Chapter 24

24. Law of Exchange

Is there a law of exchange in the world that I don't know about?

A state where the arrival of a good person like Yenja-seong is balanced by the arrival of unwelcome ones.

Two people, dressed in matching attire, had blocked the road, and the young one asked me,

"Are you Ijaha Rujushim?"

I shook my head and replied,

"No, I'm a waiter."

The man sighed upon hearing my answer.

"...I am Hyukryeon Hong, a messenger of the Black Cat Gang. I have come to deliver a message from a higher-up."

"Another Black Cat Gang?"

While observing the two men, I noticed that one of them was holding a large bundle.

The bundle likely contained either a peculiar weapon or a peculiar throwing weapon. If not, it would probably contain a human head.

Hyukryeon Hong said in a stiff tone,

"The head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion of our gang wishes to see you."

"Who is the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion? I don't want to see him, so tell him I don't. From the name, he sounds like a middle-aged man who only cares about money."

Hyukryeon Hong didn't react much to my harsh words.

In fact, I already knew about the man called the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion.

His name is Pan Siong.

I had never met him, but I often heard his name.

Pan Siong, the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, was the one who was caught by the inspector for secretly embezzling the Black Cat Gang's funds and was executed by dismemberment.

In short, he was a man obsessed with money.

The head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion was a middle-level figure in the Black Cat Gang, not ranked by martial arts skills, but by his role in handling matters related to the gang's interests. He had advanced to his position at a young age due to the large amount of money he contributed to the higher-ups, making him a unique figure.

Therefore, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that all the harm that Yangyang County suffered later was due to his orders. He had pressured his subordinates, who in turn squeezed the powerless in a chain reaction.

In the underworld, making money is often associated with cruel methods. Moreover, I knew that Pan Siong had also accumulated wealth through contract killings unrelated to the Black Cat Gang's affairs.

In short, Pan Siong was a man who did all sorts of despicable deeds.

The underworld is full of such people, so it wasn't surprising.

Hyukryeon Hong tried to soothe me,

"Since they invited you instead of sending assassins, it would be best not to refuse. If I return, assassins will come next, Lord Ijaha."

Hyukryeon Hong seemed to find it amusing to use honorifics with me, as he chuckled while speaking.

"A tight spot."

"Yes."

"When do you want to see me?"

"He is hunting not far from here. The sooner, the better. It would be best to leave by tonight at the latest."

I asked, curious about the contents of the bundle,

"What are you carrying? It seems you brought it to show me."

"Oh, I should show it to you."

Hyukryeon Hong nodded at the man holding the bundle, and he stepped forward, lifting it to reveal its contents.

It was the heads of unexpected people.

Zhen Feng and Han Gouyu.

It seemed they had brought the heads of these two as a threat, but such a threat had no effect on me.

"You killed my drinking buddies so casually."

Hyukryeon Hong said,

"The two knew about the incident in Yangyang County but kept it hidden. This delayed the situation, which is a serious offense. After torturing them, I found out the story was quite absurd. Lord, you only made them drink, right?"

I nodded, and Hyukryeon Hong smiled,

"That saved your life. The head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion found it amusing and decided not to send assassins because he found you interesting."

I briefly considered whether I should kill these two men or let them go.

Just as I was thinking about killing them, the guard holding the bundle suddenly grabbed Hyukryeon Hong's shoulder and used light steps to retreat.

Thump, thump, thump...

His steps were so hurried that they made a loud noise.

Hyukryeon Hong, after putting some distance between us, said,

"Lord? We are just here to deliver a message. You have a very strong aura of killing intent."

"Bluffing is..."

I looked at the two men and said,

"You killed Zhen Feng and Han Gouyu so cruelly and now you want me to come? I have no intention of walking into a trap."

Hyukryeon Hong scratched his head and replied,

"If you feel afraid, run. Many have run to avoid getting involved with the Black Cat Gang. If you do, there won't be any unnecessary killings in Yangyang County, which would be good for everyone."

In other words, if I wanted to continue being the leader in Yangyang County, I had to bow to the Black Cat Gang.

If I ran and stayed away from Yangyang County, they would let me live.

"Run?"

Hyukryeon Hong smiled,

"Yes."

"A man can't do that."

Hyukryeon Hong asked,

"How? Will you give me until tonight, or will you come immediately?"

The Black Cat Gang was skilled at making it seem like there was no way out.

I remained silent, and Hyukryeon Hong said,

"By the way, we won't drink with you, Lord."

"Too bad."

Probably, no one in the Black Cat Gang would ever drink with me again.

With the Black Cat Gang's stance, I had no choice but to meet.

I spread my arms to show my current attire,

"It's hard to visit in this state. I'll change into something more appropriate before we go. After all, I'm meeting a powerful figure in the Black Cat Gang, so I need to dress properly. I look too much like a waiter now."

Hyukryeon Hong nodded,

"That's true. You do look like a waiter."

"..."

"Lead the way. I'll follow."

I led the two men like a tail and headed to Plum Blossom Pavilion.

* * *

After changing into neat clothes, I told Chae Sung-tae my destination.

"I need to meet the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion of the Black Cat Gang."

"The head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion? Isn't he a money-obsessed killer?"

Chae Sung-tae looked at me with surprise.

"Indeed, Zhen Feng and Han Gouyu, who came last time, were also killed. Their heads were cut off."

"Yet you're going?"

"I'm not being summoned; I'm going on my own."

Chae Sung-tae, with an excited expression, said,

"Do you really need to go alone? I'll gather everyone. Let's start a war."

I sighed, looking at Chae Sung-tae,

'He's too naive.'

If the locals were killed or injured, there would be no place to eat gukbap, no place to drink, no place to make weapons, and no one to steal clothes from.

If I was just breathing, I would feel lonely. If these guys disappeared, I would have to start calling myself a madman.

"Be patient. I'll go alone."

"Are you crazy? You'll probably die."

Chae Sung-tae, with a determined look, continued,

"I'll go with you."

"Are you serious?"

After looking at the ground for a moment, Chae Sung-tae replied with a troubled expression,

"To be honest, I'm not serious."

I hit Chae Sung-tae's head for the first time in a while.

"Shut up. I'll be back, so behave yourself."

Chae Sung-tae suddenly took off his robe and put it on me. After always stealing clothes from me, he was now willingly giving one.

I asked,

"Do you cherish this robe? You have a lot of clothes."

"I cherish it."

"It might tear."

"It can be made into rags."

I patted Chae Sung-tae's shoulder and left the room.

"I'll be back."

Chae Sung-tae, making a bow, said,

"Behave yourself."

The word "behave" sounded like a slogan.

* * *

Chae Sung-tae has the task of transforming the three brothels he runs into red-light districts.

Yenja-seong is sweating to create a new Zaha Guesthouse.

Geum Cheol-yong is likely still pondering the weapon, Guangren, to give me.

Jang Deok-su will probably continue making gukbap to make a living.

While they do what they can...

I became the master of the One-Man Killing Sect again.

Everyone must do what they are good at.

Hyukryeon Hong, inspecting my new attire, said,

"You always looked sharp. Let's go."

"Let's go, Black Cat Gang members."

"Excuse me?"

"Let's go."

Hyukryeon Hong, about to say something, made a sound and swallowed it back. His duty was to bring me, and he couldn't let personal feelings ruin the task.

During the walk, the three of us didn't speak at all.

After looking around, I finally spoke after half an hour,

"Are we going to Jeongho Mountain?"

"Yes. If the gang leader called, we would go to the main hall, but now we are going to a hunting lodge near the hunting grounds. The main hall doesn't allow people with uncertain backgrounds."

I replied based on what I knew,

"Because of the other Twelve Elders?"

Hyukryeon Hong paused, then looked at me,

"Yes. One of the Twelve Elders is skilled in transformation techniques. You seem to know a lot about the martial world, young Lord."

As we climbed the mountain path, I said,

"Running a guesthouse, you hear a lot of news."

Hyukryeon Hong chuckled,

"How could a waiter at a guesthouse know about the Twelve Elders? Speak sensibly."

"By the way, can members of the Black Cat Gang own personal lodges?"

"Why not? He owned the lodge before joining the Black Cat Gang. He loves hunting and has lodges in various places."

"He must be rich."

"He is. It's convenient for us. He gathers his subordinates, roasts meat, and stays at the lodge for a day when he wants to relax."

"The Black Cat Gang leader would be pleased."

Since the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion would eventually be killed by the Black Cat Gang leader, I couldn't help but mock him. Hyukryeon Hong chuckled,

"Please refrain from such remarks in front of the head. He has a fiery temper..."

A fiery temper...

I couldn't help but chuckle like Hyukryeon Hong.

The personal lodge of the head of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion would serve various purposes.

As Hyukryeon Hong said, it could be a vacation spot, a place to bury or burn bodies, and a secret treasury for hidden funds.

While it might seem incomprehensible to ordinary people, the Black Cat Gang is part of the underworld.

It wouldn't be surprising for its members to engage in all sorts of bizarre activities.

After about an hour of fast walking, we arrived at the entrance of the lodge.

A tall iron gate stood in the center, and the wall extending from it was covered with vines, making it hard to see. The lodge looked more like a fortress on a cliff, and if the iron gate were covered with vines, it would be indistinguishable from a safe house.

It clearly seemed like a place for handling dirty business.

Hyukryeon Hong reported at the iron gate,

"Hyukryeon Hong, reporting back. I've brought Lord Ijaha."

The iron gate opened without any response from inside.

Following Hyukryeon Hong inside, the atmosphere changed instantly. More people were moving around the lodge than I expected, and there was a bonfire in the center.

A sturdy man sat in a chair next to the bonfire.

From his first impression, it was clear he had no mercy.