Chapter 81

“The priests’ faith doesn’t make me age quickly, right?” 

“Ah! okay. Still, you can taste it. Look forward to it.” Seok-san hastily moved to the blacksmith’s shop located deep in the back of the manor. 

“Gong Moonju! Gong Moonju!” Gong Seong-tak, who was setting up the blade of the sickle, welcomed Seo Seok-san in.

“Long time no see. How’s the new brew going?” 

“I came here because of that, can you make an iron jar that is five characters wide and does not melt even in a furnace? The lid must be able to seal perfectly.” 

Gong Seong-tak nodded, thought about it, and then nodded again. “I think you can make it, but where are you going to use such a strange thing?”

“Where are you going to use it to make alcohol? I need it in three days, so please wait until then.” 

Gong Seong-tak, who had already nodded once, tried to say, ‘It will be difficult to achieve in three days.’ However, Seo Seok-san, who confirmed that he nodded, had already disappeared. 

“You look like you’re struggling too.” 

* * * 

Since he came in, he thought about it, but when it came time to pay, it was. 

“Put it down.” The restaurant owner, Mr. Wang, could be seen in tears. “If you add up all the trauma you have suffered so far, it would be a hermit, but is it such a trauma today?” 

When Seong Dong-cheol, the tallest man of them all, opened his one-of-a-kind eyes, his neck felt numb. “Are you afraid that I will eat away the price of this food?” 

“That… That’s not it….” 

It was a widely known fact that Jang, the owner of the restaurant across the street, broke his leg by Seong Dong-cheol simply because of a dispute over the cost of the credit card. He was even arrested by the government, but after being hit with a few sticks with a strong force, he found himself repeating the same thing. 

He was not afraid of even officials, so there was nothing he could do about it as Mr. Wang. 

‘Heh! Those who claim it as a protection fee don’t even show their nose when they really need it.’ 

If the protection fee was one-fifth, it was comforting at best. Seong Dong-cheol, who was turning to leave the restaurant, suddenly stopped. Two men taller than Seong Dong-cheol were standing in front of the door. Even when Seong Dong-cheol tried to leave, the men did not move and kept their position. 

“What are you guys?” 

“He’s a guy with a liver sticking out of his stomach. How dare you try to eat free food at the restaurant protected by Oh Seonho.” 

“You’re talking like Oh Seonho! So what are you guys going to do?” 

With that, he slightly lifted Dong-cheol’s iron and silver jacket and showed him the handle of the sword stuck in his waist. “Oh Seonho, you said that knives don’t fit when you’re hungry?” 

One of the gangsters then asked Mr. Wang, “How much does this guy’s food cost?” 

“Ah… One hundred and twenty coins. He ate a bit too much….”

“Is that all you’ve put together?” 

“No. If you add up what you ate without paying money, it would be enough for a hermit….” 

Mr. Wang, who received Seong Dong-cheol’s ferocious gaze, frowned and bowed his head. “Mr. Wang, do you think these guys can protect Mr. Wang? Do you think you will be able to protect all three of your foxy wives and rabbit-like children?” 

The gangster on the left spoke up. “Of course, I will protect you.” 

“How are you…!” Seong Dong-cheol couldn’t finish his words. The gangster’s fist that dug into his stomach was so painful that it managed to take his breath away. 

“We must pay for what we get paid for.” Seong Dong-cheol grabbed his back and was dragged out of the restaurant, trying to pull out a sword from his waist. 

“Are you looking for this?” The gangster pulled out a sword from Seong Dong-cheol’s waist and grabbed it. 

“Give it up! You fucking bastard!” A gangster’s fist was locked in Seong Dong-cheol’s face as he rushed forward. Such was a fist that made his bones numb, and yet the assault did not end there.

For the first time in his life, Seong Dong-cheol was beaten by so many beatings in the presence of many people watching. Compared to the ones hit by the gangsters, the gonjang hit by the government was about the size of that of an average gang member. 

“My… Please… Help me….” 

There was a spontaneous plea, but the thrashing of the thugs did not stop. His fists and kicks stopped when he had no strength to cry anymore, and his voice eventually stopped crying out.

“True value…” He didn’t know what he was talking about at first because his eardrum had ruptured, and he didn’t understand until after two more blows. As he pulled the pocket out of his arms, a gangster snatched it up. 

It was Seong Dong-cheol who carried all his possessions because he did not trust the battlefield.  

As long as he could just stop being beaten, it wouldn’t matter if they were all taken away. The thug who took out only one nyang threw the bag. “Again, go eat rice from the outside. There are very few people who have a good taste in their hands when they hit them like you.” 

With that, the two gangsters politely handed one nyang to the restaurant owner, Mr. Wang. “If something like this happens to you while we are not here, please let me know later. I will definitely accept the credit.” 

“Hey, thank you.” 

“Nope. This is what our Oh Seonho should do. Isn’t that why you’re paying the protection fee?” 

The two gangsters were polite until the very end, and the Seongdong Railroad, which was spread out in front of the restaurant, was also removed out of sight. 

“After the Hangzhou Black Society was unified with the Wusun Circle, it has definitely changed.” 

“That’s it. The cost of protection has been drastically lowered, and the work is clear, so there is nothing more to ask for.” 

“They said that the gambling hall was also completely destroyed. It’s like a vigilante group, not a black society.” 

Gradually, dissatisfaction with the black society in Hangzhou disappeared. “The thing that scares most merchants is actually not the Black Society. They’re much more terrifying than the bullshit people who use their fists in the neighborhood. If you just deal with them, you will hear that Oh Seonho is a good group.” 

Kang Chansik then followed the advice of Jo Jam-yung, and the effect was immediately apparent. He was definitely a smart guy, so he was able to keep the noise from closing the gambling house to a minimum. 

“For the time being, let them patrol more diligently than the officers. Occasionally catching thieves or pickpockets will double the effect.” 

Kwak Bong did not take any part in Oh’s turn, but he only asked for one thing. 

― Somehow, you should try to become a bother. Even better if you can ruin things.

After hearing the reason, it was natural to become an enemy. Of course, it was not an easy task as Jo Hwangse was holding on to it, but we have to do what we can. “Did you throw away the bait?” 

“You really don’t think Wolhagiru will give you two hundred nyang, do you?” 

“Sure. I’m looking at their reactions. Don’t you think you can plan your next strategy by throwing a light fist and knowing how your opponent reacts? But there is one catch.” 

“What?” 

“Did Wu Sun-hui send a remuneration to Zhilongmen after he unified Hangzhou?” 

“No.” 

“Then why is there no response from Jaryongmun?” 

* * * 

Yeo Dong-sul was deeply embarrassed. This was because the place they came to, thinking it was Jaryongmun, had already turned into a bloodbath. It was surprising that a giant clan, much like the Iron Bloodsieve, moved its base from Henan to Zhejiang, but there were no rumors of it. Of course, it would be known soon.

“Please forgive the clutter as we haven’t moved in yet.” 

Jeong Pyun-ho, the head of the Jeokgaldang among the foreign shrines, was greeted with a drink. After vain greetings such as welcome to Zhejiang Province and wishing him good luck in the future, and no sincere sympathy, he settled for the usage of a woman’s wine. 

“Originally, I had to ask Jaryongmun, but it’s embarrassing to see that the other person has become an iron-blooded room.” 

“From now on, the work of Jaryongmun is the work of the Iron Blood Chamber, so please feel free to speak.” 

“Because it’s too trivial for the Iron Blood Chamber to take over.” 

“Is there even a black society tormenting Kiru?” 

If it had been a simple giru, Jeong Pyun-ho, each head of the household, would not have met. However, Wolhai Road was run by the wealthiest man in Zhejiang Province, Zhao Huangse. 

Having settled in Zhejiang Province, there was nothing wrong with strengthening the relationship with Jo Hwangse. “That was the original intention, but after seeing the Cheolhyeolbang like this, I think that it is not enough.” ‘

“What can we fill in the iron blood room?” 

* * *

The iron urn was blazing hot in the furnace. “I don’t know what’s inside, but if I open it that much, it will turn into ashes, right?” 

Seo Seok-san shook his head at Gong Seong-tak’s words. “No, it will not turn into ashes, but into the most condensed essence.” 

If the Blood Wind Lion was right, it would be, but if it was wrong, only ashes would then be scattered as Gong Seong-tak said, “Did you say it’s different?” 

“Oay. And put it right there.” 

Outside the smithy, there was a huge tank that was two pieces wide and one piece deep, and floating ice was visible inside the tank. As soon as the two angles flowed, Gong Seong-tak threw the iron jar with the tongs into the tank, without the bloodstainer saying anything. 

Profit! The sound made the surroundings cloudy like the shore of a lake in the early morning. After the eclipse flowed again, the cast iron jar was rescued by Jang Mandok. The Blood Lion watched Jang Mandok turning the lid with a nervous expression. 

Kirik! Kirik! 

As the lid rotating along the spiral came out more and more, their expressions hardened as well. Finally, Jang Mandok opened the lid. The contents inside could not be seen because of Jang Mandok’s large head. 

And so, Do Pyeong-su asked in haste, “What did you hear?” 

Jang Mandok then closed the lid without showing it to anyone. “Perhaps…?” 

Shit! Jang Mandok’s lips moved. Even if it was not Geom Woo-bin or Do Pyeong-su, he could tell that it was an expression of joy. They raised their arms and rejoiced as if they had achieved the greatest martial art in the world. 

“Not yet. There is still the process of putting it in sage wine and aging it.” 

Of course, it was, but since the undiluted solution, not ashes, came out, it was as if the eight-half was successful. Jeon Yeong Hong, who had sent the three first, asked Gong Seong-tak. “Do you know how you’re doing these days?” 

“It’s been two days since I saw your face.” 

“Aren’t you going to train the Jincheon nookak?” 

“Are you saying that for the time being, you will focus on your training in the basement training room? His expression was so serious that he ended up just nodding in response.”

Like the bricks for building walls, it is common for the level to rise gradually, but there were times when the fortune rises at once, like a heavy snowfall that fell overnight.

Geom Woo-bin had already experienced such a thing once, and she may have had such a time again. She said that if she was a Moorim, she would come to visit her once in her life, but if she ended up being Geom Woo-bin, she would come visit again and again. 

Sudden realization was undoubtedly lucky, but sometimes it ended in misfortune like a coin-operated horse. So, Yeon Jeong Hong hopefully went down to the underground training room. He hoped to use this space again someday he thought, but he didn’t expect it to come down so quickly. 

The studio was clean because it had been managed during that time. Even the double-installed iron gate did not rust. Yeon Jeong Hong carefully opened the door without announcing the visit. As he opened the two doors, he saw Geom Woo-bin practicing Kwonbeop in the center of the basement. Geom Woo-bin’s body, moving neither fast nor slow, was drenched with sweat. 

Outwardly, he looked no different. However, after half an hour had passed, Yeon Jeong Hong exclaimed, “Ah!” 

There was the Chihwa Falling Water move passed down by Jeon Yeong Hong. The fast and flashy Chihwa Falling Water had a difficult intro and was a little easier than the average four-star level art, but it was a difficult martial art type, to the point where most people would give up once they got to the eight-star level. 

Jeon Yeong Hong, who had excellent qualities, broke through the eight stars in just five years. However, it took him three years to get to the composition.

However, currently, Geom Woo-bin’s Chihwa Falling Water had reached ten stars. Even though he had mastered all the martial arts of the Blood Lion, the achievement was twice as fast as the publicity of the pension. 

Geom Woo-bin, who was moving like a salmon flowing backwards in a river, became as quiet as the moonlight falling on the white snow. After exhaling his steady breath, Geom Woo-bin smiled brightly as he looked at Geum Hong. 

“How is it?” 

“Am I allowed to be jealous?” 

With that, he approached Geom Woo-bin and hugged him. “I am proud of you, death penalty.”