Chapter 7: I've Never Seen Anything Like This
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7: I've Never Seen Anything Like This
The Blood Tiger Gang's official recruitment offer.
It was an opportunity I couldn't have even dreamed of in my past life.
‘The Blood Tiger Gang, at this level, must possess military might and influence comparable to a mid-sized sect affiliated with the Martial Alliance...’
Even within the Unorthodox Martial World of the Underworld, there are ranks.
I might have scraped by as a vagrant, treated as a low-life even here, but not everyone in the Unorthodox Faction is like that.
The larger or historically deeper gangs of the underworld are connected to political and business circles, and while they don't operate openly, their experts' skills and martial arts are in no way inferior to those of the Orthodox Martial World.
They operated several legitimate businesses—construction, investment, food and beverage, entertainment—and through their branch sects, they even controlled illegal enterprises.
That was also why the man smiling leisurely before me was wearing a luxury brand shirt.
“You'll have to take a simple test in front of the Hall Master, but from what I've seen, you should pass without a hitch. Then I'll arrange for you to join as my direct junior.”
At this point, the Blood Tiger Gang was more like a rising force in the underworld, but I knew that in just a few years, their power and reputation would grow beyond comparison to what they were now.
‘As they expand, there will be even more opportunities in the future.’
Moreover, the Blood Tiger Gang had the ability to fulfill most of what I needed right now.
As if reading my mind, O-ho laid out the specific recruitment terms.
“We'll provide you with the martial arts and internal energy cultivation methods you desire, and support you with spiritual medicine of intermediate grade or higher every year. You know this is top-tier treatment, hard to get anywhere else, right?”
Spiritual medicine of intermediate grade or higher started at tens of millions of won, and martial arts and mind cultivation methods were worth even more.
While there was the inherent risk of Qi Deviation unique to Unorthodox martial arts, compared to the instability of an Artificial Dantian, that was nothing.
“Think it over carefully. It might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“……”
If I accepted that offer, I was confident I could quickly reach the level of skill I possessed in my past life.
“Recruited by the Blood Tiger Gang?”
“That bastard hit the jackpot.”
“Damn it. Some of us slave away for years and can't even get into their subcontractors...”
Amidst the murmuring, gazes of envy and jealousy poured in from all directions, making my face sting.
‘It’s quite a feeling.’
In my past life, I lived like a wreck for over a year before undergoing an illegal Artificial Dantian procedure.
My body had stiffened completely, and I even lost an eye due to the side effects of the procedure, so it took a long time just to adapt to that body.
The first proper recruitment offer I received after becoming a vagrant was... if I recall correctly, after five years of being in the business.
‘But this time, just one fight at the Hidden Tower, and I'm treated like a top-tier commodity.’
When I remained silent for a while, Bok-ja glanced at me from the side, her expression tense.
Her own situation would completely change depending on my answer, after all.
“Oh, my apologies.”
Seeing this, O-ho smiled and handed Bok-ja a business card as well.
“Red Rabbit. I've heard a lot about you. I'll extend the same offer to you. We're always thirsty for exceptional talent, you see.”
It meant he intended to take both of us into the Blood Tiger Gang at once.
“Hmm...”
Bok-ja, holding the business card, also seemed to be deep in thought.
From my perspective, the Blood Tiger Gang's conditions weren't bad at all.
I'd heard through the grapevine that, for an underworld organization, their treatment and benefits were quite good.
‘Do whatever you want.’
With that meaning, I patted Bok-ja's shoulder.
It was certainly a temptation hard for anyone to refuse.
But my decision hadn't changed from the start.
“I'm not interested.”
“……May I ask why?”
As if he hadn't expected such a blunt refusal, a hint of bewilderment appeared on his face for the first time.
“Are you looking for better terms? Or are you aiming for a bigger organization? It's a bit much to say, but in ten years, our Blood Tiger Gang will...”
I know you'll grow bigger than you are now.
And how thick and nauseating the smell of blood I'd have to deal with in that process would be.
“I, at least, want to wield my blade by my own will. A blade swung at just anyone, simply because I'm told to, isn't cool, is it?”
“……Ha.”
After more than ten years of living by the blade as a vagrant, I was quite recognized for my skill even among the underworld gangs.
Lone Noble Ki Mu-hyeok.
Among the gangs that tried to recruit me back then, there were even some larger than the current Blood Tiger Gang.
Yet, the reason I remained a vagrant until the very end was the same as what I just said.
“……I'm envious. So much so that I almost want to break that conviction of yours.”
“Cut the crap.”
O-ho, who had been staring at me with a cold expression for a moment, then let out a small laugh and spoke.
“If you ever change your mind, contact me. My offer remains valid.”
“Can we go now?”
O-ho nodded, his gaze shifting to Bok-ja beside me.
“What about Red Rabbit?”
“I'm not interested either.”
This time, I was even more surprised.
‘Why you?’
The Blood Tiger Gang was different from the riff-raff.
It was an organization that, far from exploiting Bok-ja's abilities, could actually provide solid support.
She must have known that, so I naturally expected her to accept, but her resolute refusal left no room for negotiation.
‘Are you out of your mind?’
When I looked at her with that meaning, Bok-ja suddenly stood on tiptoes and casually slung an arm around my shoulder.
“I'm pretty similar to this guy in my thinking. That's why I like Cheongrang better.”
It's Cheongnang, not Cheongrang.
It seemed to be my fault for not correcting O-ho when he asked if it was Cheongrang earlier.
Before I knew it, our crew's name had become Cheongrang (Azure Wolf).
“I never imagined I'd miss out on both of you... What a shame. I thought we could have been good partners.”
We walked past O-ho, who stepped aside with a look of disappointment, and headed for the exit.
Then, his voice came from behind us.
“Cheongrang, that name. I'll remember it.”
……Damn it.
Since it had come to this, I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, so no one would underestimate us.
“For your information, I'm the youngest of Cheongnang, and the weakest among its martial artists. Well, I'll be the strongest soon enough, though.”
A few whistled, as if impressed by my audacity.
Some tried to gauge whether my words were bluff or truth, but they wouldn't be able to figure anything out.
‘I've been living by the blade here for twenty years.’
Among these guys, the only one who probably understands the ways of the underworld better than me is... probably Hwang Suk-su, walking over there.
“What now? You're not planning to fight O-ho too, are you?”
I held out my hand to the betting duel addict, who approached with sparkling eyes.
“Just settle up the money. I correctly predicted a win in five moves, so you know it's five times the amount, right?”
“Of course! I brought your money myself, specifically to give it to you!”
Opening the envelope Hwang Suk-su handed me, I frowned.
“……That's too much?”
Inside the envelope was not five times the money I'd bet, but a whopping ten times.
Even so, it was only ten times a high schooler's allowance, so not a huge sum, but knowing that there were no favors without a price in the underworld, I glared at Hwang Suk-su.
“Haha! Just a small token of goodwill, you could say? If you ever have another fight, please use our establishment again. Or feel free to drop by if you need work.”
The pot-bellied middle-aged man rubbed his palms together gently, giving a creepy eye-smile, and honestly, I felt like gagging.
‘This guy, that guy...’
It seemed they were trying to stake their claim early, seeing that my skills were decent.
Hwang Suk-su also doubled as a broker, arranging various jobs in the underworld, and regardless of personal feelings, there was no harm in building a connection with him.
I took the money and put it away.
“The Dongpo Pork was delicious. I'll come again when I think of it.”
“This friend, he knows good taste! Do come again! Next time, I'll treat you to something even more delicious!”
Leaving Hwang Suk-su's joyful voice behind, we exited the Hidden Tower.
*
“You really don't regret it?”
“No. I said no.”
“Even later, try contacting the Blood Tiger Gang. They'll probably match the conditions, won't they? Work hard for a few years, then get out...”
“Hey!”
As if she didn't want to hear any more nagging, Bok-ja snatched the goggles off my face.
This was because I had been trying to convince her the entire way back to the workshop that joining the Blood Tiger Gang wouldn't be a bad idea.
“I'll handle my own business, so just take off your clothes and lie down!”
Bok-ja's finger pointed at something that looked like a hospital examination bed.
Next to it were complex mechanical devices and a monitor, which were tools for a constitution test.
I was about to take off my top, but just in case, I asked.
“Clothes to change into?”
“Do you think this is a hospital? I'm not interested in your body, so just lie down in your underwear.”
“……Hmm.”
As I lay down on the bed in just my underwear as instructed, Bok-ja activated the equipment.
Whirrr-!
As the equipment activated, complex symbols and numbers appeared on the monitor.
Bok-ja, who had turned the monitor towards herself, now spoke to me with a serious expression.
“Take slow, deep breaths. Don't force yourself to feel or draw out your qi.”
Since I had taken care of Bok-ja's troublesome task as promised, it was now my turn for the constitution test.
Bok-ja continued speaking as she attached cupping-like devices all over my body.
“There's nothing dangerous at all, so if you're sleepy, just take a nap.”
“……You think I could sleep?”
“Looks like you're nervous too, huh?”
Bok-ja playfully slapped my shoulder and laughed.
A warm energy flowed from the bed, permeating my body, and she said the reactions confirmed by the attached devices would soon appear on the monitor.
While not as precise as equipment in a specialized hospital, spellcasting equipment was, in essence, merely a tool to assist a spellcaster.
In other words, if the spellcaster's skill was exceptional, the equipment wasn't all that important.
Of course, it would require more concentration and consume more energy.
‘The problem is, there are hardly any trustworthy spellcasters in the underworld.’
Fortunately, Kim Bok-ja was the most skilled spellcaster I knew in the underworld.
“How long until the results come out?”
“Roughly ten minutes? As a bonus, I'll do a Five Elements Affinity test for you too.”
Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土), Metal (金), Water (水).
These are the five energies that make up all creation, and each person is born with a stronger affinity for one of them, or a constitution that makes it easier to absorb.
From the perspective of someone learning martial arts, this is expressed as 'having high affinity.'
For instance, if I had a high Fire affinity, learning Yang-Dominant martial arts would lead to faster progress and be more beneficial.
Huuuuuum!
As Bok-ja, with her hands clasped as if in prayer, began to mumble an incomprehensible incantation, the energy flowing into my body intensified.
“……Don't resist. Yield to the flow of qi, thinking of your body as wide open. Good. Huh? Wait a minute. This is... something...”
FWOOSH!
With a blinding flash of light as the last thing I saw, I blacked out.
“Ugh...”
A while later, I finally regained consciousness and opened my eyes to see Bok-ja staring up at the monitor.
“What...?”
“……The test is over. The results are out. But this...”
Bok-ja's expression as she turned to me was as pale as if she'd seen a ghost.
“I think... we might have to do it again...”
“……What kind of results did you get?”
I peeled off the testing devices attached to my body and sat up.
It wasn't a very good reaction, so an uneasy feeling naturally arose.
‘I'm not even hoping for a high grade. Just Grade 5 or higher...’
Even if the results were lower than that, I wouldn't give up on becoming a martial artist, but honestly, I hoped for some luck in this life.
Staggering to my feet, I went over to Bok-ja and checked the monitor.
The Chinese character for 'two' (二) was glowing brightly, as if ablaze, in the center of the monitor.
“Grade 2...?”
“Don't just look there, look below.”
As if possessed, I lowered my gaze and looked below.
There, beneath the constitution grade, were the results of the Five Elements Affinity test.
(Wood), (Fire), (Earth), (Metal), (Water)
All five elements were lit up.
“I've never seen anything like this.”
“……Me neither.”
We stared blankly at the monitor for a long time.