Chapter 8

8. There's a possibility they'll be displeased.

Chae-hyang suddenly saw tears of blood streaming down Cha Sung-tae's eyes and began to sob. Apart from the owner of the brothel, Cha Sung-tae was the most terrifying man. With blood flowing from his eyes and even kneeling, it was impossible not to be afraid.

When I held out the empty cup, Chae-hyang filled it with Dukgangju with her trembling hands.

"Chae-hyang."

"Yes."

I deliberately smiled warmly and said,

"There is also true affection in a waitress."

Cha Sung-tae glared at Chae-hyang as if telling her to answer properly. Chae-hyang nodded, believing that the situation would be resolved when Lu Zhu arrived.

"Yes."

I wiped the smile from my face and replied,

"But that true affection is not directed at you. Now, it should be clear, right? The taste of the alcohol is gone, so get lost."

Chae-hyang looked at me with wide eyes, then at Cha Sung-tae, wondering if it was really okay to leave. Cha Sung-tae nodded, signaling her to go.

When Chae-hyang still didn't get up, I ordered again,

"Leave."

Only then did Chae-hyang stand up and rush down the corridor. Having never heard such harsh words in her life, she was barely holding back her tears. As soon as she reached the corridor, she burst into tears.

I looked at Cha Sung-tae and said,

"Kids who rely on their looks are problematic. They think everything will be solved by crying. I'm right, aren't I?"

Cha Sung-tae replied,

"That's true."

I said to Cha Sung-tae, who kept using informal speech without realizing it,

"Don't use informal speech with me anymore."

"..."

"You look like a thug with those slit eyes, and it's uncomfortable to hear informal speech from you."

Cha Sung-tae stammered a bit.

"Ah, yes. Please speak."

"Will the situation be resolved when Lu Zhu arrives? Or will Lu Zhu also kneel beside you?"

"I'm not sure. Both Lu Zhu and the two brothers have considerable martial arts skills. Of course, since the problem erupted at Plum Blossom Pavilion, only Lu Zhu will come. The leaders have been busy entertaining the Black Cat Gang recently."

"You're very good at using formal speech."

"Thank you."

"Did you entertain the Black Cat Gang?"

"Yes, a branch of the Black Cat Gang will soon be established in Jiyang County with their permission. If such bad news spreads right after the branch is established, the Black Cat Gang will definitely be displeased. Relationships are so complicated."

"Displeased?"

"Yes."

"They shouldn't be displeased. So, what you're saying is that even if I suppress Lu Zhu, the problem I caused will be resolved by the Black Cat Gang. Is that right?"

Cha Sung-tae nodded honestly.

"Yes. The Black Cat Gang is not a gang that even all the tough guys in Jiyang County can handle."

"So what are you saying? Bastard. Will things be resolved if Lu Zhu comes, drinks a cup of reconciliation, and leaves? Can the matter be settled that way?"

"It won't be. What will you do then?"

"If the Zhao brothers come under me, it will be fine."

"That's... impossible. There's a high possibility they'll be displeased."

"I'll create a new sect in Jiyang County, and you all can come under me. The name of the sect for the brothel guys will be Gengshengmen, or Shengmen for short. It means everyone in Jiyang County should reform like me."

Cha Sung-tae nodded in agreement.

"Alright. Reform is necessary. And I congratulate you on your reform."

"Sung-tae."

"Speak."

"Lu Zhu is late, isn't he?"

"Yes. As I mentioned, he's entertaining the Black Cat Gang's experts at Peach Blossom Pavilion, so it's hard for him to come immediately. They are important guests."

I drank a cup of Dukgangju, stood up, and looked down at Cha Sung-tae.

"Tell the leaders that if they all come under me, I'll let them live a healthy life. Of course, my words might sound like dog barks, but I'm giving them a chance. Tell them to come to Zhahe Guesthouse anytime, and I'll deal with them. And..."

I also wanted to give Cha Sung-tae a chance.

"Think about it. If you think the Black Cat Gang will win, stand with Lu Zhu and fight again. If not, reform as I said. I enjoyed the Dukgangju. It's on credit."

"Can you wait a little longer?"

"Do you think I'll run away?"

Cha Sung-tae nodded.

"Yes."

I kicked Cha Sung-tae's face, sending him flying to the corner.

"You have a talent for taking beatings."

I pointed at Cha Sung-tae.

"A man should also know how to give beatings. See you later."

Cha Sung-tae, rubbing his face, replied,

"Take care. I'll put it in the credit ledger."

"Put it or don't put it."

Since the whole of Jiyang County would come under me, it didn't matter whether my name was in the credit ledger or not.

As I walked down the corridor, people moved aside.

Even though they had already moved, I wanted to say this at least once.

"Move. Bastards."

When I reached the first floor, the doorman, who had been the first to faint, seemed to still be confused and cursed at me.

"Hey, you bastard!"

I slapped his cheek as I passed. When the doorman hit the wall and fell, I said to the others,

"Explain it to him. He'll get hit again. He fainted and will faint again. You guys are heartless."

I paused at the entrance and looked around at the people working at Plum Blossom Pavilion. The entire place became quiet in an instant.

I waved my hand and said in a stern tone,

"Waitress, I had a good time."

As I turned around, a chorus of curses, formed by mouth shapes and hand gestures, came from behind.

If you curse, you should expect to be cursed back.

I ignored it, left Plum Blossom Pavilion, and stretched. I wasn't in a bad mood.

Curses are curses, jokes are jokes, and serious matters are serious matters.

Mountains are mountains, and water is water.

You need to distinguish well to avoid such incidents.

Of course, the Zhao brothers, who run Plum Blossom Pavilion, Peach Blossom Pavilion, and Apricot Blossom Pavilion, would not yet take serious matters seriously.

Running a brothel is not their original business.

Jiyang County is a chaotic place, and the Zhao brothers had taken over the brothels by force in the past.

Therefore, the reports from their subordinates would probably sound like jokes to the cautious challengers.

"There was an incident at Plum Blossom Pavilion. A waitress came alone and caused a huge commotion."

"Who's the waitress?"

"The waitress from Zhahe Guesthouse."

"Zhahe Guesthouse? Are you joking with me?"

When the report goes up, the conversation might go like this.

As I walked, I suddenly took out the hoe from my waist and looked at it.

The Zhao brothers might think they can handle things with this shabby hoe, but it's inefficient to deal with the inevitable conflict with the Black Cat Gang with just this hoe.

I needed to visit Longtou Ironworks.

Longtou Ironworks can make dragon-headed handles. It's a strange ironworks that pays more attention to making dragon-headed handles than good blades.

A place that makes weapons with better handles than blades.

Longtou Ironworks is an ironworks that is more focused on show than practicality.

Therefore, the weapons made by Longtou Ironworks have somewhat exaggerated names compared to their quality.

White Dragon Sword, Blue Dragon Saber, Black Dragon Whip, Twin Dragon Sickle.

They always attach the word 'dragon' to the names, no matter what.

The names sound like weapons that even the top ten martial arts masters would be proud to use. As a result, when fights break out around Jiyang County, dragons are everywhere.

The White Dragon Sword cuts through the wind, the Blue Dragon Saber reflects the moonlight, and the Black Dragon Whip separates flesh and blood. This is my hometown.

But they are just crazy people, after all.

I took out the money I had hidden near the stove at Zhahe Guesthouse and headed to Longtou Ironworks.

Even if I am strong in martial arts, it is proper to pay for such transactions.

I am a normal person like this.

* * *

"Welcome... Zhahe Guesthouse?"

"Did you come to collect the credit? Did we have any credit?"

The waiters looked at me with eyes asking why I came to the ironworks. I looked around Longtou Ironworks and said,

"I came to buy weapons."

"Weapons for what? Oh, did you come to buy a hoe? Our hoes are a bit expensive."

I crossed my arms and thought of a short answer to convince them.

"I plan to deal with the Zhao brothers, so I need a few weapons."

"Suddenly?"

The workers at Longtou Ironworks looked at each other and tilted their heads. Guo Yongkai, the deputy head of Longtou Ironworks, said,

"Hey, young man. It's your choice to go to war, but can you handle it alone? I heard you got beaten up. Don't throw away your precious life in a fit of anger. I really liked the chicken noodle soup your grandfather made. I haven't been there since you took over because your cooking skills are poor."

"Now is not the time to talk about chicken noodle soup."

Guo Yongkai was picking a fight with a customer.

"Then what else would a waiter talk about?"

I took out the money pouch from my sleeve.

"Shut up. I brought plenty of money, so show me the weapons."

"What do you want to buy?"

I counted on my fingers and replied,

"A light sword, a tough whip, and a sharp dagger. Do you have something like a Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber?"

I couldn't get my main weapon immediately, so I only wanted to get some temporary weapons.

Deputy Head Guo Yongkai scratched his head.

"You want to use all of those?"

"It's a matter of taste, so respect it."

Deputy Head Guo Yongkai snapped his fingers at his subordinates and ordered,

"Go get the Black Dragon Sword, White Dragon Whip, and Cloud Dragon Dagger. We don't have the Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber, so don't look for it."

The subordinates of Longtou Ironworks replied,

"Understood."

Guo Yongkai said,

"We don't make the Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber because no one in this small town can handle it. Understand."

It was disappointing.

"Ah, the Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber is a great weapon. Do you have the Eighteen-Foot Staff?"

"We don't have it."

"How about the Heaven-Shaking Earth-Shattering Staff?"

"Stop asking about such weapons. Be reasonable."

Deputy Head Guo Yongkai stroked his beard and looked me up and down.

"By the way, how old are you this year?"

"I'm over twenty."

"I'm well over thirty, yet you keep talking so disrespectfully?"

I rolled up my sleeves.

"If you're unhappy, let's fight."

Deputy Head Guo Yongkai waved his hand.

"Enough. I can't beat up an innocent waiter."

"You're a gentleman."

When the subordinates who had gone inside to get the weapons lined up, Guo Yongkai said,

"Take a look."

"I'm busy, so I'll take them all."

"Hmm, ninety taels."

"Are you crazy? It's too expensive."

"I've given you a big discount because you're from the town."

I crossed my arms and continued bargaining.

"Then let's do this. Rent them to me. Fifty taels for all."

"Rent? What are you talking about?"

"I'll return them after using them."

"Ha, you're a highwayman."

"I said I'll return them after the war. What highwayman?"

At this moment, Jin Tielong, the head of Longtou Ironworks, appeared from outside, hearing the strange conversation. Jin Tielong was a man with sharp eyes, and his name and appearance clearly showed he was the head of the ironworks. The dragon and iron in Longtou Ironworks were taken from his name.

"What's the commotion?"

Even with the pretentiousness of age, he had a certain charm.

Guo Yongkai and everyone else slightly bowed to Jin Tielong.

"Big brother, this young man wants to go to war with the Zhao brothers."

Jin Tielong looked at me.

"War?"

"So he wants to take all these weapons. But he doesn't have enough money to buy them, so he wants to rent them. What should we do?"

Jin Tielong finally remembered who I was.

"Come to think of it, aren't you the grandson from Zhahe Guesthouse?"

"Uncle Jin, it's been a while."

Jin Tielong sighed and said seriously,

"I really liked the chicken noodle soup your grandfather made. Your cooking skills are poor. What did you learn from your grandfather? You lack both skill and sincerity. That's why I think Zhahe Guesthouse is going downhill."

I sighed and crossed my arms.

"Grandfather's chicken noodle soup was delicious. I admit it. But I didn't come here today to talk about chicken noodle soup, so let's get to the point."

Guo Yongkai told Jin Tielong,

"Brother, I mentioned the chicken noodle soup earlier."

Jin Tielong nodded.

"Good. By the way, I can smell blood on your waist. Have you already had a fight?"

I had to look at Jin Tielong of Longtou Ironworks again.

This guy has a good nose, doesn't he?