Chapter 31. Without me, you dare to?

"Answer me."

When I urged, So Gunpyeong spoke in a low tone.

"…Please spare me."

So Gunpyeong, a man who knew shame, had his face turn bright red.

I asked.

"Why? Do you have an old mother at home or a cute daughter? If so, I should naturally spare you."

"That's not the case."

"It's difficult if not. If you had a cute daughter, it would be a must."

So Gunpyeong was about to say, "What the hell are you talking about?" but swallowed it back.

"There might be a possibility somewhere, but officially, there isn't."

"This guy… playing word games."

"I'm sorry."

"I was going to treat you as a gang leader if you came down, but you don't like that. But you want to live, right?"

Embarrassed and intimidated, So Gunpyeong managed to say.

"I am a man who keeps his promises. If you spare me, I will never touch the Haomen again. I swear. Not only the Haomen, but I will not use force against anyone related to the leader. I swear on my sword."

Initially, I had the intention of making this guy my subordinate, so I plan to let him go now.

The respected Master Walong demonstrated that no matter how upright a person is, if you catch and beat them seven times, they can be made into a subordinate.

The important point here is that he let them go.

It's because the other party still has no intention of joining me.

The act of the Seven Sins and Seven Prohibitions itself is not important; it's because Master Walong read people's hearts that he is considered great.

To be honest, I'm also curious about why this guy has survived so long. I'm the type who must find out anything I'm curious about.

"Go."

'If you come back stronger, it would be even better. You'll end up being my subordinate anyway.'

For a connection to form, it has to be a good fit, and I don't think it is now. Since he's survived long in the underworld, we'll meet again soon.

So Gunpyeong narrowed his brows and replied.

"Where should I go?"

"Get lost, you bastard."

So Gunpyeong, surprised, asked.

"Ah, can I really go?"

So Gunpyeong, who expected to be beaten to death or tortured, couldn't help but be surprised. In the underworld, the worst is always imagined, so the tone and actions are rough.

I gestured again, as if telling him to get lost.

So Gunpyeong, not understanding why he was being spared, had to ask.

"Why… are you sparing me?"

"Gunpyeong, now I'm the only martial artist left in Ilyang County. How did I get here? I killed the human traffickers, buried the scoundrels, and killed all the brothel operators. This kind of fight among martial artists is common. If you come back stronger, I'll accept your challenge anytime. But in return…"

I glared at So Gunpyeong.

"If I hear that you've killed merchants or ordinary people, I'll mobilize a million Haomen to find you and tear you to pieces. Or bury you like Jinbangjagoo."

"A million…?"

"Why? Don't you think so? All merchants, whether they know the Haomen or not, are my followers. I decided it that way."

"I will remember."

As So Gunpyeong stood up and opened the door to leave, Cha Seongtae quickly stuck his head out and asked me.

"Are you letting him go?"

"Let him go."

"Hmm… I understand."

So Gunpyeong slightly bowed his head at the door.

"Thank you for sparing me despite my defeat. I will keep my promise until I die."

As So Gunpyeong moved away, I muttered to myself.

"That's right. Crazy people should fight crazy people."

While muttering, Cha Seongtae, who habitually shook his leg by the door, stared at me.

I asked Cha Seongtae.

"Isn't that right?"

"You are absolutely right. Crazy people fight crazy people."

Cha Seongtae pointed at me with his finger, then at himself, and nodded once.

I felt slightly annoyed.

"Don't point at me, you bastard."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"For pointing."

I taught Cha Seongtae one thing about the martial code.

"Seongtae, don't you know why pointing is bad? Apart from manners."

"Ah, what… is there another meaning?"

I raised my index finger and aimed a finger wind (指風) at Cha Seongtae. The energy of Yan Ji surged through my finger, turning it red. Cha Seongtae, with a pale face, raised both hands.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'll be careful."

"Don't point at anyone carelessly. You might end up burning and becoming hot. Because a high-level expert might mistake you for a finger technique expert. Got it?"

"I will remember."

"Never provoke crazy people. What awaits is not insults or beatings but death. And Manager Cha."

"Yes."

"How long has it been since I assigned you as manager, and you haven't given me a report?"

"What kind of report…?"

"Total slush fund, the original assets of the Zha family, the costs invested in the brothel, daily food expenses for the brothel, miscellaneous expenses, cleaning fees, and the current status of the people from the Black Cat House. Report everything. Organize it neatly in a document. If it's too much for you, finding someone good at this is also part of your job as a manager."

"…"

For a moment, Cha Seongtae stood by the door with a dazed expression. Cha Seongtae, with a dazed look, replied.

"Did you say that if I'm dismissed, I'll be executed? I can't remember clearly."

"You have a good memory."

"Is there anything else besides execution?"

"Well, what else could there be?"

I pointed at Cha Seongtae.

"Being dismissed or being pointed at. Choose. Since I'm a considerate leader, I give my subordinates choices."

Cha Seongtae made a bow and answered solemnly.

"Leader, I will organize and report. In return…"

"In return for what?"

"Please set my monthly salary as the highest in the Haomen. I can't work like this."

This guy is at it again. I clicked my tongue and pretended to give in.

"Alright. I'll do it."

"Thank you."

Since I didn't spend a penny of my own money, it wasn't a bad deal.

* * *

So Gunpyeong, arriving safely in front of Plum Tower, looked around with a bitter expression.

What came to mind was the Black Cat House leader's words.

[Your opponent is a waiter. If you fail, take your own life.]

So Gunpyeong muttered.

"No, I don't want to die. Why should I?"

His life was given by his parents, not by the Black Cat House leader.

As it grew dark, So Gunpyeong felt hungry again. Without realizing it, he walked to Chunyang Restaurant and met the eyes of Zhang Deshu.

Zhang Deshu, looking as if he had seen a ghost, said.

"Ah, you're still alive."

Zhang Deshu immediately covered his mouth with his hand.

So Gunpyeong, remembering the Haomen leader's words, spoke cautiously.

"The meeting just ended. By the way, can I have a bowl of noodles?"

So Gunpyeong really had nowhere to go. He was hungry, and the places where the Haomen leader had hit him were throbbing.

Zhang Deshu, looking at So Gunpyeong, smiled awkwardly and said.

"I'm sorry, but we're out of noodles."

"Hmm."

So Gunpyeong sighed, looking at Zhang Deshu, and, hoping for something, took out a silver coin and threw it to Zhang Deshu. Zhang Deshu, surprised, caught the silver coin with both hands. So Gunpyeong said.

"I'll pay in advance."

Zhang Deshu looked around and then said in a low voice.

"Please come in, sir."

Zhang Deshu thought.

Business is always a matter of life and death.

* * *

While eating noodles, So Gunpyeong said to Zhang Deshu.

"I thought I would die, but he spared me."

"Ah, really?"

Zhang Deshu looked at So Gunpyeong, who was eating noodles without much emotion. So Gunpyeong, curious, asked.

"Have you lived in this neighborhood for a long time? You weren't a waiter originally, right?"

"Originally, he was a waiter. I'm sure of it."

"Hmm, where did he learn martial arts? His skills are not ordinary…"

Zhang Deshu, wiping the bowl, replied.

"That's what I'm saying. We don't actually know. He suddenly started acting differently one day. After Zha's grandfather passed away, the inn was run poorly, but he might have practiced martial arts diligently."

"Did you know about the Haomen organization?"

"Yes, I'm also part of the Haomen."

So Gunpyeong tilted his head.

"I thought it would be a group of high-level experts, given the name 'Men'."

"It's not. Most of us are ordinary. Most of us work."

"That's why you said you're the only martial artist."

After finishing the noodles, So Gunpyeong sighed deeply without getting up.

Zhang Deshu couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

'Can't you just leave?'

So Gunpyeong, reading Zhang Deshu's thoughts, asked for permission.

"Sorry, I need to think for a bit. Can I stay a little longer?"

"Sure."

Zhang Deshu couldn't chase him out in good conscience after receiving a silver coin for a bowl of noodles.

"Can I make you something else? Since you paid so much."

"Ah, is that okay?"

"Of course."

"Anything is fine."

Zhang Deshu, trying to pick a fight, replied.

"There's nothing else."

So Gunpyeong looked at Zhang Deshu, who bowed slightly and said.

"I was joking. I'll prepare something for you."

Zhang Deshu went to the kitchen and started boiling the broth again.

Meanwhile, So Gunpyeong pondered his failure and thought about the subordinates he left behind at the Black Cat House.

If he went back, the leader would kill him.

If he left without saying goodbye to his subordinates, it wouldn't be a manly thing to do, so he was deeply troubled.

So Gunpyeong, without realizing it, muttered.

"Life isn't easy."

So Gunpyeong thought he was talking to himself, but Zhang Deshu in the kitchen replied.

"Isn't it? Is there anyone who doesn't think so?"

"Even you, the owner?"

"I just earn a living day by day. It's bearable as long as there are no scoundrels demanding bribes. I heard that Zha, or the Haomen leader, created the Haomen just for that."

"Just for that…?"

Zhang Deshu, sticking his head out of the kitchen, replied.

"The protector of ordinary workers, that's what the Haomen is… Zha said."

Zhang Deshu disappeared into the kitchen to prepare something again, and So Gunpyeong, with his arms crossed, fell into thought.

Thinking about the Haomen leader, he thought.

'He wasn't completely crazy…'

* * *

Zhang Deshu boiled a whole pig bone for the soup. It was a simple dish that used the broth to bring out the flavor.

A little later, Zhang Deshu came out of the kitchen and gave three large pig bones to So Gunpyeong, putting the other three in his own bowl.

"Please."

So Gunpyeong, looking at the boiled pig bones, said.

"What is this? It looks like pig bones."

Zhang Deshu, tearing off the meat from the pig bone, replied.

"Does it have a name? It's just pig bones. They taste good."

So Gunpyeong, who had just eaten noodles, felt his mouth watering and grabbed the chopsticks. Zhang Deshu said.

"Please eat it with your hands."

"The oil will get on my hands, making it hard to hold a sword."

"There's only Zha in this neighborhood. You've already lost to Zha. Eat it with your hands."

"True, I've already lost."

"Exactly."

So Gunpyeong, like Zhang Deshu, grabbed the pig bone with both hands and, after eating, looked impressed and crossed his arms.

"Wow, this… wow."

"How is it?"

"It's really delicious. I've never tasted anything like this before."

Zhang Deshu smiled.

"I'm glad. It's rewarding to do business."

So Gunpyeong, after swallowing, was about to bring the pig bone to his mouth again when… the door of Chunyang Restaurant opened with a creak.

Creak…!

So Gunpyeong, with the pig bone in his hand, met the eyes of the Haomen leader who had entered Chunyang Restaurant.

"…!"

.

.

.

I glared at the pig bones So Gunpyeong and Zhang Deshu were eating and said with an angry expression.

"These bastards… daring to eat pig bones… without me."

So Gunpyeong, hearing me, put down the pig bone he hadn't touched yet.