Chapter 223 Turbulent Nine Dragons (2)

Chapter 223: Turbulent Nine Dragons (2)

“…….”

“…….”

Facing North Palace Chang, it was hard to open my mouth.

When I came, I set out boldly, but it felt awkward to openly tell him to hand over the Black Dragon Gate in front of him.

Regardless of its origins, from North Palace Chang’s perspective, it was the sect passed down for three generations—the place where he was born and raised.

“Ahem, what brings you here…?”

After a moment of silence, North Palace Chang cleared his throat and glanced around cautiously.

“Ah, well…”

He gathered his thoughts and spoke. No matter how many times he considered it, taking over the Black Dragon Sect was absolutely necessary.

“Um… have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. It happens to be my eldest’s birthday today, so we planned a modest family meal.”

“No.”

Is it market day when you go?

Given this, retreating today seems the right move.

How could I possibly suggest handing over the sect on the birthday of my eldest son, the heir?

“Since you’re already here, why not join us? My son would be delighted.”

“Ah, no. Having outsiders join family events…”

“No, how could you say such a thing!”

A sudden burst of acceleration like an eight-ton truck with a blown engine.

Considering how he’d always treated me with such utmost care, it was a bewildering reaction.

“Man? Me, Bukgung Chang! I’ve lived my whole life in the underworld, but I’ve never forgotten for a single moment that my roots lie in the Bukgung clan!”

He pounded his chest.

“Your Highness is no stranger to me!”

“Then… what are you?”

“Family.”

“……”

“So please come with me.”

“W-well, I suppose so?”

Following Bukgung Chang toward the restaurant, he saw three wives—so beautiful it made his eyes pop out—chatting amiably together.

For a moment, murderous intent toward Bukgung Chang surged within him, but since he had come to make a request, he barely managed to restrain himself.

By the way, how can he get along so well with three wives?

When I asked for his secret, I got an absurd answer.

“It’s simple. Just divide the love equally.”

It sounded like he was talking about splitting up pocket money.

“But how do you give it equally? It’s not something you can see.”

“Well, that’s easy—just share the bed equally…”

“Ah… Rotate one person per day?”

“No, it’s three people every single day… Ahem, this is rather embarrassing. Ahem.”

Three people every single day?

That means over a thousand times a year, doesn’t it?

‘No.’

What kind of seal is that?

“Rain, rain, just tell me the secret…”

* * *

The meal was enjoyable.

The three wives treated me with both respect and ease.

“Oh my? The legendary hero, Lord Munju, still hasn’t married? That won’t do. I’ll summon my sisters back home, and you may choose one…”

The first wife, radiating noble grace, offered to introduce her sisters who looked just like her.

“If you prefer a woman with a generous heart… my elder sister…”

The second wife, radiating sensual charm, suggested her own older sister.

“Ho ho ho, shouldn’t we check Lord Moon’s preferences first? I have a niece who’s prettier than me. She’s sixteen this year…”

The vivacious third wife planned to violate the Juvenile Protection Act.

It was truly a sight to behold that such beautiful people also possessed such noble hearts.

But that wasn’t all.

The six children of North Palace Chang also resembled their mother, each possessing outstanding looks. They seemed to get along well too.

“Your Highness! How can I become as strong as you?”

“Oh! I was just about to ask!”

“I read in a book that taking elixirs makes you stronger!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve seen it too.”

The children’s innocent questions made me smile without realizing it.

“First, you need a solid foundation. So, if you run twenty li a day, do half a shijin each of ma bo and weng bo, and walk upside down for one li while standing on your head, you can become strong.”

This was the foundational training regimen I had personally practiced at the Ascension Pavilion.

“Liar! How would that make you strong?!”

“Exactly! The martial artists outside run and jump every day too, don’t they?”

“Isn’t mastering exceptional martial arts, consuming potent elixirs, and having a great master the shortcut to becoming strong?”

Pure nonsense.

I have no idea where he saw it or what he saw to pinpoint it so accurately.

‘It’s not even wrong.’

Unless you’re a genius capable of drawing the Sword Qi using the Three Calamities Mind Technique and Sword Technique, that’s actually true.

It’s no wonder martial artists stake their lives on elixirs and martial arts.

But I couldn’t just show the children the harsh reality as it is. I did my best to explain it in a softened way.

“Ahem, that also requires a solid foundation…”

It took nearly thirty minutes to get through it all.

After that pleasant meal, I agreed to North Palace Chang’s request and walked him to the rear courtyard.

“I suppose it’s because I saw His Majesty fighting the Ten Demon Generals.”

“Didn’t you say you evacuated the family?”

“Ah, only the wives were evacuated. The children were assigned to the defense force. Being born the children of warriors, it’s a responsibility they must bear.”

“……”

If this were modern times, what he was saying—something that would be splashed across news and newspapers as child abuse—was spoken by Bukgung Chang as if it were nothing.

As I walked, shaking my head, he turned his head toward me from ahead.

“What do you think?”

“What?”

“The Black Dragon Gate. Ever since His Majesty the Dragon bestowed the name ‘Black Dragon,’ the warriors’ skills have been advancing by leaps and bounds day by day.”

Following his gaze, I surveyed the entire scene of the Black Dragon Gate.

In the spacious training grounds, countless martial artists moved busily as they trained.

What stood out most was the hope radiating from their faces.

It seemed they felt more pride than when they lived as back-alley thugs.

“Looks good. Each one has real spirit. If taught well, many could become masters.”

“Whenever I had time, I traveled all over Hebei to gather talent. Thanks to that, I know the geography of Hebei Province like the back of my hand.”

This is the method used by prestigious schools to select disciples by calling out the name of the unworthy and verifying their character and talent.

“You must have endured much hardship.”

“Since it was for the North Palace Clan, I never considered it hardship.”

Startled by the sudden mention of the family name, I looked up in surprise as he knelt on one knee and prostrated himself.

“I can guess why you’ve come.”

“……I have no intention of forcing you.”

“An opportunity to return to the Black Dragon Sect has presented itself, yet you refuse? To let such a once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away—wouldn’t that make you a fool?”

“It’s been a hundred years since the Black Dragon Sect split off. Isn’t that too long to remain trapped in the past?”

“Though I endured the shame of living off the underworld, it was that very past that allowed me to survive until now. My grandfather said that without that glorious past, I would have given up long ago and returned to my hometown.”

“……Even if you follow me, I cannot promise a glorious future. It’s not even certain we can rebuild the North Palace family.”

Rebuilding the North Palace family itself is easy.

Simply writing <House of North Palace> beside the banner of the former royal family would suffice.

But that wasn’t what everyone wanted. It wasn’t a simple revival; it was about reclaiming the glory of the past, when they were called the Western Waves and ruled the world.

It means the Namgung Clan must possess strength comparable to the reborn Lion Alliance to stand a chance.

Knowing this, North Palace Chang smiled faintly.

“But the chances are now at least ten times greater than before. And I believe Your Highness will succeed.”

Their eyes met. A resolute determination shone in his gaze.

“Why don’t you get up? The disciples are watching…”

“I won’t rise until you permit it.”

“Should I just leave?”

“Even if you come back tomorrow, I’ll still be in this position. The day after tomorrow will be the same.”

Hearing his voice, I was certain. There was no breaking this stubbornness.

With no other choice, I grabbed both his shoulders and forced him to his feet.

“I’ll be counting on you from now on. Black Dragon Commander.”

“I will pledge my life in loyalty.”

It was the moment the Zhenwang Sect absorbed the Black Dragon Sect.

* * *

With the Black Dragon Sect—no, the Black Dragon Corps joining them, the Zhenwang Sect now possessed even greater strength than before the war.

While increased strength was welcome, one thing honestly worried him. It was the possibility of a power struggle over hierarchy.

Iron Blood Corps, having been with the former royal family since its inception, could be called founding members, but the Black Dragon Corps’ history was in no way inferior. They were people who had pledged loyalty for generations, starting from the North Palace Clan.

But my worries proved to be nothing but groundless fears.

“I will serve you as my elder brother.”

The elders, having witnessed North Palace Chang’s fearless sacrifice in the last war, bowed their heads to him.

And with him and the other Black Dragon Corps officers also offering respectful greetings, the internal arrangements were settled.

‘As expected.’

It was a sight befitting members of the prestigious orthodox sect, the Jeonwang Sect.

Fortunately, there was no major friction, but still, considering the future, I found myself troubled, thinking it might be better to reorganize the group.

However, he advised leaving Yookhak, who had ascended to the position of Supreme Leader after the Black Dragon Sect joined, in place.

Oh, and for reference, the position of Chief Commander of the Iron Blood Corps was taken by Jonggeuk-rin, who formed a master-disciple bond with Yukhak and whose skills are improving by the day.

They say he’s certain to reach the pinnacle within the next two or three years.

“Let the Black Dragon Corps grow strong as the Black Dragon Corps, and let the Iron Blood Corps grow strong as the Iron Blood Corps.”

“But won’t that create an imbalance in our forces?”

“That’s fine in its own way. Who says you have to use only legendary swords?”

“Hmm…”

“And seeing that fellow, North Palace Chang, he’s no ordinary man. It seems the Black Dragon Corps has a few peak masters too. Even if we leave them be, they’ll handle it well enough.”

“If Uncle Yook says so, then I suppose…”

“Stop arguing and just trust me this once. Even though I look like this, I’ve lived my life hearing that my eye for martial artists is truly legendary.”

“Understood. But why is that legendary eye in such a state?”

“Ah, no, this… It’s nothing.”

“What’s not to be surprised about? Your eye is all black and blue… It looks like you got hit by someone…”

After several rounds of questioning, Yukhak finally spoke with a pained expression.

“Ahem. I hear you asked His Majesty to observe the martial arts of the disciples?”

“No, I did ask that, but why did the old man get hit?”

“I… I don’t know either. He suddenly said I looked weak and started beating me up…”

“……”

Our Grandmaster’s educational philosophy… seems vastly different from mine.

Still, well… since it’s all for our own good, I can’t help but hope that someday everyone will come to understand his true intentions.

* * *

Sanying, Qinghai Province.

The demon army of Sichuan was advancing toward the Tianshan Mountains, plundering every village and city in its path to fulfill the final command of the Ten Demon Lords.

They seized food and money, killed children and the elderly, and dragged off adult men and women to enslave them.

The reason was simple.

The Demon Clan’s revival.

To achieve this, he must seclude himself in the Tianshan Mountains for decades, even centuries, to cultivate his martial arts. During this time, he requires labor to secure food supplies.

Thanks to this, the remnants of the Demon Path shed even more blood than when they advanced into Hanjung.

And.

Suddenly.

Before them appeared two men, one clad in a dark green robe and the other in a black robe.

An unusual aura emanated from them.

But the remnants of the Demon Sect relied on their numbers, exceeding four thousand heads.

Even if those two were absolute masters, there was no way they could handle all of them.

But that was their mistake.

“We’ve come to witness the end of the Demon Sect.”

As the middle-aged man in the black robe waved his hand, a fiery ball of intense heat shot out, igniting the floor.

Whoosh.

The flames spread with uncanny speed.

They must have soaked the floor with oil beforehand.

“Yik! Kill them!”

Only then did the mages realize something was wrong and rush out to attack.

Sizzle.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

This time, the smoke rising from the flames was the problem.

The moment they inhaled the dark green smoke, they all clutched their throats and collapsed.

And then.

“Leave not a single remnant of the Demon Path alive at Nine Dragons Fortress! Behead them all!”

The elite forces of Guryongseong, who had launched a surprise attack from the rear, charged forward to sever the last vestiges of the Demon Sect.