Chapter 004: The Ink Dragon Gang

xx

"Hehe, I'm a bit busy today..."

"Stop making excuses and follow me."

The old man, who was precisely the Grand Elder of the Nine Dragons City and the current master of the Ink Dragon Gang, cut him off and walked ahead.

"Ah! I really am busy."

Slap!

"Ouch!"

"Do you know what day it was yesterday?"

"How would I know...?"

Wait, yesterday?

Suddenly, a doubt arose, and as I counted the days, I was taken aback.

"It was the anniversary of your senior brother's death. Yet, you didn't even show up."

Instantly, a wave of guilt washed over me.

'So that's why you counted the days by the lunar calendar.'

If I had counted by the solar calendar, I wouldn't have forgotten.

In a world without smartphones.

"I'm sorry."

"Understood. At least come and pay your respects at the memorial tablet, even if it's late."

"Yes."

As I followed the old man, old memories flooded back.

'Will you follow me?'

'What will happen if I do?'

'It depends on what you do. You could become a hero of the martial world or a mere outlaw warrior.'

'Will there be enough food?'

'Three meals a day, don't worry.'

'In that case, I'll follow you.'

The person who brought me to Nine Dragons City when I was on the brink of starvation was the senior brother of this old man.

Thanks to him, I almost became a Taoist when I arrived at Nine Dragons City.

'If you become a Taoist, you can't get married!'

Fortunately, I had some knowledge about Taoists from reading martial arts novels in my previous life. If not, I might have ended up as a lifelong bachelor Taoist.

'The thought alone is terrifying.'

To live as an old bachelor in both this life and my previous one.

If I hadn't rebelled with my life on the line back then, I would have thrown myself into the Yangtze River by now.

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

As we entered the Ink Dragon Gang, the members paid their respects to Grandmaster Taiqing.

It was only natural.

The predecessor of the Ink Dragon Gang was the Jianchang Sect, and Grandmaster Taiqing was the current sect leader's master.

For reference, the nine halls of Nine Dragons City are as follows:

Green Dragon Hall (Sichuan Tang Family)

Azure Dragon Hall (Qingcheng Sect)

White Dragon Hall (Bai Family Manor)

Golden Dragon Hall (Wanjinfu)

Silver Dragon Hall (Yincheng Escort Agency)

Gray Dragon Hall (Thousand Swords Gate)

Red Dragon Hall (Red King Gate)

Ink Dragon Hall (Jianchang Sect)

And the Outlaw Gang nationwide.

The above order is based on the influence each hall has in Nine Dragons City. Surprisingly, the Ink Dragon Hall is second from the bottom. Considering that the Outlaw Gang is the lowest and a common gang in the martial world, the Ink Dragon Hall is essentially the last.

Although it has almost no presence in martial arts novels, it is a major sect of the Nine Great Sects, which seems unfair.

There was a reason for this.

Unlike the Azure Dragon Hall (Qingcheng Sect), which quickly transitioned to a layman system, the Ink Dragon Hall still maintained a Taoist system.

As a result, it couldn't engage in active economic activities, leading to poor cash flow.

'Having only donations from disciples as a revenue model is unsustainable.'

This is why people need to study business management.

If there had been such a person in the Ink Dragon Hall, the situation might have been a bit better.

Of course, in my previous life, I entered the computer science department because I was told it would be easy to find a job.

As I walked towards the hall where the memorial tablets were enshrined.

"Whoa!"

Thud.

A group of ragged-looking young children ran towards me.

Judging by their sweat-soaked appearances, they had been practicing and then ran over.

"You'll get hurt! You brats!"

Most of them were familiar faces, so I greeted them warmly.

'Adorable kids.'

When I took out some coins from my pouch and distributed them, the children beamed.

"Thank you!"

"Sure, sure, you must repay this favor when you grow up."

As I patted the children's heads and gave them good wishes, I noticed Grandmaster Taiqing watching me from a distance with a smile.

And I soon realized something.

'I've been had!'

Indeed, the old man had released the young disciples—no, the juggling squad—right when I arrived, to give them pocket money.

While I wasn't upset about the money, I felt bitter about falling into the trap.

Grandmaster Taiqing said with a sly smile.

"These are the children who would have become your junior disciples if you had joined Jianchang."

"Then why don't you take care of them yourself?"

"Where does a Taoist get money from?"

"That's why you should engage in economic activities. Are you going to eat your great martial arts skills?"

"Tsk, the closer you get to the secular world, the further you get from the Dao."

"That's only true when you have rice in your granary. If you're about to starve to death tomorrow, what good is the Dao?"

"That's why I brought you here. Thanks to you, the young disciples can taste the sweetness of the hall. Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"Phew! What is the Ink Dragon Hall coming to...?"

After some playful banter, we arrived at the ancestral hall.

I stood in front of a memorial tablet in the front row.

Xianjianzi Yuesongbin.

The name of the person who brought me to Nine Dragons City, despite having no connection to me.

'Grandfather...'

Because he was the first person I formed a bond with in this world, I always thought of him as a close grandfather.

'Why don't you want to become a Taoist! It's such a good job.'

'How can you choose a life like it's a game character? I won't become a Taoist, so do whatever you want with me!'

'This, this brat!'

While not all my memories of him were good, they were mostly positive.

Once.

Twice.

After bowing twice in memory of Yuesongbin, Grandmaster Taiqing approached with something in hand.

"Cough, cough! Cough, cough!"

"Ugh."

It was the donation box.

***

The scolding that started in the morning continued until night.

After all, the person who brought me here was Grandmaster Taiqing, so there was no room for argument.

'Since I paid two silver taels, I should get some benefits.'

I intended to use the money to get a meal and a place to rest.

As I lay in a guest room in a corner of the Ink Dragon Hall, a familiar face appeared.

"Hey."

It was Weizhifeng, the senior brother of the Ink Dragon Hall.

For reference, Weizhifeng is one of the young aces of Nine Dragons City, having reached the peak at the age of twenty.

"Wow! Who is this? Isn't this the famous Weizhifeng of the Ink Dragon Sword, renowned in Nine Dragons City?!"

"Cough, a traitor to the sect knows me well, I see."

"What a hurtful thing to say! People might think it's true."

"You are a traitor for not joining the sect despite Master Bai taking the trouble to bring you across the Central Plains."

"That's why I just put two silver taels in the donation box."

"That's only natural since we performed the memorial service for Master Bai."

"While he was like a grandfather to me, he was also a senior in Jianchang. Not performing the memorial service would be a grave sin."

"You really don't give an inch, do you?"

"Didn't you know I'm unbeatable in arguments?"

Occasionally, I would resort to physical violence if I thought I was losing.

"Ha ha ha!"

Weizhifeng laughed heartily and poured tea.

We were close friends because we had grown up together.

'If I had become a disciple of Jianchang, the hierarchy would have made it hard to be this casual...'

Indeed, I seem to be a soul that yearns for freedom like a Taoist.

"So, how's your job?"

"It's a hundred times better than living in the Ascension Pavilion."

"Sure, you'd probably do well even if you were thrown into the Ten Horse Tethering."

"Isn't it about eating well and living well?"

"That's the point."

Weizhifeng took a sip of tea and continued.

"By the way, something big happened."

"Huh? What about me?"

"I'm talking about what happened at the hall leaders' meeting."

"How did you know about that?"

"Master told me."

"Right. It was really awkward to be called out in front of everyone."

It was true.

While Beigong Bai, the leader of the Outlaw Gang, could be overlooked as a foreign mercenary, the leader of the Ink Dragon Hall was a close friend.

The leaders of the other seven halls were a different story.

The current city lord is recruiting disciples through a public audition.

In the midst of this, if I caught his eye,

It would be like a new competitor appearing for the hall leaders who are pushing their own children or disciples to become the city lord's disciples.

'Probably around number 129...'

In a hellish Korea, it would be a negligible number, but this is the martial world.

There are plenty of people who would stab you in the back if you even slightly irritate them.

Weizhifeng was pointing out exactly this.

"Do you have any idea why?"

"Probably because of the martial arts technique I received from the city lord on the day of the Ascension Pavilion graduation ceremony."

"That's a benefit everyone gets for graduating top of their class. I got it too, so what's the big deal?"

"I received a technique personally created by the city lord."

"...That's just asking for trouble."

"Exactly."

Why give me a strange, non-standard technique instead of something like the SSR-level Heavenly Poison Heart Technique?

"There's nothing we can do, so you'll have to be careful for a while."

"Can't you help me?"

"Help? How?"

"The Outlaw Gang's Martial Affairs Hall is close to the Ink Dragon Hall. You could announce that you'll retaliate if they touch me."

"Do you think Grand Ancestor and Master would cause such a disturbance? And even if we did, would the other halls care?"

"You have a point."

"Still, don't worry too much. Since Grand Ancestor brought you here personally, they won't take direct action."

I was surprised by Weizhifeng's words.

I thought he had just come to extort money, but he had rushed here to protect me.

'Grandmaster Taiqing is different.'

In terms of pure martial arts, he is an unparalleled expert.

Receiving his protection made the two taels of friendship money a steal.

"You didn't have a clue, did you?"

"No, I didn't expect you to care so much."

"Are we strangers?"

"Not exactly, but we're not family either."

"Insane. That's enough, go to sleep."

As Weizhifeng was about to leave, I whispered to his back.

"One drink?"

That night, Weizhifeng and I reminisced about our childhood while drinking all night.

***

The next day.

I started my usual day by heading to the city gate.

Except for one thing.

"What is this?"

"Hehe, how about a bowl of rice wine after work..."

"Hey! What do you take me for! I'll forgive you this time, but you must be prepared next time!"

"Oh! I'm sorry!"

It was about not accepting bribes.

As a result, a merchant who was trying to cut the line looked at me with a puzzled expression after I blinked my eyes as a signal.

Seeming to understand, he nodded.

Being a merchant, he had a quick eye and seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

While I could accept bribes again when the situation calms down, it's a loss right now.

'Oh, what a headache.'

With the possibility of a hall watching me, if I were caught accepting a bribe, I would not only be fired but also have my meridians and dantian damaged and be expelled from the city.

Reaffirming the cruelty of the martial world, I continued my FM duty like a newly appointed sergeant.

"Next!"

Half a day later, the sun was setting, and it was time to close the gate.

As the crowd thinned, Yang Jiang, with a red face, confronted me.

"Captain! This is too much! If we can't even get pocket money, how are we supposed to live?"

"Right! The tyrant captain must step down!"

"Step down! Step down!"

The team members quickly joined in, raising their right arms in unison.

Shocked by the sudden union activity, I tried to calm them down.

"Hey! Everyone, calm down!"

"Step down! Step down!"

But they were like zombies, ignoring my words.

'Damn it.'

In the end, I had to empty my pouch to seek a labor-management agreement.

"I'll buy drinks after work!"

"Cough, cough, what kind?"

"Wh, white wine?"

"Step down! Step down!"

"Rice wine!"

"Since we're friends, I'll treat you to this much."

The team members, led by Yang Jiang, who initiated the strike, left their posts.

I shouted after them.

"Your shift isn't over yet, you brats!"