Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 48

“He didn’t mention when or where it would be held. However, judging by his tone, it seems it will be soon.”

Son I-gu shook his head, looking perplexed as he answered. Han Li frowned at this unsatisfactory response; the information Son I-gu brought always seemed to have holes in the most crucial parts. After careful consideration, a good idea popped into his head. Han Li observed Son I-gu for a moment before smiling.

“Son I-gu, your work is very satisfactory. Especially this news you’ve brought, it deserves a great reward!”

The word ‘reward’ made Son I-gu’s spirits soar. He had only delivered a few pieces of insignificant news, yet he was already being rewarded. This young master was truly generous.

‘I wonder what he’ll give me as a reward? Surely it won’t be some enormous amount of gold and silver?’

Son I-gu was lost in his imagination.

“Do you have any desire to become the head of the Saping Faction?”

At this sudden question, Son I-gu’s face turned pale, and he didn’t know what to do.

“Young Master, what are you saying… You’re joking too much. Please don’t tease me. What virtue or ability do I have to become a faction head?”

Son I-gu said with a tearful expression.

“Why do you say that? If I lend you my strength, taking over that small Saping Faction wouldn’t be difficult. Surely you don’t intend to rot away as a mere sub-chief managing the docks for the rest of your life?”

At Han Li’s words, Son I-gu’s face darkened, then brightened, and then turned fearful again.

It was clear that Han Li’s proposal was shaking his heart. What man wouldn’t want to be with beautiful women and wield power over others?

The ambition he had kept hidden deep within his heart was slowly rising to the surface with Han Li’s few words. However, something was holding him back, and he couldn’t answer immediately.

“The faction head and his three great protectors are not to be trifled with. Can you control them, Young Master?”

“Control them? Haha, why would I need to? I’ll just kill them all!”

Han Li sneered at Son I-gu, who was subtly testing him with a low voice. Son I-gu trembled at this.

‘The young master’s bloodlust is so strong! If I refuse here, won’t he just kill me right away?’

“Since you are willing to help me so much, Young Master, I will risk my life to follow your orders.”

After weighing various factors, Son I-gu finally decided to take the risk.

“Tell me when your faction head goes out.”

“I do know something. He’s been going to the Sosang Courtyard in the West City almost every day, and he’s said to be infatuated with a famous courtesan named So Geum-ji. However, the three great protectors accompany him, so it seems difficult to make a move. If you could wait a few days, I’ll find a good opportunity!”

Once he made up his mind, Son I-gu was ready to do his best for his own wealth and glory.

“Alright. Now that I know the time and place, all that’s left is to take his life. But I don’t know if you have the ability to manage the Saping Faction even if he dies.”

“That’s right. I’m just an ordinary sub-chief, and there are many others with higher status and ability than me.”

“It doesn’t matter. If I say I’ll make you the head of the Saping Faction, then it will surely happen. I’ll send Gok-hon with you to sweep away all opposition and tell him to protect you for a while.”

When Son I-gu stated the truth, looking troubled, Han Li told him what he had already planned. A moment later, Han Li leisurely knocked on the wall towards the next room, and Gok-hon instantly appeared before them.

“Hide this well on your body. If you have this, Gok-hon will follow your orders to deal with enemies and help you rise to the position of faction head.”

Han Li took out the Soul-Calling Bell from his pocket, gently stroked it, and handed it to Son I-gu. With the Soul-Calling Bell, even if one was not Gok-hon’s master, they could summon him.

This was another way to handle Gok-hon that Master Moon had taught Han Li. However, as long as the original owner whose blood was on the Soul-Calling Bell was not dead, no matter what one did, they could not become its master.

That was why Han Li was not worried that Son I-gu might have other intentions and gave him the Soul-Calling Bell.

Son I-gu, who had already experienced Gok-hon’s power firsthand, was overjoyed to receive the small bell.

“I am overwhelmed by your deep grace, Young Master. I will serve you with all my strength in the future!”

Son I-gu was quite shrewd, so he knew that even if he became the head of the Saping Faction, he would only be Han Li’s puppet. Therefore, he was expressing his loyalty whenever he had the chance.

“Go and prepare for now. Once the faction head is dead, seize the opportunity to take control of the Saping Faction. But don’t touch the guy who saw the immortal couple, bring him to me. I have more questions to ask him, understand?”

“Rest assured, Young Master! I will definitely capture that guy and bring him to you. You won’t be disappointed.”

When Han Li’s tone became more cautious when ordering him to bring the witness who saw the immortal couple, Son I-gu answered confidently, as if making a vow.

“It seems you understand well. Take Gok-hon with you. When I see you again, you must be the head of a faction.”

“Then, I will take my leave!”

After bowing, Son I-gu immediately left the room, with Gok-hon closely following behind. After waiting for Son I-gu to completely leave the room, Han Li got up and walked around the room halfway. Then, he suddenly whistled a melodious tune, and Yun Si-jo flew in through the window and landed on Han Li’s shoulder.

Han Li took out Yun Si-jo’s favorite yellow chestnut treat from his pocket and put it in the bird’s mouth.

“Follow the person who just left the room, and if he tries to escape the city, let me know immediately.”

Yun Si-jo listened to Han Li’s words, then spread its wings again and shot out of the window like an arrow.

* * *

Shim Jung-san was in a good mood. He was sitting in the Sosang Courtyard, holding a woman in his arms and roughly fondling her. The woman in his arms kept giggling at his impatient touch.

Besides Shim Jung-san, three protectors of the Saping Faction were also in the room. Among them, a fat man with dark skin, covered in a large gray robe, spoke.

The fat man was Gwang-gwon Cheon-jin, who had mastered the Mad Fist and had killed many experts with his hands.

“Miss Geum-ji, how about following our faction head now? It’s the first time I’ve seen the faction head so devoted to a woman. That’s why he didn’t finish the faction’s work and rushed here, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, Miss Geum-ji! Our faction head has been looking for you for five days in a row, and how much silver has he spent? It’s too much to make him so anxious and not even let him into your room at night.”

The one who spoke this time was a man with a black mole on his face, Dok-sujae Beom-jeo. He had mastered the fierce Snow Wind Sword Technique, but the main reason he was famous was his vicious and insidious nature.

And the black-clad man sitting silently on one side was Bi-do Chim-san, the most skilled in martial arts among them. He had a technique of throwing eighteen flying knives in a row. He had eliminated many experts and famous figures on behalf of Shim Jung-san, and he was also a distant relative of Shim Jung-san, so he was the most trusted by the faction head.

These three protectors, like Shim Jung-san, each had beauties in their arms, but none of them were as beautiful and captivating as Shim Jung-san’s woman.

So Geum-ji, who had been smiling all along, heard the words of Gwang-gwon Cheon-jin and Dok-sujae Beom-jeo, and her eyes became cloudy, as if she was about to cry.

“Since Elder Beom and Elder Cheon say so, I feel so wronged. The moment I saw Elder Chim, I recognized him as a hero at first sight, and I have been eagerly waiting for the day I can be with him.

However, as you both know, this humble body belongs to the Sosang Courtyard, and if I receive a guest without Madam Wang’s consent, I will surely be beaten to death. Elder Chim, please go and ask Madam Wang. If Madam Wang allows me to receive a guest, I will serve you right away, my lord.”

Geum-ji, the representative courtesan of the Sosang Courtyard, spoke with a voice full of sincerity, and it seemed that she had deep feelings for Shim Jung-san. At her words, which seemed both false and true, Cheon-jin and Beom-jeo couldn’t find anything to say.

How could they not have gone to Madam Wang? But So Geum-ji had demanded an enormous sum of money, using the excuse that she had never received a guest at night before. Even Shim Jung-san, the head of a faction, was shaken by the amount, so there was no need to say more.

And they couldn’t even think of forcing her, as the Sosang Courtyard was run by the Cheonpa Gate, one of the three major factions in Gawon City. Causing a disturbance in such a place was a sure way to die a miserable death.

So, even though they were furious, the two could only vent their anger on the women of the Sosang Courtyard, and they seemed to feel a little better only after fondling the women with their wicked hands.

“Haha! Thank you for your concern, my two brothers! But there’s no need to worry! I’ve had a big harvest these past few days, so paying that small amount of money is nothing. So, my pretty one, you must keep your word. When the time comes, you must serve this old man well!”

Shim Jung-san, who was completely infatuated with So Geum-ji, said confidently, biting the woman’s cheek. Shim Jung-san had thick hair on his arms and chest, and his arms were much longer than ordinary people, so if you looked at him wrong, he looked like an animal wearing human clothes, and he was extremely ugly.

This ugly and crude man had mastered the Tongbi Fist a few years ago, killed the former head of the Saping Faction, Geum-pil Gyeong-cheon-pa, and his close aides, the Four Heavenly Kings, and took the position of the Saping Faction head. He was quite well-known in Gawon City, so there was no reason for others to ignore him.

“Elder Chim!”

So Geum-ji blushed at Shim Jung-san’s sudden action, and Shim Jung-san became even more triumphant and burst into laughter.

‘Knock knock! Knock knock knock!’

“Who is it!”

At the sudden sound of knocking on the door, Gwang-gwon Cheon-jin shouted out in an unpleasant voice.

“Elder, I’ve brought the wine.”

“Then why don’t you come in? We just ran out of wine!”

When a young man answered from outside the door, he ordered him to come in without thinking further. Then, as he had ordered, an ordinary young man dressed as a servant entered, holding a tray with dishes and two bottles of wine.

“Put it on the table quickly! This old man needs to taste the wine!”

The fat Cheon-jin, being a typical drunkard, raised his voice with sparkling eyes as soon as he saw the wine bottles.

“Yes, Elder.”

The young man took a few more steps and placed the wine bottles in front of him. As soon as the fat man saw them, he grabbed one and brought it to his mouth, enjoying the taste of the wine.

“Wait a moment!”

Chim-san, the black-clad man who had been silent all along, suddenly stopped Cheon-jin.

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