9. What is the name of our alliance? I spoke while showing the sickle at my waist to Geum Cheol-yong.
"I spilled some blood at the Plum Blossom Pavilion."
"Oh dear, how many did you kill?" "None were killed."
Geum Cheol-yong tilted his head.
"That's a relief. But have you learned martial arts?" "I must have, or else the noodles wouldn't have tasted that way."
"That makes sense. By the way, your grandfather spent his life quietly boiling noodles, so this is quite strange. If the Jo brothers have been bothering you, I will mediate. Their bullying seems to be getting worse by the day. If they refuse mediation, I will protect you here. There's no need to escalate things. No matter how much the pillars stir up trouble, as long as Geum Cheol-yong is in Yongdu Cheolbang, they won't be able to touch you." 'Did Uncle Geum have this side to him? How unexpected.
Why was he so quiet in my past life?' As I rummaged through my memories, I recalled that Geum Cheol-yong had been the first to suffer back then, though the timing was slightly different.
In any case, this man was someone who kept his word.
I smiled at Geum Cheol-yong's kindness and replied, "Thank you for your kindness."
"No need to mention it."
I continued in a serious tone after a long time.
"I plan to establish a sect here in Il Yang-hyeon. It will be a sect that commands various organizations. The first force to be formed will be the Gengsaengmun, centered around those who worked at the Gilu. Uncle Geum, instead of Cheolbang, let's create a sect together and form an alliance. Of course, I will be the leader of the alliance."
"We are already a Cheolbang force; what need is there for a sect?" "Unite all the nearby Cheolbang forces and establish the Cheol Yongmun (鐵龍門) separately. This cannot continue. If the Jo brothers establish a branch, the amount of tribute will only increase. I will establish an alliance sect in Il Yang-hyeon to prevent the nearby Heukdobang from extorting money here."
"What exactly is this alliance sect?" "Those in Gilu will be integrated into Gengsaengmun, and the various Cheolbangs will be under Cheol Yongmun. The construction will be under Chukmun (築門). The remaining forces will be organized according to their professions, and I will take charge of this integrated organization. It is not about causing havoc elsewhere."
Geum Cheol-yong listened to my words with a serious expression.
"There will be no tribute at all. There will be no strict hierarchy. Of course, the internal atmosphere will be chaotic, but that doesn't matter.
What I desire is simply that each person does not lose the money they earn through hard work to some unexpected place. The force will expand recklessly throughout the Central Plains, starting as a loose organization and spreading across the Jianghu.
If this alliance causes someone to harass the weak, the small, and the merchants less, then my intention will have been fulfilled. It will be an alliance where the bottom dwellers can protect the money they earn with difficulty day by day."
Geum Cheol-yong pondered my words for quite some time before finally responding.
"Your plan is quite flimsy yet grand. What shall we name the alliance?" I met Geum Cheol-yong's gaze and replied, "Hao Mun (下汚門)."
Geum Cheol-yong crossed his arms and stared at me for a long while.
"Hao Mun, huh..."
The combination of low (下), the end, dirty things, and filth (汚) ultimately refers to the weak of low status, who can be found everywhere.
However, since Hao Mun includes the character for a force (門), it has an ironic twist.
As Geum Cheol-yong did not speak, the entire Yongdu Cheolbang fell silent.
After a long contemplation, Geum Cheol-yong said to me, "It's quite remarkable that a bottom dweller is creating a sect. Do you have confidence to survive against the Jo brothers right away?" "You'll see."
Geum Cheol-yong spoke to Yonggae, the deputy leader.
"Give up all the weapons."
Gwak Yonggae responded with a surprised expression.
"What? Not for loan?" Geum Cheol-yong frowned and glared at Gwak Yonggae.
"What nonsense are you saying to the leader? How dare you?" Gwak Yonggae quickly lowered his head and replied, "I apologize."
Indeed, Geum Cheol-yong's bravado had its peculiarities.
Geum Cheol-yong, still with a serious expression, said to me, "Let's continue our next discussion after you survive."
"Sure."
"If you need help, let me know in advance."
"Just the excess weapons will be enough."
"Is that a compliment? Are you mocking me?" "Just a little bit of mockery." "……."
I had a brief staring contest with Geum Cheol-yong before gathering the weapons and leaving Yongdu Cheolbang.
In the Yongdu Cheolbang, where the man who had received weapons for free had vanished, conversations flowed.
"Do you think that guy will survive?" "It seems the bottom dweller had a plan. He might still be alive."
"To think that someone who can't even make decent noodles would have such a plan. Amazing."
"Indeed. Perhaps he was too focused on training martial arts that his noodle skills turned out so terrible."
"That's true. With business going this poorly, he will surely go bankrupt soon."
"Then it seems the inn's decline was part of the plan."
"Should we have charged for the weapons? I somewhat regret it."
"We gave him something that wasn't selling anyway. We made it too excessive."
Geum Cheol-yong smiled contentedly.
"Well done. In the process of clearing out the stock, we gained the heart of the bottom dweller. It wasn't a losing business."
"That's right. By the way, you call him the leader now?" "You have to survive to be the leader. For now, he is a bottom dweller."
Suddenly, laughter erupted from Yongdu Cheolbang.
"Hahaha."
"Quiet down."
"Yes."
The laughter abruptly stopped.
Gwak Yonggae asked Geum Cheol-yong, "Big brother, what are you thinking with such a serious expression?" Geum Cheol-yong stroked his chin and replied, "Cheol Yongmun."
Geum Cheol-yong, who had been lost in thought, muttered again, "Cheol Yongmunju Geum Cheol-yong."
I placed the weapons taken from Yongdu Cheolbang and the blood-stained sickle on the table, while the dagger was tucked at my waist.
There was no need to practice with the sword and whip, but I needed to firmly engrave the weight and feel when held.
As I familiarized myself with the information about the weapons with my hands and eyes, I entered my room.
Since the Jo brothers were likely to come, I focused on my breathing with my eyes closed, not performing any Qi gathering.
After about two hours had passed, I heard someone's voice at the entrance of the inn.
The tone was filled with exhaustion.
When I went outside, I found Jo Yi-gyeol, the second of the Jo brothers, sitting on a chair, with men wearing black masks behind him, holding shovels and bags.
Jo Yi-gyeol looked even skinnier than I remembered, with a nervous expression.
Previously, he merely seemed to dislike making eye contact, but now he appeared truly ridiculous.
It seemed he had come late after receiving a report from Cha Seong-tae, and his face showed he had drunk quite a bit.
As soon as he saw me, Jo Yi-gyeol commanded his subordinates, "Dig a hole. Deep."
"Yes, Lord Ju."
While I walked over, Jo Yi-gyeol pulled out a dagger from his robe and stabbed it into the table, saying, "Sit."
Stabbing the dagger into the table is a method often chosen by parties involved in a dispute to resolve their issues.
It is a kind of life-and-death duel.
I also stabbed my Unryong dagger into the table and sat across from him.
The rules of this method of dispute resolution are very simple.
If someone grabs the dagger during the conversation, the attack and defense begin.
Since it is a duel agreed upon by both parties, it is a life-and-death decision that family or companions cannot contest.
Jo Yi-gyeol, who was quick-handed, had killed many competitors who boasted of their strength in Il Yang-hyeon in this manner.
Outside the inn, Jo Yi-gyeol's subordinates were digging the ground, and Jo Yi-gyeol glared at me before speaking.
"The Heukmyo Bang has given its permission."
"Is that so?" "A formal branch will now be established in our Il Yang-hyeon. Our three brothers have been mocked as third-rate Heukdo and pillars running the Gilu for quite some time, but now we can finally save face somewhere."
I maintained a cold expression but deliberately replied with honorifics.
"Congratulations."
Jo Yi-gyeol nodded and continued, "Yes. You should congratulate me. On a day with such good news, what will happen if you cause trouble at the Gilu? It's fortunate that the ears of the Heukmyo Bang people I was entertaining didn't catch wind of it. You trash who can't even make decent noodles."
Jo Yi-gyeol pointed at his subordinates digging the ground.
"What is that hole for?" "Is it my grave?" Jo Yi-gyeol nodded.
"You know well. Before that hole is fully dug, tell me three reasons why I should spare you. Perhaps you will become the gatekeeper of the soon-to-be-established branch. Or you could follow me around and change my shoes. If you can do something a dog or horse can do, I might reconsider. Come on, we've grown up together in the same neighborhood; isn't it too cruel to kill you just because you caused some trouble?"
I thought to myself, 'Are you going to kill me or not? Just make up your mind, you bastard.' However, Jo Yi-gyeol's ridiculous behavior made me respond as if I were just going along with it.
"It is indeed cruel."
Suddenly, Jo Yi-gyeol looked at the sword and whip on the table and said, "What nonsense. Nonsense. Oh, pathetic bastard."
Jo Yi-gyeol sighed and called my name again.
"Jaha."
I sighed as well and replied, "That name will wear out. What is it?" "What—what? Why…?" Jo Yi-gyeol's entire body was enveloped in killing intent.
He was an impatient fellow.
I could clearly see what action Jo Yi-gyeol was about to take.
I said, "Why, you bastard? Speak."
Jo Yi-gyeol's dagger was drawn and aimed straight at my neck.
Just before the tip of the dagger touched my uvula, a metallic sound rang out.
Thunk! The broad side of my Unryong dagger precisely blocked Jo Yi-gyeol's dagger.
I slowly pushed the dagger away while locking eyes with Jo Yi-gyeol.
"Oh, that was close. I almost got stabbed."
Jo Yi-gyeol finally showed a surprised expression. "……!" I stabbed the Unryong dagger back into the table and said, "Is there any reason for me to spare you? Just give me one. If I kill you, I will have to kill your brothers too. If I want to kill the three of you, I must kill them all, and if I want to spare you, I must spare them all. A dog or horse? Oh, you pathetic fool, where do you get the nerve to act tough? You pillar, you bastard. Speak again." "……."
Jo Yi-gyeol also stabbed his dagger back into the table and crossed his arms.
Jo Yi-gyeol said with a sour expression, "It seems you've gained some luck. Congratulations."
At that moment, the subordinates digging the ground, oblivious, asked Jo Yi-gyeol, "Lord Ju, we've almost dug the ground."
Jo Yi-gyeol replied, "Dig deeper."
"Understood."
Jo Yi-gyeol did not want to show his foolishness to his subordinates.
I held the Unryong dagger and provocatively said, "Shoulder."
As soon as my words ended, Jo Yi-gyeol also grabbed his dagger.
However, the Unryong dagger had already pierced through Jo Yi-gyeol's collarbone and pulled back.
Thud! Blood that had come out with the dagger stained the table.
Drip, drip, drip...
Jo Yi-gyeol, holding his dagger, looked at his collarbone.
Only then did he realize the vast difference in speed.
I looked at the pale Jo Yi-gyeol and said, "Why are you so slow? How does it feel to be stabbed by a bottom dweller after living like a noble in Il Yang-hyeon? When a dispute arises, the first thing you do is dig someone else's grave, you excellent pillar."
Men of Il Yang-hyeon do not back down easily.
Jo Yi-gyeol, who had been gritting his teeth, pulled out his dagger and aimed for my collarbone.
This time, Jo Yi-gyeol's technique was all too clear.
Aiming for the shoulder was a feint, and the follow-up attack would carry killing intent.
I swiftly grabbed Jo Yi-gyeol's wrist with my left hand and thrust the Unryong dagger toward his incoming palm.
Thud! Jo Yi-gyeol's palm was pierced, and he withdrew his hand with a distorted expression.
This time, quite a bit of blood stained the table.
Following our agreement, our daggers were stabbed back into the table.
Thud, thud! It was now the turn of the weak to keep their mouths shut, so I said, "Setting aside my personal feelings for now, is there any reason to spare you in Il Yang-hyeon? Not only human trafficking but also many acquaintances from my childhood that you killed on a whim. And a branch? What nonsense are you talking about? The Heukmyo Bang didn't allow you to establish a branch for nothing."
"That is..."
"Shut your mouth. You will soon start extorting money from merchants under the pretext of protection fees. When the hot-headed merchants rise up and fight you, the Heukmyo Bang will come in and clean up. Before that, the young men of the Cheolbang or the marketplace will have fought and died against you. From the Heukmyo Bang's perspective, it will be a justified cause. Once a bloodbath occurs, Il Yang-hyeon will have no choice but to pay tribute to the Heukmyo Bang."
The reason the Heukmyo Bang needed justification was that other Heukdo forces were also eyeing Il Yang-hyeon.
Uniquely, Il Yang-hyeon had become a temporary exclusion zone due to the many places being targeted.
The Jo brothers had maliciously exploited this point.
As a result, the blood was shed by the men of Il Yang-hyeon, while the profits were entirely taken by the Heukmyo Bang and the Jo brothers.
This is the future I know.
Jo Yi-gyeol replied, "Il Yang-hyeon has many hot-blooded young men. Once we establish a branch, we can grow our power, and I can strike the Heukmyo Bang with my brothers."
"With that pathetic skill of yours? How will you take responsibility for the merchants who will be ruined by then? And the Heukmyo Bang is terrifying because the leader's status is special. Can you handle that?" "How did you know that?" "Sometimes, news reaches the bottom dweller faster than the Murim Alliance."
Jo Yi-gyeol extended his blood-stained hand and said, "……Anyway, if that's the case, let's work together even more. I don't care how you became strong, but it doesn't matter. Jaha, you alone will never be able to face the Heukmyo Bang."
I clicked my tongue and pointed with my finger toward Jo Yi-gyeol's subordinates, who were still diligently digging.
I asked, "What is that for?" "……It was for intimidation."
The obvious words slipped from my mouth.
"It's fine. It's your grave."
I looked at Jo Yi-gyeol and smiled.