I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 96

< Let's Live Together. 1 >

Climbing up?

Did Jo Ga-jang, no, Jo Gwang-yun ever climb up?

Lee Hak-lin couldn’t understand Hwe-ju’s true feelings.

“That bastard Jo Gwang-yun, we were the ones who dragged him from some backwater village to Gaebong. We let him play in the big leagues and start his business with the backing of the Gaebang’s [a large merchant organization] Black Faction. When you think about it, he became a big merchant thanks to us, right?”

It’s human nature to blame others when things go wrong, but this was too much. However, Lee Hak-lin continued to listen without saying anything.

“How dare that beggar demand we provide troops just because he’s giving us some money? Does he think we’re his hunting dogs?”

It was hard to understand why Hwe-ju was saying this so late.

Wasn’t Hwe-ju the one who showed interest when Lee Geon brought the request, asking how much money they would give?

“Anyway, we shouldn’t indulge him. People are the kind of creatures who forget favors the fastest and only keep asking for what they need. To remind these guys of our grace, we need to completely ruin them.”

“Are you saying you want to ruin Jo Gwang-yun and take over Jo Ga-jang simply for that reason?”

When Lee Hak-lin made a somewhat dumbfounded expression, sparks flew from Hyuk Si-mok Hwe-ju’s eyes.

“What? Look at how this bastard talks. Simply? You son of a bitch! Then should there be a more complicated reason? Can’t you kill someone for a simple reason? Why would you hold a knife instead of a pen if you want to live a complicated life?”

Lee Hak-lin immediately lowered his head.

“I apologize. I misspoke.”

Despite the polite apology, Hwe-ju didn’t stop.

“I entrust everything to you, so you don’t see anything in your eyes anymore? These days, you seem like the head of Mukdohoe [a martial arts clan]. Have you forgotten who holds your leash? Should I remind you?”

It was harsh, but it was just words.

Hwe-ju couldn’t bring himself to punch Lee Hak-lin.

Lee Hak-lin knelt before Hwe-ju, who was furious, and only repeated that he was sorry, without making any other excuses.

After a long time of huffing and puffing, Hwe-ju calmed down and said.

“You take responsibility for this matter and handle it. Whether you take Jo Gwang-yun’s head or destroy Changryongmun [another organization], use any means necessary. But if you don’t bring all of Jo Ga-jang’s assets to me, you’ll have to offer your own head instead.”

“Understood!”

“Understood my ass…! Get out! I don’t want to see your face.”

Lee Hak-lin backed away without straightening his back.

* * *

Returning to his residence, Lee Hak-lin lay down on the bed and pondered the content of Hwe-ju’s shouting a moment ago.

*It feels bad that someone he thought of as far below… no, as a bug, is now standing shoulder to shoulder with him.*

It’s a simple reason.

It’s true that Hwe-ju has a simple personality, but this was too much.

Because of this simple reason, he has to start a huge task and deal with repercussions that are difficult to predict.

Even though he’s a martial artist who wields a sword, he’s already the leader of a large organization. He definitely thinks about the aftermath. But today, he couldn’t find any of that.

It’s like a child throwing a tantrum. Especially the last warning… to give up his life? After Lee Hak-lin became acquainted with Hyuk Si-mok Hwe-ju through Mukdohoe, it was the first time he had heard the words to risk his life.

He was someone who did everything half-heartedly, and if it didn’t work out, he just let it go. That’s why he stepped up and took charge of the household.

Today is too much.

Thinking this far, Lee Hak-lin suddenly sat up straight on the bed.

“Could it be…?”

Lee Hak-lin immediately shouted.

“Bring Lee Geon from the inspection unit. Quickly!”

The sound of footsteps running outside was heard.

He had a hunch. It was a vague guess, but it was chilling.

Lee Geon, who came running in a hurry, swallowed hard, looking at Lee Hak-lin, who was as stiff as a stone.

“You know the head of the inspection unit is dead, right?”

“Yes, Lord.”

Lee Geon trembled as he recalled the head’s corpse, with all his bones broken and his face so mangled that he couldn’t be recognized.

There was no guarantee that he wouldn’t end up like the head of the unit in this place.

“If you answer my questions accurately from now on, you will become the head of the inspection unit when you leave this room.”

“Yes?”

He raised his head at the unexpected words.

“Listen to the end.”

“Ah, yes. I apologize.”

“But if you hide anything from me or lie, you will lie next to the corpse of the head of the inspection unit. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Why would I lie when my life is at stake?”

After giving him a scare, Lee Hak-lin asked.

“Is the current state of Jo Ga-jang [Jo Gwang-yun’s business], as investigated by the inspection unit, accurate?”

“The information we have investigated so far is accurate. Also, I saw the situation of Jo Ga-jang directly when I was in Gaebong. There is no mistake when compared to each other.”

“Did you say so far? Then are you still investigating?”

“Yes. We are investigating to see if there is anything missing, but it will not be much different in the future.”

Lee Hak-lin still remembers the contents of the report.

He can’t touch department store-like businesses because they are under the management of the government, and he can’t know where the money from the battlefields is. Jo Gwang-yun is hiding in the capital, making it difficult to find him.

But Hwe-ju knew this fact and gave him a mission that might be impossible, and warned him that failure meant death.

Isn’t he the kind of person who doesn’t keep promises to save people, but always keeps promises to kill people?

Could it be…?”

Lee Hak-lin shook his head violently as if trying to shake off the ominous thought.

“Lee Geon.”

Lee Hak-lin called, but Lee Geon couldn’t answer.

All that came out was the sound of his teeth chattering from the terrifying aura emanating from Lee Hak-lin’s body.

“You clearly said you have a relationship of trust with Jo Gwang-yun. That means you can meet or contact Jo Gwang-yun at any time, even if he is hiding in the capital. Don’t say no. You. Will. Die.”

There was no time to think. In order not to die in this place, Lee Geon nodded vigorously.

At that moment, Lee Hak-lin’s aura disappeared like snow melting.

Lee Geon was finally able to breathe. Although he had wet his pants.

“Then go out right now and tell Jo Gwang-yun what I said. That I want to see him once. If he avoids or refuses, I will go into his department store and kill all the customers. It won’t end with one. I will go around all the department stores in the Central Plains and kill them all. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’ll start in exactly ten days. Do you understand what this means too?”

“Yes, Lord.”

He has to get Jo Gwang-yun’s answer within ten days.

“Get out.”

Lee Geon bowed to Lee Hak-lin and heard the news of his promotion as he turned around.

“You will use the residence of the head of the inspection unit from today.”

* * *

The letter written by Lee Geon fell into the hands of Da-gyeom in Gaebong and was delivered to Hana-hoe [a secret society] again. Finally, Jo Gwang-yun in the capital read the letter.

Jo Gwang-yun knew why he used a messenger hawk instead of a messenger pigeon.

“Shibal [a Korean curse word]. There’s no reasoning with the uneducated.”

He realized for the first time that the Namgoong family was easier.

If Mukdohoe had said they would attack Changryongmun, it wouldn’t have been this absurd.

To kill hundreds of innocent customers who have nothing to do with it?

It’s a threat that’s hard to handle. Does he mean to kill hundreds of innocent people and go into the deep mountains to hide for the rest of his life?

According to the information Lee Geon gave him, he is someone who can do that. He’s a human who only digs into martial arts in the training room, so he won’t even feel like he’s hiding.

What’s even more frightening is that he didn’t give him time to spare. There is no time to think deeply and come up with countermeasures. The good news is that he’s not telling him to rush to Jangsa, Hunan Province, the base of Mukdohoe.

If he calls Lee Hak-lin to the capital, he can buy a lot of time.

Jo Gwang-yun didn’t hesitate and immediately wrote a letter and sent a messenger hawk.

He had never imagined that one small tube tied to the leg of that hawk would protect the safety of hundreds of customers.

“Now I have to protect my safety too.”

The first thing Jo Gwang-yun did for his safety was to meet with Eumyeongmun [an information guild].

* * *

Jo Gwang-yun is the best customer who pays Eumyeongmun two hundred silver coins every month.

The best customer, who had never even contacted them except to receive information such as the current state and trends of the court, said he wanted to meet in person, so they rushed out.

“Lee Hak-lin? That master of Mukdohoe?”

“So you know him. I thought you didn’t get involved in martial arts matters?”

“Even if Eumyeongmun’s activities are limited to the capital, we are not information merchants if we don’t know such a master.”

The man from Eumyeongmun poured the last remaining noodles into his mouth.

“But why is Lee Hak-lin’s name coming up?”

“Because he looks like he’s going to kill me.”

The man couldn’t swallow the noodles left in his mouth for a while.

“How did that happen…?”

“I don’t know the reason yet. I have to meet him and ask.”

“Meet him? Do you think Lee Hak-lin will meet you and explain the reason? He’ll draw his sword first?”

“Can you block that sword…?”

Jo Gwang-yun asked carefully, but the man shook his head without a moment’s thought.

“You know we don’t have that kind of master.”

“I’m asking just in case. I didn’t have any expectations.”

Jo Gwang-yun bit his lip.

“Then let’s end our deal today. I don’t need information about the imperial family and the court anymore.”

“Yes?”

“The structure of the imperial family is as solid as a rock and hasn’t changed in the past few years, right? I’m tired of reading the same reports every time… and it’s a waste of money.”

As Jo Gwang-yun got up without regret, the man showed a desperate look.

“Lord Jo. What do you want us to do?”

Jo Gwang-yun flicked off the man’s arm that was holding his sleeve.

“You said you can’t do it? If you have any lingering feelings, don’t ask me what I want, but think carefully about what Eumyeongmun can do and let me know. Then I’ll decide whether to extend the contract or not.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who gave Eumyeongmun homework, immediately wrote two letters, one to the Great Master and one to an old friend he had made not long ago.

In particular, he had to deliver the letter to his friend through a person, so he sent a messenger pigeon to the branch in Hobeok [a region in Korea].

* * *

The man from Changryongmun stood in front of the Lord’s office, enduring the cold gazes of the martial artists of the Martial Alliance who were not at all friendly.

“This is a personal letter from Changryongmun to the Lord.”

The guard guarding the Lord’s office reached out without saying anything, but the man from Changryongmun shook his head.

“Don’t you know what a personal letter is? I’ll deliver it myself. Do you think I’ll let the hands of a mere guard touch it?”

When the guard flinched at the man’s fierce eyes, Mo Yong-hwi’s voice was heard.

“Bring him in.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The man entered the Lord’s office with the guard.

Mo Yong-hwi leaned back in his chair and said, looking only at the ceiling.

“Leave it and go.”

The man placed the small tube containing the letter on the table. Only then did Mo Yong-hwi take his eyes off the ceiling and check the message.

“Is this a letter from Lord Jo?”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Did he go somewhere far away? Judging by the fact that he sent a messenger pigeon?”

“I do not know his whereabouts. I was only told to deliver it…”

“Go away. Everything is a secret, huh?”

Mo Yong-hwi waved his hand as if he was annoyed.

After everyone had left and Mo Yong-hwi was left alone, he hurriedly unfolded the letter, unlike his relaxed appearance a moment ago.

“Gyeyang [a region in Korea]? The capital? Look at this guy…”

He’s a rich guy, but he’s not the kind of person who would go all the way to the capital for sightseeing. He must have started something.

“Huh? What is this again?”

「While I was admiring the beauty of a femme fatale and savoring sweet wine, I suddenly thought of you, Lord. It’s been a long time since I set foot in the Jianghu [the martial arts world], but you are my only friend, Lord, so I guess that’s why.

I have to return to Gaebong in a few days. My young friend is earnestly asking. If you borrow the power of a fine horse and come to the capital quickly, I will prepare a beauty and sweet wine in a scenic pavilion.」

Mo Yong-hwi, who put down the letter, burst into laughter. The first thought that came to his mind was what trick this guy was trying to pull again.

But…

“A beauty and sweet wine… The young one has quite the taste for romance. Hehe.”

Isn’t it the duty of a great man to run barefoot if a friend asks?

< Let's Live Together. 1 > End