Chapter 228 Turbulent Nine Dragons (7)

Chapter 228: Turbulent Nine Dragons (7)

Grandmaster Taiching entered in great alarm.

“……”

The interior felt completely devoid of any presence.

He scanned the surroundings, mobilizing not only his five senses but also his qi perception.

After a moment.

“……!”

Something registered in his aura perception.

If it weren’t for the current circumstances, he would have dismissed it as mere mountain beast life force—so feeble that the impatient Immortal Taecheong swiftly deployed his shape-shifting technique.

Upon reaching the source, he could not contain his shock.

“Wh-what is this?!”

A vast blood mist flowed ceaselessly, devouring the life force of the three people within.

How could such an ominous sorcery be unfolding in the Hermit Forest?

“Go!”

In an instant, the left arm of the sword-wielding Immortal Taecheong shot out like lightning.

Four-Sword Successor’s Four Swords.

Though unleashed with his left arm instead of his right, the technique possessed power sufficient to shake heaven and earth.

Moreover, true to Daoist martial arts, it even had the effect of disrupting morale.

Grandmaster Taiching believed this single move would dispel the blood mist.

But.

Kuuuung.

“……”

The blood mist was only briefly disturbed before flowing majestically once more.

Caught off guard by this unexpected turn, the Immortal of the Azure Sea clenched his teeth in frustration.

“What kind of sorcery is this?!”

He summoned his inner energy with all his might.

As a vibrant aura enveloped his entire body, he swung his sword once more, unleashing the supreme art of the Four-Sword Style.

Whoosh! Kuuu.

The blood mist shook violently, a hole pierced through it.

A different outcome than before.

But that was all.

“…Hmph!”

The hole was pierced, but only temporarily, and the blood continued to flow.

With a perplexed expression, Taecheong Jin-in muttered.

“They say one comes to the Tao Forest seeking the Tao, only to find the Tao was never there…”

Could any day be more fitting for that saying than today?

Whoosh.

His sword flashed brightly once more.

* * *

A moment later.

“Huff! Huff!”

After unleashing the Four-Sword Technique over ten times, the Great Blue Immortal collapsed to the ground.

He had drained his inner energy to the very bottom, leaving him exhausted.

But there was a result.

Gurgle, shhhhh.

The thick blood mist cleared, revealing the people trapped inside.

“Oh, my…!”

Seeing the state of the three people trapped within the blood mist, the Immortal of the Azure Sea hurried toward them.

No visible injuries were apparent, but their innate vital energy—the source of their life force—was severely damaged.

“Tai… Taiqing?”

His head turned at the faint voice that reached him.

“Former Sect Leader!”

It was Jeon Baek, the former leader of the Hwaryong Hall.

Thanks to the Huilong Sect’s characteristic robust physique, he had apparently endured even within the influence of the Blood Mist.

Taecheong Jin-in placed his hand on his back, boosting his internal energy.

Whoosh!

Receiving the initial energy, his innate qi reacted, and color quickly returned to Jeon Baek’s face.

“What’s going on?”

“First, let’s save those fellows.”

At his words, Grandmaster Taecheong nodded.

He placed his hand on the back of Elder Yi Feng of the Blue Dragon Sect.

Whoosh.

After checking Elder Lee Feng’s condition, he was startled.

The sea-like qi surging beneath his palm.

Even with his innate qi damaged, the surging, undulating qi revealed the depth of Lee Pung’s cultivation.

‘Who could possibly be this martial artist!’

It was an utterly inexplicable phenomenon.

But the urgent matter now was saving these people.

Thus, Taecheong Jinren finished saving the last person, Dang Ducheon, the former elder of the Green Dragon Sect, with beads of sweat pouring down his face.

“Huff…”

He caught his breath and approached Zhen Bai. He intended to hear the full account of the incident.

“The rules of the Silver Forest have collapsed.”

Zhen Bai gritted his teeth as he continued.

“Because of that bastard, Baek Sang-ji.”

A look of horror settled in the eyes of the Great Immortal.

* * *

“Ugh… No, what about the liquor…”

His head spun from drinking all night with Master Bukgung.

I don’t know how that old man over fifty can drink so well.

“They say the liver is a silent assassin…”

The moment he opened his eyes, Master began his day with morning jukyeopcheong. His liver must be fatty liver disease with a fat content of over 5%.

‘Not good.’

From now on, he must exercise sufficiently, consume low-sodium, low-fat foods, and avoid stress to escape the curse of fatty liver disease.

Well, as you know, liver transplants don’t exist in this world, so you have to take care of your health yourself.

While walking and lost in pointless thoughts, a cheerful voice reached my ears.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Huh? Nothing. Just… something.”

Jik Hwa-ran rolled her eyes.

“You said you’d pick one out for me, but you didn’t even bother… You’re really terrible.”

“I didn’t ask to come out…”

I was dragged out by Jeokhwaran, who barged in while I was sleeping in my underwear.

Of course, I refused.

‘I risked my life to help Gagga… Can’t you even do this much?’

‘What’s this all of a sudden?’

Using the Han-China affair as an excuse, she was trying to paint me as an ungrateful beast, so I had no choice.

Yeah, honestly, I didn’t care much about that part.

After all, I’d benefited greatly from the trap she’d set in Hanjung.

However, the shopping difficulty level for the nth-generation heiress of a conglomerate was higher than I had anticipated.

“How about this one?”

“Hmm, not really. You don’t know much about women’s clothes, do you?”

“Well, how am I supposed to know that…”

“Try opening your aesthetic sense a bit more.”

This damn woman?

“Well, then how about this one?”

“Better than before, but it still doesn’t quite catch my eye. Looks like something you’d wear twice or thrice before shoving it into a corner.”

“Ah. Ha. Ha. Hwaran hates blue, huh? Well, how about this one?”

When he pulled out the red jacket, she finally nodded.

“Hmm… This… feels… kinda nice. I can tell His Majesty thinks of me specially.”

I had no idea what she was talking about, but I just let it slide.

“Well, well! I picked this out thinking of Hwaran.”

“Huh, really?”

Because I wanted to finish this quickly and go home.

Hold it in, hold it in, hold it in.

“But what are you writing on your palm?”

“Huh? Nothing.”

“Never mind then.”

“Alright, now. We bought clothes, so let’s go home.”

Hearing the suggestion to head home since their goal was achieved, Jeokhwaran hesitated.

“What are you doing, not coming?”

“……I changed my mind.”

“What? What is it?”

“I don’t want this. Please pick something else.”

“No, why…?”

“I just don’t like it.”

In the end, I continued the hellish shopping trip, silently cursing under my breath.

An hour passed like this.

Growl.

At the thunderous rumble from her stomach, Jie Hualian turned her head with a bright smile.

“You must be hungry?”

“Thanks to someone, I couldn’t even eat breakfast before coming out.”

“Oh dear, my mistake.”

“Now that you know, please hurry up and choose something…”

Ignoring my words, Jie Hualan pointed to an expensive liquor.

“How about we go over there? I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Alright… I can’t take any more of this.”

Hot, exhausted, and irritation welling up inside, my feet naturally carried me toward the bar.

But as they say, patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet?

The food at the bar she led me to was insanely delicious.

Slurp. Munch.

If the martial arts world had a Michelin guide, it would have earned three stars instantly.

“It’s so good, why aren’t you eating?”

After devouring everything frantically, he realized Zhi Huolan hadn’t touched her food and asked.

Just watching Her Majesty eat is enough to fill me up.

Gulp.

“You’re lying. You used to eat five plates of dumplings back in the day… Whoa!”

Realizing he’d said the wrong thing, he quickly shut his mouth, but Jik Hwa-ran merely smiled quietly, showing no particular reaction.

“Here, have a drink.”

She slowly unscrewed the cap of the liquor bottle.

“I drank a lot yesterday… Huh?”

Her eyes widened at the sweet aroma of the liquor.

“What is this?”

“Try it.”

She downed the drink she poured in one gulp.

“Whoa…”

It would be an understatement to call it heavenly.

To compare it… Honghuaju… No, it was far superior to Honghuaju.

“Heh heh, this is our newly developed Hongluju.”

“Hongluju? Then this place is…”

She covered her mouth with her hand and nodded.

“That’s right. It’s a newly opened tavern. Today is the opening day.”

Wait, how long had it been since we parted ways in Kuryongseong, and already she’d set up a new business?

And it looks just as luxurious as the Moon and Flower Pavilion… no, even more expensive. A top-tier tavern.

“What do you think? It’s decent, right?”

Nodding, he thought that if there was a Mr. Baek in the modern world, perhaps there was a Zhi Hualian in the martial arts world.

“It’s fine. Must’ve cost you a pretty penny, huh?”

“Heh heh heh.”

“But couldn’t you have just come here from the start?”

“I was just killing time until the door to Juru opened.”

“Then you could’ve just waited to see it open. What’s the rush, like a couple reuniting after a breakup…?”

“Couple? Couple?!”

Jik Hwa-ran’s face flushed instantly, and she bowed her head deeply.

“……”

There was no way I didn’t understand what that gesture meant.

She’d told me she liked me more than a hundred times.

But I cannot accept her little heart.

The matter with Myohyang hasn’t been settled yet, has it?

“Hwaran. As you know, I and Sister Myo…”

At the mention of Myohyang’s name, she lifted her head with a fierce glare.

“I am!”

Jik Hwaran bit her lip.

“Huuu…”

She calmed her excitement and slowly opened her mouth.

“Your Highness said the three wives and four concubines were a dream, right?”

“How did you…?”

“You once told me when you were drunk. You said your dream was to earn a lot of money, take three wives and four concubines, and live in a house of pleasure.”

“No.”

You don’t talk about things like that where people can hear.

There are people here too.

A tingling sensation.

The stares from those around her, as if observing an antisocial figure walking a path of heresy, made her skin tingle.

But Jik Hwa-ran merely raised her eyes and said what she meant to say, paying no attention whatsoever to such gazes.

“If I can be with Gagawa, I’d be happy to be his second. Or even his third. As long as I’m not just a concubine.”

“What? What did you say?”

“Exactly what I said. I wouldn’t mind if Lord Kaga took Myo-unni as his first wife. If I’d known this would happen, I should have made it a done deal at the Ascension Pavilion…”

“Are you crazy? People will hear.”

“What’s the big deal? They’re our people anyway.”

“No.”

That’s precisely the problem.

Things are already dizzying enough with all the power struggles over the position of Seongju, and now this kid’s acting up too… it’s making my head spin…

Wait a minute?

“Hwaran, what did you say earlier?”

“Huh? I said everyone here is on our side.”

“No, before that.”

“My… sister?”

“Before that?”

“If I could be with Gagawa, even if it was the second or third time…”

Flash.

A realization struck him like lightning, flashing through his mind.

The conversation I’d shared with the Green Dragon Sect Leader flashed back to me.

‘I don’t want to be the lord of the fortress.’

‘But I dislike Guryongseong falling into chaos even more. And I dislike the people’s lives becoming harder because of it even more. Isn’t this still a time of chaos?’

Whether he meant it or not, the Green Dragon Sect Leader was far from eager to become the city lord.

He was only accepting it because he hated seeing Guryongseong fall into chaos.

On the other hand, Master Beogung was not particularly pleased about the Green Dragon Sect Leader becoming the castle lord.

He seemed to believe a young, powerful city lord leading Nine Dragons City would hinder the growth of the Zhenwang Sect.

Then.

Why can’t someone other than the Green Dragon Sect Master become the sect leader?

Just then, a face came to mind.

Suddenly.

“Ga… Ga-ga?”

My butt was tingling; I couldn’t sit still.

“Sorry! Something urgent just came up. I’ll head out first.”

“Huh? But we already booked a room…”

I had no idea why we booked a room, but now wasn’t the time to argue about that.

“I’ll buy you clothes next time!”

I bolted straight out of the bar.

“Hey, hey, you bastard!”

Leaving behind Jihwa-ran’s heart-wrenching cry.