I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 34

When the two met again, Jo Gwang-yun looked relaxed, while Im Bon-jae seemed a bit nervous.

“I’ve been feeling uneasy about leaving you like that last time.”

“No, I hope you weren’t upset that I did something unnecessary.”

“Unnecessary?”

Im Bon-jae asked cautiously and very carefully.

“That day, when we were drinking, didn’t you feel anything? Like fear, or dread?”

“Should I have been drinking in fear? Were you perhaps thinking of getting rid of me? Hehe.”

“Don’t even joke like that. A martial artist harming an ordinary person.”

Seeing Im Bon-jae jump like that made Jo Gwang-yun sigh. *A rigid person, unable to distinguish a joke*, he thought.

“By any chance.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Have you learned martial arts? It doesn’t seem like it…?”

“Well… you seem so strong that it’s hard to say… I am learning swordsmanship, called the ‘Danhon Sword Technique’.”

“Hmm… I’m asking if you’re practicing internal energy cultivation [a practice to cultivate and circulate ‘qi’ or vital energy within the body], but it doesn’t seem like it…”

Jo Gwang-yun ignored Im Bon-jae’s muttering and said,

“Have you considered the proposal I made?”

“It was so absurd that I tried to ignore it, but it’s hard to ignore the person who brought it up.”

Taking over Gaebong implies two things.

Jo Gwang-yun would seize the commercial rights of Gaebong, and Im Bon-jae would take control of the best martial arts clan in Gaebong. Of course, they couldn’t surpass the Beggars’ Sect [a large, influential group often depicted in martial arts stories, known for their intelligence network and compassion for the poor].

“Since you seem to be considering it, let me confirm one thing. I heard that, excluding the Beggars’ Sect, the Changryong Clan is the best martial arts clan in Gaebong. Is that correct?”

Im Bon-jae smiled bitterly.

“What’s the point of comparing ourselves? We’re all about the same…”

“I want an accurate answer.”

“Yes, that’s right. Considering the martial arts skills of each clan leader and the number of disciples, the Changryong Clan is the leader.”

“Then, if you make a name for yourself when the opportunity arises, expanding your power would be instantaneous.”

“Fame is everything in the martial world. But will I have the chance to make a name for myself here?”

“If there isn’t one, we have to create one.”

“How?”

“What if we annihilate two clans that only harm the people? I’m talking about the Oryun Clan and the Nokhyul Clan. If you accomplish something like that, wouldn’t young people flock to join the Changryong Clan?”

Im Bon-jae said with a dumbfounded expression,

“Young Master. What are you talking about? I can understand the Nokhyul Clan, but don’t you know who’s backing the Oryun Clan? It’s you, Young Master.”

“*One body*? It’s just a cash cow for the Mukdo Assembly [likely a powerful martial arts organization or alliance].”

Jo Gwang-yun snorted and chuckled.

“The question is whether the Changryong Clan can uproot those two clans. If you get defeated instead, you’ll have to leave Gaebong that day, Clan Leader. Are you confident?”

Im Bon-jae closed his mouth tightly and couldn’t answer.

“I heard you subdued the Oryun Clan with just your aura? Was that just boasting at the drinking party?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know why I can’t answer easily? You know better than anyone who’s behind them, don’t you?”

Jo Gwang-yun looked at Im Bon-jae and smiled slyly. *No matter how much he talks about righteousness, he’s no different from an ordinary person who protects himself*, he mused.

*In the end, isn’t he afraid of the Mukdo Assembly?*

“Then, let’s start by sweeping away the Oryun Clan and the Nokhyul Clan as the first step to making the Changryong Clan the best in Gaebong. The Mukdo Assembly will just watch the fire from across the river.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Ah, if it’s too much for you, just tell me. I’ll visit the Magistrate [a local government official] and ask for help. It’s a good cause, so the Magistrate will step in too.”

“No need! The Changryong Clan is enough. I’m more worried about what comes after.”

Unlike his loud voice, Im Bon-jae’s face darkened.

“What comes after?”

“If the Changryong Clan gains fame as you said, there will be a flood of people wanting to join…”

*He’s saying he doesn’t have the money to support the increased number of people*, Jo Gwang-yun realized.

Jo Gwang-yun thumped his chest and said,

“Trust me. The disciples of the Changryong Clan will never have to worry about meals or a place to sleep.”

After drawing the big picture, the two discussed the future for a very long time.

Im Bon-jae got up only after hearing everything he was satisfied with.

“Then I’ll start preparing for the operation. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”

“Please do. Oh, right. I’ll send a child to you. See if he has any talent and take him as a disciple.”

“A child? You mean a young kid?”

“Yes. I took him in because of a connection. I heard he’s about twelve years old… If he doesn’t have any talent, don’t hesitate and send him back right away.”

*He thought it would be better for Gu Seung to learn martial arts until he was old enough to play a necessary role. Especially since it’s easier to learn martial arts when you’re young, ten years should be enough*.

* * *

Ok Gang-il frowned because of Jo Gwang-yun’s sudden summons.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? The money has been coming in every month. You’re not asking for more, are you?”

“Would you give it if I asked for more?”

“Are you crazy? I’m tight on money too.”

Jo Gwang-yun frowned at Ok Gang-il’s whining.

“Are you perhaps mistaken about something?”

“What?”

“It’s not about taking what you need and giving us what’s left, but giving us first and taking what’s left. Isn’t it?”

Ok Gang-il’s clenched fist trembled. He was upset, but it was true. If a few members of the Mukdo Assembly came out with knives, he would lose his place.

“So? You’re going to raise the tribute?”

Jo Gwang-yun nodded and held out his hand. Three fingers were extended.

“Three times? Are you out of your mind? Three times is more than half of what I earn now. Are you telling my kids to starve to death?”

A strange thought occurred to him. *Jo Gwang-yun, as he knew him, would never make an unreasonable move. Wasn’t he the type to only make choices that were appropriate and acceptable to everyone?*

“Hey. What are you plotting this time?”

“Oh, you’ve improved a lot. You knew right away that I was thinking about something else.”

“Don’t mess around and tell me. What is it?”

Jo Gwang-yun decided that he had to make it clear today who was messing around.

“In a few days, the Nokhyul Clan will disappear from Gaebong. Then you take care of the Nokhyul Clan’s ledger first. They also run a usury business, right? They must have a lot of hidden money? Take care of all of that.”

“Who’s going to take down the Nokhyul Clan? Don’t tell me it’s the Mukdo Assembly?”

Ok Gang-il’s face lit up. If the Mukdo Assembly stepped in to support the Nokhyul Clan, he would be the only one to manage their territory.

The Oryun Clan’s power would double. Jo Gwang-yun raising the tribute threefold was, in a way, reasonable.

“No. The Changryong Clan. And the government troops will join in too. The Magistrate is using the Changryong Clan to crack down on groups engaged in illegal activities. That way, the government troops will suffer less damage. Oh, the Oryun Clan is also a target for suppression. In their eyes, the Nokhyul Clan and the Oryun Clan are the same.”

“W-What nonsense are you talking about?”

The face that had been lighting up turned pale in an instant. Seeing that, Jo Gwang-yun became genuinely curious.

*Was Ok Gang-il afraid of losing the Oryun Clan, which he had taken over after killing Wi Dal, who was like a brother to him? Or was it because of the enormous amount of money that was rolling in now?*

“You don’t want to believe it, do you? But it’s true. You can’t avoid it.”

“Th-Then what about raising the tribute threefold a little while ago? If the Oryun Clan disappears, there will be no tribute.”

“You still don’t get it? I’m giving you a chance. A chance to survive. Survive by doing what I tell you, and then bring me the money regularly. Just like now.”

Jo Gwang-yun drank his tea alone. It seemed like it would take quite a while for Ok Gang-il, who seemed to have lost his soul, to come to his senses.

Clang-!

After a long time. Ok Gang-il suddenly drew his sword.

“This bastard…! I’ve been working my ass off to earn money and pay you all this time, and you’re stabbing me in the back like this?”

Ok Gang-il’s blade reached Jo Gwang-yun’s neck.

Jo Gwang-yun, as if he couldn’t even see the blade, continued to drink his tea and said,

“Put it away and don’t do something you’ll regret.”

“Regret? I’ll regret not killing you today!”

“Then swing it. Swing it if you’re confident you’ll give up everything you have, everything you’ll have in the future. Should we throw it all away and go to the afterlife together? Wi Dal will be waiting for us at the entrance to the underworld, right? Haha.”

Food, alcohol, women, money.

Among the many tastes that exist in the world, the most delicious is the taste of money. No matter how much you eat, you never get tired of it, and no matter how much you eat, you always want to taste more. Only the taste of money.

Ok Gang-il, who had already tasted the taste of money to the point of being sick of it, was not stupid enough to throw everything away and swing his sword at him.

“Ok Gang-il!”

Jo Gwang-yun put down his teacup and began to glare at Ok Gang-il.

“If you want to live, if you want to survive, judge who’s holding the lifeline first. How dare you…!”

Ok Gang-il’s hand, which was clenching his teeth, was still trembling, but the tip of the sword moved away from Jo Gwang-yun’s neck.

End