Chapter 230 Turbulent Nine Dragons (9)

Chapter 230: Turbulent Nine Dragons (9)

“Master… No, Sifu.”

“What is it?”

“Why don’t you become the city lord?”

At those easygoing words, my master looked at me with eyes that said, What is this guy scheming now?

“Wouldn’t it be fitting? Since you’ve already dedicated yourself to Nine Dragons Castle, you should serve as its lord once before retiring.”

The so-called salaried president, or in professional terms, a professional manager. In American parlance, a CEO.

It’s a position everyone in the workforce dreams of, but my master isn’t one of those ‘everyone.’

“Nonsense.”

“No, why?”

“It’s a waste of time.”

He just kept drinking as if it were a bother.

“Even if it’s a waste of time, you must do it.”

“……Why?”

“For the sake of Jeonwangmun’s greatness.”

“Explain that in detail.”

“Before that, Master said that if the Green Dragon Sect Leader becomes the Sect Head, the Zhenwang Sect cannot grow.”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“……”

“Could it be… you desire a scenario where Gu Long Castle vanishes and the Zhen Wang Sect takes its place?”

“……Correct.”

A plan to devour the fractured Nine Dragons Fortress.

It was cold and despicable, yet he couldn’t condemn it.

Because I knew just how crucial rebuilding the North Palace Clan was to him.

“I see.”

“Did you expect this?”

“A little bit.”

“You’re as sharp as a tack, just like me. Truly my disciple.”

“…….”

“I didn’t think that way from the start. I figured no matter how much Baek Jung-cheon raged, he’d never get the position of city lord.”

“……But then?”

“I can’t say exactly why, but something made me certain he would win. So I decided to stand aside.”

“Because that’s how Nine Dragons Fortress would be torn apart?”

“Exactly. I thought it would create an opportunity for the Jeonwang Gate. With Father present, the task would be even easier.”

Master downed his drink in one gulp and asked.

“Yeah, you’re right. If I become the lord, could I rebuild the clan any faster than this?”

“No way. How could we possibly pull off such a destructive plan?”

“Then what?”

“But couldn’t we protect the common people’s lives? Imagine the Eight Clans of Nine Dragons Fortress splitting apart. That day, Sichuan would become hell. Even if the Zhenwang Sect intervened, it might take years to restore order.”

He poured wine into his master’s empty cup as he continued.

“So what if it’s a little slow? What’s wrong with taking it slow? Building a solid, tall tower is what matters. We’re still young, aren’t we? And I, too, have no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.”

“…….”

“Because we’ll devour the White Dragon Sect and put an end to that ancient grudge.”

And while we’re at it, we’ll take the North Palace family’s inheritance too.

He chuckled.

Master Bukgung let out his characteristic scoff and downed his cup of wine.

“Very well. I’ll do as you say. I’ll become the clan leader. But to do that, don’t I need the Green Dragon Sect Leader’s consent?”

“I already settled the matter yesterday. Only your decision remains, Master.”

It was the day before the Nine Dragons Tournament.

* * *

And today.

As promised, the Green Dragon Sect Leader publicly proclaimed his master as the new Sect Leader before everyone.

“……”

The Nine Dragons Assembly was enveloped in silence.

Not only the warriors of the Nine Dragons Fortress, but even the leaders of each faction stood with their mouths agape.

Bearing the weight of their gazes, the Green Dragon Sect Leader spoke in a powerful voice.

“The Outer Sect Leader is a man whose devotion to the Nine Dragons Fortress runs so deep that he fought at the very forefront against the Ten Demon Clans. His martial prowess is also unmatched, ranking among the Ten Great Masters of the world. I believe there is no one more suited to be the Fortress Lord than him.”

As a lord, he may not be perfect, but he’s well over seventy points—that’s my master.

Now, the Green Dragon Sect Leader, an absolute master, has coolly relinquished his claim to the position and declared his support. This earns bonus points, making him a 99-point Sect Leader.

Add to that the Red Dragon Sect Leader’s declaration of support.

“The Green Dragon Sect Leader is absolutely right! Our Red Dragon Sect will support the Outer Sect Leader.”

The Black Dragon Sect Leader’s endorsement was added.

“The Black Dragon Sect also believes there is no one else worthy of entrusting the future of Nine Dragons City but the Outer Sect Leader.”

He immediately sent a telepathic message to express his gratitude.

[Thank you, Sect Leader.]

[Treat Hwaran well, you bastard. Didn’t you just get stood up not long ago?]

[Don’t worry about it. The Green Dragon Sect Leader appointed an external sect leader in his place, so I’m just following him.]

This is all thanks to living life with sincerity.

After all, if you live doing your best, doesn’t it come back to you in some form?

‘It’s as good as winning.’

As the situation changed abruptly, the White Dragon Sect Leader and the Silver Dragon Sect Leader shouted.

“The White Dragon Sect supports the Blue Dragon Sect Leader!”

“Our Silver Dragon Sect stands with you as well!”

They had convened a shareholders’ meeting to shift the atmosphere.

But even that was all part of the game I had set up.

Those supporting the master are the Green Dragon, Red Dragon, and Black Dragon.

The faction supporting the Blue Dragon Sect Leader consists of the White Dragon, Silver Dragon, and Blue Dragon.

With the tie still unbroken, the remaining contenders are the Gray Dragon and the Gold Dragon.

Well, the Gray Dragon.

“The Gray Dragon won’t voice an opinion. Just let anyone do it… What kind of nonsense is this…”

Anyway, I never expected anything from them, whose brains are filled with muscle.

They would have chosen neutrality regardless of who stepped forward or how much anyone offered them.

That leaves only the Golden Dragon faction.

Although the matter required confidentiality, I hadn’t met with the head of Geumryongdang beforehand to prepare, but I was confident.

Not only had I personally saved his life, but the Jeonwangmun and Geumryongdang were also business partners.

You could call us partners in crime.

‘It’s a 4:3 victory for us.’

Oh, and for reference, the outer factions without shares had no voting rights.

Anyway, that’s how I was certain of victory.

“Heh heh heh.”

A near-perfect conclusion.

A laugh escaped me.

Because I had completely thwarted Baek Jung-cheon’s scheme.

Now all I need is proof that the bastard has joined forces with the Lion Clan to bring down the White Dragon Sect.

No, I don’t even need evidence.

In the martial world, evidence is something only the powerless quibble over.

Just insist this bastard is the culprit.

‘After all, the dead can’t talk.’

We’ll simply seize the White Dragon Sect’s assets and businesses and incorporate them into the Zhenwang Sect.

And my master, who will become the new lord, will help with this.

“Let’s see…”

That’s how I confirmed the face of Baek Jung-cheon, the defeated one.

And then.

“Huh? What is it?”

I sensed something was wrong.

Baek Jung-cheon simply wore a serene smile, showing no sign of panic whatsoever.

Just as an uneasy feeling was overwhelming his entire body.

“…The Golden Dragon Sect will support the Blue Dragon Sect Leader.”

Contrary to my expectations, the Golden Dragon Sect leader betrayed us.

[Master!]

I immediately sent a telepathic message to him, but he remained unresponsive, his eyes closed.

“It seems we’ve won, but…”

Baek Jung-cheon sneered with the arrogant smirk of a victor.

I couldn’t just stand by. If Nine Dragon Fortress fell into that bastard’s hands, the Zhenwang Sect wouldn’t survive.

“Objection!”

“Former King’s Gate Master, I don’t know how you got this far, but this is a crucial gathering to select the new city lord. There’s no place for outsiders here.”

“I came as a disciple of the Outer Sect Master. And given that I fought hard enough to earn first-class merit in this war, surely I deserve a word?”

Baek Jung-cheon glared. Baek Sang-ji of the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Silver Dragon Sect Leader beside him fixed their gaze on me.

“Then speak.”

“I understand that the great swordsman Baek Sang-ji of the Thousand-Character Sword retired over thirty years ago. For such a man to take the position of a monk and serve the city lord—is this not an act contrary to the principles of the Golden Lotus Sect?”

“I was wondering what argument you’d make, but it’s the most predictable topic imaginable.”

Baek Jungcheon infused his voice with inner strength as he continued.

“What is the way of the martial world!”

At his cry, all within the Nine Dragons Fortress held their breath and focused.

“It is the consideration the strong show the weak. The master gives the novice a chance, and those who have learned martial arts do not wield their swords against the common folk. Is this not so!”

“……”

“How can one speak of martial arts principles when the hermit of Eunjarim has reemerged into the world to protect the common folk living in these troubled times!”

‘A classic case of muddying the waters…’

What I asked about was the unspoken rule regarding retirement, but Baek Jung-cheon countered with the martial world’s code of protecting the weak.

A completely illogical answer.

The problem was that our uneducated warriors of Guryongseong nodded in agreement.

It seemed to be the habit of the righteous martial world—not some commoners’ group, yet they nodded at the mere mention of common folk.

‘This is driving me crazy…’

So I asked again.

“Is there any proof that the great hero Baek Sangji came out to protect the common people?”

“The heroic deeds performed by the Heavenly Sword here in his youth are proof.”

Then applause erupted from all sides.

Woo-hoo! Right on! The former sect leader should step down!

Gulp.

Faced with the barrage of criticism erupting from all sides, I gritted my teeth.

‘No, look at the context!’

When asked for proof, he’s just insisting he acted in solidarity when he was young.

Yet seeing the warriors cheering him on, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘These damned warriors…’

He’s clearly got nothing but a knife in his head.

I don’t know for sure, but if they just let a few South Korean con artists loose in the martial arts world, they’d definitely rake in all the money in the Central Plains.

Anyway, if things continue like this, it’s obvious the Blue Dragon Sect Leader will ascend to the new castle lord position.

I ordered my brain’s CPU to overclock in search of a solution.

‘Dead end.’

Nothing came to mind.

Baek Jung-cheon, seemingly aware of this, smiled smugly.

“It seems there are no further objections… Wouldn’t it be best to reach a conclusion now? Green Dragon Sect Leader.”

“……”

He subtly pressured the Green Dragon Sect Leader.

But what kind of person is our Master North Palace?

He’s not someone who lacks even a shred of common sense.

“No matter how I think about it, I see no reason to take orders from someone weaker than myself. If the Blue Dragon Sect Leader becomes the city lord, I’ll leave Nine Dragons Fortress that very day.”

“Hmph, go ahead…”

“And at the same time, I’ll destroy every single one of the White Dragon Sect’s businesses. Not a single one will be left standing.”

Whoa.

This wasn’t just a quarrel; it was a full-blown declaration of war.

And he did it right in front of the two thousand martial artists of Nine Dragons City.

Though rage boiled up inside him, Baek Jung-cheon responded calmly, perhaps thinking it was a done deal.

“As I said earlier, that part…”

“So you mean it’s fine because the Heavenly Sword over there will assist the new castle lord?”

“…That’s correct.”

“That’s precisely the problem.”

“……?”

“How strong can an old man on his last legs really be? He’d be lucky if he didn’t break his back swinging that sword.”

At this point, I have to admit it.

The greatest trash-talker in the martial world isn’t me, but my master.

After hearing that, how could the Thousand-Character Sword just stand by?

“Your insolence knows no bounds! Even your father showed me respect!”

“Getting old must be making him senile. Our father isn’t the type to bow and scrape to anyone.”

“If I don’t kill you today, I’ll cut off my own arm!”

“Father and son, both one-armed… How splendid.”

Whoosh!

The two men unleashed their fury at each other.

Meanwhile, watching the chaos unfold, I thought to myself.

‘Since it’s come to this…’

It was actually for the best.

Things had already blown up, and doing nothing would surely lead to ruin. At this point, killing Baek Sang-ji might actually be the better option.

Isn’t the lesser evil better than the worst possible outcome?

Crackle. Snap.

I prepared the Hell’s Mirror to feed to Baek Sang-ji.

Just as the master and Baek Sang-ji were about to clash.

“Stop!”

Three old men flew in from somewhere.

One of them was a familiar face.

“Little Grandfather?”

It was Taecheong Jin-in of Myeongryongdang.