Chapter 146 : Chapter 146

Chapter 146. Embers (1)

At my provocative remark, some of the executives who were watching from the side drew their weapons and stood up.

“What!”

“You young pup, where do you think this is to be running your mouth so carelessly!”

Ignoring their murderous glares and curses, I looked at the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader.

At this, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader revealed his yellow teeth as if he found it interesting.

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader turned his gaze away from me and spoke to the executives who had thrown a fit.

“What are you doing. Anyone who sees this would think we are people who plan to continue being bandits.”

“……I apologize, Fortress Leader.”

As they hurriedly glanced at the leader and sat down, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader looked at me again.

“So you’re saying you came because we are painting a bigger picture?”

“That’s right.”

“What if we can’t accept you?”

“Then we will simply leave.”

I had no intention of doing so, but for now, I acted confident as if I were sincere.

“You, Fortress Leader, gauged my level at a glance. You must have also recognized the level of my companions. If you cast us out despite recognizing our level, doesn’t that mean you have the eyes but not the capacity to embrace us?”

Once again, some of the executives threw a fit.

“How dare this brat!!”

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader glared at me with murderous eyes.

Hwangbo Ak also frowned.

Regardless, I looked at the leader confidently.

Of course, if a fight broke out now, it would be very dangerous.

But that was why I had to act even more confidently.

Like a brat who has some skill but lacks experience and doesn’t know his place.

Just like the young prodigies of the Seomoon Clan or the Pyo Clan did at first.

Only then could I avoid the suspicion of that old fox.

Also, I had something to believe in.

These guys. No, at least the leader, was planning to make a deal with the government according to Jo Ryeong’s advice.

At least until the government came, they needed to build up their strength as much as possible.

Conversely, if their plan went to waste, it was the same.

In the end, they would have to fight the government, so they had to build up their strength.

If they fought us in the meantime, the power of the Nine Dragons Fortress would inevitably decrease.

On the other hand, if they embraced us, it would be a great help to their power.

In the end, it was a gamble I took because the leader had roughly gauged our skills.

The leader, who had been shooting killing intent, suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Kuhahahaha!”

Soon after, the leader turned his head and looked at Hwangbo Ak.

“Ak.”

“Yes, Fortress Leader!”

“Where did you pick up guys like you again. Hahaha. Just by looking at them, they seem crazy about fighting.”

“Hahaha. You guessed it right, Fortress Leader. Brother Jin there is a fighting ghost no less than me.”

At Hwangbo Ak’s answer, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader nodded and said.

“Good. It’s the day new brothers have joined our Nine Dragons Fortress, so we should share a drink to strengthen our friendship! Bring in the drinks right now!”

Fortunately, my gamble seemed to have worked.

***

The drinking party continued for quite a while.

The bandits took turns talking to me.

“Hahahaha. I am the Vice-Fortress Leader, Yeom Hwaek.”

Every time they greeted me, I recorded their faces and names in my mental hit list.

Of course, Hwangbo Ak also sat by our side and chattered away.

“Hahaha. I am truly happy that we have become mountain brothers!”

The frowning from a moment ago seemed to have been erased from his mind.

“Hehehe. Actually, I was a little angry at Brother Jin’s words just now. How can you doubt the capacity of our magnanimous foster father! But as expected, our magnanimous Fortress Leader embraced you all, so everything seems to be going well!”

What kind of person was the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader in this guy's head?

He seemed to be imprinted as a hero of a turbulent age, the likes of which the world had never seen.

I stealthily turned my head to observe the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, who was listening to the flattery of his subordinates and tilting his cup.

It was very different from the rumors I had heard in the future.

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader died fighting after being poisoned by the wine.

Just like now, after drinking the wine his subordinates poured for him.

From the rumors alone, he seemed like a foolish bandit leader.

But the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader I felt myself was a battle-hardened tiger.

He didn't look like a guy who would easily get backstabbed somewhere.

Where did this gap come from?

He was a battle-hardened tiger now, but after a few years, I wondered if he had gone beyond being seasoned and had become completely senile.

***

After the drinking party ended and everyone had left, the excited voices of a man and a woman echoed relentlessly inside the moonlit house.

One side of the huge wooden house where the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader stayed.

The woman, her face flushed as if she had just had a satisfying encounter, asked the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader.

“My lord. What was the occasion for summoning all the executives today?”

Even though she had already heard all the news, Jo Ryeong put on an expression as if she knew nothing.

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader stroked her hair and told her what had happened at the meeting.

“So, I decided to accept them.”

A smile hung on the lips of the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader as he spoke.

A fierce smile.

“But I don't trust them completely, so don’t worry.”

“You are truly wise, my lord.”

Unlike the words she spoke, Jo Ryeong’s expression was somewhat complicated.

“Is something bothering you?”

“……It’s nothing, my lord.

“Just tell me. I’ll listen and judge whether it’s a serious problem or nothing.”

At this, Jo Ryeong showed a hint of hesitation before carefully opening her mouth.

“Actually, there is one thing that has been bothering me.”

“What is it?”

“The one who brought them was the Third Leader, wasn’t it?”

“Why does that bother you?”

“I am concerned that they might be followers of the Third Leader.”

At Jo Ryeong’s words, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader frowned.

“That seems a bit harsh.”

“I know your heart well, my lord. However, the Third Leader is dangerous.”

“Ahem.”

“There was also the matter of the spiritual herb, wasn't there?”

The stern expression of the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, who had been feigning it, momentarily crumpled.

A few years ago.

Hwangbo Ak, who used to roam the entire Nine Dragons Mountain as if it were his own home, one day luckily obtained a spiritual herb.

Hwangbo Ak claimed.

He just picked it up and ate it because it smelled good.

When he heard that story, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader outwardly congratulated him, but inwardly, he soothed his disappointment.

Wishing that he had eaten that spiritual herb himself.

Trying to shake off the feelings of that day, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader opened his mouth.

“Ahem. It was just a mistake the kid made because he didn't know any better. Rather, since he took the spiritual herb, he has been taking the lead, which has made things a lot easier for me, hasn't it?”

But it was Jo Ryeong who had already spotted the opening.

She said with a face full of worry.

“My lord. Have you by any chance heard of the old story called ‘Hoegyul Yuchin’?”

Hoegyul Yuchin. Or the old story called Yukjeok Hoegyul.

It was a story from when Yukjeok, from the state of Wu, was six years old and visited Yuan Shu with his father.

Yuan Shu served the father and son oranges, and Yukjeok hid these oranges in his bosom to take them with him.

But he was caught on his way back.

Seeing that, Yuan Shu laughed and asked, and the six-year-old Yukjeok replied.

That he took them because his mother, who couldn't come with them, liked oranges, and he wanted her to taste them.

Jo Ryeong, who had told that old story, added.

“Thus, if one is truly filial, one would even take what is not there to bring it.”

She was saying that although Hwangbo Ak claimed it was a mistake, he might have intentionally not handed over the spiritual herb.

“This time is no different. The Third Leader always says he has no greed for wealth and gives everything to you, my lord. However, he does not give up the most important things.”

“…….”

As the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader remained silent, Jo Ryeong also quietly shut her mouth.

It wasn't that she was watching his reaction.

This was enough.

Because she had planted suspicion in the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader's head. If she went any further, it would just become the nagging of a woman that he didn't want to hear.

As Jo Ryeong expected, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader was organizing his thoughts in his head.

‘Hah. They are both useful.’

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader was also somewhat aware that the relationship between Hwangbo Ak and Jo Ryeong was not good.

But both were people he was reluctant to lose.

One gave him pleasure and wisdom, and the other was his hands and feet, taking care of all the troublesome chores for him.

That's right. To the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, both were nothing more than tools.

That was why he had let it slide when Jo Ryeong brought up such stories before.

But this time, it was a little grating.

Hwangbo Ak’s skills were improving day by day anyway.

At that moment, he brought in guys with considerable skills.

What if those brats were really on Hwangbo Ak’s side?

Such suspicion kept swirling in his mind like a thorn in his throat.

Of course, he didn't believe that all of Hwangbo Ak’s past actions were an act.

But people change.

‘If he becomes stronger than me, he might change his mind at any time.’

Because he would have betrayed at any time. There was no law that said Hwangbo Ak wouldn't.

But it was a waste to throw away such a useful card right away.

After pondering this for a while, a useful idea came to the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader's mind.

“Then, we can just check whether they are on Hwangbo Ak’s side or if they will truly follow me, can’t we?”

“How do you plan to check?”

“Let’s test the ones who came this time. And if he is truly on Hwangbo Ak’s side, it’s a shame, but I’ll have to get rid of him.”

As he said that, killing intent glistened on the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader's face.

Despite his terrifying face, Jo Ryeong let out a sweet voice and burrowed into the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader's embrace.

“You are truly my lord. Your wisdom cannot be compared to that of a young girl who has only learned knowledge through books.”

And a short while later.

Looking down at the woman who was moaning underneath him, the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader recalled.

The time when this woman first came to him.

- It is the man who rules the world. How can I, a woman, dare to deceive you, Fortress Leader?

- This young girl only wants to make you a Hegemon. If so, wouldn’t this young girl also be able to become the wife of a Hegemon?

Hwangbo Ak had the risk of killing him if he grew stronger.

But this woman was always beneath him.

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader thought so.

***

After the drinking party ended, we followed the bandits' guidance and moved somewhere.

A few wooden houses were there.

“You can use these two places together.”

The bandit who finished his guidance left after saying that.

“The men will sleep here, and the Senior Sisters will sleep over there.”

Fortunately, Hwangbo Ak had returned to his own house, so it seemed there would be no major problems.

Nam Geon was also big, but the size of the house was still enough for three to sleep in.

Before we roughly settled in and dispersed, I sent a Sound Transmission to Senior Sister Choyeon.

- How are the surroundings?

At this, Senior Sister Choyeon, even using ventriloquism, replied in a very small voice.

“It seemed there was surveillance.”

I nodded.

I had also roughly grasped it with my Qi sense.

- If you were to secretly move to the place where the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader resides, what do you think the chances are?

“Getting there is three-tenths. Killing him is less than one-tenth. Shall I go now?

I shook my head.

There were many ways to try if things went wrong. At least we had succeeded in penetrating to the heart of the fortress.

I could have my companions split up and set fire to the fortress, while I secretly went to the place where the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader resided and attempted an assassination.

“For today, just rest. But, just in case, let’s take turns keeping watch.”

After roughly deciding on the watch, we went to bed.

And the next morning. A bandit came to find us.

“The Fortress Leader is looking for you.”

“Let’s go.”

As I said that to my companions and we all stood up, the bandit quickly added.

“He said to only find the one named Jin Yuseong.”

What was the reason for specifically calling only me?

I was curious, but for now, I decided to accept it.

“I’ll be back.”

I said that out loud and sent a Sound Transmission to Senior Sister Baek Hyang.

- Just in case, be prepared for an attack. But, you must not show it too much.

A wise Senior Sister would be able to prepare well even without me.

After leaving my companions behind and walking for a while, I arrived at that place again.

But unlike last time, there were hardly any people there.

Hwangbo Ak and the other executives were also absent.

Instead, only two people, a man and a woman, were there.

The Nine Dragons Fortress Leader. And a woman I had never seen before.