Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 42

The owners of other pleasure houses besides Jeong Dae-in, the owner of Hwayang Pavilion, had inquired about purchasing the establishment, but he told them he wanted more time to consider before selling, and they left.

“I think I should return to my sect. Thanks to you, I was able to rest comfortably before leaving.”

After hearing the whole story from Hwa-rin, Elder Song-cheol and Elder Hwa-yeong stayed at Guryong Fortress for two or three more days to investigate. Then, after breakfast, they told him they would return to their respective sects.

“I’m relieved to hear you rested comfortably before leaving.”

With that, Hwa-rin took out small envelopes from his pocket and gave one to each of the elders, Song-cheol and Hwa-yeong.

“The situation in the manor isn’t very good. I’ve only put in enough for your travel expenses. Please, don’t refuse and accept it.”

“You don’t have to give us this.”

“I know, but I feel better knowing I’ve provided you with something for a meal on your way. I really only put in enough for travel expenses, so please just accept it.”

At Hwa-rin’s urging, they reluctantly accepted the envelopes.

“Then, we’ll be going.”

“Please travel safely.”

Hwa-rin escorted them to the gate of the manor and then headed to the market to take care of his own business. It was after breakfast, so diligent people were already heading to work, and merchants opening shops in the market were bustling about, preparing to start their business early.

Hwa-rin went to the fabric store run by Danri Soso, as he always did, to see her.

“You’re as diligent as ever.”

Hwa-rin greeted her with a compliment, and Danri Soso responded with a slight bow and a smile.

“You’re here.”

“The sky is cloudy, so it looks like it might rain later. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to leave the fabrics outside.”

“Yes. I thought so too, so I’m only planning to display them inside. If it rains, I’ll just display accessories that are easy to move in front to attract people’s attention.”

“That’s a good idea. I wouldn’t have to worry so much if Hyeok-jin was only half as good as you, Soso.”

“Ah, I heard from Hyeok-jin that you entrusted him with the management of the pleasure house.”

“Yes. He can’t work as a cook because he hurt his hand, so I told him to do something else to earn his keep.”

“Thank you, Manor Lord.”

Danri Soso bowed to express her gratitude for Hwa-rin’s consideration.

“It’s nothing. I’m doing it so I can work comfortably too. If I teach him a little, I can focus on other things without worrying about that, so it’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?”

“Still, the Manor Lord’s grace…”

“Don’t think of it as grace. Just earn a lot of money so that the manor’s finances improve a little. That’s all you need to do.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then, have a good day.”

Hwa-rin said goodbye and went to another business.

“Sister.”

A clerk who worked with Danri Soso called out to her.

“What is it?”

“What exactly is the relationship between you and the Manor Lord?”

“What do you mean, what kind of relationship?”

“Well, you know. He opened a fabric store for you, had Hyeok-jin work as a cook, and now he’s even entrusting him with the management of the pleasure house. Don’t you think the Manor Lord has feelings for you?”

At the clerk’s words, Danri Soso’s cheeks flushed slightly, but it was only her own feelings, not Hwa-rin’s.

“No, he doesn’t. The Manor Lord is just good to his people. He has already appointed the head cook of Guryong Inn as the head chef of Guryong Pavilion when it’s completed, and…”

While Danri Soso was talking about the promises that Hwa-rin, the Guryong Manor Lord, had made to his people, she secretly wished that the Guryong Manor Lord would like her too.

‘That’s not likely to happen.’

* * *

After visiting all the businesses in Sanyang County, Hwa-rin went to the Guryong Manor’s villa to look around the businesses in Sangnam County.

At the villa, the chief manager, Seo Dae-yeong, was in charge of teaching the children, and there were as many as fifty children.

The children ranged in age from five to ten years old, and twelve of them were girls.

Hwa-rin met Seo Dae-yeong in his office and heard about the children.

“I think we should send the children who don’t have any talent in martial arts or academics to places where they can work, such as the inn, when they turn ten.”

“Isn’t ten years old too young?”

“There are children who discover their aptitude for studying or their talents later, but those are a very small minority.”

“Hmm…”

“I think it’s also a good idea to have them learn business early, and if that doesn’t seem to work out, have them learn a skill.”

Hwa-rin thought for a while and then nodded.

“You know more about that issue than I do, so take care of it. Are there any other problems besides the children’s issues?”

“The magistrate is openly demanding money.”

“How much?”

“He wants us to show sincerity, but he doesn’t say the amount. I think we need to put about ten gold coins in his hand every month.”

“Do you think it’s worth that much?”

“Not at all. He’s just a greedy pig.”

“Then I’ll take care of it. I’ll just get rid of him.”

“Then I don’t think he’ll bother us anymore. And if the newly appointed magistrate hears the rumors, he won’t approach us easily either.”

“Then let’s do that. Anything else?”

“No.”

“Then keep up the good work… Oh, do you ever contact the Imperial Palace?”

“I’ve cut off contact with the Imperial Palace since I came here with you, Manor Lord. The Eastern Depot [a secret intelligence agency] doesn’t like me very much either, and I’m trying to forget my life in the Imperial Palace because I don’t want to remember it.”

“Really? Didn’t you receive good treatment when you were in the Imperial Palace?”

“Being the Vice Director of the Eastern Depot means receiving good treatment, but there were a thousand people above me, so it’s all the same. Either way, the person who harasses you is always the same, and you get harassed whether you do a good job or not.”

“Hearing you say that, it sounds like you feel relieved to have left the Imperial Palace with me.”

“I really feel relieved. No one nags me here, and I can do whatever I want.”

“Really? Do you really think so?”

“Yes. You’re not planning to give me a lot of work to do, are you? Even raising the children now…”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at Hwa-rin cautiously.

“Of course not. Don’t worry, it’s not like that.”

“Thank you.”

“Pay a little more attention to the businesses operating in Sangnam County. If you lose money, I’ll send you back to the Imperial Palace.”

Startled by the words ‘send you back to the Imperial Palace,’ Seo Dae-yeong shook his hands to clearly express his desire not to return to the Imperial Palace under any circumstances.

“So work hard.”

“I will do my best.”

“I don’t need your loyalty, just don’t betray me. Remember that the fate of a traitor is to return to the Imperial Palace.”

Seo Dae-yeong, who was trembling slightly at Hwa-rin’s warning, asked Hwa-rin.

“Are you really going to send me back?”

“We’ll see how you do.”

Seo Dae-yeong’s mouth stuck out a foot.

“You take care of the children’s issues, and when you select the children to be taught business or skills, bring them to the manor right away.”

“I understand.”

“Then I’ll go take a look around the businesses and leave, so keep that in mind.”

Hwa-rin told Seo Dae-yeong to work hard one last time and left his office.

Hwa-rin went to the market in Sangnam County and headed to the inn, exchanging friendly greetings with the people.

Many people were sitting at tables in the inn, eating food in groups of three or five, all of whom were local merchants or peddlers.

As Hwa-rin entered the inn, the manager at the counter bowed.

“Welcome, Manor Lord.”

“Business is still good.”

“Well, isn’t it because the Manor Lord takes good care of us, so we all work hard with a sense of ownership?”

“Flattery… But it’s nice to hear.”

“Hahaha. Is it that obvious?”

“Not really. It’s just enough to make me feel good.”

The manager smiled pleasantly.

When they were doing business under the Red Fox Gate, they weren’t this excited, but after the owner changed to Hwa-rin, they could earn more as much as they earned, so they were working hard, but they were really enjoying their work.

“Where do we get our food supplies from?”

“We have a few places. We get vegetables and greens from a place called Geumhwang Trading Company in the market, and we get meat from a butcher shop called Yukdaso. Other than that, we buy what we need every day.”

“Really? You know better than I do, but the rainy season is coming soon. You need to pay special attention to food supplies during the rainy season.”

“I know. So the head cook checks the ingredients that are brought in every time.”

“Yes. And if anything happens, tell Seo, the chief manager at the villa.”

“I will.”

“And hire some workers for a day or two to dig deep drainage ditches around the inn in preparation for the rainy season so that water doesn’t collect. There’s nothing worse than water collecting in a restaurant.”

“I understand.”

“Follow Seo’s instructions for everything else.”

“I will.”

Hwa-rin gave the manager a few more instructions and then went to the pleasure house. It wasn’t time for the pleasure house to open yet, but the courtesans and other workers were all out preparing for business.

Hwa-rin gave a few instructions here as well, just like at the inn, and then returned to Sanyang County.

To get from Sangnam County to Sanyang County, you had to cross a small hill with quite a few trees planted on it.

Hwa-rin was walking along the hillside when he curled his fingers and flicked them at a tree.

The Finger Flick Strike, imbued with energy, pierced through the center of the tree.

A moment later, blood flowed from the small hole, and the bark peeled off, revealing a person who fell forward.

“An assassin…”

Hwa-rin could immediately tell that they were assassins targeting him.

“They don’t know me very well.”

Hwa-rin fired Finger Flick Strikes at several other places besides the tree, including a rock.

“Kuh-huh!”

With a final gasp, the masked men fell to the ground, bleeding.

“One of the habits I developed during my military life is remembering my surroundings. Every rock, tree, and blade of grass.”

Hwa-rin spoke as if he were telling someone.

“That’s how you increase your chances of survival. And the basic principle of concealment is not to hide using terrain, but to avoid the target’s line of sight. In other words, you disappear from the target’s sight by using blind spots.”

Hwa-rin’s figure blurred and disappeared from the spot, and the sound of someone gasping for air could be heard from the ground.

“We need to have a little chat.”

Hwa-rin suddenly appeared next to the assassin hiding on the ground and spoke in a low voice.

The assassin was sweating profusely, realizing that the opponent was far beyond his capabilities.

He assumed that his location had been discovered and stood up.

A smile appeared on Hwa-rin’s face as he saw this.

“Affiliation?”

“Second-rate assassin from Salmak Valley.”

“I wouldn’t be able to find out who commissioned you to kill me even if I asked you, so it would be better to just kill you without pain.”

He didn’t answer.

“Blame your valley lord for accepting the request without thinking, and in your next life, live as a proper martial artist rather than an assassin.”

The assassin thought he would be asked various questions, but he couldn’t even think of running away because the question was too simple.