Chapter 122: Habits Are Scary (1)
Chapter 121 – Habits Are Scary (1)
What was this? Was he a madman?
When Pa-gak narrowed his eyes, Namgung Cheon frowned deeply and asked.
“By the way, are those eyes open? Or are they closed? Are you walking around like that because your head is too bright?”
“…….”
“Or are you deaf too? Didn’t you hear me telling you to get out of the way?”
“What brings the Namgung Clan to this place……”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? I came to the tavern to drink alcohol, what else would I be here for? Do you have a problem with that? Why are you trying to pick a fight?”
No, you were the one who picked the fight first, you know?
Even Pa-gak, who had remained calm throughout, shook his head in disbelief and glanced at Goe-bul-ja.
Just then, Goe-bul-ja, fully enraged, walked over with large strides.
“Shit! Hey! Kid! Do you want to die?”
Chaaang!
However, Goe-bul-ja could not take another step.
It was because Son U-gon had stood up in the blink of an eye, drawn his sword, and pointed it at Goe-bul-ja’s Adam’s apple.
At the same time, the members of the Azure Eagle Squad poured in through the open door.
“What is the matter?”
When Park Chang-su asked with flashing eyes, Namgung Cheon waved his hand.
“It is nothing major, so there is no need to make a fuss. Go outside and wait.”
“Still, if there are bastards being rude to the Lord……”
“I said, go outside and wait.”
As Namgung Cheon let out a low voice once more, the members of the Azure Eagle Squad turned and left without a word.
Goe-bul-ja and Pa-gak found the current situation difficult to comprehend.
‘What on earth is this brat that such people bow down to him?’
Just at a glance, the martial arts levels of Son U-gon and Cha Mu-jin were extraordinary.
Did the Namgung Clan still have enough financial power left to employ such people?
As Goe-bul-ja and Pa-gak stood there awkwardly, unable to do one thing or another, Namgung Cheon looked at the owner and spoke.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to give me that?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes!”
The owner quickly ran over and offered the Shaoxing wine.
“The pancakes will take some time.”
“It is fine, so prepare them slowly.”
“U-Understood. But, well……”
“What is it?”
“Did you really come from the Namgung Clan?”
“And what of it?”
“Why would the Namgung Clan come here……”
“Geez, I told you I came to drink alcohol. Did I come to a place I shouldn’t have?”
“No, it is not that. It is just that it has been so long since anyone from the clan visited…… May I ask for the Young Master’s name?”
“It is Namgung Cheon.”
“Ah, yes. Namgung Cheon…… Huh? Namgung Cheon?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Then, the waiter rushed over and whispered in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Boss! Namgung Cheon! He is the person I was talking about! The winner of the Joint Conference!”
“Ahem! I-I see. Step back now.”
“Ah, yes. I will. But what did I tell you? That the Namgung Clan would definitely make a comeback now……”
“I get it, I get it. First, let us go back and cook.”
The owner quickly pushed the waiter and entered the kitchen.
In a situation where they still did not know how things would settle, acting rashly might result in unexpected sparks flying their way.
Was the Jianghu not a place where one’s life could hang on a single word?
As the two quickly left the area, Goe-bul-ja curled the corner of his mouth and crossed his arms.
“I wondered who it was, and now I see you are that Divine Dragon who has been rising lately. Are you this arrogant just because you won the Joint Conference? Do you even know who we are?”
“Who are you?”
“We are the monks of the Shining Monk Association!”
“A gathering of crazy rogue monks?”
“You young punk……! It is the Shining Monk Association!”
“That’s the same difference. In the end, it is a gathering of rogue monks throwing a crazy fit.”
“W-What……?”
Killing intent rose intensely from Goe-bul-ja’s entire body.
Even so, he did not rashly step forward to start a fight.
For one thing, the fact that Namgung Cheon was the winner of the Joint Conference weighed on his mind, and the skill of Son U-gon, who had pointed a sword at his neck, also concerned him.
While he ground his teeth, the owner and the waiter poked only their heads out from the kitchen and watched.
“Boss, what did I tell you? I said someone from the Namgung Clan would come, right? Though it is a bit faster than expected.”
“It is faster than expected, but they are also wilder than expected.”
“Hmm. Well, there is that aspect, but doesn’t it mean they are just that confident?”
“I don’t know about that. I have seen many instances where empty vessels make the most noise.”
“Let us just watch for now. Who knows, maybe the Namgung Clan will really save us?”
“I do not expect anything. To my eyes, that young master is merely a reckless fool who does not know how scary the world is. He is full of energy right now because of his confidence in winning the Joint Conference and the escort warriors around him, but we will see……”
While the owner watched with uneasy eyes, Namgung Cheon took a sip of alcohol and brought up the main point.
“Captain Son, step back.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Only after Son U-gon sheathed his sword and stepped back did Namgung Cheon glance at Goe-bul-ja and ask.
“How much do you want?”
“……?”
Goe-bul-ja and Pa-gak looked back at each other.
Namgung Cheon asked again.
“My clan is now going to reclaim the commercial rights of Yixian. So name your price.”
“Ha!”
Goe-bul-ja let out a hollow laugh and said while swaying,
“You are going to reclaim the commercial rights? Well, I doubt the Namgung Clan has the ability to pay such a price.”
“So how much is it, you rogue monk bastards.”
“Grr……”
Goe-bul-ja finally could not bear it any longer and was about to step forward, but Pa-gak quickly grabbed his arm and spoke.
“Since time has passed, prices have also changed. You must give us one million taels.”
“One million taels?”
“Yes.”
“How much did the Shining Monk Association buy it for?”
“Ten thousand taels.”
“You are raising the price ten times in the meantime?”
Goe-bul-ja smirked.
“Since we revitalized the commercial district, it is only natural to expect that much of a price.”
“Fifty thousand taels. I am being generous.”
“……?”
“Take fifty thousand taels and get lost. Don’t linger around Yixian ever again.”
Pa-gak smiled faintly and shook his head.
“I have absolutely no idea what the donor is talking ab……”
“Shut up, you bastard. Why am I a donor? I’m not donating anything. Take fifty thousand taels and get lost. This is your last chance.”
“This crazy bastard, because I humored him once, he can’t even tell heaven from earth……”
Bam!
At that moment, Goe-bul-ja could not understand why his stomach felt hot.
And why Namgung Cheon was standing right in front of his nose.
Had he not been sitting at that table just a moment ago?
It was as if he had teleported.
Crash!
Goe-bul-ja, who was blown back just like that, rolled over while breaking another table.
Pa-gak stepped forward with a deep frown.
“What is the meaning of this!”
Clang!
At the same time, Son U-gon and Cha Mu-jin drew their swords and pointed them at Pa-gak.
Sharp energy filled with killing intent billowed out.
He had a strong premonition that if he twitched even a single finger, sword qi would mutilate his entire body.
Gulp……!
As Pa-gak stared blankly while swallowing his dry saliva, Namgung Cheon approached him and tapped his cheek.
“Don’t be scared. Because I have a habit of beating up only one guy.”
“…….”
“Go and tell your leader. If he has any intention of negotiating by this time tomorrow, tell him to come to this place to receive the fifty thousand taels. Even if I wanted to give him more time to think, my circumstances are a bit urgent.”
“You madman…… Do you think you will be safe after doing this?”
“I’m doing this because I think I will be safe.”
“……!”
“If you have no intention of negotiating, you are welcome to invade the Jang Family Manor at any time. I will welcome you with open arms.”
“I hope you won’t regret those words.”
“Of course.”
As Namgung Cheon nodded, Pa-gak turned with a cold face and helped Goe-bul-ja up.
Goe-bul-ja glared at Namgung Cheon while huffing and puffing in rising resentment, but he did not make any more foolish moves.
For one thing, Namgung Cheon was a problem, but Son U-gon and Cha Mu-jin, who escorted him, were also extraordinary.
Furthermore, had the Azure Eagle Squad not poured into the tavern all at once just a moment ago?
They were also outnumbered.
As the two glanced at Namgung Cheon and were about to leave the tavern, they suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Namgung Cheon poured himself a cup of Shaoxing wine, drank it, and asked.
“What now? Do you need to be beaten up more?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“If we have no intention of negotiating, why should we invade the Jang Family Manor? I don’t think there’s anything worth taking in that household anyway.”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, that is true.”
Namgung Cheon unexpectedly agreed and nodded.
Come to think of it, there was no need for the Shining Monk Association to invade, was there?
Since it was this side that had to seize the commercial rights.
And it was this side that was in a hurry.
Namgung Cheon nodded vigorously.
“Indeed. That’s right. Even if an invasion happens, it has to be our side invading the Shining Monk Association. Wow, I almost wasted all my time waiting for you rogue monks who wouldn’t even come. Thanks, you bastard.”
Pa-gak, who for some reason felt a sense of pride at Namgung Cheon’s words, quickly snapped out of it.
Namgung Cheon shook his head.
“Good grief, why did I think you guys would invade? This is why they say habits are scary.”
It was all a habit from his past life.
Since he had always only blocked or avoided those who invaded, he had never even imagined invading somewhere first.
Why would he invade when he was too busy running away?
Because of that, this time too, he naturally thought the other side would invade if things went awry.
‘Yes, there’s no reason for those bastards to come. There is nothing to seize anyway. Historically, the one who wants to seize is the one who invades. A good realization.’
A man like me, who knows how to acknowledge and be grateful for even such small things from an enemy. I am bursting with charm. No wonder Namgung Seon fell in love at first sight.
Well, if Namgung Seon heard this, she would have complained that his delusional symptoms were acting up again.
Namgung Cheon shook his head and spoke.
“Then I shall revise it. If you do not come out to negotiate by this time tomorrow, I will invade. Tell your leader to come out if he has any intention of salvage even a small pittance.”
“…….”
“…….”
“……Madman.”
Pa-gak cursed as if letting out a sigh, then left the tavern.
Namgung Cheon contemplated following him to slap the back of his head for a brief moment, but decided against it.
Since he would have plenty of opportunities to hit him tomorrow anyway.
Just in time, the owner and the waiter came out with a bottle of Shaoxing wine and pancakes.
“Here…… it is.”
“Thank you.”
“Um…… but is what you said earlier…… true? That you will invade the Shining Monk Association……”
“Of course. You may sleep with your legs stretched out now. In the future, the commercial rights of Yixian will belong to the Namgung Clan once again.”
“If so, that is a relief, but……”
“But?”
“Ah, it is nothing. Please enjoy your meal then.”
The owner and the waiter quickly bowed and withdrew.
Namgung Cheon watched with a displeased expression, then turned to Son U-gon.
“Why are they like that?”
“They are probably…… worried.”
“Worried?”
“The Shining Monk Association is not an easy opponent.”
“So are you guys scared too?”
“It is not that, but……”
“But?”
“I wonder if there was any need to tell them the timing of our squad’s invasion. If they prepare properly, it could become a harder fight than expected. We are also outnumbered.”
Namgung Cheon asked, startled.
“Did I tell them the timing of my invasion?”
“Pardon? Earlier you said that if they did not come out to negotiate by this time tomorrow, you would invade……”
“That was the deadline for negotiations. The time of the invasion is different.”
“But we do not have much time. We cannot delay the surprise attack indefinitely.”
“Is it still a surprise attack if you warn them beforehand?”
“Pardon? The warning you gave earlier, Lord……”
“When did I? I never said I would invade this evening?”
“This evening?”
“Yes, everyone get ready. Let’s perform a cleanup once the sun sets.”
“But the deadline for negotiations……”
Namgung Cheon smirked.
“The Jianghu has always been a despicable place of deception. It’s not like those guys would have negotiated anyway.”
“Oh, trash dealt with in a trashy way!”
“Did you just call me trash?”
“Heh, n-no, that is not it!”
Son U-gon, quickly finishing his words, hurriedly ordered another bottle of Shaoxing wine.
The owner, who was watching them, grumbled with an anxious expression.
“Can we really trust that crazy young master? It seems like the matter will only grow bigger…… I hope we don’t get caught in the crossfire for no reason.”
“Indeed……”
Even the waiter let out a long sigh with a lack of confidence.