Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Dragon-Slaying Gate (3)
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Let's turn back time and think about how I ended up in Hanzhong.
Having carried the war against the Ten Demon Alliance with my innate strategic genius and immense martial arts, I was awarded the highest honors in the subsequent commendations.
At that time, following Jeok Hwa-ran's advice, I chose the prime land in Hanzhong.
At first, I was just happy to have received expensive land, but it turned out I had been used in the power struggle between the Red Dragon Hall and the Gold Dragon Hall.
Well, in the end, I had no complaints since I managed to swallow the entire Hanzhong Merchant Guild, a cooperative union.
But thinking about it now, there was another, bigger reason I came to Hanzhong.
It was thanks to Bukgung Baek, who had given me his reward during the commendations.
Thanks to him, I was able to combine two people's rewards to choose the land in Hanzhong.
It's possible the Red Dragon Hall Master and Bukgung Baek made some sort of secret agreement to send me to Hanzhong.
Furthermore.
‘The War King Gate and the Bukgung Clan.’
Weren't those very familiar names?
Moreover, the person who told me these names was Bukgung Jang-hwan, the master of the Dragon-Slaying Gate, which used the Dragon-Slaying Thirteen Strikes as its secret art.
Could this really be a coincidence?
After over a decade of being thrown into the martial world and struggling like a dog, I've realized one thing.
A series of coincidences is fate.
I have to assume someone intervened.
And there are two people I suspect.
‘The Fortress Lord and Hall Master Bukgung.’
The Lord of Nine Dragons, who gave me the War King Arts claiming he created them, and Bukgung Baek, who seemed obviously to be from the Bukgung Clan.
If I had to pick the more suspicious of the two, it would be Bukgung Baek.
The Fortress Lord could have given me the martial arts as a special privilege for graduating at the top of the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion.
But there was no explaining how Bukgung Baek helped me every time my martial arts training hit a wall.
Martial artists treat their techniques and secret arts as dearly as their own lives.
But a supreme master personally instructing a mere subordinate just because he's struggling? And he's not even a relative?
Let's think.
‘The person I can call my master is...’
Bukgung Baek.
"Ah..."
Reaching this conclusion, my mind snapped into focus.
That was it.
Bukgung Baek thinks of me as his disciple, or something similar.
That's why he never hesitated to give me advice on my martial arts.
Why he kept me by his side whenever we went to a dangerous battlefield.
And why he even gave me the elixir passed down through his family for generations.
‘Since when? No...’
Why has he hidden it until now?
What was the reason for sending me to Hanzhong, knowing the hidden truth would be revealed?
What on earth is this Dragon-Slaying Thirteen Strikes that I found and learned in the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion?
In an instant, countless questions lined up in my mind.
"Hoo..."
I stopped my thoughts there.
Suspicion breeds distrust. Uncertain suspicion, even more so.
The surest way was to return to Nine Dragons Fortress, meet Bukgung Baek, and ask him.
After all, he was a benefactor, like a master to me, not an enemy.
"..."
When I opened my eyes, Bukgung Jang-hwan was watching me quietly.
The disciples of the Dragon-Slaying Gate, who had regained their senses, remained silent, not even making a sound as they breathed.
They were being considerate, sensing the unusual atmosphere.
"Sorry, my mind is a bit of a mess."
"I understand. Your mind must be in turmoil after learning that the Dragon-Slaying Arts you practice are the legendary martial arts of the Bukgung Clan."
He was gravely mistaken, but I decided to let it slide.
"Are there others like you?"
"If you're asking about the branch families of the War King Gate, yes, there are."
"How many?"
"We circulate a letter once every ten years. It has no content, just a seal stamped on it."
"Just to confirm that the lineage is still alive, I see."
"Correct. And the number of seals stamped on the last letter was exactly ninety-nine."
"...That's incredible."
Looking at the Dragon-Slaying Gate alone, there's one peak master and nine first-rate masters.
If there are ninety-nine sects like this, their combined strength would be enough to challenge the former Southern Heaven Palace.
No, if you include Bukgung Baek, who has reached the Transcendent Realm, they could be considered definitively stronger than the Southern Heaven Palace.
Now that I heard it, his imposing build and large hands did seem somewhat similar to Bukgung Baek's.
Seeing this, I could somewhat understand how Brother Ik-hyeon figured out Hyeong-bae was family just by looking at his head.
Bukgung Jang-hwan, who had been watching my surprised expression, twisted one corner of his mouth up and said,
"Correct. The moment the branch families of Bukgung gather and reopen the gates of the War King Gate, the world will be reorganized not with five hegemons, but six."
"..."
I was sure that wouldn't happen, but I couldn't bring myself to shut down the hopeful fantasy Bukgung Jang-hwan had likely been entertaining his entire life, so I held my tongue.
"Haha, there's something I wish to ask you, General Manager Jin."
"What is it?"
"Please tell me who your master is. He must be from a Bukgung branch family, so perhaps you could join our gathering on this occasion..."
It was an invitation to join the Bukgung clan association.
***
The atmosphere became awkward because I refused to join the clan association, but Bukgung Jang-hwan kept his promise.
"Here it is."
He had sent a disciple to bring the evidence of the security squad leader's corruption.
"Tell him I said thanks."
"Yes. And..."
The disciple who brought the evidence hesitated and said,
"The Gate Master asked if you could visit the Dragon-Slaying Gate later."
"Why? To get me to join the gathering?"
"No, it's not that. He said there seems to be a difference between the Dragon-Slaying Arts we have learned and the ones you have, and he requests your guidance and instruction."
"Alright. Tell him I'll stop by later."
It wasn't a difficult request, after all.
"Yes!"
After sending the Dragon-Slaying Gate disciple away, I handed the evidence to Geum Ja-hwan.
"Take a look."
"Me, sir?"
"Aren't you the head of the anti-corruption team?"
"I don't know what a 'team' is, but do you mean for me to take the lead in rooting out corruption?"
"Something like that."
"In that case, I will examine it closely."
"You were going to give it a cursory glance otherwise?"
"Something like that. Working under a superior who doesn't recognize my abilities is not to my taste."
"Phuhu."
The more I saw of him, the more I liked him.
His martial arts were decent and his personality was so sharp and decisive that I wanted to take him back to the main fortress.
Of course, even if I did, he would automatically be assigned to the Gold Dragon Hall, so I had no intention of doing so.
Anyway, after a short wait, Geum Ja-hwan looked up and handed me a bundle of papers summarizing the evidence.
"I've checked everything. I've only written down the confirmed facts, so please review them."
For reference, the writing tools of this era were a brush and ink, so things like 10pt font were impossible.
That's why even a simple report was at least ten pages long.
"Good work."
As I flipped through the papers, the stench of corruption hit my nose.
"Look at this bastard."
He wasn't just collecting tribute from the underworld factions.
He went around the taverns and courtesan houses in Hanzhong's entertainment district and extorted money from them.
"He's dug his own grave."
Extorting from the underworld isn't a problem according to the laws of this world.
However, extorting money from ordinary citizens can definitely be made into an issue.
There was no need to look further.
"Let's go."
"Already, sir?"
"Do we need to prepare just to catch a single guy like him?"
"The morale of the security squad..."
"Don't worry about it. Once we get rid of the rotten one, the rest will shape up on their own."
When one line of connection is severed, another fills the void. That's why you have to get on the right line.
Isn't that an essential virtue of modern social life?
I held this belief in my heart and ran to the security squad's pavilion.
*Kwang!*
I immediately smashed through the pavilion's door and entered.
It was the same situation as when I dealt with the strike team before.
However, there was something I hadn't expected.
"Where did the squad leader go?"
"...We don't know either. He hasn't been seen since last night."
The security squad leader had skipped town in the middle of the night.
"Wow..."
My blood pressure shot up so high the back of my head ached.
"Ja-hwan."
"Yes."
"The guys in the reconnaissance squad, are they fast?"
"I believe they're better than average."
"Are there any Red Dragon Hall members there?"
"No."
"...Send them anyway. Tell them if they don't find the security squad leader, they'll die by my hand."
"...Yes."
They probably wouldn't be able to find him.
The security squad leader was also considered a master in his own right, and if he fled last night, several hours had already passed.
And my prediction was spot on.
They searched for over half a day but couldn't find the security squad leader.
A while later, the reconnaissance squad leader returned, slammed his head on the ground, and performed a full prostration.
*Thud.*
He shouted, his head pressed against the stone floor.
"Please kill me!"
Hearing a line straight out of a historical drama in person, I couldn't bring myself to question him further.
It's always harder to do something when someone sets the stage for you, isn't it?
If that's what he was aiming for, he succeeded.
"...Where are you from?"
"Your subordinate! I am from the Green Dragon Hall, and from the moment I first learned martial arts, I have devoted all my strength to movement techniques..."
"That's enough. You're dismissed."
*Thud.*
"Hey, why do you keep hitting your head?"
"Your subordinate! Overcome with guilt for failing to carry out your command..."
"Go, just go!"
"Your subordinate! I will take my leave. However, I will not stop the pursuit."
"...Whatever."
Only after the commotion died down did Geum Ja-hwan casually approach, a hint of a smile on his lips as if he'd expected this.
"He's acting like that out of respect for you, General Manager."
"How does he know me?"
"A while ago, he gathered the reconnaissance squad at a tavern and gave a grand speech. They pledged their loyalty to you, the General Manager who is turning Hanzhong into a better place to live."
"...He's crazy. What's the point of pledging loyalty to someone who's returning to the fortress soon?"
"That might be why. He's a superior he'll never have to see again."
"Whatever."
"Well then, I will take my leave."
"Wait."
*Toss.*
I grabbed the money pouches that were on the desk and tossed them to Geum Ja-hwan.
They were the pouches for team dinners, funded by the Hanzhong Merchant Guild, the same ones I had given to the security squad before.
"They must be exhausted after tracking him for half a day. Tell them to go have a drink."
*Pfft.*
"Are you laughing?"
"No, sir. I will pass it on."
***
After the security squad leader fled, Hanzhong quickly began to stabilize.
Of course, it didn't happen on its own.
Not only did I confiscate the security squad leader's assets and use them to repay the money extorted from the taverns in the entertainment district, but I also compensated the underworld factions for their damages.
That's not all.
For the underworld members who were left battered and bruised from the harsh interrogations, I decided to provide the latest medical services.
What do I mean by that?
What kind of medical service could I possibly provide?
Cheong So-so, of course.
"But I'm tired..."
"Quiet! How can you be tired when you've been lying around all day!"
"Why are you yelling?! Hmph... I'm not going!"
Seriously, is she a teenager going through puberty?
I don't know for sure, but if the Cheong Clan Head saw this, he'd probably whip her calves until the switch broke.
But, not being her father, could I really inflict corporal punishment on a grown young woman?
I decided to coax her as best I could.
"Ahem, if you go, I'll take you to Wolhyang Pavilion."
"I'll go if you take me twice."
"...Let's make one of them for lunch."
"No way. You'll just order noodles again. Do you think I don't know?"
"You're just getting craftier... Fine, just go. Brother Yuk, please look after So-so."
"Brother Yuk? Your words are getting shorter and shorter the more time passes."
"The victor is always entitled to be confident before the loser."
"I'm telling you, if we fight again, I'll win!"
"You should hurry and follow her. Isn't So-so leaving by herself?"
"...We'll see about that."
Watching Yuk Hak's back as he followed Cheong So-so, I thought.
‘Yeah, I’m never fighting you again.’
Isn't the one who wins last the true victor?
If I were ever to fight Yuk Hak again, it would probably be after I reach the Transcendent Realm.
Anyway, after sending Cheong So-so off, I also headed to work.
*Chatter, chatter.*
As I entered the alley where the markets belonging to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild were gathered, a huge crowd greeted me.
It was a fulfilling sight.
‘Phuhu, how much is all this worth?’
*Clink, clink.*
It was as if I could hear the sound of money piling up in my ears.