Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Family Gathering (5)
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“So, you’re saying the inheritor of the War King Arts is called a Dragon Body?”
“To be precise, a body capable of learning the War King Arts is called a Dragon Body.”
“...My master called it a Body of Heavenly Gold, though.”
“It is the same thing.”
“A Dragon Body... You mean, the body of a dragon?”
As I stared at him in disbelief, Bukgung Chang answered with a small smile.
“Have you by chance not heard from him about the founder of the Gung family?”
“I heard he ate a dragon...”
“You haven't heard the details, I see. Then again, I cannot imagine him explaining things at length, given his personality.”
Bukgung Chang took a sip of the tea before him and continued.
“Do you, by any chance, know of Fuxi?”
“Wouldn’t it be stranger not to?”
Of course, I knew.
He was one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, considered the progenitors of Chinese civilization.
In Korean terms, he was on par with Grandfather Dangun.
“The dragon that the founder of the Gung family was said to have caught was, in fact, Fuxi. The trait he gained from drinking its blood is the 'Heavenly Gold.'”
“I'd rather hear the truth, not some absurd myth...?”
When I eyed him like he was a con man, Bukgung Chang’s face flushed as he cleared his throat.
“Ahem, it is a story from over three thousand years ago, so it may not be entirely accurate.”
“I see.”
“...It seems you find it hard to believe.”
“Why don’t you just say the founder of the Gung family was Heavenly King Chiyou? That the 'Gung' in your family name stands for the 'Heaven' in Heavenly King.”
Bukgung Chang’s eyes widened as he nodded.
“As expected of a Dragon Body, your intuition is truly exceptional.”
“What?”
“That is correct. The founder of the Gung family was Heavenly King Chiyou, also known as the god of war. That is why the divine art is called the War King Arts. It is a martial art inherited from the War God.”
Bukgung Chang continued, his tone slightly excited.
“In fact, this is also why everyone in the Bukgung family reveres the Dragon Body.”
“...Is it because you think I’m the reincarnation of Chiyou, the War God?”
“Precisely.”
“No.”
We’re not some kind of demonic cult. What’s all this about reincarnation?
I couldn't help but shake my head.
However, one cannot force another to abandon their faith.
I raised no more questions.
Telling a devout believer that God doesn't exist would only provoke them.
Besides, if my opponent saw me as an incarnation of a god, it was more beneficial to just keep my mouth shut.
“Well, anyway, enough of that. I have a question.”
“Yes.”
“This knock-off... I mean, family gathering. Why was it created?”
“For the sake of unity.”
“Unity... Right.”
Two hundred years had passed since the fall of the Bukgung Clan.
It was about time their sense of belonging started to fade.
Take the military, for instance. Upon completing boot camp, you grab your fellow trainees and promise to keep in touch, but once you’re assigned to your unit, those boot camp buddies are erased from your memory.
Time and a sense of belonging are just inversely proportional like that.
“You’re not forcing people to join, are you?”
“Of course not. However.”
As he spoke, Bukgung Chang's demeanor grew heavy.
“There are those who possess the legacy of the Bukgung family.”
“Legacy... You mean money?”
“Martial arts and people.”
“Hmm.”
That certainly was a legacy.
The price of a master martial artist had always been high, and a supreme martial art was priceless.
As I nodded, Bukgung Chang continued his explanation.
“The last patriarch of the Bukgung family ordered my great-grandfather, who was the Black Dragon Commander at the time, to prepare for the future. In response, my great-grandfather led the entire Black Dragon Brigade to settle in Hebei, and now, we have become an underworld sect scorned by all.”
“...”
“I have never once thought of it as shameful. We only disguised ourselves as an underworld sect to hide our identity and gather strength.”
His eyes shining, he looked at me.
“All for the sake of rebuilding the Bukgung family.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
To carry out a command for generations, enduring the scorn of the world.
It was a level of loyalty I couldn't even imagine.
“...That’s incredible. No, you must have suffered a great deal. On behalf of the Bukgung Clan, I express my gratitude to you.”
As I bowed my head with sincerity, Bukgung Chang’s expression contorted.
A great wave of emotion washed over his demonic face.
“It is... nothing.”
After taking a moment to compose himself, he continued in a strained voice.
“We created the family gathering to pressure those who, like us, inherited the Bukgung family’s legacy but pretend not to know.”
“...Who are they?”
“The Nightbane Fortress and the Sea-Severing Gang. They were originally the Black Killing Brigade and the Black Wolf Brigade, respectively.”
“Seriously?”
Why were they all underworld sects?
Their names were quite famous.
The Nightbane Fortress in the northern grasslands was a rising group of killing fiends.
The Sea-Severing Gang in Fujian was a band of pirates who specialized in raiding Japanese marauders.
I could understand it to some extent.
To quickly establish a foothold and build power, illegal means were often more effective than legal ones.
Besides, it wasn't all bad news.
The Nightbane Fortress, for instance, killed for money, but rumor had it they only killed those who deserved to die. The Sea-Severing Gang only attacked Japanese pirates, making them righteous bandits in a way.
The Black Serpent Sect was probably the same.
“Forget it. They’re not using their legacy for evil deeds, so let them be. If it really bothers you, just ask them to return the martial arts. We can teach them to our kids.”
Forcing someone unwilling to join would only lead them to harbor other thoughts.
An enemy within is far more terrifying than an enemy without.
“However.”
“Trying to hold on to someone whose heart has already left will only backfire.”
“Hmm...”
I met Bukgung Chang's worried gaze.
“I need comrades who will face life and death with me, not ronin. And.”
I held my palm up for him to see.
Poof.
My internal energy exploded in an instant, creating a small heat haze.
“According to you, this is a martial art taught by Heavenly King Chiyou, right? If I master this, rebuilding the Bukgung Clan will be a piece of cake, even without those guys.”
Thud.
Bukgung Chang, who had shot up like a bolt of lightning, prostrated himself, lowering his head.
“This subordinate has failed to grasp the will of the Dragon Body. Please kill me.”
“Please.”
Excessive loyalty is always a burden.
* * *
As was my original goal, after the family gathering, I summoned the members and recruited people to move to Hanzhong.
Of course, the world is a vast place, so moving was difficult.
Even for a sect, a collective of martial artists, it was just as dangerous.
That’s the kind of people martial artists were—petty men who would do anything to settle a grudge.
What’s more, being strong didn't guarantee safety.
You never knew when or where someone might try to poison you while you slept, dressed, or ate, and you could fall into a trap while traveling.
That's why I encouraged voluntary participation as much as possible.
I told them I would provide some support, but only those who were confident should come to Hanzhong.
“If the Dragon Body wishes it, I shall lead all my disciples and rush to Hanzhong!”
“Is merely rushing there enough?! I will mobilize every sect I know to wipe out the Dragon Body’s enemies!”
“I will spend my entire fortune to summon every assassin south of the Jiangnan region...”
“Moving immediately is difficult, so I will mobilize a thousand ronin...”
“Hah! Instead of such a time-consuming method, we should rush to Hanzhong right now...”
Something was starting to go very wrong.
As the farce continued, Bukgung Chang stepped forward.
“That is enough! What is this disgraceful behavior in front of the Dragon Body!”
“...”
A silence fell at his words.
“Ahem... It looked fine to me, what’s the big deal...”
Bukgung Jang-hwan, seemingly annoyed by Bukgung Chang's intervention, pouted and muttered.
‘He is so not chairman material for the family gathering.’
I couldn't help but shake my head.
Not only did he lack martial skill, recognition, and ability, but he had also just been doubting that I was Master Bukgung’s disciple. What right did he have to be chairman?
‘What kind of confidence does he have to run for the position...’
He was the type of person who belonged tucked away in the kitchen of the Donhyang Pavilion.
He even looked like a greedy innkeeper, so he’d probably be good at making sausage stew, too.
‘Maybe boiled pork wraps while we’re at it?’
While I was lost in thought, Bukgung Chang, having commanded the room’s attention, relayed my opinion once more.
“The Dragon Body wishes for you all to relocate voluntarily. He does not desire such drastic measures.”
He wasn’t the chairman of the family gathering for nothing.
‘Damn, he’s charismatic.’
No wonder the members were so taken with him.
“Therefore, how about we all relocate to Hanzhong?”
“No.”
Why do they keep pushing for extremes?
A short while later.
“Ahem, I understand.”
After a long discussion, it was decided that only the Black Serpent Sect would relocate.
In truth, this was the outcome I had hoped for to some extent.
As an underworld sect, Bukgung Chang must have seen all sorts of sordid things.
Moreover, he had amassed a great fortune for the sake of rebuilding the Bukgung family.
That meant he was not only adept at scheming but also shrewd in business, and his martial arts were strong, making him the perfect person to seize control of the Hanzhong martial world.
Furthermore, this was also an opportunity for the Black Serpent Sect.
Tianjin in Hebei, where they were based, was by no means a small city, but it couldn't compare to Hanzhong.
They could make a fortune just by taking control of the entertainment districts.
And it didn't end there.
Underworld sects, being involved in less-than-reputable business, often have to pay regular tribute.
For a large operation like the Black Serpent Sect, the amount would be enormous.
But what if I, the supreme authority in Hanzhong, had their back?
It would be like giving wings to a tiger.
In other words, it was a win-win situation.
Now, only one thing remained.
‘You’re all finished.’
All that was left was to reduce the Hanzhong martial world to beggars.
Grumble, grumble.
“...I... I can do it too...”
Well, Bukgung Jang-hwan muttered and complained, but I was sure he'd cheer up if I gave him a few new menu recipes.
This was the best possible outcome.
* * *
After the family gathering ended, I returned to Hanzhong and immediately sent the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Elders to the Black Serpent Sect.
It was to help them with their move.
Since they were an underworld sect, they must have accumulated a great number of grudges.
And so, a month and a half later.
The entire Black Serpent Sect, disguised as merchants, successfully entered Hanzhong.
Bukgung Chang, having grasped the situation with the speed befitting a cunning underworld sect leader, was raring to go, claiming he would wipe out the Hanzhong martial world immediately.
“Wait. The perfect opportunity will come.”
I restrained him.
It had to be handled as quietly as possible.
And then.
Not long after, an incident that served as the opening shot occurred.
“What? So?”
“Three of our warriors were injured while subduing them.”
“What? Why were they injured? The skill of those guys is obvious.”
“Well... they said they were holding back to avoid killing them.”
“So that means those guys weren't holding back?”
“It seems so.”
“Ha!”
This was the gist of the incident.
Ten warriors from the War King Sect were assigned to patrol the marketplace before sunrise.
As they were making their usual rounds, they witnessed a strange sight.
Martial artists from the Hanzhong martial world were blocking the entrance to the marketplace with menacing glares.
The warriors began to subdue them, and it escalated into a big fight.
“So, did they manage to capture all of them?”
“Yes. They didn't let a single one get away.”
“It’s strange... Why did they suddenly pick a fight? And by blocking the marketplace, of all things.”
The Hanzhong martial world and the merchant community were intertwined by blood and connections.
Yet they were disrupting business?
This was more than strange; it was bizarre.
As I tilted my head in confusion, Yu So-pyeong, the self-proclaimed greatest strategist in Hanzhong, offered a clear answer.
“It seems they want a pretext that the War King Sect has oppressed the Hanzhong martial world.”
“...Those crazy bastards.”
It was a move designed to put us in checkmate.
If we punished them lightly to avoid giving them a pretext, the prestige of the War King Sect would suffer.
But if we punished them severely, we would be handing them the very pretext they wanted.
“How many were captured?”
“A little over thirty.”
“Behead them all.”
If I was going to give them a pretext, I might as well give them a healthy dose of fear along with it.