Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: Lord Bukgung Baek
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“…”
Everyone from the Nine Dragons Fortress who witnessed Baek Sang-ji's death fell silent.
It was understandable.
Too much had happened in a single day.
As everyone stood speechless, the Grand Chancellor stepped forward.
“Dark Poison Corps, apprehend the White Dragon Hall Master!”
He summoned the Dark Poison Corps, the former Lord's personal guard, to arrest the White Dragon Hall Master, while also placing everyone from the White Dragon and Silver Dragon Halls under house arrest.
At the same time, he addressed all those who had attended the tournament.
“Due to the circumstances, we will conclude the tournament here. We shall hold another in the near future, so I ask the comrades of the Nine Dragons Fortress to return home and await the next one.”
In truth, it was the only choice.
The crazed Baek Sang-ji had completely destroyed the Grand Arena.
It was, after all, supposed to be a Lord’s inauguration ceremony. It couldn't very well be held in a place that was falling apart.
However, everyone who attended the Nine Dragons Tournament knew.
The next Lord would be Master Bukgung.
On our way back after leaving the tournament grounds.
As soon as we reached an empty street, my master let out a bloody cough.
It seemed he’d been holding it in until the end, unwilling to show any weakness.
“Cough. Keuk…”
“Are you alright?”
I hurried to support him, but he rebuked me.
“I don’t need help from someone who just hid and watched.”
“Hey.”
You’re the one who said you’d fight alone.
And honestly, I had a small part to play in this.
Didn’t I block his attack with a move from the Sun-Shooting Archery?
I stared at him in disbelief, and he let out a smirk.
“It was a joke.”
“Honestly…”
“You did well. You’re growing stronger by the day.”
“If you know that, then let’s get going. We need to hurry back and call a physician.”
“No.”
“What?”
“It would be one thing if I’d refused the position of Lord, but since I’ve accepted, I can’t show weakness from the very start.”
“…”
This man is completely ruled by his pride.
A moment later, my master composed himself and began to walk slowly, almost defiantly.
Seeing him, the warriors of the Inner Fortress whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with respect.
“He seems completely unfazed, even after facing the Heavenly Sword.”
“The Hall Masters wouldn’t have endorsed the Outer Hall Master as the new Lord for no reason. There’s a good reason for it.”
“Could it be that our new Lord is the strongest under the heavens?”
Watching him, I realized that sometimes, you have to put on a show of pride.
This went on for an hour.
After a long walk, my master and I finally arrived at the War King Gate.
His life wasn't in danger, but a serious injury was still a serious injury.
“Please, sit down.”
I had him sit properly and took out a healing pill from a drawer.
*Clatter.*
“Take this.”
“Thank you.”
It was one of Cheong So-so’s healing pills, so its effects were guaranteed.
His expression softening, my master let out a breath.
“Go buy me a bottle of wine.”
“Please.”
* * *
Three days passed after the Nine Dragons Tournament ended in chaos.
During that time, the Grand Chancellor conducted an investigation into the incident.
He thoroughly investigated whom Baek Jung-cheon had met and whether there were any other accomplices.
However, the investigation into the deceased Silver Dragon Hall Master was comparatively lax, and the reason was quite something.
“He was not a man with the gall to orchestrate such a thing.”
To be dismissed even in death.
It just goes to show, a person has to be competent.
In any case, a chilling wind blew through the Nine Dragons Fortress for a while.
Anyone with even a passing connection to Baek Jung-cheon was dragged to the Lord’s Hall for questioning.
And the truth that was uncovered was shocking.
“Nothing came up… How is that possible?”
“I don’t understand it either. It’s clear he colluded with an outside force, yet there’s no trail to follow.”
Interrogations in this era make modern ones look like child’s play. They weren’t just for show.
For nothing to be uncovered meant that Baek Jung-cheon’s collaborators were incredibly meticulous.
Or perhaps they had approached him with the intent to betray him from the start.
‘Could it be?’
For a moment, the image of Baek Sang-ji losing his mind and rampaging flashed through my head.
“…Could it be the Lion’s Alliance?”
It was a reasonable suspicion.
After all, the only ones who would target the Nine Dragons Fortress right now were the Lion’s Alliance.
An odorless, colorless poison, a crimson orb brimming with demonic energy, and so on.
They certainly had the means to acquire such bizarre items.
However, the Grand Chancellor shook his head.
“They are suspicious, but many things don’t add up. As you know, acting on a hunch in matters like this could lead to disaster.”
“True, it’s a diplomatic issue.”
“This would all be resolved if Baek Jung-cheon would talk, but he refuses to open his mouth.”
“That’s incredibly frustrating. By the way.”
“Please speak, Young Master Jin.”
“Why the sudden formality? And what’s with ‘Young Master’?”
“You are the disciple of the next Lord; how could I address you informally? Moreover, as the first disciple, the title of First Young Master is only natural.”
“…Can’t you just talk to me like you always have?”
“The protocol…”
“It’s giving me the creeps.”
“Ahem, very well. I shall speak informally only in private.”
“You’re doing it just fine now…”
“Anyway, how is the Outer Hall Master doing?”
“He’s still sleeping.”
“Goodness, has he still not recovered? It is not good to leave the Lord’s seat empty for too long…”
“No, he just drank too much. He was chugging wine right up until an hour before you arrived.”
“…That is shocking. And concerning for the future.”
“You’re telling me.”
The Grand Chancellor sighed and asked.
“I wish to proceed with the ceremony tomorrow. Would that be acceptable…?”
“He’d be fine even if we did it right now. I guess since he drinks every day, he doesn’t get hangovers.”
“I see. Then we shall hold the tournament tomorrow when the sun is at its zenith.”
“I’ll let him know.”
I nodded, and the Grand Chancellor rose from his seat.
Watching his departing back, I thought.
What a relief it was that I could entrust a time bomb like my master to him.
The next day.
Just as the Grand Chancellor had said, the Nine Dragons Tournament was held again.
The White Dragon and Silver Dragon Halls could not participate as their house arrest had not yet been lifted, but their places were filled by warriors from the Outer Hall, resulting in an even larger attendance than before.
It seemed to be a gesture of consideration for my master, the Outer Hall Master.
With thousands of warriors in attendance, the Grand Chancellor walked up to the platform.
“Comrades of the Nine Dragons Fortress, your attention, please.”
Standing on the platform, he spoke slowly.
*Gulp.*
Everyone knew what was coming, and they held their breath at the sound of the Grand Chancellor’s voice, though it contained no internal energy.
“Outer Hall Master, Bukgung Baek.”
He looked at my master, who was seated in the very front, and spoke slowly.
“Twenty years ago, you pledged yourself to the Nine Dragons Fortress, and from that day to this, you have dedicated yourself to the Fortress more than anyone.”
“…”
“Furthermore, you led from the front in the last war to uphold the banner of vanquishing demons and eradicating evil, and it is known to all that your martial arts have reached a heavenly realm.”
The Grand Chancellor praised my master in this one-sided conversation.
“In light of such achievements, the warriors of the Fortress have endorsed you as the new Lord. On behalf of the comrades of the Nine Dragons Fortress, I ask you.”
“Ask away.”
He didn’t show a shred of courtesy, but no one pointed it out.
From now on, the Nine Dragons Fortress would be his.
“As the Lord of the Nine Dragons Fortress, a pillar of the Righteous Path, you must fight against the wicked. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
“As the Lord of the Nine Dragons Fortress, you must always protect the people. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
“As the Lord of the Nine Dragons Fortress, you must be more just, stronger, and more compassionate than anyone. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
Hearing the final answer, the Grand Chancellor slowly prostrated himself.
“This humble servant, Yu Myeong-cheon, greets the Fourth Lord of the Nine Dragons Fortress.”
At the same time, every warrior of the Nine Dragons Fortress prostrated themselves and shouted.
“Vanquish Demons, Eradicate Evil!”
“The Nine Dragons Under Heaven!”
The shouts of over two thousand warriors echoed, shaking the entire Nine Dragons Fortress.
*Sniffle.*
My master has finally made it.
* * *
The day after the Nine Dragons Tournament ended.
*Murmur, murmur.*
Countless people began to flock to the War King Gate outside the Outer Fortress.
The reason was obvious.
They were here to see me, the now-famous disciple of the new Lord.
They hadn’t come empty-handed, either.
As is the way in this world of connections, everyone arrived with their hands full of gifts.
I wanted to rush out and build rapport with them, but I couldn’t.
Why?
“…Are you listening?”
“Ah, yes!”
Because of the hermits from the Hermit’s Grove who had shown up at the crack of dawn.
I wanted to kick them out, telling them I had money… no, guests to attend to, but the cruel reality of my situation brought tears of blood to my eyes.
“Anyway, it’s quite surprising that the new Lord is a descendant of the Bukgung family.”
“You can tell just by looking at this kid here. I mean… what martial art in the world could bring someone to that level at such a young age?”
“If great martial arts alone made a master, the world would be under the banner of the Martial Emperor Fortress by now. The boy’s talent for martial arts is what’s truly exceptional.”
“Ahem, and of course, the teachings he received from our Black Dragon Hall in his youth must have helped. Hahahaha.”
“…”
Everyone fell silent at the Great Pure Adept’s sudden claim of contribution.
Ah, for the record, I never learned a single training method, not even a half-stance of basic techniques, from the Black Dragon Hall.
‘Ah…’
Let me correct myself.
A while ago, I did learn a variant of the Sun-Shooting technique from the Great Pure Adept.
As I was nodding to myself, Adept Yi Pung-jin, the martial uncle of the current Blue Dragon Hall Master, slowly looked me over.
His gaze was as deep as the ocean, and I found myself meeting it involuntarily.
“I thought no one could match Dan Un’s talent, but to think such a prodigy existed. The world is indeed vast, and full of people.”
The Great Pure Adept nodded in agreement.
“I thought so as well. I believed my grand-disciple was born with the greatest martial talent under the heavens. Heh heh.”
“Hmph, easy for you to say. It’s almost like you’re mocking us…”
“You, from the Dang family. Stop ruining the mood and let’s get going. A stronger Nine Dragons Fortress is good for all of us, what’s with the complaints?”
“It’s because my family’s kids are all unimpressive while the kids from other Halls are soaring. It makes my stomach ache.”
“That’s their own business to handle, not for us old men who will soon be buried in the dirt.”
“Hmph.”
After appraising me for a good while, the hermits stood up, and I hurried to see them off.
“Oh, leaving so soon? I would have loved to treat you to a meal, but if you must go, you must. Watch out for snakes on your way, and be sure to get back before sunset.”
“If fate allows, we shall meet again. Come visit with Dan Un sometime.”
“Hahaha, come visit sometimes. And make sure to bring plenty of gifts.”
“Farewell. Next time we meet, I’ll gift you one of my hidden weapons.”
With a final nod from the Great Pure Adept, who placed a hand on my shoulder, the hermits of the Hermit’s Grove left the Nine Dragons Fortress.
“…”
Watching them leave with their incredibly profound movement techniques, I thought.
‘I need to greet my guests, quickly.’
I could finally start collecting my dues.
Just as I was about to head outside to welcome them.
“…No, why now.”
A group of figures caught my eye, pushing their way through the crowd of guests in the distance.
Do you have any idea who I am?
Can’t you see there’s a line?!
Who the hell are you people?
Protests erupted over their cutting in line, but they paid no mind.
The protesting guests also fell silent as soon as they realized who the newcomers were.
It was only natural.
They were the warriors of the Dark Poison Corps, who answered only to the Lord.
“First Young Master Jin Mujeon, by order of the Lord, you are to report to the Lord’s Hall immediately!”
“Please, not again…”