Chapter 32

32.

An Axe is Good for Setting the Mood.

The reason I returned to Chunyang Restaurant is simple.

I hadn't eaten yet.

"If you're eating all the pork bone soup ingredients, what are you going to make the soup with? And you said you're out of noodles. Is this how you run a business?"

Jang Deuk-su replied, "We're not out of noodles yet?"

"You said you were out earlier."

"That was a lie."

"The head of the Shop Gate lies every time he opens his mouth. Give me a bowl."

I took one of Jang Deuk-su's pork bones and put it in a bowl, then took one from So Gun-pyeong and sat across from him.

As I started eating the pork bone with my hands, Jang Deuk-su asked, "Is that enough? Should I boil some noodles?"

"No, let's just eat this."

As I tore off the meat from the pork bone, Jang Deuk-su also started eating. With the two of us tearing at the pork bones, So Gun-pyeong had no choice but to eat his as well.

All three of us had greasy hands.

While eating the pork bone, I asked So Gun-pyeong, "Is it good?"

"It's incredibly delicious."

"This is only for regulars, and you're not a regular. Why are you eating it?"

So Gun-pyeong suddenly clutched his chest as if he had indigestion.

Jang Deuk-su clicked his tongue and scolded me. "Jaha, even dogs aren't bothered when they're eating. Let's eat in peace."

I kept tearing off the meat and retorted, "This guy came to get rid of me. I'm the one who spared him. But he doesn't want to join the Low Filth Sect. He's here eating a special dish from a regular's place that he can't often enjoy. Is this how far the code of the Martial ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠World has fallen?"

I suddenly noticed the Nightfall Blade that So Gun-pyeong had placed on the table. It was a fairly famous sword in the Black Market, so I suddenly wanted to take a look.

"Let me see the sword. Give it here."

So Gun-pyeong said with a surprised expression, "I can't give it to you. It's as precious as my life."

"I'm not going to take it. I just want to look at it."

So Gun-pyeong looked as nervous as if he were having his lover forcibly taken away, then carefully handed the Nightfall Blade to me. He looked as tense as if he were giving away his own life.

I nonchalantly wiped the grease from my hands on my clothes. After completely removing the grease, I drew the Nightfall Blade and examined its sharp edge.

"It's a good sword."

I subtly injected Inner energy into my finger and flicked the blade.

Ting...!

"It's strong and resilient..."

So Gun-pyeong's skill was far inferior to mine, but if I had been careless, the kitchen knife would have been sliced like a dumpling.

I returned the Nightfall Blade to So Gun-pyeong and said, "It's a rare Precious Blade."

So Gun-pyeong nodded at my casual remark. "It is."

"But it's become a sword worse than a kitchen knife. Hahaha."

As I burst into laughter, Jang Deuk-su, who had been watching the fight, also laughed loudly.

"Wahahahaha."

But as soon as Jang Deuk-su made eye contact with So Gun-pyeong, he stopped laughing abruptly, startled.

I glared at So Gun-pyeong and said, "Who told you to glare at the owner of my regular restaurant like that?"

"I wasn't glaring, I was just looking."

"Look nicely."

"I understand."

We went back to tearing at the pork bones.

I've always had a habit of thinking about the relationship between Weaponry and people.

In my opinion...

If a Martial World person who isn't very skilled possesses Weaponry that is too good, they are likely to die a sudden and violent death.

Because they will be killed by a master who covets that Weaponry.

On the other hand, even if they possess low-grade Weaponry that is far below their skill level, they are also likely to die a sudden and violent death.

Because they will be defeated by a worthy opponent due to the inferiority of their Weaponry.

It's a problem to possess Weaponry that is too good to handle.

It's also a problem not to be able to find Weaponry that suits one's skill.

Martial World life is full of problems like this.

From that perspective, So Gun-pyeong and the Nightfall Blade were a good combination. Its appearance was reminiscent of Weaponry that Southern barbarians or bandit gangs might use.

After neatly finishing the pork bone, I asked So Gun-pyeong, "You don't seem to have anywhere to go?"

"...I have some things to think about for a while."

"Do you have any subordinates left in the Black Cat Clan?"

"I do."

"Were you close?"

So Gun-pyeong stared at me for a moment, then replied, "I consider some of them brothers."

"Oh."

"You may or may not know, but most of the people in the Black Cat Clan now are those who surrendered after the previous Clan Leader was killed by Daenachal. I was one of them. We had no choice. Daenachal killed most of the executives as an example. At least the Geumryong Kak suffered little damage, so they weren't mixed with those Daenachal later pushed in."

I replied with a serious expression, "How did you survive?"

"I wasn't an executive at the time."

I thought this guy was truly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lucky.

I'm not too afraid of the Twelve Divine Generals even now, but Daenachal is a bit different. He's an old Martial World figure who has been in the Martial World for decades before me and has survived until now.

The reason I can't accurately gauge his skill is that Daenachal didn't die at my hands in my past life, but at the hands of the Poison Devil.

I briefly recalled the story of the Poison Devil I had heard in the past and reviewed various plans.

If So Gun-pyeong doesn't return as he is, there's a high possibility that the Black Cat Clan Leader will appear in person. Being ambushed isn't my hobby. I concluded that it would be better for me to go and meet the Black Cat Clan Leader before he comes to Ilyang Prefecture.

"So Gun-pyeong."

"Yes."

"You're going to guide me to the Black Cat Clan later."

So Gun-pyeong's eyes widened. "Are you saying we're going together?"

"Listen carefully. I'm being serious. If I go alone, I might end up killing not only the Clan Leader but also all the Black Cat Clan warriors. If the fight escalates into an all-out war, you need to step in at the right moment and make sure that at least your subordinates don't die. This is the best I can do."

If I killed all of So Gun-pyeong's subordinates, it was clear that So Gun-pyeong wouldn't become my subordinate. Even if I attacked, it was best to kill only the Black Cat Clan Leader.

But how could I accurately predict the fight and outcome with the Black Market?

So Gun-pyeong asked in a flustered tone, "When are you going?"

"I'm going to go to the Iron Squad and get some good Weaponry for setting the mood. Let's go as soon as I get back. You wait here."

Jang Deuk-su asked, "Good Weaponry for setting the mood? What's that?"

I stood up abruptly and replied curtly, "An axe."

Jang Deuk-su soon realized that someone's head was about to be split open by an axe.

* * *

"Sect Leader, you've arrived."

As I appeared at the Dragon Head Smithy, Geum Cheolyong greeted me.

"Are you visiting because of the Mad Blade?"

"No."

"Then another fight must have broken out."

I answered Geum Cheolyong honestly, "The Black Cat Clan sent assassins. I'm thinking of sending an assassin too."

"An assassin? Who?"

I pointed to my chest with my thumb. "Me. How is the Mad Blade doing? I'm not rushing you, just curious."

Geum Cheolyong crossed his arms and said, "The Vice Squad Leader said he's going down south this time to check out the Hundred Yue Black Market. Finding good iron is sometimes harder than making a good sword or Precious Blade. Hopefully, there will be good news."

The Hundred Yue Black Market is a closed market run by the Yue tribe, a minority group.

In other words, they don't sell or buy goods from Martial World people of the Central Plains. If the Vice Squad Leader went there, it meant he was also from the Yue tribe.

"Anyway, if you're thinking of going as an assassin, what kind of Weaponry do you need?"

"Give me a Great Axe that an assassin can use. The bigger and heavier, the better."

"An assassin using an axe is unheard of."

"The more skilled the assassin, the less they are bound by Weaponry. Only incompetent guys fight with things like chopsticks."

"I see. Sect Leader, I just had an idea and wanted to get your opinion."

"Please speak."

"What if the Low Filth Sect also ran a Black Market? It seems like it would be more profitable than the Iron Squad. We've been getting less work lately."

"Don't do it."

"I understand."

Geum Cheolyong gave up quickly. But he seemed curious about the reason.

"Is there a reason why you're telling me not to?"

"How can someone who is reluctant to even make Precious Blades run a Black Market where they have to do business with Martial World people? The Black Market is involved with the Martial World, so you have to make money while cleaning up corpses. Can you handle that?"

"What if our Low Filth Sect becomes stronger later?"

"Even then, no."

There is a line that the Low Filth Sect's territory should not cross. To survive long and thin, it is right to keep that line.

Geum Cheolyong smiled and said, "I understand."

"Instead, it would be better to ask Yeon Ja-seong of the Construction Sect if there is anything you can help with. The Iron Squad's technology will be used a lot in the equipment, tools, and materials needed for construction."

From the beginning, the small organizations of the Low Filth Sect can help each other. However, this is only on the condition that the commission costs are reasonable and transparent.

Geum Cheolyong's face lit up. "Why didn't I think of that? I understand. Someone, quickly bring our Sect Leader a Great Axe."

While waiting for the Great Axe, Geum Cheolyong asked, "But how are you going to deal with the Black Cat Clan? Are you thinking of gathering swordsmen like Seong-tae and going? No matter how I think about it, it seems like we're too outnumbered."

"I'm going alone. And my return might be a bit late."

Geum Cheolyong stared at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me for a moment, then said, "Just don't die. If something happens to the Sect Leader, at least our entire Iron Dragon Sect will attack the Black Cat Clan."

"I won't die, so I'll just take your heart."

Just as I don't know how to make Weaponry, Geum Cheolyong doesn't know about Martial arts.

As we looked at each other and nodded a few times, a menacing axe with a dragon head handle arrived. The exterior was truly a magnificent axe, but the joints looked a little unstable.

'I should use it sparingly.'

In any case, the exterior had a terrifying appearance that Xu Huang or Li Kui of the Water Margin might have used, so I was very pleased with it.

.

.

.

"So Gun-pyeong, guide me."

So Gun-pyeong, who had been waiting at Chunyang Restaurant, stood up with a start.

"Are we really going just the two of us?"

"Then are we going with three people?"

I bid farewell to Jang Deuk-su with a large axe slung over my shoulder.

"Deuk-su hyung, if my return is delayed, tell Seong-tae."

Jang Deuk-su replied with a worried expression, "Tell him what?"

I pondered for a moment, then said, "Tell him not to play around and to write the report carefully. I can't guarantee when I'll be back."

I have a rough plan on how to deal with the Black Cat Clan. However, that rough plan doesn't clearly tell me when I'll be back.

I'll have to go and see for myself.

Jang Deuk-su said, "Aren't you going too hastily?"

"A surprise attack is supposed to be hasty."

And Ilyang Prefecture is safe because I'm going to attack.

After saying goodbye to Jang Deuk-su, I moved quickly with So Gun-pyeong, then pointed to the Purple Glow Inn, which was under construction, and said, "That's the Purple Glow Inn, which will become the Low Filth Sect's headquarters later."

So Gun-pyeong replied without much thought, then stopped walking without realizing it after checking the construction site.

'No, how is it so big?'

I took three or four steps, then called out to So Gun-pyeong, who wasn't following.

"What are you doing? I told you to guide me."

"I'm sorry. By the way, Sect Leader, you're incredibly rich. I didn't see you that way..."

"Me?"

"Is there anyone else here?"

"Gun-pyeong, do I look like a nice guy to you?"

"What do you mean?"

I pointed to the Purple Glow Inn under construction and told him, "That's being built with your slush fund."

"Huh?"

"It's your money. Black Cat Clan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠money, the Black Cat Clan's slush fund, Geumbong Kakju's slush fund, money collected by robbing others, money Geumbong Kakju extorted by bullying the weak. Oh, there's money from the House of pleasure owners too. Anyway, that money is eventually being used like that. You follow me and watch. How I'm going to shake down the Black Market. Let's go."

As I started moving quickly again, So Gun-pyeong hurriedly followed.