Chapter 11
Chapter 11
11.
Guan Yu?
Amidst the table laden with food delivered for our drinking session, I spoke.
"Eat plenty. You bought it with your precious money. Money earned from making young girls work, right? Or is it? Ah, it's money earned from passing off Third Grade Dukang Wine as First-rate Dukang Wine. Our Plum Blossom Brothel manager, please eat your fill."
"Yes, yes, I'm already eating plenty."
"No poison in the food, right?"
"I'm eating it too. Are you a hypochondriac?"
"I suppose so."
Cha Seong-tae had already emptied two jars of liquor with the food he bought. I can hold my liquor, but Cha Seong-tae was keeping pace.
We devoured the food and liquor with a seriously violent air. Cha Seong-tae was drinking heavily because his pride was wounded, and I was eating excessively because I was too skinny.
If I gain weight, I can just train in martial arts. With such a perfect solution, I ate like a pig. After finishing the urgent matters, I planned to dedicate myself to martial arts training.
Cha Seong-tae, picking at the food, said, "I'm worried about how the Black Cat Clan will react if Jo Igyeol dies and Jo Ilseom also dies."
"If you're worried, train in martial arts, you bastard. All you ever do is worry with your mouth. 'I'm worried, I'm concerned, what should we do, what should we do.' Stop that crap. Did you store your worries in your Energy Center? Why are you so pathetically worried about everything?"
Cha Seong-tae had a temper too. As I kept nagging him, his expression began to change, and he retorted like a rebellious youth.
"Who the hell are you? You're not Jaha, you bastard. Take off that Human skin mask."
As my hand rose, Cha Seong-tae quickly changed his tone.
"Alright, alright. If we get into a fight with that damn Black Cat Clan, we can just kill them all. I'll train harder in martial arts too."
"Can you handle it with your skills?"
"Then can our Lee Jaha handle it?"
The words "Lee Jaha" brought a smile to my face.
Was it because of my Shop Assistant days?
Cha Seong-tae's attitude made me realize my situation anew.
Being underestimated because I was a Shop Assistant was certainly an advantage, but I needed to quickly raise the level of my Golden Turtle Wandering Skill.
Only then would the advantage of being easily underestimated shine even brighter.
While drinking, I said to Cha Seong-tae, "Let's finish this and go kill Jo Ilseom. If we have to kill him anyway, we should take care of it quickly."
"...Are you Guan Yu? Suddenly, while drinking?"
Even in his drunken stupor, Cha Seong-tae looked at me with a surprised expression.
"The problem is Jo Sam-pyeong, the youngest, who's wandering around outside. Where do we find him?"
"He should be back soon."
"Can you handle him when he returns? You're completely useless."
Cha Seong-tae retorted with an irritated expression.
"I am Cha Seong-tae."
"So what?"
"I can handle the youngest with my skills. But it might be a bit difficult since my eyes are injured."
"Pick one, you bastard. Can you handle him or not? Stop confusing me."
"I'll wait for an opportunity and make the most of a surprise attack. Haven't you heard of Cha Seong-tae, the Ambush Leader? That's my nickname."
"Ambush Leader."
I had never heard such a childish nickname.
Cha Seong-tae said it to make me laugh, but I didn't bother to humor him.
"I need time to train if I'm going to face the Black Cat Clan. I'm asking because I'm curious if you can take control of the rest after I kill Jo Ilseom. Can you manage the three Houses of pleasure?"
"Manage, as in?"
My eyes gleamed.
"Normally."
"Normally, as in?"
"There are people who make a living from the Houses of pleasure, so it's impossible to get rid of them. Pay the people who work there properly. Don't commit fraud by charging First-rate prices for Third Grade liquor. Take care of those who are sick. Send those who want to return to their hometowns back. That's normal management."
I am such a normal person.
Cha Seong-tae's reaction was rather negative.
"That's a difficult task."
"It has to be done, even if it's difficult."
"Why?"
"Because it's better than our Ambush Leader being ambushed by me."
I pointed at Cha Seong-tae's eye patch.
"If you're still making a mess of things even after you take over, I'll ambush you first and send you to join the Cho Family bastards."
Cha Seong-tae put down his chopsticks and said, "Ah, this is too much to handle. Seriously. You threaten to kill me at every turn. I'm retiring and going to the mountains."
"Do whatever you want."
"Hmm."
I threw Cha Seong-tae a bait.
"Anyway, if you manage it well, you'll be running three Houses of pleasure. If you have no ambition or courage, go live in a mountain village cave, meditating. Eating mountain herbs. And don't crawl out of the cave if you can help it."
"Why?"
"Because if you come up to find Elixir and run into me, I'll kill you. Got it? If you're going to run away, live drinking from a deep mountain spring or under the eaves."
I finished my last drink, then stood up and took off my clothes.
Cha Seong-tae asked with a bewildered expression, "What are you doing?"
"Take off your clothes, you bastard. I'm changing."
"What kind of robber is this..."
Cha Seong-tae took off his clothes and continued, "Jo Ilseom, I mean. That robber. Go kill him wearing my clothes. He's at the Pear Blossom Tower. It would be too conspicuous to go to the Pear Blossom Tower in that ragged outfit, right? Changing is the best option."
I put on Cha Seong-tae's clothes and said, "Give me that long robe too."
"This is a rather expensive garment. It's my cherished going-out outfit."
As I grabbed the whip on the table, Cha Seong-tae quickly handed over the long robe.
"Wear it nicely."
I changed into Cha Seong-tae's clothes, which he usually wore well, and wrapped the Dragon Whip around my waist. After wrapping it around my waist three times, the Dragon Whip became a belt. Because I was wearing the long robe over it, it didn't give the impression of Weaponry.
I spread my arms and asked Cha Seong-tae, "How do I look?"
"Oh my, you look great. You have that feeling of being a Shop Assistant but not a Shop Assistant. Now that I see it, you have handsome features. Our Purple Glow Inn Shop Assistant looked like a beggar because he dressed like a beggar from the Beggars' Sect. Wow, clothes make the man! You look like an angel..."
I smacked Cha Seong-tae on the head.
"Enough."
"Yes."
"This bastard, if I let him off the leash even a little, he starts being sarcastic like it's a habit. Have you gained the enlightenment of courting a beating?"
"Stop hitting me."
Hearing those words made me want to hit him again, as expected.
I hit him again.
Only then did Cha Seong-tae say in a repentant tone, "I'll be careful. But can you kill Jo Ilseom alone? He'll have many underlings."
"Why would I kill the underlings? I should only kill Jo Ilseom if possible. They're all locals. Well, if they die fighting, there's nothing I can do."
As I left the inn and headed towards the Pear Blossom Tower, Cha Seong-tae said in a surprised tone, "Hey, at least sober up a bit before you go."
"I smell like liquor. I'm well-dressed. I have no money. It's the perfect day to go to a House of pleasure."
'Why are you going to a House of pleasure if you have no money, you crazy bastard.'
Cha Seong-tae swallowed those words, afraid that the Shop Assistant would come back if he said them out loud. As the Shop Assistant disappeared into the dark road, Cha Seong-tae said in a small voice, "Good luck. Lee Jaha, you son of a bitch."
Suddenly, Cha Seong-tae, left alone in the Purple Glow Inn, took a drink and looked around the inn. What was this ominous feeling that he had become a Shop Assistant again? He had been hit on the head for a slip of the tongue, and his outfit was a Shop Assistant's outfit.
"I'm learning something new again today."
Cha Seong-tae stood up to return to the Plum Blossom Brothel, then sat back down.
He was too embarrassed to go back like this.
Suddenly, Cha Seong-tae grabbed his forehead.
Come to think of it, the money pouch with his hidden money was in the pocket of his long robe.
"Damn it."
* * *
I arrived at the main gate of the Pear Blossom Tower and glared at the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper's gaze scanned my body up and down, then met my eyes. As I deliberately narrowed my brows and glared, the gatekeeper lowered his gaze and said, "Welcome."
The gatekeeper couldn't help but be intimidated, as I was wearing a rather fine outfit and had a sword at my waist.
I didn't enter the Pear Blossom Tower and said in an angry tone, "Is Luzhu Jo Ilseom inside?"
Only then did the gatekeeper, greatly surprised, bow his head and say, "He is. Where are you from?"
"I am Lee Jaha, a messenger from the Black Cat Clan. Escort me to Jo Ilseom."
"Lee Jaha?"
The moment the gatekeeper raised his head to meet my eyes, my hand flew towards the gatekeeper's cheek.
"Escort me, you bastard. I'm busy. Don't babble nonsense."
"I'm sorry."
The gatekeeper, slapped on the cheek, turned around and opened the door. Then he grabbed a guide and whispered, "He's from the Black Cat Clan. Escort him to Luzhu."
I deliberately glared at everyone I met with eyes that looked like I would beat them to death. The fact that I was from the Black Cat Clan added to the effect, and most people avoided my gaze. All they could see was the lower part of my chest, where they could see a rather expensive-looking long robe and a long sword with a Dragon Head Smithy ornament.
Again, the Dragon Head Smithy's handle ornament is very excessive. Being excessive had the effect of looking expensive at first glance.
"I will inform Luzhu. Please wait a moment."
"Tell him to come out quickly. Before I set the place on fire."
"Yes."
Following the guide to the top of the Pear Blossom Tower, I found a spacious banquet hall. Beyond that, there was an excessive grand master's chair that looked like it was meant for the leader of a sect or the head of a noble family.
'He's desperate to create a faction.'
While looking around the banquet hall, I said to the waiting attendants, "I have something to discuss with Luzhu alone, so don't loiter around and leave."
"Understood."
As soon as the attendants disappeared, I sat in the grand master's chair and waited for Jo Ilseom.
During my Shop Assistant days, I had never spoken to him alone, and I couldn't even look him in the eye whenever we passed each other. That man was Jo Ilseom.
Now, sitting in the grand master's chair and waiting for Jo Ilseom, I felt a strange emotion.
'I remember him being massive.'
Some people are born with thick bones and a large build, overwhelming most men, and Jo Ilseom was one of those people.
After a while, I heard footsteps, and Jo Ilseom, wearing an unpleasant expression, appeared, adjusting his clothes. For some reason, Jo Ilseom's size, whom I hadn't seen in a while, was much smaller than I remembered.
Jo Ilseom looked at me and said, "I don't believe we've met before."
Coming unannounced at this late hour, sitting in the grand master's chair, and the glare that didn't rise even when he arrived all flustered Jo Ilseom.
My first words were, "Jo Ilseom."
"Yes."
"You ugly, greasy, violent pig. Long time no see."
"Hoo, hahahahaha..."
Jo Ilseom tilted his head and walked somewhere.
"Let's introduce ourselves first. What kind of insulting words are those out of the blue? Ah, please excuse me. I came out in a hurry."
While speaking, Jo Ilseom grabbed the long sword hanging on the wall and turned around. He was a man with caution ingrained in his body.
"As you know, I am Jo Ilseom. I apologize for the late introduction."
Jo Ilseom looked at me as if he wanted an introduction. I was curious about Jo Ilseom's reaction, so I introduced myself like this.
"I am Baek-yu."
"Baek-yu? Excuse me, but what is your position in the Black Cat Clan?"
I gave a faint smile.
"Who told you I was from the Black Cat Clan?"
"That's what I was reported."
I was curious about Jo Ilseom's reaction to the Twelve Divine Generals, so I introduced myself like this.
"Listen well. I am Baek-yu of the Twelve Divine Generals."
"Yes?"
Jo Ilseom widened his eyes and knelt on one knee in an awkward posture.
"Jo Ilseom greets Baek-yu of the Twelve Divine Generals."
Wow, that worked?
I just threw it out there, but Jo Ilseom knelt.
The Twelve Divine Generals must be scary in this neighborhood.