Reincarnation of the Cloud Dragon - Chapter 49

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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Chapter 49.
“…The first sacrifice should be this one. Ranked 100th on the Feng Yun Ranking. Leader of the Black Dragon Gang, So Ryong.”
Yun Cheon pointed his finger at the very bottom of the Feng Yun Ranking list.
“The Black Dragon Gang? They’re a mid-sized faction of our sect, famous for their external martial arts. Quite impressive, actually. To rise in the Feng Yun Ranking with external arts alone. Even if it is the lowest position.”
Yalü Hee glanced at the Feng Yun Ranking in Yun Cheon’s hand, her lips curling upward with interest.
“Do you know of him?”
“His face, at least. After all, I’m from the Twelve Orthodox Families myself.”
A confident smile bloomed across Yalü Hee’s face.
She tapped the name “So Ryong” on the Feng Yun Ranking with her finger and added her explanation.
“He’s mastered an external martial art called the Iron Body of the Black Dragon. Despite being external arts, there are rumors he surpasses most first-rate masters.”
Yun Cheon nodded.
For someone like him, ignorant of internal Demonic Cult affairs, Yalü Hee’s information—born as she was into a prestigious family—would prove invaluable.
“If I’ve been helpful, shouldn’t I be compensated?”
Yalü Hee stepped in front of Yun Cheon as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
Her eyes gleamed with intensity.
“I’m coming too. On this martial expedition.”
“…You as well?”
“Yes. Sparring endlessly within the Demonic Way Hall only makes me a frog in a well. I need real combat experience. And more than anything….”
Her gaze lingered briefly on the name of her older brother, Yalü Cheok, written at the top of the Feng Yun Ranking, before returning to Yun Cheon.
“I have no intention of just watching you climb higher. Someday, I’ll surpass you.”
Yun Cheon chuckled softly.
It was bold, yet not unpleasant—a spirit of determination he could respect.
Having a companion would be far from disadvantageous.
Especially one like Yalü Hee, who understood the geography and nature of the Demonic Cult so well. She would make an excellent guide.
“Very well. But there’s something we must settle first.”
“What is it?”
“We still belong to the Demonic Way Hall. We cannot act without the Pavilion Master’s permission.”
At Yun Cheon’s words, Yalü Hee’s expression shifted to one of realization.
The two of them immediately made their way to the office of Gal Mu Heun, the Demonic Path Pavilion Master.
* * *
“A martial expedition, you say….”
The air in the office hung heavy.
Gal Mu Heun fingered his teacup, his gaze alternating between the two of them.
Had Yun Cheon come alone, he would have sent him off without hesitation.
‘Tch. I’ve already joined hands with those Inspection Bureau dogs for now—I can’t refuse him. But… Yalü Hee stepping forward too? That’s unexpected.’
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Barely freshly promoted disciples, and already your bodies itch to feel the outside wind?”
“Training alone within the Inner Library is insufficient. We require real combat experience.”
Gal Mu Heun hesitated precisely because Yalü Hee had come along.
‘No… actually, it might be beneficial in many ways to have her, from the Guang Feng Yalü Family, accompany him.’
After finishing his deliberation, Gal Mu Heun withdrew two passes from the drawer.
He set them down with a soft tap.
“These are access passes to the Demonic Way Hall. With these in hand, you’ll be able to move freely in and out.”
It was a far easier approval than I had expected.
Yalü Hee’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Truly… you’re sending us out? Without any conditions?”
“Conditions, you say… there is one, actually.”
Gal Mu Heun’s gaze turned glacial.
He flipped the pass over and inscribed characters upon it with his brush.
[Defeat Unacceptable]
“Defeat will not be tolerated.”
The overwhelming aura radiating from Gal Mu Heun’s brushwork dominated both of them.
“You are my direct subordinates and the face of the Demonic Way Hall. If you return here battered and broken by incompetent fools out there, my reputation would be in tatters.”
He added with a sinister smile.
“Should you return in defeat, I will grind you down until you wish you had died out there instead.”
Yun Cheon and Yalü Hee clasped their fists in salute simultaneously and bowed their heads.
“We will keep this in mind.”
“We shall depart!”
After the two left, Gal Mu Heun remained alone in his office, gazing out the window.
He could see two shadows departing from the Demonic Way Hall.
“…A martial arts journey, is it? Their blood runs hot. For those two, entering the Feng Yun Ranking itself should pose no difficulty. However….”
Gal Mu Heun retrieved a letter he had prepared beforehand from his robes and summoned his aide.
“Aide. Send this letter to the Ilwol Trading Company by courier pigeon. The time has come to honor my promise.”
“Understood.”
After even his aide departed, Gal Mu Heun alone let out a low chuckle.
“What concerns me is what comes after their names appear on the Feng Yun Ranking… Tsk, it will be a different kind of wilderness than the competition within the Demonic Way Hall.”
Yet soon after, recalling the schemes and political acumen Yun Cheon had displayed, and thinking of the recipient of the letter he had just sent, Gal Mu Heun shook his head.
“…But those two are not so naive either. This old man’s worry may be unfounded.”
* * *
The two emerged from the main gate of the Demonic Way Hall and headed straight for the Black Dragon Gang.
Yalü Hee took the lead in guiding the way.
“The Black Dragon Gang isn’t far from the Demonic Way Hall. We’ll arrive before sunset!”
Yalü Hee spoke as she walked ahead.
The sword hanging from her waist swayed cheerfully with each step.
“You seem excited.”
“Of course I am! I thought I’d rot away in the Stone Chamber of the Demonic Way Hall for years to come. Aren’t you thrilled? We’re finally going on a martial arts journey!”
In response to Yalü Hee’s question, Yun Cheon instead gently caressed the ink-black iron bands wrapped around his wrists.
“Thrilled, you say… I suppose.”
Yun Cheon’s gaze pierced through the distance, fixed upon the direction where the Black Dragon Gang lay.
“I simply wish to confirm something.”
“Confirm? What do you mean?”
“The true strength of the Demonic Cult’s late-stage experts—not the fledglings from Zamadong.”
“True enough… The late-stage experts who’ve made it onto the Feng Yun Ranking would operate on an entirely different level than Zamadong. Any sect or family with real influence within the Cult wouldn’t need to go there in the first place….”
Yalü Hee was an exception—she’d volunteered to leave her family. And the Snake and Scorpion Ink Family was equally exceptional, notorious for their brutality long before now.
“Hearing that only makes me more eager.”
A cold smile played at the corners of Yun Cheon’s mouth.
Watching that smile, Yalü Hee found herself thinking unbidden.
‘…The more I see him, the less he resembles someone brought here in chains. Especially that competitive fire—it rivals anything I’ve seen from those born and raised in the Demonic Cult.’
By the time they descended from Kunlun Mountain and reached the outskirts of the town where the Black Dragon Gang was situated, the sun was already sinking low on the horizon.
Yet the scene before them bore little resemblance to the quiet preparations of a village settling into night.
The crowd surged and roiled.
“Damn it, look at all these people packed together!”
“The Black Dragon Gang’s going to be swimming in money today.”
“Tch, the sun’s already setting. Guess I’m out of luck again?”
The area around the Black Dragon Gang churned with humanity like a marketplace in full chaos.
Throngs of people swarmed like ants.
Most were young wanderers desperate to inscribe their names on the Feng Yun Ranking.
“This is… worse than I expected.”
Yalü Hee furrowed her brow, muttering to herself.
“Is all this because of the Feng Yun Ranking? The impact is staggering.”
Yun Cheon knew the Demonic Cult had many martial artists, but he hadn’t anticipated such a massive influx descending on this quiet town.
Before the Black Dragon Gang’s main entrance stood an enormous registration desk, flanked by armed warriors clutching money pouches.
“Come now! Don’t push! Today’s challenges are closed!”
A Black Dragon Gang warrior seated behind the desk announced this with arrogant authority.
“Damn it! We’re full again?!”
“But I’ve been standing in line since morning! How can it be closed?!”
Protests erupted from the challengers, but the Black Dragon Gang warriors merely sneered.
“Quiet!”
“With so many challengers, do you expect our Gang Master to face them all?”
“Would you have us conduct a tournament? Our Gang Master needs rest too! Come back tomorrow!”
With such crowds, they couldn’t accommodate everyone’s challenge—or so the reasoning went.
On the surface, it sounded reasonable enough.
“…But still, demanding payment just for registration? Isn’t that excessive?!”
“If you don’t like it, get lost!”
“Our Black Dragon Gang’s Gang Master is a master who’s earned a place on the Feng Yun Ranking! A single silver tael is a bargain for the privilege of receiving instruction from such a master!”
“What good is registration when you wait all day and never get called?”
The warrior gestured with his chin toward another registration desk nearby.
“Then use that ‘aptitude assessment station’ over there. Of course, that costs ten silver taels.”
“What?! Ten silver taels?!”
“That’s… a year’s worth of food!”
A glimmer of intrigue flickered across Yun Cheon’s eyes.
It was an amusing spectacle.
Only those ranked 100th and above appeared on the Feng Yun Ranking.
‘And he’s leveraging that to run a business.’
So Ryong was pocketing substantial registration fees under the guise of accepting challenges.
But paying the fee didn’t grant immediate access to face So Ryong.
Even after registration, one had to pass through several stages of trials.
“First stage is a physical endurance test, second is a sparring match against Black Dragon Gang elites… only after passing all of that can you finally meet So Ryong.”
As Yun Cheon murmured this, Yalü Hee let out a hollow laugh of exasperation.
“Ha! The challengers exhaust themselves just getting through the trials before they even meet So Ryong, while he sits around counting money and conserving his strength to face worn-out opponents. Brilliant.”
It wasn’t a fair contest—it was a meticulously calculated system.
Challengers were filtered out or exhausted during the trial process, and So Ryong maintained his ranking by facing depleted fighters.
After accepting a few challenges, he could simply lock the gates and leave desperate challengers with nothing but the option to shuffle away in frustration.
“A cunning schemer, this one.”
Cowardly, perhaps, but in the Demonic Cult’s world of survival of the fittest, it could be called ‘shrewd survival instinct.’
Of course, such tactics were only possible because the Black Dragon Gang backed him.
“Stop making a fuss! The gang leader cannot accept all your challenges!”
“We’re closed for the day! Everyone leave and come back tomorrow!”
Boom!
The heavy gates of the Black Dragon Gang slammed shut.
The deflated challengers cursed under their breath but didn’t leave.
If they wanted a chance at a challenge tomorrow, they had to wait nearby.
“Damn it, struck out again. Let’s go get a drink.”
“I hope there’s still room at the inn.”
Dozens of martial artists flowed like an ebbing tide toward the inns surrounding the Black Dragon Gang.
“We’re done for today. Looks like we’re stuck here for the night.”
Yalü Hee clicked her tongue.
Yun Cheon nodded in agreement.
The two of them merged into the crowd and headed toward the nearest inn.
Being such a small town, there was only one inn.
Heuk Ryong Guest Inn
The very sign brazenly proclaimed its patronage by the Black Dragon Gang.
Upon entering, boisterous noise and the reek of alcohol assaulted the senses.
“Do you have any rooms available?”
Yun Cheon asked, and Jeom So Yi responded with an indifferent expression.
“Standard rooms are full. Only premium rooms remain. One silver tael per night.”
“What? Not coins—silver taels!”
Yalü Hee bristled.
That sum could buy rice by the sackful.
It was an ordinary family’s living expenses for an entire month.
It was an absurd price—more than ten times what a standard room would cost.
“Hey, what kind of daylight robbery is this?”
“Daylight robbery? At that price, there are plenty of people looking for rooms! If you don’t like it, go sleep outside.”
Jeom So Yi brazened it out.
It was clear he had dealt with many martial artists coming to challenge the ranking.
Moreover, with the Black Dragon Gang backing him, he had nothing to fear.
Looking around, other warriors were reluctantly paying their money.
‘They squeeze money for the challenge fee, then squeeze more for lodging. They’re bleeding people dry down to the bone.’
The structure was obvious: the Black Dragon Gang controlled the surrounding commerce, and in exchange for tribute payments, they allowed exclusive profiteering.
Yun Cheon had sufficient funds—silver coins received from Sa Do Myeong after destroying the Poison Fang Hall of the Snake and Scorpion Ink Family.
Yalü Hee, being from the Guang Feng Yalü Family, was not without money either.
She was simply shocked by the outrageous overcharging.
“Jeom So Yi. Is there really only one deluxe room left?”
Yun Cheon silently drew silver coins from his pouch and jingled them before Jeom So Yi.
Clink.
The moment Jeom So Yi caught sight of the money pouch, his attitude transformed into obsequiousness.
“Oh my! Sir, truth be told, our inn doesn’t have that many rooms… and besides…”
Jeom So Yi trailed off, glancing sideways at Yalü Hee.
“If the two of you wish to share… there’s only the deluxe room available.”
Even by Yun Cheon’s assessment, the inn’s facilities were hardly impressive.
Yun Cheon shook his head and paid the silver coins.
‘Sharing one room would be awkward for us both. I’ll have Yalü Hee stay here while I scout the Black Dragon Gang.’
Yet Yalü Hee seemed to have little objection to this arrangement.
It appeared she was accustomed to communal living from her time at Zamadong.
However, once they were shown to the room, Yalü Hee’s complaint came from an unexpected quarter.
“A silver coin for this pathetic room! With that money, you could rent a room at a famous inn in the Central Plains!”
“…It’s only one night. Besides, isn’t it better than the stone chamber at Zamadong?”
“Well… I suppose… but there’s only one bed! You sleep on the floor!”
“Fine, do as you please. I’m going out for a bit.”
“…Where are you going at this hour?”
“I’m going to scout the Black Dragon Gang. Get some rest.”
Yun Cheon left the inn without giving Yalü Hee a chance to respond.
The night air was cold, but the area around the Black Dragon Gang remained illuminated by torches.
Beyond the high walls, the sounds of Black Dragon Gang warriors carousing drifted out—boisterous and lively.
“Thanks to all those foolish fellows wanting to challenge the Gang Master, we’re making money hand over fist just sitting here!”
“Didn’t I tell you? There’s no need to struggle for a higher rank. Just plant yourself at position 100 and work the gate, and money flows in on its own!”
“Khehehe…! Truly, you are wise, Gang Master!”
Yun Cheon concealed himself in the darkness, gazing up at the main gate of the Black Dragon Gang.
‘Tsk… Why waste time paying challenge fees and waiting in line?’
The Black Dragon Gang’s method was to set up a reception desk, collect money from challengers, and make them wait their turn.
But Yun Cheon had no reason to respect or follow such a command.
Clank.
Yun Cheon tightened the dark steel bands wrapped around his wrists once more with deliberate force.
His gaze pierced through the Black Dragon Gang’s signboard with a chilling, razor-sharp intensity.
‘Tonight, I will obliterate the Black Dragon Gang.’

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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