11. Are you the Guardian of the Official? Amidst the table filled with snacks delivered by the delivery service, I spoke.
"Eat a lot. You bought it with your precious money. It's the money earned by those young girls you made work, right? Oh, you bought it with the precious money that was deceived from third-grade Duogang liquor to first-grade Duogang liquor. Our Meihualou manager, eat up."
"Yes, yes, I’m already eating a lot."
"There's no poison in the snacks, right?"
"We're eating together. Are you paranoid?"
"I see."
Cha Seong-tae had already emptied two jars of liquor with the snacks he brought.
I also drank well, but Cha Seong-tae could really put it down.
The atmosphere was seriously violent as we devoured the snacks and liquor as if we were assaulting them.
Cha Seong-tae was drinking heavily because he was feeling humiliated, and I was excessively eating because I was too thin.
If I gained weight, I could just practice my martial arts.
I had a perfect solution, so I ate like a pig.
After finishing my urgent tasks, I planned to devote myself to martial arts training.
Cha Seong-tae, while grabbing a snack, said, "I'm worried about what will happen to Heukmyobang if Jo Ik-gyeol and Jo Il-seom die."
"If you're worried, practice your martial arts. You brat, you always just worry with your mouth. What should we do? What about this? Stop this nonsense. Have you piled up worries in your dantian? What kind of worries do you have that are so foolishly many?"
Cha Seong-tae was also a man with a temper.
As I kept pressing him, his expression began to change, and he retorted like a rebellious youth.
"Who the hell are you? You're not the Guardian, are you? Take off your Inpimyeonggu."
As one of my hands went up, Cha Seong-tae quickly changed his tone.
"Alright, I understand. If I get into a fight with this damn Heukmyobang, I can just kill them all. I will practice my martial arts harder."
"Can you handle it with your skills?"
"Then can our Guardian handle it?"
Hearing the term "Guardian" made me smile involuntarily.
Was it because it was the time of Jeomso? Cha Seong-tae's attitude made me realize my situation anew.
Being underestimated because of Jeomso was certainly an advantage, but I needed to quickly raise the level of my Jin-gu So-yo-gong.
Only then would the advantage of being easily underestimated by anyone shine even more.
While drinking, I said to Cha Seong-tae, "Drink this and go kill Jo Il-seom. Since you have to kill him anyway, you should deal with it quickly."
"…Are you the Guardian? Suddenly saying that while drinking?" Even amidst the heavy drinking, Cha Seong-tae looked at me with a surprised expression.
"The problem is the youngest, Jo Sam-pyeong, who is wandering outside. Where should we find him?"
"He should be coming back soon."
"When he comes back, can you handle it? You're completely useless."
Cha Seong-tae replied with an angry expression.
"I'm Cha Seong-tae."
"So what?"
"I can handle at least the youngest with my skills. But it might be a bit difficult since I hurt my eyes."
"Just say one thing, you brat. Can you handle it or not? Don't confuse me."
"I'll wait for an opportunity and try to use the art of surprise. Haven't you heard of Cha Seong-tae, the master of surprise? My nickname is Surprise Captain."
"Surprise Captain."
This childish nickname was something I had never heard before.
Cha Seong-tae said it to make me laugh, but I didn't feel like laughing.
"I also need time to train if I want to face Heukmyobang. I'm curious if you can take control of the rest after killing Jo Il-seom. Can you manage the three Gi-ru?"
"What do you mean by manage?"
I lit up my eyes.
"Normally."
"What do you mean by normally?"
"There are people who make a living in the Gi-ru, so it's impossible to eliminate the Gi-ru. You have to pay the workers the exact amount they deserve. Don't do any scams like charging first-grade prices and serving third-grade liquor. If there are sick people, take care of them. If there are people who want to return to their hometown, send them back. This would be the normal management."
I was a normal person like this.
Cha Seong-tae's reaction was rather negative.
"That's quite a difficult task."
"Even if it's difficult, it must be done."
"Why?"
"Because it would be better than having our Surprise Captain be ambushed by me."
I pointed at Cha Seong-tae's eye patch.
"If you take charge and this place is still a mess, I'll ambush you first and send you to the Jo family."
Cha Seong-tae put down his chopsticks and said, "Ah, I can't eat because it's dirty. No, damn it. You keep saying you're going to kill me. I'm going to retire and go into the mountains."
"Do as you please."
"Um."
I threw a bait to Cha Seong-tae.
"Anyway, if you manage well, you'll be operating the three Gi-ru, but if you have no ambition and are small-minded, just go live in some mountain cave and meditate. Eat wild vegetables. And try not to crawl out of the cave as much as possible."
"Why?"
"If you go up looking for elixirs and run into me, I'll kill you. Got it? If you're going to run away, live deep in the mountains by a spring."
After finishing my last drink, I stood up and took off my clothes.
Cha Seong-tae, with a puzzled expression, asked, "What are you doing?"
"Take off your clothes, you brat. Change."
"What kind of bandit are you…?" As Cha Seong-tae took off his clothes, he continued, "About Jo Il-seom. That bandit-like brat. Wear my clothes and go kill him. He's at Ihwalu. If you go in wearing that beggar-like outfit, you'll stand out too much, right? Changing is the best option."
I said while putting on Cha Seong-tae's clothes, "Give me that jangsam too."
"This is a bit expensive. It's my cherished outing outfit."
As I grabbed the whip on the table, Cha Seong-tae quickly handed over the jangsam.
"Wear it nicely."
After changing into Cha Seong-tae's well-fitted clothes, I wrapped the dragon belt around my waist.
After wrapping it around my waist about three times, the dragon belt became a proper belt.
Since I was wearing the jangsam on top, it didn't give off the feeling of a soldier's uniform.
With my arms wide open, I asked Cha Seong-tae, "How do I look?"
"Oh my, you look great. You have the feeling of a Jeomsoi, but not quite like one. Now that I see it, you have a handsome appearance. Our Jeomsoi at the Zahakgwan looked like a beggar because he wore beggar's clothes. Wow, clothes are wings! Just like a fairy's wings..."
I slapped Cha Seong-tae on the head.
"Enough already."
"Yes."
"This brat, just a little bit of freedom and he starts to be sarcastic as if it's a habit. Did you gain enlightenment from being beaten?"
"Let's stop hitting."
Hearing this made me want to hit him again.
I hit him again.
Only then did Cha Seong-tae speak in a tone of reflection.
"I will be careful. But can you go alone and kill Jo Il-seom? He must have many subordinates."
"Why kill the subordinates? We should only kill Jo Il-seom if possible. They're all townspeople. If someone dies while fighting, it can't be helped."
As I left the inn and headed to Ihwalu, Cha Seong-tae said in a surprised tone, "Hey, at least sober up a bit before you go."
"I smell like liquor. I'm dressed well. I have no money. It's a perfect day to go to the Gi-ru."
'Why are you going to the Gi-ru when you have no money, you crazy guy?' Cha Seong-tae swallowed this thought, fearing that if he said it out loud, Jeomsoi would return.
As Cha Seong-tae watched Jeomsoi disappear into the dark path, he muttered softly, "I wish you good fortune. Iza-ha, you damn brat."
Suddenly, Cha Seong-tae, alone in the Zahakgwan, took a drink and looked around the inn.
What was this ominous feeling of suddenly becoming Jeomsoi? It was also because I got hit on the head for a slip of the tongue, and of all things, I was wearing Jeomsoi's clothes.
"Today, I learn something again."
Cha Seong-tae stood up to return to Meihualou but sat back down.
He couldn't go like this; it was too embarrassing.
Suddenly, Cha Seong-tae held his forehead.
Thinking about it, the pouch with the hidden money was in the inner pocket of the jangsam.
"Damn it."
I arrived at the front gate of Ihwalu and glared at the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper's gaze scanned my body from top to bottom before meeting my eyes.
When I deliberately narrowed my brows and glared, the gatekeeper lowered his gaze and said, "Welcome."
The gatekeeper, seeing my splendid outfit and the sword at my waist, couldn't help but feel intimidated.
I didn't just walk into Ihwalu but spoke in an angry tone, "Is Jo Il-seom inside?"
Only then did the startled gatekeeper bow his head and say, "Yes, he is. Where do you come from?"
"I am the messenger of Heukmyobang, Iza-ha. Guide me to Jo Il-seom."
"Iza-ha?" The gatekeeper raised his head, trying to meet my eyes, but my hand flew to his cheek.
"Guide me, you brat. I'm busy, so stop babbling."
"I'm sorry."
After being slapped once, the gatekeeper turned around and opened the door.
Then he grabbed the guide and whispered, "He came from Heukmyobang. Guide him to the Lord."
I deliberately glared at everyone I met as if I wanted to kill them.
With the added information that I came from Heukmyobang, most avoided my gaze.
What they could see was the expensive-looking jangsam and the dragon-headed sword at my chest.
Again, the handle decoration of the dragon-headed sword was very extravagant.
Being extravagant gave the impression of being expensive at first glance.
"I will inform the Lord. Please wait a moment."
"Tell him to come out quickly. Before I set fire."
"Yes."
Following the guide, I reached the top of Ihwalu, where a spacious banquet hall appeared.
Beyond it was an extravagant table that seemed suitable for the leaders of sects or clans.
'He must be eager to establish a faction.' While looking around the banquet hall, I said to the waiting guards, "I will talk with the Lord, so don't linger around."
"Understood."
As soon as the guards disappeared, I sat at the table and waited for Jo Il-seom.
I had never talked to him alone during the Jeomsoi days, and I couldn't even look him in the eye when we passed each other.
Now, sitting at the table waiting for Jo Il-seom, I felt nostalgic. 'I remember he was quite hefty.' There are those who are naturally big-boned and overpower most men, and Jo Il-seom was one of them.
After a while, footsteps were heard, and Jo Il-seom appeared, adjusting his clothes with an unpleasant expression.
Somehow, Jo Il-seom's size seemed much smaller than I remembered.
Jo Il-seom looked me over and said, "I don't believe we've met before."
Coming unannounced at this late hour, sitting at the table, and glaring without standing up all made Jo Il-seom flustered.
My first words were, "Jo Il-seom."
"Yes."
"You ugly pig with grease dripping from your face. It's been a while."
"Uh, hehehe..."
Jo Il-seom tilted his head and walked somewhere.
"Let's introduce ourselves first. What kind of insulting words are those? Ah, please excuse me. I came out in a hurry."
While speaking, Jo Il-seom grabbed the sword hanging on the wall and turned around.
He was a man with caution ingrained in him.
"As you know, I am Jo Il-seom. I apologize for the late introduction."
Jo Il-seom looked at me as if he wanted an introduction.
Curious about Jo Il-seom's reaction, I introduced myself.
"I am Baek Yu."
"Baek Yu? Excuse me, but what position do you hold in Heukmyobang?"
I smiled faintly.
"Who told you I was from Heukmyobang?"
"I received a report like that."
Curious about Jo Il-seom's reaction to the Twelve Divine Generals, I introduced myself like this.
"Listen well. I am Baek Yu of the Twelve Divine Generals."
"Yes?" Jo Il-seom's eyes widened, and he awkwardly knelt on one knee.
"Jo Il-seom meets the esteemed Baek Yu of the Twelve Divine Generals."
Wow, did that work? I just threw it out there, and Jo Il-seom knelt.
It seems that the Twelve Divine Generals are indeed feared in this town.