Chapter 18

18. The Man of Rain and Steel (1)

Jeon Bong and Han Gowook suddenly found themselves fearing the entire Ilyang County.

There was something off about everyone, and as time passed, that off-putting carelessness began to feel strangely terrifying.

When Madam Son didn't say anything, Jeon Bong finally had to explain the situation.

"There was never any talk of killing. Really, go up and ask."

Chae Sungtae asked Madam Son, as if he didn't believe it.

"Then why did you come out, Madam Son?"

Madam Son replied with a lackluster expression.

"I came out to get some fresh air. I felt like I was going to suffocate from keeping my mouth shut."

"Did they tell you to come?"

Madam Son nodded.

"Yes."

Chae Sungtae finally stepped aside and said.

"Please proceed."

Jeon Bong and Han Gowook passed quietly through the riffraff of Ilyang County, their mouths firmly shut.

Chae Sungtae's voice came from behind.

"Let's have another drink next time."

Jeon Bong replied.

"No need."

* * *

Chae Sungtae asked me, as if he was worried.

"Is it okay to let them go like that?"

If things were handled as Chae Sungtae thought, the Black Cat Gang would likely swarm the place in a few days. The Twelve Constellations, who were part of the same group, competed with each other and sometimes cooperated, but they couldn't afford to invest much effort in a small village like this. The most fearsome man in the area was the Fourth of the Twelve Constellations, the Great Asura. It wasn't necessary to draw his attention right now.

Of course, there was no need to explain all this to Chae Sungtae.

"The drunkards will find it hard to report out of fear. Their fear of reprimand will be greater than their desire for revenge. Money collectors are usually quick to calculate."

"Ah, I see."

"Now Ilyang County will be a bit quieter. I'm going to practice again."

"Where?"

"Anywhere... I'll recover all the assets of the guild and have you manage them. Take the position of Chief of the Haomen temporarily. If you embezzle, I'll remove you from the position, so remember that."

Chae Sungtae, sensing something ominous, asked as if trying to dig for information.

"What happens if I'm removed?"

I said.

"Execution."

Chae Sungtae's eyes widened.

"Execution if removed? Is there such a law?"

"I'm the Master. The Master makes the laws."

"..."

I patted Chae Sungtae's shoulder and congratulated him on his promotion.

"Let's have a drink to celebrate your promotion as Chief."

I poured Chae Sungtae a third-rate liquor. He stared at the ceiling and forced the drink down.

"Ugh, third-rate."

"Our Chief Chae is capable and will do well. I can trust Chief Chae, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"Why are you answering so half-heartedly? Do you want to be removed?"

"Ah, no. I'll do my best. I don't want to die."

"Do well. I'll support you later, Ilyang's First Sword, Chae Sungtae. You'll get a nickname like that. Just trust me."

Chae Sungtae replied in a dejected tone.

"I'll do my best too."

"Then Ilyang's First Sword. Don't worry about the Black Cat Gang."

The surviving Twelve Constellations would all kneel before me and get slapped in the future. But since that wasn't the case now, I needed to buy some time.

I stood up, thinking of going to eat.

"Work hard."

"Yes, please proceed."

Chae Sungtae sighed and finished the remaining liquor.

"I'll have a drink."

Suddenly, Chae Sungtae felt the bitterness of the martial world in his mouth. Despite his promotion, an inexplicable sense of sorrow washed over him. Perhaps it was because his superior was so young.

'The martial world isn't easy.'

Perhaps it was because his superior's previous job was a waiter.

* * *

After leaving the brothel, I aimlessly looked around Ilyang County. I walked down the street, looking at various shops, and continued walking.

Some people who lived ordinary lives looked at me, and those who had heard the rumor about the death of the Jo brothers looked shocked.

Whatever happened, it didn't matter to me.

The daily life of ordinary people remained the same, so I planned to continue walking this path.

When I arrived at Chunyang Restaurant, I saw Jin Cheolyong from Yongdu Ironworks eating noodles alone.

"Uncle Jin."

Jin Cheolyong nodded and gestured.

"You've already had a drink. I came here because I heard you come here often. I don't usually go near the brothel. It's not because I'm afraid of the people inside."

"Of course not."

The owner of Chunyang Restaurant, Jang Deoksu, asked.

"Want one?"

"I'll have noodles too."

"Got it."

Jin Cheolyong put down his bowl of noodles and said.

"You killed them all. Jo Ilseom, Jo Igyul, and Jo Sampyeong. Let's talk about the next thing as we agreed before."

"Sure."

Jin Cheolyong asked, as if he was worried.

"Will the Black Cat Gang come? If they do, many young people here will die. Do you have a plan?"

I fully understood Jin Cheolyong's concern. In my previous life, he was the one who most strongly opposed the tribute.

"They won't come right away. Even if they do, if a fight breaks out, it will be my doing, so others will be fine."

Jin Cheolyong tilted his head and asked.

"Can you handle it alone?"

"Yes."

Jin Cheolyong shook his head.

"Boasting is hard to believe. Do you have a master or did you meet a hidden expert?"

"Think what you want. Anyway, you'll find it hard to believe what I'll do in the future."

"Interesting. After all, a waiter from Zaha Guesthouse killed the Jo brothers one day. It's hard to believe. Do you need any support from me in the future?"

"There is, but I don't know if Uncle Jin can do it."

Jin Cheolyong replied with a laugh.

"We don't trust each other, do we? Still, speak your mind. Since the guys who were like thorns in my eyes are gone, I'll do it without any conditions."

I thought for a moment about what task to give Jin Cheolyong and then spoke.

"The hardest weapon to make is one that is very light but sharper than anything else. What do you think, Uncle Jin?"

"A famous sword is usually like that. A saber is a bit different. Most of the time, a saber needs some weight to match the saber techniques. High-level experts who excel in both external and internal skills prefer heavy sabers. I've heard that at a higher level, weapons aren't even necessary, but that's too unrealistic."

"Have you ever made a sword or saber that could be called famous at Yongdu Ironworks?"

"Of course not."

"Is there a reason?"

Jin Cheolyong answered clearly.

"Not making money is the main excuse. Who would buy a famous sword? A high-level expert who matches the sword. If he's a notorious expert in the underworld, or one of the Twelve Constellations who heard the rumor, it's questionable if you can get the right price. After the sword is stolen, it's fortunate if the people in the ironworks don't all die at the hands of the expert."

"Hmm."

It was a reasonable thought.

"But let's say you got the right price by luck. What would happen next?"

"The competitor of the person who bought the sword or another high-level expert in the underworld would come and threaten you to make another good sword."

"You know well. Making a good weapon and building a reputation means dealing with terrifying men. Most of the time, it's building bad karma rather than good karma. Most people know that when a famous sword suddenly appears in the martial world, people fight to the death over it."

"So you deliberately cut off interest in famous swords? It sounds like a cowardly excuse."

"Life has many ways. Some people desire fame, and some prioritize survival. Our Yongdu Ironworks has lasted a long time because we made appropriate weapons and sold them. It's a job to make a living, so what's the point of fame?"

Jin Cheolyong laughed and asked Jang Deoksu.

"Deoksu, isn't that right?"

Jang Deoksu nodded and replied.

"Yes, sir."

Jin Cheolyong tapped the empty noodle bowl with his finger and said.

"Look at Deoksu's cooking skills. The shop is shabby, but Deoksu's cooking is the best in Ilyang County. Suppose Deoksu worked as a chef in a famous family. If the family gets involved in a dispute and is wiped out, Deoksu dies too. He dies because of his excellent cooking skills. The same goes for the ironworks."

I nodded at Jin Cheolyong's words.

"I understand. Anyway, the weapon I want is..."

"As I said, a famous sword is..."

"It's not a sword. I'm not asking for a famous sword or a masterpiece. Just listen."

"Go on."

I took a sip of the broth and continued.

"I don't need a sharp weapon. It doesn't have to be light."

Jin Cheolyong replied.

"Then it's not a masterpiece."

"Right."

"Then what do you want me to make?"

I replied.

"I'm giving up sharpness. Weight doesn't matter. I want a weapon that doesn't break, bend, or snap, no matter what."

Jin Cheolyong crossed his arms, as if he was ready to listen, and I continued.

"For example, I don't mind carrying a piece of thousand-year-old steel. That's why I'm giving up sharpness and weight. This isn't a request for a masterpiece. I just want something that can't be easily cut by any famous sword, something rugged and rough but solid. Ultimately, I want something like the Ruyi Staff used by Jecheon Dae-seong."

As I spoke, Jin Cheolyong furrowed his brow.

"Something like a Ruyi Staff?"

"Something like that. Whether it's a staff, a cudgel, or a spear, the shape doesn't matter. I just want it to be solid."

"What do you plan to do with it?"

"Practice. I want to train to become a man of steel."

In this atmosphere, I couldn't mention the steel turtle.

For a while, Jin Cheolyong, Jang Deoksu, and I didn't say anything. Jin Cheolyong was lost in thought, and Jang Deoksu remained silent, as if not to disturb him.

After a while, Jang Deoksu looked outside and said.

"It's raining."

The three of us watched the heavy rain for a while without saying a word.

The gaze of the restaurant owner, the waiter, and the man who worked with iron every day lingered on the rain for a long time.

In such moments, conversation wasn't necessary.

I also watched the rain, momentarily forgetting about the martial world.