Monopolizing Fortunes (95)
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Monopolizing Fortunes (95)
"How much?"
"One silver nyang per horse. The carriage is bigger, so three nyang."
Do Tong-dal let out a scoffing laugh.
"You're practically highway robbers."
"This is Fuyang, and the rules here are set by the Sangmun Society, which runs Fuyang. You taking the horses or not?"
"So it's just the two of you?"
"Besides us, the Sangmun Society has three hundred members in Fuyang."
He meant to intimidate Do Tong-dal by boasting about the Sangmun Society's influence, but that was just the wishful thinking of a dim-witted thug.
Namgung Seol-rin spoke.
"You said you got beaten because there were too many of them."
"What, two was too many for Sangcheon? Anyway, you wanted to cry and we slapped you, so it worked out. You started this, so don't go feeling wronged."
"What bullshit— ugh!"
The thug's words ended in a scream. He never even saw how Do Tong-dal kicked him in the stomach. The other one also went "Huh?" before taking a hit to the ribs and crumpling to the ground.
Do Tong-dal spoke to the thugs as they staggered upright, unable to straighten their backs.
"Three hundred Sangmun Society members, huh? Don't bother me little by little—bring them all at once if you're going to."
The two thugs, gasping for breath, didn't forget to say they'd remember this.
"Sangcheon ended up like that, so one of us should go to Hangzhou, shouldn't we?"
Jang Yu-seom stepped forward.
"I'll go."
He was the best rider among them, so he was a fitting choice. Namgung Seol-rin teasingly asked, "It's only been a day, and you already miss your wife?" and Jang Yu-seom didn't bother to deny it.
Back at the inn, Do Tong-dal told the owner to send all the customers out. The owner refused at first, but after hearing the name Sangmun Society, he quickly shooed the customers away.
Of course, Do Tong-dal paid for their meals. Once the customers were gone, he moved the tables and chairs to one side to keep the furnishings from being damaged.
Soon this place would be paying protection money to the Red Tiger Society, so it was best to keep the damage to a minimum.
It didn't even take two ke for the Sangmun Society thugs to reach the inn. Do Tong-dal looked disappointed when he saw how many thugs walked into the dining room.
"Only eleven?"
Namgung Seol-rin sighed as well.
"That's not even enough to wash down a meal. Just handle it yourself."
"Me? Come on, I'm a big shot in the Red Tiger Society..."
"Won Dae-yeon and I are Protectors, you're the Coordinator. Big shot, my ass."
"Tch! When we get back to Hangzhou, I'll have you demoted."
Grumbling, Do Tong-dal got to his feet. The thug at the very front, a man in his mid-thirties, asked.
"Are you the ones who beat up our boys?"
"We had good reason."
"Whatever the reason, if you touch the Sangmun Society in Fuyang, you pay the price. Ten nyang per person—that's twenty nyang."
"You bastards have really got money fever. You're almost as bad as the physician in black."
The thug at the front said to his subordinates.
"Boys, get your tools out."
At that, the ten thugs each pulled out daggers, hand axes, and the like.
"Feeling like paying up now?"
From behind, Namgung Seol-rin shouted.
"This is boring, so finish it fast!"
"If you don't like the pace, you fight."
Still grumbling, Do Tong-dal walked toward the thugs.
"You might lose consciousness, so I'll tell you in advance. Next time you come, bring the whole Sangmun Society, including your Society Leader."
"What crazy talk! Put that bastard on his knees!"
The thugs rushed in all at once. And they all collapsed all at once. Do Tong-dal beat down all eleven thugs without moving beyond a three-ja radius.
"Don't forget what I said. Bring more next time."
Do Tong-dal swept the thugs out of the dining room with his feet against their stomachs, as if sweeping with a broom.
"I don't know if a thug should be this strong."
Namgung Seol-rin looked dumbfounded, and Won Dae-yeon let out a chuckle.
"Do I have to fight alone next time too?"
"Scared?"
"Just annoyed."
"Then stay annoyed."
There was no way Namgung Seol-rin or Won Dae-yeon would feel like fighting against thugs.
"The dirty work is always mine. Innkeeper! Bring us some tea!"
The terrified owner carefully brought out tea. Do Tong-dal said to him.
"If you take any losses, I'll cover them all, so don't worry."
"It's the guests I'm worried about. Those Sangmun Society men are vicious. And the officials are backing them, too. How about you run for it now while you can?"
"Are the local gentry here friendly toward the Sangmun Society?"
"Well, let's just say they keep them at arm's length."
The relationship between the Underworld and the local gentry was similar everywhere. The gentry needed someone to handle their dirty work, and the Underworld needed to make money, so their interests aligned.
If it was like anywhere else, the gentry probably wouldn't be much of a concern.
"The officials can be handled by bringing Chief Clerk Dong Bong-gil from Hangzhou, so taking over Fuyang shouldn't be a problem."
The owner asked.
"Taking over?"
"Ah! Didn't I mention? We're from the Red Tiger Society, the Underworld of Hangzhou."
"What? The Hangzhou Underworld? Oh my, so you were Underworld people. Then I'll just..."
The owner disappeared backward, like a subject withdrawing from before the emperor.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Now I see how the Sangmun Society has been conducting itself here. But why are these bastards so slow?"
The "bastards" Do Tong-dal mentioned weren't late because they wanted to be. Eleven men had been beaten by just one, so of course they had to prepare thoroughly.
"Shouldn't we report to the Society Leader?"
At squad leader Jo Bi-pyeong's words, Branch Chief Gwak Do-bu snapped.
"You want to tell the Society Leader we couldn't beat a single man?"
"He's no ordinary man, is he? Listening to the boys who got beaten, they all say they went down in one hit. In my opinion, there's a high probability he's a martial artist."
"A martial artist?"
"Otherwise, how could he take down eleven of our boys without hurting a single finger?"
Indeed, it would be nearly impossible for an ordinary person.
"How the hell did you get into a fight with people like that?"
When Jo Bi-pyeong explained how the fight started, Gwak Do-bu pressed his hand to his forehead.
"You idiots! You pulled that kind of stunt without even knowing who they were?"
"The higher-ups have been pressuring us to bring in money, so the boys were desperate."
"You go report to the Society Leader. I'll take the boys and head to the scene first."
"Are you going to fight?"
"Even if they're martial artists, if they shit in our front yard, we at least have to bark."
If he did nothing here, Society Leader Sang Jung-ho would tear him apart.
"Be careful."
Jo Bi-pyeong rushed off to headquarters.
"What? A martial artist?"
Deep wrinkles formed on Sang Jung-ho's forehead as he received Jo Bi-pyeong's report. Sang Jung-ho shuddered at the very mention of martial artist because of the Seonui Sect.
"Up top, a snake-like bastard keeps biting, and down below, my idiot subordinates keep shitting the bed."
Jo Bi-pyeong said cautiously.
"Shouldn't we ask the Seonui Sect for help? Isn't that why we pay them all that money—so they'll help at times like this?"
It wasn't exactly accurate, but it was true to a degree. If the men they'd clashed with weren't just ordinary martial artist but masters, then even if every thug in the Sangmun Society went out, victory couldn't be guaranteed.
If the Sangmun Society collapsed, the Seonui Sect's income would immediately drop, so they wouldn't pretend not to notice.
"They'll ask for more money. Money-grubbing bastards."
Even if it meant paying more, he had to stop the Sangmun Society from being destroyed by unidentified martial artist.
"Send someone to the Seonui Sect... No, I'll go myself."
* * *
Hwangbo Jeong-uk placed a palm-sized wooden box on the table.
"My father sent this as a birthday gift for the Sect Leader. It's Hwangseon-dan."
Seonui Sect Leader Jeong Jong-un broke into a broad smile.
"To personally bestow such precious Hwangseon-dan! I couldn't be more grateful!"
"It's a small token of appreciation for the sincerity the Seonui Sect has shown our Hwangbo Clan."
Among the martial sects that had branched off from the Hwangbo Clan, the Seonui Sect donated an enormous sum every year, incomparable to any other.
No one knew where the Seonui Sect gathered so much money, but that wasn't the Hwangbo Clan's main concern. The only thing that mattered was the amount of money the Seonui Sect sent.
That didn't mean everyone liked Jeong Jong-un. Hwangbo So-yeon, who had come along, refused to even leave her room because she didn't want to meet him.
"May we impose on you for about two days?"
The Hwangbo Clan Head had told him to stay for three days and treat Jeong Jong-un well, but Hwangbo Jeong-uk didn't want to stay three days at the Seonui Sect either.
"Why not stay longer before you go?"
"I have urgent business in Hangzhou."
"Understood."
After chatting for about one ke, Jeong Jong-un left the reception room. Staying in the Hwangbo Clan's good graces was fine, but spending time with Hwangbo Jeong-uk, who was younger than him yet higher in status, wasn't exactly pleasant.
He stepped down into the courtyard to head to his office when Bae Chang-seok, the Hall Master of the Jongyu Hall, came running up.
"Sect Leader!"
"What is it?"
"The Sangmun Society Leader has come and is requesting an audience."
Jeong Jong-un's brow furrowed.
"The Society Leader came in person?"
"Yes."
"Hear what he wants and send him away."
He had no intention of meeting with a mere Underworld Society Leader.
"I tried, but he's insisting he won't leave even if it kills him until he sees you. With the Hwangbo Clan's Young Head here, I thought it wouldn't be good if he caused a commotion, so I came to report."
It would do no good for Hwangbo Jeong-uk to learn that the Seonui Sect was connected to an Underworld group like the Sangmun Society.
"How troublesome. Where is he now?"
"I've put him in the Third Reception Hall."
That was where they met guests of little importance. Jeong Jong-un walked reluctantly to the Third Reception Hall.
As soon as greetings were finished, Sang Jung-ho rattled off the story of why he had come running.
"You came running to me because you couldn't handle a few nobodies?"
"How could an Underworld group like ours stand against martial artist?"
"You have no eye for people. Typical ignorant Underworld thugs."
Being insulted by the Seonui Sect was a regular occurrence, but his blood boiled every time. Some things you never get used to.
"If you don't help us, Sect Leader, our Sangmun Society may disappear."
Jeong Jong-un had no choice but to indulge Sang Jung-ho's theatrics. If the Sangmun Society disappeared, he'd have to waste time coaxing and threatening whatever Underworld group moved in to replace them.
"Fine. I'll assign Hall Master Jo to you."
* * *
"Ah! Before we fight, shouldn't you know who I am first?"
Jo Bi-pyeong asked.
"Who are you?"
"Do Tong-dal, the Red Tiger of the Hangzhou Red Tiger Society."
He was startled by the completely unexpected name.
"You mean the Underworld that unified Hangzhou?"
"I'm just touring the Central Plains because I've got nothing to do. Why'd you have to mess with a passerby?"
Jo Bi-pyeong swallowed hard. The process by which the Red Tiger Society had unified Hangzhou was practically legendary. It was full of stories so unbelievable they had to be called legends, but even if only half of them were true, the Sangmun Society couldn't stand against the Red Tiger Society.
It was even more uncomfortable because Do Tong-dal was an Underworld thug himself. Do Tong-dal, who knew the language of thugs, would know all too well how to fight the Underworld.
"It seems my subordinate failed to recognize you and made a mistake."
Even with thirty subordinates behind him, Jo Bi-pyeong backed down.
"A mistake is when you step on someone's foot at the market, or when you ask for pork belly and they bring you pork jowl. That's a mistake. Wait, I think I've said this to someone before? Anyway, you beat my most cherished younger brother into a pulp and put him in a physician's care, so you have to pay the price."
"Looking at the big picture, aren't we comrades eating from the same pot? Let's try to reach a compromise."
"I might be willing to let it slide for about a thousand silver nyang."
Jo Bi-pyeong bit down on his molars.
"You're making a demand I can't accept."
"Come on, now that I'm here, I can see the Sangmun Society is raking in money by the sackful. That much is pocket change to you, isn't it?"
Sang Jung-ho wouldn't even pay ten silver nyang as a beating fee.
"Let's see what the Red Tiger Society, which unified Hangzhou, is made of."
Jo Bi-pyeong didn't just see it—he experienced it with his own body. Do Tong-dal was a thug on a completely different level from them.
No, he wondered why someone with that kind of skill was working as a thug. Jo Bi-pyeong knew next to nothing about martial arts, but he knew a fair bit about fighting.
* * *