Chapter 9
Chapter 9
9.What is the name of our alliance?
I showed Geum Cheolyong the sickle at my waist and said,
"I spilled some blood at the Plum Blossom Brothel."
"Oh dear, how many did you kill?"
"No one died."
Geum Cheolyong tilted his head.
"That's a relief. But did you learn Martial arts?"
"I did, that's why the noodles tasted like that."
"That's convincing. By the way, your grandfather lived his whole life gently boiling Chicken Head Noodles, so this is strange. If it's because The Jo Brothers keep bothering you, I'll mediate. Their harassment is getting worse every day. If they don't accept mediation, I'll protect you here. There's no need to make a big deal out of it. No matter how much the gigolos stir things up, as long as I, Geum Cheolyong, am at the Dragon Head Smithy, they won't be able to do anything to you."
'Did Geum Uncle have this side to him? Unexpected. Why was he just standing still in my past life?'
Rummaging through my memories, Geum Cheolyong was the first to suffer back then, though the timing was slightly different. Anyway, this man was one to keep his word.
I smiled at Geum Cheolyong's favor and replied,
"Thank you for your kindness."
"Don't mention it."
I continued in a serious tone after a long time.
"I'm thinking of starting a sect here in Ilyang Prefecture. A sect with subordinate organizations. The first force to be created, centered around the guys who worked at the House of pleasure, will be the Rebirth Sect. Geum Uncle, you should also create a sect instead of the Iron Squad and form an alliance with me. Of course, I'll be the leader of the alliance."
"We're already the Iron Squad, what sect are you talking about?"
"Gather all the Iron Squad forces in the vicinity and create the Iron Dragon Sect separately. It can't go on like this. If The Jo Brothers create a gang, the amount of tribute will increase even more. I will establish an allied sect in Ilyang Prefecture to prevent the Heukdo gangs in the vicinity from extorting money from this place."
"What exactly is an allied sect?"
"Integrate those in the House of pleasure into the Rebirth Sect, and the various Iron Squads into the Iron Dragon Sect. Construction into the Construction Sect. Gather the remaining forces according to their occupations, and then I will take charge of the organization that integrates them. It's not about going somewhere to act tyrannical."
Geum Cheolyong listened to me with a serious expression.
"There will be no tribute or superior-subordinate relationship. Of course, the internal atmosphere will be a mess, but that doesn't matter either. All I want is for each person not to have their hard-earned money taken away to strange places. An organization that expands its power wildly throughout the Central Plains, starting as a clandestine organization and spreading throughout the Martial World. If this alliance makes someone harass the Shop Assistant, the weak, and the merchants less, then my intention will have hit the mark. An alliance where the bottom of the barrel can gather and protect the money they work hard to earn every day."
Geum Cheolyong mulled over my words for quite a while before belatedly replying.
"The plan is very crude yet grand. What is the name of the alliance?"
I met Geum Cheolyong's eyes and replied.
"Low Filth Sect."
Geum Cheolyong crossed his arms and stared at me for a long time.
"Low Filth Sect, huh……."
* * *
Low, the very end, dirty things, filth.
This combination of meanings ultimately refers to the weak with low status, and the weak are everywhere. However, the Low Filth Sect is a name that combines the gate, which means power, so there is a twist of reversal.
As Geum Cheolyong didn't open his mouth, the entire Dragon Head Smithy became silent. After pondering for a long time, Geum Cheolyong said to me.
"It's amazing that a Shop Assistant is creating a sect. Are you confident that you can survive against The Jo Brothers right now?"
"You'll know if you watch."
Geum Cheolyong said to Gwak Yonggae, the vice squad leader.
"Just give them all the weapons for free."
Gwak Yonggae asked back with a surprised expression.
"Yes? Not a loan?"
Geum Cheolyong frowned and glared at Gwak Yonggae.
"What nonsense are you spouting to the sect leader? How dare you?"
Gwak Yonggae quickly lowered his head and replied.
"I'm sorry."
As expected, Geum Cheolyong's bluff had a unique side to it.
Geum Cheolyong said to me with a still serious expression.
"Let's continue our next story after you survive."
"Sure."
"Tell me in advance if there's anything I can help with."
"Weapons with excessive handles are enough."
"Is that a compliment? Or are you being sarcastic?"
"I was being slightly sarcastic."
"……."
I had a staring contest with Geum Cheolyong for a while, then packed the weapons in a bundle and left the Dragon Head Smithy.
In the Dragon Head Smithy, where the man who got the weapons for free had disappeared, such a conversation flowed out.
"Do you think that guy will survive?"
"The Shop Assistant had a plan. Don't you think he'll survive?"
"I can't believe a guy who can't even make noodles properly has such a plan. Amazing."
"That's right. Maybe the reason the noodles tasted so terrible was because he was concentrating on Martial arts training."
"That's true. How could that be noodles? It's clear that he'll go bankrupt soon because business is so bad."
"If so, then the fact that the inn was going bankrupt was all part of the plan."
"Should I have gotten some money for the weapons? I'm slightly regretting it."
"I gave them away because they weren't selling well anyway. They were made too excessively."
Geum Cheolyong smiled contentedly.
"Good job. You won the Shop Assistant's heart while clearing out the inventory. It wasn't a losing deal."
"That's right. By the way, you called him sect leader?"
"He's a sect leader if he survives. He's a Shop Assistant now."
Suddenly, laughter flowed out from the Dragon Head Smithy.
"Hahahahaha."
"Quiet."
"Yes."
The laughter stopped completely.
Gwak Yonggae asked Geum Cheolyong.
"Big Brother, by the way, what are you thinking about with such a serious expression?"
Geum Cheolyong stroked his chin and replied.
"Iron Dragon Sect."
Geum Cheolyong, who had been spreading his imagination, muttered once again.
"Iron Dragon Sect Leader Geum Cheolyong."
* * *
I put the weapons and blood-stained sickle I brought from the Dragon Head Smithy on the table, and put the dagger in my waist.
There was no need to practice with the sword and whip, but instead, it was necessary to firmly engrave the weight and feel when holding them.
After learning about the weapons with my hands and eyes, I went into the small room. Since there was a very high possibility that The Jo Brothers would come, I didn't do Breath Regulation and just focused on breathing with my eyes closed.
About two hours later, someone's voice was heard at the entrance of the inn.
The tone was full of fatigue.
When I went outside, Jo Igyeol, the second of The Jo Brothers, was sitting in a chair, and behind him, men wearing black masks were waiting with shovels and sacks.
Jo Igyeol was skinnier and had a more nervous expression than I remembered. Before, it just felt like he didn't like making eye contact, but now he looked downright pathetic.
He must have received Cha Seong-tae's report and came late, and his face was quite drunk.
As I came out, Jo Igyeol ordered his subordinates.
"Dig a hole. Deeply."
"Yes, Luzhu."
While I was walking, Jo Igyeol took out a dagger from his chest and stabbed it into the table, saying.
"Sit."
Stabbing a dagger into the table is a fighting method often chosen by parties involved in a dispute to resolve the issue.
It is a kind of life-and-death duel.
I also stabbed the Cloud Dragon Dagger on the table and sat facing him.
The rules of this dispute resolution method are very simple.
If someone grabs the dagger during the conversation, the attack and defense begin.
It is also a life-and-death duel that family or colleagues cannot question because it is a mutually agreed-upon duel, whether they kill or injure each other. Jo Igyeol, who is quick with his hands, killed many competitors who showed off their strength in Ilyang Prefecture in this way.
Outside the inn, Jo Igyeol's subordinates were digging the ground, and Jo Igyeol stared at me before opening his mouth.
"The Black Cat Clan has given permission."
"Is that so?"
"A formal gang will be established in our Ilyang Prefecture. The three of us have been ridiculed as third-rate Heukdo and gigolos who only run Houses of pleasure, but now we can save face a little wherever we go."
I had a cold expression, but I replied politely on purpose.
"Congratulations."
Jo Igyeol nodded and continued.
"Yes. You should congratulate me. What am I supposed to do if you come to the House of pleasure and cause an accident on a day with such good news? It's a relief that it didn't get into the ears of the Black Cat Clan people I was entertaining. You trash who makes even these noodles taste bad."
Jo Igyeol pointed to the subordinates digging the ground and said.
"What is that hole?"
"Is it my grave?"
Jo Igyeol nodded.
"You know it well. Tell me three reasons why I should keep you alive before they finish digging that. Like becoming the gatekeeper of the gang that will be created soon. Or chasing after me and changing my shoes. If you do something that a dog or horse can do instead, I'll reconsider. Jaha, we grew up together in the same neighborhood, isn't it too harsh to kill you right away just because you caused an accident?"
I thought to myself.
'Are you going to kill me or not? Make up your mind, you bastard.'
However, I replied as if matching his pace, as I found Jo Igyeol's behavior ridiculous.
"It is harsh."
Suddenly, Jo Igyeol looked at the sword and whip on the table and said.
"You're acting up. You're acting up. Oh my, you pathetic bastard."
Jo Igyeol sighed and called my name again.
"Jaha."
I also sighed and replied.
"You're going to wear out my name. What is it?"
"What―is it? What……is it?"
Jo Igyeol's entire body was engulfed in murderous intent. He's an impatient guy. I knew exactly what Jo Igyeol was going to do.
I said.
"What is it, you bastard. Say it."
Jo Igyeol's dagger was drawn and immediately headed for my neck. Before the tip of the dagger touched my Adam's apple, a metallic sound was heard.
Clang!
The wide surface of the Cloud Dragon Dagger I drew from the table accurately blocked Jo Igyeol's dagger.
I slowly pushed the dagger away and met Jo Igyeol's eyes.
"Oh, you scared me. I almost got stabbed."
Only then did Jo Igyeol show a surprised expression.
"……!"
I put the Cloud Dragon Dagger back on the table and said.
"Is there a reason why I should keep you alive? Tell me just one reason. If I kill you, I'll have to kill your brothers as well. If I'm going to kill you three brothers, I have to kill them all, and if I'm going to save them, I have to save them all. Dog or horse? Oh my, you pathetic cripple who's not even a handful, where are you trying to set the mood? You gigolo, you son of a bitch. Say it again."
"……."
Jo Igyeol also put his dagger back on the table like me and crossed his arms.
Jo Igyeol said with a bitter expression.
"Looks like you got some kind of lucky encounter. Congratulations."
At this time, the subordinates who were digging the ground asked Jo Igyeol without any tact.
"Luzhu, we've almost finished digging the ground."
Jo Igyeol replied.
"Dig it deeper."
"I understand."
Jo Igyeol didn't want to show his ugly side to his subordinates.
I said as if telling him to grab the Cloud Dragon Dagger and block it.
"Shoulder."
As soon as I finished speaking, Jo Igyeol also grabbed his dagger. However, the Cloud Dragon Dagger had already stabbed and pulled out of Jo Igyeol's shoulder.
Thwack!
The blood that came out with the dagger to see the outside world soaked the table.
Drip, drip…….
Jo Igyeol was holding his dagger, his gaze fixed on his shoulder. Only then did he realize that the difference in speed was extreme.
I looked at the pale Jo Igyeol and said.
"Why are you so slow? How does it feel to be stabbed by a Shop Assistant after living like a nobleman in Ilyang Prefecture? The great gigolo who digs other people's graves whenever a dispute arises."
The men of Ilyang Prefecture don't back down at this level.
Jo Igyeol, who had been clenching his teeth, also drew his dagger and aimed for my shoulder.
This time too, Jo Igyeol's method was clear.
Aiming for the shoulder is a trick, and the subsequent attack will be filled with murderous intent.
I grabbed Jo Igyeol's wrist with my left hand in an instant, and held out the Cloud Dragon Dagger towards Jo Igyeol's incoming palm.
Thwack!
Jo Igyeol, whose palm was pierced, quickly withdrew his hand with a distorted expression. This time, a considerable amount of blood soaked the table.
Then, as promised, each of our daggers was stabbed back into the table.
Thwack, thwack!
It was the weak's turn to shut their mouths, so I said.
"Let's exclude my personal feelings for now. Is there a reason to keep you alive in Ilyang Prefecture? Not only human trafficking, but you also killed quite a few of my childhood acquaintances as you pleased. And a gang? What a load of crap. Isn't the Black Cat Clan allowing you to create a gang because they want tribute?"
"That's."
"Shut your mouth. You guys will start extorting money from merchants under the guise of protection money. If merchants with temper rise up and fight you, the Black Cat Clan will push in and clean up. Before that, the young people of the Iron Squad or the merchants would have fought you to the death. From the Black Cat Clan's point of view, the justification is properly established. Once they have a sword fight at that time, Ilyang Prefecture will not be able to make a peep and will pay tribute to the Black Cat Clan from now on."
The reason why the Black Cat Clan needed justification was because other Heukdo forces were also aiming for Ilyang Prefecture.
Strangely enough, Ilyang Prefecture is a place that has become a potential dispute exclusion zone because there are so many places aiming for it. The ones who maliciously exploited that point were The Jo Brothers.
Thanks to that, the men of Ilyang Prefecture shed blood, and the Black Cat Clan and The Jo Brothers take all the profits.
This is the future I know.
Jo Igyeol replied.
"There are many energetic young people in Ilyang Prefecture. First, create a gang, then increase our power, and then my brothers and I will strike the Black Cat Clan."
"With that pathetic skill? How will you take responsibility for the merchants who go bankrupt by then? And what's scary about the Black Cat Clan is that the leader's identity is special. Can you handle it?"
"How did you know that?"
"Sometimes the news that reaches the Shop Assistant's ears is faster than the Murim Alliance."
Jo Igyeol held out his blood-stained hand and said.
"……Anyway, let's work together even more. I don't know how or in what way you got stronger, but it doesn't matter. Jaha, you can never face the Black Cat Clan alone."
I clicked my tongue and pointed my finger towards the side where Jo Igyeol's subordinates were. They were still digging the ground diligently.
I asked.
"What is that?"
"……It was for intimidation."
The obvious words flowed out of my mouth.
"It's okay. It's your grave."
I looked at Jo Igyeol and smiled.