Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 201

201

Lee Chun-shik was doing running steps, shifting his weight by quickly moving both feet forward and backward.

‘Kickboxing?’

Watching Lee Chun-shik’s footwork, Hyun-sung thought of kickboxing.

“It was kickboxing?”

“You’re dead now.”

“We’ll see who dies.”

Hyun-sung adjusted his stance to match.

Lee Chun-shik looked surprised. “What? You know kickboxing too?”

“I only learned the basics, so don’t get too excited.”

“So you did learn it.”

“A long time ago.”

It was true. Back in the mid-2000s, when the movie *Ong Bak* made Muay Thai popular, he’d briefly joined a kickboxing gym.

“You little punk, talking nonsense…”

“Nonsense? Maybe it sounds like that to you. Anyway, stop wasting energy and come at me. Let’s finish this quickly.”

“I don’t want to drag this out with a kid either. Be prepared.”

Lee Chun-shik’s stance shifted.

*Whoosh!*

Lee Chun-shik’s left fist darted towards Hyun-sung’s face.

Anticipating the move, Hyun-sung easily dodged it. Then, a right fist shot out in a straight line, a technique prioritizing the second attack over the first.

It was a One-Two, a basic kickboxing combination. The lead hand jabs to disrupt the opponent’s balance, followed by a powerful straight punch.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Lee Chun-shik’s expression changed as Hyun-sung dodged the second attack as well.

“Oh, you’re pretty good.”

“Still, you learned the basics properly.”

“This little punk is all talk…”

Lee Chun-shik closed the distance.

*Whoosh, whoosh.*

Lee Chun-shik unleashed a rapid Double Punch, striking twice in quick succession with the same hand – a technique requiring considerable speed.

But Hyun-sung saw it coming. He dodged again, prompting Lee Chun-shik’s surprise.

“You dodged that too?”

“That’s not strong enough.”

“This is weak…”

Lee Chun-shik tilted his head, bewildered. This was one of his specialties, a carefully honed move requiring such speed that it couldn’t be used carelessly.

Yet, his opponent dodged it with ease.

Judging by his stance, he must have learned kickboxing. But there wasn’t a kickboxing gym in the countryside. He couldn’t have trained for more than a month or two during vacation. Could he really be this skilled after such brief training?

Lee Chun-shik, unaware of Hyun-sung’s regression [reversion to a previous state], couldn’t comprehend it.

Lee Chun-shik readjusted his stance.

“I’m not going easy on you anymore.”

“Were you going easy on me until now? Is that all you’ve got?”

Hyun-sung deliberately sneered. Lee Chun-shik’s movements changed, indicating he was preparing for a final attack.

*Shashak.*

His footwork became more deliberate.

*Thud.*

He lightly kicked Hyun-sung’s abdomen with his lead foot.

It was a Front Kick, a basic technique used to block an opponent’s advance and strike the abdomen with the sole or front of the foot before launching another attack.

‘The time has come.’

Hyun-sung knew the final attack was imminent.

As expected, Lee Chun-shik’s right foot shot into the air.

Judging by the angle, he was aiming for the nape of Hyun-sung’s neck.

It was a typical High Kick. A high kick, targeting the face or nape, has the highest probability of a knockout (KO) among kicking attacks. It’s a high-impact technique.

However, the large, sweeping motion involves inherent risks, leaving the attacker vulnerable.

Hyun-sung wouldn’t miss that opportunity.

*Thud.*

He blocked the kick with his left hand, simultaneously stepping forward and punching Lee Chun-shik in the solar plexus.

“Ugh!”

Lee Chun-shik gasped for air and collapsed forward.

Hyun-sung, seeing him fall, turned to Ahn Yong-soo, the last man standing.

“Are you next?”

“N, no. I…”

Honorifics [formal language] slipped out of Ahn Yong-soo’s mouth.

He immediately knelt.

*Thump.*

“I can’t fight. So I…”

*Whack.*

Hyun-sung slapped Ahn Yong-soo’s head.

“Why does a guy who can’t fight follow these kinds of guys around?”

“I was going to get some pocket money before going to the army…”

*Whack.*

*Thud.*

Hyun-sung slapped Ahn Yong-soo’s head again.

“What? Pocket money… you crazy bastard, don’t you have anything better to do than this to earn pocket money?”

“…”

Ahn Yong-soo lowered his head, speechless.

A moment later, the three men knelt side by side.

“Hey, you.”

Hyun-sung called Lee Chun-shik.

“Huh.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, yes…”

Lee Chun-shik immediately became submissive.

Looking at Lee Chun-shik, Hyun-sung said, “Don’t you have anything to give me?”

“Yes? What…”

*Slap.*

Hyun-sung slapped Lee Chun-shik’s forehead. “Did this bastard already forget? My money, you bastard.”

“Ah, the money…”

Lee Chun-shik took the money from his pocket, finally understanding.

“Here it is.”

Hyun-sung took the money and said, “This was my money from the beginning anyway. Don’t you have anything *else* to give me?”

“Yes?”

*Slap.*

Hyun-sung slapped Lee Chun-shik’s forehead again. “What did I say earlier? I said I’d get compensation for the failed business, right?”

“Ah, the business compensation…”

Lee Chun-shik looked at Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo with a troubled expression. Choi Hee-cheol looked at Hyun-sung and said, “H, hyung-nim [older brother/term of respect]. Please forgive us just this once. We don’t have any money.”

“Hyung-nim? Why am I your hyung-nim?”

“W, well… you won the fight, didn’t you?”

“What?”

Hyun-sung was speechless at the childishness.

“Why don’t you have money?”

“We don’t have money, so if you ask why we don’t have money…”

“You’re full of it. Hey, didn’t you guys get paid today?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Choi Hee-cheol looked at Hyun-sung, surprised.

Hyun-sung turned to Lee Chun-shik. “Hey, you answer my question honestly. If you lie even a little bit, know that today will be your death anniversary.”

“Yes, tell me. Hyung-nim.”

“You know Choi Sajang [company president/CEO], right?”

“Y, you mean Choi, Choi Sajang-nim?”

Lee Chun-shik was stuttering.

Hyun-sung pressed, “So you know him?”

“…Yes.”

“How do you know that Choi Sajang?”

“W, well…”

Lee Chun-shik opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, unable to speak.

Hyun-sung said, “Do you want to get hit and answer, or just answer?”

“T, the truth is…”

Lee Chun-shik began to explain his relationship with Choi Min-sung.

After Lee Chun-shik’s explanation, Hyun-sung asked, “So, the reason you came to the ramen shop and did those crazy things last time was because Choi Sajang ordered you to do it?”

“… Yes, that’s right.”

“And of course, you got paid for your trouble?”

Lee Chun-shik nodded.

Hyun-sung asked, “And of course, Choi Sajang ordered you to do it this time too?”

“Yes.”

“But you haven’t received your payment yet?”

“I was on my way to get it now.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Everything pointed to Choi Min-sung’s involvement. And behind Choi Min-sung, of course, was Oh Sang-cheol.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Chun-shik. “Go and get it.”

“Yes?”

“Go get your payment. I’ll take good care of your friends here. Don’t even think about running away. And if you do anything stupid, I’ll report you to 112 [emergency services number in Korea] right away, so be careful.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Chun-shik barely managed to answer and disappeared.

“Why are you alone?”

Choi Min-sung looked at Lee Chun-shik.

“My friends are waiting outside.”

“Do you have something urgent to do?”

“Yes, I have something to do right away.”

“Really? Anyway, did you handle the job well?”

“…Yes, I made it impossible for them to do business during the busiest hours.”

Lee Chun-shik answered weakly. He wanted to tell the truth, but he was afraid of Hyun-sung’s retaliation.

If he reported it to the police, things would escalate.

Choi Min-sung asked, “There were no other problems?”

“No, there weren’t.”

“Good job. I’ll call you again if I need you next time, so please take care of me then too.”

“Ah, no. We’re going to stop now. Our faces are too well known, so it’s too difficult for us anymore. So I think it would be better to use someone else now.”

Lee Chun-shik shook his head.

Choi Min-sung tilted his head. “Is it because 10,000 won [Korean currency] is too little?”

“No, it’s definitely not that. We just don’t want our faces to be too well known. I’m afraid we might get reported…”

“Do you have any previous convictions?”

“That’s because it’s a suspended sentence…”

“I see what you mean. If that’s the case… Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

Choi Min-sung handed Lee Chun-shik an envelope. Lee Chun-shik received it, bowed, and immediately left Rose Dabang [Korean-style coffee shop].

Lee Chun-shik stepped outside.

‘What should I do?’

If I run away like this…

Will he really report me?

Surely not…

No, judging by what he does, he’s the type of guy who would report me. If he reports me, I’ll be arrested right away.

‘Hmm…’

Is there no other choice…

After thinking for a while, Lee Chun-shik started walking in the opposite direction of the terminal.

“Here you go.”

Lee Chun-shik handed Hyun-sung an envelope.

“Is it a waste?”

“…”

“I asked if it’s a waste.”

“No. It’s our fault anyway…”

Lee Chun-shik clenched his teeth.

Hyun-sung looked at Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo. “How about you guys?”

“We’re okay.”

“I’m okay too.”

The two men were on high alert.

Hyun-sung called Lee Chun-shik again. “Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“To meet Oh Sajang [company president/CEO].”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Lee Chun-shik looked bewildered.

Hyun-sung said, “Oh Sajang is the one who hired Choi Sajang.”

“I know that too, but…”

“You knew?”

Lee Chun-shik nodded.

Hyun-sung continued, “Do you know what kind of person Oh Sajang is?”

“Not really…”

“Oh Sajang is the one who kicked out someone who had been doing business for over 10 years without giving them a single penny.”

“Yes? Is that true?”

Lee Chun-shik looked surprised.

Hyun-sung’s words continued. “So, I think we should go to Oh Sajang together.”

“That’s a bit…”

“You’re not going?”

“Please consider our situation. How can we go all the way there? We’ve already received our daily wages…”

*Pfft.*

Hyun-sung laughed.

“What if I give you those daily wages?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying I’ll give you those daily wages.”

Hyun-sung shook the envelope he had received from Lee Chun-shik.

Lee Chun-shik’s eyes sparkled.

“Really?”

“Okay, deal?”

Hyun-sung handed the envelope to Lee Chun-shik.

Lee Chun-shik smiled. “Hyung-nim, let’s go.”