Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 94

Hwa-rin enjoyed a satisfying dinner, the first in quite a while.

The landlady’s cooking was so impressive that he briefly considered poaching her for his inn.

However, he quickly dismissed the idea, knowing the couple would never abandon their current establishment. ‘Perhaps I can just send someone to learn from her,’ he mused.

Hwa-rin smiled, pleased with his solution.

‘Now, to tackle the problem at hand.’

He lay in his room, contemplating how to steal the grain with minimal fuss, but every scenario seemed to involve a confrontation.

‘Alright, assume a fight is inevitable. The Jongnam and Hwasan sects know about my Ice Jade Hand and Heavenly Flower Dance. And since I bragged about killing the Jansal Sixteen Swords, those techniques are off-limits. Hmm… considering the Hwamyeong Merchant Guild’s ties to the orthodox sects, using unorthodox or even demonic martial arts might be acceptable.’

Hwa-rin mentally sifted through the martial arts he’d acquired from vanquishing foes in the Imperial Palace Vault and the Fierce Tiger Death Squad, searching for a suitable style.

‘The Solar Demon Art and the Devil’s Record could certainly paint me as a demon.’

While the Solar Demon Art was relatively well-known, the Devil’s Record was far more obscure.

Hwa-rin had unearthed it from the primitive tribesmen in the Black Sand Desert region of Muyeol Temple in Seojang. The Devil’s Record contained three distinct arts: the Asura Qi Absorption Art, which drained an opponent’s inner energy; the Asura Qi Reflection Art, which deflected attacks, similar to the Iron Shirt Qi [a defensive technique], but with subtle differences; and the Asura Skyward Demon Art, a palm technique adaptable to fists and grappling.

He lay back, mentally reviewing the Solar Demon Art and the Devil’s Record, resolving to adopt the persona of a true demon.

‘A run-of-the-mill demon won’t intimidate the Hundred Great Masters of the Murim [a collective term for highly skilled martial artists]. I need to project an aura of at least the Transcendent Demon realm to stand a chance. How exactly does a Transcendent Demon behave?’

The demonic martial arts stages were categorized into five levels:

Entry Demon: Initial exposure to demonic arts, marked by a growing demonic influence.

Mad Demon: Overwhelmed by demonic energy, resulting in complete loss of reason.

Transcendent Demon: Achieving control over demonic energy, regaining a semblance of sanity.

Liberated Demon: Purging demonic influence, appearing outwardly normal.

Divine Demon: Transcending demonic nature, achieving a god-like state.

From the orthodox sects’ perspective, these stages roughly corresponded to the realms of Elite, Master, Grandmaster, Transcendent, and Mystic.

Since most of the Hundred Great Masters were Grandmasters or Transcendent masters, Hwa-rin needed to appear at least as a Liberated Demon to have a credible chance of victory.

‘Back when I dealt with Harryson of the Iron Lion Castle, those two sane-looking guys mentioned he was part of the Demonic Cult [a group practicing forbidden martial arts].’

He recalled the two men who had finished off Harryson with their swords.

‘Those guys were strong enough to contend with the Hundred Great Masters.’

With the image of those men in his mind, Hwa-rin drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The Hwamyeong Merchant Guild’s grain transport proceeded, but Hwa Jeong-soo’s face betrayed his inner turmoil.

The delivery to the Palloosoo Army was problematic: they were short three-tenths of the agreed-upon quantity. He’d have to deliver what he had and then beg for understanding, promising the remainder in a few days.

‘Where am I supposed to find that grain after this delivery? It’ll take at least a month to import more from the Travil Kingdom [a major agricultural region].’

The Palloosoo Army wasn’t his only concern; all his clients were potentially at risk. The Travil Kingdom was the only place in the Central Plains capable of supplying such vast quantities of grain on short notice.

Before resorting to that, he needed to placate his existing customers.

‘If another merchant guild steps in to fill the gap, they’ll try to poach my clients.’

This was a serious threat. Until now, his supply had been reliable, but any disruption could open the door for competitors, leading to a costly battle for market share.

‘While waiting for the Travil Kingdom shipment, I’ll have to buy up any available grain on the local market to keep my clients supplied.’

Their route to Jeollang Province took them along the main road, which included a crossing through Gonsan Mountain.

“Everyone, stay alert! Gonsan is bandit country, so keep your eyes peeled,” Bi Cheon-do Jeok Ryeom-cheon ordered, instantly tightening the atmosphere among the martial artists and escorts.

Having witnessed Jin Myeong-geom Ho Joong-san, a member of the Hundred Great Masters, fall in Hobeok Province, they knew that some grain thieves were formidable opponents.

The main road snaked up the mountainside, eventually giving way to narrow mountain paths, making the journey difficult for the horses pulling the heavy grain carts.

“We’ll take a short break. Give the horses some hay and let them rest,” Bi Cheon-do Jeok Ryeom-cheon announced, then approached Hwa Jeong-soo.

“Once we’re through Gonsan, we’ll be in Jeollang Province. If anyone’s planning to steal the grain, they’ll make their move in these mountains.”

“Please, do everything you can. If we can’t deliver even this much, our guild will be crippled.”

“I’ll do my best to protect the grain. Don’t worry.”

“It’s not that I doubt you, but seeing Jin Myeong-geom defeated so easily… my anxiety is hard to shake off.”

He might not fully trust him, but having seen Jin Myeong-geom’s defeat firsthand, Jeok Ryeom-cheon understood Hwa Jeong-soo’s apprehension.

“Don’t worry. I acknowledge that he’s a master, but it’s possible Ho Joong-san was simply at a disadvantage due to their fighting styles.”

“Thank you for understanding. If this delivery is successful, I’ll make it worth your while with a generous bonus.”

His desperation was evident. Seeing Hwa Jeong-soo’s state, Jeok Ryeom-cheon remained silent.

He simply needed to fulfill his contract and collect his payment.

As the horses ate and rested, a sudden, powerful gust of wind swept through the area.

“Kuh-uk!”

Martial artists cried out and collapsed.

“Hey!” Someone tried to rouse his fallen comrade, but the man was already unconscious.

“I heard you were transporting grain through Gonsan. Seems the rumors were true.”

A voice like scraping metal echoed through the air, drawing everyone’s attention.

A masked man stood on a tree branch, radiating an ominous energy.

“This amount should feed our cult for a few months.”

He spoke as if the grain already belonged to him.

“Was this your doing?” a martial artist demanded.

The masked man curled a finger and flicked it.

Pshoo!

A beam of light pierced the martial artist’s forehead with a sharp sound.

The man died instantly, never knowing what had struck him.

“You bastard!” The remaining martial artists charged forward, enraged. The masked man lightly kicked off the branch, using the momentum to arc through the air and land on the ground on the opposite side.

“Try not to damage the grain.”

The masked man taunted them from a safe distance.

The martial artists hired by Hwa Jeong-soo surged forward, but the masked man waited with a relaxed posture.

The lead martial artist thrust his sword, attempting to unleash his martial arts, but the masked man simply raised a palm to block the attack.

The martial artist imagined his sword piercing the palm, continuing through to the heart, but reality shattered his expectations.

The moment the sword met the palm, it disintegrated into fragments, and a searing pain shot through his wrist.

The masked man’s hand clamped onto the martial artist’s head.

“Kuaaaaak!”

The martial artist screamed as he aged rapidly, transforming into an old man before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

The sight caused the other martial artists to hesitate.

“It’s the Qi Absorption Demon Art!” one shouted.

As if offended, the masked man responded with a mocking tone. “To compare this venerable one’s martial arts to the Qi Absorption Demon Art, a technique without foundation… how insulting.”

“Who are you?”

“Would you even understand if I told you?”

“You’re just a demonic fiend who’s mastered the forbidden Qi Absorption Demon Art and is running his mouth off!”

The martial artist, emboldened by the presence of Bi Cheon-do Jeok Ryeom-cheon behind him, shouted defiantly.

The masked man vanished from his spot in a blur. He reappeared in front of the shouting martial artist, wearing a chilling smile.

“It seems you don’t know the consequences of running your mouth.”

His hand grasped the man’s head, and the martial artist met his end, his inner energy and life force stolen.

“Know your place…”

The masked man began to speak, but abruptly dodged aside.

Kwa-jee-jeek!

A sword, imbued with immense energy, crashed down where he had stood.

Bi Cheon-do Jeok Ryeom-cheon, swift as a swallow, charged in, retrieved the sword from the ground, and slashed at the retreating masked man.

The red glow emanating from the sword indicated that Jeok Ryeom-cheon had mastered a martial art based on pure Yang energy [positive, assertive energy].

The masked man met the incoming sword with his bare hand.

Jjeo-eo-eong!

The clash of sword and hand reverberated through the air.

Jeok Ryeom-cheon frowned at the strange repulsive force that jolted his wrist.

“Qi Reflection Art?”

Instead of answering, the masked man extended his palm, covered in black energy, towards Jeok Ryeom-cheon’s chest.

Dodging the attack, Jeok Ryeom-cheon raised his sword from below, aiming for the masked man’s wrist. The masked man simply flicked his wrist, deflecting the upward strike.

Jeok Ryeom-cheon felt the same repulsive force and tightened his grip on the sword.

“How about you take this!”

A red aura blazed from Jeok Ryeom-cheon’s sword, resembling rising flames.

“Flying Sky Crimson Gale Sword, Returning Wind Willow!” Using the first stance of his unique swordsmanship, he struck down at the masked man.

The powerful sword energy generated a whirlwind that pressured the masked man.

‘This is getting a bit dangerous.’

Rather than confront the attack head-on, he retreated.

“Flying Sky Crimson Gale Second Sword, Whirling Leaf Sweep!” The powerful sword energy intensified the whirlwind, uprooting grass and small trees.

The masked man retreated again.

“Flying Sky Crimson Gale Third Sword, Raging Gale Severing Earth!” Seeing the man on the defensive, Jeok Ryeom-cheon leaped forward, gripped the sword with both hands, and brought it down with tremendous force.

The masked man, this time, stood his ground, planting his feet firmly and raising his blackened palms to meet the attack.

The stance resembled a celestial king lifting a stone pagoda, a posture known in the Murim as Celestial King Lifting Pagoda, the most stable defense against a powerful attack.

Kwaaaang!

The energies of the two men collided, sending shockwaves in all directions.

Kwa-jee-jee-jeek!

Trees were uprooted and blown away, and the ground beneath the masked man was pulverized, creating a wide, deep pit.

The thick dust obscured the scene. As the onlookers waited, the dust cleared, revealing the two figures.

The masked man’s mask had been blown off, revealing his face, and his palms were clasped around Jeok Ryeom-cheon’s sword as if in prayer.

Jeok Ryeom-cheon also appeared injured, his clothes torn, revealing faint traces of blood.

“Do you know the weakness of those who believe they are strong?” the masked man asked.

Jeok Ryeom-cheon narrowed his eyes.

“Even if they remain vigilant, a few feigned retreats can lull them into a false sense of superiority.”

“Nonsense!”

“That’s why you’re trapped like this.”

The man’s hand blazed with black energy. Sensing imminent danger, Jeok Ryeom-cheon tried to pull back, but the sword was locked in the man’s grip.

“If I kill you, the others will be terrified and flee.”

“You…”

He felt his inner energy being drained at an alarming rate through the sword.

“I won’t be defeated by your… despicable tricks!”

Jeok Ryeom-cheon tried to release the sword, but it remained stubbornly attached to his hand, as if magnetized.

“You can’t help but be defeated, even knowing what’s coming.”

A bitter smile touched the man’s lips, and Jeok Ryeom-cheon’s inner energy and life force were rapidly consumed.

‘The Asura Qi Absorption Art is effective, but it’s a shame I can’t assimilate the absorbed energy.’

“Kuaaaaak!”

A scream tore from Jeok Ryeom-cheon’s throat as his skin withered.

Hwa Jeong-soo and Hwa Jeong-guk were horrified.

“Brother, we have to escape!”

If Bi Cheon-do Jeok Ryeom-cheon couldn’t win, no one here stood a chance.

“Where do you think you’re going, abandoning the grain?”

“Brother, the grain isn’t the priority! We can always buy more grain, but if we die here, it’s over!”

Hwa Jeong-guk pleaded, but Hwa Jeong-soo hesitated.

As Jeok Ryeom-cheon transformed into a frail old man on the verge of collapse, he finally released the sword.

“I’ll make good use of your inner energy!”

The man stretched out his hands towards the remaining martial artists.

“Asura Skyward Demon Art!” He unleashed the inner energy he had absorbed from Jeok Ryeom-cheon, a devastating wave of Yang energy that swept away the gathered martial artists.

“Monster! He’s a monster!” The porters, who had come to carry the grain, screamed and fled. Hwa Jeong-soo and Hwa Jeong-guk were left with no choice but to abandon the grain and run.

As Hwa Jeong-guk had said, survival was paramount.

‘I won’t be defeated like this. I will tear you apart and kill you without fail!’ Hwa Jeong-soo vowed as he fled down Gonsan.