as I mentioned.”

“Can’t we speed it up a bit?”

“If we work day and night, we can shorten the construction period, but then the building will be poorly constructed and won’t last long.”

“Hmm…”

“If you’re looking at it lasting at least a hundred years, it’s better to proceed slowly and surely, layer by layer. That way, our construction technicians will also have pride in their work.”

“Pride?”

“Yes. I was in charge of the construction of the Nine Dragons Pavilion in Sanyang County, Shanxi Province. Something like that…”

Hwa-rin nodded.

He could understand Choi Dae-hyung’s words, as the treatment of construction technicians changed as they gained such experience.

“I see. Please proceed with the construction without any accidents. And how is the construction of the former Ohsong Pavilion going?”

“That will be finished next month. We’re not tearing it down and rebuilding it, but only changing the internal design, so it will be finished by the middle of next month.”

“Thank you. My income is limited these days, but the money going out keeps increasing, so I’m getting impatient.”

“Haha. There’s a good place called the war zone in the Central Plains. They’ll lend the Clan Lord the money he needs from the war zone.”

It was hard to tell if he was joking or serious, but from Hwa-rin’s point of view, he might really have to borrow a lot of money from the war zone.

Fortunately, the inn and the fabric store were making a decent profit; otherwise, he would have had to go to the war zone to borrow money long ago.

While Hwa-rin and Choi Dae-hyung were talking, a group of people approached the construction site.

They stopped a little away from the construction site and smiled contentedly as they looked at the site.

“Do you know them?”

Choi Dae-hyung asked Hwa-rin.

“No, I don’t.”

“Really? They’ve been coming for the past two or three days and just looking at the site like that. When I ask them who they are, they don’t answer and just tell me to do my job.”

“They’re probably scammers. There are so many people like that. Just ignore them. If you pretend to know them and get caught, you’ll be resented by people later.”

“I understand.”

“Then I’ll be going. If you need anything, contact the manor.”

As Hwa-rin left, the eyes of those watching flashed.

“Is that the Clan Lord of the Nine Dragons Clan?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Hmm… He looks healthy, but it doesn’t seem like he’s learned martial arts.”

Hwa-rin had already surpassed the realm of Returning to Simplicity [a state where one’s martial prowess is undetectable], so it was impossible to tell from the outside.

“He’s a merchant, not a martial artist, so even if he has learned martial arts, he’s only learned it to the level of self-defense.”

These were the people who came from the Yin Evil Sect with the experts of the Yin Evil Sect to establish a sect in Sanyang County, led by the Third Elder, Hyun Tak-jung.

Hyun Tak-jung was a super-master, but he was not well known compared to his martial arts prowess.

All ten martial artists who came with him were first-class masters who were in charge of the actual martial power of the Yin Evil Sect.

“But where did all the guys who were supposed to raid the Nine Dragons Clan disappear to?”

“I looked into it, but it doesn’t seem like they came to Sanyang County. If outsiders come to the county and stay for a long time, their tracks should be revealed a little through people’s mouths, but there’s nothing like that at all.”

“Then did they disappear in the middle? There’s no way those guys ran away…”

Then there’s only one reason.

“They must have been defeated by them.”

“Them?”

“I’m talking about the guys who put the bodies of the children they sent to the Nine Dragons Clan in coffins and sent them to the door.”

Only then did the martial artists standing behind Hyun Tak-jung nod.

“You guys scout around. There might be one or two guys around to protect him.”

“Yes!”

The martial artists scattered in all directions.

Hyun Tak-jung, who was left alone, captured the figure of Hwa-rin gradually moving away in his eyes.

“I need to find out who’s behind him before I move.”

* * *

Hwa-rin knew that there were people following him around for the past two or three days, but he didn’t care much because he knew who they were.

“I never thought they would be helpful in times like this. Then shall I give those guys a little confusion?”

Hwa-rin left the manor early in the morning. As soon as he left the manor, he could feel that there were people chasing him, watching not only his back but also his surroundings.

Hwa-rin moved diligently with them following him like a tail, and the place he was heading to was none other than Mount Jongnam [also known as Zhongnan Mountain, a mountain range with historical significance in Taoism].

Hwa-rin thought that just finding the Jongnam Sect of Mount Jongnam would confuse the Yin Evil Sect.

Mount Jongnam was not far from Sanyang County, so he was able to leave in the morning and arrive at the entrance of Mount Jongnam early in the morning.

“I guess I’ll get lunch at the Jongnam Sect.”

Hwa-rin smiled, still feeling the presence of those chasing him.

Hwa-rin, who hurried up Mount Jongnam, was able to arrive at the Jongnam Sect in time for lunch.

“I meet you again.”

The martial artist of the Jongnam Sect who was guarding the mountain gate when he came to see Elder Song Cheol last time was guarding the mountain gate, so Hwa-rin spoke to him in a friendly manner.

“Welcome. Are you here to see Elder Song Cheol?”

“Yes, I am. Please let him know I’m here.”

“Please follow me.”

Hwa-rin followed him into the Jongnam Sect, and those who were watching this from afar talked to each other and left only one person behind and went down Mount Jongnam.

Meanwhile, Hwa-rin met Elder Song Cheol of the Jongnam Sect and had a meal together, but the elders of the Jongnam Sect did not eat separately, but all the people of the Jongnam Sect gathered in a large restaurant to eat.

However, there was a separate table with seats prepared as Elder seats.

“I heard that the Jongnam Sect has been investigating my manor recently. Do you know anything about this?”

“What are you talking about? We’re investigating the Nine Dragons Clan?”

“They are investigating not only the manor, but also my reputation and the business and size of the business operated by my manor.”

“I’ve never heard of that. Why would our sect investigate the Nine Dragons Clan?”

Judging from Elder Song Cheol’s expression, he really didn’t know anything.

“I don’t know either. This happened after I greeted you, Elder, so to be honest, I felt like I was being ignored.”

“No. Why would I ignore you? I know all about the Fierce Tiger Death Squad [a highly skilled special forces unit], and I think I can ignore you who successfully completed more than a hundred operations in that place for five years and was discharged? That’s your misunderstanding.”

Elder Song Cheol was also a member of the Fierce Tiger Death Squad, so he knew how difficult and hard life was there.

“I think I misunderstood after hearing Elder’s words. I’m sorry.”

“Maybe there were various stories about your Nine Dragons Clan, so I think this sect looked into it once. I’ll find out.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re just looking into it, but from my point of view, there are many things that bother me right now.”

“Things that bother you?”

“There are many things going on in this manor, but the Yin Evil Sect and the Hwa-myung Merchant Group are eyeing the business of this manor.”

“The Yin Evil Sect and the Hwa-myung Merchant Group?”

“If I were a soldier, I would have invaded and destroyed them without thinking, but now I’ve been discharged and I have to live a social life and get along with people, so there are many things to consider.”

Elder Song Cheol nodded.

When he returned to the sect after completing his military service, the most difficult thing was getting along with the people of the sect.

“If the Yin Evil Sect and the Hwa-myung Merchant Group can’t be resolved through dialogue, you can suppress them with force, but you can’t do that with the Jongnam Sect, can you? But I haven’t done anything wrong to the Jongnam Sect.”

“I understand your feelings. I’ll look into it and take appropriate action. I’m sorry for making you worry about many things.”

It’s strange for an elder of a sect to show a low profile to Hwa-rin, but the other party was from a special forces unit specializing in combat called the Fierce Tiger Death Squad.

As Hwa-rin said, the Nine Dragons Clan could not be an opponent of the Jongnam Sect, but if Hwa-rin wanted to, he could harass the Jongnam Sect as much as he wanted.

This was the same for Elder Song Cheol.

If he made up his mind and hid secretly like an assassin and aimed at the other party’s key figures or tried to gain profits through surprise attacks, he could do so as much as he wanted.

Elder Song Cheol was well aware of this, so he was acting in a way that seemed like a low profile to Hwa-rin.

“No. I feel relieved to hear Elder’s words. I was so worried about what I had done wrong to the Jongnam Sect.”

“No. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I’m so glad it’s a misunderstanding.”

During the meal, Hwa-rin handed a small envelope from his pocket to Elder Song Cheol.

“What is this?”

“It’s not a lot of money. I’m giving it to you in the hope that it will help the elders in the Elder Council have a dinner together.”

“You don’t have to give it to me.”

“No. Even if Jongnam is involved in the secular world, isn’t it a sect that started in Taoism? I also know that you are not free from Taoist laws, precepts, and sect laws.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s really not a lot of money. The manor is in trouble, so I can’t give you a lot of money. I just put it in so that the elders of the Elder Council can have a delicious dinner. So please accept it.”

Hwa-rin said it wasn’t a lot of money, but thirty gold coins was too much for a company dinner.

From Hwa-rin’s point of view, thirty gold coins was to let the Yin Evil Sect know that the Jongnam Sect was behind him, and even though it was a misunderstanding, the Yin Evil Sect would not be able to take any action for the time being.

He solved the tiring things that would happen between himself and the Yin Evil Sect with thirty gold coins, so from Hwa-rin’s point of view, it was nothing more than a profitable business.

Elder Song Cheol took the envelope that Hwa-rin gave him and put it in his arms.

“Thank you. Instead, when our elders gather for a meal, you should join us.”

“I would be honored if you called me. I’ll put everything aside and run there.”

Elder Song Cheol smiled, satisfied with Hwa-rin’s answer.

At that time, there was a martial artist passing by the two.

“Lee Han-sun.”

When Elder Song Cheol called him, Lee Han-sun bowed his head to Elder Song Cheol.

“I heard that you are investigating the Nine Dragons Clan in this sect. Do you know anything about that?”

“Are you talking about the Nine Dragons Clan in Sanyang County?”

He was a writer in charge of information in the Jongnam Sect, and he belonged to a department in charge of strategy that used his head rather than martial arts.

“That’s right.”

“I heard that the head of the sect ordered to investigate in case a cult sect was involved because he was going to open a large gambling house in Sanyang County.”

Elder Song Cheol looked at Hwa-rin.

“But besides the gambling house, there are rumors that they are also doing loan sharking, smuggling, and human trafficking.”

“Really?”

Hwa-rin asked, pretending not to know.

“I have confirmed that they are doing loan sharking, but I have not yet confirmed the scene of smuggling and human trafficking. So I know they are watching.”

“That’s strange. Isn’t the head of the sect only in the sect? But how did you hear such rumors?”

“I’m not sure, but I heard that after Hwa Jung-soo, the head of the Hwa-myung Merchant Group, visited, the same instructions were given.”

When the name of the Hwa-myung Merchant Group came up, Hwa-rin and Elder Song Cheol’s eyes met in the air.

The moment Elder Song Cheol saw the faint smile on Hwa-rin’s lips, he flinched because the smile felt so cold.

‘It’s dangerous.’