I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 10

“Your face is half its size. Must be tough?”

“I’ve finished most of the hard work. But I haven’t seen Grand Master Lee Hak-lin around.”

Yang Qing greeted Jo Gwang-yun with a smile, showing no hint of wariness as she served tea.

“Grand Master Lee? He’s not stationed here, so he’s returned.”

“Returned where? To the Mookdo Assembly [a martial arts organization]?”

“I don’t know. He’s not one to report his whereabouts.”

While drinking tea, Jo Gwang-yun carefully observed Yang Qing.

She looked completely different from when he first saw her. Judging by her clothes and the jewelry she wore, she looked like a high-ranking noblewoman.

“You probably didn’t come just to ask about Grand Master Lee’s whereabouts. Looks like you have time to think about business now?”

Her expression showed no wariness, but her true feelings were different. Jo Gwang-yun sensed Yang Qing’s heightened vigilance.

One of the best ways to break down that vigilance is to become an ally.

Jo Gwang-yun immediately frowned and started to complain.

“Business? I’m already upset and frustrated enough about being dragged here. Do I have to do business too? And I have no interest in business at all!”

*If she’s hiding something, she’ll try to become an ally. If not, he must be prepared for a severe scolding and punishment.*

*But her hesitant expression tells him she’s the former.*

‘Look at her rolling her eyes. She must be wondering if I’m sincere or not?’

Jo Gwang-yun threw out words that would shatter her suspicion.

“I started with embroidery and even built a collection center. I was dreaming of making money and living a life of luxury… Damn it, I lost it all and now I have to work here until I turn to dust… Sigh.”

“Why? If this place does well, won’t you make some money too?”

He couldn’t tell if she was testing him knowingly or if she really didn’t know, but Jo Gwang-yun played it up even more.

“No, does Madam get paid separately? All I get is three meals a day and a place to sleep?”

She flinched at the word ‘Madam,’ but her expression softened even more.

“Huh? Ah… How many years have I been rolling around here? Black Daoists [members of a specific group or sect] are people too. If you’re loyal and make money for a long time, they’ll give you this and that.”

*Is that all? She must be getting more on the side.*

Hiding these thoughts, Jo Gwang-yun said nonchalantly.

“Anyway, since it’s Grand Master Lee Hak-lin’s order, I have to pretend to learn business. Give me the ledger. I’ll pretend to skim through it and return it.”

Yang Qing was no fool either.

She found another meaning hidden in Jo Gwang-yun’s words.

“Grand Master Lee’s order? What does that mean? Did Grand Master Lee tell you to monitor me?”

The word ‘monitor,’ which she hadn’t even mentioned, came out. Proof that she had a lot on her conscience.

Jo Gwang-yun jumped up exaggeratedly.

*If you tell the truth like a lie, it becomes a lie, and the lies that follow are disguised as the truth.*

“Monitor? He just told me to learn business and make more money!”

“Money? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think the word ‘money’ would come out of Grand Master Lee’s mouth? He treats merchants like insects!”

For some reason, the people here lack composure. Especially those even slightly related to the Murim [martial arts world].

This woman was so angry that she called Lee Hak-lin a bastard.

“Tell me the truth. What exactly did that bastard order you to do?”

“What are you talking about? What orders would Grand Master Lee give to someone like me?”

“He would. He personally came to escort you and even ordered us to treat you especially well!”

“……”

Jo Gwang-yun closed his mouth and avoided Yang Qing’s fiercely glaring eyes. As if he was hiding something.

Seeing that, Yang Qing’s voice softened.

“Listen, brother. I’m not angry right now. I’m just worried that you might make a mistake because you don’t know the situation here. The Mookdo Assembly people who oppress us are heartless bastards. If we don’t join hands, we don’t know when we’ll get screwed over. So, trust me and tell me the truth?”

Jo Gwang-yun rolled his eyes, showing a conflicted expression, and Yang Qing was anxious.

“Ah… No. Grand Master Lee never gave me any special instructions. He just told me to do well in business. Anyway, give me the ledger later. I have to do my job.”

Jo Gwang-yun stood up without hesitation.

*Now, Yang Qing would be the one trying to make him an ally.*

* * *

Yang Qing’s anxious feelings were revealed that evening.

“Brother, shall we have a drink?”

She even brought a table of drinks as if she were visiting a close friend.

*Was she trying to take advantage of the fact that a drunk man babbles nonsense but also reveals the truth?*

Jo Gwang-yun boldly gulped down the alcohol.

His completely transformed body didn’t get drunk easily even after drinking a lot, but he pretended to be drunk after emptying a bottle.

Confirming Jo Gwang-yun’s disheveled appearance, Yang Qing began to probe him.

“Brother. Did Lee Hak-lin tell you to monitor me? It’s okay, tell me.”

“Oh, Madam.”

Jo Gwang-yun frowned, offering his glass to Yang Qing, who was holding the bottle.

“If he only told me to monitor you, would I have asked for the ledger? He also told me to check how much money you’ve been embezzling. Lee Hak-lin saw the ledger I meticulously kept while running the Shinyeong Collection Center. He thought I was trustworthy after seeing that. Hehe.”

Perhaps because of the word ’embezzled money,’ he could see Yang Qing’s face turning pale even through his drowsy eyes.

Jo Gwang-yun threw another fishing hook at her. The bait was good, so she would definitely bite.

“Madam. Don’t worry. I’ve handled money before too. When you do big business and handle big money, you’re bound to have some small change falling off. I don’t think there’s a problem with embezzling a little bit of that. When you handle rice cakes, you’re bound to get some crumbs on your hands, right? Hahaha.”

He said it boldly, but the worry didn’t disappear from Yang Qing’s face.

‘Look at this bitch. It’s definitely more than just crumbs. How much did she embezzle?’

That’s what he thought as he looked at the still stiff Yang Qing.

He made her believe the lie as if it were the truth, so she must be worried about the future. He thought she was a woman who could come up with a way to erase the uncertain future, but unlike Jo Gwang-yun’s expectations, Yang Qing quickly got up and left.

“What? Is she thinking of running away in fear?”

If so, it’s too easy.

The Black Daoists would take care of catching the runaway, and the Kaifeng commercial district that Yang Qing controlled would fall into his hands, killing two birds with one stone.

Jo Gwang-yun smiled and drank the remaining alcohol.

* * *

“What? That young brat is Grand Master Lee’s henchman?”

“Ah, no. Not to that extent, but it seems he received a secret order from Grand Master Lee. To investigate us…”

“Us? Why does the word ‘us’ come out there? Isn’t he just investigating you? No… You should be the only target.”

Yang Qing sweated coldly at Yoo Chu-saeng’s frosty gaze.

“O-Of course. I just meant for you to be aware…”

Yoo Chu-saeng stared at the bowing Yang Qing with a pathetic look for a while before opening his mouth.

“That guy Jo Gwang-yun… shall we get rid of him?”

In an instant, Yang Qing’s face brightened. It was the easiest way, but her face darkened again at the thought of dealing with the aftermath.

“Chief Yoo. If the monitor suddenly disappears, wouldn’t they immediately suspect something?”

“Of course, you’ll be suspected. Then I’ll just report that you killed Jo Gwang-yun and I punished you. What do you think?”

*He was even going to kill her.*

*He was thinking of eliminating all the sources of trouble.*

Yang Qing quickly bowed her head. She knew that Yoo Chu-saeng was the type to do things without thinking, so she had to stop his foolish thoughts.

“Jo is greedy for money. It would be safer to make him my subordinate and grow the business even more.”

Making a money-hungry guy her subordinate and growing the business even more meant embezzling even more money and giving more to Yoo Chu-saeng.

Yoo Chu-saeng, a martial artist but already aware of the taste of money, couldn’t possibly not know the hidden meaning.

“My sword always craves the taste of blood. Don’t forget.”

Yang Qing glanced at the long sword hanging on Yoo Chu-saeng’s waist and swallowed hard.

End