I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 33

< The Orthodox Sect of Kaifeng (3) >

“You do things like this too? Haha.”

Im Bon-jae blushed at Jo Gwang-yun’s laughter. He knew it wasn’t a mocking laugh, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of shame deep down.

It was because of the sincerity the silk merchants had consistently shown—money.

It looked as if he had stepped in to mediate because he was afraid his funding would be cut off.

“It’s turned out a bit strange, but I have to see it through since I started it.”

“Mutual benefit… It’s not easy.”

“It’s not easy, so I’m asking for your help, isn’t it?”

“Alright. I’ll think about it.”

*When you hold the knife, things flow in the direction you want, even if you just wait.* [This is a metaphor for having power and control.]

In any case, the silk monopoly was prohibited by national law. They were necessary to avoid the law, and he couldn’t keep running a small retail business in such a disgraceful manner forever.

Since he had lowered his head and extended his hand first, all he had to do was pretend to bestow grace and take his hand. However, he would extract a hefty price for taking his hand.

“And there’s something I’ve been wanting to say, and this opportunity came up… I apologize for the rude things I said before. I apologize for looking down on the path of a merchant.”

As Im Bon-jae tried to bow, Jo Gwang-yun was taken aback by his unexpected action and stopped him.

“There’s no need to bow. Please stop.”

“Since that day, I’ve been thinking about it alone. I realized that I, who treated merchants who only chase money as worldly snobs, also had worldly desires hidden deep inside.”

Jo Gwang-yun narrowed his eyes and waited to see what he would say, but he didn’t say anything more.

Was he ashamed of his worldly desires? Or did he want to reveal those desires? Or perhaps he wanted to hear how to satisfy those desires.

Whatever it was, he had to draw out his inner thoughts first. Jo Gwang-yun smiled and said.

“There’s nothing shameful about being worldly. To put it simply, isn’t it just following the general customs of the world? Your desires are very natural.”

“But if you’re only faithful to your desires, the path of a noble is far away.”

“Ignoring desires is hypocrisy. A noble and a hypocrite are two sides of the same coin. Since they can’t be separated, wouldn’t it be better to maintain a delicate balance?”

“Balance…?”

“Like a righteous thief. A righteous thief… Isn’t it funny? A thief is already an unjust being…”

Im Bon-jae’s expression brightened, so it seemed he had caught on to Jo Gwang-yun’s intentions. He spoke of righteousness.

“But giving wealth to the poor is a righteous act.”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled brightly, slapped the armrest of the chair, and stood up.

“Now, Master Im. Would you like a drink? Alcohol is desire’s best friend, so it would be a shame to leave it out, right?”

What martial artist who uses his body would refuse alcohol?

* * *

“Master Im. Do you perhaps have a separate business you’re running?”

“To be honest, just maintaining the martial arts school is overwhelming. I wish I could cut off all ties with the outside world and focus solely on training with my disciples, but…”

“So, you step in like this when the merchants in the market are in a difficult situation.”

“It’s embarrassing, but if it weren’t for the donations they give, I’d have to close even my insignificant martial arts school.”

Im Bon-jae took a drink as if to erase his self-deprecating smile.

“Then what about your martial arts skills? How many martial artists in Kaifeng are difficult for you to handle?”

“Martial arts…”

When Jo Gwang-yun brought up martial arts, he showed a completely different look in his eyes than when they were talking about money.

“If we’re only competing in individual martial prowess, not influence, I won’t lose to anyone in Kaifeng.”

“Even against the experts of the Beggars’ Sect?”

Im Bon-jae put down his glass, as if he was dumbfounded by the mention of the Beggars’ Sect [a large, influential group often depicted in martial arts stories].

“The Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families are beyond the heavens. The level of their martial arts should be discussed among themselves.”

“A different level?”

“It’s not just a matter of level or skill. Haha.”

At Im Bon-jae’s hollow laughter, Jo Gwang-yun chose a more realistic comparison.

“Then what about the Five Ethics School or the Green Blood Gate?”

“What? Seriously. Haha.”

Again, a hollow laugh.

“Young friend, you’re going from one extreme to the other. You were talking about the heavens beyond the heavens, and now you’re talking about thugs…”

“You’re avoiding the answer.”

“Young friend. They’re not martial artists, they’re just gangsters. Comparing them to me is a disgrace.”

Im Bon-jae’s eyes and tone were filled with contempt.

Could it be that Ok Gang-il experienced this look and tone firsthand?

“Master Im. You’ve had a run-in with the Five Ethics School, haven’t you?”

Im Bon-jae nodded silently.

“Was it Wi Dal? Or Ok Gang-il?”

“Wi Dal.”

“Oh! How did it happen…?”

“That man kidnapped a woman from a commoner’s home and put her in a brothel. So…”

*So, a champion of justice stepped forward.* [This is a common trope in martial arts stories.]

“Given Wi Dal’s personality, it wouldn’t have been easily resolved, so did you have a sword fight or something?”

“Hoo…”

Im Bon-jae sighed as if frustrated and shook his head.

“Where on earth are you listening to me? I told you, they’re not martial artists. No matter how vicious they are, I can’t draw my sword against someone who isn’t a martial artist.”

He probably didn’t use his fists instead of a sword.

“I just went to the brothel and told them to hand over the woman, and Wi Dal readily handed her over. An ordinary person can’t withstand the might of a martial artist.”

“Might?”

Jo Gwang-yun tilted his head.

He couldn’t believe that he had subdued Wi Dal with just his aura, without using physical force. It wasn’t like the childish staring contests where the first one to look away loses.

“This is…”

Seeing that Jo Gwang-yun didn’t understand or believe him at all, Im Bon-jae sighed again and looked for a way to explain it properly.

Believing that one experience is a shortcut to understanding better than a hundred words, Im Bon-jae drew up his inner energy and pressured Jo Gwang-yun. The slightly shaking glass was the only trace that he was using inner energy.

But to anyone else, it would just look like Im Bon-jae was suddenly glaring at Jo Gwang-yun.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?!”

“Why are you suddenly glaring at me while we’re drinking?”

Jo Gwang-yun blankly stared at Im Bon-jae, not knowing what was going on, and Im Bon-jae stared at Jo Gwang-yun with surprised eyes for a while, as his aura had no effect on him at all.

Jo Gwang-yun broke the silence.

“This… suddenly the air between us has turned cold, right? It’s been proven once again that the shorter the drinking session, the better.”

Jo Gwang-yun got up.

“Actually, there was something I wanted to talk about, but I should do it with a clear mind without alcohol. If you’re interested, let’s meet again.”

As Jo Gwang-yun suddenly tried to leave, Im Bon-jae hurriedly opened his mouth.

“What are you talking about? The silk merchants?”

“If it’s such a trivial matter, we can talk about it while drinking. What I want to discuss with a clear mind is about Kaifeng.”

“Kaifeng?”

“Yes. Won’t you join hands with me and take over Kaifeng?”

Im Bon-jae thought that Jo Gwang-yun must be completely drunk. There was no way such absurd words could come out unless he was out of his mind from drinking.

< The Orthodox Sect of Kaifeng (3) > End