I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 23

“Your horsemanship is extraordinary.”

As soon as they set off, Jo Gwang-yun rode his horse relentlessly until it was exhausted, and Lee Geon was barely able to keep up with him.

If it had been a steed that could run for days without tiring, it would have kept going, but Jo Gwang-yun’s horse was ordinary and tired easily.

“I’m sorry, Lee. I love riding horses, but I don’t get the chance often. I need to run like this to relieve some stress.”

While the tired horse recovered, the two moved slowly enough to converse.

Jo Gwang-yun asked Lee Geon casually,

“You seem different, Lee.”

“Me? What do you mean…?”

“In many ways.”

“Ah…! Haha, is that so?”

Lee Geon understood the meaning of ‘different’.

“It seems you think of the Black Faction people within a certain framework. Rough, fierce, rude, impatient…”

Lee Geon glanced at his expression, but he didn’t seem angry. Wasn’t he smiling?

“Because all the Black Faction people I’ve seen so far have been like that. After all, people’s experiences shape their perspectives, don’t they?”

“Shall I tell you a secret?”

This man was strange. It was odd that he had never encountered him while going back and forth from the Gyeong-an Bureau, but his expression was so innocent that he couldn’t possibly be considered the same kind of human as the intimidating martial artists.

Most decisively… he talked too much.

“Black Faction people, you see, cross the line.”

“Line?”

“Yes. A line that should not be crossed. It’s not just about violating chivalry, defying righteousness, or deviating from etiquette… It’s about humans who unhesitatingly commit heinous acts that harm humanity. Such people deserve to be called Black Faction. Haha.”

He was quite an interesting fellow. Looking at his manner of speaking, who would call him Black Faction?

Jo Gwang-yun wore a slightly surprised expression, as if he had learned something new. Seeing that expression, Lee Geon spoke with even more enthusiasm.

“What do you think is the difference between the Orthodox Path, the Unorthodox Path, and the Black Path?”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled slightly and said,

“My knowledge is too shallow to answer that question. I’m all ears.”

“Well, I don’t have a predetermined answer… I asked because I wanted to hear your opinion.”

“I’ve only heard bits and pieces about the Jianghu [the martial arts world] and the Murim world [another term for the martial arts world]. In my eyes, they’re just people skilled in martial arts, so please tell me accurately this time.”

As Jo Gwang-yun repeatedly declined, Lee Geon wore a troubled expression.

“Well, I know it clearly, but it’s difficult to explain easily. Just a moment.”

Lee Geon paused for a moment on the slowly walking horse, then opened his mouth.

“Let’s say, for example, you have a benefactor who saved your life. But that benefactor has learned a secret about you that should never be revealed to the world. What would you do?”

It was a difficult question, but Jo Gwang-yun knew the answer to escape in such situations.

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never experienced such a thing. I think I’d have to actually go through it to know how I feel.”

“It’s not that difficult of a question… Alright. Someone who walks the Orthodox Path would politely and respectfully ask them not to reveal the secret.”

“That’s right.”

“Someone who walks the Unorthodox Path would say this: ‘You are the benefactor of my life, so I won’t kill you. But if this secret gets out, I will never forgive you.'”

“Then what about the Black Path…?”

“They would just kill them. Because it’s the most certain way to hide the secret. The dead tell no tales.”

It was a clear explanation. But Lee Geon clearly wasn’t going to end it there. He must have had more to say.

“But this isn’t about the common distinction between the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Black Factions. It’s about distinguishing people with such mindsets.”

Jo Gwang-yun realized what Lee Geon was trying to say.

“You mean it’s a matter of the person, not the sect.”

“That’s right. Even among those who claim to be Orthodox, there are many with the hearts of the Black Faction. Conversely, there are those who have their bodies in the Black Faction but walk the Orthodox Path in their hearts.”

Jo Gwang-yun asked the question that this man seemed to want to be asked.

“What about you, Lee? Are your heart and affiliation opposite?”

“Me? Well… I’m a Black Faction person to the bone. Haha.”

Was that really the case? Was that hearty laughter meant to hide his true feelings? As Jo Gwang-yun was thinking this, words that made his eyes widen followed.

“Lee Hak-lin is probably someone whose heart and affiliation may be different. You know Lee Hak-lin?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. How could I forget the person who brought me to Gaebong?”

Lee Hak-lin had the heart of the Orthodox Path? The man who took the Shinyoung Collection Agency by force?

Reading his thoughts from Jo Gwang-yun’s distorted expression, Lee Geon made an excuse.

“Lee doesn’t usually get involved in these things. It just so happened that he was in Gaebong at the time. That’s why he took on the job.”

“He seemed too firm for someone who took it on unwillingly.”

“Well… Lee probably dislikes merchants as well. The higher the martial arts master, the more likely they are to look down on money and see it as low-class.”

Lee Geon defended Lee Hak-lin. Jo Gwang-yun guessed the reason. It was martial arts.

As a martial artist, he couldn’t help but respect and like masters.

“I see. By the way, I’ve seen a little of Lee Hak-lin’s martial arts, but it was difficult to gauge its level. How is Lee’s martial arts regarded in the world [Jianghu]?”

When Jo Gwang-yun asked the most 궁금한 [curious] thing he had been wondering about, Lee Geon even got excited.

“There are few who can withstand his sword in today’s Jianghu. Regardless of whether they are Orthodox or Unorthodox. He is an incredible master.”

No wonder… Turning a large carriage into dust with a single gesture was not something anyone could do; it was only possible for an incredible master.

As Jo Gwang-yun’s 궁금한 [curiosity] was resolved, he closed his mouth because he had nothing more to say, but Lee Geon’s mouth did not rest.

“What about you, Jo?”

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

“Your body is half-dipped in the Black Faction, but isn’t your heart different? How about it? Orthodox? Unorthodox? Black Faction?”

It was difficult and challenging to answer. Jo Gwang-yun had always thought he was not a villain, but now it was difficult to say with confidence. Hadn’t he even killed someone?

“It’s hard to answer easily, right? In my opinion, even your heart is becoming soaked in the Black Faction. Or were you born that way? Hehe.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who had been trying to analyze Lee Geon’s character while going to Sichuan, realized that Lee Geon was trying to analyze him instead.

Who ordered it? Or was it his own idea?

Jo Gwang-yun decided to play along for now.

“Why do you think so? I’m just a merchant who’s not even worthy of being called Black Faction or anything.”

“A merchant who stabs and kills a colleague who should be working together? And a woman at that? Hey… that’s not right.”

‘Yoo Chu-saeng, your mouth is the problem. There are things you should and shouldn’t talk about. Why did you blab about that?’

Jo Gwang-yun bit his lip.

“Yang Cheong committed tremendous corruption. Such a woman is not a colleague to work with.”

“If you had reported the corruption to Yoo Chu-saeng, your hands wouldn’t have been stained with blood… What’s the reason for doing something so troublesome yourself…?”

Jo Gwang-yun pulled the reins and stopped the horse.

There was only one reason why Lee Geon was so talkative. It was because he had something he wanted to say but hadn’t found the opportunity yet. Jo Gwang-yun decided to give him that opportunity.

“Lee, it would be faster to take out what you’re hiding inside than to wait for the words you want to hear to come out of my mouth first.”

Lee Geon also pulled the reins. His expression, which had stopped, was as hard as a stone, but it was only for a moment. When he turned his horse’s head towards Jo Gwang-yun, he was smiling, revealing his teeth as if nothing had happened.

“What was the name of the new leader of the Oryun Sect… Ok Gang… what was it?”

“Ok Gang-il.”

“That’s right. Ok Gang-il. I like the new leader, Ok Gang-il, more than the former leader, Wi Dal.”

It was difficult to judge whether he was sincere or trying to test him, but one thing was certain.

The relationship between this guy and Yoo Chu-saeng was one-sided, not mutual.

“Ok was the second-in-command of the Oryun Sect. Good opportunities only come to those who are qualified. If you are not qualified, even an opportunity you create by force cannot become yours.”

“That’s right. Opportunity belongs to those who are prepared. I’ll tell you another secret. I’m probably better at martial arts than Yoo Chu-saeng. Hehe.”

He specifically mentioned the name Yoo Chu-saeng, which he hadn’t even brought up.

‘Both this guy and that guy are just looking for a chance to climb up.’

The desire for promotion is timeless. Or is it the desire for success?

End