Chapter 8

8.There's a possibility they'll be displeased.

Chae Hyang suddenly teared up at the sight of blood trickling from Cha Seong-tae's eyes. Aside from the owner of the Plum Blossom Brothel, Cha Seong-tae was the most fearsome man. Blood was flowing from his eyes, and he was even kneeling; it was only natural to be afraid.

When I held out my empty cup, Chae Hyang filled it with Dukang Wine with trembling hands.

"Chae Hyang."

"Yes."

I deliberately wore a warm smile as I spoke.

"Even a Shop Assistant has pure intentions."

As if telling her to answer correctly, Cha Seong-tae glared at Chae Hyang. Believing that Luzhu would resolve the situation anyway, Chae Hyang nodded and replied.

"Yes."

I wiped the smile off my face and retorted.

"But those pure intentions were never directed at you. You understand that now, right? You're ruining my appetite, so get lost."

Chae Hyang stared at me with wide eyes, then looked at Cha Seong-tae, wondering if she could really leave. Cha Seong-tae gestured for her to leave.

When Chae Hyang still didn't get up, I ordered again.

"Leave."

Only then did Chae Hyang get up and rush out into the hallway. Having never been spoken to so rudely in her life, Chae Hyang was barely holding back her tears. But as soon as she reached the hallway, she burst into tears.

I looked at Cha Seong-tae and said.

"Seriously, the problem with kids who live off their looks is this. They think everything can be solved by crying. Am I right, or am I right?"

Cha Seong-tae replied.

"That's right."

I said to Cha Seong-tae, who was still thoughtlessly using informal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠speech.

"Don't speak informally to me anymore."

"......"

"Your beady eyes annoy me, so I don't like being spoken to informally."

Cha Seong-tae stammered slightly.

"Ah, yes. Please speak."

"Do you think Luzhu's arrival will resolve the situation? Or will Luzhu also be kneeling there next to you?"

"Luzhu and the two brothers are quite skilled in Martial arts, so I honestly don't know. Of course, since the problem occurred at the Plum Blossom Brothel, only Jo Igyeol Luzhu will come. The Luzhus seem to be busy entertaining the Black Cat Clan these days."

"A man who speaks very politely."

"Thank you."

"Entertained the Black Cat Clan?"

"Yes, a branch will soon be established in Ilyang Prefecture with the permission of the Black Cat Clan. So, if such bad news is reported as soon as the branch is established, the Black Cat Clan will likely dislike it, very much. Relationships are complicated like that."

"Displeased?"

"Yes."

"They shouldn't be displeased. So, you're saying that even if I subdue Luzhu, the problem I caused will be resolved by the Black Cat Clan. Is that what you mean?"

Cha Seong-tae nodded honestly.

"That's right. The Black Cat Clan is a clan that even the roughest men of Ilyang Prefecture would struggle to handle, isn't it?"

"So what are you saying, you son of a bitch? That when Luzhu comes, we'll have a drink of reconciliation and go our separate ways? Is that how things will be resolved?"

"That won't do. Then what will you do?"

"The Jo Brothers can just come under me."

"That's a bit... wouldn't that be impossible? There's a high possibility they'll be quite displeased."

"I'll create a sect in Ilyang Prefecture, and you'll all come under me. The sect for the guys in the House of pleasure will be called the Rebirth Sect, or Life Gate for short? In the sense that all the crazy bastards in Ilyang Prefecture will be reborn like me."

Cha Seong-tae nodded as if he agreed.

"Good. Rebirth is indeed necessary. And congratulations on your rebirth."

"Seong-tae."

"Yes, speak."

"Luzhu is a bit late, isn't he?"

"That's what I'm saying. As I mentioned, if they're entertaining the experts from the Black Cat Clan at the Pear Blossom Tower, it'll be difficult for them to come right away. They're important guests."

I drank a cup of Dukang Wine, then stood up and looked down at Cha Seong-tae.

"Tell the Luzhus this. If they all come under me, I'll let them live in one piece. Of course, there's no chance they'll take my words seriously. I have to give them a chance. Tell them they can come to the Purple Glow Inn anytime, and I'll deal with them. And..."

I was thinking of giving Cha Seong-tae a chance too.

"Think carefully. If you think the Black Cat Clan will win, then side with Luzhu and come at me again. If not, then be reborn as I said. First-rate Dukang Wine, well-enjoyed. On credit."

"Won't you wait a little longer?"

"Do you think I'll run away?"

Cha Seong-tae nodded.

"Yes."

I kicked Cha Seong-tae in the face, sending him flying into a corner.

"You have a talent for inviting trouble."

I pointed at Cha Seong-tae with my finger.

"A man should know how to invite trouble. See you again."

Cha Seong-tae touched his face and replied.

"Take care. I'll put it on the tab."

"Put it on or don't."

Since the entire Ilyang Prefecture would be under me anyway, there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was no need to worry about whether my name was on the tab.

As I walked down the hallway, people stepped aside to the left and right.

Even though they had already stepped aside, I wanted to say this at least once.

"Get out of the way, you bastards."

As I went down the stairs and arrived on the first floor, the doorman who had fainted first seemed to be unaware of the situation, as he cursed at me as soon as he saw me.

"Hey, you son of a bitch!"

I slapped the guy across the cheek as I passed by. With a thud, the doorman crashed into the wall and collapsed, so I said to the others.

"Explain it to him. He's getting hit again. He fainted and then fainted again. You guys have no compassion."

I stopped briefly at the entrance and looked around at the people working at the Plum Blossom Brothel. In an instant, the entire Plum Blossom Brothel fell silent.

I waved my hand once and said in a blunt tone.

"Shop Assistant, I had a good time."

As I turned around, a barrage of curses formed by lip shapes and hand gestures poured out from behind.

If you curse, it's only natural to be cursed back.

Without paying attention, I left the Plum Blossom Brothel and stretched. I didn't feel bad.

A curse is a curse, a joke is a joke, and the truth is the truth.

Of course, a mountain is a mountain, and water is water.

You have to distinguish the meanings well to prevent this from happening.

Of course, the Jo Brothers, who ran the Plum Blossom Brothel, Pear Blossom Tower, and Poetry Blossom House, probably couldn't accept the truth as the truth yet.

The House of pleasure wasn't originally their family business.

Ilyang Prefecture was a mess of a place, so the Jo Brothers had taken the House of pleasure by force in the past.

Therefore, the guys who were wary of challengers would probably hear the reports from their subordinates as a joke.

"There's been an incident at the Plum Blossom Brothel. Apparently, a Shop Assistant came alone and caused a huge commotion."

"Shop Assistant who?"

"That Shop Assistant from the Purple Glow Inn."

"Purple Glow Inn? Are you kidding me right now?"

I imagined that this kind of conversation would take place when the report was made.

While walking down the street, I suddenly took out the scythe tucked into my waist and looked at it.

The Jo Brothers could somehow be dealt with using this shabby scythe, but dealing with the Black Cat Clan, whom I would inevitably clash with later, with just one scythe was inefficient.

I needed to visit the Dragon Head Smithy.

The Dragon Head Smithy was a smithy that could create dragon head-shaped handles. Strangely, they seemed to focus more on making dragon head handles than on making good blades.

A place that made weapons with better handles than blades.

The Dragon Head Smithy was a smithy steeped in vanity rather than practicality.

Therefore, the weapons made by the Dragon Head Smithy had somewhat excessive names compared to their quality.

White Dragon Sword, Blue Dragon Blade, Black Dragon Whip, Twin Dragon Scythe.

They always attached the word "Dragon" to the name and sold it.

Weapons that, if you only heard the name, seemed like they could be used by the Ten Great Experts of the Martial World. Thanks to this, when fights broke out around Ilyang Prefecture, dragons were rampant everywhere.

The White Dragon Sword cut through the wind, the Blue Dragon Blade bounced off the moonlight and fell, and the Black Dragon Whip separated flesh and blood; that was my hometown.

When you get to know them, they're just idiots.

I took out the money I had hidden near the furnace of the Purple Glow Inn and headed to the Dragon Head Smithy.

Even if I was strong in Martial arts, it was morally right to pay for such transactions properly.

I'm such a normal person.

"Welcome... Purple Glow Inn?"

"Did you come to collect on credit? Did we have any credit with you?"

Eyes that seemed to ask why a Shop Assistant had come to the smithy poured out from all directions. I looked around the Dragon Head Smithy and said.

"I've come to buy weapons."

"Weapons for what reason? Ah, did you come to buy a scythe? Our scythes are a bit expensive."

I crossed my arms for a moment and pondered a short answer that could convince them.

"I'm planning to deal with the Jo Brothers, so I need to buy a few weapons."

"Suddenly?"

The workers of the Dragon Head Smithy looked at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠each other and tilted their heads, then Gwak Yonggae, the vice-chief of the Dragon Head Smithy, said.

"Hey, young friend. It's your freedom to wage war, but can you handle it alone? Now that I think about it, I heard you got beaten up. Don't throw away your precious life just to vent your anger. I really liked the Chicken Head Noodles your grandfather made. Your cooking skills are terrible, so I haven't been there since."

"This isn't the time to talk about the taste of Chicken Head Noodles."

Gwak Yonggae was picking a fight with a customer.

"If I don't talk about the taste of noodles with a Shop Assistant, then what should I talk about?"

I took out a money pouch from my pocket.

"Quiet. I brought plenty of money, so show me the weapons."

"What exactly are you trying to buy?"

I counted on my fingers and replied.

"A light sword, a tough whip, and a moderately sharp dagger would be good. Do you happen to have a Blue Dragon Blade or anything like that?"

I couldn't get my main weapon right away, so I was just thinking of getting weapons to use temporarily.

Vice-Chief Gwak Yonggae scratched his head.

"You're going to use all of that?"

"It's a matter of taste, so please respect it."

Vice-Chief Gwak Yonggae flicked his fingers at his subordinates and ordered.

"Go inside and bring out the Black Dragon Sword, White Dragon Whip, and Cloud Dragon Dagger. Don't look for the Blue Dragon Blade, we don't have it."

The subordinates of the Dragon Head Smithy replied to the vice-chief's order.

"Understood."

Gwak Yonggae said.

"There's no one in this rural town who can handle the Blue Dragon Blade, so we didn't make it. Please understand."

It was disappointing news.

"Ah, the Blue Dragon Blade is a really cool weapon, don't you have a Serpent Spear either?"

"I told you, we don't have it."

"A Sky Piercing Halberd?"

"Anyway, we don't have those weapons, so stop asking. You have to know when to stop."

Vice-Chief Gwak Yonggae stroked his beard and looked me up and down.

"By the way, how old are you this year?"

"I'm over twenty."

"I'm well over thirty, are you going to keep talking so impudently?"

I rolled up my sleeves.

"If you have a problem, let's fight."

Vice-Chief Gwak Yonggae waved his hand.

"No thanks. I can't beat up an innocent Shop Assistant, not even me."

"You're a gentleman."

As the subordinates who had brought out the weapons from inside stood in a row, Gwak Yonggae said.

"Take a look."

"I'm busy, so I'll just buy them all."

"Um, give me ninety nyang."

"Are you crazy? That's too expensive!"

"I gave you a big discount because you're from the neighborhood."

I crossed my arms and continued to haggle.

"Then let's do this. Lend them to me. Fifty nyang for everything."

"Lend? What are you talking about?"

"I mean I'll use them and return them."

"Ha, you're a robber."

"What robber? I'm saying I'll return them after the war."

At this time, as strange stories kept being heard from outside, Geum Cheolyong, the chief of the Dragon Head Smithy, appeared.

Geum Cheolyong was a man with sharp eyes, and his name and appearance clearly showed that he was the owner of the smithy. The Dragon and Iron in Dragon Head Smithy were taken from this man's name.

"What's all the commotion?"

Vanity with the passage of time had its own charm, and there was a certain atmosphere.

Gwak Yonggae and everyone else slightly bowed their heads towards Geum Cheolyong.

"Big Brother, this young friend is going to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠war with the Jo Brothers."

Geum Cheolyong looked at me.

"War?"

"So he wants to take all these weapons. However, he doesn't have enough money to buy them, so he wants to borrow them. What should we do?"

Geum Cheolyong seemed to remember who I was then.

"Now that I think about it, aren't you the grandson of the Purple Glow Inn?"

"Uncle Geum, it's been a while."

Geum Cheolyong sighed and said in a serious tone.

"I've liked the Chicken Head Noodles your grandfather made for a long time. Your cooking skills are terrible. What did you learn from your grandfather? You lack skill and sincerity. That's my conclusion as to why the Purple Glow Inn is failing."

I sighed and crossed my arms.

"Your grandfather's Chicken Head Noodles were delicious. I admit that. But I didn't come here to talk about Chicken Head Noodles today, so let's keep it brief."

Gwak Yonggae informed Geum Cheolyong.

"Brother, I already told him about the Chicken Head Noodles."

Geum Cheolyong nodded.

"Good job. By the way, I smell blood on your waist. Have you already had a fight?"

I had no choice but to look at Geum Cheolyong of the Dragon Head Smithy again.

This guy, he had a dog's nose?