Chapter 68
Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: It's My Bro~
"Alright, then Bong Chun, you'll head down the mountain and deal with the Black Dao groups. Next up, Bang Sam."
"Yes, Boss. Unlike Bong Chun, I ain't shakin' in my boots. Give me any job you got."
Bang Sam had a sharp face and looked like he'd set off right away if I told him to go lop off the Murim Alliance Leader's head.
But.
"Yeah, sure. You just keep doing reception duty at the front gate."
"Fuck me."
"Yeah, knew you'd curse. You little punk."
Smack!
I smacked the back of his head hard, and Bang Sam yelled at me with a wronged look.
"No, Boss! Ain't that right? You give Bong Chun this big job of wiping out all the Black Dao down there and making 'em your underlings, then tell me—someone higher up than him—to do the same damn reception work!"
"You little shit... Do you know how important reception at the front gate is...?"
I wasn't joking—Bang Sam's job was really important.
"Whatever, our core business is the mountain path tolls. I'm giving you the most crucial part of that, and this punk thinks it's beneath him? Daring to curse at your Boss? And you're not the only one handling path stuff."
I looked around at all the other executives except Bong Chun and continued.
"Everyone else keeps doing their original jobs, excluding Bong Chun."
The other executives each had their roles on the mountain path.
"We've reopened the path, but it's not perfect yet. We're short-staffed, and the vibe's still chaotic. Right now, stabilizing our core business—the mountain path—is the priority."
When I spoke seriously, Dong Ryong nodded and replied.
"Stabilizing the path... Yes, got it."
Dong Ryong nodded like he agreed, but his face mixed agreement with disappointment.
Fair enough.
We'd become the closest thing to the master of Hunan Province, so sticking to just path management felt underwhelming.
"Dong Ryong, don't be too bummed. Rush it, and you'll screw things up. Hunan Province will fall into our hands eventually, and then there'll be plenty more to do besides the path."
"Yes, Boss."
"And hey..."
I looked around and grinned.
"Starting this week, I'm gonna teach you all saber arts personally."
"For real?!"
When I said that, Dong Ryong got so excited he jumped out of his seat.
"Y-You're really gonna teach us saber arts...?"
"Yeah."
From the moment Dong Ryong became my subordinate until now... I'd only taught all my men basic cultivation methods and physical training.
The reason? My saber arts are so domineering they guzzle inner energy.
Even with the Hebei Peng Clan method, it's no good—only the cultivation I taught them lets you properly unleash them.
So I'd waited until they built up enough inner energy.
Truth be told... I'd planned to wait a bit longer...
"But we can't guarantee shit like this won't happen again."
"......"
"...I realized we all need to get stronger overall."
...Things changed a bit after Dokgo Young's raid.
"I'll teach you first. Once you get the hang of it, teach the underlings... and eventually, we'll send people to every bandit stronghold, making our whole Green Forest stronger."
No telling how long it'd take. But if it worked, our entire Green Forest would power up.
"First, pass on the cultivation method to our subordinate strongholds. Most of our Mount Wu stronghold guys know the basics, right? Pick a few and have them spread it to every stronghold."
"All twenty strongholds?"
"Yeah, all of them. While I'm gone briefly, stabilize the path and finish spreading the cultivation method."
The youngest gave me a puzzled look.
"You're heading down again?"
"Yeah, I'm busy. I came up just to tell you this. Wait for me—I'll teach saber arts when I get back."
"Yes, Boss."
I nodded at my replying subordinates, then turned to Dong Ryong.
"Dong Ryong."
"Yes, Boss."
"I'm saying it again: if I'm gone, you're the Boss. What happened this time... you handled the Boss role like a pro."
In our stronghold, only Dong Ryong could cross blades with Dokgo Young. It could've been a disaster, but he held the line.
"...Don't push yourself while I'm gone—just wait. You can't learn saber arts in that condition."
"...Yes, Boss."
"Alright, that's all. I'm off."
"Already?"
The youngest looked disappointed. I ruffled his hair once, then grabbed the door handle.
"Got something important. Be back soon."
"Take care, Boss!"
I stepped out as the executives bowed. Something as big as my Murim Alliance negotiations was waiting.
**
Right after heading down, I went straight to the Haomen Hunan branch.
I headed to Mun-seok Uncle like it was my own house.
"Mun-seok Uncle, it's me."
"Hmm... Said you'd be quick, and damn if you weren't."
"More importantly, you got everything I asked for sorted?"
"Just finished."
Mun-seok Uncle handed me a ledger, and when I opened it...
"Nice work."
...It listed exactly what I wanted, line by line.
It was everything on every Black Dao group in Hunan, compiled from Haomen's intel network.
"Bong Chun's coming tomorrow morning, so hand this over with some guards."
"...Unifying Hunan's Black Dao, huh. Good idea, but you sure you don't wanna handle it yourself?"
"They're just street punks who barely skimmed some martial arts. My subordinates can manage. Besides, I've got bigger fish. That ready?"
"Just got word—they entered the brothel."
"Time for me to go."
I started undoing my belt to change into the clean clothes prepared, and Mun-seok Uncle watched, asking worriedly again.
"You sure about doing this yourself? You're not used to this stuff—maybe I should...?"
"What're you talking about? This one's gotta be me. No big deal anyway. You know my hosting skills."
I grinned to say relax, then changed quick.
**
Hunan Governor Yi Ga-seong, ruler of all Hunan Province, was in a foul mood right now.
Thanks to the Murim Alliance's arrogant notice from not long ago.
'From now on, the Murim Alliance is pulling out of Hunan Province.'
It wasn't even from a rep in person—just a letter delivered by some messenger.
"Ha! Still pisses me off."
Yi Ga-seong came from a prominent capital nobility family. Sure, officials and the jianghu stayed separate, but to him, the Alliance's move was straight-up rude.
"And what? They just up and leave on a whim?"
If the Alliance bailed on Hunan jianghu, it'd create a vacuum with no oversight. Chaos would erupt again.
While worrying about that, an invitation arrived at the Hunan provincial office in his name. Sender: the Green Forest.
Green Forest.
Yi Ga-seong wasn't deaf. He'd known early on that the bandits unified and carved out that mountain path.
He also knew about the clash with the Murim Alliance and their talks.
'So the Alliance backing off... Did the Green Forest get their territory guaranteed in Hunan?'
His head said no way, but the logic stuck.
Maybe this invite was the bandits trying to get the governor to recognize them as Hunan jianghu bosses.
"If that's their game, they should come begging—not summon me."
Officials and jianghu didn't meddle.
But Green Forest was a gray area.
They were jianghu folk, not as strong as the orthodox sects, and they harassed the commoners.
Yi Ga-seong wasn't spotless, but he had pride as an official.
A rice bowl from the state meeting bandit riffraff? Unsettling.
'I'll meet 'em. If they ain't dining partners, I'll crush 'em.'
Creak.
While he steeled himself, the carriage stopped.
"Governor, we're here."
"Hmm..."
Yi Ga-seong felt his mood settle a bit as he eyed the destination.
Plum Fragrance House.
Hunan wasn't big on entertainment originally—sparse population. But with the path open and merchants flowing, inns and taverns had boomed lately.
Plum Fragrance House was pretty much the only brothel around from way back, but after renovations, it grew flashy and was the talk of enthusiasts.
"Hmm... Smart choice of spot."
He usually met jianghu types in ascetic teahouses, sipping tea.
But he loved booze and women.
'Guys talking business need drinks and girls. Obviously.'
Here, the unorthodox outdid stuffy orthodox sects.
'They wanna impress me, but this won't sway me.'
Yi Ga-seong refocused and stepped inside.
And then...
"Governor, you've arrived—!"
"Governor, welcome—!"
"Whoa, startled me..."
...The moment he opened the door, what looked like every staffer in the brothel greeted him.
"We've been waiting. Right this way."
"Ah, thanks..."
Even as a high official governor, he'd never gotten a full-staff welcome like this.
Dazed, he followed, but noticed something off.
"Uh, excuse me."
"Yes, sir?"
"...Why's the brothel empty of customers?"
"Oh."
His guide smiled sweetly.
"The Chief Bandit Commander reserved the whole place for you today."
"...Reserved the entire place?"
"Yes."
"Huh..."
Plum Fragrance House was Hunan’s hottest spot right now.
No amount of money made reserving it easy.
And wasn't it directly run by Haomen?
'What connection do they have with Haomen...?'
While Yi Ga-seong marveled, they arrived—the guide grinned and opened the door.
And there...
"......"
...Even the governor gaped at the massive feast spread and gaggle of courtesans.
"The Chief Bandit Commander said enjoy the entertainment first before he arrives."
"......"
Yi Ga-seong felt his mood shift in real time.