Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 99

I always thought the day would come when I’d face him, but I never imagined it would be now.

Cheon Saldo, Jang Han.

In many ways, he was a similar figure to me.

If I was born as a son of a concubine in the Soongmoo Lee family and lived a life of contempt, he was born and raised as an orphan in the garbage dump on the outskirts of the Nine Dragons Fortress, the main base of the Nine Dragons Union.

Then, he became the sole disciple of one of the legendary assassins of the previous generation and was raised as a killer.

Recognized for his skills, he eventually entered the main fortress, and after that, through constant self-proving and thorough work, he eventually caught the eye of the Nine Dragons Union leader.

‘When the current Nine Dragons Union leader swept away the Council of Elders and finished internal control, the sword he kept by his side and wielded was Jang Han.’

Eventually, he was recognized as the next Nine Dragons Union leader, even receiving the leader’s secret teachings.

Among the people who lived in the same generation as me, he is the most self-made figure.

Of course, he is very different from me, but at the same time, he was a man who was similar in many ways.

Such a man was now staring at me intently in front of me.

“I only ask one thing: that you come to the Nine Dragons Union.”

A week had passed since the fierce battle that day.

Jung Jin-soo and I first went to the hotel newly booked by Yang Seo-dan.

Yang Seo-dan met Jung Jin-soo with a subdued expression, constantly glancing at me.

Jung Jin-soo smiled subtly and expressed his refusal.

“I cannot do that. After all, it was Baek Cheol-soo, not me, who was involved with the Nine Dragons Union. The White Bone Clan has already been dismantled, and I am no longer working under Baek Cheol-soo. Why would I need to go to the Nine Dragons Union?”

It was a polite but firm tone.

Yang Seo-dan clicked his tongue and retorted.

“Then what do you want me to do? Are you telling me to go back empty-handed?”

“That’s not it. I’m saying you should reconsider the mission.”

“What do you mean?”

Jung Jin-soo led the conversation with a gentle smile.

“What was the reason you came to Korea?”

“Tsk! Haven’t I said it many times? It was to bring you back!”

“No. Why would the Nine Dragons Union care about me?”

“Tsk! It’s not like we’re having a philosophical debate. Isn’t it because you know the truth better than anyone else!”

Yang Seo-dan finally got annoyed and shouted.

Jung Jin-soo looked at Yang Seo-dan and felt a little frustrated.

When talking to Lee Cheol, even saying this much would make him understand everything.

No, he not only understood but also grasped the other person’s true feelings and the underlying meaning of the conversation.

In comparison, Yang Seo-dan didn’t even understand.

‘Well, most people are like this.’

Lee Cheol is special.

Jung Jin-soo organized his thoughts and calmly opened his mouth.

“Let me explain in more detail.”

Jung Jin-soo slowly began to explain.

The Nine Dragons Union, or rather, the Council of Elders, secretly supported Baek Cheol-soo to exert influence in the Korean underworld, and in the process, the Soongmoo Lee family intervened.

From the Council of Elders’ point of view, they had no choice but to pay attention to the movements of the Soongmoo Lee family.

The problem was that all information was covered up by Lee Jae-hak’s thorough work, and they couldn’t even figure out how the black market had collapsed.

The Council of Elders did not want to have trouble with the Soongmoo Lee family because of a business that hadn’t even started properly.

That’s why Yang Seo-dan was dispatched to investigate the matter secretly.

“While investigating that matter, you found out about me, and naturally, you targeted me. It’s not like you came to Korea with me as your goal from the beginning.”

“Ah……!”

Yang Seo-dan nodded as if he finally understood the meaning of what Jung Jin-soo was saying.

“I see. So, you’re saying you’ll prepare something else related to this incident?”

“Exactly.”

Jung Jin-soo smiled at that moment.

“And if possible, I can give you an even better gift.”

“A gift?”

Yang Seo-dan reacted to Jung Jin-soo’s words.

“Reliable evidence that the Soongmoo Lee family will not take any action regarding their relationship with the Nine Dragons Union regarding this matter… how about that? Your trip to Korea was just an investigation, but in fact, you are getting more essential information than that, aren’t you?”

Yang Seo-dan made a nonchalant expression at Jung Jin-soo’s words.

“I was wondering what it was. How can that be a gift?”

“Depending on how you package it, it can be a sufficient gift. It means that you secretly obtained data on the Soongmoo Lee family’s intentions, doesn’t it? That means you’ve shown that much ability. As you are scheduled to be the next Elder… there’s nothing that could be more of an achievement than this, is there? Of course, from my point of view, it doesn’t matter if you don’t accept this offer.”

It was clever rhetoric.

Enough for Yang Seo-dan to prick up his ears.

“What do you want from me?”

Yang Seo-dan leaned forward and looked at Jung Jin-soo.

Jung Jin-soo looked at Yang Seo-dan with a subtle smile.

“I don’t want much. I just… want to build a good relationship [Guanxi; a system of social networks and influential relationships which facilitate business and other dealings].”

There is a word called 꽌시 (关系) [Guanxi; a system of social networks and influential relationships which facilitate business and other dealings].

It is the modern Chinese pronunciation of the Korean word 관계 (關係), meaning relationship.

In China, interpersonal connections are so important that there is a saying that everything starts and ends with 꽌시.

“Although the beginning wasn’t good, who knows what will happen in the future? I just want to build a good relationship with you, Elder Yang Seo-dan. Because you will be an Elder of the Nine Dragons Union.”

Jung Jin-soo’s eyes sparkled.

He had been holding the reins of the conversation, but he subtly praised the other person, taking a tone that ‘seemed’ to hand over the initiative.

Smart people wouldn’t be fooled, but there was no better rhetoric for people like Yang Seo-dan.

“As an Elder of the Nine Dragons Union, you will have many things to do in Korea, and I can provide a lot of help every time. Conversely, ‘Elder,’ you can also look out for my convenience, can’t you?”

“Keuhahaha!”

Yang Seo-dan burst into laughter.

“I like it. To think there would be someone like you in this small country!”

“You flatter me.”

“Oh, my. I must have misunderstood. Keuheuhe! Good! Good!”

Yang Seo-dan laughed heartily and offered a handshake.

Jung Jin-soo smiled subtly and shook his hand.

* * *

Jung Jin-soo glanced at Lee Cheol, who was standing behind him.

‘As expected, the young master is amazing.’

From the way of speaking, how to proceed, and even which parts of Yang Seo-dan to target.

Everything was instructed by Lee Cheol.

Lee Cheol pinpointed the exact points as if he could see the future.

Of course, Jung Jin-soo’s eloquence shone in practice, but in the end, it was Lee Cheol who prepared all the materials.

-That incompetent guy will eat away at the Nine Dragons Union anyway. It’s good to use him as much as you can until then.

Jung Jin-soo was inwardly afraid of Lee Cheol.

But at the same time, deep trust also arose.

If he were an enemy, he would be scary, but Jung Jin-soo was Lee Cheol’s man.

Why would he need to be afraid?

“Then we should have a more intimate conversation now.”

Yang Seo-dan said to Jung Jin-soo in a strange voice.

“You guys go out. I need to talk to this man.”

At Yang Seo-dan’s words, Jang Han paused for a moment, but left the room without saying a word.

I also exchanged glances with Jung Jin-soo without making it obvious.

I was a little worried, but looking at how he was doing, it seemed like Jung Jin-soo would be fine alone from now on.

As I opened the door and came out, Jang Han blocked my way.

“What is it?”

Jang Han’s complexion was pale, as if he hadn’t completely calmed down from his internal injuries.

He glanced at the other guards except for him and said to me.

“…Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Is it a story that can’t be told here?”

“If you’re worried, you don’t have to go far. Even at the end of this hallway is fine.”

I looked back and forth between the three guards standing at the entrance of the hotel room and Jang Han, and nodded.

“Okay. I wanted to talk to you too.”

I stood facing Jang Han.

Jang Han stared at me intently.

And then, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“To confirm if you are the person I expected. I swear on my life that I won’t tell anyone.”

I didn’t feel any hostility from Jang Han.

The hesitation didn’t last long.

I took off the mask covering my face.

“I am Lee Cheol, the youngest of the Soongmoo Lee family.”

“As I thought.”

A different light flashed in Jang Han’s eyes.

“How did you recognize me?”

“I heard rumors that there is a direct descendant from the Soongmoo Lee family who came out as a warrior at the youngest age in history. And if it wasn’t someone like that, he wouldn’t have been able to block my sword. Besides, you looked younger than me.”

Yang Seo-dan didn’t even seem to have guessed, but Jang Han seemed to have guessed before I revealed it.

After that, Jang Han was silent for a while.

He seemed to be thinking about what to say.

And soon, he opened his mouth in a low voice.

“You were… really strong.”

It was an impression that felt more like pure admiration than animosity.

I also responded to his words.

“You too. You were the first opponent like you I’ve ever faced.”

It was sincere.

Jang Han’s swordsmanship was different from any martial art I had ever seen.

Killing Sword (殺劍) [Sal-geom; swordsmanship focused on killing rather than defense or artistry].

It wasn’t about the weapon he wielded, but about the path he was taking.

A martial art focused on quickly and accurately ending the opponent’s life.

If I walk the path of polishing improvisation and orthodoxy, Jang Han walks the path of martial arts specialized in killing opponents.

‘If we fight again…….’

Can I be 100% sure of victory?

Above all, I was concerned about the blow that Jang Han had shown at the end.

Thinking about that single strike (一刀) [Il-do; a single, decisive strike] that even offset the power of Cheokma and my special aura skill, I still felt a chill down my spine.

Conversely, Jang Han was feeling something similar.

‘Someone as strong as me among my peers…….’

Jang Han doesn’t know his age because he doesn’t know the exact day he was born, but he was at least a few years older than Lee Cheol.

And he had endured hellish training to understand his teacher’s teachings, and after gaining some martial power, he had experienced actual combat in constant assassinations.

After he was lucky enough to eat a spiritual medicine during an assassination and opened his aura, he thought that even those who were said to be descendants of prestigious families or clans would not be his opponents.

At that time, Lee Cheol opened his mouth.

“Now, let me ask you one thing.”

“Speak.”

“If it wasn’t a head-on confrontation like last time… what would it be like if it was an assassination?”

At my words, Jang Han stared at me intently and answered in a low voice.

“90%.”

Jang Han replied.

“There is a 90% chance that I would succeed in the assassination.”

Jang Han didn’t stop there.

“But we both had things we were hiding. The probability I mentioned is a calculation based only on what you showed me last time.”

“You knew.”

“I’d be a fool if I didn’t.”

And Jang Han would be the same, not revealing everything he had.

“Well, this kind of conversation is meaningless.”

Whether there is a difference in realm or a difference in grade.

No one can be sure in actual combat.

In reality, there are so many variables in a given situation and space, given constraints or the compatibility of power, or even the physical condition of the day.

Combat in reality is not a fight of realm and grade, so there is no such thing as absolute.

Jang Han made a strange expression.

“To be honest… I don’t like the Soongmoo Lee family.”

Just hypocrites pretending to be clean.

In Jang Han’s eyes, who had lived in the shadows, the Soongmoo Lee family was seen that way.

“I feel the same way. I don’t like the Nine Dragons Union very much either.”

I smiled and said, and Jang Han also smiled.

“I hope we have a chance to fight again. Then I’ll show you what I’ve been hiding too.”

“Me too. But next time, don’t bring that idiot with you.”

When I gestured towards the hotel room, Jang Han burst out laughing.

We didn’t shake hands.

Because he was an opponent who would one day share swords.