Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Black Dao (2)
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In the back alleys of Huanin County, an underworld gang known as the Black Bear Gang had firmly taken root.
Their leader was a man named Mu Tae, whose temperament was so vicious that all the common folk in the village lived in fear of him.
Plunder and extortion were child's play to them—they committed every manner of evil, from abduction and imprisonment to assault and murder. Their notoriety hung heavy over Huanin County.
Yet they kept the local officials in their pockets with bribes, and with the Si Family of Huanin providing backing, no one dared touch them.
This prompted the Seok Family of Huanin to step up and punish the gang, but the Si Family blocked their efforts, sparking no small uproar.
Fortunately, the Life-Escaping Sword, whom the Si Family had summoned, fell to the hand of the Seok Family head, forcing the Black Bear Gang into a cautious retreat.
Today, as always, Mu Tae was idling away the hours gambling with his underlings.
But even gambling grew stale after ten straight days. It was impossible not to get bored.
"Ugh... damn it!"
Mu Tae hurled the dice in his hand to the floor.
Byeon Chun, Mu Tae's right-hand man sitting across from him, quickly read the mood and spoke up.
"Brother, how about heading to the brothel tonight? Hug a girl and knock back some drinks."
Hoo...
Mu Tae let out a deep sigh before responding.
"Haven't you heard the Seok Family brats have been showing up at the brothels lately? Get caught, and you might end up screaming your last while buried in a woman's arms."
"Then, with the weather so hot, why not take ten days or so by the river for some water play? By then, the Seok Family's watch should loosen, and the Si Family will have figured something out."
The words "water play" tugged at Mu Tae's heart.
"Yeah... maybe."
Seeing Mu Tae's interest, Byeon Chun beamed and rose from his seat.
"Brother, I'll take the boys ahead and set things up. You bring the rest tomorrow."
"Do it."
Byeon Chun slipped out into the dark alley, his most trusted underlings following like shadows along paths free of prying eyes.
Sticking to dark alleys after leaving one clearly irked O Dal-yeong, Byeon Chun's fistman, who finally voiced his gripe.
"Brother, how long do we have to skulk around like this? It's driving me insane."
Byeon Chun scolded him harshly.
"What if the Seok Family spots us? You think about the fallout? You that eager to throw your life away on stupid pride?"
Byeon Chun's already fierce face twisted like a demon's, and O Dal-yeong shrank back, lowering his voice.
"It's just frustrating hiding from those nobodies, brother. Don't be mad."
But Byeon Chun's face darkened with a faint killing intent.
"Nobodies? You think your street rep lets you take on real swordmasters? Even I'd struggle against three of those young Seok Family elites in a deathmatch. So don't go flying off the handle."
"Sorry, brother."
Once out of the village, Byeon Chun followed the path to the river.
For the past four years, every summer, the Black Bear Gang had spent ten days or so by the river playing in the water.
They'd splash around during the scorching days and, at night, set up camp in scenic spots to guzzle liquor and tear into meat.
Of course, they needed a place to crash, so they'd forcibly borrow a house in a prime location for those ten days.
As a low hill came into view with the house atop it, a sly grin crept across Byeon Chun's lips.
'They'll drop dead in shock the moment they see my face.'
The house's owners were a middle-aged couple; the man bore the surname Choi.
He'd been a potter in the village, but hadn't been seen lately.
Screech...
Arriving at the house, Byeon Chun pushed open the gate and growled low.
"Choi! Where are you?"
He expected the man to come scrambling out in fright.
But the figure who emerged from the kitchen left him utterly flustered.
'W-what the hell is this?'
As I'd guessed, I hadn't hunted for seven or eight days.
Well, I had, but just one weasel.
In the end, I gave up on mountain game and turned to river fish.
Thankfully, with my martial arts, catching fish was no trouble.
Today, I'd snagged a big carp and rushed home with it.
"Bro, fish again? I want meat."
Gwang-u preferred meat over fish, as always.
"Shut up and eat. Didn't you say a gentleman doesn't fuss over side dishes?"
Gwang-u stuck out his lip but scaled the carp, gutted it, and prepped it anyway.
Into the pot it went, followed by vegetables and spices to flavor the dish.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud...
Gwang-u chopped veggies with the kitchen knife and pulled spices from a bowl.
I watched from the side as he rubbed spices like peppercorns and nutmeg between his fingers to grind them.
"You always grind spices with your fingers?"
"What else? No mortar. We burned the one from Heavenly Mountain with the house."
Gwang-u answered matter-of-factly.
Come to think of it, we'd ditched the mortar and even the pot back there for the long trip.
"Buy one."
Gwang-u hung his head, mumbling sheepishly.
"How's a sinner who blew ten taels on nothing gonna say that?"
Sigh...
"You idiot."
I hadn't realized he was still hung up on the brothel fiasco.
"I'll get a mortar."
Heading out to the village, a good idea struck me.
Nearby was a large, flat stone.
I picked it up, rinsed it clean in the river, and headed back.
Gwang-u was already steaming the carp.
"Bro, what's that?"
He pointed at the big stone in my hands.
"Mortar."
I set down the flat stone, went to the room, and fetched the iron orb my master had left as a keepsake.
"Bro, what're you doing with that?"
"Quit yapping and bring the spices."
Gwang-u hesitated but handed over the bowl.
I placed the spices on the stone and rolled the iron orb over them by hand.
Roll... rrrumble...
The orb ground the spices to powder.
Gwang-u gaped in shock.
"B-bro! That's Master's legacy! What the hell are you doing?"
"Don't worry, I memorized all the inscriptions. We'll use this as a mortar from now on."
"I-I can't. Master's gonna be pissed in the afterlife."
He looked ready to cry, but I didn't care.
Roll... rrrumble...
Gwang-u revered our master like a grandfather or father, so I got it.
"Huh? Someone's coming."
While grinding, I sensed presences approaching from afar.
But not guests for us.
No one in the village knew or needed us.
Roll... rrrumble...
The presences drew nearer.
"Choi! Where are you?"
"Go check."
Gwang-u stared blankly at the grinding iron orb before stepping out of the kitchen.
Byeon Chun looked up at the towering young man.
'Where'd this monster come from...'
His underlings recoiled several steps in shock.
But Byeon Chun was a hardened alley brawler.
The surprise was brief; he growled low.
"Where's the owner of this house?"
"That's me."
Gwang-u's polite reply made Byeon Chun's eyes flash with predatory light.
This guy was just some clueless country bumpkin.
Sizing him up, Byeon Chun eased his guard.
No matter the size, he couldn't beat street veterans like them.
"So Choi sold you this house. Problem is, it wasn't his to sell."
Gwang-u startled at Byeon Chun's words.
What was this?
He'd gotten the deed for house and land—become the owner—yet now this?
"B-bro! Trouble!"
I'd been listening from the kitchen.
Stepping out, the thug flinched.
Another one inside?
"You saying I'm not the owner? What're you on about?"
My question chilled the thug's voice.
"You deaf? Choi promised to lend us this house anytime we want."
I replied calmly.
"Show me the contract then."
His face flushed red with rage.
"You punks don't know fear. What're you waiting for? Give 'em a taste of—"
Smack!
He didn't finish.
Gwang-u's pot-lid palm flew, slapping his cheek.
Crash, clatter... splat!
He sailed through the gate, groaning in pain.
Ughhh...
"B-brother!"
The others rushed to their fallen comrade.
Blood and three or four teeth spilled from his mouth.
"You bastards!"
Another leaped up and charged Gwang-u.
Smack! Crash, clatter... splat!
But he ended up the same.
Slapped across the face, sent flying.
Ughhh...
Blood streamed from his mouth too.
"Y-you punks! You'll regret this!"
The rest hoisted the two and fled through the gate.
"Bro, what now? Chase 'em and beat 'em?"
"Nah, let 'em go. Local thugs. Let's eat."
No wonder they sold the house cheap.
Scum like that dropping by constantly—who could live easy?
'Damn... picked the wrong house.'
I'd wanted a plain, quiet life, but how long since leaving Heavenly Mountain, and already this crap?
Mu Tae, toasting to tomorrow's fun water play, jolted upright in shock.
His sent-ahead underlings burst in, carrying Byeon Chun and O Dal-yeong.
"What happened? Why are Chun and Young like this?"
"We got hit, brother."
They laid the pair down and wailed their report.
"Who did it? The Seok Family spot us?"
"No, the owners of last year's house."
Last year's house owners?
Wasn't it that weakling Choi?
"You mean... Choi?"
"No, new owners—a massive young brute."
Ha ha...
Mu Tae let out a hollow laugh.
Alley bosses done in by some big young nobody—not even a martial clan scion.
Too shameful to joke about.
Self-restraint or not, with Byeon Chun like this, he couldn't let it slide.
"You two, stay and fetch a doctor. Rest, grab axes, clubs, machetes—follow me."
"Yes, brother."
A dozen Black Bear Gang thugs moved with crisp precision at Mu Tae's command.
They snatched up their weapons and trailed their boss out.