I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 20

Taking down the Green Blood Clan? This could ignite a major conflict. Everyone sobered up instantly, swallowing hard.

“Do you know why that brat from the Mudo Association acts so high and mighty? It’s because we’re weak.”

Everyone felt a pang of emptiness at the obvious truth. How many strongmen could truly challenge the Mudo Association?

“What if we controlled Kaifeng? If the Mudo Association had no one to rely on in Kaifeng but us? They might complain, but they couldn’t order us around. Right?”

“So, are you saying we need to crush the Green Blood Clan to stand on equal footing with the Mudo Association?”

Ok Gang-il quietly spoke.

“Exactly. You always understand me, Gang-il.”

Wi Dal patted Ok Gang-il’s shoulder with a satisfied grin.

“If we destroy the Green Blood Clan, we become part of the Mudo Association. Then we can move on to the next stage, right?”

“The next stage…?”

“We should eat not only in the shadows of the back alleys but also in the sunlight.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the word ‘sunlight.’ This reaction betrayed their embarrassment and unease.

The sunlight referred to the Central Commercial District, the territory of officials and branches extending from the orthodox sects [established martial arts schools with traditional values].

“B-Brother!”

Perhaps the war with the Green Blood Clan was just a prelude. A far greater battle, where survival was uncertain, awaited.

“It’s okay. If we take down the Green Blood Clan and become part of the Mudo Association, this becomes a conflict between the underworld and the orthodox sects. The Mudo Association will be in deep trouble if they don’t provide full support. Heh heh.”

Ok Gang-il knew Wi Dal’s true intentions and remained silent.

Wi Dal had no interest in expanding his power or taking over Kaifeng. His sole purpose was to screw over the Mudo Association, which had humiliated him.

If the Five Dragons Clan became part of the Mudo Association and clashed with the orthodox sects in Kaifeng, the Mudo Association would be forced to get involved, whether they liked it or not.

Since the Mudo Association and the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans], as representatives of the two factions, preferred to avoid involvement in minor regional disputes, they would likely compromise to avoid unnecessary casualties.

The Mudo Association would lose face without gaining anything.

‘Does he think the Mudo Association is stupid? How is he going to handle the aftermath?’

The Mudo Association, having been humiliated, would not leave the Five Dragons Clan unpunished.

Ok Gang-il was dumbfounded but kept his objections to himself. Wasn’t this just a pipe dream anyway?

Ok Gang-il noticed his subordinates’ pleading eyes, silently begging him to stop this reckless plan.

“Brother, I have something important to tell you.”

“What is it now? Are you going to stop me because my brothers might bleed?”

“No. We live by the sword; we have to bleed when the time comes. If we remain idle, we risk becoming a laughingstock.”

Wi Dal’s eyes widened at Ok Gang-il’s agreement.

“You’re finally saying something I like! That’s right! If you’re afraid of seeing blood, you should quit and become a farmer.”

Wi Dal shouted.

“Everyone, stop drinking and get out.”

Watching his subordinates leave, Ok Gang-il swallowed hard. The moment had arrived.

Three or four women entered and cleaned the messy table, placing a tray with a small bottle of liquor and a plate of stir-fried meat.

Once they were alone, Ok Gang-il filled Wi Dal’s glass with alcohol.

Wi Dal lifted his glass and said,

“So, what’s this important story?”

Ok Gang-il couldn’t take his eyes off the glass. It felt like an eternity until the glass touched Wi Dal’s lips, and he could barely breathe until he saw him gulp down the alcohol.

“It seems the time has come to reorganize our Five Dragons Clan.”

“Reorganize? Hmm… We’ll be fighting a long battle, so we need to prepare properly. Do you have a good idea?”

When Wi Dal held out his empty glass, Ok Gang-il refilled it without hesitation.

“I’m thinking of hiring wanderers [mercenary martial artists]. If we use them as shields against the Green Blood Clan, our losses will be greatly reduced.”

“That will cost a lot of money…? Do you have some savings?”

Normally, he would have cursed. Of course, he couldn’t say it out loud.

He was worried about money, but he didn’t offer to contribute. He never intended to relinquish the enormous sum he collected each month.

“First, I’ll gather warriors using my savings. I’ve already informed Yang Cheong that I won’t be able to pay tribute until the war with the Green Blood Clan is over. I’ll use that money to replenish our forces every month.”

“You already told that bitch? You’re one step ahead. As expected… You’re the only one, Gang-il.”

Wi Dal drank with a delighted expression, then suddenly twitched his eyebrows.

“Wait a minute. You notified her before I even said anything? How did you know about the war with the Green Blood Clan?”

“Isn’t it time you knew the reason… or is it not yet time?”

“What? What’s not yet…?”

Wi Dal couldn’t finish his sentence, seized by a sudden burst of coughing.

“Your internal energy [qi or life force] far exceeds my expectations. I thought it would end with two or three glasses, but it took six!”

Ok Gang-il smiled, stood up, and approached Wi Dal.

“Well… it’s still just back-alley level. If I were a true master, I would have noticed the poison the moment my lips touched the glass. Heh heh.”

“Ugh… You, you bastard…”

Blood now flowed from his nostrils.

“I will decide whether to fight the Green Blood Clan or take over the Central Commercial District. Please watch from the afterlife, Brother.”

Ok Gang-il covered Wi Dal’s mouth to prevent him from screaming and alerting the subordinates downstairs.

“I will use the money you’ve diligently saved to revive the organization.”

Ok Gang-il met Wi Dal’s dying gaze.

The eyes of a man betrayed by a subordinate he trusted enough to entrust with his money, a betrayal that took not only his loyalty but also his life, held a multitude of emotions.

“I’ll give you a generous funeral. Now go. You have a long way to go…”

Ok Gang-il tightened his grip over Wi Dal’s mouth and nose.

Perhaps due to the drug, Wi Dal couldn’t resist and slumped down.

* * *

“B-Brother. What is this…?”

“What happened to the blood?”

The subordinates, finding Ok Gang-il slowly descending the stairs with slumped shoulders, shouted in surprise.

Ok Gang-il pushed past them and walked to the woman who had set the table.

“I’ll ask only once. I don’t think you’re bold enough to put poison in the alcohol. Who gave you the alcohol?”

“Yes?”

The woman, startled, stammered. Ok Gang-il slapped her face.

“Wake up and answer. Who was it?”

The woman raised her trembling hand and pointed to someone.

Ok Gang-il shouted at the man.

“Take that bastard to the basement! Leave only his mouth and tongue intact and break everything else!”

The men, unaware of what had transpired, rushed to the room where the two had been drinking, upon hearing the mention of poisoned alcohol.

Alone, Ok Gang-il sat at the table and picked up the glass his subordinates had been drinking from.

It was a toast to himself, the soon-to-be leader of the Five Dragons Clan.

End