Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Taking Over the Butcher Shop (2)
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Even with a massive cleaver poised right above its crown, the pig remained utterly focused on its feed.
"The most important thing is to end it in a single strike. So fast that it doesn't even know why it's dying. There's no second chance. A pig or cow's vitality can't even compare to a human's. The toughness of their bones defies imagination. If you're even slightly off-target, you know what kind of mess that causes, right?"
The men, who had already caused chaos in the marketplace due to their clumsiness, could only hold their breath in silence.
The old man aiming the cleaver slowly raised his hammer.
A suffocating tension filled the slaughterhouse, but the blissfully eating pig and the hammer-wielding elder seemed utterly unaffected.
The moment the hammer reached what seemed its peak height, a flash of light plunged into the pig's crown.
There was no scream.
The pig collapsed in the exact same position, head buried in the trough.
"Holy shit! Did you see that, boss?"
Cheol Woo's jaw dropped wide open.
"Yeah, I saw it. The most powerful single strike I've ever witnessed."
Sima Geon couldn't hide his astonishment as he stared at the old man.
"He's a hidden master. No doubt about it."
Sima Geon let out a wry chuckle at Cheol Woo's grave reaction. It was understandable—the old man's strike had been that shocking.
The other men, having witnessed the elder's skill firsthand, reacted no differently. Though their surprise carried a different meaning.
"Whoa! Dropped it in one hit?"
"I-Incredible, sir."
"How is that even possible? Not full-on convulsing, but at least some reaction, right?"
The men stared at the pig, which had fallen without a single cry or twitch, their faces full of disbelief.
"What are you all standing around for?"
The old man's sudden bellow exploded from his mouth.
"Cutting off its breath isn't the end! That's just the beginning!"
His voice boomed like thunder, reverberating through the surroundings.
"Drain the blood first."
Startled by the old man's roar, the men hurriedly tied the pig's legs and hoisted it onto a pillar. They slit its throat and collected the blood before it cooled.
"Whoa! That old man's got some serious lungs."
Cheol Woo watched in wide-eyed surprise as the elder barked orders, directing the men with crisp efficiency. He scratched his ear with his pinky and muttered.
"Tch. Master had pipes like that too."
Cheol Woo's face revealed his longing for the master from Black Dragon Valley who had trained the children more harshly than anyone—yet gave him everything before departing.
Thanks to the martial arts and Celestial Pure Jade Milk Sima Geon had shared from the Ghost Gate Clan, he had forged his current skills. But without his master's sacrifice, it would have been impossible from the start.
"Master Unretreating had lungs alright. And it wasn't just that—unlike this old timer, he was built like a mountain too. Probably why he favored you so much; matched his size."
"Heh heh! Heard that plenty."
The two shared a laugh. Meanwhile, the old man's roars continued to echo through the slaughterhouse.
"Butcher shop? Where?"
Sima Ho, returning from a grueling day, stripped off his sweat-soaked clothes and asked.
"North side outskirts."
"Oh, you mean Old Man So's butcher shop? The one with the slaughterhouse out back."
"That's the one. You know it?"
"Of course. That old man's skills are legendary around here. High officials and even prestigious martial clans call him in for banquets to procure meat. Says it all. We buy from his shop too, and the flavor's subtly different from anywhere else."
"Yeah, it sure seems that way. His skills are impressive."
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo nodded in unison, having seen the old man fell the pig in one strike.
"But why?"
"Your brothers seem interested in that butcher shop. They've been talking about nothing else."
Sima Jin handed Sima Ho the chilled water he'd requested and explained.
Sima Ho gulped it down in one go, then lightly patted Sima Jin's head as she still held out the tray. Suddenly, she shrieked.
"I told you not to pat my head!"
Sima Jin whacked his shin with the tray and yelled fiercely.
"Crazy! You don't hit legs with a tray!"
"Last warning. Do it again and..."
"Hic!"
Sima Ho hiccuped as Sima Jin's glare fixed on his head.
Sima Jin shot him one last glare and stormed out of the room.
"Whoa! Our sweet little sister has a wild side. Scary."
Cheol Woo's mouth gaped open.
Sima Ho, rubbing his bruised leg from the tray, shouted loud enough for her to hear outside.
"Sweet my ass! That's her real self. She's just been faking it till now."
Bam!
Hearing something crash into the door, Sima Ho flinched and lowered his voice.
"Not always, though. Just occasionally. She especially hates head pats."
"Really? Had no idea."
Sima Geon, who patted Sima Jin's head at every chance, looked baffled.
"Watch out, big bro. You might end up like me..."
Sima Ho trailed off and clamped his mouth shut. The door opened, and Sima Jin walked in quietly, back to her usual self.
Out of habit, Sima Geon patted the head of Sima Jin as she approached. Defying Sima Ho's warning, she showed no sign of displeasure.
Cheol Woo, who had watched tensely, burst into laughter.
"Guess she just hates you."
"Damn it! Be consistent!"
Sima Ho glared at Sima Jin, then slumped defeated into a chair.
"So, what's with the interest in the butcher shop? Thinking of giving it a shot? Word is the old man's sick and planning to quit."
"Haven't decided, but it doesn't seem like a bad idea."
Sima Geon replied, looking a bit sheepish. Cheol Woo chimed in.
"Hey, we wandered all day. Honestly, nothing suits us. Prime spots are taken, and the openings? Not our thing. Gotta know your stuff. We've swung swords our whole..."
Sima Geon elbowed Cheol Woo's side hard. He flashed an awkward smile at the wide-eyed Sima Jin and made an excuse.
"Like we told you, we've been mercenaries a long time. Not major dangers, but plenty of blood. Ends up, we don't know much else."
"That's mercenaries for you. Even cushy gigs toughen you up."
Sima Ho nodded understandingly, then grew serious.
"When second bro joked about farm work before, I almost suggested this: why not try being escorts? Mercs or escorts—same deal. Your experience might even land you leader spots if you're skilled."
"Hmm, not that I haven't thought about it, but it's too similar. Escorts face rough stuff sometimes too, even if rare. No more blood."
Sima Ho dropped it at the polite but firm refusal and cautiously offered another idea.
"Then how about joining our side? Big bro or Cheol Woo hyung could snag a top spot easy."
"Hey!"
Sima Jin snapped.
"My ears! Why yell? And 'hey' to your brother?"
"After worrying second bro like that, that's all you got?"
Sima Jin's glare was fiercer than a north wind blizzard.
"Just spitballing."
Overpowered, Sima Ho backed down meekly.
"Haha! Enough. I'm fine."
Sima Geon chuckled, lightly tousling her hair—even her anger looked cute.
Sima Geon brushed off Sima Ho's suggestion with a smile, but Cheol Woo reacted differently.
"Heh heh! Not a bad idea. Unity Society, right?"
"Yes."
"How many members?"
"Over a hundred."
"Big. No rivals?"
With Cheol Woo egging him on, Sima Ho got excited and rattled off details.
"Blood Pact Gang's been cocky lately, but we're the top dogs. Boss hesitates, but we could wipe 'em if he wanted."
"What's the boss like? Strong?"
"Strong. Not sure details, but rumors say Shaolin lay disciple."
"End times. Shaolin layman running a back-alley gang."
"Just rumors."
"Temperament? Cruel? Scum?"
"Nah. Money-grubbing, but treats his men well. Way better than Blood Pact thugs losing limbs."
"Even grunts like you respect him? Must have some loyalty."
Cheol Woo cackled. Sima Ho flared up.
"Hey! Not a grunt."
"Who said? Why so defensive? Makes you sound like one."
"Seriously?!"
As Cheol Woo teased with a grin, Sima Ho's face flushed beet red, like he'd downed liquor.
"Calm down. You too, quit messing."
Sima Geon shot Cheol Woo a look, then gazed calmly at Sima Ho, on the verge of exploding.
"You're suggesting out of care for us. Appreciate it, but we'll pass. Don't wanna worry family after all that hardship."
"Who said worry..."
Sima Ho started to protest, but shut up under Sima Jin's devouring glare. Even without her, Sima Hyeon would flip.
"Instead, dig deeper on the butcher shop. Others confirmed the old man's quitting and seeking a successor. How we take it over, costs, etc."
Sima Geon soothed and requested.
"Got it."
Sima Ho nodded, deflated.
"Too bad. Was getting exciting. Don't give up, push harder... Ow!"
Cheol Woo, still poking fun at Sima Ho, finally got his side pinched by Sima Jin.
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo returned to the butcher shop after confirming through Sima Ho that the old man was indeed quitting and looking for someone to take it over.
"Think the old man'll hand it to us, boss? We can scrape the money together."
"It's not about money—gotta win his heart. Ho said he's got one daughter, no son to inherit. Looking for someone to uphold the shop's reputation he's built. Tried training successors before, like we saw, but no luck."
"Honestly, kinda funny. What's so grand about butchering pigs and cows? Just pass it to anyone. Successor? Please."
Cheol Woo scoffed at fussing over a successor for a mere butcher shop.
"Not necessarily. Nearly sixty years, he said. After that long, it's natural. Think of Master Unretreating. How many disciples he tested and discarded before leaving you everything. Famous story in Black Dragon Valley."
"That's different!"
Cheol Woo bristled, but Sima Geon ignored it.
"What's different? Master Unretreating seeking an heir for his lifelong martial arts, and the old man for his butcher shop—same thing."
"Boss!"
"Anyway, quit yapping. In our spot, taking the shop's the best option. Or we farm? Got land money. Little sis seems to want that."
Cheol Woo recoiled at "farm."
"Ugh, who said farming's harder than business?"
"You're griping."
"Not griping—the old man's picky attitude bugs me."
"Means he values his life's work. I warned you. Keep it up, we're farming."
"Fine, fine."
Cheol Woo grumbled and shoved Sima Geon's back irritably.
Sima Geon stifled a laugh and stepped into the butcher shop.