Chapter 152 Passing the Nine Dragon Fortress Trial at the Martial Arts Academy (3)

Chapter 152: Passing the Nine Dragon Fortress Trial at the Martial Arts Academy (3)

Time flew by like an arrow.

During that time, I climbed the mountain daily to train in martial arts, the Tang family kids reviewed the Martial Arts Academy’s curriculum, and the cleaning crew…

“Oh my goodness! Oh my, how adorable. I wonder who our Cheong-ah takes after to be so pretty.”

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp~

I’ll stop here.

About a month passed like that.

When my period of seclusion had only a few days left, the martial academy construction was finished.

I simply couldn’t stay still, so I took all the family members at home and headed to the academy.

“Congratulations, my lord.”

Yoo So-pyeong, who had been surveying the academy with admiring eyes, said.

Of course.

The martial academy before us now was so large and beautiful that anyone would say it was well-built.

A tall, sturdy wall encircled the vast land, spanning nearly 2,000 pyeong.

Within it stood five spacious, three-story pavilions.

The training ground floor was finished with solid stone, boasting an ideal environment for practice.

‘Hmm…’

To build such structures in less than two months.

And that in the martial arts world, without heavy machinery.

‘There’s no beating sheer volume.’

He silently thanked the bald man who had indiscriminately mobilized disciples for the project.

‘My time at Nine Dragons Fortress wasn’t wasted after all.’

It wasn’t just Dragon Horse Mountain.

Madam Bok, who brokered the land price down for him.

The former Black Dragon Sect, now Black Dragon Construction, who handled the building at a low cost.

Even Master Bukgung, who provided the martial arts techniques for my rise in the martial world.

Sniff.

Tears welled up unbidden as I reflected on how well I’d lived.

“I hear you’re hiring servants? Could you set up a physician’s quarters in that empty space over there? And make a room for me too. Huh?”

Huh?

That was before the cleaning boy, with Cheong-ah on his shoulder, started spouting nonsense.

Anyway.

‘Not a bad idea, is it?’

It wasn’t bullshit.

My cash reserves were already depleted, so I decided I seriously needed to consider selling the house and moving here. I gathered everyone.

Because I had to hold the opening ceremony immediately.

If word got out that Jinmugwan was open, wouldn’t that help when we needed it most?

“You lot go to the restaurant and order food and drink. Mention my name and they’ll bring it here. Ah, make sure to tell them it has to be ready before noon tomorrow.”

“How much should we prepare?”

“About fifty people will come, so prepare generously. And So-pyeong, come with me to the inner courtyard.”

“The inner courtyard?”

“We need to invite the guests, don’t we?”

“Must I go?”

“Then who? If not you, who will invite Mun-sang?”

“……”

Yoo So-pyeong nodded reluctantly.

Probably because he still remembered being kicked out when he asked about the exam content.

‘Tsk tsk tsk…’

Anyway, I took Yoo So-pyeong to the Inner City.

Since Yoo So-pyeong was friendly with the scholars of the Military Bureau, he handled the Seongju Hall.

I visited all the factions… well, not all. I visited the seven factions, excluding the White Dragon Faction.

If I set foot in the White Dragon Faction, a sword might suddenly fly at me and pierce my throat.

After frantically inviting the representatives of the seven factions and returning, I saw Dang Yanggang and the children sitting quietly, playing.

“……”

“You’re here?”

“What are you doing not preparing?”

“Ah, well…”

Dang Yanggang explained it like this.

The Dang family trio had left to order food and wine as instructed.

The Red Dragon Sect’s group blocked their path, and a lavishly dressed woman stepped forward.

“Then she said, ‘It’s our family’s first opening, so shouldn’t I take care of it?’ and sent us away, didn’t she? The fact she called it ‘Gaga’ suggests they’re not just ordinary acquaintances. What on earth is going on?“

Just hearing the story, one person raised suspicions.

”……It’s Jie Hualan.”

Still, it was good news in its own way.

Since we were hosting important guests from the inner city, we needed to fill the banquet table with high-class dishes and decent wine.

Jie Hualan offering to cover that meant we saved over ten taels, didn’t it?

‘By the way, when did you go from ‘senior’ to ‘Gaga’?

It bothered me a bit that he’d changed the title on his own…

But since he’s throwing a big feast for me, I’ll let this slide.

* * *

The next day.

Bustling.

The distinguished guests invited yesterday began arriving one after another.

The first guest to arrive was Jikryongdang.

“You’re here?”

“Heh heh heh, my granddaughter’s husband is hosting a banquet—I had to come.”

At the mention of “granddaughter’s husband,” Jik-il, who had come with him, nodded contentedly.

Meanwhile, Jik-i and Jik-sam glared at me with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Who do you think you are, daring to take Hwaran!’

“……”

It felt like the misunderstandings among the Jikryongdang family were only growing stronger.

“No, it’s not like that……”

I had intended to clear up the misunderstanding this time, but the flood of arriving guests forced me to abandon the idea.

“Long time no see.”

“Indeed it is.”

Only one person had come from the Blue Dragon Sect.

The problem was that it was Danun.

“I’ve heard of your exploits in Hanjung. Surely, your martial arts prowess has deepened.”

“……No, it hasn’t?”

“It seems you’re diligently preparing to face me, which pleases me greatly.”

“Well, I said it hasn’t!”

“I too have not ceased my training for a single day in preparation for that day.”

“……”

He wasn’t someone you could have a conversation with.

Using the excuse that guests were arriving, I chased him away as he kept going on and on about martial arts.

The next person I met was Hyeryongdo Jeonmuk.

Boasting a massive frame nearly 2 meters tall, the moment he saw me, he spread his arms wide and gave me a big hug.

Squeeze!

“Brother! Sincere congratulations!”

“Cough, uh, yeah, thanks.”

Releasing his arms, he looked around the martial arts hall, unable to contain his admiration.

“This martial arts hall is truly spacious!”

“Right? I spent some money on it.”

“Yes! Soon, the members of the Hwaryongdo will come to stretch their legs… Brother? Where are you suddenly going…?”

I didn’t wait to hear Jeon Mook’s next words before moving on.

If the Hwaryongdang toughs decided to let loose, the fragile martial arts hall floor would be completely shattered.

They didn’t train in the mines for nothing.

Outside, breaking things gets you cursed at, but in there, the more you break, the more praise you get.

After that, guests kept pouring in.

“Hahaha, congratulations, lad! Here’s a celebratory gift.”

Wei Zhifeng brought the entire Mukeongdang family.

Bringing even the young children showed his determination to eat his fill since he was already freeloading.

Still, he brought ten bolts of cotton cloth as a gift.

Something unimaginable in the past.

Cheers to Moolyongdang’s rapidly improving financial situation.

The head of Geumryongdang came personally.

“Congratulations! This isn’t much, but it’s a congratulatory gift!”

“Oh my, you really don’t have to go to all this trouble.”

At first glance, he seemed like a complete idiot, but the more you saw him, the more you realized he was a genuine gem of a person.

For reference, the money pouch contained a whopping twenty taels of silver.

Now that I looked, his appearance was also outstanding—he was simply a flower of a middle-aged man.

“By the way, when will you come? Didn’t I say I’d give you a reward?”

“I was planning to visit as soon as my probation was lifted.”

“Heh heh, I’ll be waiting for that day. Go now. I must attend to my guests.”

And cool to boot.

‘Ah….’

I almost fell for him.

Green Dragon Hall and Silver Dragon Hall sent several disciples.

Though I had no personal connection with them, my recognition had skyrocketed thanks to the recent battle with the Ten Demon Alliance.

It felt like the day I’d become a martial world influencer was drawing near.

The last to arrive was Mun Sang.

“Good heavens! Such a distinguished guest in this humble place!”

“I thought you had a few more days of seclusion left. Are you out of your mind, throwing a feast like this?”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.”

“It’s a good day, so I’ll let it slide just this once.”

He flaunted his old-timer attitude the moment we met, but since he’d agreed to give a congratulatory speech today, I’d let it slide.

Just as the welcoming of guests was winding down.

“Gaga!”

From afar, I saw Jik Hwaran running towards us, flaunting her small stature, small heart, and small behind.

‘Doesn’t she feel the slightest bit embarrassed?’

Calling out “Gaga” with all these people gathered.

Sure enough.

Murmurs.

The distinguished guests present today turned their gaze toward the Red Dragon Pavilion.

With looks that seemed to ask, “How on earth do you keep an eye on your granddaughter?”

Of course, Jik Hwaran was a woman who paid no mind to such public scrutiny.

If she did, an unmarried maiden wouldn’t be running a brothel in the first place.

But Jik Hwaran was even crazier than I thought.

“Gaga!”

Was she trying to use the momentum of her run to hug me?

A hug in front of dozens of people?

And at a gathering of Kuryongseong’s high-ranking officials, no less.

Good thing I dodged. If I’d taken that full-body charge head-on, given medieval Central Plains values, this would have been an undeniable forced marriage.

‘Just thinking about it is terrifying.’

Brr.

My body shivered involuntarily.

“…Damn it, I could have done it.”

“Hwaran?”

“Ah! Gagga!”

When I called her name, she beamed as if nothing had happened.

‘She was so sharp back at the Ascension Pavilion…’

Jik Hwaran cleared her throat and explained how the banquet had been prepared.

“… This and that… and that and this… so the banquet preparations are complete.“

”Oh, really?“

”Hehehe, don’t worry. Since it’s for Gagga, not just anyone, I put my all into it. You’ll probably be quite surprised when you see it?”

Then, as Jeok Hwaran sent a telepathic message somewhere, the workers of Honghwaru began swarming in like worker ants.

And on an enormous scale.

Not only were all manner of delicacies from land and sea laid out on the pre-prepared personal dining tables.

Fine white liquor, exuding a beautiful fragrance, was brought out one after another.

Musicians playing the pipa even gathered to heighten the festive mood.

“……Truly the youngest granddaughter of a conglomerate family.”

Jie Hualian chuckled softly, arms outstretched, as I gaped at the scale—twenty times larger than I’d imagined.

Her gesture was like offering a free hug.

Creepy.

Just as I instinctively reached to embrace her, a sudden chill of hostility snapped me back to reality.

Thankfully, the enemy had the Jik Sam brothers.

“Tsk, a grown woman acting so childish!”

“Hmph.”

Still, seeing her look out for me like this, it felt a bit strange, but she wasn’t a bad kid.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t just say it, show it.”

“Alright, what should I do?”

“Hmm… I hear the summer scenery at Jomchang Mountain is amazing. Let’s go play there together. We were supposed to go last time, but you dodged it.”

He remembered that too.

“Rejected. It’d take a month just to get there and back.”

“Ugh, then how about somewhere we can go and come back in a day?”

“Well, if it’s just that… I guess it’s fine.”

“Then, let’s go twice to make up for last time.”

Her growing demands made him choke up with the thought, ‘How dare that Jik Hwa-ran!’

‘There’s no reason to refuse.’

Seeing the effort she put into preparing the feast, he nodded.

“Alright. Let’s do it.”

“Waaah!”

Leaving Jik Hwa-ran behind, who was thrilled like a child, he stepped onto the podium.

It was to proceed with the ceremony.

“First, I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished guests who honor us with their presence.”

Perhaps because he put his inner strength into his voice, everyone’s gaze instantly focused on him.

“First, our Military Deputy Commander of Guryongseong, the incarnation of Zhuge Liang, Mun Sang, will deliver the congratulatory address.”

Clap clap clap clap.

Amidst the resounding applause, Mun Sang ascended the podium.

The speech itself was nothing special.

“Ahem, proud warriors of Guryongseong… Together… Even if… there are… difficult trials… If we… persevere… we will… surely triumph…”

How to put it? It felt like a speech from an elementary school principal.

However, the imposing presence that came with Mun Sang’s position was undeniable, and everyone present focused intently on his words.

“…Let us all raise our cups for the future of the Jinmu Hall.”

Waaah-!

It was tedious, but the publicity effect was spot-on, so I was thoroughly satisfied.

Once the speech ended and the official opening ceremony began, I started rushing around frantically, receiving cups from the arriving guests.

Dang Ga Sam Gwe, Yu So Pyeong, and Cheong So-so took their seats and mingled with the guests.

True to a lavish banquet, everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves in a cheerful atmosphere.

But this mood didn’t last long.

An unexpected guest.

“How have you all been?”

Because Baek Jung-cheon had arrived.