Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 71

Gu Ryong Biography (71)

Dada dada…….

Urgent movements were detected. Realizing it was a perfectly set trap, Dang, seemingly panicked, shouted when these movements were detected.

“Enemies! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

At the word ‘enemies,’ the Righteous Path warriors were thrown into confusion, and a figure dashed into their midst.

“They are…….”

A man covered in blood, appearing severely injured, spoke in a dying voice and collapsed. Immediately, mysterious men appeared.

As soon as they saw the Righteous Path warriors, they drew their swords and attacked.

“The leader is dead. Don’t let a single one survive!”

The mysterious men seemed enraged, and their swords were incredibly fierce.

Che-e-e-eng!

In an instant, the battle that erupted on the mid-slope of Hyeonjeong Mountain turned into a scene of carnage, with blood flying everywhere.

“Kuaaak!”

Some were killed with deep cuts to their chests, while others had their heads severed.

As the life-or-death battle they had only heard about unfolded before their eyes, many Righteous Path warriors were bewildered.

Although the Righteous Path people of the Sichuan Murim [martial arts world], mainly from the Dang Clan, Cheongseong Sect, and Emei Sects, had gathered, they were no match for their attackers.

This was because their purpose was not to fight but to keep each other in check, so few among them possessed the martial prowess to confront these attackers.

‘Their martial strength is extraordinary, yet they are being unilaterally defeated as if it were a fight between children and adults,’ Hwa-Rin thought.

Hwa-Rin, watching the fight from the side, felt he understood why the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop [Nine Provinces Three Deaths Blood Rain Troop] was said to be one of the main forces of the Sa Hyul Alliance [Four Bloods Alliance].

The clash between the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop and the Righteous Path warriors was all part of Hwa-Rin’s plan.

Hwa-Rin had obtained information through the Ha-O Gate and waited after killing the reconnaissance team on Hyeonjeong Mountain. When the second reconnaissance team arrived, he killed them as well, using Demonic Path martial arts to kill them as brutally as possible.

Then, when the main group arrived and spent the night at the entrance, he killed a few Emei Sect nuns who weren’t on guard duty and immediately led the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop down, ambushing them.

Thanks to the Diary of Salhwang [Killing King], Hwa-Rin was able to perfectly inherit Salhwang’s experiences, and the martial arts he left behind transformed Hwa-Rin into Salhwang.

He succeeded in assassinating the leader of the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop and a few others, then deliberately acted as if he had been discovered, leading the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop down.

The one who came covered in blood was none other than Hwa-Rin.

As their fight began, the color of Hwa-Rin’s clothes changed, and his blood-soaked appearance was soon gone, replaced by clean attire.

Having completely deceived both sides, Hwa-Rin was fighting against the members of the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop among the Righteous Path members.

Those who had been deceived by Hwa-Rin’s plan unleashed their anger at the deaths of their comrades on each other, but the difference in their martial prowess was more significant than they had thought.

The Righteous Path warriors collapsed quickly, and only a few skilled warriors continued to fight against the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop.

Just then, Bongdu-Yeom, the Sect Leader of So-geom Gate, who had gone to pick up Gae Bang-do, arrived at the scene. He was about to rush out upon seeing the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop and the Righteous Path warriors fighting, but Gae Bang-do, who had come with him, grabbed him.

“The situation is unfavorable. Now is not the time to rush out, but to go down the mountain and call for reinforcements.”

“But…….”

“Even if the Sect Leader lends his strength to the fight, it won’t be of much help. Contact the Sichuan branch of the Jeongcheon Alliance [Righteous Heaven Alliance] to organize a support unit and chase after them. That will avenge the comrades who died here.”

“Who’s going to let you do that?”

Suddenly, at the voice coming from behind, he quickly turned his head and saw a young man standing there.

“Who are you?”

It was Hwa-Rin. Hwa-Rin, having slipped away from the battlefield, appeared where they were hiding and moved his sword with the intent to kill.

“The Grim Reaper!”

The two scattered to the left and right as Hwa-Rin used his sword, but Gae Bang-do felt a burning sensation in his ankle.

“Keoeok…… when.”

He failed to land properly and fell, rolling on the ground. Hwa-Rin didn’t even pay attention to him, chasing after Bongdu-Yeom, the Sect Leader of So-geom Gate.

Che-e-e-eng!

Bongdu-Yeom tried to defend against Hwa-Rin’s sword with his own, but the sword energy carried in the sword was so strong that he felt like his grip was about to tear apart.

‘Was there someone like this in the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop?’

Even if he didn’t know much, he didn’t think there was anyone in the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop with such sword energy.

“You’re not a member of the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop.”

“Think whatever you want, just die first. Then think about it.”

Hwa-Rin’s sword created countless changes in the air, pressuring Bongdu-Yeom. Bongdu-Yeom, while being pushed back, desperately tried to deflect Hwa-Rin’s sword, but unable to withstand the force in the sword, he eventually dropped his sword from his hand.

“Heo-eot!”

At that moment, Hwa-Rin’s sword pierced Bongdu-Yeom’s chest. He stared at Hwa-Rin with wide eyes before dropping his head down.

“Don’t worry. I’ll let the Sichuan branch of the Jeongcheon Alliance know about the situation here.”

Sreureureuk.

Hwa-Rin’s appearance changed, transforming into someone who looked like he had fought fiercely.

Hwa-Rin kicked off the ground and soared into the air, escaping the mid-slope of Hyeonjeong Mountain.

* * *

Hwa-Rin, who arrived at the Jeongcheon Alliance’s Sichuan branch located in the capital city of Sichuan Province, looking like he had been through a fierce battle, urgently shouted at the entrance.

“A fight has broken out on Hyeonjeong Mountain!”

“What?”

“The Guju Samang Hyullu Troop of the Sa Hyul Alliance has clashed on Hyeonjeong Mountain. They are being unilaterally defeated by the enemies. Currently, Elder Dang and the elders of Cheongseong and Emei, along with the Sect Leaders of small and medium-sized sects, are struggling, but the situation is dire. Please send reinforcements!”

Hwa-Rin acted as if he were a member of the Righteous Path and shouted loudly in front of the Jeongcheon Alliance’s Sichuan branch. Warriors who heard the shout gathered in front of the branch.

“What are you talking about?”

Judging by the clothes he was wearing, he seemed to be in a fairly high position, so Hwa-Rin told him the story in detail.

“So, Elder Dang went to Hyeonjeong Mountain with warriors because the reconnaissance team didn’t return…….”

Since there would be no one alive when the reinforcements arrived, Hwa-Rin exaggerated a bit, and the head of the Jeongcheon Alliance’s Sichuan branch hurriedly gathered support troops and sent them to Hyeonjeong Mountain after hearing Hwa-Rin’s words.

“You go to the Dang Clan, Cheongseong Sect, and Emei Sects, convey this fact, and bring the warriors straight to Hyeonjeong Mountain.”

“Understood.”

“Taksang!”

“Yes, Branch Leader!”

“You go to the Beggars’ Union [Gae Bang] branch right now, explain the situation, and ask Gae Bang-do to track the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop’s movements and identify their route.”

The Branch Leader quickly issued orders and organized the situation.

‘Not just anyone can become a Branch Leader,’ Hwa-Rin thought.

Hwa-Rin was impressed by his judgment and decisiveness.

“And arrest that guy and lock him in the prison.”

“Why, me…….”

Hwa-Rin asked with a bewildered expression, and the Branch Leader said.

“The situation is urgent now, so we’re moving based on your words, but we don’t know if you’re a friend or foe, so we’ll have to ask you a few questions and verify things later when the situation is sorted out.”

‘Indeed, not just anyone can become a Branch Leader,’ Hwa-Rin mused.

“Understood, Branch Leader. Please avenge our comrades.”

Hwa-Rin did not resist and was willingly bound and imprisoned in the Sichuan branch’s prison.

He didn’t even care about being imprisoned because he could easily escape if he wanted to.

Imprisoned in the prison, Hwa-Rin sat comfortably alone and thought.

‘When the warriors who went to support arrive at Hyeonjeong Mountain, the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop is likely to have already left Hyeonjeong Mountain. Since their leader has been eliminated, they will head to Chongqing, where the Saryeong Hyulma Troop [Four Spirits Blood Horse Troop] is, instead of going to Shanxi Province.’

He might be wrong, but since there is no leader in the organization, the subordinates cannot act independently.

He thought that it would be similar in any organization to join forces with a nearby higher-level unit or an equal unit, select a temporary leader, and have him issue orders to control the unit members and complete their assigned tasks.

“The Beggars’ Union will track their traces, so their route will soon be known to them.”

Hwa-Rin thought that time would be tonight at the earliest, and tomorrow morning at the latest.

“Then I’ll have about three hours. I can take a nap and move again after waking up.”

Hwa-Rin flopped down in the prison.

“No matter how smart a guy is, if he doesn’t roll around on the battlefield, there will always be gaps.”

Hwa-Rin knew very well that variables always arise on the battlefield. Therefore, he thought that no matter how smart a person named Jegal-Tak was, unless he came to the scene and directed things himself, variables would arise, and those variables would create gaps, gradually distorting his plan.

“Let’s sleep first and move again after waking up.”

* * *

“Everyone is dead.”

The warriors of the Jeongcheon Alliance’s Sichuan branch who arrived at Hyeonjeong Mountain discovered warriors lying dead on the mid-slope of the mountain. The majority of the warriors were from the Righteous Path, but the warriors of the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop were also quite noticeable.

“The fact that they left in a hurry without clearing the scene also means that they suffered some damage.”

“Can we track their traces?”

“It’s not impossible. They left in a hurry, so they must have left traces everywhere.”

“Good. Then we’ll chase after them. You and you go down the mountain now, contact Gae Bang-do, have them track the enemies’ movements and inform us, and also send people to clean up this place.”

The two who received the order immediately went down the mountain, and the remaining Jeongcheon Alliance warriors moved quickly, chasing after the hastily moved Guju Samang Hyullu Troop.

* * *

Pudududeuk…….

A carrier pigeon flew through the window of a Jeongcheon Alliance building and entered. The carrier pigeon knew its place as if it knew its place and landed in one spot, crying out.

Gugu…… gugu…… gugu…….

Many people were working inside the building, sorting and recording something.

Pudeudeudeuk!

Carrier pigeons flew in not just one at a time, but constantly, and the people working sorted the information tied to the pigeons’ feet and then flew the pigeons back out.

[Clash with the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop at Hyeonjeong Mountain in Sichuan. Presumed annihilated.]

It was a simple phrase, but the repercussions of this phrase were by no means light.

“What’s going on? Mihyang-nim!”

A man urgently called out to a woman sitting at a desk behind him, reviewing documents, after confirming the information.

“Take a look at this.”

“What is it?”

She spoke sharply in an annoyed voice and looked at the information brought by the carrier pigeon. At that moment, her beautiful forehead furrowed.

“Shit, I told them not to clash like that. Which bastard…….”

Unlike her beautiful face, harsh words came out of her mouth.

“Have the Hyeonmu Unit prepare for deployment and stand by. I’ll go meet the Chief.”

“Understood.”

A woman named Mihyang took the information brought by the carrier pigeon and went to meet the Chief, Jegal-Tak.

Mihyang, who went to the Chief’s office, called out to him in front of the office where Jegal-Tak was working.

“Chief, it’s Mihyang.”

“What’s going on?”

“It seems like something has gone wrong.”

“Gone wrong? Come inside and talk.”

Mihyang opened the door to the office and entered. The inside of the office was the same as ever.

His desk was still covered with piles of documents, and his appearance of frantically reviewing documents and handling work was always the same.

“What’s going on?”

“Take a look at this. It came from the Sichuan branch.”

When she showed him the information note, Jegal-Tak’s reaction was no different from Mihyang’s initial reaction.

“I clearly told them to avoid a clash.”

“That’s what I conveyed. I think we need to find out from now on why the clash occurred.”

Jegal-Tak listened to Mihyang’s words and tilted his head back as if his neck was stiff.

“If it’s annihilation, how many people died?”

“I know that a hundred Righteous Path warriors from Sichuan, including the Dang Clan, Cheongseong Sect, and Emei Sect, moved to check the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop.”

“Since I told them to avoid a clash, they wouldn’t have organized it with warriors of similar strength, would they?”

“That’s probably right. I think they would have composed about half of them with those who couldn’t even be their opponents.”

“If it’s annihilation, it would have been even more than that. Has telling them to avoid a clash become a misstep? But why did they move now after watching all this time?”

“I don’t know. But the fact that they suddenly clashed like this means that another variable has intervened, doesn’t it?”

At the word ‘another variable,’ Jegal-Tak narrowed his eyes.

‘The Mount Hua Sect said they would send someone to check the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop, is it because of that person?’

The Mount Hua Sect didn’t talk about Hwa-Rin, but based on some recent events in Shanxi Province, he could roughly guess who it was.

‘Gu Ryong Jangju [Nine Dragons Chief], was that person so great? I heard he was just a soldier. Was the information wrong?’

Since Jegal-Tak, who didn’t know much about the Mengho Sasa Hyuljeondae [Fierce Tiger Death Four Blood Battle Squad], naturally thought this way.

In addition, since all records about him were deleted when Hwa-Rin was discharged, he couldn’t find out even if he tried.

“What about what I told you to find out before?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Gu Ryong Jangju.”

“Ah, please tell me.”

“Find out again one more time. As detailed as possible. Which unit he lived in, what his military life was like.”

“I’ll send someone to Shanxi Province soon.”

“What is the location of the Saryeong Hyulma Troop?”

“They are still in Chongqing. I think their purpose is to destroy the Eulji Family, who supported the Demonic Path and turned to the Righteous Path.”

“That’s right. If not, there’s no reason to go to Chongqing. Then what are they doing in Chongqing?”

“The Seomun Family and the surrounding areas are providing support.”

“Did Mount Hua and Jongnam support the warriors?”

“Yes. In addition, the White Tiger Unit of the main alliance has been dispatched, and the warriors of Guizhou Province are also gathering in Chongqing. And I think the younger generation will go down to Chongqing after the Mount Hua Assembly ends soon.”

At those words, Jegal-Tak made an annoyed expression.

“I understand. Send the Hyeonmu Unit [Black Tortoise Unit] to Chongqing now to support them, and tell the Sichuan branch not to chase the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop, but to send warriors to Chongqing to face the Saryeong Hyulma Troop.”

“Then what about the Guju Samang Hyullu Troop?”

“Their goal is Shanxi Province. If they cross over to Shanxi Province, the warriors of Shanxi Province, including Jongnam and Mount Hua, will naturally step up, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“They were defeated by them in Sichuan.”

“The weight of the name given by Jongnam and Mount Hua is incomparable to Emei and Cheongseong. So believe my words and take action like that.”

“Understood.”

Mihyang didn’t know what Jegal-Tak was thinking, but she followed his orders for now.

‘Well, people with good heads are different.’