Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 52

Nine Dragons Chronicle (52)

Nine Dragons Chronicle (52)

After gathering information about the Hwa-Myung Merchant Group from Mi-Ok, Hwa-Rin decided to first manage the grains stored in his spatial pouch.

His plan was to acquire and store grains produced in the Central Plains after the rainy season ended.

“Since Seo-Moon Province is practically the Hwa-Myung Merchant Group’s territory, even the governor would hesitate to grant my request easily. If I want to handle a large amount of grain at once, Uncle Yeongchinwang [a powerful prince] is my best option.”

“I need someone familiar with the Eight Route Water Army. I wonder if Chief Seo knows anyone.”

He assumed Seo would know many people, having lived in the Imperial Palace for so long.

“I’ll have to meet him and ask.”

Hwa-Rin headed to the villa in Sangnam County.

He wore a straw raincoat against the heavy rain, but the raindrops didn’t even touch it, bouncing off due to the protective aura of Muyeong [a martial arts technique].

Moving at a leisurely pace, it took Hwa-Rin half an hour to reach Sangnam County from Sanyang County.

Despite the rain, the sound of children studying could be heard from outside the manor.

As Hwa-Rin entered, a servant rushed over and bowed.

“It’s raining so heavily, are you still working? You should rest.”

“No, sir. When it rains and the wind blows, leaves and branches fall, making the manor a mess, so we have to clean it up quickly. This rain isn’t going to stop anytime soon.”

Hwa-Rin took off his straw raincoat and placed it on the servant.

“Oh, my…”

The servant flinched slightly, and Hwa-Rin smiled brightly.

“It won’t stay clean by itself, so wear this raincoat while you work. If you don’t, you’ll get sick later.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Hwa-Rin smiled at the servant and asked, “Is there any wine left in the kitchen?”

“We always have some prepared.”

“Then tell the kitchen to prepare a simple table of snacks and bring it to the Toechung Maru [a raised veranda or platform].”

“Toechung Maru? Not in your room?”

“I want to listen to the children studying. It may not seem like much, but it’s heartwarming.”

“Haha, that’s right. These days, the children seem to be enjoying themselves, so we enjoy working too.”

“Is that so?”

“The children’s laughter makes us laugh along, and their quirky actions and thoughts are so ingenious and innovative that we often learn from them.”

Hwa-Rin nodded in agreement.

“They say a child gives a lifetime of laughter while growing up, and I think that’s true.”

“Oh my, look at my forgetfulness. Please wait a moment. I’ll tell the kitchen to bring the snacks.”

“Please do.”

The servant went to the kitchen, and Hwa-Rin sat on the Toechung Maru, listening to the children studying.

Hwa-Rin had never been formally taught to read or write. He had learned on his own.

He envied the children studying.

After a while, an old woman brought the snacks, placed them in front of Hwa-Rin, and said, “You look very happy, Prince.”

Hwa-Rin smiled at her words.

“Does it look that way to you, Mother?”

Hwa-Rin called her Mother.

She was Soyongin, who had attended to Hwa-Rin when he lived in the Imperial Palace.

Servant Cha Sang-in could not come with him, but Soyongin was someone the Emperor had sent with Hwa-Rin when he left the Imperial Palace, for Hwa-Rin’s sake.

“Yes, it does.”

Hwa-Rin smiled at Soyongin’s answer. Seeing that smile, Soyongin bowed her head and turned away.

Sitting alone on the Toechung Maru and drinking a glass of wine brought back old memories.

“There are good things about the rain, but this kind of feeling isn’t so good.”

The atmosphere was pleasing, but he didn’t like how it stirred up emotions.

“I must still be lacking in cultivation.”

―Confucius said: There are three kinds of beneficial enjoyments and three kinds of injurious enjoyments. To find enjoyment in regulating oneself by the rules of propriety and music; to find enjoyment in speaking of the good points of others; to find enjoyment in having many worthy friends; these are beneficial. To find enjoyment in extravagant pleasures; to find enjoyment in idleness and sauntering; to find enjoyment in the pleasures of feasting; these are injurious.

―Maengwoo, explain the meaning of that.

―Among the things we enjoy, there are three that are beneficial and three that are harmful. It means that it is good to enjoy regulating one’s actions within the bounds of propriety and music, to enjoy speaking of the good qualities of others, and to enjoy having many wise friends. It is harmful to enjoy extravagant and arrogant pleasures, to enjoy being idle and leisurely, and to enjoy eating and drinking at banquets.

―Oh…

―Yes. Well done. Maengwoo studies diligently, so he will carefully choose and obtain the three beneficial things, while Mansu, that rascal, is lazy in his studies, so he will only enjoy the three harmful things.

―That’s not true.

―Why do you say that’s not true?

―I am a close friend of Maengwoo. I have already made one good friend, so please subtract one from the harmful things.

―If you couldn’t even talk, I wouldn’t hate you.

Hwa-Rin couldn’t help but smile at the sounds coming from inside.

“Good.”

As he listened to the children studying, he drank one glass after another, and before he knew it, the bottle was empty.

“Aren’t they making the kids study too much because it’s raining? Well, there’s no place to run around, so making them sit still and study isn’t a bad idea.”

Just as Hwa-Rin was about to ask for another bottle, he heard the children cheering.

“It’s over!”

Soon, the children came rushing out of the room.

“Master, hello.”

When one child greeted Hwa-Rin, the other children followed suit, which he found very pleasing.

“Did you study hard?”

“Yes.”

“Good. If you work hard at anything, you won’t have trouble making a living. Do your best in what you can do.”

The children answered energetically and ran to the detached building.

“You rascals, how many times do I have to tell you not to run around like that?”

The servant shouted at the children, who then seemed to be careful, but as soon as they entered the large room of the detached building, they were running around like children again.

“Have you arrived?”

Seo Daeyeong sat across from Hwa-Rin.

“You should have asked for another bottle of wine before sitting down.”

“I’ve already sat down, so I’ll say it sitting down. Elder, please bring another bottle of wine.”

As he spoke to the servant, the servant replied that he understood and went to the kitchen.

“What brings you here today?”

“I was wondering if you knew anyone in the Eight Route Water Army.”

“The Eight Route Water Army? Isn’t that His Highness Yeongchinwang’s army?”

“Actually, I was thinking of doing business with them.”

“Business?”

“I got some grain, and I’m thinking of selling it for profit.”

“Grain? How much are we talking about? If it’s just a few sacks, they won’t even bother.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

“No, if you meet His Highness Yeongchinwang, you can sell it to him directly, so why are you trying to meet the underlings?”

“I want to, but even if my uncle knows my face, I don’t know his. And I shouldn’t reveal my identity too often. His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t want that either.”

Seo Daeyeong understood Hwa-Rin’s situation, but he was also puzzled by Hwa-Rin’s actions, as there was an easy way to do things, but he was deliberately making it difficult.

“Do you know anyone or not?”

“I do. There’s a commander in the Azure Dragon Army of the Eight Route Water Army. Dongchang [Eastern Depot, imperial secret agency] turns a blind eye to his corruption in order to obtain information, and he regularly provides it.”

“Is that guy helpful in selling grain?”

“I’m not sure. He’s in charge of military supplies, so if you talk to him well, you might be able to sell grain to the Azure Dragon Army.”

“Really? What’s his name?”

“General Najinhwa of the Azure Dragon Army.”

“General Najinhwa. No other corruption?”

“I don’t know now. He used to embezzle military supplies and got caught by Dongchang. If he hasn’t broken his old habits, he’ll still be embezzling to satisfy his greed.”

“Then I’ll have to look into it for a few days.”

“Please do. But who is the one hiding beside you?”

Seo Daeyeong knew of Yi Domun, who was hiding in Hwa-Rin’s shadow, and asked.

“You noticed?”

“I didn’t at first, but I saw the shadow moving slightly. I found it strange and observed it closely, and I saw someone hiding.”

Hwa-Rin nodded. He knew that Seo Daeyeong’s martial arts were not ordinary, but he didn’t know he was skilled enough to notice Yi Domun’s presence.

“Then I don’t have to make a separate arrangement. He’s a new protector I’ve recruited for my safety. Introduce yourselves.”

Yi Domun came out of Hwa-Rin’s shadow and slightly bowed to Seo Daeyeong.

“I greet the Chief. I’ve heard a lot about you from my lord. My name is Yi Domun. I am responsible for ensuring the safety of my lord and the Nine Dragons Unit.”

Seo Daeyeong also greeted him.

“I am Chief Seo Daeyeong. I look forward to working with you, Protector Yi.”

“Well, well, now that it’s come to this, let’s all sit down and have a drink. Mother!”

Hwa-Rin shouted loudly towards the kitchen.

“Please bring us a jug of wine and some more snacks.”

* * *

“Does Haomun [another secret agency] also handle information about the Eight Route Water Army? Dongchang is the best when it comes to military information, but I don’t know if they’re still using unofficial channels.”

Hwa-Rin also knew the military system to some extent, as he had served in the military for five years.

In particular, he had been in a special forces unit that was sensitive to information, so he knew some people related to military intelligence agencies.

“I don’t like having to go to Gansuk Province, but it wouldn’t be bad to go once.”

Going from Seomoon Province to Gansuk Province wasn’t that far; his lightness skill would be enough to go back and forth in ten days.

“Protector Yi!”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Please take care of the manor while I’m gone to Gansuk. And if the leader of the Sa-dang [traveling entertainers] comes while I’m gone, tell him to wait.”

“I understand. Please be careful on your trip.”

Hwa-Rin left the work in Seomoon Province to Yi Domun and immediately set off for Gansuk Province.

He used his lightness skill to move as quickly as possible, using the soaring lightness skill of the Gongong Sect called Cheonma Henggong [Celestial Horse Flight], which means that a celestial horse flies quickly through the sky.

It was known that no sect could match the Gongong Sect in terms of footwork, as their footwork was unique and unparalleled.

Hwa-Rin moved quickly to Gansuk Province in order to minimize travel time.

Nevertheless, it took him five days to reach Jucheon City in Gansuk Province from Sanyang County in Seomoon Province.

Arriving in Jucheon City, Hwa-Rin went to an inn, booked a room, and went to sleep.

He was very tired both mentally and physically because he had been running non-stop for five days.

He got a room during the day and went to sleep, and Hwa-Rin woke up late at night.

Despite having slept for a long time, he was still tired, which meant that using his internal energy to travel for five days had put a lot of strain on his body.

“I’m getting old.”

When he was in the military before, this amount of travel was nothing, but feeling tired meant that his body had been very comfortable all this time.

“I’ll have to find out about the Mengho Sasahyeoljeondae [likely a local gang or group] and General Najinhwa.”

Hwa-Rin packed his bags and left the room.

Behind the market street of Jucheon City, there were small workshops and antique dealers opening shops and doing business, and Hwa-Rin found the Gawol antique shop among them.

“Welcome… Heok!”

The clerk recognized Hwa-Rin and looked as if he was seeing a ghost.

“Why, did you stop talking?”

“No, no. Welcome.”

As Hwa-Rin passed the clerk and went further into the antique shop, he saw a slightly pot-bellied man sitting in a chair and examining a celadon.

“Is that real?”

The man called Hong Daein heard Hwa-Rin’s voice and jumped up from his seat as if he was having a seizure, and as a result, the celadon he was admiring fell off the table and rolled to the floor.

Wajajang… Chaaang!

The celadon shattered into pieces and scattered in all directions, and Hong Daein stood there as if frozen in place.

“Th… Th…”

He gritted his teeth and turned his body sharply, glaring at Hwa-Rin as if he would devour him, but soon his old memories came back to him, and he quickly backed down.

“It’s still standing still even though it’s broken, so it must be fake. Anyway, Hong Daein, have you had dinner yet?”

“Why is Squad Leader Hwa-Rin here…? I heard you were discharged.”

“If you tell me a few things, I’ll leave quietly, and if you don’t, I’ll make a mess. The choice is yours, Hong Daein, and the action is mine.”

Hong Daein’s expression twisted at Hwa-Rin’s words.

“How about it, are you going to tell me what I’m curious about? Or are you going to watch me make a fuss?”

He said, smiling broadly at Hong Daein.

“What do you want to know?”

Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]

Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] In a tempestuous night, amidst the clash of steel and the roar of thunder, a palace estate becomes a battleground. Blood spills as palace guards relentlessly hunt intruders, their mission shrouded in deadly secrecy. A desperate cry pierces the storm—a palace maid's plea for her son, Zhu Hualin, the emperor's hidden ninth child. Born under a veil of scandal, Hualin's very existence is a threat, marked for elimination by the ruthless Empress. Witness a mother's ultimate sacrifice as she ignites a saga of intrigue, resilience, and concealed destinies. Plunge into this captivating prologue, where mercy is a dangerous currency, and the fate of a secret prince hangs precariously in the balance. Years drift by, and the question looms: will Zhu Hualin rise as a tyrannical force, or will he embrace wisdom and justice to become a true ruler?

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