Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Shadows of the Nine Dragons Gang
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"Senior Brother! I've brought your tea!"
Jonghyeon set the teacup down in front of Cheonhwi, then looked up at him with sparkling eyes like a dog awaiting a command.
"You can go now."
Jonghyeon flinched at Cheonhwi's words.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"Not really."
Jonghyeon pouted, but then his eyes lit up as if he'd remembered something.
"How about a snack then?"
"A snack?"
"Yes! Master brought some sweets from the market just for me."
"Aren't those for you to eat?"
"Well, yes, but..."
Jonghyeon clenched his fists and stared straight at Cheonhwi.
"I want to eat them with you, Senior Brother."
"Fine, if you want."
"R-Really?"
"Forget it if you don't want to."
"No! I'll go get them right now!"
Fearing Cheonhwi might change his mind, Jonghyeon dashed out of the room.
"How long is he going to keep this up?"
Cheonhwi sipped his tea as he watched Jonghyeon close the door and disappear.
The sparring match four days ago.
Having gained some insight from that day's duel, Jonghyeon had started treating Cheonhwi as his sworn brother, eagerly handling even the dirtiest chores without complaint.
Of course, Cheonhwi ignored it all and didn't take it to heart.
'Haha, that's great!'
Once even Ha Woojin joined in, Jonghyeon's antics grew even bolder.
"Guess it's time to head out."
As time passed and Jonghyeon and Ha Woojin clung ever closer, Cheonhwi pondered when to leave the Jongnam Sect.
'Speak of the tiger, and he appears.'
Knock. Knock.
"May I come in?"
Right on cue, Ha Woojin arrived.
"Come on in."
Ha Woojin entered and handed Cheonhwi a scroll.
"A letter arrived for you."
"For me?"
Cheonhwi tilted his head.
No one knew he was staying at the Jongnam Sect.
'Who...'
The moment he took the scroll, he knew exactly who had sent it.
The emblem drawn on it.
It was identical to the one he'd given the branch chief.
'They figured it out nicely.'
As expected from an information sect—they'd tracked him to the Jongnam Sect and sent the letter.
'Let's see.'
He unrolled it immediately.
Inside was just a single character.
And it was a welcome one.
Complete (完).
Cheonhwi grinned and looked at Ha Woojin.
"Looks like I have to get going."
"Already?"
"Got some business to handle."
Ha Woojin, who had been about to protest, nodded regretfully.
"At least say goodbye to the Sect Leader and Jonghyeon..."
"Could you pass the word for me? I'm in a bit of a rush."
Ha Woojin hesitated, glanced at Cheonhwi's expression, and nodded.
"Understood."
"Thanks."
"Take care of yourself."
"We'll meet again if fate allows."
"Indeed."
After a light farewell to Ha Woojin, Cheonhwi left the Jongnam Sect without delay.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Unfurling the Mount Hua Sect's Azure Cloud Body Technique—renowned as the fastest among their movement arts—Cheonhwi arrived at the Haomen branch.
'He came out personally.'
Spotting the Shaanxi branch chief waiting at the entrance, Cheonhwi stopped before him.
"...!"
The branch chief feigned surprise at Cheonhwi's sudden appearance but quickly composed himself with a smooth smile.
"I've been waiting."
As usual, he exchanged formal greetings before leading the way inside.
He pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve.
"This paper lists the identities of those who occupied the inn. And..."
Mid-sentence, he drew a thick booklet from his sleeve and held it out.
"This booklet contains detailed information on them."
"Fast work."
Cheonhwi was genuinely impressed.
In just two days, the Haomen had gathered intel that surpassed most sects' intelligence networks.
"You're too kind."
Cheonhwi alternated glances between the paper and booklet in his hands before speaking.
"Since you brought this separately, I assume the prices differ?"
The branch chief nodded.
"The paper was already paid for upfront, but this booklet comes at quite a cost."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
The upfront payment had been pricey enough.
If the booklet cost even more, it meant they weren't your average sect.
"How much?"
"One gold wonbo note."
Cheonhwi frowned.
Higher than expected.
One gold wonbo was equivalent to half a year's operating budget for a major sect.
'Hmm, wonder if the gold plaque could cover it?'
He recalled the gold plaque from the Bipeung Merchant Group's leader.
As he pondered...
"If money's an issue, how about a trade?"
"A trade? What kind?"
"Sell me some information."
"Don't have anything to sell."
"No, you do."
"What?"
The branch chief's eyes sharpened.
As if he'd been waiting for this moment, he pierced Cheonhwi with his gaze and spoke.
"Your esteemed name, young hero."
"My name?"
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
'They must already know it.'
An organization that gathered info this quickly surely knew his identity by now.
Yet phrasing it this way...
'Oh ho.'
Cheonhwi's lips twisted into a smirk.
What this man wanted was simple.
A connection.
They couldn't give info for free, so he proposed trading his name for a bond.
"You've looked into me quite thoroughly."
"Just the tip of the iceberg."
"And you still make this offer?"
"Because I'm certain you're no ordinary man."
"Good eye."
The branch chief's eyes gleamed.
Cheonhwi's lack of denial fueled his conviction.
"These eyes helped this lowly one rise to Shaanxi branch chief."
"Is that so?"
They locked eyes for a moment.
"Cheonhwi."
Meeting the branch chief's gaze, Cheonhwi revealed his Taoist name.
The branch chief, unsurprised as if he'd known, smiled warmly.
"An honor to learn the great hero's name."
With that, he handed over the paper and booklet.
"Should you need anything in the future, please visit this branch. We'll deliver information faster and more reliably than the Beggars' Sect."
"Better than the Beggars' Sect? Confident, are we?"
The branch chief flashed a meaningful smile.
"The Haomen is no slouch."
"Oh ho."
Satisfied with the confidence, Cheonhwi nodded.
"Alright. If I need info later, Haomen first."
"My thanks."
The branch chief bowed.
Cheonhwi left the branch and unrolled the paper first.
"Huh?"
His brow furrowed at the writing.
It named a sect he hadn't even considered.
"Nine Dragons Gang?"
Cheonhwi tilted his head.
The Nine Dragons Gang had once dominated Raknam County but now played second fiddle to the Ghost Heaven Gate.
'Weren't they part of the Murim Alliance?'
He recalled what he knew.
A righteous sect under the Murim Alliance.
Its leader, the Nine Dragons Flying Splendor Seo Woo-gil, was a martial arts master of renown.
Which made this all the stranger.
"Not an unorthodox sect? Those guys at the inn definitely reeked of it."
Most of the men at the inn had exuded a faint demonic aura amid their killing intent.
"Something smells off."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
A foul stench indeed.
"Time to verify."
He opened the booklet.
The thick tome detailed the Nine Dragons Gang extensively.
The gang leader's movements, the sect's achievements.
And more.
Even what the disciples had been up to lately outside the sect.
He flipped through, reading intently.
Thud.
Soon after, he closed it.
"...Worth the price."
Cheonhwi's eyes darkened.
The booklet explained why they'd moved and their objectives.
He marveled at the Haomen's intelligence while understanding the branch chief's confidence.
From mundane details to dirty secrets that would enrage the gang leader if known.
Including the fact that the man who'd commissioned the young lord's assassination was currently staying at the Nine Dragons Gang.
"Gotta hurry."
Cheonhwi circulated his inner energy.
He needed to uncover the backer and everything else while the man was still there.
Roar!
The paper and booklet ignited in Triple Inferno Flames, turning to ash that scattered skyward as Cheonhwi's form vanished.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Raknam County's Red Flower Tower.
This brothel, named after Mount Hua's plum blossoms for their elegance, boasted three specialties.
First, the signature fiery liquor brewed by the courtesans themselves.
Second, performances of music and poetry by courtesans skilled in both letters and arms.
And finally, the tower's crowning jewel on the top floor.
The dancer known as Bright Moon, hailed as Shaanxi's top beauty by all in Raknam County.
Bright Moon rarely entertained private guests—only a handful of days a year.
Today was one such day.
"Please, have some, my lord."
At Bright Moon's alluring voice, the thin-mustached middle-aged man grinned broadly and raised his cup high.
"Haha, when you pour it, this fierce fiery liquor goes down smooth!"
"Oh, my lord."
Bright Moon playfully tapped his chest and covered her mouth with her sleeve.
At the same time, she side-eyed the man across from him, who ignored the women and chugged his liquor.
'Why is he here?'
She was full of questions.
The middle-aged man in black-and-white uniform didn't belong in a place like this.
Nine Dragons Flying Splendor Seo Woo-gil!
He had no ties to brothels or women.
Yet here he was at Red Flower Tower.
With a stranger.
"Pour me another!"
The middle-aged man held up his cup.
Bright Moon swiftly lifted the bottle and poured slowly into it.
"Kuh! Good, great! Haha."
The middle-aged man tried to pull her into his embrace.
But...
"My lord, you're too strong."
Bright Moon deftly slipped away.
The middle-aged man's face hardened.
"...You dislike my embrace?"
"N-No, my lord."
As Bright Moon broke into a cold sweat...
"Great one, when you visit here, you must hear Bright Moon's plucked zither."
The gang leader saved her.
"Oh right! Before this handsome great one, I got nervous and forgot to perform my plucked zither!"
"Ahem. Is that so."
Though laced with flattery, the praise from a beauty satisfied him, and he nodded.
"Then play it."
"Yes, my lord."
Catching on quickly, Bright Moon rose, sat at the golden zither in the center, and placed it on her lap.
Soon, her delicate jade hands emerged from her sleeves.
Her pale fingers slowly plucked the strings.
Twang—twang—
Two short notes.
Yet silence fell over the boisterous Red Flower Tower.
Not just their floor.
The lower floors heard it too; performing courtesans naturally paused, ears perked.
Stopping mid-performance might anger guests, but none minded.
The notes had captivated them utterly.
The brief melody ended.
Twaaang—
With a final resonant note lingering, Bright Moon smiled softly.
"How was it?"
The middle-aged man snapped to.
"Astonishing! Heh heh, with skill like that, even the imperial palace... Ahem."
Bright Moon's eyes widened.
'Imperial palace? Then that middle-aged man is...'
Then...
『Forget what you just heard.』
A chilling voice struck her mind.
'N-Nine Dragons Gang Leader?'
The presence behind her froze her; she couldn't turn.
She bowed her head to hide her paling face.
Then the gang leader stood.
"Great one, it's time to go."
"Already?"
The middle-aged man sounded disappointed.
"No time left."
But the gang leader was firm.
"Doesn't that lord have no more time to wait?"
At his follow-up, the middle-aged man clicked his tongue regretfully and rose.
"Fine."
As they prepared to leave, the courtesans beside the gang leader, including Bright Moon, hurriedly bowed.
"Take care."
"See you next time."
"Safe travels."
"Yeah! I'll come again!"
The middle-aged man laughed loudly through his flushed nose as he departed, the gang leader silently following.
Moments later, their footsteps faded down the stairs. Bright Moon and the courtesans sighed in relief.
"That was close."
At Bright Moon's words, Cheonghwa to the gang leader's left clutched her chest, heart still pounding.
"I was so shocked! Who'd have thought the Nine Dragons Gang Leader would come to our brothel?"
"No mistakes?"
"No."
"None."
As they answered promptly, Jeokhwa to his right asked,
"But who was that middle-aged man?"
"Time to find out."
Bright Moon arched a brow.
"Hurry and tell the Haomen contacts to uncover his identity."