Chapter 259: Preparing (4)

Chapter 259: Preparing (4)

Choi Yeon-Ha smiled softly at Park Yu-Min's question. “I figured I wouldn't be able to enter unless it was this late.”

“Well, that is true, but...” Park Yu-Min looked unconvinced.

For now, Park Yu-Min ignored the reason Choi Yeon-Ha would want to come here, but he still couldn't quite understand why someone as busy as her would come here around midnight.

Choi Yeon-Ha took off her sunglasses and strode confidently inside to reach the table where Kang Jin-Ho and Ju Yeong-Gi were sitting. She pulled out a chair for herself and sat down. “So? How was it? I was right, wasn't I?”

"Yes, you were." Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded, his expression less-than-pleased while staring at how triumphant Choi Yeon-Ha looked.

“I told you that things will soon become very hectic for you, didn't I?”

“You did. And I still can't understand what is going on here.”

"Mister Jin-Ho, you are probably the only person in the entire world who doesn't see what's going on here. Everyone else should already know what kind of a situation this is."

Kang Jin-Ho groaned. “Then, tell me. Why is everyone acting like this?”

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled at that. “Can't you tell? It's because you're too good-looking, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“She's right, but why do I feel so... offended listening to her?” Ju Yeong-Gi suddenly chimed in.

“Yeah, me too,” said Park Yu-Min.

The duo tried to jeer from the sidelines, but Choi Yeon-Ha ruthlessly shot them down. "You should have thought about improving your looks, then."

“Holy cow. Now that totally shattered your image, Miss Yeon-Ha. I had no idea you were this kind of a person.” Ju Yeong-Gi narrowed his eyes in disapproval.

Park Yu-Min also chimed in. “I've always loved your TV shows, you know?”

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted loudly at the duo. "You shouldn't mix up the characters I portray in those shows with who I really am. You two probably have no idea just how many people are forced to bear the brunt of that mindset. One of the girls I know is a genuinely nice person in real life, but aunties still insult and lecture her for starring as a bad character once. People even whisper behind her back if she drops by at a cafe, too."

“We aren't at that level, Miss Yeon-Ha,” said Ju Yeong-Gi.

Choi Yeon-Ha ignored him and shifted her attention to Kang Jin-Ho. "You have a guest visiting your establishment, so aren't you going to offer me something? Or should I just keep drinking the free air?"

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “We’re closed, and we've already killed the oven's fire.”

“Then, at least offer me a can of Coke or something. Where are your manners as a man?”

“...”

“Mister Jin-Ho, you were thinking about how annoying I was, weren't you?”

“Urgh...”

Choi Yeon-Ha burst into a peal of laughter as if this whole thing was too entertaining for her. “Mister Jin-Ho, you still have a lot to learn, don't you? At the very least, you should be thankful that a woman like me is trying to get close to you. Don't think most women would tell you things like this to your face. Someone like you will gain infamy about how uncultured and uncouth you are in less than one day after going out on a terrible date just once, but I'm here to save you from that fate.”

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “You don't have to bother. I'm not going on a date any time soon, anyway.”

“Good. You pass in terms of modesty.” Choi Yeon-Ha grinned deeply back at Kang Jin-Ho, prompting him to shake his head in defeat. “In any case. You’re still happy about the improvement in your business, yes?”

“I do believe it's better than not having any customers.”

“And that's exactly why I decided to help out. Here, take a look.” Choi Yeon-Ha presented her phone to Kang Jin-Ho.

"Mm?" Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow and stared at the phone's screen. It displayed a social media account with a selfie of a certain someone enjoying a slice of pizza. Below that post was a friendly explanation of how this pizzeria was run by the actor portraying her ex in the latest show, as well as the store's name.

Kang Jin-Ho's brows rose up after confirming all this. "...!"

Choi Yeon-Ha continued while withdrawing her phone. “Did you know that business is all about timing? You should be making a LOT of hay while this sun is still shining.”

Of course, she was right. And Kang Jin-Ho should be grateful to her for this potential boost to his revenue. However, the mischievous smirk on Choi Yeon-Ha’s face wiped out pretty much any positive thoughts in Kang Jin-Ho’s mind.

“You'll have even more customers from tomorrow. You know I still have some box office draw left, don't you?”

Park Yu-Min and Ju Yeong-Gi gasped at the same time. “Oh god, no.”

“Dear Lord...”

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the trio. "Don't be a bunch of wusses, guys. At the longest, this streak will continue for another two months, tops. People's attention span is pretty short nowadays, so I bet things will revert back to how they used to be after two months of intense sunshine."

“Two months, you say...”

"Yes. Two months, and you'll be back to chasing flies again. Which will be good for me since I can enjoy Mister Jin-Ho's delicious pizzas in peace and quiet."

Park Yu-Min suddenly raised his hand up high.

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded. “Yes, Student Park. You may speak.”

“You said the store will revert to being totally empty in two months, yes?”

“Of course! Haven't you eaten in other pizzerias before?!”

“I only ordered takeaways before, so...”

Park Yu-Min chimed in. “Yes, me, too.”

Ju Yeong-Gin sagely nodded. “Me, three.”

Choi Yeon-Ha scanned the trio in pure stupefaction before yelling in anger, “What the hell is up with you three?! Are you ETs or something?!”

***

Cai Kechang couldn't dare to raise his head.

The Crimson King didn't say a word, but his silence was far scarier than any words at this point. Eventually, though, he did break his silence. “You told me to leave it to you.”

Cao Kechang flinched nastily.

“And so much time has passed since then, yet I haven't received any reports regarding that matter yet.”

“My sincerest apologies, my lord.”

“It's not uncommon to taste failure. Succeeding certainly is wonderful, but failing isn't necessarily bad. However, what is truly unacceptable is—watching nothing happen. You can analyze the reasons for your failure, thus turning it into an opportunity to build a firmer path to success. But constant delays won't lead to benefits for the parties involved. Do you understand what I mean, Cai Kechang?”

“Yes, my lord!” Cao Kechang prostrated even deeper as he silently gnashed his teeth.

'Those stinking bangzi bastards...!'

He had left the matter to the hands of some lowly punks, but to think that they still couldn't handle it properly and only ended up creating this unpleasant situation! Cai Kechang swore that, as soon as this meeting ended, he would rip those Korean idiots a new one!

The Crimson King continued in a grave voice. “Cai Kechang. The Luminous King has made a move.”

Cai Kechang's head shot up. “My lord?! The Luminous King is on the move?”

“That's right...” The Crimson King nodded briefly.

Cai Kechang clenched his fists tightly. For some reason, the Luminous King had made a move. Even though he was well-known for digging in and never budging from his spot! The implication behind it was significant, to say the least. Maybe the frontal warfare they had been worried about might break out for real.

“However, the reason the Luminous King decided to move was rather amusing. It seems he has noticed that demonic arts practitioners are getting more active.”

"Demonic arts practitioners!" Cai Kechang's eyes grew wider as the thoughts in his head started to race at a million kilometers an hour.

If all unnecessary hyperbole and modifiers were removed from the description of Cai Kechang's current assignment, it would simply be about hunting down a single demonic arts practitioner. The purpose of mobilizing the Yeongnam Group was to deal with that demonic cultivator named Kang Jin-Ho, after all!

But now, Zhongyuan's demonic cultivators were also making a move?

'Is this merely a coincidence?'

Demonic arts practitioners were like cockroaches. They were cockroaches that would keep on crawling out of dark corners despite stomping on them so many times. It wasn't strange for cockroaches to appear from here and there, but...

'I'm not getting any good vibes from this.'

Cai Kechang frowned deeply. And it seemed that Crimson King shared that opinion, too.

"Whether the demonic arts practitioners are really on the move, or it's just a nice-sounding pretext cooked up for their own convenience, I do not know the truth yet. However, now that the Luminous King has made his move, the peace we have been enjoying so far will be broken pretty soon. And... if the Dark King also decides to join in, a storm of blood and cruel slaughter will beset Zhongyuan once more."

“That's correct, my lord.”

“I do not fear them, Cai Kechang. I am the Crimson King. No one can oppose me.”

Cai Kechang hurriedly planted his forehead on the floor. That was right; the mighty individual before him was none other than the Crimson King! One of the only three martial artists in Zhongyuan to have legitimately earned the title of 'King,’ and he was someone Cao Kechang firmly believed to be an extraordinary and peerless cultivator!

“However, Cai Kechang!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“A general always secures his rear first before heading toward his warzone. I won't be able to focus on the Luminous King or the Dark King with that demonic arts practitioner business in my rear. Do you understand?”

“My lord! This Cai Kechang will answer your call and eliminate that pesky demonic cultivator no matter what it takes!”

“Good. You can leave now.”

"By your will!" Cai Kechang prostrated once more before cautiously exiting the throne room. He sucked in a deep breath while wiping his forehead. “Bloody Korean bastards...”

Just how long had it been since he left this matter in their hands? Yet, they still couldn't finish the job properly?

Cai Kechang gnashed his teeth while yanking out his phone. “This can't go on...”

This would be their last chance. He had to urge the Koreans to get a move on for one last time, but if they still failed to finish the job, then...!

Cai Kechang made up his mind to personally get involved, and then he coldly eyed his phone. If he were forced to move, his target wouldn't just be Kang Jin-Ho anymore. No, he would definitely teach the Yeongnam Group and the Korean martial artists what it meant to fail him in this manner.

Indeed, he would teach those weak Koreans what real martial arts were like. The real martial art techniques that were abundant in Zhongyuan, not the fake ones found in Korea!

Cai Kechang's cold and withdrawn eyes were fixed on the phone's screen as he tapped on the call icon.

1. In Korea, 'cider' isn't an alcoholic drink but a fizzy drink similar to Sprite.