Chapter 12

12. You said someone died because they didn't clean?

The Twelve Elders each have different levels of martial arts, but they are all on par with the Black Cat Leader.

Cho Iljeom couldn't even lift his head.

‘Why did the Twelve Elders come here...’

Upon hearing the name Baek Yu, he should have welcomed him as he would the Black Cat Leader. Especially, Baek Yu was a truly difficult opponent for Cho Iljeom. Recently, he had been closely following the Black Cat of the Twelve Elders, so it was a situation where the most estranged Baek Yu would naturally feel unpleasant. The problem was that despite knowing these circumstances, Cho Iljeom's low rank meant he had never met Baek Yu in person.

Cho Iljeom's thoughts became complicated.

"…Is there something you need to command?"

"There is."

"Please speak."

"Kill yourself."

Cho Iljeom clenched his teeth and did not answer. No matter how powerful the Twelve Elders were, who would accept such an order?

Cho Iljeom said,

"Speaking so abruptly…"

"Just kidding."

"Hmm."

I smiled slightly and continued,

"The Twelve Elders are actually a lie. I'm from Il Yang County. Lord, why did you fall for it so easily?"

Cho Iljeom's expression changed dramatically as he lifted his head.

"From Il Yang County?"

Cho Iljeom's tension eased, but at the same time, anger welled up inside him.

I met his gaze steadily and said,

"You seem confused. Come closer and look. It's me."

Cho Iljeom approached with his sword, carefully examining my face.

His ever-changing expression was truly a sight to behold. At first, a hint of disbelief crossed his face, followed quickly by a surge of anger.

Cho Iljeom slowly drew his sword and said,

"Are you that waiter from Zha Hake Zan?"

I smiled and replied,

"Good job recognizing me. Did you ever pass by and have a bowl of tasteless noodles? How was the Jedu Noodles? Lord Cho Iljeom."

Only then did a foreboding thought cross Cho Iljeom's mind.

"What about my brother?"

"What about him?"

"He went out to kill you, what happened?"

I said with a stern expression,

"He came."

"Tell me."

"He didn't come for noodles. I can't quite remember what he said. Ah, I remember. He suddenly started digging a grave, setting the mood. I don't know why your brother came to Zha Hake Zan to dig his own grave. If you're curious, go to the afterlife and ask him. Don't ask me."

As the enraged Cho Iljeom closed the distance, he thrust his sword at my face. It was a stable thrust, as if preparing for a counterattack.

I drew my sword and deflected Cho Iljeom's sword.

A clang and sparks flew.

When the two swords collided, the 'fight' information was transmitted to each of our arms.

Muscle, inner strength, speed, and the intensity of the sword.

Cho Iljeom was a swordsman in his late thirties who had wielded a sword for about twenty years. He had no formal martial arts training, so he used a practical combat style learned from killing people.

It was a sword technique with clear limits. To me, it looked like a combination of external and crude internal techniques. However, his killing intent was sufficiently terrifying due to his extensive experience in killing.

But in the vast world of martial arts, I rated it as a third-rate technique.

Moreover, even though I had only reached the first stage of the Golden Cage Technique, the Wood Stage, my pure inner strength was far deeper than Cho Iljeom's. My inner strength, based on the Heavenly Jade, was fundamentally different from his, as it remained in my dantian. His combat skills, experience, and ability to handle attacks were not even worth mentioning.

"You should have killed yourself."

I launched a counterattack with a stern expression.

In the spacious banquet hall, the two swords clashed repeatedly as Cho Iljeom and I alternated between closing and widening the distance.

Cho Iljeom's expression darkened moment by moment.

His instinct, based on 'information,' was warning him to run. It was a bewildering moment, as a waiter from an inn had no possibility of matching him.

As Cho Iljeom was pushed back by my inner strength, I threw my sword like a stone without hesitation.

Whizz!

Startled, Cho Iljeom barely deflected the flying sword. I then whipped out a whip from my waist and entangled his sword handle.

Infusing the Wood Stage power into my arm, I pulled Cho Iljeom like a pig being led to slaughter.

At that moment, Cho Iljeom chose to flee. He dropped his sword, spun around, and used light steps to head for the entrance.

My whip, faster than his speed, flew again.

I wrapped the whip around Cho Iljeom's waist and pulled, spinning my body to shorten the length of the whip.

As the distance closed, Cho Iljeom turned and launched a double palm strike.

I countered with the Wood Chicken Finger technique.

Depending on the level of inner strength, either my fingers would break, or Cho Iljeom's palm force would penetrate, causing internal injuries. Naturally, the sound of skin tearing instantly followed, and Cho Iljeom staggered back, spitting out dark blood.

With an expression of disbelief, he said,

"How could you…"

"Learn martial arts?"

I infused the Golden Cage Technique power into the whip and swung it. The injured Cho Iljeom wildly waved his hands in resistance, but there was no efficient way to block the flying whip.

Every time the whip moved, a red line appeared on Cho Iljeom's body.

While being hit, Cho Iljeom roared,

"Zha! Damn it, Zha. Hold on!"

I wrapped the whip around Cho Iljeom's neck and pulled, unleashing the Wood Chicken Palm Force on his forehead.

A thud was followed by the sound of his neck breaking.

Cho Iljeom's heavy body collapsed to the ground, causing the entire Ewha Pavilion to tremble.

Thud!

Cho Iljeom's death left me unimpressed.

After confirming his immediate death, I picked up the Black Dragon Sword. Cho Iljeom's guards were gathered in the corridor but could not rashly enter.

I stood at the door with my sword and whip and said,

"Open the door."

The door creaked open, and martial artists with Park Do were waiting, enveloped in killing intent.

The reason they couldn't enter was simple.

According to reports, Cho Iljeom and a high-ranking expert from the Black Cat Gang had fought.

It was difficult for them to determine whose side to take.

When in doubt, it's natural to prioritize one's own safety.

Although Lord Cho Iljeom was intimidating, they knew that the terrifying Cho brothers had repeatedly invited and entertained high-ranking experts from the Black Cat Gang.

They were not confined within the gang's boundaries and were also a group of local ruffians.

I easily read their thoughts.

When I glared at a few of them, they all averted their eyes.

I revealed that the reason for the killing was an order from the Black Cat Gang.

"The Gang Leader changed his mind, and the establishment of the gang in Il Yang County has been postponed. Cho was made an example. If you rashly demand the establishment of the gang again, you will all end up like him. Step aside. If you don't want to die."

The people filling the corridor pressed against the walls to make way.

Some went to the entrance to examine Cho Iljeom's body.

As I walked down the corridor, I gave the next order.

"Report any incidents at the brothels to Chae Sung-tae of Plum Pavilion for now."

When I reached the end of the corridor and looked back, muffled responses came from various directions.

"Understood."

"Conduct the funeral as simply as possible. They made a fortune by exploiting poor people in the three brothels, so he should have enough money for the afterlife."

As I turned, someone said,

"Aren't you the waiter from Zha Hake Zan?"

He said it clearly, as if for his colleagues to hear.

"…!"

Silence was followed by murmurs.

I stopped, and the martial artists with Park Do slowly lifted their heads to glare at my back.

"Waiter from Zha Hake Zan? Is it true?"

"Definitely. He just changed his clothes. I often see him, so I know well."

It seemed someone recognized me.

I turned my head from side to side and then turned around. Now everyone was looking at my face and eyes.

I smiled at them.

"Right. What are you going to do? Did you suddenly get brave because I'm a waiter? If you want to die, step forward."

Naturally, no one stepped forward.

"Who wants to follow me to the afterlife and lick Cho Iljeom's feet? I'll kill you. If you want to obey like a dog in the afterlife, the Cho brothers will love you like a dog. Bastards. Anyone?"

There were over thirty people lined up in the corridor, but none of them had the courage to step forward.

I asked again, defenseless.

"Lost dogs wagging their tails."

If they had the courage to seek revenge, they wouldn't have attached themselves to the brothels for food and shelter.

Someone asked,

"Why did you suddenly kill Lord Cho Iljeom?"

"Why?"

I had no need to justify myself to them.

"Ask Cho Iljeom. If you're curious, come anytime. I'm not going anywhere."

I turned, but no one moved.

Even if they attacked me from behind, the ambush of these inferior men, not even as good as the Cho brothers, would not succeed.

* * *

When I returned, Chae Sung-tae gulped and looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.

"Wha? What about Cho Iljeom?"

"He ascended."

"Liar!"

The drunk Chae Sung-tae jumped up and started running to Ewha Pavilion.

It was shocking news for Chae Sung-tae.

By the time I had finished my seventh cup of cold wine and eaten the cold side dishes, Chae Sung-tae arrived, panting and shaking his head.

"It's chaos. It's chaos. Cho Iljeom is dead! Cho Iljeom!"

"Are you drunk?"

"Ah, running suddenly made the alcohol rush to my head."

Chae Sung-tae sat down and continued,

"But no one else died, right? How did only Cho Iljeom die?"

I pointed at Chae Sung-tae with my finger and said,

"Manage the three brothels properly."

"There are some who won't listen, but I understand. I'll take care of it."

There were two other men of Chae Sung-tae's level. Chae Sung-tae always thought he was stronger than them. With the Plum Pavilion and Ewha Pavilion lords dead, only the youngest, the procurer of courtesans, remained.

Chae Sung-tae asked,

"What will you do now?"

"Kill the human traffickers."

"I'll inform them right away."

I had intended to practice, but there was no need to tell Chae Sung-tae. I could practice at Zha Hake Zan or temporarily retreat to a quiet mountain.

What I needed now was not the practice of sword techniques but an inner strength technique to draw out the troops waiting in my dantian.

I planned to observe the situation in Il Yang County for a few days and then decide whether to retreat or continue practicing here.

I looked at the messy table and said,

"Clean this up and go."

Chae Sung-tae opened his mouth to say something but closed it. He knew he would be hit if he refused.

Instead, he had a good idea and said carefully,

"I'll send some friends known for cleaning. They are among the best in Il Yang County. They'll remove the grass from the wall, dust the place, and clean the kitchen, which is a mess. I'll send them right away, so please wait."

"Have you heard the story of someone dying because they didn't clean?"

"Is there such a story?"

"It's a local legend in Il Yang County."

"Is there such a legend? I've never heard of it. I'll clean the table and leave. Why don't you stay at Plum Pavilion? The bed is more comfortable, and there are guards…"

I didn't respond and entered a small room, sitting in a lotus position.

Chae Sung-tae sighed and looked for a mop.

'Fucking bastard. Making me clean? Huh.'

Chae Sung-tae had no choice but to mop the floor.