Chapter 14
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Piercing Sword Sect Luoyang Branch 14
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Damn bandits like this guy!
It's not like we've only done business for a day or two. He knows the financial state of our Luoyang Branch better than anyone.
What? Pay a hundred taels every month?
On the installment plan, nice and clean?
Grind!
A surge of anger boiled up in an instant. I felt an urge to smash I Chun-sam's mouth right then and there.
But I didn't even twitch an eyebrow. I swallowed the rage deep inside.
Borrowing money from someone is always incredibly tough. Especially without collateral or a guarantor.
So this wasn't the time to let pride get in the way and throw a tantrum. I needed to bow my head low, grab the hem of I Chun-sam's pants, and beg for just one chance to survive.
"Manager I, a hundred taels a month? How are we supposed to come up with that kind of money every month? You know our situation all too well."
"Oh, I know your situation. I know it better than anyone. But 'money' isn't something you just hand over easily, no matter how well you know each other's circumstances or how close you are."
"Of course, of course. I'm not asking you to just give it away. I'm begging you to leave just enough breathing room for our branch members to scrape by."
"Just enough breathing room? Come on now. What kind of talk is that from our Young Hero Jang? It makes my heart ache."
I Chun-sam clicked his tongue as if pondering deeply, then nodded grandly like he was making a huge concession.
"Eighty taels. Down twenty from a hundred—eighty taels a month. How's that? Should be enough to breathe and live, right?"
"......"
"I've done business with you for more than a day or two, and I know the branch's situation, so I'm making this special allowance. If it were anyone else, the moment they asked for a discount, I'd spit in their face, tell them never to contact me again, and storm off."
This bastard cuts it by a measly twenty taels—not even fifty—and acts like he's doing me a massive favor.
Of course, twenty taels is still a big sum, and over a year, it adds up to a whopping two hundred forty taels.
For I Chun-sam, considering our longstanding ties, it was enough for him to brag about showing sincerity.
But for me, practically broke, accepting his offer felt burdensome.
"Eighty taels a month...... eighty taels......"
The brats pay five taels in monthly dues. There was a time when we had up to thirty martial arts trainees.
Considering that, eighty taels was big money, but not impossible to handle.
But what if the dojo business didn't take off as planned?
The eighty taels would pile up as debt month after month, eventually ballooning to match the principal investment.
'The risk of failure is too high.'
In truth, the dojo only needed enough for facility upgrades, martial robes, and training swords.
No need for a massive thousand-tael investment.
'Should I ask to halve the principal and halve the tribute?'
No.
The moment I said that, he'd refuse, saying such pocket change wasn't worth the hassle.
For now, it seemed best to look for another backer besides I Chun-sam.
"Manager I, it's hard for me to decide this on my own...... Could I go back to the branch, consult with my junior brothers, and let you know yes or no?"
"Hmm."
I Chun-sam let out a faint grunt, his face turning indifferent, as if questioning whether this was the best I could come up with after all that deliberation.
"My past karma has narrowed my options a bit. Please understand my situation."
"If Young Hero Jang puts it that way...... Fine. I'll give you two days. Go back, discuss thoroughly with your juniors, and send word."
"Thank you. I'll send word within two days."
I clasped my hands politely to I Chun-sam in farewell and hurried out of the alley.
I pretended not to hear him muttering and spitting thick phlegm, grumbling that what he thought was a lucky break rolling in on its own was just a worthless pile of crap that wouldn't pay.
"Sorry."
"Young Hero Jang, my pockets are pretty empty these days too...... Sorry."
"Ha, what a shame. If you'd come two days earlier, I'd have invested in Piercing Sword Sect instead of Zhongnan Sect......"
"Hmm, your plan sounds promising and intriguing, but...... Isn't Luoyang already oversaturated? With Mount Hua Sect and Wudang Sect dominating the dojo market, and every decent fighter running their own dojos...... Why not shift to another region instead of competing here? Then I'd consider investing."
After the deal with I Chun-sam fell through, I sought out every somewhat influential person in Luoyang.
Out of ten, eight or nine didn't even bother hearing me out fully before turning me down.
A couple made a show of listening for old times' sake, but ultimately gave plausible excuses to refuse.
It was the expected outcome.
Who in their right mind would invest in our branch, with nothing left but an empty signboard?
"Tch, when someone's determined to start fresh, how can people be so stingy......"
My mouth tasted bitter.
I'd anticipated it to some degree, but the reality was chillingly cold, sending shivers down my spine.
"Ha, who else can I beg now......"
I'd met everyone worth meeting.
A few hadn't responded to my request for a brief meeting yet, but...
With the sun setting and no one showing, they clearly didn't want to spare even a moment for me.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I kicked the innocent ground in frustration.
"Tch! Luoyang folks are so stingy. Stingy."
When I was the rising star of Piercing Sword Sect, they begged for a chance to meet.
But after a few years of scraping by and fading away, now they won't even glance my way.
"Damn it......"
My steps back to the branch felt like lead weights. A massive boulder seemed perched on my shoulders.
Gurgle!
Unlike my heavy, cotton-soaked heart, my empty stomach growled relentlessly for food.
Thinking back, I'd only had watery barley porridge for breakfast, nothing but bitter tea since.
"Jeez, this is all for making a living...... And here I am, starving without even a bowl of noodles by sundown, wandering Luoyang's main streets."
I was passing through the market just then, food stalls everywhere.
"Hot meat broth with steaming fresh dumplings, then rinsing the greasy mouth with cheap liquor—sounds perfect."
My mouth watered automatically.
But sadly, I had not a single coin to my name.
Gurgle!
I ignored my stomach's wails and hurried through the market with quick steps.
If I'd snagged a solid backer, I'd have run a tab at my usual inn for a meal.
But coming home empty-handed after a fruitless day—what face did I have to spend money?
"If I'm hungry, I can go to the back mountains, catch a rabbit, and eat. Why spend money? I've got hands and feet, and my hunting skills are top-notch......"
As I clutched my starving belly and sped through the market, a sudden thought struck me.
"Just like hunting to feed myself, maybe I can use my skills to scrape together some quick cash?"
There was.
No, there were way too many options.
Sparring match bookie fighter.
Martial artist debt collector.
Cheating at gambling with internal energy.
If I swallowed a bit of pride, I could make decent money in a day or two.
Of course, Piercing Sword Sect's reputation would hit rock bottom, and I'd likely face a recall to headquarters with prison time within a month.
But if I set my mind to earning money, there were plenty of ways.
"Hmm, if I keep brainstorming like this, an answer might pop up......"
The initial spark is the hard part. Once it flows, ideas expand uncontrollably.
I turned from the branch path into a nearby dingy alley, squatting down.
A habit from sneaking around gambling dens, avoiding senior uncles and juniors' eyes.
It looked odd, but it was great for deep thinking.
Plus, I could enjoy some hand-feel after ages.
Heh heh heh.
Like a fortune-teller casting lots, I tossed two roughly shaped pebble dice.
Clack, clack, rattle......!
One, two.
Two, two.
One, one.
Even accounting for the uneven pebbles and bumpy dirt ground, how could three throws total under ten?
"Urgh......!"
A groan escaped me.
I hadn't rolled in a while, but I didn't expect luck this abysmal.
"Argh, phooey! What the hell do these dice know? Fine, whatever!"
Crush!
I clenched my fist, pulverizing the pebbles to dust, dusted my butt, and stood.
No brilliant idea struck, but I recalled a client who'd front quick cash trusting my skills.
"Right, an old official is a good official. For quick money, nowhere beats the Black Society."
I left the alley with light steps, heading to the Black Society compound.
At that moment, at Black Society headquarters.
Normally, members would gather in the front yard after work for dinner.
But today, unexpected intruders had turned the dinner into chaos long ago.
"Groan!"
"Viper! Pull yourself together! If you pass out now, you're dead!"
"What are you doing? Block that bastard! Use poison, hidden weapons, whatever—just stop him before he wipes out our guys!"
Black Society Leader Gwak Su-san bellowed, veins bulging in his neck.
Meanwhile, Deputy Leader Na Cheol-gi tended to the severely wounded members while issuing orders to the cadres.
"Hold on just a bit longer! We've called for Red Dragon Gang reinforcements. Avoid reckless clashes until they arrive—maintain standoff and buy time. Got it?"
The cadres wanted to retort that if it were possible, things wouldn't be this bad.
But the intruders had shaken off the grunts and closed in.
Na Cheol-gi and the cadres gritted their teeth, forming tight formations and focusing on defense.
The fiends who'd trashed the compound in moments sneered viciously.
And issued their final ultimatum.
"You rat bastards."
"Don't test our patience further. Hand over the 'precious gem' obediently, and we'll spare your lives."
Na Cheol-gi hesitated for a moment.
Maybe it was better to hand over the loot now and save lives?
It was regrettable to lose blood from hasty judgment, but obsessing over minor losses could lead to greater disaster.
'No matter how we handle today, we can't expect them to let it slide next time. Better to cut losses here and find a way out. Today's damage...... call it the price for touching something untouchable.'
In the blink of an eye, Na Cheol-gi made a cool-headed call. He glanced at Gwak Su-san still raging behind, shaking his head.
Gwak Su-san furrowed his brow fiercely, pondered, then sighed deeply as if resolved, starting to nod.
But then, an utterly unexpected figure entered the Black Society compound, flashing a sly grin and beckoning to Gwak Su-san and Na Cheol-gi.
"I don't know what's going on here, but how about I lend a hand?"